Rowland Charles Frederick Leig H’ • f; 5^ x\ IS ' ’ a Jr ’ /?k ' * kA A aT f V 'Aarv L’i; ?! T ??V^ ,'*A A ’A A A**A ■-• Ai z% ' -N r\/*^ IeI&fE • ■ ^A‘a CA a AW' - ■ z/A^rO- ^r)ftf7/'A* A\ < \f\ ■ ’* • W 'AOO.A x A-AP.-J v *. A \ -\ •> A "‘ rr~ * A"A'- .< a.^ i X '' A £ - [A- •'■ — - A — -®• - ’ - • A* / ./•V r «\r\ "/A V A..’ ’,- lAf v ’• ’ .,<< \frf ' '7-AL,>,. - - ... A - 'Xa CJf? A f> r, A ~ A A l<2^AAaA^' :/ V> r r* zA A o r '*■ r 1 L «R V% " AaAA - . ' r\ i -. *• *• mwM WAX #•' A AS ' AO ,-, Q, f* ,~, A -\,* ^-. • ’aM'/S. •« .. ' " - ^'waaAC ' - '*' '' <> z> ^'A* Z*   -   Fort St. Philip. INKS The Barrier Port 8t. Barbara Western Guard House. Centre Ouard House, fortified. Eastern Ouard House, OF THE spanisf) UallrrifB BEFORE GIBRALTAR. 13th September, 1782. Old Windmill. Queen's Lines. Fnnce's Lines. Willis's. Grand Battery Picquet Yard. Montague's Bastion Castle. Orange Bastion. Irish Toicn. Grand Parade. Spanish Church. Lieutenant-Go veil.or Boyd'i Governor Eliott's. South Port. Red Sands. Artillery Magazine. Pocoroco. DENS. The Governor's Meadow. Bayside Barrier. Forbes's Barrier. The Devil's Tower. Water Port. Old Mule. Middle Hill. The King d Bastion, Snn Roque Guadaranque R. En,re Hio. CarVicnero. Palmones R. GIBRALTAR Pl St. Garoia, Victualling Office. Pt. Camero. South Basttc Palomas Bortija. Citadel. Ragged Staff*. ■ To face the Tide.A HISTORY OF THE SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR 1779 — 1783. WITH A DESCRIPTION AND ACCOUNT OF THAT GARRISON, FROM THE EARLIEST PERIODS. By JOHN DRINKWATER, CAPTAIN IN THE LATE SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT, OR ROYAL MANCHESTER VOLUNTEERS. “Volatile ferrum Spargitur, arva nova Xeptunia ca?de rubescunt.” Vi kg. NEIV EDITION. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1871.LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.TO THE KING. Sir, When I solicited the honour of being permitted to place under Your Majesty’s protection the following Work, I was not impressed with the idea, that the excellence of the composition, but that the importance of the subject, might in some degree entitle it to that distinction. The History of an Event which reflects so much lustre on Your Majesty’s Arms, could not, I apprehended, however feeble the execution, so properly appear under any other auspices. That Your Majesty may never be less faithfully served, nor less successful against the enemies of Your Crown and People, is the sincere and fervent wish of Yorn Majesty's Much obliged and most devoted Subject and Servant, JOHN DRINKWATKF 13th September, 1785.PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. The following History (as I have presumed to call it) is compiled from observations daily noted down upon the spot, for my own satisfaction and improvement, assisted by the information and remarks of several respectable characters, who also were eye-witnesses of the transactions therein recorded. Disappointed in my expectations of seeing this subject undertaken by an abler pen, nothing less than a conviction that an accurate detail of this extraordinary Siege might be useful, both in a military and historical view, could have induced me, at this late period, to publish. In the prosecution of this design, one principal difficulty has occurred. The work is addressed to two classes of Readers : those whose principal object in the perusal of it was entertainment, I apprehended, might find the relation too minute and circumstantial; and that, from the insertion of many particulars, which those of the Military Profession would greatly blame an author for presuming to curtail or omit. With the former, it is hoped that the necessary connection of some events (which at first may appear trivial) with the great business of the History, will he some apology; and I have endeavoured to diversify the narrative, by such Anecdotes and Observations as will occasionally relieve or awaken the attention. To the latter I shall not attempt any apology. The late Siege of Gibraltar afforded many instances of very singular exertions in the Art of Attack and Defence, the mi nut ice of which cannot be without their utility to those Officers who make a science of their profession; and they must be sensible, that without pointed exactness, this design could not have been accomplished. In short, it must be remembered, that the History of this Siege is not that of a Month, or of a Year, but that it embraces a period of near Four Years, exhibiting a series of operations perhaps unparalleled. To Major Vallotton, the Governor’s first aide-de-camp, and Lieutenant Holloway, Aide-de-Camp to the Chief Engineer, I have particular pleasure in this opportunity of returning thanks for the favour of many kind communications; also to other Officers of Rank, whose names I have not their permission to insert. I must also acknowledge having derived considerable assistance, m the two introductory chapters, from the History of the Herculean Straits. Great additions have however been introduced; and I flatter myself upon the whole, that those Chapters will not prove an unacceptable part of the Work, since they will render it as complete a General History of Gibraltar as most readers will require.A HISTORY OF THE SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. CHAPTER I. General History of Gibraltar, since it was first noticed—Fortified under the Saracen Empire— Reduction of the Fortress by Ferdinand of Castile—Retaken by the Moors—Finally recovered by the Christians—Taken by the English—Besieged by the Spaniards in 1705 ; afterwards in 1727—Succession of Governors to the present time. Gibraltar is situated in Andalusia, the most southern province of Spain. The Rock is seven miles in circumference, forming a promontory three miles long; and is joined to the continent by an isthmus of low sand: the southern extremity lies in 36° 2' 30" N. lat., and in 5° 15' W. long, from the meridian of London. Historians, from very early periods, have noticed Gibraltar, or Mons Calpe, by a well-known mythological fiction, denominating it, and Mons Abyla, on the opposite coast of Africa, the Pillars of Hercules. It does not, however, appear that the hill was ever inhabited by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, or Romans, who, in the first ages of navigation, visited the bay, and built cities in its neighbourhood; or that it ever engaged the attention of those intrepid and successful barbarians who so violently subverted the Roman empire, and established a new government in Spain. The period when it began to be remarked for the natural strength of its situation, seems well ascertained to be in the beginning of the eighth century, when the Saracens (then become a powerful nation in the east, and along the coast of Africa) invaded Spain, and soon after made themselves masters of the whole country. The Gothic kingdom, which had existed in Spain for 300 years, was, previous to the invasion of the Saracens, distracted with intestine divisions : the nation in general were become effeminate, totally neglecting the military discipline of their ancestors; and their monarch Roderic, a profligate prince, not a little accelerated their ruin by ravishing the daughter of Count Julian, a nobleman of great wealth and influence, and governor of Ceuta, in Africa. Count Julian, to avenge the dishonour done to his family, combined with other discontented chiefs, who had long complained, and were ripe for a revolt. The tyrant was, however, too powerful for whatever opposition they alone could raise; the count, therefore, secretly retired with his family into Africa, and acquainting Mousa (the . Saracen governor of the western provinces) with the divided state of the empire, promised, if he would attempt to dethrone Roderic, to assist him with his own interest, and that of his friends. Mousa, cautious and prudent, communicated the project to his sovereign the Caliph A1 Walid Ebn Abdalmalic, who agreed to try the practicability of it; and, to inspect more accurately the state of affairs, sent over a small detachment. 100 horse, and 400 foot, were accordingly embarked in the year 711, under the command of Tarif Ebn Zarca, attended by Count Julian, BHISTORY OF THE [chap. I and other Gothic noblemen: this small force soon passed the Herculean Straits, and landed on the coast near the present town of Algeziras, where, finding no opposition, and the country almost defenceless, the Saracen general ravaged the neighbouring towns, and returned laden with spoils, to report the success of his first expedition. Mousa, elated with the flattering prospect, the following year assembled an army of 12,000 men, and Tarif was appointed to the chief command. Having supplied himself with provisions and stores, Tarif once more embarked on the rapid Strait, and landed on the isthmus between Mons Calpe and the continent. The object of this invasion being of a more serious nature than that of the former, he determined to secure a communication with Africa, by establishing a post on the coast; and, duly estimating the strong natural situation of Mons Calpe, gave orders to erect a castle on the face of the hill, which might answer the original purpose, and also cover his retreat, in case he should be unfortunate in his future operations. The superior part of this once magnificent pile at present remains; and, from an inscription discovered over the principal gate, before it was pulled down, the period of its being finished is ascertained to be about the year of our Lord 725. Tarif, leaving a garrison at the foot of Mons Calpe (which was now called by the Saracens, in compliment to their general, Gibel-Tarif, or the mountain of Tarif, and thence Gibraltar), marched into the country, and surprised many towns, amongst which was Heraelea, or Carteia, situated on the coast of the bay, about four miles distant from Gibel-Tarif. King Roderic, receiving intelligence of Tariffs approach, assembled a numerous body of troops to oppose his progress. Both armies met, after several skirmishes, n?ar Xeres, in Andalusia, and a bloody conflict ensued. The victory was for a long time doubtful ; but the Gothic army being raw and undisciplined, and part disaffected and joining the Saracens. Tarif at length prevailed, and by this victory was soon in possession of the whole kingdom. The Goths, or Spaniards as we will now call them, were driven by the rapid conquests of the invaders into the provinces of Asturias, Biscay, &c., where, like the ancient Britons, they maintained a strenuous and respectable opposition. By degrees they reassumed their former discipline and valour, while their conquerors declined into luxury and effeminacy : they made several excursions from the mountains, recovering, after many obstinate actions, great part of the northern provinces. This success encouraged them to attempt the total rejection of the Arabic yoke. Measures were concerted among the chiefs, to act with union and with vigour. The infidels were attacked and routed in successive engagements; and the kingdoms of Asturias, Galicia,, Ipon, Navarre, and Castile, erected unaer different monarchs. Gibraltar, during these transactions, increased in importance, though not in an equal degree with the neighbouring city of Algeziras, which had been built, posterior to Gibraltar, on the opposite shore of the bay, and was then become a fortress of great magnificence and strength. This celebrated city seems totally to have obscured Gibraltar in the histories of those times, since very trifling mention is made of the latter till the beginning of the fourteenth century, when we learn that Ferdinand, king of Castile, in the course of his conquests, first took it (with a small detachment) from the infidels. Gibraltar could not at this period be very strong, as it fell so easy a prey to the Christians, whose army had been, and at that time was employed in the siege of Algeziras. It does not, however, appear that Ferdinand was equally successful in his operations against that city; for we find, in the year 1316, the Moors of Grenada applying to the emperor of Fez for succour: and, to facilitate their reception, Algeziras and other cities on the coast were put into the hands of the Africans. We may therefore conclude that Ferdinand was1333.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 3 obliged to withdraw from before Alge- o a c ziras, and that he afterwards directed his force against the infidels in a more vulnerable part, which induced them to apply for the assistance just mentioned. Gibraltar continued in the possession of the Spaniards till 1333, when Abomelique, son of the Emperor of Fez, was dispatched with further assistance to the Moorish king of Granada, and C7 landing at Algeziras, immediately laid siege to Gibraltar, whilst the Grana-dians were making diversions else-where. Alonzo XL was then on the throne of Castile ; and intelligence was immediately sent to inform him of the descent of the Africans. He was, however, prevented from marching to the relief of Gibraltar by a rebellion in his kingdom, and by the approach of Mahomet, king of Granada, towards his frontiers. Abomelique commenced his attack on the castle with great judg-ment and bravery, and the Spanish governor Vasco Perez de Mevra de-fended it with equal obstinacy ; hut Perez having embezzled the money which was advanced to victual the garrison, the troops and inhabitants suffered great distress; and no prospect of relief offering, he was compelled, after five months' siege, to surrender. 7 Alonzo having quelled the rebellion, and obliged Mahomet to retire, was O 7 then marching to the assistance of Perez, and was advanced within a short distance of Gibraltar, when he was informed of the capitulation. He was resolved nevertheless to attempt its recovery before the Moors could victual and repair it: he accordingly proceeded on his route, and encamped before the town five days after it had surrendered. Alonzo parted his army into three divisions; the main body occupied the isthmus, the second he sent by boats to the red sands, and the third climbed up the north of the hill above the town. Several serious attacks had been made on the castle, when Mahomet, king of Granada, joining Abomelique's forces, their combined army encamped in the rear of the Spaniards, extending across the isthmus from the bay to the Mediterranean. This position hemmed in the besiegers, debarred them from foraging, and cut off their communication with the country. Alonzo, though thus cri- •> 7 tically situated, still maintained the siege: but at length, driven to great difficulties for want of provisions, and hearing that some of his disaffected subjects, taking advantage of his absence. were again in arms, he hearkened to an accommodation, and was permitted to retire with his army. To be thus disgracefully compelled to raise the siege did not agree with c *_ the ambitious and impatient temper of Alonzo: he secretly meditated a new attack whenever an opportunity should occur; and this intention was not a little strengthened bv Ids success in the year 1343-4, when Algeziras was taken, after a most memorable siege. In 1349 the tumults and civil wars in Africa afforded him the opportunity he waited for: great preparations were therefore made for this expedition, which was not esteemed of inferior consequence to the preceding siege of Algeziras, as the Moors, since the loss of that city, had paid great attention to the completion of the works, and to the rendering of the place considerably stronger by additional fortifications; the garrison was also numerous and well provided, and of their choicest troops. Alonzo encamped before Gibraltar in the beginning of 1349. and immediately laid waste the delightful groves, gar-dens, and houses of pleasure, which were erected in its neighbourhood. The siege was commenced with great bravery, and though the camp of the Castilians was much harassed by the dying squadrons of Granadian horse, yet the castle in the course of several months was almost reduced to a capitulation. At this critical period a pestilential disorder swept away numbers of the besiegers, and among the rest Alonzo, who died, much lamented, on the 26th of March. 1350; and the Spaniards immediately afterwards raised the V siege. The descendants of Abomelique continued in quiet possession of Gibraltar till 1410, when Jusaf III., king of Gra-nada, availing himself of the intestine divisions which prevailed among the B 24 HISTORY OF THE [chap. I African Moors, took possession of the place. The inhabitants, however, not relishing the government of their new masters, unanimously revolted the following year against the Granadian alcaide, drove him with his garrison out of the town, and wrote to the emperor of Morocco, to be taken again under his protection. The emperor dispatched his brother Sayd, with 1000 horse and 2000 foot, to their assistance. The king of Granada, being informed that Sayd had garrisoned the castle, marched with an army, and sending his fleet round to the bay, appeared before the place in 1411. Sayd advanced to meet him, but, being worsted in several skirmishes, was obliged to retreat within the castle, and being closely besieged, and reduced to great distress for want of provisions, was at last compelled to submit. In 1435, Henry de Guzman, Count de Niebla, formed a desisn of attacking Gibraltar by land and sea; but, imprudently skirmishing with the garrison, from his galleys, before his son John de Guzman arrived with the land forces, he was defeated, and forced to a precipitate retreat: in w'hich confusion he himself lost his life, and many of his followers were killed and drowned. In 1462, a civil war breaking out in Granada, great part of the garrison of Gibraltar was withdrawn, to assist one of the competitors for the crown : the governor of Tarifa had intelligence of this by a Moor, who had left the town, and embraced the Christian faith. An army was accordingly assembled from the neighbouring garrisons, and Gibraltar was besieged. The inhabitants defended it with great resolution; but fresh troops joining the besiegers, the garrison surrendered to John de Guzman, Duke de Medina Sidonia (son of the unfortunate Count de Niebla), who, hearing that the place was reduced to great distress, hastened to the camp, and arrived just in time to be present when the Moors capitulated. From this period it has remained in the hands of the Christians, after having been in the possession of the Mahometans 748 years. The news of this conquest was so acceptable to Henry IV., of Castile and Leon, that he added it to his royal titles, and gave it for arms, Gules, a castle, proper, with a key pendent to the gate, or (alluding to its being the key to the Mediterranean) ; which arms have ever since been continued. Pedro de Porras was appointed governor; but the succeeding year King Henry made a journey to Gibraltar, and superseded him, giving the command to Don Bertrand de la Cueva, Count Lederma, who placed the trust in the hands of Ste-phano Villacreces: the Duke de Medina Sidonia, however, afterwards recovered and enjoyed it, till the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1502, v/hen it was annexed to the crown. In the year 1540, Piali Hamet, one of Barbarossa’s captains, surprised and pillaged Gibraltar, making prisoners many of the principal inhabitants ; but being met on his return by some galleys from Sicily, the corsairs were all killed or taken, and the prisoners redeemed. In 1589, during the reign of Charles V., the fortifications of the town were modernised and several additions made by Daniel Speckel, the emperor’s engineer; after which the place was thought to be impregnable. From this time there appears a chasm in the history of the garrison till the year 1704, when Gibraltar was wrested (most probably for ever) from the dominion of Spain, by the English, under Admiral Sir George Kooke. This officer had been sent into the Mediterranean, with a strong fleet, in the spring of 1704, to assist Charles, archduke of Austria, in obtaining the crown of Spain; but, his instructions being limited, nothing of importance was done. Sensible of the reflections that would fall on him, for being inactive with so powerful a fleet, he held a council of war, on the 17th of July, 1704, near Tetuan, at which several schemes were proposed, particularly a second attack upon Cadiz, which however was thought impracticable for want of a sufficient body of land forces. At length it was resolved to make a sudden and vigorous attempt on Gibraltar. The 21st of the same month, the fleet arrived in the bay; and 1800 men, Engfish and Dutch, commanded by1704.J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 5 the Prince of Hesse d’Armstadt, were landed on the isthmus. The prince then summoned the garrison: hut the governor refusing to surrender, preparations were made for the attack. By daybreak on the 23rd, the ships appointed to cannonade the town, under Admirals Byng and Vanderdussen, with those that were destined to batter the new mole, commanded by Captains Hicks and Jumper, were at their several stations. The -admiral made the signal to begin the cannonade, which was performed with great vivacity and effect, so that the enemy, in five or six hours, were driven from their guns, especially from the new mole head. The admiral, considering that by gaining that fortification the town might sooner be reduced, ordered Captain Whitaker, with the armed boats, to possess himself of it; but Captains Hicks and Jumper, who lay next the mole, pushed ashore with their pinnaces, before the rest came up; whereupon the Spaniards sprung a mine, which blew up the fortifications, killed 2 lieutenants and 40 men, and wounded 60. The assailants nevertheless kept possession of the work, and being joined by Captain Whitaker, advanced and took a small redoubt,* half-way between the mole and the town. The Marquis de Salines, who was governor, being again summoned, thought proper to capitulate : hostages were therefore exchanged, and the Prince of Hesse, on the 24th of July, 1704, took possession of the gates. Notwithstanding the works were very strong, mounting 100 pieces of ordnance, well appointed with ammunition and stores; yet the garrison, at most, consisted of only 150 men, exclusive of the inhabitants. The marquis marched out with all the honours of war, and the Spaniards who chose to remain were allowed the same privileges they had enjoyed under King Charles II. The loss of the English in this attack was, 2 lieutenants, 1 master, 57 sailors, killed; 1 captain, 7 lieutenants, 1 boatswain, 207 sailors, wounded. * The present eight-gun battery. The Prince of Hesse remained governor ; and as many men as could well be spared from the fleet were left as a garrison. Sir George Rooke afterwards sailed for Tetuan, to wood and water. This being performed, he steered up the Mediterranean, and on the 13th of August, off Malaga, engaged the French feet, under the command of Count de Toulouse. The action was long and warm; but many of the English ships, having expended a great quantity of ammunition in taking Gibraltar, were soon obliged to quit the line; which gave the enemy a decided superiority. The engagement ended in a drawn battle; and Sir George returned to Gibraltar, where he stayed eight days to refit; and then supplying the prince with what men and provisions he could spare, sailed thence on the 4th of September, N.S., on his way home, leaving IS men-of-war under the command of Sir John Leake, at Lisbon, to be in readiness to succour the garrison, if there should be occasion. The courts of Madrid and Paris were greatly concerned at the loss of so important a fortress as Gibraltar, and, considering its recovery of the last consequence to the cause, the Marquis de Villadarias, a grandee of Spain, was ordered to besiege, and endeavour to retake it. The Prince of Hesse, apprised of their intentions, and being further informed that they were to be assisted by a naval force from Toulon, sent advice to Sir John Leake, requesting assistance and supplies. Sir John prepared for this duty; but in the mean time a fleet of French ships arrived, and landed six battalions, which joined the Spanish army. After disembarking their reinforcements, the French squadron proceeded to the westward, leaving only six frigates in the bay. On the 11th of October, 1704, the Marquis opened his trenches against the town; and soon afterwards Sir John Leake arrived with 20 sail of English and Dutch ships: hearing, however, that the enemy were preparing to attack him w ith a superior force, he thought it most eligible immediately to retire and refit, that he might be inG HISTOKY OF THE [chap. I. a better condition to supply and assist the garrison, in a second expedition, for which he had very prudently directed preparations to he made at Lisbon in his absence. On the 25th he again put to sea; and on the 29th unexpectedly entering the bay, surprised thre< frigates, a fire-ship, two English prizes, a tartan, and a store-ship. He then tanded the reinforcements, and supplied the garrison with six months’ provisions and ammunition, at the same time detaching on shore a body of 500 sailors to assist in repairing the breaches which had been made by the enemy’s fire. The arrival of the admiral wras very opportune and critical; for that very night the marquis had resolved to attack the place by sea and land at five different points ; for which purpose he had assembled 200 boats from Cadiz, &c. Though disappointed in their designs. the Spaniards still entertained hopes of taking the fortress; and supposing the troops would be less on their guard while the fleet was in the bay, they formed the desperate scheme of surprising the garrison, though the British admiral was before the town. The 31st of October, 500 volunteers took the sacrament, never to return till they had taken Gibraltar. This forlorn party was conducted by a goatherd to the south side of the rock, near the Cave-guard (at that time called the Pass of Locust-trees). Fortune, in the beginning, so far favoured the enterprise, that they mounted the rock, and lodged themselves unperceived the first night in St. Michael’s cave; the succeeding night they scaled Charles the Fifth’s wall; surprised and put to death the guard at the Signal-house and at Middle-hill, where afterwards, by ropes and ladders, they got up several hundreds of the party who had been ordered to sustain them; but being discovered, a strong detachment of grenadiers marched up immediately from the town, and attacked them with such spirit, that 160 of them were killed, or driven over the precipice, and a colonel and 30 officers, with the remainder, taken prisoners. These brave, but unfortunate adventurers, were to have been supported by a body of French troops, and some feints were to have been made below to engage the attention of the garrison ; but the commanding officers disagreeing, they were left to their fortune. Sir John Leake was not idle whilst he remained in the bay, but was continually alarming the enemy on their coasts. The 22nd of November he had information, by one of his cruisers, that a strong squadron was fitting out at Cadiz, which would be soon ready for sea; and receiving further intelligence, that a convoy, fitted out from Lisbon for the relief of Gibraltar, was on its way, he prepared to join it off Lagos, in order to protect it past Cadiz; but was confined within the Straits by a westerly wind. The prince, in the mean time, redoubled his exertions to prevent the enemy’s designs, wdio flattered themselves, that on the arrival of their fleet from Cadiz, Sir John would be obliged to retire, and the garrison surrender to their united attacks. Their fire was continued with additional vivacity, many cannon in the place were dismounted, and the works were materially injured in different parts. Affairs were in this situation, when part of the long-wushed-for succours arrived on the 7th of December; and two days following, the remainder came in with near 2000 men, with proportionable ammunition and provisions. They sailed from Lisbon under convoy of four frigates, and thought themselves safe on discovering, off Cape Spartel, a fleet of men-of-war, under English and Dutch colours : expecting to meet Sir John, with the combined fleet, at the entrance o‘‘ the Straits, they endeavoured to join them, but fortunately were becalmed: they then hoisted out their boats to tow the ships, when, perceiving the men-of-war extend themselves in form of a half moon, in order to surround them, they began to suspect some deception, and accordingly made a private signal, which totally frustrated the enemy’s measures, w’ho were thereby discovered, and, striking their false colours, endeavoured to fall upon the transports ; but these latter, beinsr lighter vessels,170 5. J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. escaped by tlieir oars, and, night coming on, steered for the bay, with the loss of only two transports. It was now thought no longer necessary to detain the fleet in the bay, or on the coast; especially when Monsieur Poin-tis was so near, with a superior force. Sir John accordingly arrived at Lisbon the latter end of the year. The Spanish general being reinforced with a considerable body of infantry, made an attack, on the 11th of January, 1705, with 60 grenadiers on the works at the extremity of the King’s lines ; but, two officers and several others being killed, the rest retreated. This repulse did not, however, discourage him; for, early on the succeeding day, the attack was renewed by 500 or 600 grenadiers, French and Walons, supported by 1000 Spaniards, under Lieutenant-General Tuy. Their disposition was to storm a breach which had been made in the round tower, at the extremity of the King’s lines, and another in the intrenchment on the hill. The retrenchment which covered the latter breach, with part of the intrenchment joining the precipice of the rock, was defended at night by a captain, three subalterns, and 90 men; but it was customary for the captain to withdraw, with two subalterns and 60 men, at daybreak. The round tower was defended by 180 men, commanded by a lieutenant-colonel. The marquis, by deserters from the garrison, had obtained intelligence pf the strength of these posts, and concerted his attack accordingly. The detachment for the upper breach mounted the rock at dead of night, and concealed themselves in the clefts till the captain had withdrawn. They then advanced to the point of the intrenchment, and, throwing grenades on the subaltern and his party, obliged them to retreat. At the same time 300 men stormed the round tower, where Lieutenant-Colonel Barr made a vigorous defence, though the enemy having passed the breach above, annoyed him on the flank with great stones and grenades: observing, however, the Spaniards marching down to cut off his retreat from the town, he Tetired, and by getting over the para- pet of the King’s lines, descended into the covered wav, where the English guards were posted. By this time the garrison was alarmed; all the regiments assembled at their proper posts: and Captain Fisher endeavoured to stop the progress of the enemy with 17 men, but was repulsed and himself taken prisoner. Lieutenant - Colonel Moneal, at Jast, with 400 or 500 men, charged them with such bravery, that they were repulsed, and the tower was retaken after it had been in their possession upwards of an hour. Soon after this attack, six companies of Dutch troops, and 200 English soldiers, were received by the garrison, with provisions and stores. The Spaniards and French were still obstinately bent on the recovery of Gibraltar. The Marquis de Villada-rias was superseded by the Marshal Tesse, a French general; and Monsieur Pointis was directed to co-operate with the marshal in blocking up the port with a powerful fleet. The marshal joined the army with four fresh battalions, besides eight companies which had been sent before. The ordnance, which from constant use had been greatly injured, were totally exchanged; and the works, as they then stood, were put in the best repair. The English ministry had been informed of the enemy's new arrangements; end, sensible of the importance of Gibraltar, ordered a reinforcement, under Sir Thomas Dilkes and Sir John Hardy, to join Admiral Sir John Leake at Lisbon. The junction being effected, and his own fleet refitted, Sir John, on the 6th of March, sailed with 28 English, 4 Dutch, and 8 Portuguese men-of-war, having on board two battalions. Happily for the besieged, the incessant rains about this period had retarded the marshal’s operations, and greatly distressed Monsieur Pointis, several of whose ships were forced from their anchors by a strong westerly wind, and driven to the eastward. He, with the remainder of his squadron, was quitting the bay, when the British admiral entered the Straits, and about half past five, on the morning of the 10th, was almost abreast of Cabrita Point. Sir8 HISTORY OF THE [CELJP. I. John Leake, discovering five sail making out of the bay, and a gun fired at them from the garrison, concluded that the town was safe, and immediately gave chace. Three French ships of the line were taken, and Admiral Poin-tis’s ship and another run ashore and burnt. Sir John afterwards looked into Malaga, where some of the ships that had been driven from the harbour had taken shelter; but, hearing the report of the guns, they had made the best of their way to Toulon. Sir John, finding the pursuit of them in vain, returned on the 19th to Gibraltar, which was now so well supplied, that Marshal Tesse withdrew his troops from the trenches, and formed a blockade ; drawing an intrenchment across the isthmus, to prevent the garrison from ravaging the country. In the course of this siege, the enemy did not lose fewer than 10,000 men, including those who died of sickness, &c. The garrison lost about 400. The Prince of Hesse remained in the place while the batteries were repaired: I he made also some additions to the fortifications, and left the garrison much stronger than it was before the siege. The prince then joined the Archduke Charles at Lisbon, where the combined fleets of England and Holland were assembled, to support that prince in obtaining the crown of Spain. As the archduke was resolved to try his fortune with the Earl of Peterborough, in Valencia and Catalonia, the Prince of Hesse was sent back to Gibraltar, to prepare part of the garrison to embark, and soon after was followed by the fleet; upon whose arrival, in August, 1705, the archduke was received by the garrison as lawful sovereign of Spain, and proclaimed by the title of Charles III. Having taken on hoard the English guards, and three old regiments, leaving only two new battalions in the town (as there was no danger to be apprehended from the enemy), they proceeded, on the 5th of August, for Valencia. His Majesty then appointed Major-General Ramos, who had been present during the siege, governor of Gibraltar; and sent with him about 400 men for its greater security. General Ramos afterwards resigned his government, and was sue-ceeded by Colonel Roger Elliot; during whose government Gibraltar was made a free port, by a special order from her Majesty Queen Anne ~ The following was the governor’s manifesto on the occasion :— 44 By the Hon. Roger Elliot, Colonel of one of her Majesty’s regiments of foot, and Governor of the c:ty and garrison of Gibraltar. 44 Whereas her Majesty of Great Britain, &c. hath been graciously pleased, by her warrant to me, dated 19th February last, to confirm her former declarations for the freedom of this port, and to regulate and command me not to permit any dutyr or imposition whatsoever to be laid or received for any ship or vessel, or for any goods, wares, merchandise, or provisions, imported or exported out of this port; but that the same be free and open for all ships and vessels, goods, wares, merchandise, and provisions : these are to make known and publish her said Majesty’s royal will and pleasure; and all persons concerned are hereby strictly required to take notice thereof, not presuming to demand or receive any dutv or iinposi-tion whatsoever for any ship or vessel, or for any goods, wares, merchandise, or provisions, as they will answer the contrary at their peril. 44 Given at Gibraltar, April, 1706.” Colonel Congreve was commandant before 1714. He was succeeded by Colonel Cotton. In 1720 Gibraltar seems to have been threatened by the Spaniards. Ceuta, a Spanish fortress in Barbary, had then been besieged many vears by the Moors; and a for-midable force, commanded by the Mar-quis de Leda, was assembled in Gibraltar Bay, under pretence of relieving it, | but with a secret intention of first surprising Gibraltar; for which purpose they had procured scaling-ladders, &c. &c. This armament was not fitted out so secretly but that the British ministry had timely notice, and, suspecting some finesse, dispatched orders to Colonel Kane, governor of Minorca, im-, mediately to embark a part of his gar*K27J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 9 rison, and repair to Gibraltar, under convoy of the Beet in the Mediterra-nean. On his arrival he found Gibraltar in a very critical situation; the garrison consisting only of three weak battalions, commanded by Major He-therington, who, except Major Batte-roux, was the only field-officer in the place. Many officers were absent, only fourteen days’ provisions in the stores, and many Spaniards in the town, with a fleet before its walls. Such was the feeble posture of affairs when he opportunely arrived with 500 men, provisions, and ammunition. The British commodore acted afterwards in so spirited a manner, that the Marquis de Leda was obliged to sail for Ceuta, though he continued of opinion that the garrison might have been taken by a general assault. This scheme proving abortive, Gibraltar remained unmolested till the latter end of the year 1726, when the Spaniards, who had kept a watchful eye on the garrison, assembled an army in the neighbourhood of Algeziras. On the 20th of January following, they encamped on the plain below St. Roque, and began to erect a battery on the beach to protect their camp. Admiral Hopson was then at anchor in the bay, with a very formidable fleet; but, as he had not received any intelli-gence of hostilities having commenced between the courts of Great Britain and Madrid, he was with reluctance compelled to overlook the transporting of provisions, artillery, and ammunition from Algeziras (where they had formed their depots) to the camp. Brigadier Kane, who had been a second time ordered from Minorca to Gibraltar, lay also under similar embarrassments with the admiral. The operations of the enemy, however, tending towards a direct attack upon the garrison, he thought it prudent to order the Spaniards out of the town, and forbid their galleys anchoring under his guns. It must be understood that Gibraltar had undergone considerable alterations since the siege of 1705: several works had been erected on the heights above the lines, which were distinguished by the name of Willis’s batteries; the Prince’s lines were also extended to the extremity of the rock ; and an inundation with a causeway was formed out of the morass that was in front of the grand battery. The Count de Las Torres commanded the Spanish forces, amounting to near 20,000 men ; and soon after his camp was formed, he advanced within reach of the garrison. The brigadier thereupon dispatched a parley, to desire “ That he would withdraw from the range of his guns, otherwise he should do his utmost to force him.” The count answered, “ That, as the garrison could command no more than they had power to maintain, he should obey his Catholic Majesty’s orders, and encroach as far as he was able.” Notwithstanding this insult, as war had not been formally declared, the brigadier waived commencing hostilities, till the Spaniards, by their proceedings, should oblige him, in defence of his command. In the beginning of February, Brigadier Clayton, the lieutenant-governor, arrived with reinforcements, on board Sir Charles Wager’s fleet; and a council of war was immediately summoned, but the result was a determination not to fire upon the Spaniards. The U th of February, the enemy brought materials for batteries to the old windmill, on the neutral ground; upon which the lieutenant-governor again collected the sense of the admirals and field-officers ; when in the second council it was unanimously agreed that the Spanish general had made open war in encroaching so far on the liberties of the garrison. This being their opinion, Brigadier Clayton sent a parley to the count, to know the reason of his breaking ground: to which the count replied, that “ he was on his master’s ground, and was not answerable to any other person for his conduct.” As this answer directly indicated the hostile intentions of the Spaniards, the lieutenant-governor, in the evening, withdrew the out-guard, and the succeeding day in the afternoon opened the old mole and Willis’s batteries on their workmen. They persisted, nevertheless, in carrying on the work; and at10 HISTORY OF THE [chap. I* night a large party marched down to the Devil’s Tower, where they immediately broke ground, and began a communication with their other work. This party were greatly annoyed in marching to their post, but were soon under cover of the rock, where the guns could not be depressed to bear upon them. Numbers of the enemy deserted to the garrison, by whom, on the 17th, the lieutenant-governor was informed that they were constructing a mine, in a cave under Willis’s, with an intention, if possible, to blow up that battery. The engineers on this intelligence re- connoitered the cave; which, after some difficulty, they discovered, with a sentry at the entrance ; and a party was immediately stationed to annoy the communication with musketry. On the morning of the 22nd, the count opened on the garrison, with seventeen pieces of cannon, besides mortars. The day following Brigadier Kane left the garrison, to detach a reinforcement from Minorca. In the mean time Sir Charles Wager and Admiral Hopson, with the fleet under their command, were constantly distressing the enemy, by intercepting their homeward-bound ships; and the prizes which were brought into the bay greatly benefited the besieged. The 3rd of March, the enemy opened a new battery of 22 guns on the old mole and town; and on the 8th, another of 15 guns, bearing also upon the old mole, which, it seems, proved a troublesome battery to the western flank of their approaches. The lieutenant-governor continued a constant and well-directed fire from all the batteries that bore upon their works : but the ordnance in general being old were bursting daily on the batteries; by which accidents the garrison experienced more casualties than from all the fire of the enemy. The 27th, Col. Middleton’s regiment arrived, also six companies and a half of Col. Hay’s, with two engineers, a captain of artillery, and several bombardiers, gunners, and matrosses, with 140 recruits for the other regiments. The admirals, the 2nd of April, formed the design of bombarding Alge- ziras, whence the enemy were con-stantly supplied with various articles of ammunition; but the ships, after getting under way, were becalmed, and obliged to come to anchor; after which the navy never gave themselves any further concern about annoying them in that quarter. On the 10th Colonel Cosby arrived in the Solebay, with 500 men, from Minorca; and two days following the admirals sailed to the westward, leaving Commodore Davies behind, with six men-of-war and the sloops. Sir Charles did not return during the siege. The 16th, the lieutenant-governor ordered two serjeants, with ten men each, to advance from the spur-guard, under the rock, and along the causeway, and alarm the enemy in the trenches; giving them directions to retire when they found their guards sufficiently alarmed, when he intended to salute them with grape, &c. from Willis’s and the lines. These orders were executed, and the enemy instantly beat to arms; but the bombardier appointed to give the signal to the batteries, firing too soon, the enemy saw through the design, and retired without any considerable loss. Lord Portmore, the governor, arrived on the 21st, with a battalion of guards, and another of the line; also Colonel Watson, of the artillery, with several noblemen as volunteers. The 26th the count opened a new battery against Willis’s and the extremity of Prince’s lines. Their batteries now mounted sixty cannon, besides mortars. In the beginning of May the garrison had intelligence that the enemy designed an assault: precautions were accordingly taken, and the guns on the lower defences loaded with grape. The Spaniards added still to their approaches, and raised various communications to and from their advanced batteries. Towards the 16th and 20th their firing abated, but their engineers proceeded in advancing their trenches. On the 31st a vessel arrived with 375 barrels of powder from Lisbon. June the 3rd the Solebay came in, with a further supply of 980 barrels of powder and 500 thirteen-inch shells, from Mahon. The firing continued till the17GO.J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 11 12th, when about ten at night Colonel Fitzgerald, of the Irish brigade, beat a parley, and being admitted into the garrison, delivered letters to Lord Portmore from the Dutch minister at the court of Madrid, with a copy of the preliminaries of a general peace; whereupon a suspension of arms took place and all hostilities ceased on both sides. The garrison lost in the whole about 300 killed and wounded; and 70 cannon, with 30 mortars, burst during the siege. The enemy’s casualties could never be ascertained. In killed, wounded, &c. it was computed they lost near 3000 men. When Lord Portmore and the count agreed to a cessation, the Spaniards of course were compelled to forsake the mine under Willis’s: their parties, however, taking possession of it a second time, his lordship considered it as a breach of the articles of cessation, and represented it accordingly. The count afterwards withdrew ; the works were dismantled and levelled, and the troops retreated to their different cantonments. The Spaniards during this siege never made the least attempt to cut off the communication by sea; so that the garrison was regularly supplied with provisions and fascines from Barbary, and had a regular correspondence with England. In 1728 the Parliament of Great Britain addressed his Majesty King George IL, to take effectual care, in the treaty then pending, to preserve his undoubted right to Gibraltar and the island of Minorca. Overtures had been made by his Majesty George I. to restore the former to Spain, if the parliament would have consented to such restitution ; but the minister, finding an opposition, declined proceeding in the business. In 1730 Lieut.-Gen. Sabine was governor of Gibraltar. The Spaniards during his government erected the forts and lines across the isthmus, about a mile from the garrison, which elfectually prevent any communication with the country, and, as we have experienced, are of considerable advantage in case of a siege. The western fort, called St. Philip’s, entirely commands the best anchorage on the side of the bay next the garrison. Lieut.- ; Gen. Columbine succeeded General Sabine, and he was succeeded by Lieut.-Gen. Hargrave. General Bland was appointed governor in 1749, at which time a general relief of troops took place. The establishment at that period was four battalions of infantry and a company of artillery. Lord George Beauclerk and the Hon. General Herbert were severally commandants in the absence of General Bland; and in 1755 Lieut.-Gen. Fowkes was deputed governor. Lord Tyrawley succeeded him, in whose absence the Earl of Panmure was commandant. Earl Home was afterwards governor, and died there in 1761. During the government of this nobleman, about the year 1760, an incident occurred, which, as it alarmed the garrison verv much at that time, is deserving of notice. Two British regiments had been a very considerable time on that station, and, from the continuance of the war, saw little prospect of being relieved. Amongst these a conspiracy was formed by some disaffected persons to surprise, plunder, and massacre their officers, and in short all whom they judged to be averse to their designs. After securing the money which was intended for the payment of the troops, they meant to purchase for themselves a secure retreat, by surren- dering this so much wished-for fortress into the hands of Spain. The numbers who joined the conspirators were not fewer than 730. An accidental quarrel in a wine-house defeated this dangerous project, and produced a discovery. Reed, a private in the seventh regiment, was executed on the grand parade as the ringleader; and ten others were condemned. After the death of Lord Home, Colonel Tovey and Major-General Parslow were each commandants, till the Hon. Lieut.-Gen. Cornwallis was appointed governor. During this general’s absence from the garrison, Colonel Irwin was commandant; and on General Cornwallis leaving Gibraltar a second time, Major-Gen. Boyd,12 HISTORY OF THE [chap. 1. lieutenant-governor, commanded. In this general’s government the garrison was considerably strengthened with three new bastions on the sea-line, and additional improvements at the southward. In 1776 the Right lion. General George Augustus Eliott was appointed governor of that important fortress, and joined his command in 1777. In 1787 General Eliott, who had been honoured in 1783 with the Order of the Bath for his glorious defence of Gibraltar, returned to England, and Major-General O’Hara was appointed commandant during his absence.1789.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 13 CHAPTER II. Description of the Rock, with the Fortifications and Town of Gibraltar—Remains of Moorish Architecture—Natural Curiosities—Climate—Vegetation—Fish: and whence supplied with Cattle, &e.