Sixth. At four o’clock in the morning we filed off from our quarters, in small bodies, to give the less suspicion; and, by degrees, assembled at St. Jago’s church ; observing the utmost silence, and concealing ourselves in the place of arms, and the parallel between the church and the battery. Maj. Barker kept up a brisk fire upon the works, and those places where the enemy might be lodged or intrenched. Our mortars were well applied for the same purpose. At day-break we discerned a large body of Spaniards formed on the bastion of St. Andrew, which gave us reason to imagine they had got some information of our design, and intended to annoy us with their musquetry and gjrape from the retired flank of that bastion, where they had still two cannon placed : but upon the explosion of some shells that fell among them, they went off. We took immediate advantage of this, and by the signal of a general discharge of our artillery and mortars, rushed on to the assault, under cover of a thick smoke that blew directly upon the town. Sixty volunteers of different corps, under Lieut. Russel of the 79th, led the way, supported by the grenadiers of that regiment: the engineers, with the pioneers, and other workmen, to clear and enlarge the breach, and make lodgments, in case the enemy should have been too strongly intrenched in the gorge of the bastion, followed : Col. Monson and Maj. More were at the head of two grand divisions of the 79th : the battalion of seamen advanced next, sustained by the other two divisions of the 79th : the company’s troops closed the rear. They all mounted the breach with amazing spirit and rapidity. The few Spaniards upon the bastion dispersed so suddenly, that it was thought they depended upon their mines. Capt. Stevenson had orders to make a strict search to discover them; but our precautions were needless. We met with little resistance, except at the Royal gate, and from the galleries of the lofty houses which surround the grand square. In the guard-house over the Royal gate one hundred of the Spaniards and Indians, who would not surrender, were put to the sword.*^ Three hundred more, according to the enemy’s account, were drowned in attempting to escape over the river, which was very deep and rapid.”^^ The Governor and principal officers retired to the citadel, and were glad to surrender as prisoners at discretion, as that place was in no good posture of defence.** Capt. Dupont of the 79th, with one hundred men, took possession of it. The Marquis of Villa Mediana, with the rest of the Spanish officers, were admitted as prisoners of war on their paroles of honour; and to conciliate the affections of the natives, all the Indians who fell into our hands were dismissed in safety. Our joy, upon this fortunate event, was greatly clouded by the loss of Maj. More, who was transfixed with an arrow near the Royal gate,*^ and died immediately, universally lamented for his good qualities. Capt. Sleigh of the grenadiers, and some other good officers, were wounded. We had about thirty private men killed or wounded. In consequence of the terms dictated to the Spaniards, the port of Cavite and citadel, with several large ships, and a vast quantity of war- like and naval stores, were surrendered to us. Capt. Champion, with 100 marines, and as many Seapoys, imbarked on board the Seahorse to take possession of it. The Spanish garrison of 300 men, on the approach of our people, mutinied against their officers, plundered some houses, and went off into the country with their arms. As a small acknowledgment of the great services which the whole army had received from Capt.Kempenfelt, the Admiral’s Captain, I begged he would act at Cavite with a commission as governor for his Majesty, being well assured that no one could discharge that trust with more conduct and abilities/’
Spanish officers of note prisoners of war
Don Felix de Eguiluz, Lieutenant-General of Artillery.
The Marquis of Villa Mediana, Brigadier-General, and Colonel of the King’s regiment.
Don Miguel Valdes, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Commandant of the second battalion of ditto.
Don Joseph de Riarte, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Governor of the Cavite.
Don Francisco Rodriguez, Serjeant-Major of ditto.
Don Manuel Fernandes Toribio, Commandant and Serjeant-Major of the citadel of St. J ago.
Don Christoval Ros, Serjeant-Major of Manila.
Don Thomas de Castro,*^ Chief Engineer, and Colonel of the King’s regiment.
14 Captains, 13 Lieutenants, 12 Ensigns, 2 Adjutants, i Physician, i Surgeon, 11 Serjeants, 261 Rank and File.
Of the Marine, 4 Captains, 2 Ensigns.
Of the Artillery, i Captain-Commandant, 2
Lieutenants, i Ensign, i Adjutant, i Commissary.
Of the Irregular Pampangos, i Captain, 2 Lieutenants, I Ensign.
2 Adjutants of the Cavite.
2 Adjutants of the citadel of St Jago.
4 Adjutants of the city of Manila.
I Captain and Engineer of ditto.
Of the Cadet Company . . . . .5
The Governor-General’s life-guard . . 8
Killed and Wounded of the British forces
jgth reg. Killed: Maj. More, Capt Strahan,
Lieut. Fryar, 6 privates. Wounded: Capt. Sleigh
of the grenadiers, Lieuf Hazlewood and Garnons,
Ens. Hog, 45 pr.
Battalion of seamen. Killed: Capt. Peter Porter,
lieutenant of the Norfolk, Mr. White, surgeon’s mate
of ditto, 7 pr. seamen, 5 marines. Wounded: Second-
Lieut. Thomas Spearing, of the marines, of the
Lenox, Mr. Neal, midshipman of ditto, one serjeant,
18 pr.
Company’s troops. Drowned: Lieut. Hardwick,
one Serjeant, 2 pr. Wounded: one serjeant, 5 pr.
Artillery, Killed: one pr. Wounded: one serjeant, 3 pr.
Seapoys. Killed 8. Wounded 31.
*^The Marquis de Ayerbe says {Sitio y conquistCy p. 60) that
forty of these men were killed, among them being several wounded
men, one of whom was the sargento-mayor, Martin de Goycoa
{sic),
*^ Many of the inhabitants of Manila fled to the Pasig after the assault, and when attempting to swim across, were fired upon by the British, with horrible carnage. See Montero y Vidal, ii, pp. 27, 28.
^^ The captors imposed several contributions on the conquered. They seized a champan and its money and effects that was despatched without a passport by Fernando Calderon to the provinces for purposes of trade. See Sitio y conquista, p. 70.
^^ At the assault of the royal gate, the enemy lost but four men, one of whom was a major, who received an arrow in the face. The commander of the regiment, Miguel Valdes and some men basely fled. See Sitio y conquista, pp. 60, 61.
^^ Published with the following appendices in London Gazette^ 1763; London Chronicle, 1763, pp. 377-379; Gentleman s Magazine, 1763, pp. 171-176; London Magazine, 1763, pp. 214-219; Dublin Magazine, 1763, pp. 248-255; Universal Magazine, 1763, pp. 202-206; and vol. ii of The Field of Mars, 1781.