In December 1654 the West Indies Expedition sailed from Portsmouth. The fleet of thirty eight ships was commanded by Admiral Penn, and the army, consisting of 2500 soldiers, by General Venables.

From the very beginning in August things had gone badly. Instead of choosing experienced and fully trained regiments, Venables drafted a few veterans from different regiments, then filled the ranks with pressed men whom he seized on the streets. He was short of officers and those whom he had were unacquainted with the men. There was little or no attempt made to train the men before embarking. Supplies and equipment were also deficient, even to the extent of failing to supply water bottles to troops who were expected to fight in the tropics.

Word that all was not well with the preparations for the expedition reached Cromwell and he dispatched Disbrowe, in his capacity as Navy Commissioner, to Portsmouth in order to straighten out the situation. This was duly reported to the ever watchful Dutch Government by its envoys Beverning and Neuport [1]: "It is whispered here that some disturbance has happened among the sailers of Penn, in the fleet at Portsmouth, and that some of them intended to draw up a petition, and deliver same to his highness, consisting chiefly of these three complaints or grievances; that all the provisions are spoiled; that they were sent upon an expedition, which was known to all the world, and the enemy ready for it; and they would not any longer be thus pressed, but be listed by beat of drums, as it was done in the Netherlands. However we know nothing certain of it, only somuch, that General Disbrowe and Penn have been there; and we are likewise informed, they have entirely quieted them, and caused their provisions to be changed; as to the expedition, assured them, that the state would take care of their reputation and conservation; as to their last complaint, they would favourably represent the same to his highness."

The month of November was well advanced when Disbrowe arrived in Portsmouth and he immediately began the thankless task of straightening out the affairs of the expedition. He reported his progress in a series of letters addressed to Cromwell and Thurloe.

General Disbrowe to the Protector [2]:

May It Please Your Highness,
This day being faire, hath put a little life into our business againe, and if the Lord please to find us faire weather, I hope by saturday night we shall have twelve or fourteen sayle ready, which will carry 1200 soldiers at least with them. I humbly offer, if it bee not conveniant to have one of the commissioners at least goe with them; and the instructions bee given them what to doe, when they come at the Barbadoes. I am sometimes encouraged in our busnesse, and sometimes crosse rubbs come, and new proposals; but we doe what we can, to get over them; and there shall be no paines wanting for dispatch. If the Lord please to bless our endeavors, I hope the next weeke may doe much for the whole affair. I begg to get away from this place. I beg that your highnesse would give order in relation to instructions, that there may be no stay for them. I have no more but to subscribe myself
Your Highnesse Humble Servant,
John Disbrowe
Portsmouth, 27 Nov. 1654
I humbly pray your highnesse, not to forgett to hasten orders for putting and taking the men on board, when they are ready.

General Disbrowe to the Protector [3]:

May It Please Your Highnesse,
The ships in the enclosed lyst were this day compleated with their provisions; save only some part of their water; and I did hope on tuesday to have putt 1800 foot on board, if the winde and weather should be faire; but as yet I heare nothing of any of the foot-officers, nor of any body to pay them off at their shipping. I heare this night that there be some companys of colonel Heane's regiment at Pharum, but no Captain with them; and also that they say they doe not expect their captains this five or six days. I humbly conceive, that there be some need of commissions, if any of the officers should sayle. Therefore if your highness please to order Mr. Malyn to send down six or ten blank commissions to me the next post, if there should be use of them, I could cause them to be filled up; if not use of them, I should returne them to him. I hope if the next week be fayre weather, the rest of the fleet will be ready to take the first winde. I have not further trouble to give your highnesse now, only to subscribe myself,
Your Highnesse Humble Servant,
John Disbrowe
Portsmouth the 2 of December 1654

General Disbrowe to Secretary Thurloe [4]:

Sir,
I received yours of the second instant and have by mine of the day before (which I sent by expresse to you) given my thoughts in the things that did then occur.
The Torrington (Commanded by captain Dakins, rere admiral of the whole squadron) being one of the chiefest ships that are gott ready, and General Penne staying with the remainder, we judged it convenient that rere admiral should command the division that goes first; and accordingly mentioned him to his highnesse to be one of the commissioners for managing what should be necessary at Barbadoes, and with him colonel Heane and Fortesque, as intending to put their regiments on board the said first division, if their officers came in any time. What more I can offer hence, you will find in my last, which since your sending of Mr. Titon, I hope you have received, and therefore shall now adde but the subscription of
Your affectionate friend and servant,
John Disbrowe
Portsmouth, 3 December 1654
I have as yet heard nothing from any of the foot officers.

General Disbrowe to Secretary Thurloe [5]:

Sir,
I have persued the instructions, and considered them as fully as my litle time would permitt, and have litle to alter or adde, but what is inserted in them, with this enclosed paper, which I leave to your judgement to adde, the same seeming convenient to me.
Enclosed is a lyst of the whole fleet, as you desire, to be inserted in the first article of generale Penn's instructions. I also offer, that major general Heane and vice-admiral Goodson may be added as commissioners to the whole affaire; else in case of the death of both or either of the generalls, they will not be in a capacity fully to act as commander in chiefe. I have thought fitt for the advantage of the service to add captain Edward Blagge as commissioner on the first squadron.
You may see my thoughts are as to the instructions, by casting your eye over them, where you will finde some few scribbles of mine. That which concernes money I cannot for present asertaine any thing more then £8000 intended as contingencies for the fleet; the money for the land forces must be what is left of that, which is ordered for them. To what value the letters of creddit runne, I know not and therefore can say little of it; only suppose £8000 creddit may be enough; and they limitted to charge by exchange, not exceeding £10.000.
Sir, we are still labouring here to effect what lyes under our charge, and were yesterday at Chichester to passe a muster on colonel Buller's regiment, which is there; and the like shall be done to other regiments, when I understand where they are.
The first squadron of ships are quite ready, and doe not onely attend the receaving of the souldiers aboard, whose readinesse through want of officers doth no way answer my desire; there being but two regiments, viz. Major general Heane's and colonel Buller's yet that I heare of come, and very few officers with them; which is no small trouble to me, considering the winde is now faire.
The remainder of the fleet are near ready, the greatest want being water caske, which cometh from London; and I shall againe minde the commissioners of the admiralty, that it may withall possible speed hast hither. Pray tender my very humble service unto his highnesse, unto whom I have not time to write, neither have more to offer than what I trouble you withall.
I remain
Your very affectionate friend and servant,
John Disbrowe
There is no thought of Capt. Hatfell's being ingaged for the present.

Finally all troops and supplies were on board and the expedition sailed from Portsmouth. When it reached the West Indies Venables recruited additional men at Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands. But these were the offscourings of the Caribbean and, if possible, worse than those brought from England.

In April 1655 he attacked San Domingo which was defended with such spirit that he was badly beaten and lost many of his men. Not wishing to return home without some spoils he reembarked his diminished force and on May 10th attacked Jamaica which was soon taken. But the rainy season set in bringing with it fever and dysentary which decimated his remaining troops.

In June Penn and Venables, though they had no authority to do so, brought the fleet back to England leaving Major General Fortescue in command. Most of these unfortunates eventually perished but Jamaica was secured for Britain.

On their arrival in England Penn and Venables who, according to Ashley, had spent most of their time in quarelling with each other, were imprisoned in the tower for returning without orders.

Admiral Penn had in fact performed quite well and few of his ships were lost. But according to reliable sources Venables was the prototype of later day Colonel Blimps [6]. He lacked both ability and judgement and sought to hide these deficiencies by his overbearing and bumptious manner. He blamed his own failures on his troops and foolishly allowed his wife to accompany the expedition. The presence of this, by all accounts, well endowed lady, exposed him to accusations of petticoat rule and self indulgence.