—Military establishment—Description of the Bay—Algeziras—Some accounts of the ancient City of Carteia—St. Roque—Conclusive Remarks. As the History which is to be the subject of the following pages will be more in detail than the preceding narrative. it may on some accounts be ne- * cessary, and cannot on any, I Hatter myself, be disagreeable, to present the reader with a short description of this celebrated rock, and the fortifications which have been erected for its defence. The promontory, or rock, at the foot of which stands the town, is upwards of 1300 feet in height: projecting into the sea several miles from the continent, with which it is connected by an isthmus of low sand. This appearance makes it not improbable that Mons Calpe in former ages has been totally surrounded by the sea. The north front of the peninsula, which presents itself to the main land, is of various heights. The breadth of the isthmus, at the foot of the rock, is about 900 yards: but it grows considerably wider towards the country. Across this isthmus (which, with Gibraltar and the opposite coast, forms the bay) the Spaniards have drawn a fortified line at about a mile's distauce from the garrison, extending 1700 yards, and embracing both shores : a fort of inasonrv is erected at each extremitv, mounting 23 or 24 guns each ; these forts are of different forms, and are called Fort St. Philip and Fort St. Barbara. The former of them commands the best and the usual anchoring place of our shipping and small craft, and. by forming a cross fire with Fort St. Barbara on the neutral ground, prevents all communication between the garrison and the country The rock, as I have mentioned before. is upwards of 1300 feet perpendicular above the level of the sea: and is separated by a ridge from north to south, dividing it into two unequal parts. The western front or division is a gradual slope, interspersed with precipices : but the opposite side, looking to the Mediterranean, and the north front facing the Spanish lines, are both naturally very steep, and totally inaccessible. It is this peculiar circumstance which forms the chief strength of Gibraltar. The town is built at the foot of the north-west face of the hill, and is fortified in an irregular manner. The communication with it from the isthmus is bv a long narrow causeway (serving as a dam to an inundation), which is defended by a curtain, with two bastions, mounting 26 pieces of cannon, a drv ditch, covered wav, and glacis well mined. These, with the causewav, are warmly Hanked bv the King’s, Queen's, and Prince's lines; works cut in the rock with immense labour, and scarped to be almost inaccessible. Above the lines are the batteries at Willis’s, and others at different heights, until they crown the summit of the rock, where several batteries are erected for cannon and mortars. These batteries, the lowest of which is up-wards of 400 feet above the neutral ground, mount between 50 and 60 pieces of heavy ordnance, and entirely command the isthmus below. Exclusive of what are here mentioned, additional works of a singular nature were projected in 1782. which, with others in the lines, on a similar plan, that are (1 7S9) executing under the direction of14 HISTORY OF THE [chap. II. Major-General O’Hara, will render Gibraltar almost impregnable in that quarter. The old mole, to the west of the grand battery, forms also a very formidable flank, and, with the lines, a cross-fire on the causeway and neutral ground. This battery has been found so great an annoyance to the besiegers, that, by way of distinction, it has long been known under the appellation of the Devil’s Tongue. Indeed, the ordnance in the lines, upon the grand battery, and the old mole, all together, exhibit so formidable an appearance to a spectator on the causeway, that the entrance into the garrison is called by the Spaniards the Mouth of Fire. From the grand battery, along the sea-line, looking towards the bay, the town is defended by the North, Montague’s,* Prince of Orange’s, King’s, and South bastions ; the line-wall or curtains between which mount many cannon and mortars. Montague's, Prince of Orange’s, and King’s bastions have been erected lately. The latter is a very complete piece of fortification, commandino; the bay from New to Old mole heads, and mounting 12 thirty-two pounders and four ten-inch howitzers in front, 10 guns and howitzers on its flanks, and has casemates for 800 men, with kitchens and ovens for cooking. Montague’s is much smaller, mounts only 12 pieces of cannon, but has a casemate for 200 men, commiur-cating with the Old mole. In 1782 tlie engineers began a cavalier upon this bastion for 2 guns; but it was not finished till after the errand attack in September. Another work of this nature was likewise erected in the beginning of the blockade, for 5 guns, on the north bastion of the grand battery. * These bastions and the connecting curtains were so much injured in the last siege, that it was thought necessary to take them down, and strengthen this part of the town fortifications by an extensive line of new works projecting to a considerable distance into the sea ; the foundations of which were laid in 178S. Many officers, however, doubt whether the substantial defences of Gibraltar are improved by these alterations. Some additions were likewise made in the same place to the Grand battery and at Land Port, where they were more wanted. The town on the sea-line is not less protected by natural defences than by fortifications. A shoal of sharp rocks extends along the front far into the bay, and prevents ships of large burthen from approaching very near the walls. From the south bastion (which is considerably higher than the rest of the works, in order to protect the town from the eminences on the red sands) a curtain extends up the face of the hill, and concludes, at an inaccessible precipice, the works of the town. In this curtain is the South-port gate, before which, and the south bastion, is a drv ditch, with a covered way and glacis. At the east end, on the declivity of the hill, above the gate, is a large flat bastion connected with the curtain, and mounting 13 guns, bearing on the bay, &c. This work is covered by a demi-bastion that joins the precipice. Above the precipice, an old Moorish wall is continued to the ridge of the rock ; in the front of which a curtain with loop-holes and redans (built in the reign of the Emperor Charles V., and called after his name) extends to the top, effectually cutting off all communication in that quarter. Between the Moorish and Charles the Fifth's walls is the signal-house ; whence, on a serene and clear day, the guard have an unbounded view of the Mediterranean, and can just observe a part of the Atlantic Ocean over the Spanish mountains. Signals formerly were made at this post on the appearance of topsail vessels from east and west; but soon after the commencement of the late war we discovered that the Spanish cruisers were more frequently informed of the approach of our friends by our signals than by their own. The signals were therefore discontinued during the siege, but were resumed after the general peace of 1783. The above account comprehends a general description of the fortifications of the town, avoiding too minute a de-tail of each work. I shall therefore proceed in describing, in the same general manner, the works to the southward. From the south bastion a line-wall17S9.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 15 is continued along the beach to the New mole, where an irregular fort is erected, mounting 26 guns. This line-wall is divided by a small bastion of 8 guns; and in its rear is a retired work, called the Princess of Wales's lines, in which are several strong batteries for the sea. Near the south bastion, though without the town, is a wharf called Ragged Staff, where the • o supplies for the garrison are usually landed, being convenient from its vicinity to the victualling-office and store-houses m the town. The communication to this quay is by spiral wooden stairs, and a drawbridge opening into the covered way ; in front of which is a small work of masonry mounting 2 guns. At the foot of the stairs is the basin, where shipping take in water. Two tanks are also appropriated to this purpose near the eight-gun bastion. Within the New mole there is depth of water sufficient for a ship of the line to lie alongside the wharf and heave down. At the mole head is a circular battery for heavy metal, joined to the New mole fort by a strong wall, fraised; having a banquette for musketry, with two embrasures opening towards the bay. This mole, with the Gld mole at Waterport, were built for the accommodation of trading vessels : the former, however, is generally occupied by men-of-war; and the latter, not having more than six feet at low water, only admits small craft to the wharfs: merchantmen of large burthen are obliged therefore to anchor about half or three quarters of a mile from Waterport, in seven or eight fathoms. But in time of war this anchorage is commanded by tile Spanish forts : they are consequently, in case of a rupture with Spain, under the necessity of removing to the southward of the New mole, where the ground is so rocky and foul that they are often in imminent danger during the strong south-erly winds. From the New mole fort to the north end of Rosia Bay, the rock is difficult of access; nevertheless a parapet is continued, and batteries are erected, as situations dictate. The works at Rosia are strong, and flank each other. They are close along the beach, which is low, and have a retired battery of 8 guns in the rear The rock continues to ascend from the south point of Rosia Bay, by Parson’s Lodge (behind which, upon an eminence, is a new battery en bcirbet, on traversing carriages), to Camp-guard, and Buena Vista,; so called from the beautiful prospect which is there presented to a spectator of the bay and the neighbouring kingdoms ot Barbary and Spain. A line-wall is raised, notwithstanding the rock being inaccessible, with cannon at different distances. At Buena Vista there are several guns en barbet, which have great command ; and the hill towards Europe is slightly fortified, which gives it the appearance, at a distance, of an old castle repaired. The rock then descends by the Devil’s Bowling-green, so named from the irregularity of its surface, to Little Bay. At this post, which is totally surrounded with precipices, there is a barbet battery, flanking the works to the new mole : thence the rock continues naturally steep for a considerable distance, when the line-wall and batteries recommence, and extend in an irregular manner to Europa Point, the southern extremity of the garrison, though not the southern point of Europe. The rock from this point is regularly perpendicular to Europa advance, where a few batteries, and a post at the Cave-guard, terminate the works. The fortifications along the sea-line at Europa do not, however, constitute the principal strength of that part of the garrison. The retired and inaccessible lines of Windmill-hill have great command, and, being situated within musket-shot of the sea, are very formidable, and of great consequence in that quarter. The preceding description, it is hoped, will be sufficiently explanatory. The new bastions on the sea-line were planned and executed by, and under the direction of the chief engineer, Major-General Sir William Green, Bart. Lieutenant-General Robert Boyd laid the foundation-stone of the King’s has-16 HfSTORY OF THE [chap. II. tion, in the absence of General Cornwallis, the governor. The garrison also underwent considerable alterations whilst he commanded: Windmill-hill was fortified, and other changes were effected at the southward. The improvements on the northern front were carried on under the direction of General George Augustus Eliott since he was appointed to the government. The communication, or gallery leading to St. George’s Hall, above Farring-don’s battery; Queen’s-1 ines battery, and communication ; two works of the same nature, which extend under the Queen’s battery (Willis’s*), and in the rock above Prince of Hesse’s bastion ; are all so singularly contrived, and of so formidable a nature, that all direct attacks by land, henceforward^ may be considered as quixotism and insanity. Before the interior part of the place is described, it will not be improper to conclude the description of its outer works, by inserting an abstract of the guns, howitzers, and mortars mounted upon the different batteries. The original, from which this was copied, was taken in the beginning of March, 1783. Cannon. Mortars. Howitzers. Nature of Ordnance . . j Serviceable Ordnance, mounted » Field Artillery . . . . Serviceable Ordnance, dismounted , Pounde rs. Inch. 24 4 5£ t2 & 18 12 9 6 & 13 10 8 4| 26 3 4 7 122 104 70 16 25 38 29 1 6 34 0 0 0 4 0 6 8 0 0 0 0 0 27 9 0 0 0 15 0 2 7 31 7 149 113 74 16 31 61 29 3 13 65 Inch. 10 8 5f 19 9 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 19 9 4 Total serviceable in the garrison, 663 pieces of artillery. The town of Gibraltar is built on a bed of red sand, similar to those eminences without Southport, which originally extended from Landport to the foot of the ascent to the south barracks. The buildings, before the town was destroyed in the late siege, were com-posed of different materials, principally of tapia;f though, since the English have been in possession of Gibraltar, many have been built of the rock-stone, plastered, and blue-washed on the outside, to break the powerful rays of the sun, which otherwise would be too glaring, and prejudicial to the eyes. The modern houses were in general covered with tiles; but the flat terraced roofs remained in those erected by the Spaniards, and in some, the mirandas or towers, whence the inhabitants, without removing from home, had a beautiful and extensive prospect of the bay and neighbouring coasts. * The gallery under the Queen’s battery has been continued by General O’Hara, and now communicates with the Prince’s lines: it is called the Union Gallery. -j- A cement consisting of mortar made of sand, lime, and small pebbles, which being well tempered and wrought together in a frame, accpiires great strength and solidity. Of the buildings that are most deserving notice, the old Moorish castle is the most conspicuous. This antique structure is situated on the north-west side of the hill, and originally consisted of a triple wall, the outer inclosure descending to the water’s edge : but the lower parts have long since been removed, and the grand battery and Waterport fortifications erected on their ruins; and the first, or upper wall, would long ago have shared the same fate, had it not been found of service in covering the town from the isthmus, in case of a siege. The walls standing at present form an oblong square, ascending the hill, at the upper angle of which is the principal tower, where the governor or alcaide formerly resided. The ruins of a Moorish mosque, or place of worship, can be traced within the walls; as also a neat morisque court, and reservoir for water: but the latter cannot, without great difficulty, be discovered by a stranger. A large tower on the southeast wall has long been converted into a magazine for powder; and in different places quarters were fitted up. before the late siege, for officers and1789.J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 17 two companies of soldiers. This castle ; was erected, as I have mentioned before, by the Saracens or Moors, on their first invading Spain; and the present venerable remains are incontestable proofs of its magnificence whilst it continued in their possession. The other principal buildings are the convent, or governor's quarters: the lieutenant-governor's house, which is a modern structure; the admiralty house, formerly a monastery of white friars; the soldiers’ barracks, victualling-office, and s^ore-house. Besides these, there are the Spanish church, the atarasana, or galley-house, and some other buildings. formerly of note, but now in ruins from the fire of the Spaniards during the late siege.* At the southward are the South barracks and the Navy hospital. The former a stately building, delightfully • * c * situated, with a parade in front, and two pavilions detached: the whole capable of quartering 1200 men. and officers proportionate. The latter a capacious pile, well adapted to the purpose for which it was intended: it has an area in the centre, with piazzas and a gallery above, by which the sick may enjoy the sun, or shade, as they think proper ; there are apartments for 1000 men, with pavilions at each wing for the accommodation and convenience of the surgeons and their attendants. This hospital was originally erected for the navy, in case a British fieet should be stationed in the Mediterranean : but, on the Spaniards bombarding the town in 1781, the governor removed into it the sick of the garrison. At some distance, in the front of the South barracks, are two powder magazines, in which the supplies from England are usually deposited, before they are distributed to the other magazines. These last were the chief, I might say almost the only buildings remaining on the rock after the late siege; and their preservation was owing to their being kept in constant repair by workmen purposely appointed for that duty. * Since the peace of 1783, the greatest part of the town has been rebuilt, and (which is I much to be regretted) on the old foundations | and plan. Beside the remains of Moorish architecture which have already been mentioned, the following have been esteemed not unworthy of notice. Within the town we find the galley-house, and part of the Spanish church; also the bomb-liouse, adjoining the line-wall: and at the southward, ruins of Moorish buildings are discernible on Windmill-hill, and at Europa. The former are situated on an eminence, but no antiquarian can determine to what use they were appropriated : some are of opinion they were burying-vaults for persons of rank; others suppose them a prison; whilst, in the garrison, the whole is generally known bv the name of the Inquisition. At Europa, opposite the guard-house, may be traced the remains of a building erected bv the Moors, but used by the Spaniards as a chapel, and called Nuestra Seiiora del Europa. Along the water's edge, without the fortification, are also several ruins of Moorish walls: and towards Europa Advance is a Moorish bath, called bv the garrison the Nuns’ Well. It is sunk 8 feet deep in the rock, is 72 feet long, and 42 feet broad, and to preserve the water, has an arched roof, supported by pillars. To the left of this bath is a cave, under Windmill-hill. known by the name of Beef-steak Cave, which was a common residence for many of the inhabitants during the late siege. The hill abounds in cavities, that serve as receptacles for the rain. None, however, is so singular and worthy of notice as St. Michael's Cave, on the side of the hill, in a line with the South barracks, about 1100 feet above the level of the sea. At the entrance are the remains of a strong wall. The mouth is only 5 feet wide; but on descending a slope of earth, it widens considerably, and. with the assistance of torches, the openings of several smaller caves are discovered. The outer cave is about 200 feet long, and 90 broad. The top appears to be supported by pillars of vast magnitude formed by the perpetual droppings of petrifying water, the whole bearing great i esemblance to the inside of a gloomv Gotiiic cathedral. C7- V c18 ' HISTORY OF THE [chap. II. The several gradations in the progress of these petrifactions are easily discovered. In some may be observed small capitals, descending from the roof, whilst proportionable bases rise underneath : others again are formed of very small diameter ; and a third class, immensely large, seem to support the roof of this wonderful cavern. Visitors are generally conducted to view this cave; and numbers, with the assistance of ropes and torches, have attempted to explore the depth; however, after descending about 500 feet, they have been obliged to return, by the gross vapours which issued from beneath. It was in this cave that the Spaniards concealed themselves in the siege of 1727, when a party of them, unperceived, got into the garrison, at the Cave-guard, near Europa Advance, but afterwards failed in their enterprise. There are several other caves on different parts of the hill, in which the water possesses the same petrifying qualities. One under Middle-hill, called Poco-roca, was fitted up, previous to the bombardment, for the governor’s reception ; but was afterwards converted into a powder magazine, being very convenient for the batteries on the heights. Amongst the natural curiosities of Gibraltar, the petrified bones, found in the cavities of the rocks, have greatly attracted the attention of the curious. These bones are not found in one particular part, but have been discovered in various places at a considerable distance from each other. From the rocks near Rosia Bay (without the line-wall) great quantities of this curious petrifaction have been collected, and sent home for the inspection of naturalists. Some of the bones are of large diameter; and. being broken with the rock, the marrow is easily to be distinguished. Colonel James, in his description of Gibraltar, mentions an entire human skeleton being discovered in the solid rock at the Prince's lines ; which the miner blew to pieces: and in the beginning of the late blockade, a party of miners, forming a cave at Upper All’s Well, in the lines, produced several lxmes that were petrified to the rock, and appeared to have belonged to a large bird: being present at the time, I procured several fragments; but in the bombardment of 1781 they were destroyed with other similar curiosities. The hill is remarkable for the number of apes about its summit, which are said not to be found in any other part of Spain. They breed in places inaccessible to man, and frequently appear in large droves with their young on their backs, on the western face of the hill. It is imagined they were originally brought from Barbary by the Moors, as a similar species inhabits Mons Abyla, which, on that account, is generally called Ape’s-hill. Red-legged partridges are often found in coveys; woodcocks and teal are sometimes seen, and wild rabbits are caught about Europa and Windmill-hill. The garrison orders forbid officers to shoot on the western side of the rock; parties, however, often go in boats round Europa Point to kill wild pigeons, which are numerous m the caves. Eagles and vultures annually visit Gibraltar from Barbary, in their way to the interior parts of Spain. The former breed in the craggy parts of the rock, and, with the hawk, are often seen towering round its summit. Mos-chetoes are exceedingly troublesome towards the close of summer, and locusts are sometimes found. The scorpion, centipes, and other venomous reptiles, abound amongst the rocks and old buildings ; and the harmless green lizard and snake are frequently caught by the soldiers, who, after drawing their teeth, treat them with every mark of fondness. With regard to the climate of Gibraltar, the inhabitants breathe a temperate and wholesome air for most part of the year. The summer months of June, July, and August are excessively warm, with a perpetual serene and clear sky : the heat is however allaved, m a great measure, by a constant refreshing breeze from the sea, which usually sets in about ten in the forenoon, continuing till almost sunset; and, from its invigorating and agreeable coolness, is emphatically called1790.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 19 the Doctor. The cold in winter is not so excessive as in the neighbouring parts of the country. Snow falls but seldom, and ice is a rarity; yet the Granadian mountainadn Spain, and the lofty mountains in Africa, have snow lying on them for several months. Heavy rains, high winds, and most tremendous thunder, with dreadfully vivid lightning, are the attendants on December and January. The rain then pours down in torrents from the hill, and, descending with great rapidity, often chokes up the drains with large stones and rubbish, and sometimes does great injury to the works ; but these storms are never of long duration : the sky soon clears up; the heavy clouds disperse; the cheering sun appears, and sufficiently compensates for the horrors of the preceding night. It is during this season that the water that serves the garrison for the ensuing summer is collected. The aqueduct, which conducts it to the fountain in the centre of the town, is extremely well executed; and was constructed by a Jesuit, when the Spaniards were in possession of Gibraltar. It is erected beneath the bank of sand, without South port, beginning to the southward of the eight-gun bastion, and, collecting the rain-water that filters through the sand, conducts it to the South port, and thence to the fountain. The water, thus strained and purified, is remarkably clear and wholesome. The appearance of the Rock is barren and forbidding, as few trees or shrubs, excepting palmettos, are to be seen on the face of the hill; yet it is not entirely destitute of vegetation ; wild herbs, of different kinds, spring up in the interstices of the rocks, when the periodical rains set in, and afford some trifling nourishment to the bullocks, sheep, and goats that browse upon the hill. The first rains generally fall in September or October, and continue at intervals to refresh the garrison till April or May. When they cease, and the powerful rays of the sun have withered the little verdure that appeared on the hill, nothing offers to the eye but sharp uncouth rocks, and dried palmetto bushes. The soil col- lected in the low ground is, however, extremely rich and fertile, producing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Colonel James, in his elaborate history of the Herculean Straits, enumerates no less than 300 different herbs which are to be found on various parts of the rock. Gibraltar consequently must be an excellent field of amusement to a botanist. The garrison, before the blockade of 1779, was chiefly supplied with roots and garden-stuff' from the gardens on the neutral ground, which, being on a flat, could almost constantly (even in summer) be kept in a state of vegetation. The proprietors of these gardens were obliged to relinquish them in 1779, when the Spaniards erected their advanced works : from that period General Eliott encouraged cultivation within his own limits by every possible indulgence. Many plots at the southward were enclosed with walls, the ground cleared of stones and rubbish, and soil collected from other parts; so that with assiduity and perseverance, after some time the produce during the winter season was so increased as to be almost equal to the consumption ; and probably, in the space of a few years, the garrison may be totally independent, in this article, of any assistance from the neighbourhood. Gibraltar, being nearly surrounded by the sea, is exceedingly well supplied with fish: the John-doree, turbot, sole, salmon, hake, rock-cod, mullet, and ranger, with great variety of less note, are caught along the Spanish shore, and in different parts of the bay. Mackerel are also taken in vast numbers during the season, and shell-fish are sometimes brought from the neighbouring parts. The Moors, in time of peace, supply the garrison with ox-beef, mutton, veal, and poultry, on moderate terms; and from Spain they procure pork, which is remarkable for its sweetness and flavour. Fruits of all kinds, such as melons, oranges, green figs, grapes, pomegranates, &c., are brought in abundance from Barbary and Portugal: and the best wines are drank at very reasonatle prices. The present military establishment c 2 20 HISTORY OF THE fCHAF. li. of Gibraltar (1st of January. 1790) consists of six companies of artillery, nine regiments of the line, and a company of artificers, commanded by engineers ; composing an army of upwards of 4000 men, officers included. Before the late bombardment, the troops were quartered in the barracks at the southward, and in quarters fitted up out of the old Spanish buildings in town. The officers were distributed in the same manner; but in case of reinforcements, and that government quarters were not sufficient for their accommodation, billet-money was allowed in proportion to rank, and the officers hired lodgings from the inhabitants. The regiments, on their arrival in the garrison, are entitled to salt provisions from the stores, in the following proportion.* One ration for each serjeant, corporal, drummer, and private, consisting of 7 lbs. of bread, delivered twice a week, beef 2 lbs. 8 oz., pork 1 lb., butter 10 oz., peas half a gallon, and groats 3 pints : every commissioned and warrant officer, under a captain, receives two rations, a captain three, a major and lieutenant-colonel four, a colonel six. In times of profound peace, officers generally receive a compensation in money for their provisions, or dispose of them to the Jews, of whom there are great numbers in the garrison, who are always ready to purchase, or take them in barter. The troops are paid in currency, which, let the exchange of the garrison be above or below par, never varies to the noncommissioned and privates. A serjeant receives weekly, as full garrison pay, one dollar, six reals, equal to ninepence sterling, per diem; a corporal, and drummer, one dollar, one real, and five quartils, in sterling about sixpence per diem; and a private, seven reals, or fourpence half-penny sterling per diem. Officers receive their subsistence according to the currency : thirty-six pence per dollar is par. During the late * The garrison of Gibraltar is now put on the same footing as all other British garrisons abroad, in respect to rations of provisions as well as rates of pay. bombardment, the exchange, for a considerable time, was as high as forty-two pence, by which those gentlemen who were under the necessity of drawing for their pay^lost sixpence in every three shillings; and it seldom was lower than forty pence whilst the siege continued. The coins current in Gibraltar are those used in Spain. All accounts are kept in dollars, reals, and quartils : the two former, like the pound sterling, are imaginary ; the latter is a copper coin. The bay of Gibraltar, formed by the headlands of Cabrita and Europa points, is commodious, and seems intended by nature to command the Straits : there are opportunities, however, when a fleet may pass unobserved by the garrison; for such is the impenetrable thickness of the mists, which usually prevail during the easterly winds, that many ships have baffled the vigilance of the cruisers, and gone through unnoticed; the southwesterly winds, particularly at the equinox, are also often attended with such thick and rainv weather, that ves-sels have passed through and got into the bay without being seen. Since Gibraltar has been in the possession of the English, the Spaniards have erected, in different parts of the bay, several batteries and forts for the protection of their small craft in war, and to prevent their coast from being annoyed. At Cabrita, which is a bold rocky point, are a barbet battery and watch-tower, whence, during the blockade, signals of flags by day, and lights at night, were made to inform the Spanish cruisers at Algeziras, &c. of the approach of any vessel towards the bay. These watch-towers are distri-buted, at short distances, along the coast for a considerable extent, to alarm the country, in case of a visit from the Algerines, or when any other extraordinary circumstance happens. To the northward of Cabrita are two others, with a fort at the northernmost tower, which is called San Garcia : the point on which the latter are erected pro jects, with a long reef of dangerous shoals and rocks, considerably into the bay. The town and island of Algezi-1790.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 2! ras, with tlieir batteries, then appear in view. Algeziras lies opposite to Gibraltar, about 5-J miles across the bay ; and, since the late siege, has greatly increased in consequence and wealth. The town was built and fortified by the Saracens about the vear 714, two years after their establishment at Gibraltar. It is remarkable for being the place where those invaders first disembarked, when they so rapidly overturned the Gothic empire in Spain; and, as well as Gibraltar, was erected to preserve a communication with Africa. Whilst the Maors maintained their conquests, it consequently became a city of great importance and strength. We find, during the successive wars which took place between the Moors and the Spaniards, Algeziras was frequently besieged by the kings of Castile ; and, when Gibraltar so easily fell into the hands of the Christians in 1310, this city resisted all their efforts. At length, after a most obstinate siege in 1344, Algeziras was compelled to surrender to the victorious arms of Alonzo XI. The siege continued twenty months, and most of the potentates in Europe interested themselves in the event, by sending succours to the Christian besiegers. The English under the Duke of Lancaster, the Earls of Derby, Leicester, Salisbury, and Lincoln, particularly distinguished themselves by their gallantry and conduct during this memorable contest. It is worthy of remark, that cannon are said to have been first made use of in this siege, by the Moors against the assailants ; and the English, profiting by the knowledge gained on this occasion, afterwards used them at the glorious battle of Cressy. The Spaniards continued masters of the town till 1369, when the Moors of Granada surprised the city ; but being unable to retain it, they demolished the works, and carried away the inhabitants captive. Whilst the Moors kept possession of Gibraltar, which was now in its turn become a city of importance, the Spaniards never attempted to rebuild Algeziras ; and still less did they esteem it an object worthy tlieir attention, after Gibraltar fell into their hands. The town, therefore, remained in ruins and desolate, excepting a few fishermen’s huts, till the Spaniards, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, thought proper, after the final cession of Gibraltar to Great Britain, to repeople and secure it by a few batteries towards the sea, which also might occasionally protect their cruisers in time of war. Since that period, from the constant intercourse and trade which subsisted between it and Gibraltar before the war of 1779, Algeziras is become a town of some consequence and wealth ; and, as a writer has justly expressed, 44 like a phcenix, has risen out of its own ashes, after being for ages in ruins.” The New Town is built to the northward of the old city (whose venerable ruins still remain), and is defended to the southward by a battery of 9 or 10 guns, erected on an island some distance from the shore. To the northward of the town is another batterv of •/ 6 guns, and a little farther, on an eminence, one of 22, which was raised by Admiral Barcelo, when he was apprehensive of an attack from Sir George Rodney in 1780. Between the island and the town, small craft find tolerable shelter; but ships of war, or of large •burthen, anchor to the northward. The lands round the town are much cultivated, and, with the shipping, form, in the spring, a pleasantly variegated and beautiful prospect to a spectator at Gibraltar. A detachment or regiment of infantry is constantly on duty here, who, with those of the Spanish lines and neighbourhood, are under the orders of the commandant at St. Roque. To the northward of Algeziras are the rivers Palmones and Guadaranque : the former is the broader and deeper of the two, and was the principal retreat of the Spanish gun and niorta. boats, when they wanted repairs, after bombarding the garrison. Admiral Barcelo in this river also prepared the fire-ships he sent over in June, 1780. On the east banks of the Guadaranque. near Ilocadillo Point, where22 HISTORY OF THE there is a small fort or tower, are the venerable ruins of the once famous city of Carteia. This celebrated place, scarcely a stone of which is now left to inform posterity where it stood, is reported to have been built by the Phce-nicians, in the first ages of navigation, when those adventurers visited the extreme parts of the then known world. Historians mention it under the names of Carteia, Heraclia, and Calpe Carteia. When the Carthaginians became a powerful nation, and aimed at the sovereignty of Spain, Carteia maintained its independence for some time, till Hannibal, according to Livy, stormed the city, and demolished most of its works. When Scipio obliged the Carthaginians to quit Spain, Carteia was a place of little importance; but the Romans finding it a convenient station for their navy, the city was increased with a Roman colony, and once more began to rise into splendour and magnificence. After the memorable battle of Munda, Cneius Pompey fled to Carteia, but, being pursued, was obliged to leave it precipitately. As the Roman empire declined, so did Carteia; and probably, soon after the irruption of the Goths and Vandals, it became almost desolate and waste. On the invasion of Spain by the Saracens, that nation undoubtedly dismantled the buildings of this famous city for materials to* erect Gibraltar and Algeziras. The remains of a quay are still visible, with some few ruins of public buildings, apparently Roman; and the country peasants, in tilling the ground, often find various antique coins, which curious antiquarians have not thought unworthy of a place in their cabinets. Half-way between the Guadaranque and the garrison is another fort and tower, called Point Mala, or Negro Point, to the northward of which is the inland village of St. Roque. This is a small insignificant town, though delightfully situated, at about five miles iistance from Gibraltar. It was built ny the Spaniards, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, when the garrison of Gibraltar surrendered to Sir George Rooke. The Spanish commandant of the Lines generally makes it his resi- [t’HAP. II. dence; and during the siege under the Duke de Crillon, the Count d’Artois and the Duke de Bourbon had apartments in the town. Previous to the war of 1779 it was often frequented by the officers from Gibraltar; and in the spring and summer seasons British families resided there for several months, some for the benefit of their health, others for pleasure. The combined army, during the late siege, encamped on the plains below St. Roque, and landed all their ordnance and military stores a little to the westward of Point Mala, near the Orange-grove. I cannot help remarking in this place, that, among the evils of the late siege, the garrison have to regret the interruption of that friendly intercourse which before subsisted between them and the neighbourhood, and which is now prohibited by the Spanish government. When the communication was free and unlimited (except in point of introducing a contraband traffic in Spain), the most friendly intimacy subsisted between the British military and the Spaniards resident in the adjacent villages. Parties were reciprocally visiting each other, and the officers con-stantlv making excursions into the country. These excursions, with others to the coast of Barbary (which in the season superabounds with various species of game), were pleasing relaxations from the duties of the garrison, and rendered Gibraltar as eligible a station as any to which a soldier could be ordered. On the whole, whether we consider Gibraltar as commanding the entrance of the Mediterranean, and consequently as capable of controlling the commerce of the Europeans with the Levant; or whether we consider it as almost impregnable by nature, and consequently as most susceptible of the improvements of art, its situation is, perhaps, more singular and curious than that of any fortress in the world. These circumstances, and the degree of consequence which it confers on its possessor, in the opinion of the Barbary states, have not failed to excite the attention and alarm the interests of most maritime nations in Europe; and, with the multitude at1790.1 siege of Gibraltar. 23 least, it has always been an object of political importance. Politicians, however, there have been, of no inferior rank, who have thought very differently of its value and utility. On this delicate subject I will frankly confess my inability to decide. I shall, therefore, without further apology, leave these speculations to men of more leisure and experience, and proceed to matters better adapted to my capacity and information.24 HISTORY OF THE [CHAP. III. CHAPTER III. Commencement of the War in 1779 between Great Britain and Spain—State of the Garrison of Gibraltar at that period—Ambiguous conduct of the Spaniards—Enemy encamp before the Garrison—Form a Blockade—Many Inhabitants leave the Place—Motions of the Enemy —Erect additional Batteries in their Lines—Fired upon from the Garrison—Continue their Operations—Loss of the Peace and Plenty Privateer—Provisions extremely scarce in the Garrison-Spirited behaviour of the Buck Cutter Privateer—Description of the Straits— Fidelity of a Moor—Great Distress in the Garrison—Relieved by some fortunate Occurrences —Arrival of Sir George Rodney and the British Fleet—Tetuan—Anecdote of Prince William Henry—Ceuta—Departure of the Fleet. Although the Spaniards had been thrice defeated in their attempts to recover Gibraltar, they continued to view that garrison with a jealous eye, determined, if we may judge from their late conduct, to seize the first eligible opportunity of wresting it, if possible, from the dominion of Great Britain. The war of 1762 was too unexpected on the part of Spain, and conducted with too great success by the British minister, to admit of such an enterprise as the siege of Gibraltar. The period was not, however, far distant when the contest between Great Britain and her colonies seemed to promise as favourable an opportunity as their warmest wishes could have anticipated; parti-larly when, in addition to the civil war, they found hostilities taking place between Great Britain and France. The close of the year 1777, when the news of the convention of Saratoga first arrived in Europe, was the period which they embraced to introduce themselves into the dispute. Hostilities had then been carried on for near six months between Great Britain and France : Spain therefore judged the opportunity favourable to offer her mediation, proposing such an arrangement as she must be assured would not be agreeable to the principal belligerent powers. Great Britain had no sooner refused her acquiescence than the court of Madrid espoused the part of France; and, on the 16th of June, 1779, the Spanish ambassador, the Mar- quis d’Almodovar, presented to the court of London his hostile manifesto. The principal design of the court of Madrid, in entering into this war, was evidently the recovery of Gibraltar. Before any reply was given by the British ministry to their proposals for a pacification, overtures had been privately made to the Emperor of Morocco to farm the ports of Tetuan, Tangier, and Larache, by which means Gibraltar might be cut off from its principal supplies. This conduct seemed to argue a confidence that her terms in the mediation would be refused; and the considerable depots of military stores which were collected in her arsenals undoubtedly pointed out that the siege of that garrison was her first and immediate object. On the 21st of June, 1779, the communication between Spain and Gibraltar was closed, by an order from Madrid. Two days previous to this event General Eliott, the governor, accompanied by many field-officers of the garrison, paid a visit to General Mendoza, the commandant of the Spanish lines, to congratulate him on his promotion. Their reception at St. Roque was far from agreeable ; and it was remarked that the Spanish general appeared embarrassed during their stay,which might proceed from his knowledge of what was to follow. The visit was short, and the governor hai scarcely returned to the garrison when Mr. Logie, his1779.] SIEGE OF GIBE ALTAR. Majesty's consul in Barba "y, arrived from Tangier, in a Swedish frigate, with certain intelligence of the intended rupture between Great Britain and A Spain. Mr, Logie's information proceeded from a Swedish brig, which on her passage to Tangier had fallen in with the French fleet, of about 28 sail of the line, off Cape Fillister re, when the master being ordered on board the Admiral, M. d'Orvilliers, he learned that they had been cruising for some time in that latitude, expecting the junction of the Spanish fleet from Cadiz. From the amicable assurances held out by the Spaniards, we could not persuade ourselves in the garrison that a rupture was so near; but the mail from the gar-rison being refused on the 21 st of June. and being acquainted at the same time that the intercourse between Gibraltar and the neighbourhood was no longer to be permitted, we had sufficient confirmation of Mr. Logie's intelligence. We afterwards learned that the courier who brought from Madrid the order to shut up the communication, had been detained bv accidents on the road; * otherwise it was not impossible that he might have arrived during General Eliott's visit at St. Roque. As the fortress of Gibraltar after this event became a little world of itself, it may not be unacceptable to commence the history of the siege with a state of the troops in garrison at that period, and the commanding officers of the different corps. Geueral G. A. Eliott, Governor. Lieutenant-Gen ral R. B»\d, Lieutenant-Governor. Major-General de la M< tte, commanding the Hanoverian Brigade. Rank & Off. Staff. s. Artillery . • 25 0 17 12th Regiment 26 3 29 39th 9 > • 25 4 L9 56 th > > • 23 4 30 58th 9 9 • 25 3 29 72nd , or R. M. V. 29 4 47 6 S 1 Hardenberg’s 16 13 -1 M LK Peden’s 15 12 42 = “ De la Motte’s 1/ 16 42 Engineers, with a Com- } pany of Artiticers . | Total 209 59 A3 D. File. 15 428 Col. Godwin. Command, of Artiil 2° 519 Lieut.-C’>l. Trigge. O) 506 Major Rellet »>O 5 8 Major Fanconi t. O ) 526 Lieut.-Col. Cochrane. • IQ 9.4 Lieut.-Cul. Gienstanes. 14 367 Lieut-Col. Hugo. 14 361 Lieut.-Col. Daclieuhausen. 14 367 Lieut. Cul. Sclippcrgill. Q 106 Colonel Green. Chief Engineer. 109 4632—makiug an army of 5?s2 men. On the communication being closed, a council of war was immediately summoned, to advise concerning the mea-sures to be pursued on the occasion. Preparations had been privately made for the defence of the garrison, when intelligence was first received of the probability of a war. The objects, therefore, at this time to be considered were, how to procure constant supplies of provisions from Barbary, and in what manner the correspondence between England and Gibraltar was to be conducted. Mr. Logie’s presence in Barbary was very essential to both these points : he consequently returned to Tangier on the 22nd, having con-certed with the governor proper signals, by which he might communicate intelligence across the Straits. Admiral Duff also, on the 22nd, removed the men-of-war under his command from | their usual anchorage, off Waterport (where they were liable to be annoyed bv the enemv's forts'), to the southward, off the New mole. His force at that time consisted of the Panther, of 60 guns, Captain Harvey, on board of which was the flag: three frigates, two of which were on a cruise; and a sloop of war. It is natural to suppose that the garrison were not a little alarmed at this unexpected procedure of the Spaniards. The northern guards were reinforced, and the pickets cautioned to be alert, in case of alarm. Landport barriers were shut, and an artillery officer ordered to Willis's batteries, to observe the movements of the enemy, and protect the Devil's-tower guard, which was ordered to be very circumspect and vigilant. Whilst the friendly intercourse sub”26 HISTORY OF THE [chap. III. sisted between the garrison and the neighbourhood, several British families and officers had permission to reside at St. Roque, Los Yarios, and other small villages a few miles distant; but immediately on the communication being closed, General Mendoza sent them peremptory orders to remove ; and the time limited for their departure was so short, that some of them were obliged to leave most of their effects behind. Those officers whose curiosity had led them into the interior parts of the country were positively refused liberty to return to the garrison; they were therefore conducted to Cadiz, and had passports granted them to leave the kingdom by other routes. Col. Ross and Capt. Yignoles of the 39th, with Capt. Lefanue of the 58th, nevertheless contrived to join their corps, by assuming disguises, and risking the passage in a row-boat from Faro (a port in Portugal) to Gibraltar : others also attempted, but unfortunately were intercepted in their voyage. The Childers sloop of war, on the 24th, brought in two prizes from the west, one of which (an American) Capt. Peacock captured in the midst of the Spanish fleet, then at sea. The conduct of the Spaniards on this occasion was extremely ambiguous. Every circumstance that fell under our own immediate observation convinced us that they now intended hostilities against Great Britain ; and from Mr. Logie’s intelligence we had every cause to think that this fleet was out to join the French admiral. Their permitting our cruisers, therefore, to capture a friend (as they might then call the Americans), under the protection of their fleet, we must either consider as a finesse, or suppose that they had not received orders to act offensively. The Childers left two of our frigates watching the motions of the Spanish fleet. It was somewhat singular that a Mr. Suase (an American major, who had been prisoner in the garrison a little time before, along with others of his countrymen, but had made his escape), and two deserters from Gibraltar, should be recognised through their disguises, on board the American prize The major was remanded to his old confinement in the Navy Hospital, and the latter were punished according to their deserts. Though the motions of the enemy did not indicate any immediate design of attacking the garrison, and the closing of the communication might be only in consequence of hostilities having commenced between Great Britain and Spain, yet our intelligence, and their late deceitful conduct, gave us great reason to suppose that they intended some attempt on Gibraltar. Depots of earth, &c. were therefore collected in various places; empty hogsheads and casks were bought from the inhabitants, for the purpose of filling them with earth, to strengthen and repair the fortifications; and other precautions were taken for the defence of the place. On the other hand, the enemy employed what troops they had then on duty, in the lines and neigh-bourhood, in drawing down cannon from St. Roque, &c. to animate the forts (in which few ordnance were mounted during the peace), and in arranging matters to strengthen and support their posts. In the beginning of July, the Enterprise frigate, Sir Thomas Rich, Bart., returned with a fleet of small craft, laden with live-stock and fruit, from Tangier; in consequence of which, fourteen days’ fresh provisions were issued to the troops. The engineers continued preparing materials in their departments, towards completing the works of the garrison; for which purpose strong parties from the line were granted them daily, under the command of overseers. About 300 Jews and Genoese w'ere also employed in levelling heaps of sand, near the gardens, on the neutral ground, in order that, if the enemy should approach, they might not receive any protection and cover from our lower batteries. The pickets of the garrison were ready, on the grand parade, to support these parties in case they had i been molested ; but though they | were at work within half musket-shot of the enemy’s advanced guards I in the Micquelet huts, yet not the1779.