176 THE SIEGE OF PLYMOUTH. 



The enemy's loss was six Commanders of rank, 

 whose names were concealed from us, and many 

 men, besides those taken prisoners. 



After we had gained the enemy's work the second 

 time, we shghted it ; but to prevent the hke ap- 

 proaches in regard that Mount Stamford being a 

 small work, and very untenable of itself, much less 

 to keep so large a circuit of grounds as it was built 

 to defend, we were necessitated to draw a line of 

 communication both on the east and west sides of 

 the work, to maintain a long ridge of ground, with 

 half-moons at each end of the line, which we defen- 

 ded divers days with extraordinary duty to us and 

 our men, and divers skirmishes witn the enemy, till 

 the 3d of November, when the enemy planted their 

 batteries within pistol-shot of our forts, and on the 

 6th of November battered our works, with 200demi- 

 cannon, and whole culverine shot, bsides other 

 smaller cannon that continually played upon us, and 

 flanked our line from Osan (Oreston) Hill, whereby 

 a breach was made in the fort at several places, and 

 the Lieutenant and some gunners of the fort slaine ; 

 the breach we repaired in the ni^ht, thickening the 

 rampart as much as the smallness of our work would 

 admit, and strengthened the weakest places with 

 woolsacks. The next day they continued their bat- 

 tery till noon, with too much success, yet so as no 

 considerable breach was made that day. The ene- 

 my, whether they had intelligence of the want 

 of provisions and ammunition in the fort, about one 

 of the clock fell on with horse and foot on our half- 

 moons and lines, where we had a reasonable guard ; 

 but tired by eight days' duty and long watching, 

 after an hour's skirmishing, were enforced to retreat 

 to the half-moons and breast-work, and were taken 

 by the enemy's horse, who came on the backs of 

 them. The Captain of the fort having but seven 

 men left of thirty- six to manage the guns, seeing 

 himself thus surrounded by the enemy where no 

 rehef of provisions or ammunition could be brought 