Venables attempted to blame Disbrowe for the poor quality of his men and supplies. It is doubtful if there was much truth in this accusation since Disbrowe was only brought into the picture late in November before the expedition sailed. He discovered grave deficiencies and did what he could to rectify them but there was not time to do all that was needed. Fleetwood [7] accompanied the expedition as an observer. In a confidential letter to Disbrowe he related his account of the campaign.

To General Disbrowe [8]:

May It Please Your Honour,
The generalls arrived at Barbados before the Marston Moore, and sent me to the Leeward Islands, to rayse a regiment of men, and lay an embargo on all ships. This I thought was nedles, greatt hopes being to rayse as many as we had nede of in Barbadus; besides I knew itt out of the way to Carthagena; but itt being ordered by the commissioners, I went with Holdip and Blagge joyned in commission with selfe. This Holdip was preferred to a regiment, contrary to the minde of the major generall and all the collonells in the army, Fortuskue excepted, but quite contrary to mine owne minde, who knew him to be an envious, covetous, hipocritical fellow: but the generall was wilfull and did prefere him. After we had continued three weeks at the Leward Islands, the fleete appearing, we shipt our men in the 4 prizes, which we had taken, and in the marson-moore, and Selby.
We sett sayle with the whole fleet, landed at Hispaniola, and were cowardly beaten; lost the good major generall, lieftenant collonell Clarke received his death's wound; Major Forgesson, capt. Butler, the captain of the reformades, and severall other persons of quality, were slayne by a handfull of cowardly molatoes and negroes. My letter to his highnes will lett your honour know the truth of all passages on that island. Att last embarked our men and sett sayle for the island of Jamica, which we soone became masters of, meting with little opposition; and might have surprized all the people, if the generall had not lett them goe by an inconsiderate treaty. They lie in the woods, and as they see opportunity, cut off your poor souldiers, as they straggle up and downe. The generall is about coming home, who made Fortescue his major generall, without acquainting his highnes commissioners. Believe me, sir, the generall is covetous and nigardly, and (in fine) is much out of the hearte of his souldiers, through his imprudence and unsoldier-like deportment; but sure I am he is prodigall enough of his highnes revenue, cares nott what becomes of his army, see hee himselfe be well. He cannot endure to be enformed of his errors. Generall Penn hath not beene wanting, both to hazard his person, and forward his highnes service, who I presume, can acquaint your honour with all passages; for whose civilityes to myself I am much bounde. God give him a safe return with those ships which come with him.
The ship Discovery was burned in this harbour by an accident, after she had taken in the generall's lower tier of guns, as the generall was about to carene his ships; but through God's blessing and his endeavours, we are all recovered. This passage of Providence, with general Penn's weaknes, I thought would have proved his death; but now his strength is pretty well recovered, and the [?????] I hope truly sanctified to him. Mr. Winslow (the New England Commissioner) dyed of griefe to see our army putt off Hispaniola, who was buried honourably att sea, on our way betwixt Hispaniola and this island. God sanctify these sad dispensations of providence to his highnes and your honour, to graunt you that wisdom, which may cheare your hearte under his will, and direct you never to lett a generall's wife accompany him in foraine service. Generall Venables returning will enforce me to come with him, my power being att an ende, and he proving my adversary for that good advice I gave him. This bearer, the rear-admiral, can acquaint your honour, that all the time we lay by Hine river, he constantly lay on board the ship every night (two excepted) Sir, for all those noble favours which God by you hath conferred on me. I returne your honour most humble thankes, and rest.
Your most unworthy servant,
I hearwith send your honour the accompte of the Dutch estate, seized att the Leward Islands, with the disbursements, and what is remayning.
Fleetwood.

Notes for Chapter Nine:

[1] Thurloe, Vol. II, p. 709

[2] Thurloe, Vol. II, p. 740

[3] Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 3

[4] Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 4

[5] Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 11

[6] Ashley (2), p. 132

[7] The identity of this observer is uncertain. It does not seem likely that it was Ltd. Gen. Chas. Fleetwood; more likely it was one of his brothers.

[8] Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 689

Chapter Ten: Major General of the West