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. least attempt was made to disturb them. On the 3rd of July a detachment of about ISO men from the British line was ordered to join the artillery, to be taught the practice of the great guns. The artillery in garrison were only five companies: a number not adequate to the different duties in case of a siege: this reinforcement was therefore added, and proved afterwards of great service in that department. Three English sailors came in an opeu boat, on the 4th, from Cadiz, and brought intelligence that an em-bargo was laid on all English vessels in that port. In the evening we observed the Spaniards relieve the guards in their lines. The Spaniards, in time of peace, always stationed a regiment of cavalry at St. Roque, with another regiment or detachment of infantry at Alge-ziras: parties from which did duty at their lines; and no additional body of troops, or ships of war, had yet appeared near the garrison. On the 5th, however, in the afternoon, a Spanish squadron of two seventy-fours, five frigates, and other vessels, to the number of eleven, hove in sight from the west, and lay-to some time off’ the garrison. Whilst they remained in this situation, the governor thought it prudent to make some new disposition of the ordnance at the southward, and to caution the regiments in the South barracks, the 12th and 72nd. to be alert. The captain of Europa guard, who, before, usually joined at retreat-beating, was also ordered to his command. In the afternoon three privateer cutters arrived from the westward. A schooner, under Portuguese colours, stood across from the enemy to reconnoitre the first that came in, and on her return was fired upon from Europa batteries, which was the first hostile shot from the garrison. The enemy’s squadron, in the evening, drove to the eastward: and at night the En-terpnse frigate arrived from Tetuan with Mr. Logie the consul. In the interval of this gentleman's departure from the garrison, a ship of the emperor’s had arrived at Gibraltar to be repaired; but Admiral Duff’ being backward in granting the stores, the governor thought proper to send for Mr. Logie to explain to the admiral the necessity there was of complying with the emperor's request. To refuse such trifling assistance at that important time, he considered might be productive of serious consequences i to the garrison. The Enterprise fri-: gate accordingly sailed to Tetuan to k_ k_^ * bring over the consul. About sunset, the evening of the 5th, the frigate left Tetuan to return, and was discovered by the enemy’s squadron, part of which immediately gave chase. Sir Thomas Rich, however, from his superior knowledge of the tides, escaped, though the wind was contrary. When he arrived within view of the garrison, not making the concerted night-signals for fear of being k_ k_7 discovered by the pursuers, the officer at Europa saluted him with several shot, but fortunately they did not take effect. The following day, the 6th of July, a packet was received from England, by wav of Lisbon and Faro, informing the governor that hostilities had commenced between Great Britain and Spain. A proclamation in consequence was published in the evening for capturing all Spanish vessels, &c., and letters of marque were granted for that purpose to the privateers in the bay. Early on the morning of the Sth, a soldier of Reden's deserted from the Devil's-tower guard, and some time afterwards was followed by a serjeant of the 39th, who was one of the overseers attending the inhabitants em-ployed beyond the gardens. In the evening General Mendoza, with several officers, advanced from the lines as far as the Micquelet huts, and, after reconnoitring about an hour, returned. The Spanish commodore continued cruising in our neighbourhood till the Sth, when he stood under an easy salt for the westward. Before they quitted the Mediterranean they brought-to a Portuguese schooner, bound from Tetuan to the garrison, and made very earnest inquiries concerning the state of our provisions. The 9th, the Arne-28 HISTORY OF THE [chat. hi, rican prisoners, detained at this time in the garrison, were distributed amongst the privateers; and the following day, in company with the Childers sloop of war, they brought in four small prizes. Admiral Duff having received intelligence that a large fleet of small vessels was to sail from Malaga with wine and provisions for the Spanish grand fleet, the Childers was ordered, on the 11th, to cruise to the eastward, and give information, by signal, when they appeared, with the strength of their convoy. Whilst she was on the lookout, her boat gave chase to a settee, and was fired at from Fort St. Barbara, which was the first hostile shot from the enemy. About eleven o’clock the signals were made of the expected Spanish convoy being in sight, and soon after, of their force. Our admiral, however, only cautioned the navy to be ready, and went to Windmill-hill to reconnoitre them personally. About four in the afternoon the convoy, consisting of about 60 sail of different burthens, under charge of five xebeques, from 20 to 30 guns each, were abreast of Europa Point. The privateers which had accompanied the Childers in the morning, were then towing in a prize taken from the midst of their fleet; and they, as well as the Childers, kept up a smart running fire on the Spanish commodore; which was seconded at the same time from the garrisci- batteries at Europa Point and Europa Advance. The Panther (the admiral’s ship, with the flag on board) and the Enterprise were still at anchor; but at sunset Sir Thomas Rich had permission to slip, and the Panther soon after got under way. On the appearance of the frigate the enemy were confused, and instantly steered for Ceuta. The Childers and privateers pursued, followed by the frigate, and soon after by the Panther. Night was now advancing apace, and m a short time we lost sight of the ships. A few broadsides now and then gave us hopes that our friends had come up with them; and we could not help battering ourselves, from the inferior force of the convoy, that daylight would exhibit the majority of them in our possession. In the morning, however, we discovered the admiral standing towards the bay with five or six small prizes, and not one other of the enemy in sight: whence we concluded that they had worked back to their own coast, or escaped through the Straits in the night whilst our ships were off Ceuta. We afterwards learned that the squadron which appeared on the 5th was sent to convoy this valuable fleet past Gibraltar, lest the British admiral should intercept them, and prevent their grand fleet from receiving these much wanted supplies; but the convoy being by some unforeseen delays detained, the Spanish commodore quitted the station on the 8th. Two line-of-battle ships were observed cruising behind the rock on the 13th, and at night they went into Ceuta. The 16th the enemy blocked up the port with a squadron of men-of-war, consisting of two seventy-fours, two frigates, five xebeques, and a number of galleys, half-galleys, and armed settees : they anchored in the bay, off Algeziras, and being judiciously arranged, and keeping a vigilant lookout, the garrison became closely blockaded. This was the first motion of the enemy that discovered any direct intentions of distressing or attacking Gibraltar. At night Waterport guard was reinforced with a captain and ten privates. Till the 18th of this month nothing material occurred, when a small convoy oT settees, &c. arrived at the Orange-grove, laden with military stores, which the enemy began soon afterwards to disembark. Mr. Logie having prevailed on the admiral to grant the stores necessary for repairing the emperor’s ship, and his presence in Barbary being absolutely necessary, as well to procure provisions as to conduct the correspondence between Great Britain and the garrison, he returned on the 19th, on board a Moorish row-galley, which had arrived from the emperor with dispatches relative to the ship under repair. The galley was interrupted in her return by the enemy’s cruisers, andSIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 29 detained from seven in the morning till five in the afternoon, when she was permitted to proceed to Tangier. Daring the embargo Mr. Logie was concealed in a small scuttle, down the run of the galley, having previously made up the governor’s dispatches, and concerted signals, in a loaf, which was entrusted to a Moor, to be delivered at Air. Logie’s house in Tangier, in case he himself should be discovered, with an order for the Moor to receive a gratuity if he delivered it safe. Early in the morning of the 20th a Portuguese boat arrived with fowls and charcoal from Tangier. Another, attempting to come in, was taken by a half-galley, and carried to Algeziras. Sixty pounds of fresh beef were delivered the same day to each regiment for the use of the officers ; the artillery and engineers received in proportion, and the navy were included in this distribution. The following day orders were issued for the troops to mount guard with their hair unpowdered; a circumstance trifling in appearance, but which our situation afterwards proved to be of great importance, and which evinced our governor’s great attention and prudent foresight in the management of the stores. So superior a naval force as the enemy now had in our neighbourhood alarmed Admiral Duff, who was apprehensive that they would make some attempts on the king’s ships. Signals were therefore agreed upon between the fleet and the garrison, that in case the enemy should make an attack in •J the night, the latter might afford the ships every assistance and protection. Three lights in a triangle were fixed upon by the navy, to distinguish them from the enemy. The 22nd the navy manned their boats, and captured a settee, within a short distance of the enemy’s xebeques: she proved of little value, but the exploit reflected great credit on the party employed. The same day arrived a boat with cattle, &c. from Tangier. In the course of the 22nd several officers, attended by a party of men, were observed tracing out ground on the plain below St. Roque, apparently for a camp; and it was remarked that the Micquelets in the advanced huts on the neutral ground were relieved by regular troops. These Micquelets are of the same description with our revenue officers, and were stationed to prevent the smuggling of tobacco from the garrison into Spain. A Portuguese boat, with letters, arrived early in the morning of the 24th ; also a schooner with charcoal and fruit from Tangier. Between 200 and 300 men landed the same day at the Orange-grove, with an intention, as we conjectured, of taking charge of the stores which the enemy were disembarking there. The 25th they pitched a tent on the plain for the working party employed in clearing the ground. I should have mentioned, that on the 12th a Hanoverian soldier deserted, and this dav two of the same brigade followed his examule. The enemy, on the 26th, began to form a camp on the plain below St. Roque, about half a mile from Point Mala, and three miles from the garrison. Fifty tents were pitched, and a detachment of cavalry and infantry soon after took possession. The same day the Illerim, a Swedish frigate, which had been in the bay some weeks before, arrived, though opposed by the enemy. The Swedish captain politely brought-to on their firing a gun; but being told he must not anchor under the walls of the garrison, he resumed his course, telling them he must go to Gibraltar, and they should not prevent him. Some shots were exchanged, but none took effect. The Spanish camp being daily reinforced with additional regiments of cavalry and infantry, and large parties being still employed in landing ordnance and military stores at Point Mala, the governor thought proper, on the 29th, to establish the following staff officers, namely, Captains, Val-lotton, of the 56th regiment—Patterson, of the artillery—Forch, of the 12th regiment, and Eveleigh, of the engineers, to be aides-de-camp to himself, as commander-in-chief; Captain Wilson and Lieutenant Buckeridge, of the 39th regiment, aides-de-camp to Lieutenant-Gen. Boyd; Lieutenant Wein-zey, of the Hanoverian Brigade, aideso HISTORY OF THE [chap. hi. de-camp to Major-Gen. de la Motte; Major Hardy, of the 56th regiment, quartermaster-general; Captain Hors-burgh, of the 39th regiment, who was town-major, adjutant-general; Captain Burke, of the 58th regiment, town-major ; and Lieutenant S. Wood, of the 56th regiment, assistant town-major. At the same time all the horses, except those belonging to field and staff-officers, were ordered to be turned out of the garrison, unless the owners, on inspection, had 1000 lbs. of feed for each horse; and, to enforce the latter order by example, the governor directed that one of his own horses should be shot. In the afternoon of the 30th, one of the enemy’s xebeques manned her yards, and fired a salute. Immediately afterwards we observed she had hoisted a flag at the mizen top-mast head, instead of a broad pendant; from which ceremony we concluded that the naval commandant had been promoted, or | that he was superseded by an admiral. In the beginning of August, the corps in garrison were ordered to give m returns of their best marksmen, and also of those men who had ever been employed in making fascines. Those officers unmarried, or without families, who drew double rations for two commissions, were ordered at the same time to draw rations only for one com-mission. Two Dutchmen came in on the 2nd, unperceived by the enemy’s cruisers, laden with rice and dried fruits: the rice, and a part of the fruit, the governor purchased, for the use of the troops. The enemy's camp by this time was considerably increased, and we numbered 26 cannon behind the fort at Point Mala. A Venetian arrived on the 5th, though fired at by the enemy. She (with the Dutchmen) remained no longer than was necessary to take on board some of the inhabitants, who, apprehensive that the garrison would be besieged, thought it eligible to seek an asylum in time. Indeed about this time scarcely a boat or vessel left the port without being crowded with Jews or Genoese, who preferred a residence in Barbary, or Portugal, to remaining in Gibraltar, where the necessaries of life became every day more scarce. Early on the 6th came in a Portuguese schooner, from Tangier, with 44 bullocks, 27 sheep, and a few fowls; and two days following, another arrived with onions, fruit, and eggs: the latter brought letters for the governor, but no news from England. From this day nothing material occurred till the 10th, when the enemy’s cruisers captured a boat belonging to the garrison. As affairs began to wear a more serious aspect, a general activity reigned throughout the garrison, promoted not a little by the example of the governor, who was usually present when the workmen paraded at dawn of day. The engineers were busily employed in putting the works at Willis’s in the best repair, and in erecting new batteries on the heights of the north front. A considerable extent of ground above the town was cleared and levelled, to encamp the different regiments, in case the enemy should fire upon the town. Parties were likewise detached to collect shrubs, &c., from the face of the hill, for fascines; and the artillery were daily engaged in completing the expense magazines with powder, ranging the different ordnance, and preparing everything for immediate use in their department. The navy were not less diligent. A new battery for 22 guns was begun in the Navy Yard, as a resource in case the enemy’s operations should make it necessary to lay up the ships; and the stores were removed from the New mole to the Navy hospital. Towards the middle of August, the motions of the enemy were no longer mysterious; every succeeding day confirmed us in the opinion that their object was to distress the garrison as much as possible. The blockade became more strict and severe, their army was in force before the place, and their present plan seemed to be to reduce Gibraltar by famine. Our stock of provisions, they concluded, was small, and their squadron under Admiral Barcelo, who commanded in the bav, • * 7 could prevent succours being thrown in by neutral vessels; whilst their grand fleet, united with that of France, would1779.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 81 be superior to any which Great Britain could equip, in her then critical situation. This scheme, every circumstance considered, was specious; and, had not the garrison fortunately received a supply of provisions, &c., in April, 1779, the troops undoubtedly would have been reduced to the greatest distress, and the place might probably have been in imminent danger, before the ministry could dispatch a fleet to its relief. The situation of the garrison was becoming every day more interesting: only forty head of cattle were now in the place; and from the vigilance of the enemy, there was little prospect of constant supplies from Barbary : two bullocks were ordered, therefore, to be killed daily for the use of the sick. The inhabitants had been warned in time to provide against the calamities which now impended: the standing orders of the garrison specified, that every inhabitant, even in time of peace, should have in store six months’ provisions; yet by far the greater number had neglected this precaution. These unfortunate people, as they could not expect to be supplied from the garrison stores, were in general compelled to seek subsistence by quitting the place; some, however, were induced to weather out the storm by the property they had in the garrison, which was probably their all, and which they could not remove with themselves. Those of this description, on application, obtained leave to erect wooden huts and sheds at the southward, above the Navy Hospital, whither they began to remove their valuable effects, &c., that they might be secure from the annoyance of the enemy, in case the town should be bombarded. Fifteen or sixteen covered carts, on the 15th, arrived at the enemy’s camp, and unloaded timber, planks, &c., at their laboratory tents. They continued landing stores on the beach, which employed a great number of carts to convey them to their depots; and at night we generally observed a number of lights, and frequently heard a noise like that of men employed on some laborious duty : this might proceed from dragging cannon, as we observed, on the 17th, they had animated all the embrasures in Fort St. Philip. Early on the 17th, the enemy attempted to cut out a polacre, which was anchored off the Old mole; but retired on a gun being fired at them from the garrison. The small craft, after this circumstance, removed to the New mole, as the men-of-war had done some time before. The 18th, in the morning, two parties of workmen came from the camp, and were employed at Forts St. Philip and St. Barbara: covered carts continued constantly going from Point Mala to the laboratory tents, supposed to be laden with shot. The following morning a Spaniard came in an open boat to Waterport, with onions and fruit, having a pass for Ceuta: he was examined by the quartermaster-general, and allowed to sell his cargo and purchase tobacco, but was not permitted to land: at night he was ordered to return, which he did about eight o’clock. He informed us the camp consisted of between 5000 and 6000 men, which were to be immediately completed to 15,000. The 20th, the enemy formed a new camp, to the left of the stone quarry, under the Queen of Spain’s Chair : we imagined it to be intended for the Catalonian troops, as they are usually encamped separate from the rest of the Spanish forces. The same day our marksmen were embodied into a company of two non-commissioned officers and 64 men ; and the command was given to Lieutenant Burleigh, of the 39th regiment. The enemy, on the 21st, had more men than usual employed in making fascines: they likewise were very busy in piling shot, and had a party at work in the covered way of Fort St. Philip. A number of carts daily brought shot (as we imagined) to the lines, particularly to Fort St. Barbara. The 23rd, the corps of engineers were formed into three divisions, and several officers of the line appointed to join them as assistant engineers and overseers. The same day some experiments were made with red-hot shot: this practice was continued on the 25th, when some carcasses were also thrown, and much approved. The 27th, we observed a32 HISTORY OF THE [chap. III. fascine-work begun upon the glacis, north of Fort St. Philip, which afterwards proved to he a mortar battery. A great number of carts continued to be employed in the enemy’s camp, and vast quantities of stores were constantly landing bevond Point Mala. In the course of the 30th, the Childers and an armed schooner attempted to cut off two half-galleys becalmed in the bay; but the enemy’s xebeques, getting under way, obliged them to desist. At night upwards of 80 covered carts came down to the enemy’s lines. From the time the enemy first appeared encamped before the garrison, troops had been continually joining them from all quarters. Their camp consisted of two lines (independent of the Catalonians), extending from Point Mala, in an oblique direction, into the country, towards the Queen of Spain’s Chair. The streets were in a direction nearly parallel to the bottom of the bay. The guards in their lines and advanced posts were, as the camp increased, proportionably reinforced; but no act of hostility had yet taken place in that quarter, though the governor continued the garrison-guard at the Devil’s-tower. Their forts were repaired and put in the best order of defence. Laboratory tents for the artillery were pitched in front of their camp, and magazines erected for military stores, which were frequently brought by fleets of small craft, convoyed by men-of-war from Cadiz, Malaga, and other ports in the neighbourhood. On the 5th of September a soldier of Hardenberg’s deserted from a working party employed in scarping the rock, under the lines. He was fired upon from Willis’s, but got off. Besides the party engaged in rendering the lines inaccessible, our engineers were daily strengthening them with palisades, &c. Traverses were also erected along the covered way, grand batterv, and line-wall above Water-port, where a strong boom of masts was laid, from Old mole head to the foot of Landport glacis. About this time the regiments began to practise grenade exercise. The day on which i the Hanoverian deserted, a Moorish galley came over from Algeziras, where she had been detained ten days. The crew reported that the Spanish camp was very sickly. It is supposed this vessel came to order home the ship which had been some time repairing in the New mole, as the following day both of them left the garrison for Tangier: a xebeque, however, speaking them off* Cabrita Point, the Moors were conducted to the Spanish admiral. The enemy’s workmen in the lines appeared at this time to be about 500. They were principally engaged in filling up with sand the north part of the ditch of Fort St. Philip, completing the mortar battery before mentioned, and raising the crest of the glacis of their lines in different places. From the noise often heard during the night, and the number of lights seen, we judged that they worked without intermission. Two waggons, drawn each by 12 mules or horses, arrived at the lines on the 8th, which we conjectured brought fixed ammunition. The 11th, we observed that they had begun several fascine-works on the crest of their lines, apparently for mortar batteries; and had raised several traverses for the protection of their guard-houses. Waggons and carts continued bringing fascines and other materials to the lines from the camp. The same day, a row boat, fitted out by the Jews, brought in a Dutch dogger laden with wheat: a very valuable supply in our situation. The operations of the enemy now began to engage our attention. They had been permitted to pass and repass unmolested for some time; but the governor did not think it prudent to allow them to proceed any longer with impunity. A council of war was consequently summoned on the 11th, to confer on the measures to be pursued. The council consisted of the following officers:—The governor, the lieutenant-governor, Vice-admiral Duff, Major-general de la Motte; Colonels Ross, Green, and Godwin; with Sir Thomas Rich, Bart. In the evening it was reported that their opinion was not to1779.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. .33 open on the enemy whilst they continued within their lines: but this rumour was only propagated to deceive the garrison ; for on the succeeding morning, being Sunday the 12th of September, the artillery officers were ordered to the batteries on the heights ; and the Devil’s Tower guard being withdrawn, the governor opened on the enemy from Green’s Lodge (a battery made since the blockade commenced), Willis’s and Queen Charlotte's batteries. Their advanced guards in the Micque-let huts, and in the stone guard-houses, were in a short time compelled to retire, and the workmen assembled in the lines obliged to disperse. The covered waggons returned to the camp without depositing their ladings; and so general a panic seized the enemy at this unexpected attack, that their cavalry galloped off towards the camp, and for some hours scarce a person was to be seen within the range of our guns. The forts were too distant to be materially damaged; and the governor's intention being* only to disturb their workmen, the firing after a few hours slackened, and a shot was only discharged as the enemy presented themselves. A brass gun in the Queen’s battery (Willis’s) run with eight rounds. The mortar batteries that had been discovered in the enemv’s lines, some few days previous to our firing, had caused no small alarm amongst the inhabitants ; those, therefore,who had huts in Hardy Town, at the southward, immediately removed their most valuable effects, fully convinced that the Spaniards at night would return the fire. That the duty of the batteries mi^ht be performed with spirit, in case the enemy persisted in carrying on their works, a captain, 3 subalterns, and 52 men of the artillery, were ordered to take in charge Green’s Lodge, Willis’s, and other batteries on the neights. The firing was continued the subsequent days, as circumstances directed. The 16th, our artillery made three attempts to reach the enemy’s laboratory tents, or artillery park (as henceforward they will be called), from a sea-moitar at Willis’s. The first and second shell burst immediately on leaving the mortar; the third went its range, but fell a little short of the I fascine park. The artillery at this period used the old shells, the fuses of which were in general faulty; and this was the cause that the experiment did not answer on the first and second trials. We observed, the same day, that the Spaniards had pitched some additional tents a little beyond Point Mala : they also began to erect a pier, or wharf, for the convenience of landing their stores and supplies. Whilst the governor kept a watchful eye cn the enemy’s operations, molesting their workmen as much as possible from Willis’s, proper precautions were taken in the town to render a bombardment less distressing, in case they retaliated, which, indeed, their preparations gave us reason to think would not be long deferred, i The pavement of the streets, in the north part of the town, was ploughed up; the towers of the most conspicuous buildings were taken down, and traverses raised in different places, to render the communications more secure. The enemy appeared to bear our fire very patiently in their lines : I their parties continued working on the i mortar batteries; the stone sentry-boxes were pulled down, and the guard-houses unroofed; a boyau, or covered way, was likewise begun, to make a safe communication from the lines to their camp. Our firing was still continued; but their parties were at too considerable a distance (being near a mile) to be materially annoyed by our shot; and the works being surrounded with sand, the large shells sunk so deep that the splinters seldom rose to the surface An experiment was therefore recom mended by Captain (now Major) Mercier, of the 39th regiment, namely, to fire out of guns 5^-inch shells, with short fuses; which were tried on the 25th, and found to answer extremely well. These small shells, according to Captain Mercier’s method, were thrown with such precision, and the fuses cut by calculation with such exactness, that iic shell often burst over their heads, D34 HISTORY OF THE [CHAP. Ill and wounded them before they could get under cover. This mode * of annoyance was eligible on several other accounts: less powder was used, and the enemy were more seriously molested; the former was an advantage of no small consequence, since it enabled the governor to reserve, at this period, what might be probably expended to the greater benefit of the service on a future occasion. It will also account for the extraordinary number of shells which were discharged from the garrison. In the afternoon of the 26th a soldier of the 72nd regiment deserted from a working party out at Landport. He took refuge behind one of the Mic-quelet huts, and, notwithstanding our endeavours to dislodge him, remained there till night, when it is imagined he proceeded to the lines. Our firing was now very trifling. The enemy continued making additions to their boyau and the works in the lines; but the latter were chiefly done in the night. •J Indeed, since our firing, their operations within our reach had been principally carried on during the night, at which time, or very late in the evening, they also relieved their guards. In the beginning of October, the enemy's army, according to our intelligence, consisted of sixteen battalions of infantry, and twelve squadrons of horse, which, if the regiments were complete, would amount to about 14,000 men. Lieutenant-General Don Martin Alvarez de Sota Mayor was com-mander-in-chief. We continued our fire, varying as objects presented themselves. The great command we had over the enemy's operations from Green’s Lodge, induced the engineers to mount still higher, and endeavour to erect a battery on the summit of the northern front of the rock: a place therefore was levelled, and a road for wheeled carriages begun at Middle-hill. The 4th, a soldier of the 58th attempted to desert from Middle-hill * The enemy, we were informed, attempted this practice, but never could bring it to perfection. guard, but was dashed to pieces in his descent. The artillery were too impatient to have a gun mounted on the summit of the rock, to wait till the new road was finished : they accordingly determined to drag a twenty-four pounder up the steep craggy face of the rock ; and in a few days, with great difficulty and prodigious exertions, they were so successful as to get it to the* top. The 9th, a party of the navy attempted to cut off two Spanish pola-cres, becalmed between Algeziras and their camp. Our seamen spiritedly boarded one, and were on their return with the other, when two galleys from Point Mala gave chase, maintaining a smart and well-directed fire as they advanced, and gained so considerably on the prizes that the captors were reluctantly obliged to quit them, and betake themselves to their boats. The Childers sloop-of-war was ordered out to protect them, and fortunately was in time to stop the progress of the galleys. The tiller of one of our barges was carried away by a shot, but no other damage was received. The platform on the summit of the rock was completed on the 12th ; and, the gun being mounted, the succeeding day we saluted the enemy's forts with a few rounds of shot and shells. This gun was mounted on a traversing carriage, and was distinguished by the name of the Rock Gun. From that post we had nearly a bird's-eye view of the enemy’s lines, and, with the assistance of glasses, could distinctly observe every operation in their camp. In the afternoon of the 16th a servant of Mr. Davies (the agent-victualler of the garrison), under pretence of looking for a strayed gear, obtained leave to pass Landport barrier, and immediately went over to the enemy. The desertion of this man gave us some concern, as probably, to ensure a favourable reception, he might have taken with him some memorandums of the state of our provisions. The enemy’s parties had not been remarkably active in the beginning of the month; but about the 17 th and 18th, their workmen in the lines were more numerous than usual, which produced a more animated fire fromSIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 1 17 our batteries. As our artillery by this time were accustomed to tire from heights, the small shells did consider-able execution amongst the! i-workmen, many of whom we observed were carried olf. On the evening of the 19th. the governor was at Willis’s, to see an experiment of a light ball, invented by Lieutenant Whitham, of the artillery. It was made of lead, and, when tilled with composition, weighed 14 lbs. 10 oz. This ball, with 4 lbs. of powder, was fired at six degrees of elevation, out of a thirty-two pounder, upon the glacis of their lines : it burnt well; and the experiment would have been repeated, had not a thick fog suddenly arisen. The governor was at Willis's the succeeding morning, to see a second; when, the fog being totally dispersed, the light ball answered his expectation. The enemv, during the night, had been uncommonly noisy: but when the light balls were fired, no parties were discovered at work. Nevertheless, at daybreak, to our great surprise we observed 35 embrasures opened in their lines, forming three batteries; two of 14 each, bearing on our lines and Willis’s, and one of 7, apparently for the town and Waterport. They were cut through the parapet of their glacis, and situated oetween the barrier of the lines and Fort St. Philip. The embrasures were all masked, and many of the merlons were in an unfinished state : the governor ordered the artillery to direct their fire on these works, and on the seven-gun battery in particular, where they had a party finishing what was left imperfect in the night.* In the afternoon, a Venetian was brought-to by a gum V- to from Europa, and came in: two galleys attempted to cut her off, but in vain. Our workmen now became exceedingly diligent: new communications and works were raised in the lines, which were reinforced at night, with a subaltern and 43 men ; the alarm-posts of the regiments were also changed, * From the distance of these batteries, we did not. imagine they would ever mateiiailv injure the garrison: but the cannonade and bombardment of 1781 convinced us of our error and other arrangements took place. On the night of the 2Cth, we imagined, from the noise in the enemy’s lines, that their carpenters were platforming the new batteries, the merlons of which they had cased and capped with fascines. Their boyau now extended from the fascine park, almost to the barrier of the lines. The 23rd, a prize settee, laden with rice, was sent in from the eastward: she was taken by a privateer belonging to Mr. Anderson, of the gar-rison, the captain of which thought the cargo would be useful to the inhabitants : and indeed this supply was truly seasonable. No vessel or boat had arrived for six weeks (excepting the Ye-netian, on the 20th instant\ and every to article in the garrison began to sell at a most exorbitant price : this trilling addition of provisions was therefore well received by the miserable Jews and Genoese, though the rice sold for 21 dollars 6 reals per cwt., which, at 40P. sterling the dollar, is 3/. 12s. {d. The enemy's artillery, on the 26th, decamped from their old ground, before the right wing of their front line, and took post near the Catalonians, where they were reinforced with a detachment that had lately joined. The following night, the Dutch dogger, which had brought us the supply of wheat some weeks before, sailed for Malaga: she took 73 Genoese and Spanish passengers. The next dav our artillery got up to Middle-hiil two twenty-four pounders, to be in readiness for a new batterv, which was erecting below the rock gun. Another twenty-four-pounder was taken to the same place, on the morning of the 25th. Our firing still continued, as the enemy's parties were daily bringing down timber and other materials for their new batteries. The 30th, an English privateer, called the Peace and Plenty, 18 six pounders,--------M‘Kenzie master, at- tempting to get in from the eastward, ran ashore half-way between Fort Barbara and the Devil’s Tower. Some of the crew came on shore on the neutral ground; the remainder, with the master, were brought oil by the admiral's boats : and on the night of the 31st, she was burnt. As there was some* D 2J J HISTORY OF THE LCHAP. III. thing extraordinary and unaccountable in the circumstances attending the loss of this vessel, I cannot resist the temptation of relating them more at large. In the morning she was bearing down under a fine sail and leading wind, for Europa advanced guard, as two xebeques were cruising off Europa Point. One of the xebeques, about nine, got within shot of her: a few rounds were exchanged, and the privateer was apparently resolved to fight her way in; but on a sudden she altered her course, and ran ashore under the enemy’s guns, about 400 or 500 yards from the garrison. The boatswain was killed, and several others wounded from the fort, before our boats arrived to their relief. Towards the conclusion of the month, the small-pox was discovered in the garrison, amongst the Jews. The governor, apprehensive that it might spread amongst the troops, and be attended with dangerous consequences, ordered those who had never been affected with that disorder, to be quartered at the southward till the infection should disappear ; and every precaution was taken to prevent its communicating. In the evening of the 31st, the new batterv below the rock gun was finished: it mounted four twenty-four pounders, and was called the Royal battery. November was not introduced by any remarkable event. The fire from our batteries was variable, as their workmen were employed. Considerable deposits of fascines, with planks and pieces of timber, were formed in the Spanish lines; and other parts of their glacis were raised with fascines and sand for additional mortar batteries. The 3rd, the enemy began to form merlons at Fort Tonara, on the eastern shore, which, joined with the circumstances of their erecting two fascine batteries on the beach, between Fort St. Philip and Point Mala, and one near the magazine at the Orange grove, gave us reason to suppose that they expected a fleet in their neighbourhood. Few workmen were at this time to be seen in their lines: a party was trimming up the boyau : and numbers were employed about the landing-place in disembarking stores; which appeared to be their chief employment. Provisions of every kind were now becoming very scarce and exorbitantly dear in the garrison ; mutton 3s. and 3s. per pound; veal 4s., pork 2s. and 2s. Cr/., a pig’s head 19s., ducks from 14s. to 18s. a couple; and a goose a guinea. Fish was equally high, and vegetables were with difficulty to be got for any money; but bread, the great essential of life and health, was the article most wanted. It was about this period, that the governor made trial what quantity of rice would suffice a single person for twenty-four hours, and actually lived himself eight days on four ounces of rice per day. General Eliott was remarkable for an abstemious mode of living, seldom tasting anything but vegetables, simple puddings, and water; and yet was very hale, and used constant exercise: but the small portion just mentioned would be far from sufficient for a working man kept continually employed, and in a climate where the beat necessarily demands very refreshing nourishment to support nature under fatigue. Two deserters came in, with their arms, on the night of the 11th. They belonged to the Walon guards, a corps in the Spanish service, composed principally, if not entirely, of foreigners. The following morning they were conducted to Willis’s, whence they had a view of the enemy’s works, which they described to the governor. The Spanish armv were under arms on the 12th, in the front of their camp, and were dismissed by corps as the general passed. The 14th, arrived the Buck cutter privateer, Captain Fagg, carrying 24 9-pounders. The abilities and bravery of a British sailor were so eminently conspicuous in the captain’s conduct previous to his arrival, that even our enemies could not help bestowing on him the encomiums to which his merit entitled him. About eight in the morning, the privateer was discovered in the Gut, with a westerly breeze. The usual signal for seeing an enemy was made by the Spaniards at Cabrita Point; and Admiral. Barcelo, with a1 779.] SIEGE OF GIBEALTAE. 37 ship of the line, one of 50 guns, a frigate of 40, two xebeques, a settee of 14 guns, with half-galleys, &c. &c. to the number of 21, got under wav to in-tercept her. On the first alarm a xebeque at anchor off Cabrita had weighed, and stood out into the Straits: the cutter nevertheless continued her course; but observing the whole Spanish squadron turning the Point, she suddenly tacked, and stood towards the Barbary shore: the xebeques, frigate, and lighter vessels pursued, but were carried down to leeward by the irresistible rapidity of the current, whilst the cutter in a great degree maintained her station. As it may appear very extraordinary to readers unacquainted with nautical affairs, that the privateer should not be equallv affected by the current, it may be necessary to inform them, that a cutter, or any vessel rigged in the same manner, from the forma--tion of her sails can go some points nearer the wind than a square-rigged vessel; which advantage, on this occasion, enabled Captain Fagg to turn better to windward, by stemming the current, whilst the Spaniards, by opposing their broadsides, were carried away to the eastward. But to resume the narrative : Barcelo, who had his flag on board the 74, was the last in the chase, and, perceiving his squadron driving to leeward, prudently returned to the Point, to be in readiness to intercept her in the bay. The 50-gun ship also laid her head to the current, and keeping that position, drove very little in comparison with her friends. Affairs were thus situated when Captain Fagg, persuaded that the danger was over, boldly steered for the garrison. The 50-gun ship endeavoured to cut her off from the eastward, but was compelled to retire by our batteries at Europa : and Barcelo got under way to intercept her from Cabrita Point; but finding his efforts ineffectual, he was obliged to haul his wind, and giving her two irregular broadsides, of grape and round, followed his unsuccessful squadron to the eastward. The cutter insultingly returned the Spanish admiral’s fire with her stern-chase, and soon after anchored under our guns. The expectations of the troops and inhabitants, who were spectators of the action, had been raised to the highest pitch : few doubted but she was a king's vessel; and as no intelligence had been received from England for many weeks, their flattering fancies painted her the messenger of good news: probably the forerunner of a fleet to their relief. But what was their despondency and disappointment, when they were informed that she was only a privateer, had been a considerable time at sea, and put in for provisions ’ Though our condition in the victualling-office became weekly more and more serious, vet the cover-nor generously promised Captain Fagg assistance. What indeed could be refused to a man by whose boldness and skilful manoeuvres the port was once more open, and the bay and Straits again under the command of a British admiral ? Only two or three lialf-galleys returned to Cabrita Point; the rest of their squadron were driven far to leeward of the rock. Assuming the liberty of a short digression in this place, it may be necessary to inform the reader of the extent and breadth of the Straits of Gibraltar, and acquaint him at the same time with the opinions of different writers concerning the perpetual current that sets into the Mediterranean Sea, from the great Atlantic Ocean, which has so long engaged the attention of many ' celebrated natural philosophers. The Straits of Gibraltar (formerly known by the name of the Herculean Straits) are about twelve leagues in ex- . tent, from Cape Spartel to Ceuta Point, on the African coast, and from Cape Trafalgar to Europa Point, on the coast of Spain. At the western entrance, they are in breadth about eight leagues, but diminish considerably about the middle, opposite Tarifa (a small fishing-town on the Spanish coast, originally a place of great consequence and strength), though they widen again between Gibraltar and Ceuta, where they are about five leagues broad. Philosophers, who have communicated their sentiments on the extraordinary phenomenon of a constant cur-38 HISTORY OF THE [chap, iil rent, differ widely in accounting for the disposition of that continual influx of waters, which, it is natural to suppose, would, without some consumption or return, soon overflow the boundaries of the Mediterranean Sea. The ingenious Dr. Halley was of opinion, that this perpetual supply of water from the vast Atlantic Ocean was intended by nature to recruit what was daily exhaled in vapour: others again think, the waters that roll in with the centre current are returned, by two counter-streams, along the African and Spanish shores. That there are two counter-streams is without doubt; but their rapidity and breadth bear little proportion to the principal current. A third class suppose a counter-current beneath, and of equal strength with the upper stream; and this opinion appears confirmed by a circumstance related by Colonel James, in his description of the Herculean Straits, of a Dutch ship being sunk in action by a French privateer off Tarifa, which some time afterwards was cast up near Tangier, four leagues to the westward of the place where she disappeared, and directly against the upper current. This hypothesis receives also additional support from the repeated disappointments which have been experienced bv manv naval officers, in at-tempting to sound the depth of the Straits with the longest lines: for the opposition between the currents might carry the line in such directions as to defeat the intention of this experiment. These facts seem strongly to indicate a recurrency to the westward: which, though it may not be so rapid as the upper stream, yet, with the assistance of the currents along the Spanish and Barbary shores, and the necessary ex-halations, may account for the Mediterranean Sea never increasing by the constant supply received from the Atlantic Ocean. The rapidity of the superior current renders the passage from the Mediterranean to the westward very precarious and uncertain, as ships never can stem the stream without a brisk Levanter, or easterly wind. Ves-sels, therefore, are often detained weeks and sometimes months, waiting for a favourable breeze; in which case they find a comfortable berth in the bay of Gibraltar.