Changes

{{cquote|When I wrote your Lordship on the 7th instant, although I then foresaw the probable Fate of Pensacola, yet I did not apprehend that the Decision of the Contest was quite so near at Hand as it has since proved to have been; An unfortunate Shell from the Enemy, on the Morning of the 8th, precipitated its Destiny, and occasioned its falling under the Dominion of Spain at least some Days sooner than it otherwise would have happened. On the morning of the 8th a Shell, that accidentally burst by the Door of the Magazine of the Advanced Redoubt, set Fire to the Powder within, and in an Instant the Body of the Redoubt was a Heap of Rubbish, depriving no less than 48 Military, 27 Seaman, and one Negro of Life by the Explosion, besides 24 Men wounded, most of them dangerously. Two Flank Works, that had been added to the Redoubt since the Commencement of the Siege, still remained entire, the Fire from which (owing to the intrepid Coolness of the Artillery, particularly of [[Captain Johnstone]], who commanded them) repulsed the Enemy in their first Attempt to advance to the Storm, and gave Time to carry off the Wounded, two Five and half Inch Howitzers, and three Field Pieces; but the Enemy having by this Time brought up their whole Army, there was a Necessity of abandoning these Works, after first spiking up the Pieces of Artillery in the Flank Works, viz. 2 Ten and 2 Eight-Inch Mortars, 3 Eight and 1 Five and half Inch Howitzers, and 1 Field Piece, a Three Pounder, and 1 Twenty-four-Pounder, 6 Twelve-Pounders, and 1 Nine-Pounder, were lost in the Redoubt.|20px|20px|''The London Gazette'', October 9, 1781.<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/12232/pages/1 Letter from General John Campbell to Lord Germain, ''London Gazette'', October 9, 1781.]</ref>}}

*[[February 28]] &ndash; Spanish fleet departs Havana for Pensacola.*[[March 9]] &ndash; Spanish fleet appears off [[Santa Rosa Island]], 6:00 a.m. Light infantry and grenadier companies disembark six miles east of [[Punta Sigüenza]](near modern-day [[Casino Beach]]). A prearranged signal of seven guns from the British warship ''Mentor'' notified the British forces.*[[March 10]] &ndash; The unfinished English redoubt battery at Punta Sigüenza is found abandoned and taken by forces under [[Francisco Longoria]] and [[Arturo O'Neill]]. They capture seven British soldiers, who were sent to retrieve supplies and burn an unused blockhouse, and receive some fire by anchored frigates ''Mentor'' and ''Port Royal'', and the [[Red Cliffs]] fort. The British brigantine ''Childers'' breaks out of harbor to alert British authorities.*[[March 11]] &ndash; Using two 24-pound cannon brought ashore to the captured redoubtbattery, Spanish forces return fire, forcing the frigates to move out of range.*[[March 12]] &ndash; The fleet moves west towards the harbor entrance, but is halted when the flagship ''San Ramón'' runs aground. A 24-pounder at a masked battery fires upon British interceptors, forcing them to get out of range.