ROBERT VENABLES. xitt 



they lodged in the woods ; the next day they advanced 

 toward the fort of St. Hieronimo, which they resolved 

 to attack, being in their way, about a mile from the 

 town, and not fit to leave at their backs. 



April 26. Adjutant General Jackson had this day 

 the command of the forlorn, consisting of four hundred 

 men; in the van whereof, he put Captain Butler, and 

 himself brought up the rear. Also he marched without 

 any wings on either hand to search the woods, and dis- 

 cover ambushes, which was expressly contrary both to 

 order, and their daily practice throughout their whole 

 march from Point Nizas. With the forlorn thus ma- 

 naged, and all ready to faint with thirst, having marched 

 eight miles without water, in a narrow pass in the thick 

 woods, where but six could well march abreast, they 

 fell into an ambuscado of the Spaniards, who suffered 

 the forlorn all to march within them, and then charged 

 them both in van and flank. Captain Butler with the 

 ran undauntedly received the charge, and in order, fired 

 again, and all of them stood till he fell ; but the rear ran 

 away without abiding a charge, Jackson himself being 

 the first man that turned his back. Venables, his regi- 

 ment, with Ferguson his Lieutenant Colonel in the head 

 of them, being next, charged their pikes on Jackson and 

 his flying men ; but they being too well resolved to 

 be stopt, first routed that regiment, and then most of 

 Heanes's regiment. These all came violently upon 

 the sea regiment, which was led by Venables and Good- 

 son, then Vice-Admiral, who with their swords forced the 

 runaways into the woods, choosing rather to kill, than 