—To return to my narrative. Two frigates, on the night of the 14th, joined the enemy’s small craft in the bay, from the west. It was thought from some preparations that were made on board our men-of-war the succeed-i ing evening, that Admiral Duff intended an attempt to cut out or destroy these ships : a council was held in the i navy, and the practicability of such an en-| terprise debated; but nothing was done. The bay being again open, the night of the 19th a Moorish settee came in, with 39 bullocks and a few sheep: the j former were so weak and poor, that ! many of them died on the beach as soon as thev were landed: they were, I however, a most acceptable supply. I The patron informed us that a vessel , had sailed the preceding night for the garrison, with 40 bullocks, 50 sheep, ! and 30 goats; which we imagined was taken by the galleys at the Point. The i following dav, a Swede stood in for the J garrison, with a signal at her fore-topgallant mast-head, by which she was known to be laden with provisions, and ; consigned to an inhabitant. Off' the Point she was boarded by a row-boat, and conducted immediately to Algeziras. The 23rd the governor pro-! portioned the fuel to the officers. This t article was now become scarce and important. The coals in the garrison were few: what fuel, therefore, was issued at this period, was wood from ships bought bv government, and broken up for that purpose, but which had so strongly imbibed the salt water, that it was with the utmost difficulty we could make it take fire. A small boat arrived on the 24th, with a packet from Mr. Logie: this packet was landed at Mogadore in I South Barbary’, by the Fortune sloop-of-war, Captain Squires. If I rightly 1 recollect, it was upon this occasion that ! the following successful stratagem was effected, through the fidelity of a Moor entrusted by’ Mr. Logie to carry’ the dispatches to that part of the coast, l whence, to prevent interception, he1779.1 SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 39 thought it prudent to send them to Gibraltar. The Spaniards, acquainted with the importance of these dispatches, wished to prevent them coming to our hands; and accordingly offered 1000 cobs (about 225/. sterling) to the Moor, to induce him to betray his trust, and pretend he had been robbed on his way to the coast. The faithful Moor immediately acquainted the consul with the offer, who directed him to promise that he would comply. In the interval Mr. Logie prepared false dispatches, in ciphers, signed and dated them from St. James's, and affixed a seal from the cover of a letter from Lord Hillsborough to himself: these were inclosed in the usual form, and directed to General Eliott. The Moor re-ceived part of the bribe, and delivered up the fictitious packet: Mr. Logie on his return appeared much distressed by the accident, and the next evening sent the real dispatches to Gibraltar. The wind veering round to the southward, on the 26th Admiral Bar-celo returned from Ceuta to his old anchorage off Algeziras, and the port again became closely blockaded. A deserter came in, on the morning of the 30th, from the lines; he belonged to the Walon guards; and about five in the afternoon, another Walon deserted to us. They fired several muskets at the latter, and he turned about and returned the shot: three horsemen then pursued him, but were driven back by our artillery. After the first gun-fire, two more came in of the same corps. The enemy’s operations continued to be confined to the completion of their batteries, and the finishing of their boyau. In their camp we observed them busily employed in erecting huts for the accommodation of their troops against the winter rains, which now had begun to set in. On the other hand, the governor made every necessary addition to the works. Waterport covered way was doubly palisaded, and a battery for three guns erected on the projecting quay ; a work of masonry, to mount two guns, was built at Ragged-staff; and traverses of casks and earth were raised on the different roads, on the north front, to secure the commu- nications. Some improvements were also made in the batteries and works at Europa. December commenced with the capture of a Genoese polacre, becalmed off Europa. Our sailors found about 220/. in money on board, with some letters, from which we learned -bat the enemy sustained some loss in the lines from our fire. The 4th, the enemy beat a parley, and sent in a mule (belonging to Colonel Green, the chief engineer) which had strayed to their lines ; an instance of politeness which we did not expect. The 8th, another deserter came in; he was pursued, but wc protected him. The subsequent day we observed several men about the western and eastern advanced stone guardhouses, which we imagined were posted there to prevent desertion. Our artillery endeavoured to dislodge them with round shot, but did not succeed. The 10th, the enemy fired several rounds, from Fort St. Philip, at our fishing-boats in the bay. Four soldiers of De la Motte’s regiment, quartered on Windmill-hill, attempted, on the 13th, to desert: search was however immediately made for them, and two were retaken. Those who escaped were supposed to have got down by a rope-ladder, left by the party employed in cutting brush-wood for fascines. The next day another of the enemy endeavoured to come over to us, but, being pursued by two horsemen, was cut down and secured. One of the horses belonging to the pursuers was killed by our fire, and the rider much bruised with the fall. The succeeding dav this unfortunate man was executed on a new gallows, erected near their artillery park, and the body, according to custom, hung till sunset. The governor, on the 19th, ordered that no guns should be fired from the garrison at the enemy’s shipping, if the distance required more than 6° elevation ; except when ships were chasing or engaged. On the 20th, the Buck, having refitted, sailed on a cruise to the eastward. We were afterwards informed that she unfortunately fell in with a French frigate, which, after a few broadsides, captured the Buck;10 HISTORY OF THE [chap. hi. but before she could be got into port, she sunk from the damage received in the action. On the night of the 26th, we had a most violent storm of rain, with dreadful thunder and lightning. The succeeding morning a vast quantity of wood, cork, &c. was floating under our walls: the rain had washed it from the banks of the Palmones and Guadaranque, and it was wafted by the wind over to our side of the bay. Fuel had long been a scarce article: this supply was therefore considered as a miraculous interference of Providence in our favour. The enemy, the 27th, fired four guns from Fort St. Philip : one of the shot struck the extremity of Prince’s lines. Whether these were fired to frighten our fishermen, who were dragging their nets near the farther gardens, without Landport, or only as an experiment, we could not say, as they immediately ceased on our returning the fire from Willis's. The day following, came in three deserters; and the same morning the Fly packet-boat arrived from Tangier, with 40 goats, fowls and eggs, but no mail : this cargo, though trifling, was highly acceptable. The deserters informed us that the enemy were almost overflowed in their lines, from the late excessive rains: in some places, particularly near the new batteries, the water was two and three feet deep ; and their efforts to drain it off had hitherto been ineffectual. The 28th, a soldier of Hardenberg’s deserted down the back of the rock. January, 1780, did not commence with any very interesting events. A squadron of men-of-war passed through to the west on the 2nd : it being hazy, we could not distinguish of what nation they were; but many thought them Spaniards from Carthagena. On the evening of the 5th, a fire broke out in the enemy’s camp, which, we afterwards learned, destroyed four officers’ marquees, and six or seven huts. The following day, after gun-fire, two Wa-lons deserted to us: they brought infor-mation that upwards of forty mortars were mounted in the lines, and that all their batteries were completed with cannon. A Neapolitan polacre was luckily driven under our guns on the 8th, and obliged to come in. On board we found about 6000 bushels of barley, a cargo (circumstanced as we were) of inestimable value. The bakers had long been limited to the quantity of bread daily to be issued to the inhabitants, and sentries were placed at the wickets where it was delivered, to prevent confusion and riot. The strongest, nevertheless, had the advantage ; so that numbers of women, children, and infirm persons returned to their miserable habitations, frequently without tasting, for some days, that chief, and perhaps necessary support of life. The inhabitants were not the only sufferers in this scene of distress; many officers and soldiers had families to support out of the pittance received from the victualling - office. A soldier, with his wife and three children, would inevitably have been starved to death, had not the generous contribution of his corps relieved his family. One woman actually died through want; and many were so enfeebled that it was not without great attention they recovered. Thistles, dandelion, wild leeks, &c. were for some time the daily nourishment of numbers. Few supplies arriving from Barbary, and there appearing little prospect of relief from England, famine began to present itself with its attendant horrors. Had there been a glimmering hope of assistance from home, it would have enabled many to support themselves under this accumulation of distress ; but, alas ! we seemed entirely abandoned to our fortune. Not only bread, but every article necessary to the support of life, was hard to be procured, and only to be purchased at exorbitant prices. Veal, mutton, and beef sold from 2s. 6d. to 4s. per pound; fresh pork, from 2s. to 3s.; salt beef and pork, Is. Zd. per pound; fowls, 18s. per couple; ducks, 21s.; firewood, 5s. per cwt.; a pint of milk and water, Is. 3d. Vegetables were extremely scarce: a small cabbage cost Is. 6d., and a small bunch of the outward leaves sold for 5d. Irish butter, 2s. 6d. per pound ; eggs, 6c/. each; and candles, 2s. Ct/. per1780.J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 41 pound. The best fish was most exorbitantly dear, considering on what terms the garrison had been formerly supplied. It is natural to suppose, from the rock being almost surrounded with the sea, that we should have a constant resource in this article. The contrary was, however, the case: our fishermen were foreigners, and being under no regulation, they exacted, by degrees, most extravagant sums for what some months before we should have refused with disgust. This extreme scarcity of provisions, it may well be imagined, could not fail to exercise the invention of individuals. A singular mode of hatching chickens was about this time successfully practised by the Hanoverians ; and, as it may be acceptable to some readers, the process, as communicated by a friend, is here inserted. The eggs were placed, with some cotton, wool, or other warm substance, in a tin case of such construction as to be heated either by a lamp or hot water ; and, by a proper attention to the temperature of heat, the eggs were commonly hatched in the usual time of a hen’s sitting. A capon (however strange it may appear) was then taught to rear them. To reconcile him to this trust, the feathers were plucked from his breast and belly; he was then gently scourged with a bunch of nettles, and placed upon the young hatch, whose downy warmth afforded such comfort to the bared and smarting parts, that he, from that period, reared them up with the care and tenderness of a mother. Early in the morning of the 10th, a squadron of ships was seen to the east, which had passed through in the night; five were of the line, and one under jury-masts : supposed to be Count d’Es-taing’s fieet from the West Indies. The same day a soldier of the 58th regiment was executed for stealing : he was the first man who had suffered since General Eliott had been governor. The day following, the enemy fired, from Fort St. Barbara, on a clergyman performing the last office over the corpse of a soldier of the 72nd regiment, at the burial - ground near the governor’s meadow. The party immediately re-tired, though not before they had deposited their charge. As this conduct convinced us that the enemy would not permit us to bury our dead without the garrison, a part of the red sands behind the Princess of Wales’s lines was appropriated to that purpose. The 12th, they surprised us again with ten shot from Fort St. Philip ; several came into town, and did some trifling damage amongst the buildings. The inhabitants, whose alarms had not totally subsided since the middle of September, when the governor opened upon the enemy, were now perfectly convinced they meant to return our fire; and accordingly began, on the first report of their guns, to remove themselves to the southward. Some in the greatest confusion endeavoured to secure their valuables in town; but the firing ceasing, the fugitives, before night, summoned up sufficient courage to return. A woman, passing near one of the houses, was slightly hurt. It was singular that a female should be the first person wounded by the enemy at this remarkable siege. In the evening, the commanding officers had orders to inform their corps that the governor was under the necessity of curtailing the weekly allowance of provisions. Disagreeable as this intelligence was, and particularly when we consider the distress which many experienced even with the full allowance, the men received it without the smallest appearance of discontent. Convinced of the necessity, they acquiesced with cheerfulness ; indeed, to do them justice, in all the vicissitudes of this trying period the garrison submitted, without murmuring, to every necessary regulation, however unpleasing. It was fortunate for many that this short allowance of provisions did not continue long: nay, it remained a doubt with some whether, at the time, the governor was not apprised of a relief being near, and did not enact this regulation solely to make trial of the disposition of his troops. 11 so, how satisfactory a circumstance must it have been to find the army under his command accord with so much good humour to what might be42 HISTORd OF TIIF | CHAP. III. considered as a real hardship, however indispensable! Admiral Du.fi, on the 13th, gave orders to the men-of-war and armed vessels to be prepared, in case a convoy was near, to afford every protection to any straggling ships that might attempt the port before the main body arrived. This caution confirmed us in the opinion of a convoy being expected ; and a general joy was diffused throughout the garrison at the flattering, though probably distant prospect. Two days after, a brig, which with other vessels seemed to be going through to the east, suddenly altered her course, and, notwithstanding she was opposed by the enemy, anchored under our walls. A ship with the British flag, entering the bay, was so uncommon a sight that almost the whole garrison were assembled at the southward to welcome her in ; but words are insufficient to describe their transports on being informed that she was one of a large conv )y which had sailed the latter end of the preceding month for our relief. The distressed Jews, and other inhabitants, were frantic with joy; and the repeated huzzas from all quarters for some time prevented further inquiries. We afterwards learned that she had parted company with the convoy in the Bay of Biscay, and off Cadiz had discovered nine sail of large ships, which the master concluded were Spaniards stationed there to oppose their entrance. The latter part of their information gave us much uneasiness. The enemy, we concluded, would have good intelligence of the force of the British convoy. If, therefore, any opposition was intended, a superior squadron would consequently be stationed at the entrance of the Straits. These reflections damped, in a great degree, the pleasure we before experienced, and made us apprehensive that the relief was not so near as we at first expected. The prospect of it had, however, a very visible effect on the price of provisions, which immediately fell more than two-thirds. Since it was probable that straggling ships might attempt the port before the body of the convoy approached, the Childers sloop-of-war and armed vessels were ordered to cruise in the bay to protect them from the enemy’s small-craft. Previous to the arrival of the brig, a soldier of the 58th regiment deserted from a party employed behind the rock in gathering shrubs, &c. for fascines. The 16th, a Walon deserted to us, by whom we were informed that the enemy had everything prepared in their lines to bombard the town. At another time we should have been greatly alarmed at this intelligence ; but our thoughts were too much engaged with the pleasing though uncertain hopes of relief to reflect on the consequences of a bombardment. In the evening our apprehensions concerning the convoy were totally dispelled by the arrival of a brig laden with flour, which 1 communicated the joyful news that on the 8th of January Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney had captured, off the coast of Portugal, a Spanish 64-gun ship, five of 32 and 28 guns, with fifteen merchantmen, belonging to the Caracca Company, going from Bil-boa to Cadiz ; and that, with a fleet of twenty-one sail of the line and a large convoy of merchant-ships and transports, he was proceeding to our relief. ! Every idea of opposition at this information immediately vanished ; and we anticipated the flattering prospect of seeing the British flag once more triumphantly displayed in the Mediterranean. The weather on the 17th was very hazy: but clearing up the succeeding day, one of the prizes arrived without any opposition from the enemy. The midshipman who brought her in informed us, that when he parted with the fleet on the 16th, Sir George was engaged with a Spanish squadron off Cape St. Mary’s: and that, just before they lost sight of them, a ship of the line blew up ; but | he was at too great a distance to distinguish whether she was friend or foe. In the evening one of the armed Caracca prizes came in, but no further particulars of the engagement could be | learned. Our anxiety concerning the i event of the action was, however, removed a few hours afterwards by the appearance of the convoy itself off’ Er1780. J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 43 ropa. The wind, at that critical time, unfortunately failed them ; and the vivid dashes of lightning, by which we had discovered the fleet at the first, only served to exhibit them to us driving with the current to the eastward of the rock. The Apollo frigate, Captain Pow-nall, with one or two merchantmen, nevertheless got in about eleven ; and by the former the governor and garrison were acquainted with the agreeable tidings of a complete victory over the Spanish admiral, who, with three others of his squadron, was taken : one was run ashore, another blown up in the engagement, and the rest dispersed. We now found that the plan for relieving Gibraltar had been conducted at home with such secrecy and prudence that the enemy never suspected that Sir George meant to convoy the transports to the Straits with so strong a fleet. By their intelligence from Brest, they understood he was to separate in a certain latitude, and proceed with the main body of the men-of-war to the West Indies. Thus deceived, /hey concluded that the transports with their convoy would fall an easy prey to their squadron, which consisted of eleven men-of-war, all chosen ships from their grand fleet. At daybreak, on the morning of the 19th, the enemy unmasked one of their 14-gun batteries. The guns, with those in the fort, were all elevated, and the lines reinforced with two regiments of infantry. The governor, notwith-standing these appearances, ordered a royal salute to be fired at six o’clock from Willis’s. The Panther man-of-war was decorated, and also fired a salute on account of this victory. About seven the Edgar arrived, with the Phoenix prize of 80 guns, having on board the Spanish admiral, Don Juan de Langara y Huarte. This ship had lost her mizen and main top-masts, but seemed little injured in the hull. The admiral, who was wounded in the engagement, was conducted on shore in the evening to lodgings in town, and had every attention and compliment paid him which were due to his rank. At night, Admiral Digby, in the ; Prinep George, worked round Europa ] with eleven or twelve ships ; but Sir George remained with the crippled prizes, and with the main body of the fleet, off Marbella, a Spanish town, formerly of note, sixteen leagues to the eastward of Gibraltar. The 20th, being the anniversary of the King of Spain’s birthday, Admiral Barcelo’s ships were decorated according to custom. When the colours were struck in the evening, the flag-ship, with her consort of 50 guns, was hauled close in land : and the next dav a large party began to erect a battery on the shore for their protection; being apprehensive, probably, of an attack from the British fleet. The night of the 21st, the enemy unmasked the other batteries in the lines, which again caused a general disturbance amongst the inhabitants. Everything seemed now prepared to fire upon the town. The convoy continued beating up ; but the prizes were so damaged in their rigging that they could not be expected to make the bay till the w ind veered round to the east. Early on the 22nd, several men-of-war, in coming into the bay, were carried down under the enemy’s batteries near Point Mala, w hich occasioned a general alarm in their camp. Drums beat to arms, and their artillery opened in an instant. The boats of the fleet, how’ever, were ordered to their assistance, and the ships were towed back without receiving much damage. One man was killed and two wounded on board the Terrible ; all of them Spanish prisoners. Sir George, on his arrival off the coast of Barbary, had sent intelligence to Mr. Logie to prepare supplies for the garrison. Three vessels therefore sailed in the course of the 22nd for Tetuan to bring over what was at hand. The consul had provided cattle, fascines, pickets, &c. in readiness for the ships w hen they arrived ; but, to his surprise, the ships sent in the hurry of business, under convoy of the Bedford, were transports fitted up for the reception of troops, with many weeks’ provisions on board; and before the berths could be removed to admit the supplies, the w ind came easterly, and the ships w ere obliged to return without them. This44 HISTORY OF TIIE [CHAP. HI. oversight was of great detriment to the garrison, as at this period we might have procured fresh provisions, which with economy would have served for some months. The garrison vessels were afterwards sent for these articles; hut after Sir George Rodney's departure, most of them were detained by the vigilance of the enemy’s cruisers. We learned by the Childers, on the 23rd, that Sir George was at anchor, with the prizes, in Tetuan Road; and waited only a favourable wind to join the remainder of the tieet in the bay. As the town of Tetuan has frequently been mentioned in the preceding pages, and probably will as often occur in the course of the subsequent, the reader will perhaps not be displeased to find in this place a short description of it. Tetuan is a very ancient town in Bar-bary, situated to the south-east of Ceuta, about six miles from the sea, on a river which meanders beautifully through a pleasant country ; but which has a bar at the entrance, that renders it unnavi-gable for large ships. Small vessels get up about two miles, as far as Mar-teen, which is the quay and port of Tetuan. The town is walled round with square towers at different distances to flank the curtains. It is built on the gentle slope of a hill; and the houses being white, with flat roofs, have the appearance at a distance of an encampment. The buildings are so contrived that a person may go from one end of the town to the other without descending into the streets, and in this manner their women, by occupying the upper stories, visit each other without being exposed to the sight of the male sex in the streets below. The town has a manufactory, and carries on a considerable trade, principally in barter ; the road is, however, so exposed towards the east, that ships cannot remain there during the Levant winds. The Moors exchange cattle, poultry, and fruit for other articles: and when there is a truce between the powers, supply several parts of Spain with provisions. The oranges of Tetuan are esteemed the largest and best flavoured of any in that part of the globe. The enemy, we imagined, were not a little alarmed by the casual appearance of our ships on the morning of the 22nd, as, for several days after, they were busy in removing cannon from their artillery park to the different batteries along the coast. At Algeziras the top-masts and yards of the men-o -war were struck, and the ships hauled as close in land, under the protection of the new battery, as the depth of water would admit. Several Spanish officers were now permitted to return on their parole to Spain. The 24th, the Childers sailed back to Tetuan; and soon after arrived a British letter of marque from Newfoundland, laden with salt-fish. Whilst the fleet remained in the bay the governor and garrison were often honoured with the presence of the royal midshipman, Prince William Henry ;* and when that youthful hero, on his return, laid his early laurels at the feet of his royal father, he presented, at the same time, a plan of the garrison, in the relief of which he had made his first naval essay. In that plan were delineated the improvements which the place had undergone, and the new batteries erected on the heights since the commencement of the blockade. The mention of his royal highness brings to my recollection an anecdote of him, which occurred whilst the fleet was in the bay. The Spanish admiral, Don Juan Langara. one morning visited Admiral Digby, to whose charge the prince was entrusted, and Don Langara was of course introduced to his royal highness. During the conference between the admirals, Prince William retired; and when it was intimated that Don Juan wished to return, his royal highness appeared in his character of midshipman, and respectfully informed the admiral that the boat was ready. The Spaniard, astonished to see the son of a monarch acting as a petty officer, immediately exclaimed, “ Well does Great Britain merit the empire of the sea, when the humblest stations in her navy are supported by princes of the blood.” f * His late Majesty, King William IV. In consequence of learning that doubts1780,] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 45 Three of the enemy, on the 25th, deserted to the garrison; a fourth, attempting to desert, was retaken, and another was shot by the pursuers within musket-shot of our lines. We tired from Willis’s at the horsemen who followed them, and wounded two of their horses. The deserters said it was reported that the enemy intended bombarding the town the succeeding day. For several preceding months we had reason, from their operations, to think such an event not improbable. Seven or eight mortar batteries had been dis-tributed along their lines, in which, according to our intelligence, were upwards of forty mortars ; these, with the cannon bearing on the garrison from their gun batteries, amounted in all to upwards of 100 pieces of ordnance. They, therefore, were not unprepared for such service ; but whether the circumstance of the Spanish admiral and officers being lodged in the town might not at that time in some degree influence their conduct, or whether they were overawed by the strong naval force m their neighbourhood, they deferred the bombardment to a more distant period. Sir George arrived in the Sandwich from Tetuan on the 25th; and the following day the prizes and remaining men-of-war were all at anchor in the bay. A council of war was immediately held on the admiral’s arrival: but the subject of their debates was not made public. Late in the evening of the same dav a Newfoundland vessel •/ with fish, coming in, approached so had been expressed respecting the authenticity of this anecdote, the author wrote, in 1835, to Sir Herbert Taylor, then private secretary to the King, and received from him the following reply:— “ AIv dear Colonel,—I have taken the earliest opportunity of submitting to the King the memorandum you left with me at St. James’s Palace respecting the passage at page 90 of [p. 44 of the present editionj your valuable and interesting work, the ‘ History of the Siege of Gibraltar,’ to which it refers; and I have now the pleasure to acquaint rou, by command of his Majesty, that the anecdote there gben is correctly stated in every respect, and therefore that any alteration of it which may have been suggested is uncalled f >r. “ Windsor Castle, 24th March, 1835.” close to the enemy’s coast, that our guard-boats were obliged to bring her to her proper berth. The Fortune sloop carried over to Point Mala, on the 26th, the Spanish wounded prisoners : Admiral Langara, with his suite, still remained in Gibraltar. Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney landed on the 27th at Ragged Staff, and, after visiting the Spanish admiral, dined with the governor. Prince William, with Admiral Digby, &c., likewise dined at the convent. The same day the governor ordered those soldiers’ wives and children who were not provided with twelve months’ provisions to prepare to leave the garrison with the fleet; 250 lbs. of flour, or 360 lbs. of biscuit, was stated as sufficient for one person. By this regulation many useless hands were sent home, which would have been a vast burthen on the garrison, circumstanced as we afterwards were. The evening of the 28th the Childers sailed for England with despatches from the admiral ; but meeting with a gale ol‘ wind at west, she was compelled to return, after losing her fore-yard and throwing four guns overboard. At night came in a deserter from the Walon guards. About noon, on the 29th, a large ship appeared from the westward : on doubling Cabrita Point she was discovered to be an enemy. Signals were instantly made for the Edgar and two frigates to attack her. In the mean time the Spaniard seemed greatly confused, but at last worked close in land, between two barbet batteries at the Point. Several broadsides were exchanged between her and the Edgar, whilst the frigates attacked the batteries. They were, however, after some time recalled, the admiral being apprehensive that they might sustain greater damage from the land than the object in action would excuse. The same day the second battalion of the 73rd regiment, or Lord M‘Leod’s Highlanders, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel George M‘Kenzie, disembarked from on board the fleet at the New Mole, and took possession of the casemates in the King’s bastion, &c. Thia46 HISTORY OF THE 1 CHAP. ITT. regiment was intended for Minorca ; but General Eliott thought proper, with the advice of the admirals, &c., to detain them. Their strength at this time was 30 officers, 6 staff officers, 50 sergeants, 22 drummers, and 944 rank and file : an excellent reinforcement in our situation, since the scurvy had already begun to appear among us. Colonels Picton and Mawhood, with many other officers, joined their corps also by this fleet. On the night of the 29th, came in three more Walons. The Minorca convov sailed on the 31st, under the Marlborough, Invincible, &c. The wind changing to the east in the even-ing, the Childers made another attempt to pass the Straits; which she effected, and carried home dispatches giving authentic accounts of the preceding victory. Sir George, when he captured the Caracca fleet, judged that the cargoes of several would be useful to the garrison : he therefore brought with him what ships he thought would be serviceable, and landed their freights along with the supplies which government had sent out. A great number of guns of heavy metal, and some hundred barrels of powder, were also purchased from the Spanish prizes by the governor, notwithstanding he had received a large supply of the latter by the convov. The artillery • whose con- V V x stant practice it was to try the strength of powder on the batteries) afterwards compared the quality and strength of the British and. Spanish powder, and found the former greatly superior. In the beginning of February, the wind from the S. W. blew a strong gale, which, from the foulness of the anchorage off Rosia Bay, &c., involved the fleet in great distress. Some of them were in verv imminent danger of being forced upon the rocks, particularly one of the Spanish prizes, which, without doubt, would have experienced that fate, if seasonable assistance had not been sent her, and the wind had not abated. The 3rd, Admiral Barcelo again hoisted his flag and ensign, hav-ing secured his ships by a strong boom, and completed the battery on the land, which mounted 22 guns. Merlons were also added to the fort on the island, which before was en barbet. Three deserters came in on the 5th: they were immediately sent on board the fleet, where the others had been ordered the preceding day, to take their passage for England. These men gave dismal accounts of the enemy's sufferings in camp, where universal discontent prevailed on account of the great scarcity and dearness of provisions. We little doubted the truth of this intelligence: the neighbourhood of their camp, from our own knowledge of the country, was not capable of subsisting so large an army ; consequently they were obliged to be supplied with provisions, &c. from places at a distance, and these resources since Admiral Rodnev’s arrival had been cut off*. Our cruisers, in truth, not only obstructed these supplies, but also prevented the garrison of Ceuta from receiving the refreshments from Spain which their situation made necessarv ; and our in-telligence from Barbary mentioned that that garrison was in a similar, if not worse condition than their opposite friends. If Sir George, therefore, had continued some time longer in the Mediterranean, our enemies probably would have been reduced to greater difficulties than we ourselves had experienced. As the fortress of Ceuta is in some degree connected with the subject of the present narrative, it may not be improper to relieve the reader’s attention by a brief description of it. The town of Ceuta is situated on the coast of Barbarv, about 15 miles to the south-ward of Gibraltar. In the sera of the Romans it was a town of some note, but on the decline of that empire fell, like others, to the dominion of the Goths and Moors. Ceuta remained in the possession of the latter till the year 1414, when John I., King of Portugal, with a formidable force, surprised and took it. The Moors afterwards made many attempts to recover it, but in vain; and ever since, it has remained in the possession of the Christians. Upon the demise of Henry of Portugal, in 1578, that crown was seized upon by the Spaniards; Ceuta cons*-1780.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 47 quently became a Spanish garrison: and. when the Portuguese revolted, un-der John, Duke of Braganza, in 1640, and again established, themselves into a distinct kingdom, Ceuta did not, with the rest of the empire, return to its natural allegiance, but continued in the hands of the Spaniards, by whom it has been held ever since. Being a promontory projecting into the sea, the situation of Ceuta is not much different from that of Gibraltar. The town, which is built on the neck of land that joins it to the continent, is strongly fortified in the modern manner. The suburbs are at some distance, in order to be more out of reach of the shells, in case of an attack from the land ; and they extend to the foot of a mountain, at the extremity of the peninsula, on which are erected a watch-tower and castle, surrounded with a fortified wall, about a league in circumference. The fortifications are kept in good repair by slaves, who are sentenced to this punishment from the different prisons in Spain; and a strong garrison is kept in the fortress, to prevent a surprise from the Moors, who, like the Spaniards with respect to Gibraltar, have a watchful eye over it. The city is regularly furnished with provisions from the opposite ports in Spain; and being destitute of water, which was formerly conducted by an aqueduct from the neighbourhood, is supplied with that article from Este-pona, a small Spanish fishing - town about nine leagues to the eastward of Gibraltar. Another deserter came in on the 10th of February. The day following, the invalids and women embarked on board the fieet. By the 12th the supplies were all landed, and the rigging of the Spanish prizes being repaired, the fleet prepared to return. The same day a flag of truce brought over some English prisoners: one of them, the master of a merchantman, which had been taken in her voyage to the garrison, informed us that the boom at Algeziras was a twenty-two-inch cable-rope, buoyed up by casks, to prevent our sending fireships among their shipping. The Spanish admiral having regulated with Sir George Rodney everything concerning the exchange and release of prisoners, was permitted on the 13th to return upon his parole into Spain. He was conducted with part of his suite, in the governor’s carriage, to the Spanish lines, where he was received by his friends, and with them proceeded on to the camp. The succeeding day, the remainder of the Spanish officers were taken by the Fortune sloop, and landed at the Orange-grove. Lieutenant Williams, of the navy (who, after taking possession of one of the Spanish prizes in the action off St. Mary’s, was obliged to run her ashore near Cadiz, and surrender himself prisoner), returned with another officer, on board the sloop, to the garrison. The liberal and polite behaviour of the navy and the governor to Don Langara and his countrymen made a sensible and lasting impression on their minds, and was confessedly of great advantage to the English prisoners in Spain; particularly to those taken in our neighbourhood, who ever afterwards were treated with great attention and humanity. In the evening of the 13th, the British fleet got under way, excepting the Edgar and the Panther ships of the line, the Enterprise and Porcupine frigates, which were left behind, as great part of their crews had been removed to man the prizes. The enemy, on their appearing in motion, immediately gave the alarm, which was communicated by signals from their towers along the coasts towards Cadiz. At dusk few of our ships were in sight from the upper part of the hill.48 HISTORY OF THE [chap. IV. CHAPTER IV Hie Spaniards renew the Blockade—Attempt to Burn our Shipping by Nine Fire-Ships, hut miscarry—Gun Boats—Garrison again distressed—Enemy effectually cut off the Supplies from Barbary—Break Ground in advance from their lines—Scurvy very prevalent—Greatly relieved bv the use of Lemons—Mode of using this Vegetable Acid—Garrison obtain a few supplies from Minorca—Enemy retarded in their operations—Spirited action 1 etween the Enemy and an English Polacre—Garrison obliged to quit the Gardens on the neutral ground —Tangier—Speedwell Cutter arrives after a spirited engagement—A Spy discovered—Mr. Logie, the British Consul in Barbary, expelled the Emperor’s dominions—Cruel treatment which he and the other British subjects experienced—Cause of this event—A Memoria. from the Officers of the Garrison—Great distress of the Troops—The Kite cutter, Captain Trollop, arrives with intelligence that the British fleet is at the entrance of the Straits. The garrison might now be considered in a very perfect state of defence. The scurvy indeed had begun to affect many, and threatened to become more general; but we flattered ourselves that the enemy would give up their intention of starving us to a surrender, and, by relaxing in their vigilance at sea, might afford us an opportunity of receiving constant .supplies of those articles most essential to health. Our stores and magazines were full: a re-inforcement had joined the garrison; and new spirits were infused into the troops, since they were convinced, from the powerful force sent to their relief, that they were not forgotten in the multiplicity of objects which necessarily engaged the attention of our friends at home. Admiral Duff having returned on board the fleet to England, the com-mand of the squadron that remained in the bay consequently devolved on Captain Eliott of the Edgar, who, on the 14th of February, hoisted his broad pendant as commodore. The lGthof the same month, Admiral Barcelo removed the boom at Algeziras, and warped out to his former anchorage, immediately detaching his small craft to Cabrita Point, to intercept any ships that might attempt coming in. In the afternoon, the enemy executed two men in camp, who, it was ima- gined, had been retaken in attempting to desert: their bodies were not cut down until the 20th. This punishment seemed, however, to have little effect; for at night three others came in, having swum round Fort Barbara. The multitude of deserters from the Spanish lines during the whole of the siege, is one of the circumstances least capable of a satisfactory explanation. What could these unhappy men expect in a confined and blockaded garrison, and even at a time when they could not fail to be acquainted with the distress and difficulties under which we laboured ? The very act of escaping was attended with innumerable dangers: and, should the garrison afterwards fall into the hands of the enemy, they were certain to meet with the severest punishment. There is, however, a kind of heroism in the passions; disgust, or resentment, will prompt men to overlook dangers and ditficulties, which, in the line of their duty, would be esteemed insurmountable. A Venetian came in from the west, on the 21st; she spoke the British fleet all well to the west of Cape St. Vincent. The subsequent day, a Dutch prize, laden with flour, was sent in by the Maidstone privateer, which arrived herself on the 23rd. Several other vessels came in during the intermediate time to the 27th; when a SpanishI7S0.I SIEGE OF GIBE ALTAR. 49 squadron of four line-of-battle ships, two frigates, and a xebeque, joined Admiral Barcelo from the west, and again blocked up the port. From the patched and disorderly appearance of their sails and rigging, it was conjectured that they were fitted up in haste, and solely for the duty of the blockade: it gave us however some uneasiness to find them again likely to adopt their former system. At daybreak, on the preceding day, we discovered a vessel at anchor otf VVaterport, which we fired upon, supposing her to be a Spaniard: she im-n mediately sent her boat to Ragged Staff, and informed us that she was of Naples, and bound to London ; that she had touched at Minorca, and had on board two English discharged soldiers, and two women passengers. The boat returned, and soon after went on shore at Fort St. Philip, where it remained about half an hour. In the evening the enemy fired a shot at the vessel; upon which she sent her boat a second i time ashore: we answered the shot from Willis’s; nevertheless at night she went over unperceived to Alge- ziras. In the beginning of March, three regiments decamped from the enemy's armv, and took different routes. On 1 the night of the 2nd, two Genoese sailors, who had formerly belonged to a privateer of the garrison, came over to us in a small boat from Algeziras. The following day a Spanish convoy under a commodore arrived in the bay, from the west. The governor, on the 11th, ordered the garrison to be victualled monthly (bread excepted) in the following proportion : for a soldier, each first and third week, 1 lb. of pork, 2j lbs. of salt fish, which had been purchased from the Newfoundland ship ; 2 pints of peas; 1 lb. of flour ; | lb. of raisins; 1 lb. of rice ; 5 oz. of butter; lj pint of oatmeal. Second and fourth week, 1 j lb. of beef ; 2 lbs. of fish; 2 pints of peas; 1 lb. of rice ; 5 oz. of butter ; 1^ lb. of w heat ; | lb. of raisins. The salt cod being indifferent of its kind, and the soldiers not having proper vegetables to dress with it, proved very pernicious. This article continued to be delivered tor near seven months ; and undoubtedly, ! in a great degree, promoted that dread ful disorder, the scurvy, w hich, before Sir George Rodney arrived, had made its appearance, and afterwards became very general and fatal. The governor, however, in this new distribution, considered the hospital, whose proportion of salt meat was less, and more nourishing articles issued instead. Notwithstanding the repeated assurances from the Spaniards, that the English prisoners in our neighbourhood should be exchanged for those taken with Admiral Langara, none were vet sent in agreeably to that admiral’s promise: Commodore Eliott was therefore under the necessity of making a formal demand, and to enforce it told them, if they did not com-ply, he should expect the Spanish admiral w’ould return with the officers then upon their parole. This convinced them the commodore was no longer to be trifled with; accordingly, on the 12th, about 390 British seamen were received on board the Fortune sloop, and distributed amongst the men-of-war, whose crews, as I have mentioned before, were sent to man the Spanish prizes. The same day a Moorish sloop came in from Malaga, and brought intelligence that the enemy had fitted up several fire-ships in the bay. In the evening three of the 72nd absented themselves from their corps; search was made the succeeding day, and twro of them were discovered asleep in a cave, behind the Sugar-Loaf Point. They had cut up their working-dresses into shreds, which were tied together to favour their descent down the rock ; and it is imagined the following night they would have repeated their attempt to get off. One of these men was afterwards executed, but the other was pardoned. The Fly packet arrived the 14th, with an English mail. In the afternoon the Maidstone came in, with a settee prize, which the captain had cut out of Malaga road. A privateer, called the Alert, beat in from the west on the 15th, notwithstanding an easterly wind. A prize following her was JC50 HISTORY OF THE took possession. We were much con-< cerned at this intelligence; for the Fly was a fast sailer, and had been very fortunate in frequently passing in and out unobserved. The 20th, came r. in a Moorish sloop from Malaga, with d butter, raisins, and leather: the latter article was much wanted; indeed, so scarce was it become in the garrison, that several officers, and most of the r men, had been necessitated to wear shoes made of canvas, with soles of spun-yarn. A letter of marque arrived on the l 25th from Leghorn, with wine, oil, and > other articles : a very valuable cargo to the garrison. On the 30th the ene- i my’s army were again under arms. Their manoeuvres on that day were the •z 5 attack and defence of a convoy. Their •Z parties, as in the last month, continued arranging the ordnance in their artillery park, and bringing down to the lines materials for the repair of their works. Our artillery, however, took little notice of them. In the beginning of June we received some seasonable supplies by the arrival of three boats from Tetuan and one from Tangier. By the latter we had intelligence that the Fox packet, from Faro, and a sloop, were at that pUce waiting an opportunity to get in ; and by this, or one of the former vessels, Mr. Logie gave information that the enemy had prepared several fireships to burn our shipping in the bay. Two months before, he had intimated to Commodore Eliott that the Spaniards had five fire-ships in readiness for immediate use; and that they had once made an attempt to send them over, but the wind failed. Repeating the intelligence, therefore, at this time, was peculiarly fortunate, as the next night they attempted to put in execution their design. The same day, a Spanish ship of the line sailed from Algeziras to the eastward. Our naval force at this period consisted of the Panther, of 60 guns, Captain Harvey (who, since Commodore Eliott’s departure, commanded in the Mediterranean); the Enterprise frigate, Captain Lesley; two armed vessels commanded by lieutenants, with several armed ordnance transports, and other ships belonging to merchants. On the morning of the 7th, a little after midnight, the Enterprise, which was anchored to the northward off the New mole head, discovered several sail approaching her from the opposite side of the bay: they were hailed, but, before satisfactory answers could bf received, several fireworks and inflammable substances were thrown on board, and six fire-ships suddenly appeared in the form of a crescent, bearing down upon her and the ordnance-ships in the New mole. Captain Lesley, with immediate presence of mind, instantly fired three guns to alarm his friends, and, cutting his cable, drove closer in shore. The Panther and shipping, on the appearance of the enemy, immediately commenced a brisk cannonade to retard their progress; and, manning their boats, the officers and seamen, with their usual intrepidity, grappled the ships; and, notwithstanding the fierceness of tha E 252 HISTORY OF THE ^CHAP. IV. flames, towed them, clear of our vessels, under the walls, where they were afterwards extinguished. Beside these six, which were intended for the New mole, three others were lighted and directed towards the Panther, at anchor off Buena Vista ; but one was towed off by the boats, and the other two were at so great a distance that they drove out to sea to the eastward. The garrison was as early alarmed as the navy. The drums beat to arms ; the guards were all upon their defence ; and the pickets, with the different regiments, assembled at their posts, and continued under arms till davbreak. •r The artillery from the batteries seconded the fire from the ships; but the darkness of the night prevented any certain knowledge of the effect. The wind, which was favourable for their purpose in the beginning of the night, fortunately grew still when they were most in need of it. The largest of them, nevertheless, which was of the size of a large Indiaman, or 50-gun ship, would certainly have got into the New mole amongst the ordnance-transports, had not a few bar-shot, from a 32-pounder at the Mole head, turned her round, and then the current carried her into Rosia bay. The naw on this occasion cannot be •/ too highly commended for their cou-rage, conduct, and alertness. Their intrepidity overcame every obstacle; and though three of the ships were linked with chains and strong cables, and every precaution was taken to render them successful, yet, with uncommon resolution and activity, the British seamen separated the vessels, and towed them ashore with no other injury to themselves than a few burns and bruises. The design altogether, to do justice to the ingenuity of Don Barcelo, was well projected, and his squadron judiciously stationed at the entrance of the bay to intercept our men-of-war in case they had attempted to escape from the fire-ships. We afterwards were informed that Admiral Barcelo proposed to Don Alvarez to draw off our attention from the southward by opening his land batteries on the town. Without doubt such a proceeding would have diverted the attention of the garrison in some measure from the shipping ; but as the navy had the principal, nay, I may say, the sole honour of opposing the fire-ships, their endeavours would not have been less strenuous, nor of course less successful. The hulls of the fire-ships were soon after broken up and sold to the inhabitants for fuel, and proved a most seasonable relief. Firing was become a more important article than before, which may appear very extraordinary to the reader, when he looks back to the short time which had elapsed since the departure of Sir George Rodney’s fleet: but it is necessary to inform him that the colliers intended for the garrison were too late in coming round from the Downs to join at Spithead—Sir George Rodney therefore sailed without them. The morning of the 8th, arrived the Fox packet, and another vessel from Faro; and in the course of the 10th and 12th, four boats came in from Tetuan and Tangier with various cargoes. The patrons reported it was current at Tangier that we killed 14 or 15 men in the attack of the fire-ships, and that the Spaniards had several more fireships ready in the bay, with which it was not improbable they might make a second attempt. Our navy were consequently very vigilant, and kept a good look-out. For some weeks pasi we had been remarkably successful in receiving these small and very acceptable supplies. Their cruisers, however, now began to be more alert, and appeared to be stationed with better judgment. On the 15th, a boat was taken coming in, but her consort escaped; and on the 20th, another arrived from Tangier, which brought intelligence that a large ship, with coals and butter, bound to the garrison, was captured by the Spaniards two days before under the guns of Tangier. The 24th, several broadsides were exchanged between four of the enemy’s ships, passing to Algeziras, and our shipping and batteries at the southward. Some few shot came ashore, but no particular damage was received. The Enterprise had 18 sail-1780.