Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-01-22

usually shifted to the Caribbean Sea,
because the treasure shipssf the Spani
ards, laden with gold and silver from
the mines OF Central and South Amer
ica, were such rich prizes for their cap
tors.
In 1889 some English trading vessels
were seized by Spanish coast guards
for carrying cargo which they alleged
was contraband. This the Eng lish
denied, insisting thsy had right to
carry it by the terms Of treaty which
gave them certain trade privileges.
such a. the right to cut aud transport
logwood, &,. Anyway, they were do
termined not to submit to any trade
restrictions, and, by -ay of reprisals,
Admiral Vernon, the commander.in
chief in the West Incies, attacked and
tcaptured Porto Bello. on the Isthuus
Of Darisn. The Spaniards determined
to avsnge the blow, and the French
eager to join In the fray. fitted out
ships to help them The British gov
srnment therefore declared war.
Troops were sent from England to the
West Indies, and it was ordered that q
regiment, consisting OF four baLta.
lions, was to be raised In the North
American colonies to JOIN the expedi
tion In jamaica. The raising OF this
regiment caused quite an outbreak of
military ardor. In almost every town
and village recruiting parties were to
be seen parading to the sound OF the
music of drum and fife Lawrence
Washington. who had just arrived at
manhood. caught the military infect
ton. He obtained captains com
mission In the newly raised regiment
and embarked with 1t for tho West
Indies in l740. His young brother,
George, who was then about ten years
old, was an interested observer of ali
these preparations. and, boylike. was
full OF military enthusiasm himself.
Collecting his forces In Jamaica,
Admiral Vernon set Sail for Cartagena.
The squadron under his command
consisted Of three decker battleships,
2s ships of the line, II frigates, several
fireships and 130 transports. The
forces contested Of l3, ,o00 soldiers and
sailors, 2 600 negroes from Jamaica,
armed only with machetes, and the
Nor "a American regiment.
According to Colon bian history.
Admiral Vernon seems to have been
another General Butler, thinking tho
war would be over Ill about SIX weeks,
la time for MIN ~ eat his Christmas
dinner In peace. 80 sure Was ne Uf
an easy victory that he coused medals
to be struck IN advance, Celebrating
his triumph, the Governor Of Car.
tagens being represented upon them III
kneelins position, offering his sword
and the key of the city TO the doughty
admiral.
At first the British forces In their
ATTACKS upon the city were fairly sue
caSstui, as they largely outnumDer
their opponents. But reverses soou
came. When troops to the numDer OF
4, 600 attempted to storm the citadel
OF San Lazaro they met with a severe
defeat. and $40 Of them were killed
and zoo wounded. The forLlncatlons
Of Cartagena are exeeediDgly strong.
1t 10 estimated that $55 900 600 was
spent In Constructing the wsis Of the
city and the different forts, and 80
well constructed arc the, that the cou
crete today, After the lapse of hundreds
OF years, ID as hard and ssrong AS lr Was
originally. Upon such forLifications
the primitive firearms Of those times
could mako little impression. Besides,
the Spanlards were brave soldiers, and
waen rendered desperate would fight
to the last ditch.
Among the assailants the North
American regiment Distinguished it
se,f BY it's bravery, for several hours
Sustaining unflincningly a most de
straetlve fire. At length it was com
pehed to retire, having suffered a LOSE
OF ABOUT 600 in killed and wounded.
Misfortune continued to overtaKe the
British. Disease broke out among the
troops and wrought dreadful havoc.
Admiral Vernon therefore determined
TO quit. After an Ineffective canuon
aiding OF the city, the ships being zoe
far OF TO do any real damage, be re-
turned with the remainder uf uls Groous
to Jamaica. Altogether. about $ oUC
OF nis men had perlshed from woun Al
and disease. Among those who perish
ed Dy disease must have been th- rem.
liant OF the North American regiment
as 1t was never more heard OF. IL /,
known in history as 1.-The lost brigade. )
| Lawrence Washington returned hom.
In the autumn OF 1742, and if he had
not fallen in love with Miss Fairfa,
would probably hxye devoted himself
permanently to foreign military ser.
vice. On tho death of his father. ir
the following year, the family estat,
on the banks of the Potomac was lef
to him. He then gave up all though
of further military service, marie,
and went with bis bride to live on tn
estate, to which he gave. the name O
Mount Vernon, in honor of the admira
under whom he had served in Colon
bia
Incidentally, this event left its mari
upon Amef4tan hfstUty III mors way