The New Hampshire Gazette

NEW YORK, August 3.

The following Letter, we believe, will be thought to give the best general Account of Affairs from the Havannah,

On board the Briton, off the Havannah in Cuba. July 28, 1762.

We left Martinico the 6th of May, and arrived here the 7th of June, and immediately landed our troops and took possession of several Spanish out posts, with very little loss or opposition from the enemy: A history of whole proceedings since our being here, I imagine will not be disagreeable to you; therefore I'll proceed from our landing on the 7th of June, which was immediately to take possession, and maintain ourselves masters of all the height and advantageous grounds near the Moro Castle, and encamp'd our troops on different heights all round the town, in order to observe the enemy's motions, and to draw their Attention to various quarters: Being thus posted, a detachment of our troops, together with sufficient number of marines and sailors, began to build batteries, in order to attack the Moro, which were in few Days opened, and then assisted by four of our men of war; all of which behaved gallantly, except Capt. John Campbell of the Stirling Castle, who never came so nigh as to share in the engagement; and is now in disgrace. The Cambridge suffered most, but they all got off, finding they had no chance for success from their Attempt. Soon after this the Spaniards used to sally out upon us, but were always beat back with great loss; particularly a few days ago, when about 1000 of them attacked our batteries, with full hopes of victory, having wrote on the front of their hats, Neither to take or give Quarters; but the Dons soon got such a drubbing as sent 300 of them into the other world, and wounded as many; and our loss did not amount to above 100 killed and wounded in this affair: Our batteries still continued a very hot fire, and had reduced their Moro to a heap of Ruin, and almost dismounted all their guns. We then got possession of their glacis, and sent some miners into the ditch, who dug a mine under their wall, which was sprung two days ago, and immediately after our people storm'd it sword in hand, kill'd 400 of the enemy on the spot, and took 600 prisoners, among which was Don Velasco, dangerously wounded; he was commandant of the castle, and made a noble defence: Our loss in this affair was 11 killed and 60 wounded. We are now masters of the Great Moro Castle, which the Spaniards thought impossible; and look'd upon it as the strongest place in the world, and the pride of their country. In consequence of this the whole town (larger and vastly more elegant than New York) together with 12 ships of their line, 60 frigates, and several trading ships in the harbour, must in a very little time hence, fall into our possession, which makes this a great Conquest. The country round looks very delightful, and by every person's opinion who has travelled thro' it, they all agree that it's capable of the best cultivation, but has been greatly neglected by the Spaniards, who use it chiefly in raising mules and cattle. All the small stock round this place is already chiefly destroyed during the siege. Our troops lived very well and elegantly for the first three weeks, killing and destroying every thing they could catch; and the Spaniards on the other hand destroying all the small stock that they could not use, in order to prevent our people from being so well supplied; that betwixt the two I imagine, by the time we get into the town, we shall have very little fresh meat to eat, excepting those who go a great way into the country shooting their wild cattle.

I am Yours, &c.