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 53 ors burnt by the explosion of some powder. Early on the 27th, four Spanish gunboats, with a xebeque and two galleys, approached under cover of the night and fired upon the Panther. A brisk discharge was however returned, and they soon retired. One shot struck the south pavilion, and three were fired through the Panther. This mode of annoyance the enemv afterwards greatly improved upon. These boats were strongly built, but ill finished: thev had a small mast inclining forward from the centre of the boat, almost over the bow, upon which was hoisted a latine yard and sail, which, at anchor, served as an awning to the men on board. Thev rowed astonishingly swift, and each carried a 26-pounder in the bow. We never had a good opportunity of making any satisfactory observations on them, but judged from their appearance that they were about 70 feet long and 20 broad. In the beginning of July, the Pan-ther man-of-war receiving upwards of 100 English prisoners from the enemy. Captain Harvey sailed for England. Some alterations and additions took place the same day in the garrison detail. The 4th, the Fortune brought over more British prisoners. We had received some supplies in the course of a few days by two Moorish boats, and they were followed on the 11th of July by one from Tangier, which informed us of a fieet having been seen off that coast, and that two boats had been taken coming into the bay. The fieet here mentioned was the combined fieet of France and Spain, which soon after captured our outward-bound East and West India fleets, and carried the greater part of them into Cadiz : one of the heaviest blows which British commerce had ever sustained. The recent attempt of the enemy to i burn the shipping and store-houses at the southward, added to the intelligence which the governor had received of the enemy’s fleet being off Cadiz, caused him to direct particular attention towards that quarter of the garrison. Batteries for heavy metal were made on the rock above Parson’s Lodge, at Rosia: and directions were given for the New Mole to be cleared of shipping, that the ordnance might have more liberty to play. Other alterations also took place in that neighbourhood. Early on the morning of the 17 th, five gun-boats and four galleys fired upon the Enterprise and shipping in the New Mole. One of the frigate’s forecastle c guns was dismounted, and her fore-stay cut: some shots came also on shore. During the remainder of the month, our firing, which had been continued at intervals, was brisker on their parties. who were principally employed in forming considerable depots of fascines, casks, and timber, in the lines, and in collecting brush-wood from the country : thev were likewise verv busy in disembarking stores which had lately arrived. Several empty transport-vessels, in the course of this month, left the garrison for England. A man of the 58th regiment deserted to the enemy: one also came in from the lines. In August few incidents occurred on either side. Our provisions began to be bad, and extremely offensive. The few supplies we now received, were rather luxuries than substantiate: wine, sugar, oil, honey, onions, and articles of the like kind, composed chiefly the cargoes of those craft which arrived. Sugar was risen to 2s. 6rf. per pound, and everything else sold in proportion. About 10 in the forenoon of the 3rd, a settee, coming in from the west, was chased by the enemy, and taken into Algeziras. We imagined it was the Fox packet, which we then anxiously expected with an English mail; and our conjectures afterwards were confirmed. The 10th. we observed the enemy laying a bridge of boats across the river Palmones. Two days fol-1 lowing, a brig was boarded almost under our guns, and conducted to Al-i geziras. It was thought to be the same of which we had intelligence some time before, and which was laden with a variety of articles much wanted: her i capture was therefore greatly lamented, i The night of the 15th, six’ sailors de-’ serted in a boat from the New mole.54 HISTORY OF THE [chap. IV. The succeeding day, the Fortune sloop received from the enemy 64 prisoners. Ensign Bradshaw, of the 56th regiment, and several who were passengers in the brig taken on the 12th, were of the number. At night, five more sailors who were rowing guard, went over to the enemy. In the night of the 25 th, a Minorquin boat came in with wine, tea, and sugar, in eight days. The 27th and 29th, a soldier and four sailors deserted to the enemy. It was imagined the sailors forced with them the midshipman who commanded the boat. Colonel Mawhood, of the 72nd regiment, died on the 29th. A small boat arrived from Barbary on the 30th, with information that the Moors permitted the Spaniards to capture every English vessel which took refuge under the protection of their guns; that the Spaniards would not allow any boats to leave the bay of Tangier, and only waited for orders from Admiral Barcelo to burn and destroy what remained. This intel-ligence very sensibly affected us. To be cut off from what we had always considered our domestic market, was a stroke we little expected. We waited, however, more authentic proofs of this extraordinary7 conduct, before we could implicitly believe the defection of those whom during the present contest we had considered as our firm friends. September was as barren with respect to material incidents as the preceding months. The enemy finished their ponton bridge over the river Palmones on the 2nd. About a week afterwards, two soldiers of the 56th deserted. On the 23rd, a flag of truce brought over the midshipman carried off by the sailors who deserted the latter end of August. The 29th, a deserter came in, in the habit of a peasant: he spoke several languages fluently, and said he had been a serjeant in their service. Some suspicions arising, he was charged to remain with part of the 58th regiment at Windmill-hill. The following day we remarked, that the enemy’s guards in the lines, at the hour of relieving, amounted to about 300 infantry, and 70 artillery, besides cavalry. The situation of the garrison by this time was again become very interesting. The blockade was, if possible, more strict and vigilant than before. Chains of small cruisers were stationed across the Straits, at the entrance of the bay, and on every side of the rock ; and the late disagreeable intelligence from Tangier seemed now confirmed, by our never having heard from that quarter during the month. The little assistance we therefore received, came from Minorca; but the supplies from that place were so trifling, and sold at such enormous prices, that few were able to purchase them. We had not been favoured with a cargo of cattle for a long period, and the scurvy began to gain considerable ascendancy over the efforts of our surgeons. Our distresses, in short, promised to be more acute and fatal than those we had already experienced. The enemy’s operations on the land side had been for many months so unimportant, as scarcely to merit our attention. However, on the morning of the 1st of October, we observed they had raised an epaulment, about 600 or 700 yards advanced from their lines. The preceding night, our out-guards had been alarmed with an unusual noise on the neutral ground, like that of men at work: several large fires also appeared, and some attempts were made to burn our advanced barriers with devils, and other combustibles, which were soon thrown off’ without taking effect; and notice was given to the Lines, Landport, and other guards. This alarm, however, was not general in the garrison. As the morning advanced, the noise ceased; and we discovered that they had set fire to the fishermen’s huts in the gardens: but when the day permitted us to examine further, we observed the above-mentioned work. The epaulment was about 30 yards in extent, of a simple construction, composed of chandeliers, fascines, and a few sand-bags ; and was erected near the windmill or tower on the neutral ground, distant about 1100 yards from our grand batter}’. The enemy’s guns were elevated, and batteries manSIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 55 T 1780.] 3 ned; which, with other preparations n in the lines, seemed to argue that they ? expected we should fire, and were de-[ termined to oppose it. These appear-[ ances, probably, induced the governor o not to take any particular notice of il their work in the day: but at night, •i orders were sent to throw a few light £ balls, to discover if they were making n any addition. The inhabitants imme-*. diately took the alarm, upon being told a: that the enemy had thrown up an ad-£ vanced work, and that their batteries r were manned; and at night very few remained at the north end of the town. It now seemed evident the enemy ej had determined on a more serious r attack, in case the second blockade n was unsuccessful: but we were at a loss o to imagine what motives could infiu-r? ence them to act so opposite to the at established mode of approaching a be-fi sieged garrison, by erecting a work so il distant, and which had no connexion ■ ' with their established lines. The enemy’s batteries continued to 3 be manned till the 2nd; and in the afternoon of that day, Don Alvarez, : accompanied by an officer, supposed to K be the Count d’Estaing, who was ex-)c pected in the Spanish camp when the £ last deserter came in, visited the lines. They remained three-quarters of an >. hour at Fort St. Barbara, viewing the r rock with glasses. On their return .1 they were saluted from Point Mala; and as they passed the front line of 1 the camp, the regiments turned out without arms. On the night of the 3rd, a smart engagement was heard olfi 3 Cabrita Point, supposed to be between )- some vessel attempting to come in, and the enemy’s cruisers; and the next 1 morning a sloop with English colours r reversed was observed at Algeziras. Early on the 4th, our advanced g guards discovered the enemy endea-v vouring, a second time, to fix fire-fag- 2 gots oh our barriers. A smart dis-o charge of musketry was immediately L directed from these posts, and from the ) Queen’s lines; on which they retired, k At daybreak we observed they had 3 carried away vast quantities of vegetables from the gardens, and trampled others under foot: but little, if any, ad- dition was made to the epaulment. A parley came in on the 5th; and soon after, the Fortune sloop received upwards of 40 British prisoners, many of whom had been taken going from the garrison. In the evening of the 6th, the Spanish general came to the lines, at the head of the relieving guards. Soon after he arrived, the guns were again elevated, and every preparation made, as if they had resolved to open on the garrison. The 8th, the town-major, Captain Burke, went out with a parley, intending to proceed to the tower, the place appointed by custom for the officers to give and receive communications. When he got abreast of the new work, the sentries by mo-tions informed him he must not advance. He pointed to the tower; but they continued inflexible : on his turning round however to return, one of them came up with his arms, and proceeded with him to the tower, whilst another ran to acquaint the officer in the lines. The messenger after some time came back, and both remained apparently as a guard over Major Burke, till the officer arrived; when, delivering his packet, the major returned to the garrison. The enemy did not appear very anxious to complete the epaulment; their parties were employed in raising and finishing the merlons of the batteries in the lines, raising the merlons of Fort St. Philip with fascines, and erecting a new battery near the guardhouse on the beach. The 11th, a small settee arrived from Minorca: the patron informing us that two others were standing for the rock, the navy manned their boats to assist them, in case the enemy opposed their entrance; but on getting round Europa Point, no such vessels appeared. A Dutch convoy was however passing: the boats therefore boldly advanced, and boarded a dogger which had got, during the fog, pretty near the rock. She was a Dane from Malaga, laden with lemons and oranges, which the governor immediately purchased, and distributed to the garrison. Few articles ever arrived more seasonably than this cargo of fruit. The06 HISTORY OF THE [CHAP. IV. scurvy had made dreadful ravages in our hospitals, and more were daily confined : many, however, unwilling to yield to the first attacks, persevered in their duty to its more advanced stages. It was therefore not uncommon, at this period, to see men, who some months before were hale, and equal to any fatigue, supporting themselves to their posts upon crutches, and even wfith that assistance scarcely able to move along. The most fatal consequences, in short, to the garrison, were to be apprehended from this terrible disorder, when this Dane was happily directed to our relief. The lemons were immediately administered to the sick, who devoured them with the greatest avidity. The salutary effects were almost instantaneous : in a few days, men who had been considered as irrecoverable, left their beds to congratulate their comrades on the prospect of once more becoming useful to their country. Mr. Cairncross of the 73rd regiment, a surgeon of great eminence, who was present at this time and the remaining part of the siege, has favoured me with the following information relative to the scurvy, and the mode of using this vegetable acid; which, with his permission, I insert for the benefit of those who may hereafter be under similar circumstances:— “ The scurvy which attacked the garrison of Gibraltar, differed in no respect from that disease usually contracted by sailors in long voyages ; and of which the immediate cause seemed to be the subsisting for a length of time upon salted provisions only, without a sufficient quantity of vegetables, or other acescent foods. The circumstance related in the voyage of that celebrated circumnavigator, the late Lord Anson, of consolidated fractures disuniting, and the callosity of the bone being perfectly dissolved, occurred frequently in our hospitals: and old sores and wounds opened anew from the nature of the disorder. “ Various antiscorbutics were used without success, such as acid of vitriol, sour crout, extract of malt, essence of spruce, &c., but the only specific was fresh lemons and oranges, given liberally; or when they could not be procured, the preserved juice in such quantities, from one to four ounces per diem, as the patient could bear. Whilst the lemons were sound, from one to three were administered each day as circumstances directed. The juice given to those in the most malignant state, was sometimes diluted with sugar, wine, or spirits; but the convalescents took it without dilution. Women and children were equally affected; nor were the officers exempted from this alarming distemper. It became almost general at the commencement of the winter season, owing to the cold and moisture ; and in the beginning of spring, when vegetables were scarce. “ The juice was preserved by adding to 60 gallons of expressed liquor about five or ten gallons of brandy, which kept it in so wholesome a state, that several casks were opened in good condition at the close of the siege. The old juice was not however so speedily efficacious as the fruit, though by persevering longer in its use, it seldom failed.” The same day that the dogger was brought in, a parley came from Don Alvarez, to inform the governor that all intercourse or correspondence betwixt them, in future, was to be conducted by flags of truce in the bay: which regulation continued till the peace was notified in 1783. The 14th, two gun-boats, from the Orange-grove, ranged along the front of the garrison, and drove in our fishing-boats ; and on the 16th they again ranged off the Mackerel bank, and forced our fishermen to retire. We did not much approve of this conduct, as the boats, by this means, were prevented from bringing any fish to our market. The enemy continued, however, this practice at intervals for some time. The 21st, the gun-boats fired upon the Enterprise and town. Captain Lesley, not choosing to remain the object of their fire, withdrew the frigate into the New mole; where the navy, under the direction of the engineers, had begun to lay a boom of masts from the New mole head to thei 1780.1 SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. watering-tank. This boom, though it r was considered a difficult operation on account of the swell of the sea, was soon completed. It was not till the night of the 21st, that the enemy threw sand in the front of their epaulment, to cover it against our fire-balls and carcasses; and on the 26th they lengthened it to the west about 30 vards, and strengthened it in front with sand. The night of the 28th they erected two large traverses in the rear for magazines. It now presented a very compact appearance; whence we concluded that it was intended for a mortar battery. Though it was generally imagined in England that the garrison had been C; <-/ amply provided with every article and necessary of life, when Sir George [ Rodney arrived with the transports and relief from England, our wants, in reality, were far from being supplied. I In the articles of ammunition and salt | provisions, the garrison had probably as much as they required ; but of fresh | provisions, wine, spirits, sugar, &c., we began to find a great scarcity ; and the ; price of what remained was consequently much enhanced. The assistance we received formerly from Barbary had now been suspended for several months : the enemy seemed determined to prevent our deriving support from the element that almost surrounded us ; and their cruisers were too numerous and vigilant to allow us to expect anything from the west. Thus situated, the garrison turned their eyes on the island of Minorca, whence we had already received some very acceptable supplies, and whose situation, from the great scope of sea room, afforded a ffattering probability of the boats being oftener able to escape the enemy’s cruisers. The productions of that island are various; and those articles which it did not afford, could be purchased from the prizes that were daily carried thither by the privateers. Several garrison boats were therefore sent to Minorca, some of which returned, in the course of October, laden with the wine of that island, sugar (an article become exceedingly scarce), and cheese; with sometimes a few live-stock. These articles were all sold by auction, according to a regulation established by the governor: and, though thev seldom were purchased by the lower ranks, yet afforded upon the whole a partial relief to the garrison. The SCth, we observed that the enemy had posted an officer’s guard in the Alill batterv, which was the name * 7 we gave to the new work. Montague s bastion was therefore opened on it in the evening, and, by forming a cross-fire with the batteries on the heights, considerably annoyed them, and much retarded their operations. The same night two soldiers of the 56tli and 72nd deserted from Upper All’s-well, m the lines: they were sentries at the same post, and got down by means of a rope; but previous to their descent, had the precaution to wet the priming of their firelocks. We also lost another man by desertion in the course of the month. The governor, in the beginning of November, made an arrangement ot the troops, that in case the enemy bombarded the garrison, each regiment might know the quarters and stations which they were to take up. The 1st of the month was rather unpropitious to us: an English snow was taken to the east of the rock: at night a soldier of the 56th regiment deserted during a heavy shower of rain ; and the following evening two others, of the 12th and 56th. attempted to get off by swimming round the Old mole head ; but a few days afterwards the body of the former was washed ashore near the King’s bastion; we therefore concluded his comrade had shared the same fate. In the evening of the 7th a smart cannon-ade was heard in the Straits: after it had continued for some time a sudden flash appeared, and a report was heard, like the blowing-up of powder. The next morning ^e observed that the enemy had captured an English vessel, and were at that time towing in a gunboat, which accounted for the firing and explosion. Our fire, about the 7th and Sth, became more animated ; yet the enemy almost every night made some interior additions. We had observed for several58 HISTORY OF THE [chap. IV. preceding mornings deep rats in the sand, leading from the principal barrier to the Mill battery; which led us to imagine that they brought at night heavy timber and other materials from their depots in the lines. The artillery were therefore ordered to direct a ricochetting fire of small shells along this track. In the evening of the 10th a large party, followed by a number of carts and mules, laden with different materials, advanced along the beach from the sally-port of the ditch of Fort St. Philip to the Mill battery. They were perceived by the artillery at Willis’s before they had proceeded halfway; and a brisk fire was directed towards their route, which threw the mules into confusion, and obliged some to return, after having left their burthens on the beach. The batteries being reinforced, the firing was continued with great vivacity the whole night. The subsequent evening our artillery were prepared, and immediately on the party’s appearing, saluted them with a warm discharge of shot and shells, which seemed to have greater effect than the fire of the preceding evening. This circumstance convinced us of the efiect of the ricochetting fire from the lower batteries, along the track from the barrier: but the enemy were not so soon driven from the new track as from the former ; and continued, notwithstanding our fire (which must have killed and wounded many of them), to bring materials in this exposed manner till a line of communication was finished from the lines. An English armed polacre, called the Young Sabine, arrived on the 12th, after a spirited engagement in the bay with several armed vessels and three gun-boats. The enemy attempted to board her, but were as often repulsed by musketry: at length she beat them off, and anchored under our guns. Her cargo was cheese, hams, and potatoes ; the latter of which sold at forty-three dollars per cwt., which, according to forty-two pence per dollar (the exchange at that time), are equal to 7Z. 10s. 6rf. sterling. Other articles sold in proportion. In the afternoon a Minorquin settee arrived with the usual cargo; a Spanish gun-boat boardea her on her passage; but the patron showing papers from Majorca to the camp, the Spaniard took no further notice than keeping her company as a convoy. The Minorquin afterwards seized a convenient opportunity, and slipped in. In the course of the 14th a Minorquin tartan, bound for the garrison, was taken by the enemy; the crew however quitted her, and got ashore. The enemy the same day mounted twelve guns en barbet, in the battery near the guardhouse, in the vicinity of Fort St. Philip, which we had supposed was intended for mortars; and about a week afterwards they erected merlons to this work, admitting the embrasures to open upon the garrison. This was called by the garrison the Black battery; and though the most distant work erected against Gibraltar, was found in the subsequent bombardment and siege to be one of the most annoying to the garrison, as its line of fire enfiladed the Town Line wall and main street, which were during the siege the principal communications with the northern part of the fortress. Two nights following, the gun-boats, which were now increased in number, fired upon the town and shipping. Three, that directed their fire on the former, were stationed off the Old mole head, and threw several shots into the town. Several men were wounded in the Enterprise frigate. The night of the 17th the enemy threw up two places cTarmes for musketry on the fianks of the Mill battery ; the parapets formed semicircles joining the battery, but afterwards extended in an oblique direction towards the lines. These additions appeared very slight, being only a row of casks or gabions, strengthened with halfchandeliers, and sand in front; covered on the top with sand-bags. The 18th we were visited again by the gun-boats; in returning their cannonade one of the thirty-two pounders on the King’s bastion burst, killed an artilleryman on the spot, and wounded three others, The man who fired the gun escaped, but was a little scorched with the powder.1780.1 SIEGE OF GIBEALTAE. 59 A great number of mules were employed on tlie 22nd, bringing forward casks, chandeliers, and other nia-| terials, from the camp. The night of I the 23rd the enemy began an approach ! from the lines to the Mill battery: it consisted of fascines, with sand banked I up in front, and commenced near the vest angle of the western fourteen-gun batterv, extending about 120 feet to-wards the advanced guard-house in t front of Fort St. Philip; the following j night, notwithstanding our fire, they [ lengthened it about 100 feet, with chan-i deliers placed in a trench and filled with fascines. The enemy endeavoured to draw our attention from this quarter by another salute from the j gun-boats, but in vain. As it was not improbable that the gun-boats were directed in their firing by the lights in the houses along the line-wall, and those looking towards the bay ; orders were issued 44 that no lights in future should appear in any house, barrack, or guard-house, towards the bay, after seven o'clock in the even- ini” W e had hitherto derived occasional assistance from the gardens on the neutral ground, though vast quantities of vegetables had been removed from thence by the enemy. On the 25th, however, they determined to expel our people altogether from the gardens; which in the course of a few days they accomplished, notwithstanding the marksmen under Lieutenant Burleigh were stationed at Willis’s, and in the lines, in order to prevent them. From this period, our resources in respect to vegetables depended entirely upon our own attention to cultivation; which, happily for the garrison, was crowned with tolerable success, especially during the winter months, at which time the produce was increased to be almost equal to the consumption. The supplies from the gardens had indeed begun to fail for some time before, and we soon had little reason to regret their loss. We had, besides, the additional satisfaction of reflecting that the enemy were now cut oft irom a channel through which it was not improbable they had been informed of every occurrence which happened in the garrison. The 26th, a Frenchman, one of the crew of the Young Sabine, deserted in a boat to the enemy. The night of the 27th, the Danish dogger, which brought us the cargo of lemons, sailed, and the next morning we observed her at anchor off Algeziras. By the 29th, the enemy had finished the second branch of the line of approach, and begun the return for the third towards the western beach. Our fire, as they advanced, became more spirited than ever, and must have been severely felt by the enemy in this exposed duty. The 30th was onlv distinguished bv the arrival » c * of a polacre from Algiers with soap, oil, wine, and candles—a very valuable cargo. December was introduced with bad weather. The 1st, arrived the Angli-cana privateer from Smyrna, and, two nights after, she continued her voyage towards England. Lieutenant Gage, of the Enterprise, went home passenger with dispatches. The 2nd was particularly stormy, with thunder and lightning, which happily did not continue long, or the works of the garrison might have materially suffered. The rain poured down with such violence from the heights, forcing with it vast quantities of rubbish, stones, and loose earth, that the streets leading from the hill were instantly choked up, and considerable damage was done to the buildings. The enemy, notwithstanding the storm, completed their third branch, and raised the return towards the east. Though the storm did not retard their finishing what they had begun in the evening, vet the chande-liers were very much sunk in many places, which employed their parties five or six of the following evenings to repair. They also made some alterations in the direction of the second branch, and repaired the batteries in the lines. A brig arrived from Leghorn on the lCtli, also three settees from Minorca. From the 10th, the enemy added every night so considerably to the fourth branch of the approach, that on | the 14th at night they joined the ex-GO HISTORY OF THE (chap. tv tremity of the eastern place d'armes; and two nights following, began a fifth branch, which on the 19th was extended to the east flank of the Mill battery. Their operations had not been wholly confined to completing this line of communication; a mortar battery for the sea was erected to the north of Fort St. Barbara, and large and small traverses were raised within both forts to protect their men from our upper batteries. About noon on the 17th, a cannonade was heard towards the west. A cloud of smoke was observed near Tangier, and we afterwards learned that the Moors were firing a salute on o account of the arrival of their emperor. Three hundred and ninety rounds were numbered, and it was repeated the next day. The reader will probably recollect that the garrison of Tangier is to us an object of some curiosity, as having formerly been in the possession of the English. It was ceded by the Portuguese (who had been masters of it for some time) to King Charles II. as part of the dowry of the Princess Catharine of Portugal, and remained un-der the English dominion till 1684, when, the nation refusing to pay the heavy expense attending its maintenance against the repeated attacks of the Moors, the fortifications were blown up and the garrison ordered to abandon the town. The Moors, after the place was deserted, returned, and it has ever since continued in their possession. When the English were masters of Tangier, the works on the land side were considered as almost impregnable ; and, for the accommodation of shipping, a mole of considerable extent was advanced into the sea. The present town is built at the bottom of a bay, on the side of a hill over- V 7 looking the sea. The Moors have, in some measure, repaired the moles, and endeavoured to restore the city to its former importance; but their efforts go slowly on towards accomplishing that work. Tangier was the residence of a British consul, and, in conjunction with Tetuan, in times of peace, supplies Gibraltar, Cadiz, Lisbon, and other ports on the coasts of Spain and Portu- . gal with fowls, beef, mutton, and fruit. It was about this time the scene of some interesting transactions which will shortly be related. The enemy, on the 2Gth, began to erect small traverses in the rear of their approach. On the 21st, the Speedwell cutter, Lieutenant Gibson, arrived with government dispatches, after a warm engagement with the enemy off* Ceuta, in which the Spaniards attempted to board the cutter, but were repulsed. Lieutenant Gibson was dangerously wounded in the action, which was the only casualty on board. The 23rd, arrived a privateer brig, called the Hannah, Captain Venture, last from Lisbon. She brought some excellent supplies; and the day following, two other vessels from Liverpool got in with variety of provisions. The cargoes of these ships were sold by auction for 300 per cent profit. It was about this period, some letters of a curious tenor were discovered in the possession of the deserter who came in on the 29th of September, in the dress of a peasant, and said he was a serjeant. They were directed to Colonel Nugent, of the Hibernian corps, in the Spanish service; and the purport of them was—“ that Europa was the most eligible place to attack the garrison; acknowledging having received several sums of money, and concluding with expressing his fears lest he should be discovered; therefore desired the colonel would concert some measures for his escape.’' The man was immediately ordered into close confinement, and remained a prisoner for some time, till, an opportunity offering, he was sent away from the garrison. We were afterwards informed by other deserters that he was sent in as a spy, and liberally rewarded for this hazardous service. The enemy, having completed their approach to the Mill battery, were employed in dressing the communication and raising fascine traverses in the rear for their greater protection. The 26th and following nights, their carpenters braced with head-rails the chandeliers, which, owing to the late1781.J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. Cl rains, had given way in several places. Thev were so very noisv in this duty as to induce a brisk fire from our batteries. The 30th, a settee, going from Algeziras to the eastward, was becalmed off Europa, and was boarded and brought in by our boats. Many private letters were found on board, which mentioned the considerable loss the enemy had sustained from our fire. There were also a quantity of clothes, and some money. The next day a settee got in from Minorca. Our carpenters, in the beginning of Januarv, were verv busy in erecting stages and temporary cranes m C amp and Rosia bays, and upon the Line wall, above the Navy vard; which led us to imagine that the governor had received intelligence by the Speedwell, that a convoy might soon be expected. The reason for erecting these machines so far to the south, and at such a distance from the garrison store-houses, was the apprehension of being annoyed in disembarking the provisions at Ragged Staff, &c., from the enemy’s ad-vanced battery, which was now finished, and reported to mount eight 13-inch mortars. These precautions will appear to be very prudent and essential, when the reader, on a farther perusal, is informed of the range and effect of the enemy’s fire. Some alterations were also made in the works at the New mole. The 11th, a Spanish fiag of truce, with two Moorish galleys, came over from the Orange-grove, having on board Consul Logie, his lady, and all the British subjects who had been resident in Barbary. We had long complained of a neglect in that quarter, but were now convinced, to our sorrow, that such accusations were premature and ungenerous. The mercenary and avaricious disposition of the emperor had been bribed by the Spanish ministry with a present of 100,000 cobs (about 7500/. sterling), and a promise of the same sum annually, with the re-demption of 100 African prisoners, on condition that he should deliver up, for a certain period, the ports of Tangier and Tetuan, and banish from his dominions the consul and subjects of Great Britain. Besides the present of money, and the redemption of ICO prisoners, the emperor had permission to import from Spain grain, which was so remarkably scarce in Barbarv. that a famine was apprehended. Without this circumstance to urge as a palliative for entering into a treaty with this avowed and natural enemy, the emperor would, probably, have found it a difficult task to persuade his subjects to desert their old allies. As this defection of the Moorish monarch was of much importance to the garrison, and was in itself an object not undeserving political remark. I shall subjoin a short relation of some transactions previous to this event: with an account of the injurious treatment which Mr. Logie and the British sub-jects experienced before they quitted that country. I had formerly occasion to mention, that in the early part of 1779, overtures were made by the Spaniards to the Moors, to farm the ports of Tangier. Tetuan, and Larache. Of this General Eliott received immediate information, by a confidential message from the emperor of Morocco. It did not appear that the emperor, in this instance, was actuated by any other impulse than friendship. But since, by refusing to accede to their offers, he might subject his coasts to be insulted, it would of consequence be prudent to arm his cruisers, in order to enable him to act on the defensive: he therefore requested that the English would supply him with naval stores for three new vessels which he had lately built, the value of which, on calculation, did not amount to fifteen hundred pounds. Such apparent disinterestedness, and so modest a demand, had a proper effect with the governor, who, considering the emperor’s alliance of the first consequence to the welfare of the garrison, recommended to government to double the quantity of stores, that they might secure his friendship. Ministers at home, however, did not consider his alliance in the same light with the governor and consul, as Sir George Rodney arrived the January following without sfoivs.o2 HISTORY OF THE [chap. IV or as much as an answer: and the Spaniards (having then declared war) increasing in their proposals, the emperor, after repeated applications to Mr. Logie, to know when he might expect the supplies he had given him to understand were coming from England, at length, by degrees, permitted the Spaniards to capture all British vessels under the protection of his guns. The consul remonstrated against such proceedings, but in vain: the answer generally received was, that the Spaniards had the emperor’s leave; and if they chose to take him from his own house, the emperor would not oppose them. These indignities Mr. Logie was necessitated to overlook. He found the Spanish influence daily gaining ground: he had therefore no alternative, but tacitly to submit to the evils of his situation. He contrived, nevertheless, to acquaint General Eliott with this change in their affairs. Though there appeared little prospect of doing further service to the garrison of Gibraltar by remaining in Barbary, Mr. Logie still continued to reside at Tangier. The natives were partial to the English, and personally attached to him; and these circumstances he imagined might probably be improved to some advantage. Thus matters proceeded till the beginning of October, 1780, when a party of the emperor’s black troops, which were quartered in the neighbourhood of Tangier, came to Mr. Logie’s house, and, being introduced, informed him they had orders from their master to abuse and insult him in the grossest manner; which they immediately put in execution, by spitting in his face, seizing him by the collar, and threatening to stab him with their daggers. Two days after this transaction, Mr. Logie was ordered to attend the emperor near Sallee. The 13th, he began his journey, guarded by one of the emperor’s chamberlains, and a party of horse. They arrived at the camp on the 20th; and the same evening Mr. Logie was ordered into the emperor’s presence. After various questions relative to Gibraltar, to which such an- swers were given as were least likely to please, the emperor addressed himself to his troops, and a great mob that were assembled on the occasion, saying, “ the English were an avaricious, proud, and headstrong people; they always attacked the head: but when people came to beg, they ought to crawl up by the feet. He had however deprived them of every benefit they formerly derived from his country concluding with ordering the consul to be taken to Sallee. Mr. Logie objected to this mandate, informing the emperor he was ready to attend his camp; but that his sovereign’s service did not permit his trifling away his time in visiting towns. The emperor, after this interview, seemed to relax in his severity to the consul; allowing him to return to Tangier, and consoling him with the promise that the British subjects should not be molested by the Spaniards. The 26th of October, Mr. Logie arrived at Tangier, and found the emperor had not deceived him. Affairs remained quiet till the 26th of November, when an order came to fit up all the British boats, at the emperor’s expense, as he was determined to send the English away satisfied. The consul however anticipated his intention, by getting them completed himself by the succeeding evening. The night of the 28th, the Spaniards, informed of the emperor’s resolution, sent a party on shore to burn the boats. They were discovered by the guards, and confined; but in consideration of a sum of money, they were the next day liberated. Two days following, the consuls attended to hear the emperor’s orders, which were brought by two of his secretaries: they expressed, that the emperor had sold the port of Tangier to the king of Spain ; in conse-| quence of which, every Christian, except of that nation, was to quit the town and bay; awarding slavery as the punishment of those who remained after the 1st of January, 1781. Mr. Logie was no sooner acquainted with this order, than he departed for the emperor’s camp, then near Tetuan, in order to renresent the impossibility1781.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 63 of removing their property on so short a notice. He arrived on the 2nd of December, but could not procure an audience. The 4th, he had intelligence from Tangier, that a second order had compelled the British subjects instantly to remove to Marteen. Mr. Logie made several attempts to have this cruel order reversed, but in vain. He at length procured a friend to mention this delicate point to the emperor, who apparently relented, saying, the English should have permission to remain twenty days to collect their effects; and so far Battered them, as to make them believe they were not to be removed till the British fleet arrived, if it might be expected soon. Mr. Logie was however afterwards convinced, that the emperor at this time was informed his orders had been executed, as the British subjects, amounting to 109, arrived at Marteen, a few miles from Tetuan, the subsequent evening; having been forced to abandon their vessels, houses, and all their property; and compelled to submit to the greatest imposition, for the use of camels and mules, to remove their bedding and wearing-apparel. The value of the effects left behind, Mr. Logie computed to amount to upwards of sixty thousand pounds. The heavy expense attending their removal from Tangier, with their stay at Marteen, to their arrival at Gibraltar, Mr. Logie was obliged to disburse; the emperor’s order on the 26th of November having so much imposed upon them, that they had laid out what money they were possessed of, in purchasing such articles as they judged would be useful at Gibraltar, imagining they were to be conducted immediately to that garrison. The emperor removed on the 17th of December to Tangier; whence he usually sent, once or twice every week, some insulting message to the consul, charging the English with having cheated his ambassador, and being indebted to him several thousand cobs for maintaining the garrison of Gibraltar; with others equally false and abusive. Mr. Logie, on the 26th of December was informed that the emperor had given up all the British subjects as prisoners to the Spaniards, and that the succeeding day they were to be removed to Algeziras. Being assured of the truth of this intelligence by one of the emperor's servants, he burnt all his public papers, to prevent their falling into the enemy's hands. The 28th, the consul embarked with Mrs. Logie (who had attended him through all these troubles), and about twenty more, on board a schooner, without being allowed time to take in any refreshment for their voyage. Others, under similar circumstances, were put on board other vessels. They were guarded by two Spanish cruisers, and for tlie first night put into Ceuta bay : the next morning they proceeded across the Straits, and about noon anchored off the Orange-grove, but soon after were ordered by Admiral Barcelo to moor at the entrance of the river Palmones. Here the consul was detained till the 11th of January following, by which time an answer arrived from Madrid concerning their future destination. During this period, no offer was made to supply them with provisions or necessaries, though the Moors were permitted to purchase whatever they wanted. Mr. Logie therefore applied to the French Charge d’Affaires at Algeziras, who very generously dispatched such articles as he judged would be most acceptable. The 11th, they were conducted to Gibraltar. The removal, or rather expulsion, of the British subjects from Barbary, was attended with other unfortunate consequences besides depriving us of provisions : our connexion with Portugal became afterwards more precarious; and the governor was cut oft' from a source of information, by which he was acquainted with the enemy’s operations both in camp and at Cadiz. Mr. Logie had always contrived to procure pretty certain intelligence of the enemy’s motions, by those Moors who were in his interest; for, the Spaniards allowing them to bring various articles to the army before Gibraltar, and the fleet at Cadiz, and Mr. Logie lending them money to carry on this advantageous64 HISTORY OF T11E [chap. IV trade, they faithfully communicated to him whatever came to their knowledge. The last information Mr. Logie himself was the bearer of to the governor, which was, that the enemy had a great number of fire-ships in the rivers, readv for immediate use. The 16th of January, a brig came in from Madeira, in four days, with 70 butts of wine. The master had left London with a cargo to exchange at Madeira; but a violent gale of wind had driven him to sea with his cargo incomplete, and half his crew ashore. The same day, the Moorish vessels which brought over Consul Logie returned to Algeziras. Two days following, the Tartar privateer arrived with various articles from England: she brought his majesty’s manifesto for commencing hostilities against the Dutch. On the 19th, some experiments were made at Algeziras, from two new Spanish boats, with mortars on board. VYe had some time before learned that they were preparing such vessels, and that they intended soon to try them against the garrison. Their construction was upon a plan similar to that of the gun-boats : the mortars were fixed in a solid bed of timber, in the centre of the boat; and the only apparent distinction was, that they had long prows, and braced their yards more athwart the boat when they fired. The 21st, the serjeant commanding one of our out-guards deserted to the enemy: he went towards the Devil’s Tower, and once stopped, as if undetermined to proceed or not. He belonged to the 56th regiment, and left a wife and family behind: he had always been esteemed of good character, and was much confided in by his officers. Some pecuniary matters were supposed to be the reason of his deserting. This was the fourth man which we had lost in this way within the course of a month. The 28th, a ship arrived from Leghorn with various articles. In her passage she picked up at sea the longboat of the Brilliant frigate, Captain Curtis, which we had been anxiously expecting for some time with dispatches from England. On the 25th and 27th, three of Hardenberg’s bri- gade had deserted; and this day a rope was found near the signal-house, by which we imagined the last two of them had escaped. The 29th and 30th, twm or three settees arrived, from aloft, with the produce of Minorca. By them we were informed that the Brilliant was got safe into Mahon, having been chased through the straits by the enemy’s cruisers in the night. The enemy’s working parties had for several weeks been less numerous : their occupation was principally confined to repairing the damages done by the weather; securing themselves against the effects of our firing, by splinter-proofs and traverses; and collecting depots of different materials, in various parts of their lines. Their advanced patroles frequently approached very near our out-posts, but seldom waited a second discharge from the sentries. On our side, the engineers were indefatigable in putting everything in the best state of defence. The enemy, it must be confessed, dealt openly in warning us, so long beforehand, of their intentions; and the governor was exceedingly active and diligent in preparing against whatever circumstances might occur. The 1st of February we found, behind the rock, the bodies of two deserters, who, in attempting to escape from the garrison, had been dashed to pieces. One of them was a man of the 56th, who w’as missing the day preceding; the other a serjeant of the 73rd, who had deserted some months before. The 3rd, we observed the enemy’s artillery examining the ordnance in their lines. The morning of the 8th, a deserter from a Catalonian regiment came in, and reported that the enemy posted every night a chain of sentries along the skirts of the governor’s meadow, which were constantly visited by patroles of cavalry, to keep them alert; and that a captain’s guard, besides artillery, mounted in the St. Carlos’s battery, as they called the advanced work. He said the camp was well supplied with provisions, &c., but that the men were sickly, and numbers of them deserted. It was about this period that the1731.J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 65 officers in Gibraltar presented a memorial, through the commanding officers of the different regiments, to the governor, requesting his Excellency, as he must be convinced of the truth of the contents, to support it with his approbation and interest. The memorial stated, “ That the officers of his Majesty’s several regiments of foot, serving under his Excellency’s command, had been necessarily exposed to a great variety of inconveniences since the commencement of the blockade, independent of the additional duties which they had been required to discharge : that in particular their pay, which constituted their chief, if not their sole support, had, at different times, suffered a great diminution by the exorbitant rate of exchange; ” which thev stated to have fluctuated, during a certain period, between 40 and 42 pence per dollar, Gibraltar currency : “ that every article of clothing, and still more, those essential to life and health, were so advanced in price, that, with the strictest economy, their pay was totally inadequate to the expenses absolutely indispensable in their present situation : a situation which, they apprehended,precluded them, in a great measure, from participating with the officers at home in the extensive promotions which had of late taken place in the army. They therefore appealed to the paternal feelings, the justice, and the humanity of his Excellency; trusting that through his recommendation and intercession, such assistance and protection might be granted them, as their situation and services deserved : ” concluding with a request, “ that his Excellency would be pleased to lay their prayer, with all humility on their part, at his Majesty’s feet.” This memorial was seconded by another of a similar import; but no official answer was received to either. It must be confessed, that under these circumstances, the situation of the officers was by no means flattering. Whatever obstacles might be in the way of their promotion, they could not help feeling the peculiar hardship of their situation : nor was the inactive and tedious service of a blockaded garrison at all calculated to divert their minds, or to soothe them into an acquiescence with their fortune. They reflected, with no very agreeable sensations, upon the preferment which had been liberally bestowed upon young officers in England; while many subalterns in Gibraltar had ten or twelve years, or upwards, of strict duty and services to plead. Nay, the situation of some of them was peculiarly discouraging: for their friends had repeatedly offered to raise companies to secure their rank; but of such consequence was the safety of Gibraltar esteemed by the ministry, that orders were sent to forbid any officers leaving the garrison, unless replaced by others from England. It is but justice to them, however, to observe, that they in general submitted to the evils of their situation without murmur or repining; and that, preferring their country’s good to every partial consideration, they never publicly testified their discontent, except in the two respectful memorials whicn they presented to their governor. A privateer, on the 9th of February, arrived from Mahon : she ran through ten cruisers, besides six gun-boats, and was chased by a xebeque, but escaped them all. The 17th, she continued her course for England. Mr. Logie, who carried home dispatches was a passenger, with several others. The 19th and 20th, arrived two polacre ships from the eastward. Our supplies from the eastward were now pretty regular, and the boats and vessels in general very successful in their voyages. When the reader considers the variety of difficulties and dangers attending this intercourse, he cannot but admire the perseverance of these foreigners. Their vessels were generally of light burthen, and open, excepting a small scuttle abaft, which, with the other parts of the vessel, was usually filled with part of their cargo. Their passage was seldom performed in less than five days; and sometimes it exceeded ten, and fourteen. Their course was all the way along the enemy’s coast: and even when arrived within sight of the port, the danger was greater than before, from the nun> F66 HISTORY OF THE (CHAP. IV ber and vigilance of the enemy’s cruisers : the horrors of a Spanish gaol stared them in the face, with the chance of losing probably their all. One circumstance indeed was in their favour; their vessels, in the rigging, resembled those of the enemy. To the chance of deceiving them they were nevertheless unwilling entirely to trust: it was their custom therefore to make the rock, if possible, about sunset; then strike sail, and lie-to, and at night push for the bay. By manoeuvring in this manner they frequently arrived safe; and in that case, it must be confessed, they were amply recompensed. The 26th, the regiments in garrison began to be reviewed : after the rev iew, each regiment marched to its alarm-post, and discharged several rounds of parapet firing. The 28th, a brig under Genoese colours came over from Algeziras : the crew reported, they had injured their mast, and put into Algeziras for another, but that the Spaniards had ill-treated them; they therefore came over to remedy their loss. To this story the governor did not give implicit credit: a guard of a subaltern and twelve men was sent on board; and after being for some time detained, her cargo, which was fruit, was sold, and the vessel was sent away. The want of bread in the beginning of March began again to be severely felt: many families had not tasted any for several days. The poor soldiers, and still more the inhabitants, whose finances would not allow them to purchase articles from the Minorquin vessels (the cargoes of which, by the way, were chiefly luxuries), were in intolerable distress. Biscuit-crumbs sold for 10c?. and Is. per lb. The allowance of the troops was also curtailed, and many Portuguese fishermen left the garrison for want of this article. Towards the conclusion of the month, the invalids of the garrison embarked on board the Enterprise frigate, and St. Fermin armed ship. The 27th the former, with the Fortune sloop, sailed for Minorca ; and the St. Fermin was to have accompanied them, but in getting out of the New mole some accident befel her, by which she was detained. In the course of the month several small craft arrived from Minorca: and we lost two men bv •/ desertion. The beginning of April the Spanish admiral called in all his cruisers, and some movements took place in their disposition, which seemed to indicate the expectation of a superior force. The 2nd we observed their artillery arranging the mortars in the NIill battery, which confirmed us in the conjecture. The succeeding day a British cutter, called the Resolution, arrived with rum, coals, and sugar, in twenty-nine days, from Plymouth. The master informed us that he left a fleet, which was coming to our relief, at anchor in Torbay. Our joy at this news was greater, if possible, than when we were told of our former relief. The exigencies of the garrison since Admiral Rodney’s departure had been as severe, if not more so than before. Since the soldier, for himself, only received weekly lbs. of bread, 13 oz. of salt beef, 18 oz. of pork, both of them almost in a state of putrescence; 2| oz. of butter, which was little better than rancid congealed oil; 12 oz. of raisins, J a pint of peas, 1 pint of Spanish beans, 1 pint of wheat, which they ground into flour for puddings ; 4 oz. of rice, and J of a pint of oil: what then must be the sufferings of those who had a family of small children to support out of this pittance ! or what must be the distress of the inhabitants, who had no assistance from the stores! The night of the 3rd the St. Fermin, with the Brilliant’s tender, which had been forced by a gale of wind to put into Gibraltar, sailed for Mahon; two xebeques immediately gave chase, and, I we afterwards learned, captured the former. It being observed that the enemy had stationed at Cabrita Point (though at some distance from the land; a sloop and two light brigs, supposed to be fireships, the captains of the privateers in the bay proposed cutting out the sloop, and burning the other vessels. The plan was mentioned to the governor by an officer of the garrison, who had permission to take with him a party of j volunteers from the different corps, and1781.