With those few Soldiers that remain’d alive, I proceeded, according to my Order, to Requina; where, when I arriv’d, I gave General Windham an Account of the Disaster at St. Jago.  As such it troubled him, and not a little on account of the Disappointment.  However, to make the best of a bad Market, he gave Orders for the forming of a Mine under an old Castle, which was part of the Wall.  As it was order’d, so it was begun, more in Terrorem, than with any Expectation of Success from it as a Mine.  Nevertheless, I had scarce began to frame the Oven of the Mine, when those within the Town desir’d to capitulate.  This being all we could aim at, under the Miscarriage of our Powder at St. Jago (none being yet arriv’d to supply that Defect) Articles were readily granted them; pursuant to which, that Part of the Garrison, which was compos’d of Castilian Gentry, had Liberty to go wherever they thought best, and the rest were made Prisoners of War. Requina being thus reduc’d to the Obedience of Charles III a new rais’d Regiment of Spaniards was left in Garrison, the Colonel of which was appointed Governor; and our Supply of Powder having at last got safe to us, General Windham march’d his little Army to Cuenca.

CUENCA is a considerable City and a Bishoprick; therefore to pretend to sit down before it with such a Company of Forragers, rather than an Army, must be plac’d among the hardy Influences of the Earl of Peterborow’s auspicious Administration.  On the out Part of Cuenca there stood an old Castle, from which, upon our Approach, they play’d upon us furiously:  But as soon as we could bring two Pieces of our Cannon to bear, we answered their Fire with so good Success, that we soon oblig’d them to retire into the Town.  We had rais’d a Battery of twelve Guns against the City, on their Rejection of the Summons sent them to come under the Obedience of King Charles; going to which from the old Castle last reduc’d, I receiv’d a Shot on the Toe of one of my Shoes, which carry’d that Part of the Shoe intirely away, without any further Damage.

When I came to that Battery we ply’d them warmly (as well as from three Mortars) for the Space of three Days, their Nights included; but observing, that in one particular House, they were remarkably busy; People thronging in and out below; and those above firing perpetually out of the Windows, I was resolv’d to have one Shot at that Window, and made those Officers about me take Notice of it.  True it was, the Distance would hardly allow me to hope for Success; yet as the Experiment could only be attended with the Expence of a single Ball, I made it.  So soon as the Smoak of my own Cannon would permit it, we could see Clouds of Dust issuing from out of the Window, which, together with the People’s crouding out of Doors, convinc’d the Officers, whom I had desir’d to take Notice of it, that I had been no bad Marksman.