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The British and Provincial Conquest of Cuba: Companies

An account of the Troops that Served in the Siege of the Havanah: Regular Troops. 1st, 4th, 8th, 9th, 15th, 17, 22, 27, 28, 34, 35, 40, 5th, 42. 2d, 42, 43, 46, 48, 49, 56, 58, 60, 65, 72, 73, 77, 90, 95. 4 Independt Companies. 2. Companies Gorham Rangers. 1st Connecticutt Regment. 6. Companies New York. 2. Do. New Jersey. 3. Do. Rho Island. 5300 Negroes from Jamaica, Barbados and the Windward Islands. Navy-17 Ships of the Line, 23 Frigates.

TUESDAY, Sept. 28, 1762.-The last night as well as the preceding day, Sultry Hott, had but little rest-my Ears constantly acosted with the groans and outcrys of the Sick and distressed: that the Camp is no other than a constant Scene of Woe, and misery opened, where the actors are a Collect Society of the most unhappy and unfortunate, forlornly wreched-Cast upon some Barbarous Land, among a Savage kind that know no pity, but there tender Mercies are Cruelty-where they are Smitten by the Sun by day, and the Sickly moon by night that in ye day the drought consume them, and Hurtfull damps by night-nor releafe can be aforded, there pitying friends that stand around with pained hearts, can only tell them necessary Comforts and means are not to be had-what a word is this to be Sounded in Ears of those ready to die. But turn my thots, and who are these-behold a Number, Straggling along the road-awfull, how they look? what appearance do they make? not unlike walking ghost, Just come from the Shades-but viewing more narrowly find them to be men. Crawled out of their Tent, wasted with Sickness: their flesh all consumed, there bones looking thro the Skin, a Mangie and pale Countenance, Eyes almost Sunk into there heads, with a dead and downcast look-hands weak, knees feeble, Joints Trembling-leaning upon Staves like men bowed and over loaded with old age, and as they Slowly move along Stagger and Reel, like drunken men-pityfull objects. Passing by these, there lyes one fal en down thro weakness by the wayside, there another, and another, yea Sundry more, in the Same Condition, unable to help themselves-there two or three fainted away-others crawling, according to their strength, not unlike the Snail in motion, with a little water to reveive them, as the best Cordial that can be produced. There sets a Number that walked a few rods and there strength is exhausted and are seated on the ground to recruit, that they may return to there Tents. Younder goes four of the stouter Sort lugging their Capt. That stept a little from his tent, fainted away, Back to his Tent again. There goes one, Supported by one under each Arm-goes did I say? rather he is in this manner Carried, for scare has he power to Set one foot before the other, nor can his feeble trembling knees one half support his frame, tho but a Shadow. There another and another in like manner convey along from one tent to another. Just behind is brot along another in his Blanket strung upon two poles-Carried by four. Just by, Six Soldiers take up there Captain upon their Shoulders as he lies pale and helpless in his bed, his bedstead serves as a Byer, and his Curtains waving in the wind as a pawl, in this manner conveyed from his Tent in Camp to a Neighbouring Room, if possible to prevent the extinction of the remaining Sparks of Life. There is one, two, three Graves open'd, here they come with as many Corps, there blankets both there winding sheet and Coffins; scarce have they finished the interment of these, but a messenger comes in hast to tell them, they must open a grave or two more, for Such a one is dead, and another is dying.