26 TlMEHRI. 
the Fort to the mainland, one had to walk over a plank. 
This fourth side was entirely defenceless and exposed. 
It was commanded by four or five different buildings in 
its rear, which lay within a distance of twenty-five or 
thirty yards. An enemy taking possession of these 
houses, could pick off every man from the Battery, with- 
out having his own men the least exposed to view from 
the Battery or the Shipping. Captain Pender, who com- 
manded the Barbuda in January 1782, says that, an 
enemy that had once landed on the Windward Coast, 
could have had no difficulty in carrying all before him, 
" as they might have advanced entirely hid by the cotton 
" plantations, as near as the front dams of the estate, 
" which was about 80 or 90 yards from the Battery ; 
" and from the front dam to the buildings, unperceived 
" by keeping in their wake. Or, the enemy having ad- 
" vanced as far as the front dam ; which was about eight 
" feet deep and upwards of twenty feet wide ; might, by 
" following the direction of that dam, or ditch, have ad- 
" vanced entirely hid from sight, within 14 or 15 yards of 
" the Battery, and where no gun could be brought to bear 
" on them. Or they might, by crossing from this ditch 
" to a smaller one, at the back of Mr. Brooks' garden 
" house, have come into the Battery." 
With such force by sea and land were the newly cap- 
tured settlements to be defended against all-comers. At 
sunset on the 29th of January 1782, there was nothing to 
cause apprehension that a foe might be approaching. 
At about 1 o'clock in the morning, on the 30th of 
January, Captain PENDER was hailed by Captain Tahour- 
DIN, and desired, to come on board the Oroonoko, as soon 
as possible. Captain PENDER'S ship, the Barbuda, lay 
