 There were 10,000 soldiers, 12,600 sailors, 1,000 Jamaican slaves and 4,000 recruits from Virginia.The defences of Cartagena de Indias comprised between 3,000 and 6,000 combatants, including regular troops, militia, and native archers, and six Spanish ships of the line and their crews.Blas de Lezo's advantages consisted of a formidable primary fortress and numerous secondary fortifications.