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 67 join in the expedition. About eleven o’clock on the night of the 4th they proceeded in four boats. When they set out the night was very favourable for the enterprise; but before they reached the vessels the moon suddenly shone forth, and they reluctantly returned. Whether the Spaniards discovered the boats or not, is a matter of doubt; it is probable they did, as the next morning four gun-boats joined them from Algeziras, and the sloop removed farther to the southward. The enemy, on the 5th, scaled several of their ordnance in the batteries round the bay; two frigates were also placed in front of eight vessels, supposed to be fire-ships: these motions convinced us that the enemy were aware of the fieet which was expected. The evening of the 7th the Eagle privateer, of fourteen guns, arrived in fourteen days from Glasgow: a xebeque, a sloop of fourteen guns, a galliot, and eleven gunboats, engaged her in the bay; but by warm fighting and good seamanship she escaped. The captain informed us that the fleet had sailed, and he was much surprised in not finding them arrived. The following day the Spanish general visited the lines and advanced works. The 9th only two xebeques and the gun-boats were at Algeziras, the rest of their cruisers having left the station. The 11th a felucca came round Cabrita with oars and with a press of sail: immediately upon entering the bay she made a signal, which was answered at Algeziras by an English ensign at the main-top-gallant mast-head. Soon after a boat went over to Ceuta, and the xebeque which was stationed at the point w’as called in with the gun-boats. In the evening many signals were made from the west; and about midnight arrived the Kite cutter, Captain Trollop, with the joyful news that the convoy w’as at the entrance of the Straits, under charge of Admiral Darby, with the British grand fleet.68 HISTORY OF THE I CHAP. V, CHAPTER V. Admiral Darby relieves Gibraltar—Spaniards bombard the town—Soldiers guilty of irregularities—Town frequently on fire, and greatly injured—Gun and mortar boats veiv troublesome to the N;»vy—Admiral Darby returns to England—Captain Curtis arrives with a convoy of victuallers—Town in ruins—Gun-boats renew their attacks on the Garrison: fatal effects—Inhabitants much alarmed by their attacks—One of the Enemy's magazines blown up—General Eliott adopts a mode of annoying the enemy’s camp, and constructs Prames to oppose the gun-boats—Bombardment abates—The Helena sloop-ot-war arrives, after a warm action with the enemy—Singular system of firing, from the enemy—Melancholy fate of a matross—Enemy make additions to their works—Firing increases on both sides—Death of Major Burke—Gallant behaviour of a working party— A conspiracy discovered in the Navy—Enemy, by their operations, demonstrate their in. tention of besieging the Garrison in form—Ineffectual attempt to destroy their batteries— Several cutters taken—Enemy finish their batteries—General Eliott projects a sally, which proves successful. At daybreak, on the 12th of April, the much-expected fleet, under the command of Admiral Darby, was in sight from our signal-house, but was not discernible from below, being obscured by a thick mist in the Gut. As the sun, however, became more powerful, the fog gradually rose, like the curtain of a vast theatre, discovering to the anxious garrison one of the most beautiful and pleasing scenes it is possible to conceive. The convoy, consisting of near a hundred vessels, were in a compact body, led by several men-of-war : their sails just enough filled for steerage, whilst the majority of the line-of-battle ships lay-to under the Barbara shore, having orders not to enter the bay lest the enemy should molest them with their fire-ships. The ecstasies of the inhabitants at this grand and exhilarating sight are not to be described. Their expressions of joy far exceeded their former exultations. But, a1 as! they little dreamed of the tremendous blow that impended, which was to annihilate their property, and reduce many of them to indigence and beggary. As the convoy approached the bay, 15 gun-boats advanced from Algeziras, and forming in regular order under the batteries at Cabrita Point, began a smart cannonade on the nearest ships, seconded by the gun and mortar bat-teries on the land. A line-of-battle ship and two frigates, however, soon obliged them to a precipitate retreat; and, continuing to pursue them, the crews of several deserted their boats, and took refuge amongst the rocks. Had our ships advanced at this critical juncture and manned their boats, the whole might probably have been destroyed, and the garrison by that means been rid of those disagreeable visitors which afterwards so harassed and annoyed us; but the frigates, having dispersed them, thought no more of the bum-boats, as some naval officers contemptuously called them, and left them to be repossessed by the fugitives. The enemy, on the land side, were far from being idle spectators of this # relief. On the first intimation of Admiral Darby’s approach, preparations, it is imagined, were made in the lines, and a reinforcement of artillery ordered down from the camp : as at daybreak, before the fleet was well in sight, we remarked that their cannon were elevated, and the spunges and rammers reared against the merlons. These, with other appearances, indicated an intention of opening on the garrison. Our private letters had, for some1781.J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 69 time before, mentioned that the Spaniards proposed to bombard Gibraltar, if the garrison was a second time relieved; bnt the truth of this intelligence was doubted, it being conceived that no beneficial consequences could arise to them from such a cruel proceeding. We, however, overlooked the predominant characteristic of the nation, which, particularly in this instance, seems to have influenced them more than any other motive, and even to have carried them beyond that line of prudence and caution, which in military affairs ought to be strictly attended to. About three-quarters past ten o’clock, r the van of the convoy came to an anchor off the New mole and Rosia bay; and, as if this were the signal for the enemy to open, a smart fire immediately commenced from Fort St. Philip, followed by all the batteries which bore upon the garrison. The number of ordnance bearing on the place was as follows :—The King’s, 01 Black battery (mounting 14 guns), 12 bearing on the garrison; Fort St. Philip (27 guns), 11 bearing on the garrison; Infanta’s battery, of 7 guns; Prince’s and Princess’s batteries, of 14 guns each; Fort St. Barbara (23 guns'), 6 bearing on the garrison; these, with about 50 mortars, distributed along their lines, and in St. Carlos’s battery, amount to 114 pieces of artillery; all of heavy metal, being twenty-six pounders, and thirteen-inch mortars. The enemy’s cannonade was instantly returned from the garrison; but our artillery had orders to disregard their lines, and notice only the St. Carlos’s battery, which consequently soon slackened its fire. The miserable and terrified inhabitants, who just before were congratulating each other on the arrival of the fleet, now changed their exultation to sorrow, and Hocked, old and young, men, women, and children, in the greatest confusion, to the southward, leaving their property, unsecured, to the mercy of the soldiers. The shells from the St. Carlos’s battery were directed towards the New mole; the convoy, however, had been warned not to anchor within the range of their fire; the shipping, therefore, were not in the least molested. A settee was sunk near the watering-tank, and numbers of shells fell on the Red sands, and in the neighbourhood of Southport, which added no little to the alarm of the fugitives from town. The enemy's other batteries were chiefly directed to Willis’s, the lines, and particularly the ground upon which the troops were intended to have been encamped. Between one and tvo o’clock their firing abated, and in a short time ceased. Of this favourable cessation the inhabitants availed themselves, to secure such valuable property as could be expeditiously removed; but the heavier articles, which the avaricious and hardhearted hucksters had kept concealed in their stores, to bring forth in small quantities when the prices suited, were all destroyed in the course of the bombardment. About five o’clock, the batteries of the enemy again opened, and the firing continued, without intermission, the remainder of the day and the succeeding night. It did not, however, interrupt the disembarkation of the supplies. Five hundred men, with a proportion of officers, were ordered for that duty; they were afterwards con-si der ably augmented, and such was the labour and diligence of the garrison, that the stores were landed, with the assistance of the navy, in nine or ten days. ()ur casualties, on the 12th, were but few; Lieutenant Boag, of the artillery, was wounded, also several noncommissioned officers and privates. The bombardment was continued the 13th, and several soldiers were killed and wounded in their quarters. In the course of the day, 150 men were ordered to remove ammunition to the magazines on the hill, and an additional number to join the party employed in landing the supplies. The 14th, the gun and mortar boats fired upon the shipping, but were soon obliged to retire. Several barges attended, having officers in them, who seemed to give directions how to point their cannon Our batteries ceased firing this day, but the enemy’s ordnance were kept going with great vivacity. They appeared to have got the exact range of70 HISTORY OF THE ["chap. V. the heights; even the Royal battery did not escape their shells. Ensign Martin of the 39th regiment was slightly wounded with splinters of stones. No arrangement for placing the troops under shelter was yet known; and the former distribution, given out in November, was totally overthrown by the extensive range of the enemy's fire. Officers, however, whose quarters were damaged, received marquees from the public stores, to encamp at the southward • and the distressed inhabitants were accommodated with tents. It being remarked that the enemy’s fire considerably abated about noon, the governor ordered the town-guards to assemble at twelve o’clock; by which regulation less danger was apprehended in relieving the men on duty. The night pickets were likewise ordered to occupy the casemates under the Grand battery, that they might be at hand to reinforce the northern guards, in case of alarm. The total strength of the pickets, at this period, was 2 captains, 9 subalterns, 9 serjeants, 9 drummers, and 391 rank and file. The cause of the cessation in the enemy’s fire at noon, arose from a custom, pretty general in Spain, and common, I believe, in most warm climates, that of indulging themselves with a meridian nap. This luxury the Spaniards could not refuse themselves, even in war; and it was invariably attended to during their future operations against Gibraltar.* Vice-Admiral Darby with the ships of war continued cruising in sight of the rock: the service however requiring dispatch in landing the supplies, he detached Rear-Admiral Sir John Lockart Ross to superintend that duty in the bay; and the garrison fatigue party was augmented to upwards of a thousand men, besides * This will not appear so extraordinary when the reader is informed that, during the insurrection of Madrid, in 1766, the insurgents, as mentioned by Major Dalrymple, in his “ Travels through Spain,” regularly indulged themselves with their siesta, and then returned to their different places of rendezvous. Their antagonists did the same ; so that there seemed to be a sleepy convention, for a few hours, every day, between the government and the mob. officers. The evening of the 14th the enemy’s shells were very profusely distributed : some that did not burst we examined, and on drawing the fuse, found inflammable matter mixed with the powder: these combustibles set fire to a wine-house in the green-market, near the Spanish church, and before the fire could be extinguished, four or five houses were burnt to the ground. Detachments from the regiments and guards in town were immediately ordered to quench the flames; but the enemy’s cannonade became so brisk, that great confusion ensued. From this moment we may date the commencement of the irregularities into which, through resentment and intoxication, the soldiers were betrayed. Some died of immediate intoxication, and several were with difficulty recovered, by oils and tobacco water, from a dangerous state of ebriety. Though riot and violence are most contrary to that spirit of regular discipline which should always prevail in military affairs, something may yet be urged in extenuation of the conduct of the troops, which has been so much the subject of reprehension amongst the people interested. The extreme distress to which the soldiers had b«en reduced by the mercenary conduct of the hucksters and liquor-dealers, in hoarding, or rather concealing their stocks, to enhance the price of what was exposed for sale, raised amongst the troops (when they discovered the great quantities of various articles in the private stores) a spirit of revenge. The first and second days they conducted themselves with great propriety ; but on the eve of the third day, their discipline was overpowered by their inebriation, and from that instant, regardless of punishment, or the entreaties of their officers, they were guilty of many and great excesses. The enemy’s shells soon forced open the secret recesses of the merchants, and the soldiers instantly availed themselves of the opportunity to seize upon the liquors, which they conveyed to haunts of their own. Here, in parties, they barricaded their quarters against all opposers, and, insensible of their1781.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 71 danger, regaled themselves with the spoils. Several skirmishes occurred amongst them, which, if not seasonably put a stop to wby the interference of officers, might have ended in serious consequences. It did not appear through all their intemperance that these irregularities arose from any cause so much as a spirit of revenge against the merchants. A great quantity of liquor, &c., was wantonly destroyed ; and, in some cases, incredible profusion prevailed. Among other instances of caprice and extravagance, I recollect seeing a party of soldiers roast a pig by a fire made of cinnamon. The offenders were at first confined and reprimanded, which the governor judged would have a greater effect than punishment; but on their relapsing a second time into the like disorders, he was convinced his lenity w’as disregarded, and he was therefore compelled to use more rigorous measures. I have thought proper to digress a little upon this subject, not in justification of the soldiers, but to acquaint the world with the truth, as some who have related the occurrences of this period to their friends, have omitted doing the garrison the justice to annex the account of their former hardships. Besides, had the troops been in the highest degree abstemious, the enemy’s fire w’ould soon have destroyed what was only the sooner consumed by their extravagance ; for the inhabitants were too much alarmed for the safety of their own persons, to attend to the security of their effects. I forgot to mention in its place that, previous to the bombardment, orders had been given for removing the sick in town, when the firing commenced : on the 13th, therefore, the men were conveyed to the naval hospital at the southward. The 15th the bombardment was continued with greater vivacity. Not content with discharging their ordnance regularly, they saluted us almost every instant with a volley of eight or ten cannon, besides mortars. Our batteries remained silent, and the guns at Willis’s were diawn behind the merlons, to secure them against the enemy’s shot It w’as observed they directed a great number of shells towards the Working parade, and about the Victualling-office. In the morning the gun-boats again attacked the ships of war and transports, and the navy returned a smart fire. About noon, Lieut. Budworth of the 72nd regiment, and Surgeon Ches-holme of the 56th, w’ere wounded by a splinter of a shell at the door of a northern casemate in the King’s bastion. The former was dangerously scalped, and the latter had one foot taken off, and the other leg broken, besides a wound in the knee. The troops in towm, in the afternoon began to encamp at the south-ward, and to be regularly distributed amongst the casemates in town. The following was the arrangement. To the Hanoverians were allotted the bomb-proofs under the grand battery, occupied by the pickets, which in consequence removed to Landport gateway and Prince of Hesse’s casemate. The 12th, 39th, and 56th regiments were ordered to possess Montague’s casemate with the Galley-house and Waterport gateway: those w ho could not be accommodated in these quarters, encamped above the South barracks and Navy hospital, on the declivity of the hill: the 72nd regiment totally withdrew into the King’s bastion, and the 58th and 73rd regiments remained in the South barracks: the artillery and engineers were disposed of on the same plan. Several days elapsed before the troops were properly settled. The ground on which they encamped w’as very steep and rugged : it was necessary therefore to level it into terraces, for the men to pitch their tents. The regimental stores w ere also to be removed, and other duties of a similar nature executed, before the troops could be considered as properly established. The gun-boats attacked the shipping on the 16th, and endeavoured to molest the parties employed in landing the provisions; but a line-of-battle ship and two frigates soon obliged them to retire. In the course of the day the women and children who had taken refuge with their husbands anil friends in the casemates in towm, were ordered70 history of the [chap. V. to remove and encamp at the southward. Though this order, from motives of humanity, was not strictly enforced, yet ii greatly relieved the men, and in a measure removed our apprehensions of some infectious disorder being generated from their crowded and confined situation in the bombproof casemates. The officers were under the necessity of participating with the men in these unpleasant accommodations : their presence, however, produced this beneficial conse-qu ence, that they often prevented the men from indulging in those excesses, into which otherwise they undoubtedly would have entered. The same day the Queen's lines, Main, New mole, and Rosia guards, were ordered to be captain's guards. The enemy on the 17th first reached the rock gun with shot from the seven-gun battery. Colonels Ross, Green, and Picton were appointed the same day to rank as brigadiers; and Captain Wilson of the 72nd regiment, Lieute-nant Holloway of the engineers, and Captain Picton of the 12th regiment, were appointed their brigade-majors. Two field-officers, with a captain from each regiment, and one subaltern for every fifty men, were ordered also to superintend the disembarkation of provisions. In the afternoon the shells of the besiegers set fire to the stores in the Spanish church. Parties were instantly detached from the main guard, 72nd regiment, and other corps in town, to remove the provisions. The lieutenant-governor with his aides-de-camp was present, encouraging the men to perform this duty with expedition. The enemy’s fire at this time was remarkably spirited ; nevertheless, the greater part was saved by the activity of the parties. Many casks of flour were brought into the King’s bastion, and piled as temporary traverses before the doors of the southern casemates, in which several persons had been killed and wounded in bed. These traverses, however, did not continue long; for the men, when the spoils in the town became scarce, considered those barrels which the enemy's shot had pierced as lawful prizes. The contents were soon scooped out and fried into pancakes, a dish which they were very expert in cooking; and the upper casks, wanting support from below, ga greatly during their confusion, though they kept up a brisk discharge from the lines, at the rate of 250 rounds an hour. The dav following, Lieut. Wil-lington, of the artillery, was wounded at Willis’s. The 5th, a soldier of the 58th regiment was executed on the Grand parade, at the door of the store where he was detected plundering. His body hung till sunset, as an example to other offenders. The enemy’s cannonade and bombardment continued to be wide and scattered, apparently having no particular object. Shells were yet lavishly expended : and. what was very singular, manv of those which tell blind, contained, on examination, a vast quantity of sand mixed with the powder. We could not otherwise account for this unusual circumstance, than by supposing the powder was stolen by their people in the laboratories. Other shells still scattered, on their explosion, combustible matter, which, setting tire to the loose timber and wood dispersed amongst the ruins of the town, greatly endangered the king’s stores^md magazines. This in-duced the governor, on the 6th, to publish a placard, signifying to the inhabitants that such materials of this nature as were not removed out of the reach of the enemy's fire, would be converted to the king's use. The morning of the 7th, the gun and mor-tar boats fired upon the town and the New mole: they stayed about an hour, and then retired. We returned upwards of 400 rounds with great vivacity, which greatly displeased the governor : 44 There would be no end,” he said, 44 of expending ammunition if we fired everv time thev came, and while they were at so great a distance: in future” he ordered 4> no notice to be taken of the gun-boats, unless they approached within the distance of grape.” The 8th, Captain Fowlis, of the 73rd, was wounded in the lines. The enemy’s fire was now more regular: we no longer experienced the sudden fits that had induced them to discharge a whole batterv at a C7 • volley: it amounted about this time, upon an average, to 1500 rounds in the twenty-four hours. The 9th, Lieut. Lowe, of the 12th regiment, a superintendent of the working-parties, lost his leg by a shot, on the slope of the hill under the castle. He saw the shot before the fatal effect but was fascinated to the spot. This sudden arrest of the faculties was not uncommon : several instances occurred to my own observation, where men totally free have had their senses so engaged by a shell in its descent that, though sensible of their danger, even so far as to cry for assistance, they have been immediately fixed to the place. But what is more remarkable, these men have so instantaneously recovered themselves on its fall to the ground, as to remove to a place of safety before the shell burst. The gun and mortar boats repeated their visit on the 11th, but fired from so respectful a distance that scarce!v a shot came ashore. Our batteries were manned; nevertheless, not a gun was returned. Lieutenant Thornton, of the 12th regiment, was wounded the same day with splinters of stones, thrown up by a shot which grazed betwixt his legs. The buildings in town at this time exhibited a most dreadful picture of the effects of so animated a bombardment. Scarcely a house, north of the Grand parade, was tenantable; all of them were deserted. Some few, near Southport, continued to be inhabited76 BISTORT OF THE [chap V. by soldiers’ families; but in general the floors and roofs were destroyed, and the walls only were left standing. The governor and lieutenant-governor, however, maintained their quarters, having parties constantly employed in repairing the damage. Both had bomb-proofs ; and the former afterwards had a large tent pitched on a rising situation south of the Red sands, where, with his suite, he generally remained i during the day, returning at night to town; but the lieutenant-governor constantly resided in town, having accommodations in the King’s bastion. The evening of the 12th, the gun and mortar boats fired upon the garrison from off the Old mole, seconded by a very warm fire from their land batteries. Several shells from the former ranged as high as the Signal - house, and some fell over the rock. They discharged 180 shot and 46 shells, and then retired, throwing up the usual signal of a rocket from each boat. Though our batteries were manned, the garrison remained silent. About the 13tb, and for a few succeeding days, the enemy’s shells were directed for an unusual long range. One fell on the forecastle of a collier in the New mole, and pierced both decks, but did not burst. Two fell amongst the provisions on the New mole parade, and another in the middle yard of the South barracks; a splinter of the latter flew to the Navy hospital. The 14th, a shell fell into the Small armoury, near Southport, but fortunately did little injury. The 17th, the Jews’ synagogue and other buildings were burnt down. The following day, a shell from our upper batteries blew up the guard-room in the place d’armes of Fort Barbara. Our engineers were at this time employed every night in clearing the works, filling up shell-holes, and repairing the glacis and traverses at Waterport. The enemy’s fire at this period seldom exceeded a thousand rounds in the course of 24 hours: their batteries were much shaken with the firing, and parties were constantly bringing supplies of ammunition to the lines, and different materials for the repair of their works. An attempt was made by the navy, on the 19th, to cut off a polacre becalmed near Europa Point; but, a breeze springing up, she escaped. The gun-boats soon after came out, apparently with an intention of avenging this affront; but, the wind freshening, they returned. The cannonade from the enemy was now principally directed at our upper batteries. The rock gun, mounted on the summit of the northern front, was become as warm, if not warmer, than any other battery; and scarcely a day passed without som* casualties at that post. The gun an.k mortar boats, early in the morning of the 20th, repeated their attack on the garrison and shipping. They were arranged in two divisions, those to the northward directing tlieir fire towards the King’s bastion and Southport, but most of their shells broke on the face of the rock; whilst the southward division annoyed the shipping and camp. Their usual signal for retiring was made about a quarter past three o’clock. On this occasion we returned a few shots from the town batteries. At the commencement of the bombardment, the out-guards of Bay-side and Lower Forbes’s had been withdrawn from those barriers, and an officer’s guard stationed every night in the Fleche, a work erected near the Inundation at the foot of Landport glacis. On the morning of the 21st, the sentries at this post observed a man advancing, with great circumspection, along the causeway: instead of answering when challenged, he immediately dropped. Lieut. Wetham, of the 58th regiment, the officer on duty, suspect-i ing he came to reconnoitre, instantly, with the serjeant, went out to seize him; but the man rising, he pursued, and was within a very short distance of securing him, when he fell into a shell-hole near Bay-sideband the man escaped. It was imagined that curiosity had prompted him to make trial of the alertness of our sentries. His hat, which fell off in his retreat, his firelock with bayonet, and pouch filled with 29 rounds of ammunition, were hung on the palisades of the barrier, and were afterwards brought in.1781.} SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. Early on the morning of the 22nd, a splinter of a shell, which fell and burst on the Church battery, ranged upwards of 200 yards, and cutting the leaden apron of the morning-gun on the South bastion, fired it off. This singular cir-cumstance, happening some hours before daybreak, not a little surprised those who heard the report, and were ignorant of the cause. Our fire was now increased to about 150 rounds in the 24 hours, the enemy’s parties being engaged in repairing the lines of approach. Their cannonade, on the contrary, was reduced, upon an average, to 650 rounds. The night of the 23rd, the gun and mortar boats renewed their attack upon the camp, which, in its consequences, was more dreadful than any we had hitherto experienced. The silence observed bv the garrison during their preceding visits emboldened them, on this occasion, to advance so near that we could distinctly hear their officers give orders to the men, who frequently cried out to us, in Spanish, to ‘‘take care/’ During the first and second rounds, the shells tell over Windmill-hill into the sea : but this mistake they soon rectified, and the attack became excessively smart. Two shells fell within the Hospital-wall, and a shot passed through the roof of one of the pavilions. A shell fell in a house in Hardy-town, and killed Mr. Israel, a very respectable Jew, with Mrs. Tour-ale, a female relation, and his clerk. Another, from the St. Carlos's battery, fell into a house near South-shed, in which were fifteen or sixteen persons: the shell burst, but all escaped, except a child whose mother had experienced a similar fate some time before. A soldier of the 72nd regiment was killed in his bed by a shot: and a Jew butcher was equally unfortunate. In all, seven were killed, and twelve or thirteen wounded. The silence of the garrison, when the destructive effects of this attack were publicly known, caused great secret discontent amongst the soldiers: and such representations were made to the governor, that he ordered the artillery to return their fire when they repeated their visit. The evening of the 27th, the engineers, with a strong party, repaired the Queen's battery (Willis’sC The new merlons were raised with sand-bags on the base of the old ones, and the whole was completed before morning gunfire. The following day, a squadron of Russian men-of-war passed through the Straits to the west. Whilst they remained in sight, the enemy increased their fire upon the garrison. The same day arrived the General Murray privateer and a polacre from Minorca, with wine, brandy, lemons, and salt; and in the evening, the Enterprise frigate, with 17 ordnance-ships and transports, sailed for England. The enemy discovered them before they quitted the bay. and repeated their signals towards Cadiz. The garrison flag-staff', on the Grand battery, was now so mutilated, and the flag so much torn by the enemv's shot, that it became neces-sary to erect a new one, which was done the night of the 2Sth; and it served to engage the attention of the enemy in the succeeding day’s firing. The morning of the 29th, two British frigates, the Flora and Crescent, which had conveyed the Minorca ordnance-ships to Mahon, appeared from the east. Capt.PeereWilliams, in the former, stood towards the bay; and being informed byCapt. Curtis that the Enterprise had sailed the preceding evening, put about and followed his consort, the Crescent, which was then chasing two vessels, apparently Dutchmen, under the Barbary shore; and soon aftet they disappeared, we heard a cannonade to the west, which most likely proceeded from the ensuing engagement, as we afterwards learned that the ships chased were Dutch frigates.* At noon the same day, two artificers were executed at the White Convent in Irish Town for marauding; and the following day, one of the 58th suffered for the same * Captain Williams, in this action, took his opponent; but the Crescent, from some unfortunate accidents, was compelled to surrender to her adversary. The Crescent was, however, retaken by the Flora; but being greatly damaged, both she and the Flora’s prize afterwards fell a prey to some French cruiser's.78 HISTORY OF THE [chap. V. offence. The 31st, in the evening, a ship under Ragusan colours, attempting to get round Europa Point to proceed to Algeziras, was driven under our guns, and obliged to come in. She was laden with wheat and barley, bound from Barcelona to Cadiz; and her cargo was condemned as a lawful prize. The enemy’s bombardment was considerably abated towards the close of the month. Their objects for some time were the upper batteries, and particularly the Royal battery, whence they were greatly incommoded. They often attempted to reach Landport and the lines with heavy grape from the advanced mortars, but it seldom ranged farther than the Inundation. Our engineers, notwithstanding their fire, continued making such repairs as the enemy’s cannonade rendered necessary. About two o’clock, on the morning of the 1st of June, the gun and mortar boats saluted us as usual, and wounded three or four men : they were in three divisions. We returned the fire from different batteries between King’s bastion and Buena Vista. During this attack an incident happened w’hich I will beg leave to insert. A soldier, rambling about the town, accidentally found, in the ruins of a house, several watches and other articles of value, of which he immediately made prize; but how to secrete them afterwards was a subject that required the utmost reach of his invention. He was sensible he could not secure them in his quarters, as every soldier of his regiment w’as examined on his return to his bombproof from duty. He resolved, therefore, on a singular expedient. Taking out the wad which served as a tompion to a gun on the King’s bastion, he lodged his prize, w’hich was tied in his handkerchief, as far as he could reach, within the gun, and put the wad in its former place. In times of peace he could not have devised a better repository ; but, unfortunately, the gun-boats coming the same evening (whilst he w’as fast asleep in his casemate, not apprehending any danger to his secreted treasure), this richly loaded gun was one of the first that was discharged at the enemy, and the foundation of his future greatness was dispersed in an instant. The enemy’s cannonade, in the beginning of June, decreased to about 500 rounds in the 24 hours: the King’s, or Black battery (as it was called by the garrison), with the two fourteen-gun batteries in their lines, w’ere now silent. The morning of the 3rd the gunboats repeated their visit about the same time as before. In this attack 2 serjeants, of the 12th and 58th regiments, were killed, and 2 privates wounded : many shells fell among the tents of the different regiments, and tw’o shot in the hospital-yard. A corporal, going W’ith the relief at Land-port, had the muzzle of his firelock closed, and the barrel tw’isted like a French horn, by a shell, without injury to his person. We returned the fire from the towm batteries, hoping by that means to direct their attention from our camp. The 4th, the governor commemorated the anniversary of his Majesty’s birthday, by a salute at noon of 23 cannon, and 43 mortars, being the number of ordnance that bore on the St. Carlos’s battery. The fire began at the Rock mortar, seconded by the Old mole, and so on from right to left till the whole were discharged: the enemy, indulging themselve-s, as usual, with a siesta, did not immediately return our fire ; but in the early part of the day they had made the town pretty warm, and fired twfice or thrice through the royal standard. In the course of the 4th, a tartan was taken coming in from the east: the crewq however, escaped to the garrison in their boat. A Spanish squadron of 2 line-of-battle ships, 3 xebeques, and 2 bomb-ketches, also arrived the same day at Algeziras, from aloft. With this reinforcement, their naval force before Gibraltar amounted to 2 ships of the line, 5 xebeques, 2 ketches, several half-galleys and armed vessels, with 15 or 16 gun and mortar boats. These latter were become so active that we could never promise ourselves a night’s repose without being disturbed by a cannonade ; and their attacks were more vexatious from the impcssi-1781] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 79 bility of being able to retaliate, because they presented to us so small an object. Whenever the alarm was given of their approach, which was generally a little after midnight, the southern part of the rock was in immediate commotion. Their effects had been found so destructive, that all were upon the lookout : the troops were ordered from their tents, to places where they were covered from the shot; but the shells were directed into the most sequestered recesses. Such was the terror of the miserable inhabitants, that many of them fled nearly naked to the remote parts of the rock ; and even here they could scarcely deem themselves secure : in short, no scene could be more deplorable than that of their distress on these occasions. The enemy’s bombardment from the land was still continued with little variation: they appeared, indeed, to have no other object than the expenditure of ammunition. In their camp, large parties were constantly bringing brushwood for fascines from the country ; and others were employed in disembarking stores from small vessels which were daily arriving from all quarters. The 9th, we were alarmed with the blowing-up of one of the enemy’s magazines, situated at a small distance from the Catalonian camp to the west of the Queen of Spain’s Chair. The different explosions that succeeded the first resembled a continual roll of fire like repeated volleys of musketry ; from which circumstance we conjectured that it was their repository for live shells and fixed ammunition. Their drums immediately beat to arms; and the whole army, consisting of thirteen battalions besides cavalry, assembled in front of the camp. Parties were instantly detached ; but the splinters of the shells kept them for some time at a considerable distance. The shells, however, at length ceased to displode: they advanced, and removed powder, &c. from a neighbouring magazine to a place southward of the fire; where, meeting afterwards in great numbers, our artillery endeavoured to reach them with a large shell from Willis’s; but the distance was beyond the range of a sea-mortar. From the long continuance and successive loud reports it was thought they must have sustained great loss, not only of ammunition, but of men, as the splinters were seen, with glasses, to range much farther than the spot where the detachment first assembled; and remarkable economy was after-wards observed in the article of shells. The following day, a line-of-battle ship, proceeding from Point Mala to the eastward, was fired upon from the garrison, and obliged to put about and anchor at Algeziras. A fiag of truce came the day after to the New mole, to know the cause of our firing upon her, being a Neapolitan man-of-war. The governor answered, that the first shot was to bring her to ; which she not obeying, every succeeding one was fired to sink her. The night of the 11th, the gun and mortar boats, according to custom, bombarded the camp, killed a child, and wounded a woman. They retired much sooner than usual; which we attributed to their having received some damage, as our grape was heard to strike them. We returned 96 rounds of various kinds. Their land batteries, during the attack, directed their fire principally towards the King’s bastion, and along the line-wall in town, whence, they observed, we for some time past generally fired when they came over. The 14th being the anniversary of Corpus Christi, the festival was noticed by the enemy’s shipping with the usual flags of decoration, and the customary salutes : repeated volleys were likewise discharged from the lines; which, being unexpected on our side, killed and wounded several. Though their bombardment in general, at this period, scarcely exceeded 450 rounds in 24 hours, yet the batteries at Willis’s, notwithstanding the recent repairs, were again greatly damaged. The enemy’s shot, though fired at so great a distance, frequently pierced seven solid feet of sand-bag work. To obviate this, strong wooden frames, called caissons, were constructed of the same dimensions as the merlons; which, when well rammed with clay, and covered in front and on the top80 HISTORY OF THE [chap. V. with junk cut in lengths for the purpose, were expected to resist better than the temporary repairs that had been done during the severity of the enemy's fire. The enemy also adopted the same mode in capping the merlons of Fort St. Barbara. A flag of truce, on the 15th, informed us that two ships had been captured leaving the garrison, and that the prisoners were ready to be sent in. The Fortune sloop, in consequence, the next day brought over 141 English and Jews, men, women, and children. It was remarked that the enemy the preceding day continued their bombardment during the flag of truce; but a strict cessation was observed this day, owing, as we imagined, to some representations. We observed, on the 20th, a new camp of 112 tents in the rear of Barcelo’s battery, north of Algeziras. The day following, Montague’s bastion was opened on the enemy, as parties were repairing the St. Carlos’s battery. The bombardment now decreased daily. The fire of the enemy was chiefly directed to our upper batteries, for the town was almost a heap of ruins : they sometimes threw a long-ranger; but these shells seldom did any injury. The night of the 24th, the gun-boats fired upon the camp, but at such a distance, that little damage was received, though they expended 400 shot and 70 shells. We returned 88 rounds, principally small shells, whose fuses were so accurately cut, as ‘to break just over the boats. The 27th, we observed another encampment (capable of quartering two battalions) at the tower between the river Palmones and Algeziras. Many were of opinion that this camp, wfith that at Barcelo’s battery, was occupied by militia. The gun and mortar boats again bombarded our camp about midnight for two hours: they then made their usual signal, and as we imagined, were gone back ; but soon after, they returned, and, recommencing a brisker fire than before, killed and wounded 12 or 14, the greatest number of which were of the 39th regiment. This was the most important loss w’hich our troops had yet experienced from the gun-boats ; but we concluded ourselves in some degree fortunate in not suffering more considerably; as most of the regiments, imagining the bombardment over for the night, were in bed when they returned. The disagreeable and frequent repetition of these attacks prompted the governor to adopt, if possible, some expedients to annoy the enemy’s camp in return. The distance was conceived to be within the range of shells from the Old mole head : accordingly a 13-inch sea-mortar was removed to the extremity; and six camion, five 32-pounders and one 18-pounder, were at the same time sunk in the sand behind the Old mole, and then secured with timber, &c. at different degrees of elevation. These arrangements had been for some time in agitation; and being now completed, he determined to make the experiment. About 10 o’clock in the forenoon of the 28th, six rounds were discharged from each: three of the shells burst in the enemy’s camp, and one over it. The other two exploded in their passage : all the shot went home. A battalion of Spanish guards, happening to be under arms, were greatly alarmed, and dispersed three different times: at length they were assembled, and marched off toward the left. This being only intended as an experiment, the artillery soon ceased firing; but it is scarcely possible to express the general satisfaction which this success diffused through the garrison. The mortar was loaded with from 30 lbs. to 28^ lbs. of powder at the usual elevation ; the 32-pounder with 14, and the 18 with 9 lbs. of powder ; all the latter at an elevation of 42 degrees. The governor, beside this plan of retaliation, devised other schemes to cover and protect his camp, if possible, from future attacks. Two brigs were ordered to be cut down and converted into pr nines, each to carry four or five heavy cannon; which were to be moored between the New mole and Ragged Staff, at such distance from the works as to be easily