The expedition had brought about 3,600 American colonial troops, but only roughly 300 joined the force ashore. Vernon distributed the remaining 3,300 among ships of the line and other vessels because the fleet had lost sailors. The transfer strengthened his ability to operate the ships while removing more than a quarter of the expedition's intended land strength. This was a redistribution between services, rather than a battlefield casualty total. It left the army less able to exploit the fleet's control of the sea.
Notable Point · 1:37:38-1:38:37
Shipboard replacements remove most American troops from the siege
Only about 300 of the 3,600 American troops landed as soldiers because Vernon dispersed the rest among his ships to replace lost sailors.