protected, and yet far enough out to keep their boats at a respectful distance. ArtificersI 781.j SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. SI from the garrison assisted the navy in fitting out these vessels. One of them being finished previous to the before-mentioned experiment, was moored at the distance of about half musket-shot from the New mole head. She was named the Vanguard, mounted two Spanish 26-pounders, and two twelves, and was rigged like a settee. The enemy’s squadron, on the 29th, was reinforced with five xebeques and two galleys, from the east. At night sailed a packet for Faro, in Portugal. The 2nd July, additional tents were pitched at the new camp near the tower, north of Algeziras. About one in the morning of the 4th, the gun-boats repeated their attack; but contrary to their former custom, numbers of their shot and shells fell amongst the shipping. The Porcupine frigate, Sir Charles Knowles, Bart., and an India-man, each received a shot; and the Brilliant’s bottom was struck with a splinter of a shell, which burst under her ; but no particular damage was received in the garrison, except two men being slightly wounded. The governor retaliated by ordering six rounds of shot and shells to be fired into their camp, from the guns and sea-mortars at the Old mole: the cannon were pointed indiscriminately for the camp ; but the mortars were laid for the fascine and artillery parks. One of the shells set fire to a hut, and alarmed them exceedingly. As the governor now determined to retaliate in this manner, we were in hopes it would deter them from so frequently disturbing us. The enemy continued making gabions, and bringing much wood into the camp: on the other hand, our people were employed in repairs, and additions to the works. Traverses were erected at the Royal battery, and parties were employed on the north front, from the rock gun to the Old mole head. The 10th, a brig coming in from the east was taken by the enemy’s cruisers, which for some weeks past had again kept a very vigilant look-out. The crew however escaped to the rock ; and they had thrown the letters over-board before they abandoned the vessel. The bombardment, which, by almost imperceptible degrees, had been decreasing, on the 12th nearly ceased. The cannon in their seven and four-teen-gun batteries were all drawn back, to facilitate, as we imagined, the repairing of the platforms and inner part of the "batteries. The 13th some troops at the tower decamped, and in a few days afterwards a regiment marched away from the Algeziras camp. The 15th two settees and a brig sailed from Point Mala with gabions to the west. One vessel had sailed thence on the 13th. These materials, we conjectured, were for some new works in the neighbourhood; but we were afterwards informed that they were taken to Minorca, and were used in the ap-1 proaches carried on against St. Philip’s. Their firing was now confined to the night, and unless we provoked them, scarcely ever exceeded thirty rounds. V * The Spanish general visited the lines on the 18th; but a fire breaking out in his camp, he returned immediately on its appearance. In the evening the caissons for the Queen’s battery being carried up to Willis's, and the sandbags brought from Pocoroca clay-pit, the engineers at dusk, with a party of 380 men, began to re-establish the merlons; and by the morning gun-fire of the 19th the old sand-bags were removed, the caissons placed, and filled with clay, sand, and junk, and the battery made fit for the reception of artillery. The governor was present the whole time, and expressed the highest approbation of the diligence and activity of the party. The caissons were made of oak timber, joined by strong iron bolts. Whilst they were at work the gun-boats fired upon the camp, and were seconded by the land batteries on the town: a hundred and thirty-tw o rounds were returned on the boats, and sixteen shells throw n into the enemy’s camp. One of the artillery and one of the 73rd regiment were w ounded. The morning of the 20th the enemy fired a salute from the lines, followed by a feu-de-joie from the army drawn up in tw o lines in front of their camp, concluding with a grand discharge from I their shipping and small craft at Alge- ty82 HISTORY OF THE .CHAP. V. sir as. The troops in garrison changed quarters on the 21st: the 39th and Hardenberg’s regiments relieved the 72nd, and other detachments in King’s and Montague’s bastions, Waterport casemate, and Picket yard. The 58th, 72nd, and 73rd regiments encamped; the 12th regiment remained on their ground, and the 56th, Reden’s, and La Motte’s occupied the South barracks and other quarters. The enemy on the same day decamped from the ground north of Algeziras. Brigadier Ross sailed on the night of the 22nd in a boat to Faro, in his route to England; and the following day a privateer arrived in eight days from Mahon, with a packet. Two days afterwards a boat arrived from Portugal. The patron informed us that the army at that time before Gibraltar principally consisted of militia regiments, the regular troops having embarked for the West Indies : he further said, that the Spanish fleet had sailed from Cadiz on a cruise. Soon after this boat arrived a large fleet of upwards ot seventy sail appeared from the west: when abreast of Europa we discovered amongst them a ship of the line, two frigates, two cutters, a bomb-ketch, and several armed vessels: they did not display any colours. This proved afterwards to be the fleet which blockaded Mahon, and conveyed the troops which besieged Fort St. Philip, under the command of the Due de Crillon, and captured the island of Minorca. Our camp was alarmed on the 27th with the report that the gun-boats were approaching. The batteries were manned, and the regiments assembled; but the enemy not appearing, they returned to quarters. The signals for seeing the boats in future were ordered to be a false fire, and two guns from the shipping. August was introduced by an attack from the gun-boats. They came upon us by surprise; for we had no signal from our guard-boats. This was afterwards accounted for by the enemy having taken a circle; by which means our guard-boats, when they began to fire, were without, and the gun-boats between them and the garrison. Our fire in return was well served, and appeared to do some execution: twelve large shells and fifteen shot w’ere likewise throwm into the camp from the Old mole: several of the former burst just as they fell, consequently promised to do mischief. Their land batteries seconded the fire from the sea, but we did not experience any casualties. Two days afterwards the other prame, called the Repulse, mounting five twenty-six pounders, was moored about musket-shot to the southward of the* Vanguard, and the same distance from our bab teries. These vessels were of such annoyance to their boats, that whilst they remained out, we never afterwards were so much disturbed at the southward. The artillery at Willis’s endeavoured on the 4th to set fire to the canes and weeds in the gardens; but they were too full of sap to take fire. This attempt attracted a brisk cannonade for some time from the enemy. Early in the morning of the 6th a shell fell into a tent behind General La Motte’s quarters, at the southward, in w’hich were two men of the 58th, asleep. They were not awakened by its fall; but a serjeant in an adjacent tent heard it, and ran near forty yards to a place of safety, when he recollected the situation of his friends. Thinking the shell had fallen blind, he returned and awakened them: both immediately rose, but continued by the place, debating on the narrow escape they had had, when the shell exploded, and forced them with great violence against the garden-wall, but miraculously did no further mischief than destroying everything in the tent. On the morning of the 7th, before the haze was quite dispelled in the Gut, a signal for an enemy was made by the Spaniards at Cabrita Point. As the fog dispersed we discovered at a considerable distance a vessel becalmed, but rowing towards the garrison with the current. Fourteen gun-boats were then advancing from Algeziras to intercept her: upon which Captain Curtis, of the Brilliant, ordered out Sir Charles Knowles, with three barges, to endeavour to get alongside, and receive1781.2 SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 83 any dispatches the vessel might have on board, whilst he attended the towing out of the Vanguard and Repulse ; prames, to cover them and protect her. Sir Charles personally executed his orders, and returned with a packet for the governor. The vessel by this time r was about a league and a half from the garrison, and the headmost gun-boat within shot, advancing apparently with s an intent to board : stopping, however, at the distance of a few hundred yards, she poured in a discharge of round and grape shot, and was immediately seconded by her consorts astern. The vessel, which we now discovered to be a king’s sloop-of-war, returned the salute with a broadside, and musketry from her quarter-deck; and a spirited ►i action commenced. Appearances at this juncture were so greatly in favour t( of the Spaniards, that the garrison gave up the sloop for lost. Becalmed a league from the rock, and fourteen auu-boats, each carrying a twentv-six pounder, full of men, cannonading her on every side with grape and round shot; a xebeque also bearing down with a gentle breeze, were circum-stances which seemed to preclude the possibility of escape. After maintaining, however, a very warm, judicious, and well-served fire, often obliging the boats to retire, the westerly breeze at last reached her: and not long afterwards she was safe under our guns. She proved to be the Helena sloop-of-war, fourteen small guns, Captain Roberts, in fourteen da vs from Eng-land. Her loss during this action was much less than could have been possibly imagined, when we considered the showers of grape and round shot that every instant surrounded her: she had only one killed and two wounded : but her upper rigging and sails were much cut and injured. We attributed the hull's being scarcely touched to the construction of the gun-boats: for, being originally intended to annov at a distance, their cannon could not be depressed. The enemy however did not escape so well: numbers were seen to drop in the boats from the musketry of the sloop, and several were towed off disabled; which were very con- vincing proofs that their loss was considerable. A settee was taken on the 12th by the enemy’s cruisers. The crew', excepting three Jew passengers, escaped to the garrison: they informed us that great preparations were making in the French and Spanish ports for seme grand expedition: the object was however kept secret: but many at Minorca suspected St. Philip's to be the place. The enemy's bombardment, if we may now call it by that name, scarcely exceeded, at this time, three shells in the 24 hours, which the soldiers (conjecturing that some allusion might be intended, by that superstitious nation^ to the sacred Trinity) jocosely, though profanely termed, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. It is not indeed altogether improbable that the Spaniards might entertain some bigoted respect for that mystical number, and, considering the British in the light of heretics, might apprehend some efficacy from it, in the great work of converting the garrison to the Catholic faith: at least, it is difficult, on any more reasonable ground, to account for their exactly continuing to fire neither more nor less, for so considerable a period. The mention of this circumstance brings to my recollection another, of a ridiculous nature, which serves to demonstrate the thoughtlessness of the English soldiers, who can jest in the hour of danger, and indulge their prejudices at the expense of what other nations, however differing in sentiment, generally agree to hold in a degree of respect. It is first to be remembered, that, according to the articles of capitulation by which the garrison was surrendered to Admiral Sir George Rooke, it was stipulated that the inhabitants should be tolerated in their religion: the old Spanish church w as therefore continued as a place of worship for those of the Roman Catholic persuasion, and, as is usual in Roman Catholic churches, was decorated, amongst others, with figures, as large as life, of our Saviour and the Virgin Mary. At the commencement of the firing, when the soldiers w ere engaged in a • • C C succession of irregularities, a party of G 284 HISTORY OF THE [CHAP. V. them assembled in the Spanish church, to carouse and be merry. In the midst of their jollity, the image of the Virgin Mary was observed in the ruins by one of the party, who instantly proposed, as a piece of fun, to place her ladyship in the whirligig.* The scheme seemed to meet with general approbation, till one, wiser than the rest, stopped them with a remark, that it would ill become them, as military men, and particularly Englishmen, to punish any person without a trial. A court-martial consequently sat, with mock ceremony; and her ladyship was found guilty of drunkenness, debauchery, and other high crimes, and condemned to the whirligig, w’hither she was immediately carried in procession. The governor (who, notwithstanding the firing, regularly attended the parade), at guard-mounting discovered the poor Virgin in confinement; but expressed his disapprobation of the action, and ordered her instantly to be removed to the White Convent, where, by the bye, she was by no means exempt from further insult and disgrace. If a bigoted Spaniard could have beheld this transaction, he probably would have thought the English worse than heretics; and would have concluded, that their impiety could not fail to attract the special vengeance of Heaven. The night of the 15th. the gun and mortar boats bombarded our camp; their disposition extending from oft Little bay to the Old mole head : their fire, as had been the custom for some time before, was seconded by a brisk cannonade from the lines, which was very judiciously served. Many of their shells burst in the air, over our shipping; but the ships continued silent. Our artillery retaliated from the Old mole head, and small shells were discharged from the elevated guns, which seemed to answer very well. One of the 72nd regiment was killed; two of the artillery, and two of the 73rd, with a boy, an inhabitant, were wounded. In this attack, a shell fell amongst * A machine erected at the bottom of the Grand parade> for the punishment of scolding women, or others guilty of trifling misdemeanors I some naval stores, in a ground-ward of the Naval hospital; and the most dreadful consequences might have been expected from this accident, if the fire had not been happily extinguished by the picket, which the governor had ordered, some time before, to assemble here, to prevent, if possible, such casualties. The other picket, which mounted at the southward, was stationed for the same purpose at the New mole. A schooner arrived from Faro on the 17th, with fruit, onions, and salt. In the evening, a fiag of truce came from the enemy, in answer to ours of the preceding day. The day following, another boat arrived from Faro: she brought a packet, with some private letters from Lisbon, which intimated the probability of our receiving a visit from the combined fleet, then cruising off Cadiz. At night several guns were heard in the Gut, and a number of signals made at the point. The succeeding morning, his Majesty’s cutter the Kite arrived from England, with duplicates of the Helena's dispatches. In her passage she engaged a French cutter of 20 guns, and had three men killed and six wounded. The enemy’s cruisers endeavoured to intercept her, but were driven to leeward. A boat also arrived about the same time from Portugal. The firing from the garrison now varied according as the enemy’s parties presented themselves: at this period they were busy in repairing Fort St. Philip, and in securing their works against the approaching rainy season. Our engineers were repairing the communications and batteries at Willis’s, &c. A soldier of the 73rd deserted to the enemy the 25th: he had been absent from his corps five days, during which time he had concealed himself on the rock. Hunger probably pressing him, he determined to make a bold attempt to get off’: accordingly stuffing a sand-bag with grass, he came to Landport, and placing, unobserved, the bag upon the spikes of the palisades, jumped, unhurt, on the glacis; then running over the cause-1781.1 SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 85 way, he soon cleared Bay-side barrier, and, though many hundred rounds of musketry were fired from Landport and the Lines guards, he escaped. He was the fourth man lost by desertion in the course of six weeks. Early the 27th, four men, who had been impressed from a privateer in the bay, deserted from the Repulse prame. The next morning’ we were visited o again bv the gun and mortar boats: but they scarcely staid one-third of their former time. We returned 9 shot and 58 shells, which, from the shrieks and piteous cries we heard, must have done execution. We annoyed them in camp from the Old mole, as usual; and the artillery attempted to reach them from Willis’s, but in vain. In this attack a wounded matross was killed by a shell in the hospital. The circumstances attending this man’s case are so melancholy and affecting, that I cannot pass them over in silence. Some time previous to this event, he had been so unlucky as to break his thigh : being a man of great spirits, he ill brooked the confinement which his case demanded, and exerted himself to get abroad, that he might enjoy the benefit of the fresh air in the court of the hospital: unfortunately, in one of his playful moments, he fell, and was obliged to take to his bed again. He was in this situation when a shell from the mortar boats fill into the ward, and rebounding, lodged upon him. The convalescents and sick, in the same room, instantly summoned strength to crawl out on hands and knees, while the use was burning; but this wretched vi tim was kept down by the weight of the shell, which, after some secou > burst, took off' both his legs, and see . aed him in a dreadful manner: but, what was still more horrid, he sun ved the explosion, and was sensible to the very moment that death relieved him from his misery. His last words were expressive of regret that he had not been killed on the batteries. The enemy’s attention to the blockade seemed now to be revived. Their cruisers were increased, and constantly on the watch. The force in the bay at this time was one ship of the line, a xebeque having a broad pendant, a frigate, and five xebeques, with the gun and mortar boats, and small armed craft. The arrangement of these ves-sels for the purpose of blockading the garrison appeared to be as follows :—• When the wind was west, two xebeques and four gun-boats anchored at Cabrita Point, cruising at night at the c o entrance of the bay and in the straits; when easterly, the frigate, xebeques, and four gun-boats cruised some be-tween Ceuta and Europa. and others in the Gut; one xebeque was generally observed to lie-to off Europa Point, at the entrance of the bay. Though this disposition apparently obstructed ail intercourse between the garrison and our friends in Portugal and Minorca, yet opportunities sometimes occurred when boats slipped out unobserved, and returned with the same success. The evening of the 30th. the enemy’s cannonade, which, except when the boats fired on our camp, seldom exceeded three shells in the 24 hours, was pretty smart for an hour or two, occasioned by our firing on their working parties. Such starts of retaliation they were often provoked to by our annoying their workmen in the batteries. The prames had been found so useful that, in the beginning of September, the navy began to fit up the Fortune sloop, in order to add to their number. The 5th, a flag of truce from the enemy brought over ----- Pratts, an inhabit- ant of Gibraltar, who had been taken by the Spaniards in the Fox packet, about 12 months before, and whom, as it was said, the enemy for some time had objected to exchange. By this man we were informed that the Due de Crillon, with 10,000 men, had landed at Minorca, and that it was reported he was to be joined by a French army from Toulon. The evening of the 7th, the captain at Willis’s again endeavoured to set fire to the weeds, &c. in the gardens, which, from their height, afforded great cover to the enemy’s advanced sentries; and in executing these orders a brisk cannonade was returned by the enemy, which continued till daybreak. Our86 HISTORY OF THE [chap. V. carcasses and light balls frequently took effect, but the canes were too green to be burnt to any purpose. In the course of this firing, several shot from the lines ranged as far as the South barracks and New mole. Great numbers of gabions were now observed in the enemy’s fascine park. The evening of the 12th, they fired a grand salute from their lines and shipping, and a feu-de-joie in camp. After the salute, they continued to cannonade from the lines, though for some days before they had only fired their mystical number, three, in the 24 hours. We imagined this salute to be on account of the Due de Crillon having gained some advantage at Minorca. In the course of their firing, on the 15th, a circumstance happened similar to one which occurred in May, and both of them may be considered as extraordinary. A shell from the lines fell upon the rock, above the Red sands, and glanced off in a direction nearly at right angles with its range: it rolled to the bottom of the Princess of Wales’s lines, burst on the platform of one of the 32-pounders, and a splinter cutting the apron of the gun, fired it off. The shot took away the railing at the foot of the glacis, and lodged in the line-wall near Ragged Staff. We observed, on the 16th, that the enemy, during the preceding night, had thrown up three banks of sand in zigzags, beginning at the centre of the fourth branch of approach, which seemed intended as a line of direction for a new communication to the St. Carlos’s battery. In the evening, the governor ordered the artillery to direct a brisk fire on this work, which was continued till davbreak ' «/ I of the 17th. The enemy returned the fire reluctantly, from a wish, as we imagined, not to increase ours. The next morning, we observed they had retained the sand thrown up the preceding night with casks; and from the materials seen in the vicinity of the works, other additions seemed intended to be made. At night, Crou-chett’s howitzer battery and Montague’s bastion were opened, and, with Willis’s, &c., were kept constantly going. About midnight the gun-boats, attended by a bomb-ketch, as we conjectured, came over, and, contrary to their former practice, directed their fire towards Willis’s, the lines, and north end of the town. So determined were they to land their shells, that one went over the rock, and many fell on the hill; and, in attempting to imitate us in bursting their shells in the air, several exploded in their mortars. They staid two hours and a half, and expended 130 shells and 87 shot, and their land batteries were not so sparing as the night before. We returned a smart fire on both sea and land, and retaliated on their camp, as usual. A shell, during the above attack, fell in an embrasure opposite the King’s lines bomb-proof, killed one of the 73rd, and wounded another of the same corps. The case of the latter was singular, and will serve to enforce the maxim, that, even in the most dangerous cases, we should never despair of a recovery whilst life remains. This unfortunate man was knocked down by the wind of the shell, which, instantly bursting, killed his companion, and mangled him in a most dreadful manner. His head was terribly fractured, his left arm broken in two places, one of his legs shattered, the skin and muscles torn off part of his right hand, the middle finger broken to pieces, and his whole body most severely bruised, and marked with gunpowder. He presented so horrid an object to the surgeons, that they had not the smallest hopes of saving his life, and were at a loss what part to attend to first. He was that evening trepanned, a few days afterwards his leg was amputated, and other wounds and fractures dressed. Being possessed of a most excellent constitution, nature performed wonders in his favour, and in eleven weeks the cure was completely effected. His name is Donald Ross, and he Ions: continued to enjoy his sovereign’s bounty in a pension of 9c?. a day for life. A non-commissioned officer of artillery also lost his thigh on Montague’s bastion ; and a private of the 12th regiment both his legs: the latter died soon after the amputation was performed.1781.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 87 The morning of the 18th. a deserter from the Spanish guards came in from the St. Carlos's battery. He was pursued by four of the enemy, but in vain. He gave information of the enemy's intention to erect some new batteries. About ten o'clock in the evening, a shell from the lines fell into a house opposite the King’s bastion, where the town-major, Captain Burke, with Majors Mercier and ATgnoles, of the 39th regiment, were sitting. The shell took otf Major Burke’s thigh, afterwards fell through the door into the cellar; there it burst, and forced the flooring, with the unfor-tunate major, to the ceiling. AV hen assistance came, they found Major Burke almost buried amongst the ruins of the room. He was instantly conveyed to the hospital, where he died soon after the wounded part was amputated, much lamented by his friends as an amiable and worthy member of society, and bv the governor as an indefatigable officer. Majors Mercier and Vignoles had time to escape before the shell burst: they were nevertheless slightly wounded bv the snlin-ters; as were a serjeant of the 39th, and his daughter, who were in the cellar underneath when the shell entered. This house had escaped almost untouched during the warmest period of the bombardment, till this unfortunate shell fell in, which deprived the garrison of this active and valuable officer. The enemy did not increase their works the succeeding day, but debouched the fourth branch of the approach about the centre. In the evening, the Helena and Kite, with a privateer, left the bay for England, and a schooner for Portugal. Lieut. Lowe, of the 12th, who had lost his leg, and the invalids, went home in the former. Our firing was increased at c? night by the Catalan batteries; and Crouchett’s was still kept open. The 20th. Captain Fowlis, of the 73rd, was appointed town-major. Our working parties were employed bv the engineers, on the 21st, in re- * _______ pairing Princess Caroline’s battery, at Willis's, which, owing to the spirited behaviour and example of the officers, was cleared, the caissons placed, filled, and the battery completed, before night, under a most heavy fire from the •r enemy. AV hen the work was finished, the party desired to give three cheers, but they were overruled by the captain of artillery, who recommended to salute the enemy with three rounds from each gun; which was immediately put in execution. The party had not a man materially hurt during the warm can-* • • • nonade; but, in returning to be dismissed, a serjeant of La Motte’s, who had braved the dangers of the day, was killed bv a random shot below the artillery guard. Our firing continued with great vivacity on the 22nd, particularly with small shells from the Koval battery, AV illis’s, and Montague's bastion. These were kept going in the day: and at night these batteries, with the Catalans, Crouchett’s, and batteries at the entrance of the lines, were in action. The enemy, in return, were not sparing of ammunition : in the preceding 24 hours thev fired 775 shot, ' ________ * and 57 shells. The garrison discharged 773 rounds of different species. The enemy’s new works were erected with casks, covered and retained by fascines, with sand in the front. About 200 men appeared to be employed in the day; but they were often compelled to retire, our ordnance was so well served and directed. The gun-boats, on the morning of the 24th, visited us as usual: and it was thought that a bomb-ketch again attended them. They pointed their fire principally towards the A’ictualling-office, in town, and \A illis’s: some shells fell in the New mole, but few ashore at the southward. AVe returned their fire, and retaliated from the Old mole on their camp. Early in the morning of the 25th, the fascine capping of the merlons of Fort Barbara took fire from the enemy’s guns, and burnt extremely fierce. The officer at AV illis’s immediately directed a brisk fire on the fort, which the go-vernor afterwards increased by opening the Grand battery. The firing, however, from the latter did not answer so well as was expected, owing, perhaps, to the unevenness of the platforms, which were of stone, and much worn. Nevertheless, the enemy were obligedS3 HISTORY OF THE rCHAP. V. to evacuate the fort without extinguishing the fire. At daybreak we saw only five fascine merlons standing; the other seven were all destroyed, with some gun-carriages, traverses on the rampart, and fascine-work in the ditch. We imagined that this accident would render the fort useless for some time ; but they convinced us that our conclusions were premature, by firing, probably out of bravado, a few shot in the course of the day, which killed one of the 58th, and wounded another. In the morning, about seven, the Flying-fish cutter, of 20 guns, arrived with ordnance stores and intrenching tools; she informed us that government had engaged 20 cutters, of her force, for the same purpose. A xebeque and four gun-boats opposed her passage, but in vain. The 26th, Lieut. Clarke, of the 56th, died of a decline. In the course of the day, the enemy began to clear Fort Barbara, and in the evening to lay fascines fa great number of which were in the neighbourhood of the fort) towards repairing it. Our fire continued to be well directed, and considerably annoyed them. The 27th, a man was discovered near Catalan bay, by the guard at Middle-hill. A party of the navy immediately went round, and took him up. He proved to be a deserter from the 72nd regiment; but the wretch was so famished with hunger, and so bruised in getting down the rock, that his life was despaired of. The 28th, the enemy capped two merlons of Fort Barbara. Their parties were very diligent in making gabions and fascines; the former, we imagined, were removed, as they were finished, to the lines and advanced works, as we had observed several behind the fourth and fifth branches of the approach. This circumstance, with their unusual activity in completing others, confirmed our late intelligence, that they intended additional batteries near the St. Carlos’s. The firing from the garrison now exceeded 700 rounds in the 24 hours; and the enemy frequently returned 800, and sometimes more. Our casualties consequently began again to be pretty frequent amongst our parties, which, in a great measure, was owing to the want of prudence in the men, who were become §o habituated to the enemy’s fire as scarcely to regard their shot; and in fact, if a shell were at their feet, it was almost necessary for the officers to caution them to avoid its effects. It was really wonderful to behold with what undaunted coolness they persisted in their several occupations, though exposed to the enemy’s whole artillery : indeed the generality appeared totally callous to every sense of danger. Both sides continued indefatigable in their operations. The enemy finished two or three merlons in Fort Barbara, erected traverses near the tower, in the rear of the new communication, and were continually bringing large quantities of fascines, &c. to the lines. On the other hand, our engineers caissoned the terrace batteries, replaced the sandbags before the merlons of the Queen’s battery, and had parties daily employed in repairs. The 30th, a soldier of the 72nd lost his legs by a shot from Fort Barbara, from which they continued occasionally to fire. He bore amputation with prodigious firmness, but died soon after, through the loss of blood, previous to his being brought to the hospital. This fact being represented to the governor, the serjeants of the different regiments were ordered to attend the hospital, to be taught by the surgeons how to apply the tourniquets; which was afterwards productive of very beneficial consequences. Tourniquets were also distributed to the different guards, to be at hand in case of necessity. The enemy for several days had made very little addition to the new communication, and the third return appeared still unfinished. A party of the enemy was however discovered from Willis’s, on the evening of the 1st of October, working to the west of the St. Carlos battery; and they persisting in their labour, our fire was increased from the batteries below, which brought on a warm return. At daybreak we observed, at the extremity of the new approach, a lame epaulment,1781.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 89 of forty-five gabions long, two in height, and four or five in breadth. On the top were several layers of sand-bags, and sand was banked up to protect it in front. It was situated within the western place d’armes of the St. Carlos’s battery, towards the beach, in a direction forming a very obtuse angle with the front of the above battery. Our engineers immediately agreed that this epaulment was intended for mortars ; which induced the governor, in the course of the 2nd, to order two embrasures (masked at the Old mole head, to cover the mortars which we usually fired into their camp) to be opened, and two howitzers to be kept in action from thence. At night, our firing at intervals was so astonishingly brisk, that the whole north front, from the rock gun to the Mole head, was obscured in smoke. This fire was continued, with little intermission, till daybreak; and though the enemy did not return it warmly, they made up for their silence the succeeding day. During the 24- hours they discharged 1263 rounds, and the preceding day 1948; which to us was a proof that they were considerably sailed by our fire. We had observed, for some weeks, a party of the enemy erecting a building upon an eminence near the stone quarry, under the Queen of Spain’s Chair, which at length turned out to be a signal tower; but no use was made of it till the beginning of this month, when we discovered that it was intended to give information to their batteries in the lines when our working-parties were going up the hill. On their marching up, the morning of the 3rd, a signal was made from the tower, and their batteries immediately increased their fire on the heights : on their return in the evening, the signal was repeated. This practice they continued for some time. At night, the body of a soldier of the 12th regiment, who attempted to swim to the enemy from Waterport, was discovered floating near the Repulse prame. The sailors on the watch, imagining some large fish had got foul of their cable, darted a harpoon into the body, but soon found out their mistake. The succeeding morning, we observed that the enemy had thrown up a cover from the eastern shoulder of the new battery to the western magazine of the St. Carlos’s : thev also raised a shoulder on the western extremity, and erected five traverses in the rear. Our firing, on the 4th, was ordered to be diminished; only Montague’s and the hill batteries were kept going: few shot were now used, as the enemy seemed to pay little attention to them ; and we had ocular proofs daily of the annoyance from the small shells, which immediately made them desist, and get under cover. The same day a mutiny was discovered on board his Majesty’s cutter the Speedwell, Lieut. Gibson ; and four of the ringleaders were seized and confined. The plan of this conspiracy was to murder the officers of the watch, cut the cable, and run away with the vessel to Algeziras, where they computed she would sell for a handsome sum, which was to be equally divided amongst the people interested, who were then to depart for England. Near half the crew were concerned ; and the same evening, if the wind continued favourable, the scheme was to have been put in execution. Happily one of the party (I believe a Spanish deserter) confessed in time to render the whole abortive. It was somewhat singular that Mr. Gibson had been so unfortunate, when in England, as to have the cutter he then commanded run away with by the crew into a French port, whilst he and his officers were ashore. The enemy, on the night of the 4th, threw up a line of casks and sand, extending upwards of 60 feet in a parallel line to the front of St. Carlos’s. Some additions were also made to the new battery. The raising of the former work induced many to believe that they were come at last to the determination of besieging the garrison in form ; and that this, with other works to be erected, would be the first parallel of attack. It was a lucky circumstance, in some respects, to have an enemy so tardy in their operations. Our troops were now accustomed, by six months’ bombardment, to the dis< charge and effect of heavy artillery90 HISTORY OF THE [chap. V their firing had pointed out our weak places, which the governor and engineers had been indefatigable in strengthening, so that the garrison was now really in a better state of defence than at the commencement of the bombardment. In the nights of the 5th and 6th, the parallel, as we called the line to the east, was extended about 100 feet, and the new mortar battery raised with fascines. Small traverses were also made in the rear of the new approach from the fourth branch. The gun and mortar boats had now been absent some time; probably owing to the repairs which the mortar boats necessarily demanded. On the evening of the 7th they, however, renewed their visit, much earlier than was customary, and staid upwards of two hours. Their shot seemed all directed at our prames, whilst their shells, the fuses of which were remarkably dark, were thrown ashore. They fired about 300 shot and 23 shells, killed one of the 73rd, and wounded two of the 12th. We returned 43 shot, 16 grape, and 279 shells. The 8tb, two mortars were mounted in the new mortar battery ; and from the pickets marked for the platforms, we concluded it would mount eight mortars. In the afternoon a shell fell into a house in town, in which Ensign Stephens, of the 39th, was sitting : imagining himself not safe where he was, he quitted the room to get to a more secure place ; but just as he passed the door the shell burst, and a splinter mortally wounded him in the reins, and another took off his leg. He was conveyed to the hospital, and had suffered amputation before the surgeons discovered the mortal wound in his bodv. He died about seven o’clock, much regretted as a promising young officer. The enemy’s parties appearing numerous within the new works, our firing from the garrison was increased on the 11th, and was as briskly returned. The governor, however, ordered the artillery to be less profuse in future, unless some casualty demanded an additional fire ; for their loss, he was of opinion, bore no proportion to our expenditure. Our small shells were also decreasing very fast; and the enemy appeared too well covered with traverses in the new works to be much annoyed by them. The succeeding day our fire scarcely exceeded a hundred rounds; and the enemy’s was equally diminished. Their naval force before Gibraltar at this time was rather insignificant, though perfectly sufficient for the blockade. Most of their xebeques had left the station, as we imagined, to block up Mahon ; and only one line-of-battle ship, one frigate, one xebeque, and two bomb-ketches, with the small craft and gun-boats, remained in the bay. The 13th, the governor ordered our lower batteries to be silent, in order to prove whether the enemy could be diverted from firing on the town, as their batteries, contrary to the usual practice of besiegers, seemed to be guided in a great measure by ours ; and the manoeuvre had the desired effect. Their parties were now employed chiefly in finishing the interior part of the new mortar battery. The garrison, on the 15th, fired only fortv rounds: and the enemy did not exceed double the number. The night of the 18th, they were heard hard at work; but this circumstance produced no additional fire from us, as our artillery had been limited to a certain quantity since the governor ordered the firing to decrease. The subsequent morning wre observed they had erected a battery, of six embrasures, joining the second branch of the new communication, and bearing on Waterport and the town, about 1200 yards from the Grand battery: only four merlons appeared finished; the other three were in a rude state, with a number of fascines, pickets, and planks lying about the work, and at the debouchure of the fourth branch. The governor, in the morning of the 19th, ordered a warm fire on the new battery, which the enemy instantly returned. One of our carcasses set fire to the first branch of the new approach, and it burnt for some time. The following morning we found they had removed the sand to extinguish the fire, and displaced many of the fascines, which, with other1781.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 91 materials, were lying in a confused manner in the vicinity of the breach. The night of the 20th, we were visited by the gun-boats; but their stay was much shorter than usual, owing to the springing up of a brisk easterly wind: one of their shells slightly wounded Assistant-engineer Evans. This attack, we imagined, was intended to engage our attention from the land side, where the enemy were heard busily at work; it had not, however, that effect, as our batteries directed an additional fire, and continued it the whole night. At daybreak we found they had repaired the breach made by the fire, and strengthened the merlons of their gun battery with gabions and sand heaped up in front. The situation of this battery afforded a more serious appearance than any operations yet undertaken by the enemy. Colonel Tovey, the commandant of artillery, therefore recommended to the governor to open upon it, without loss of time, from such heavy guns and howitzers as might be soon brought to bear upon it; assisted, at the same time, with some thirteen-inch shells, and a few red-hot shot from an eighteen-pounder or two. The following morning the enemy had almost completed the battery; the governor was therefore induced to comply with the representation of Colonel Tovey, and ordered the upper batteries, &c. to be opened on the enemy’s works, and to continue to fire from his direction. About four o’clock in the afternoon of the 22nd (a captain and two subalterns, with the artillery picket, manning the lower batteries) the firing commenced, and was continued with unremitting spirit and regularity the remainder of the evening and night. The enemy, in return, discharged repeated volleys from their lines; but to little purpose. Our artillery soon drove them from the battery, which frequently was set on fire by the carcasses, but extinguished. On the morning of the 23rd we had the mortification to find, that, notwithstanding the heavy fire kept up on it in the night, five of the embrasures were masked with sand-bags, to enable the whole better to resist the effect of our j shells. The work was nevertheless considerably damaged, though not in a degree equal to our expense in ammunition. The firing at noon was therefore ordered to cease, as we had expended 1596 shot, 530 shells (most of a heavy nature), 10 carcasses, and 2 light balls. It must appear almost incredible, that a battery at such a distance should be able to resist such heavy ordnance, without being levelled to the ground; but indeed few works were ever erected so strong and compact. The St. Carlos’s battery was silent the whole time; and from the lines they returned 1012 shot and 302 shells. Our loss was not very great; but on the enemy’s side, many were observed to fall, and several to be carried into the lines ; their gallantry, we may therefore imagine, cost them dear. The succeeding night they repaired the damage done by our fire, and erected two traverses in the rear of the gun battery; it is probable they were working also on the platforms; and during the two following nights they strengthened it with other additions. The 25th the enemy’s fire was rather singular. In the afternoon, about nine, their batteries, for near an hour and a half, discharged repeated salvos from both cannon and mortars; not directing their fire to any particular object, but scattering their shot in every direction towards the garrison, and bursting the shells principally in the air. In the afternoon, about three, this mode of firing was repeated, and continued nearly the same time. The 26th, Lieutenant Vicars, of the 56th, was slightly wounded in the lines. The night of the 29th, a brisk cannonade was heard towards the west; and soon after, by the moon, we discovered a cutter engaging a frigate, a xebeque, and several gun-boats. The cutter answered a signal made by the Brilliant at the commencement of the action, by which we knew her to be a friend. After the engagement had continued very warm for a considerable time, the firing ceased, and she was obliged to submit to so superior a force. The succeeding night, the Uni-92 HISTORY OF THE [chap. V corn cutter arrived, and four boats from Faro; the former informed us, that she parted company with several cutters bound for Gibraltar. The fruit, &c. brought in the Portuguese boats, was immediately purchased by the governor, for the use of the sick in the hospitals; and some of the crew were confined, being suspected to come as spies. The 31st, the enemy’s engineers were observed placing pickets to the westward of the six-gun battery; apparently with a view of extending that work. Since our last attack upon it, the firing on both sides was much diminished. In the course of the month, three men deserted from the garrison. The night of the 2nd of November, the signal was made for the approach of the enemy’s gun and mortar boats, which for some time had not paid us the regular visits they formerly did; owing, as I have remarked before, to the repairs which the boats must neces-sarilv demand; but the Vanguard and Repulse prames firing several shot, they retired. The 3rd, the Fortune prame, mounting five twenty-six pounders, was towed out, and moored to the southward of the Vanguard. The next day, about seven in the evening, 13 gun and 6 mortar boats fired briskly upon the garrison, seconded by the lines; they stayed near an hour and a half, and threw a vast number of shells; but few were directed towards our camp. Lieutenant John Frazer, of the 73rd, had his leg shot off on Montague’s bastion ; and Lieutenant Edgar, of the 56th, was wounded with splinters of stones. Two of the 58th and 73rd were likewise wounded. The enemy continued, on the 6th and 7th, to make some few alterations, and collect fascines, gabions, and other materials at their lines, and various parts of the approaches. The parallel they also strengthened; but the six - gun battery still remained masked with sand-bags. As it appeared of greater consequence, at this period, to annoy the enemy from the Queen’s battery at the Old mole head, which formed an excellent cross-fire with the other batteries, than to fire into their camp, the mortars used for the latter purpose were removed, and the masked embrasures at the extremity, with two others adjoining, were ordered to be opened, and so altered as to admit of four howitzers bearing on the new battery. During the night of the 11th, the enemy erected an additional battery of six embrasures, westward of the other, where the pickets were observed at the close of last month. This work was retired a few yards, but joined the extremity of the shoulder of the old battery, and extended almost in the same direction towards the beach. It appeared very strong, and seemed to be intended against the Old mole head and Waterport. During the night of the 12th, many signals were made in the Gut and along the coast. In the morning we observed a cutter standing for the bay: a xebeque and three gun-boats attempted to intercept her, but she got in without firing a gun. She was called the Phce-nix, and was laden, on government account, with ordnance stores. Colonel Ross, who had left the garrison some months before, was a passenger, and returned to take the command of his regiment, the 72nd, or Royal Manchester Volunteers. The lieutenant who commanded the cutter, informed us that he parted company wfith two others, destined for the garrison, on the 11th; at which time one of them was engaged with two of the enemy’s cruisers. In the afternoon some signals were made at Algeziras ; and a cutter was observed standing in for the bay, chased by a frigate; whence we consequently concluded it must be one of the two mentioned by the Phoenix. At this time • several gun-boats were cruising off Cabrita Point and at the entrance of the bay, waiting to intercept her. In the Straits the wind was W., but N. W. in the bay, and not very strong. About six in the evening she came up with the gun-boats and an armed xebeque : a smart engagement immediately commenced. Whilst she was retarded by these, a second division of gun-boats from Algeziras cut her off from the garrison ; and the frigate1781.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR 93 coming up, after a most vigorous and resolute resistance, she struck. When she first appeared, six barges were ordered from our frigates to assist her, and a signal was hoisted on board the Brilliant, which she answered. The boats rowed out a considerable way, and, the evening being dark, found themselves amongst the enemy’s gunboats, from whom, with some difficulty, they extricated themselves. The subsequent morning we had the mortification to see the cutter towed into Algeziras by five gun-boats, with colours flying, and other marks of exultation and triumph. The enemy about this time adopted the mode of cutting the fuses of their shells, so that most of them which were fired for a long range burst in the air. They continued their practice of making signals at the tower above the Quarry, whenever our parties were assembled, or appeared at work: and the shot were in general better directed than before; but their effects against the works were considerably weakene d by pieces of junk hung over the merlons of the batteries. Our workmen were chiefly employed at Willis’s, in repairing the Tower battery, &c., and at the Old mole. Other detachments were also engaged in various duties on the north front. The night of the 15th, the enemy lengthened the parallel considerably, and, the succeeding night, made further additions. In the forenoon of the lGth, a long-ranged shell, from the St. Carlos’s battery, burst in the air over Hardy Town, and a splinter of it flew into the sea, beyond Buena Vista, a distance of more than three miles. Another shell fell, in the course of the morning, at the foot of a wine-house, south of the barracks ; and several burst high in the air over South shed. We attributed these uncommon long ranges to the force of the wind, which, blowing in the same direction in which the shells were thrown, undoubtedly increased their velocity. Mr. Tinling, assistant-engineer, was wounded the same day at Willis’s. A boat arrived on the 18th from Faro : the crew were separately examined, before they were per- I mitted the liberty of the garrison. The patron of this boat informed us, that seven cutters, destined for Gibraltar, had been taken by the Spaniards. Two deserters came in, about seven in the evening of the 20th ; one a corporal, the other a private in the Walon guards. The former appeared to be very intelligent, and informed us of many circumstances with which we were not before acquainted. The new mortar battery, he said, was called St. Paschal’s ; and corroborated our intelligence, that it mounted two mortars and six elevated guns. The two six-gun batteries were named St. Martin’s. He further acquainted us, that the camp was principally composed of militia regiments: that the men were much dissatisfied with their situation, and greatly harassed in raising the ad-! ditional batteries : that they had suffered lately very severe losses from our fire; particularly instancing the 22nd and 23rd of the preceding month, when 7 officers and 80 men were killed and wounded. One of the latter was an engineer of rank, who died three days afterwards. We had remarked, in the course of the above firing, an officer to be particularly active, which we now found to be this engineer: he braved, for a considerable time, the dangers of the day, but at length fell, and was carried off. This deserter gave tli^ governor further information, respecting the strength and arrangement of their guards ; and the next morning was conducted to Willis’s, where he described to him various parts of the enemy’s works and camp. It had always been customary for the governor to detain the deserters at the convent a few days, till he was sufficiently informed of every particular; but these he immured so close, that, excepting some general information, the garrison had an opportunity of learning but few circumstances, till an event took place, which will presently be related. The firing from both sides varied as objects offered. Many of the enemy’s shells ranged as far as the South barracks ; and others, agreeably to their newly-adopted plan, burst in the air94 HISTORY OF THE [CHAP. V. The morning of the 22nd, a soldier of the 58th regiment, who had been missing several days, was seen to go into Fort Barbara, from behind the rock. The following day the enemy mounted guns in the St. Martin’s battery ; and a party was employed in completing the six eastern embrasures, which were now unmasked. We kept upon them our usual fire of small shells from Willis’s and the upper batteries; but the lower ordnance were silent. In the course of the day the governor reconnoitred the enemy’s works; and it was reported that all the batteries were to be again opened upon them, as soon as the four embrasures for the howitzers, at the Old mole head, were completed. The night of the 23rd, the besiegers added to the parallel a return of cask-work to the west: it appeared very slight and trifling. The two succeeding days, their parties were very active in finishing the batteries, which, on the 26th, exhibited a perfect and formidable appearance. This was the crisis which the governor considered as proper to frustrate all their immediate views, by destroying these stupendous works, the construction of which had cost them such immense labour and expense. By the deserters who came in on the 20th instant, lie was acquainted wfith the inactivity which prevailed throughout the ene-^piy’s camp, and with the strength of their advanced guards. Lulled into security by their superiority of force, they never suspected the garrison capable of attempting so bold and hazardous a coup-de-main. The governor, however, secretly conceived this important design, and never imparted his intention till the evening in which it was put in execution. The gates were no sooner shut, after first gun-firing, on the evening of the 26th, than he ordered a considerable detachment to assemble on the Red sands at midnight, with devils, fire-faggots, and working implements, to make a sortie on the enemy’s batteries. The general, field, and other officers to be employed on this service, were convened in the interim, and the disposition of attack communicated ; but, lest some matters might have escaped him in the multiplicity of arrangements, the governor desired every person to propose, without restraint, whatever would, in his or their opinion, further promote the success of the enterprise. The following are the heads of the orders issued on this occasion. “ Evening Garrison Orders. “ Gibraltar, Nov. 26, 1781. “ Countersign, Steady. “All the grenadiers and light infantry of the garrison, and all the men of the 12th and Hardenberg’s regiments, officers, and non-commissioned officers now on duty, to be immediately relieved, and join their regiments: to form a detachment, consisting of the 12th and Hardenberg’s regiments complete, the grenadiers and light-infantry of all the other regiments (which are to be completed to their full establishment from the battalion companies) ; 1 captain, 3 lieutenants, 10 non-commissioned officers, and 100 artillery and 3 engineers, 7 officers, and 12 non-commissioned officers overseers, with 160 workmen from the line, and 40 workmen from the artificer company. Each man to have 36 rounds of ammunition, wfith a good flint in his piece, and another in his pocket. No drums to go out, excepting two with each of the regiments. No volunteers will be allowed. The w’hole to be commanded by Brigadier-General Ross ; and to assemble on the Red sands at twelve o’clock this night, to make a sortie upon the enemy’s batteries. The 39th and 58th regiments to parade at the same hour on the Grand parade, under the command of Brigadier-General Picton, to sustain the sortie if necessary.” These were the principal orders for forming the detachment. At midnight the whole were assembled, and being joined by 100 sailors, commanded by Lieuts. Muckle and Campbell, R.N., the detachment was divided into three columns, agreeably to the following disposition.1781.1 SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 95 Left Column. Lieut.-Col. Trigge. Right Column. Lieut.-Col. Hugo. o. s. d. 72nd grenadiers 4* 5 0 72nd It. infantry 4 5 0 Sailors,with an ) o on engineer ... V 6 0 Artillery .... 1 40 12th regiment 26 28 2 58th It. infantry 3 3 0 r- %f 101 101 100 35 430 57 Centre Column. Lieut.-Col. Daclmnhausen and Major Maxwell. The Reserve. 39th grenadiers 0. 3 S. r. iff. 3 39th It. infantry 3 3 57 73rd grenadiers 4 5 101 73rd It. infantry 4 5 lul Engineer with 7 6 14 150 workmen . . j Artillery 2 4 40 56th grenadier 3 3 57 58th grenadiers 3 3 57 28 40 620 o. s. d, Reden’s grena-7 ,, diers . . . i 4 La Motte’sgre- ~ nadiers. . . 5 ' Engineer with 7 4 0 workmen... ( Artillery .... 1 20 Hardenberg’s 7 j. Q4 o regiment. . ( ~ 56th It. infantry 3 3 0 r.tff. 71 71 50 25 296 57 41 48 2 824 30 59 2 510 In these columns, Brigadier Ross, and several officers who accompanied him as aides-de-camp, are not included, which will explain the difference between them and the annexed summary of the whole force of the garrison at this time. Total out with the sortie Sick in hospital....... Remaining in garrison . 1 3 3 26 60 14 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 5 5 5 45 71 31 3 <57 s o 3 0 0 2 147 4 0 0 0 0 28 6 7 8 9 14 266 181 <3 jcqg I Exclusive of the sailor? no, 25)1 1 from the frigates. Total streugth of the'| garrison before the > 6 8 8 72 132 46 3 10 8 9 16 441 191 5002 Total strength, 5952. sortie...............) The detachment being formed in three lines, the right column in the rear, and the left in the front, tools for demolishing the works were delivered to the workmen, and the following directions for their destination communicated to the principal officers. “ The right column to lead and march through Forbes’s barrier, for the extremity of the parallel; keeping the eastern fences of the gardens close on their left. The centre immediately to follow, marching through Bay-side barrier, and directing their route through the gardens for the mortar batteries. The left column to bring up the rear, marching along the strand for the gun batteries. No person to advance before the front, unless ordered by the officer commanding the column: and the most profound silence to be observed, as the success of the enterprise may depend thereon. The 12th and Hardenberg’s regiments to form in front of the works, as sustaining corps; and are to detach to the rurht and left, as occasion may require. The reserve to take post in the farthest gardens. When the works are carried, the attacking troops are to take up their ground in the following manner. The grenadiers of Reden’s and La Motte’s behind the parallel; the 39th and 73rd Rank companies along the front of the fourth branch; and the 72nd grenadiers and light infantry with their right to the fourth branch, and left to the beach.” By the time the destination of the columns was made known to the different officers, and other arrangements had taken place, the morning of the 27th was far advanced ; and as the moon had then nearly finished her nightly course, the detachment, about a quarter before three o’clock, began its march, by tiles from the right of the rear line for the attack. Although nothing could exceed the silence and attention of the troops, the enemy’s advanced sentries discovered the right column before they passed Forbes’s barrier, and after challenging, fired upon them.96 HISTORY OF THE [chap. V. Lieut.-Col. Hugo, finding they were alarmed, immediately formed the attacking corps, and pushed on at a brisk pace for the extremity of the parallel; there finding no opposition, he took possession, and the pioneers began to dismantle the works. Part of Hardenberg’s regiment, which was attached to this column, mistook the route of the grenadiers, owing to the darkness of the morning; and in pursuing their own, found themselves, before they discovered their error, in front of the St. Carlos’s battery. In this dilemma, no other alternative offered but pressing forwards, which they gallantly did, after receiving the enemy’s fire. Upon mounting the parapet, the enemy precipitately retreated, and with great difficulty they descended the stupendous work, forming with their left to the tower. They were thus situated, when Lieut.-Col. Dachenhausen, at the head of the 39th flank companies, entered the St. Carlos’s battery, and na-turally mistaking them for his opponents, fired, and wounded several. Further mischief was however prevented by the countersign; and the Hanoverians joined the remainder of their corps, which now formed en potence, in front of the parallel. The 73rd flank companies were equally successful in their attacks; and Lieut.-Col. Trigge, with the grenadiers, and light company of the 72nd regiment, carried the gun batteries with great gallantry. The ardour of the assailants was irresistible. The enemy on every side gave way, abandoning in an instant, and with the utmost precipitation, those works which had cost them so much expense, and employed so many months to perfect. When our troops had taken possession, the attacking corps formed, agreeably to their orders, to repel any attempt which the enemy might make to prevent the destruction of the works, whilst the 12th regiment took post in front of the St. Carlos’s battery, to sustain the western attack ; and the reserve, under Major Maxwell, drew up in the farther gardens. The exertions of the workmen and artillery were wonderful. The batteries were soon in a state for the fire-faggots to operate; and the flames spread with astonishing rapidity into every part. The column of fire and smoke which rolled from the works, beautifully illuminated the 7 V troops and neighbouring objects, forming altogether a coup-d’ueil not possible to be described. In an hour the object of the sortie was fully effected; and trains being laid to the magazines, Brigadier Ross ordered the advanced corps to withdraw, and the sustaining regiments to cover their retreat: but, bv some over-sight, the barrier at Forbes’s was locked, after the flank companies had returned ; which might have proved of serious consequences to Hardenberg’s regiment, as they were, from that circumstance, under the necessity of fol-lowing the 12th regiment through Bay-side barrier.* Several small quantities of powder took fire whilst the detachment was on its retreat; and just as the rear had got within the garrison, the principal magazine blew up with a tremendous explosion ; throwing up vast pieces of timber, which, falling into the flames, added to the general conflagration. Although the enemy must have been early alarmed, not the smallest effort was made to save or avenge their works. The fugitives seemed to communicate a panic to the whole; and, instead of annoying our troops from the flanking forts, their artillery directed a ridicu-lous fire towards the town and our upper batteries, whence we continued a warm and well-served discharge of round shot on their forts and barrier. Only 2 officers and 16 privates were taken prisoners; and little opposition being made, very few were killed in the works. The guard, from the best information, consisted of one captain, three subalterns, and 74 privates, including the artillerv. Thus was this important attack executed beyond the most sanguine expec- * It was not a little singular, that these two regiments, which at the memorable battle of Minden had fought by each other’s side, and, according to the natural course of events, could never expect to meet again, should be employed a second time on the same occasion, and be the only entire regiments out.1781.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 97 tations of every one. The event challenges greater admiration, when we reflect that the batteries were distant near three-quarters of a mile from the garrison, and only within a few hundred yards of a besieging enemy's lines, mounting 135 pieces of heavy artillery. The detachment had four privates killed; Lieut. Tweedie, of the 12th regiment, with 24 non-commissioned and privates, wounded ; and one missing, supposed to be left wounded on the batteries. Of this number, Harden-berg’s regiment had two killed and 12 wounded. The ordnance spiked in the enemy’s works amounted to 10 13-inch •/ mortars, and 18 26-pounders. General Eliott’s anxiety on the occasion would not permit him to wait the issue within the garrison; but, acquainting the lieutenant-governor with his intention, he accompanied the sortie, and expressed the highest approbation of their behaviour by the following public orders: that “ the bravery and conduct of the whole detachment, officers, sailors, and soldiers, on the glorious occasion, surpassed liis utmost acknowledgments.” Although the attack was not totally exempted from those little derangements which naturally attend night expeditions of this nature, yet, to the honour of the whole, neither musket, working-tool, nor other implement, was left behind : a volunteer indeed of the 73rd regiment lost his kilt in the attack, which the governor being acquainted with, promised him a substitute in return; and not long afterwards presented him with a commission in an established corps. When our troops entered the batteries, the written report of the commanding officer was found in one of the splinter-proofs, which, when the guard was relieved, was intended to have been sent to the Spanish general. The report expressed, that “ nothing extraordinary had happened,” which, it must be acknowledged, the captain had been a little premature in writing. Before the detachment returned from the neutral ground, Lieut.-Col. Tovey, of the artillery, died. He was succeeded by Major Lewis in the command of that department. The night of the 27th, the enemy were alarmed with an explosion in the ruins of their batteries; and immediately directed a smart discharge of musketry, with round and grape-shot, toward the spot. We imagined they suspected that we had made a second sally, to finish the destruction of what remained; and their error probably would have continued some time, had they not been undeceived by our throwing a shell amongst the ruins; after which they instantly ceased. By the number of lights seen in their camp, we had reason to conclude that their army assembled on the alarm. The enemy had not yet thought proper to take any measures toward extinguish-mg the flames, but avenged themselves by a brisk cannonade upon the town. In their camp several men were executed, who probably might be some or the unfortunate actors in the late disgrace. The 30th, their batteries continued burning in five different places: when they ceased to smoke, the works seemed completely destroyed ; nothing but heaps of sand remaining. Five dismounted mortars could be seen in the St. Carlos’s battery from the summit of the rock; one gun also in St. Paschal’s, and three in the St. Martin’s. At night we fired several rounds of grape at their horse-patroles, which, since their late misfortune, appeared more numerous than before. 98 HISTORY OF THE [chap. vt. CHAPTER VI. The Spaniards determine to restore their batteries—Establish several defensive posts—Repair their works, but are considerably retarded by the garrison—Description of a new invented depressing gun-carriage—Gallant behaviour of the Mercury, ordnance-ship—The Vernon store-ship arrives with several gun-boats, in frames; also the Cerberus and Apollo frigates, with a reinforcement of men—Singular quality of quick sight in two boys belonging to the garrison—Spaniards resolve to make a vigorous attack upon Gibraltar, under the command of the Due de Crillon—Begin to convert large vessels into battering-ships at Algeziras— A party of Corsicans arrive, and offer to act as volunteers in the garrison during the siege —Enemv’s army reinforced—Unfortunate accident in a magazine at Willis’s—A strong ie-inforcement of French troops joins the enemy’s army—The Due de Crillon assumes the command of the combined forces; and the besiegers' batteries for some time are silent. The Spaniards for several days appeared totally at a loss how to act after their recent disgrace. Their batteries continued in flames, nor were any attempts made to extinguish the fire. In the beginning of December, however, they seemed as if suddenly roused from their reverie; upwards of 1000 men were at work making fascines, &c., for which purpose large quantities of brushwood were collected from the country. From these operations we concluded that they were resolved to restore their works, when sufficient materials were prepared. The 1st of December, a flag of truce brought letters from the English prisoners lately captured in the cutters bound to the garrison. Not a syllable was mentioned by the Spanish officer of the late transaction; nor did he even inquire whether we had taken any prisoners. As we had observed the enemy to post strong guards in the stone guard-houses on the neutral ground, particularly in the centre one, the governor ordered the artillery to endeavour to dislodge them. Answers were returned, on the 2nd, to the letters brought the preceding day : letters also were sent from the prisoners taken in the sortie to their friends in camp. The Spanish officer, on receiving the letters, appeared much surprised, put them in his pocket, but was silent* and the boats parted. One of the officers taken prisoner was the Baron Von Helmstadt, an ensign in the Walon guards, with the rank of captain: the other was Don Vincente Freese, a lieutenant of artillery. The baron was dangerously wounded in the knee, and, not without many intreaties, submitted to amputation. When the surgeons first informed him that this operation was absolutely unavoidable, he resolutely opposed it: amputation, he said, very seldom succeeded in Spain; besides, he was then betrothed in marriage to a lady, and would rather risk his life than present himself before her with only one les. The governor, J o o being told this determination, immediately visited the baron, and used every argument to persuade him to comply. His mistress, the general said, must undoubtedly esteem him the more for the honourable wound which he had received in the service of his country; and, as to the operation being fatal, he might almost assure himself of a certain recoverv. since, in the manv simi-lar cases which had occurred in the garrison during the siege, our surgeons had been generally successful: and to convince him by ocular proof, ordered several mutilated convalescents into the room. This generous attention of the governor had a powerful effect on the baron, who, no longer able to resist his importunities, at length consented to the operation. The enemy, •/ '1761.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR 99 the night of the 3rd, repaired the damage done to the third branch of approach ; and did some trilling work at the fourth branch. The next day a flag of truce from the enemy brought letters of thanks from the Spanish general, Don Martin Alvarez, and the Walon guards, to the governor, for the humanity shown to the prisoners taken in the batteries. In the boat came some poultry for the wounded baron: also clothes and money for the officers. Their guards in the lines now appeared to be about SCO infantry, with 100 artillery; besides 60 or 70 cavalry for patroles. The governor, on the 5th, ordered that “ no officer of the line, commanding at a post, should interfere in the mode of loading, pointing, or firing the cannon. If at any time he judged it necessary to fire upon the enemy, he was to point out the object to the artillery, and submit it to their opinion, whether it was practicable or not.” The morning of the 7th, a cutter appeared from the west, and, after an obstinate action with the enemv's gun-boats, was obliged to strike. In this engagement we observed that the enemy had made some alterations in the construction of their boats, which before would not allow the guns to be depressed. Notwithstanding our fire, the enemv * seemed determined to establish themselves at the centre stone guard-house, round which, on the night of the 7th, they made a trench, and also lined with fascines part of the fourth branch of approach. Our firing continued to vary as their operations were more or less noticed; in the day we directed it principally to parties observed near the tower, and at night to the centre guard-house; against which they had heaped up sand, and continued every evening to make other additions.— The garrison at this period was so extremely sickly, that a hundred men were curtailed from the working parties; and the officers' servants, with others who usually were exempted from these duties, were ordered to assist, to lessen the fatigue of their comrades. Near 700 were at this time on our hospital lists.—The Unicorn cutter sailed, in the night of the 12th, with dispatches for England: and the following even-ing, the Pheenix, with duplicates. The operations of the enemy seemed now entirely defensive. The western stone guard-house on the beach was unroofed in the same manner as the centre guard-house, and strengthened O # 7 o with sand; with a trench dug round at some distance in the front. We imagined that strong guards were stationed every night at these posts, to protect their remaining works. The evening of the 16tli, about ten o’clock, one of the enemy's advanced sentries, near Bay-side, fired his musket: which was taken up by others in the gardens, and the alarm spread to the lines, and thence to the camp. Lights were immediately observed moving about, and the drums beat to arms. After some hours' confusion they were calm and quiet. Their works, particularly the St. Paschal's battery, continued to smoke in several places, on the 18th. No ordnance could now be seen in any of the batteries : their fire was rather smart, but no particular object seemed to engage their notice. Brigadiers Ross and Green were appointed, in the orders of the 20th, to be major-generals in the army; and the next evening General Ross sailed in a boat for Faro, on his return to England. General Green some time afterwards received a letter of service, and Lieutenant Hollowav, his brigade-major, was appointed his aide-de-camp. The same dav a flag of truce brought over several letters, with money and clothes for the prisoners. At night, the enemy extended the fourth branch in the same direction, toward the western stone guard-house; and several pickets were driven, and fascines laid in the ruins of the batteries, in order to retain the sand, and prevent it being washed down by the rains. The night of the 23rd they raised an epaulment on the top of the centre guard-house, and finished the first line of the new approach from the fourth branch. Two soldiers of Hardenberg’s and H 2100 HISTORY OF THE [chap. VI. the 72nd regiment, on the 25th, attempted to desert by a rope from Mount Misery: the former got down, though the rope broke ; which accident was the cause of the latter being retaken. A few days after, a sergeant of the artificers was ordered to reconnoitre the place where this deserter descended; and he got down far enough to discover the unfortunate man dashed to pieces at the foot of the precipice. The night of the 27th the enemy made several additions to the centre guard-house. The Baron Von Helmstadt being dangerously ill about this period (not in consequence of the amputation he had undergone, but from some inward malady), flags of truce were daily passing and repassing to inform his friends of his dangerous situation. The 28th, the baron died; | and the following day his body was carried to the New mole, accompanied by the grenadiers of the 12th regiment, with the usual honours of war, where two barges waited to convey it to the enemy’s camp. The governor, and principal officers in the garrison, with Don Vincente, attended the ceremony. The fowls and other refreshments sent by his friends, with the money not used by the baron in his sickness, were also returned, to the most minute article. The enemy, on the night of the 30th, added to the trench in front of the centre guard-house, which, a few evenings before, they had altered from its original form. Our engineers the same night erected a blind of canvas, &c., in front of Princess Anne’s battery (Willis’s), which the engineers afterwards cais-soned, when their fire became less warm on this new object. Another was afterwards placed before the Princess Amelia’s, for the same purpose. The materials with which the works at the northward were now repaired, were collected from the coal-ships that had been run ashore in the New mole after Admiral Darby’s departure. The sides of these vessels were cut op, under the direction of the engineers, into large solid pieces, of such form and dimension as the purpose dictated to which they were to be applied. Of these ma- terials the batteries at Willis’s were at this time formed; the angles being connected and secured by strong knees and bolts having transverse pieces within, which were also kneed. When the caissons for the merlons were thus framed, they were filled in the front with layers of junk, and sand-bags behind. The height of the merlons was between ten and eleven feet; and the upper parts were supported by strong beams across the embrasures, forming hoods (as the engineers called them) over the muzzles of the cannon : these hoods were three feet deep, and extended about six feet in length over the embrasures ; by which improvements the guns were preserved from being broken by the shells in their descent, and the artillery-men on duty were well co-vered. The solid construction of these new works, and the adoption of a similar mode in repairing the other defences of the garrison, will account, in a great measure, for the general casualties of the troops not being so numerous as might otherwise be expected ; and, to evince the permanence of them, no other proof, I imagine, need be adduced, than that upward of 100 shot-holes have been plugged up in the front of one merlon, and yet the battery was not materially damaged.* Two ordnance-ships arrived in the course of December. As we are now arrived at the close of the year, it may not be impertinent to insert a return of casuals, from the 12th of April to the 31st of December, 1781, that the reader may have an idea of our general loss in that period. * When the enemy’s proceedings afterwards rendered some alterations necessary in the works at Willis’s, the ship timber was found very useful in further securing the upper batteries, and in protecting our artillery. The height of the parapets permitted the engineers to erect splinter-proofs between the guns, of curved pieces of timber cut from the bottom of a ship, which were placed against the breasts of the merlons, and made bomb-proof by layers of sand-bags, which also formed a traverse across the battery. By these addi tions the communications between the ordnance were covered, and the batteries well traversed against the enemy’s eastern enfilade-fire.SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 101 Killed and dead of wounds Disabled....................... Wounded........................ The new year’s day of 1782 was remarkable for an action of gallantry which is worthy of being rescued from oblivion. An officer of artillery at Willis’s, observing a shell falling to-wards the place where he stood, got behind a traverse for protection; which he had scarcely done, ere it fell into the traverse, and instantly entangled him m the rubbish: one of the guard, named Martin, observing his distress, generously risked his own life in defence of his officer, and ran to extricate him : but, finding his own efforts ineffectual, called for assistance: when another of the guard joining him. they relieved the officer from his situation; and almost at the same instant the shell burst, and levelled the traverse to the ground. Martin was afterwards promoted, and rewarded by the governor, who at the same time told him •• he should equally have noticed him for relieving his comrade.” Several simi-lar instances of heroism occurred during the siege, all of which were equally honourable to the garrison. The enemy persevered in carrying on their works : the centre guard-house now began to assume a regular figure. The ditch formed three sides of a hexagon, extending to the rear in obtuse angles with the front; and the fascine parapet, joining the building, was lengthened each way. Materials continued to be daily brought down to the lines and advanced works. Their workmen were however considerably annoyed, in repairing the fourth and fifth branches of the approach, from the Old mole head and Montague’s bastion. The ship St. Philip's Castle, in government service, arrived on the 4th from Mahon, with dispatches from General Murray: on board her came several prisoners taken by that general in a sally made from Fort St. Philip’s. The enemy endeavoured to cut her off* from the bay, but could not accoui- o 3 e 5 ~ Total. w zn — o O 10 1 IOS 122 2 1 36 46 13 22 6 359 400 li it. She returned to Minorca on the 10th. Since their army had landed at Minorca, the enemy’s attention to the eastward was visibly abated; nor did thev make so many signals from the tower on the Queen of Spain's C hair as had been their custom formerly. The subsequent evening, our prames made the signal for the approach of the gun-boats : an easterly wind however springing up, they threw up their rockets, and retired. We could not otherwise account for their not firing in an easterly wind, than by imagining they were apprehensive of some accident in their magazines, which, being in the stern of the boat, might run some danger of being blown up by the sparks from the discharge of their ordnance. The night of the 7th, beside making additions to the centre guard-house, the enemy debouched from the fifth branch, and dug a trench about fifteen or twenty yards towards the east. A court of inquiry, on the Sth, sat on Antonio Juanico, the spy who was discovered in the Faro boat: and some time afterwards he was ordered to prepare for execution. The governor however at last pardoned him. The enemy, about this time, removed several guns from the camp to the lines, taking others back. Most of their cannon (we had reason to imagine for some time past) had been greatlv damaged bv the firing; as the shot, at periods, were observed not to ffy with the same velocity as at first. The last deserter said they had spoiled three sets of guns from the commencement of the bombardment. In the night of the 9tli, they raised the epaulment joining the centre guard-house; and opened four embrasures, two on each side of the building. Thev were all masked with fascines, and appeared solely for defence. The night of the 12th, the enemy formed a trench from i the debouchure of the fifth branch, to102 HISTORY OF THE ^CIIAP. VI. the front of the ruins of the St. Carlos’s battery, toward the western beach: part of it was lined with fascines. They also raised a place d’armes on the east flank of the St. Carlos’s battery, joining the fifth branch. At night sailed the Henry and Mercury ordnance-ships to the westward. Don Vincente Freese went passenger in the former for England, with the prisoners taken in our sortie, and those sent by General Murray. About the 14th or 15th, the enemy raised another place d’armes on the west flank of the St. Carlos’s batterv, and joining the ruins of the St. Paschal’s battery; and the subsequent evening strengthened and capped it with fascines. In the night, signals were made in the Gut, and at daybreak two cutters appeared at the entrance of the bay; but the wind blowing somewhat northerly, and dying away, they were driven to leeward by the current: a frigate and 11 gun-boats from Algeziras immediately gave chase, and soon after they were joined by a frigate and xebeque from Ceuta. The cutters finding it impossible to make the bay, and observing the force of their pursuers, prudently crowded sail to the eastward. In the afternoon some of the gun-boats got within range, and a few rounds were exchanged; but the wind freshen-ing towards sunset, the cutters evidently left the enemy considerably astern. When night prevented us from continuing our observations, they had indeed gained such a distance, that we did not in the least doubt but they would escape. The enemy had made, for several preceding evenings, considerable additions to the centre redoubt; and on the night of the 17th, they raised a work embracing each extremity of the fascine-ditch which was in the front of it: this post now appeared finished. They likewise raised and threw sand in front of the place d’armes, and brought vast quantities of different materials to their advanced works. Their firing was not at this period remarkable; but as they directed their ordnance principally among our working parties on the hill, we experienced a few casualties. Our batteries in return were well served: and the fire pointed to all quarters. In the morning of the 18th, just after gunfiring, signals were made from the enemy’s advanced w orks, which were repeated to their camp. The batteries at the same time kept up a brisk fire, all in a low direction. This gave us reason to think they were apprehensive of another sortie : and the following morning the four embrasures in the centre redoubt were unmasked, and animated with four howitzers; and a considerable number of troops left the lines soon after daybreak : all which circumstances served to countenance our conjecture. In the evening of the 20th, the artillery at Willis's discovered a party of the enemy erecting a line of communication from the fourth branch to the centre redoubt. The Old mole head and Montague’s were immediatelv opened on them in addition to the upper batteries ; and we plied them so briskly, that the party was obliged to retire about midnight, leaving the work, as the morning evinced, in great confusion. The subsequent night, notwith standing our fire, they raised and strengthened the new communication. In this duty they were well covered by a brisk fire from the lines ; and which, from the repeated volleys discharged, afforded room to thi..k that their workmen had suffered materially the night before. The night of the 23rd they repaired the parapet of the St. Carlos’s battery nine fascines in height, and began to rebuild the magazine in the rear. Great quantities of fascines, &c. were in and about the battery. The succeeding afternoon, about four o’clock, the governor opened the lower batteries on this w’ork, and our fire was exceedingly well served for some hours. The carcasses several times set fire to the fascines, but the enemy as frequently extinguished it. At first their batteries returned our fire sparingly ; but receiv-! ing a reinforcement of artillery-men from the camp, the cannonade became warm on both sides. Our lower batteries ceased in the evening. The next day the governor renewed his endeavours to burn these works. The carcasses were equally successful as the1782 ) felEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 103 preceding day, but their guards and workmen soon extinguished the fire. The Spanish lines returned the cannonade with great vivacity, having in the twenty-four hours discharged 1045 shot and 83 shells : our batteries diminished their fire about four in the afternoon. The carcasses used by the artillery on this occasion were made of the enemy’s blind shells, in which were perforated three large holes, and the cavity filled with composition. They were found to answer extremely well; some of them burning fresh a quarter of an hour after the enemy had smothered them with sand, which was the mode they adopted to put them out. We observed, on the 27th, four large piles of fascines at the eastern extremity of the parallel. We were not at all at a loss to guess their meaning in placing these fascines to the eastward; as it was evident that they wished to draw otf our attention as much as possible from the St. Carlos’s battery. The manoeuvre did not however answer. The following evening, about ten o’clock, arrived the two cutters which had been pursued by the enemy’s cruisers to the eastward: the largest of them, called the Viper, was of 460 tons burthen, mounted 28 guns, and was esteemed the largest vessel of her kind ever built: the other was the Lively of 14 efi 3 qj o J-4 o OJ X O Q A 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 A 0 6 0 0 0 1 1 0 9 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 5 12 2 86 0 0 I 1 4 1 26 0 2 2 4 6 2 88 0 1 1 G 4 2 40 0 0 1 2 4 1 29 0 0 0 1 2 0 12 0 0 0 i 2 0 15 0 0 0 1 2 0 9 0 0 0 1 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 1 1 0 6 0 0 0 1 1 0 9 0 0 0 9 0 0 18 0 0 0 13 0 I 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 6 2 50 0 0 1 1 4 1 50 0 1 1 1 2 1 30 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 2 32 0 0 1 1 I 1 20 0 0 1 1 1 1 18 0 0 1 2 2 1 SO 0 0 1 1 2 1 30 0 1 2 3 3 2 59 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 1 1 0 9 0 0 0 1 1 0 12 0 0 0 1 1 0 15 0 0 0 1 2 0 21 0 0 0 1 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 Artillery. o O £ £ o o N ON. 58 15 4 0 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 8 0 1 5 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 ON 0 0 3 9 22 64 73 23 773 18 106 In the evening of the 7th, a little before midnight, two large lights appeared on the shore west of the Orange-grove, forming a right line with our Grand battery; and at the same time, two similar fires were seen behind Fort St. Philip; whence, if a line was produced, it would to appearance have Detachments to B. Grenadiers. B. Lt. Infantry. the Spur & Fleche. J the Lunette & ( Mole head. . . . Cha. Vth’s w all. j Upper Forbes’s, * 1 &c. N. B. Marine Brigade. • • • • B. Corsicans. the Wharf. Victualling tent. New’ mole head. The Prevent ship. intersected the former, about 800 or 900 yards to the north-west of the Old mole head. These unusual signals made many conjecture that the enemy were sounding in that quarter. A few rounds were accordingly fired at intervals in that direction from the North bastion.1782] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. ? n i IO 1 By the morning of the 8th. the preparations, in the department of the artillery, under General Boyd’s directions, were completed ; and, the success of the attack in a great measure depending upon embracing the favourable moment, it was no longer deferred. At seven o’clock, the town guards being relieved, the firing commenced from all the northern batteries which bore upon the western part of the parallel, and was supported through ' the day with admirable precision and vivacity. The effect of the red-hot shot and carcasses exceeded our most sanguine expectations. In a few hours, the Mahon battery of 6 guns, with the battery of 2 guns on its flank, and great part of the adjoining parallel, were on fire; and the flames, notwithstanding the enemy’s exertions to ex-tiaguish them, burnt so rapidly, that the whole of those works before night were consumed. The St. Carlos’s and St. Martin’s batteries however on this occasion escaped the fate which they had formerly experienced. They were nevertheless so much deranged by the breaches made to obstruct the efi’ects of the carcasses, &c. that the enemy were under the necessity of taking down the greater part. The enemy, for near an hour, con-tinued silent spectators of our cannonade. About eight, they fired a few guns from the St. Martin’s battery ; and between nine and ten, returned our fire from Forts St. Philip and Barbara, with the 7-gun battery in the lines, and soon after from 8 new mortar batteries in the parallel. This tardiness in returning our fire, in some degree we attributed to the works being confused with materials, and some of the batteries being deficient in ammunition. It might however be owing to want of discretionary orders, as an officer of rank was observed to enter the lines about the time when their cannonade became general: a reinforcement also marched down from the camp. The astonishing bravery displayed by the enemy in their repeated attempts to extinguish the flames, could not fail to attract our particular notice and admiration. Urged on most probably by emulation, they performed prodigies of valour ; so that their loss, under so well directed a fire, must have been very considerable. The French brigade, we afterwards understood, had 140 killed and wounded. If the Spanish casualties bore an equal proportion, their united loss must have greatly, exceeded our calculation. About four o'clock in the afternoon the cannonade abated on both sides, and the enemy soon after were totally silent, though we continued our usual fire. The garrison had two or three killed, and several wounded. Lieut. Boag, of the artillery, and Ensign Gordon, of the 58th regiment, were of the latter number. The former officer had been wounded before: on this occasion he was pointing a gun from Hanover battery in the lines, when a shell fell in the battery. He had scarcely time to throw himself down in an embrasure, when the shell burst, and fired the gun under the muzzle of which he lay. The report immediately deprived him of hearing, and it was some time before he recovered a tolerable use of that faculty. Major Martin, of the same corps, had likewise a very fortunate escape from a 26-pounder, which shot away the cock of his hat close to the crown. I insert this anecdote, because it is commonly believed, that if a cannon-ball of large diameter passes so near the head of a person, the wind of it is generally fatal. The major was considerably stunned by the passage of the shot, but experienced little further injury. In the forenoon of the 8th, two more ships of the line removed to the Orange-grove, followed some time afterwards by 22 gun and mortar boats; and in the evening, one of the French men-of-war joined them from Algeziras. In the course of the day, a number of troops were embarked on board such of the battering-ships as were finished; and at night, our artillery replaced the ammunition in the expense magazines, which had been used to such good purpose in the morning. This unexpected insult undoubtedly precipitated the duke’s measures; and k 2132 HISTORY OF THE [chap. VII. by provoking him to the attack, before the preparations in the other departments were ready to combine with him in a general and powerful effort against the garrison, served greatly to frustrate the enterprise. Apprehensive, probably, that, elated by our good fortune, we might renew our attempts finally to destroy the land works which nad escaped, the duke determined to avoid the blow (which also might be in other respects fatal in its consequences) by opening his batteries, even in their unfinished state. Actuated, most probably, by these motives, the embrasures of the new batteries were unmasked during the night of the 8th; and the succeeding morning, at daybreak, we were surprised to find every appearance in their works for firing upon the garrison. Two rockets from the forts in the lines were the signals to begin; and the cannonade commenced at half-past five o’clock, with a volley of about 60 shells from all their mortar batteries in the parallel, succeeded by a general discharge of their cannon, amounting, in the whole, to about 170 pieces of ordnance, all of large calibre:—a discharge, I believe, not to be paralleled’* Their firing was powerful, and entirely directed against our works; but was not, after the first round, altogether so tremendous and destructive as we had reason to expect from such a train of artillery. At intervals, from 10 to 20 shells were in the air at the same moment; but their effects were not equal to the numbers expended. The town, southward of the King’s bastion, was little affected ; but the northern front, and line-wall leading from the Grand parade to the North bastion, were exceedingly warm; and the lines and Land-port were greatly annoyed by the shells from the howitzers, which were distributed in various parts of their parallel. Montague’s and Orange’s bastions seemed to be the centre of the enemv’s cross-fire: whilst the line-wall in their vicinity and to the southward was taken a revers by the shot * A French account of the siege gives 165 as the number of the enemy’s ordnance on the land side at this time which passed over the lines from the 64-eun battery. Not imagining, from the rough appearance of the enemy’s works, that they could possibly retaliate so soon, the guards and pickets at the north end of the garrison were for some time exposed, and some casualties occurred: but we soon discovered whence we were chiefly annoyed, and consequently became more cautious. Lieut. Wharton, of the 73rd regiment, was dangerously wounded at Landport. Whilst the land batteries were thus pouring forth their vengeance upon the northern front, nine line-of-battle ships, including those under the French flag, got under way from the Orange-grove, and passing along the sea-line, discharged several broadsides at the garrison, and particularly at a settee which had just arrived under our guns from Algiers. When this squadron had got round Europa Point, they suddenly wore, and returning along the Europa, Rosia, and New mole batteries, commenced a* regular and heavy fire upon the garrison. The marine brigade and artillery returned the salute till they passed, when the men-of-war wore and returned to the eastward. About the same time that the enemy were thus amusing us at the southward, 15 gun and mortar boats approached the town, and continued their fire for some time ; but, the artillery giving them a warm reception from the King’s bastion, two of them were towed oft' with precipitation, and the rest retired in great disorder. One was thought to be very considerably damaged; and some imagined that her gun was thrown overboard to save her from sinking. This mode of annoying us on all sides exactly corresponded with the accounts which we had received of the plan of attack suggested by Monsieur d’Argon, the French engineer, who superintended the enemy’s preparations. They hoped probably to confound and overwhelm us, by presenting to us destruction under such various forms, and by the enormous quantity of fire which they poured in upon the garrison. The governor however did not approve of1782.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 133 his troops being thus subjected to be harassed at their pleasure, and resolved therefore, if possible, to put a stop to their sea-attacks. For this purpose the furnaces and grates for heating shot, at the New mole, were ordered to be lighted: and some new arrangements took place in the ordnance upon Windmill-hill. Toward dusk the enemv abated in the fire from their can-non ; increasing however in the expenditure of shells, which, being generally fired with short fuses, broke in the air. This practice seemed well calculated for the purposes in view. In the day, they could observe with greater certainty the effect of their shot, and alter as circumstances directed: the firing at night must unavoidably be less depended upon: shells were therefore burst over the heads of our workmen, to prevent them, if possible, from repairing at night the damage received in the day. It did not nevertheless obstruct the duties in the department of the engineers ; and the artillery were not hindered from further completing the expense magazines with ammunition. The 97th regiment was now so far recovered, as for some time to assist in the fatigue duties of the garrison: and this day the officers, with 100 men, were added to the general roster. The town guards were also ordered to assemble in Southport ditch. The enemy’s men-of-war (as we expected) repeated their attack very early on the morning of the 10th. Each ship carried a light at her mizen-peak ; but they did not approach near enough to produce much efiect. We received them with a well-supported fire; and the next morning observed one of them at anchor, with her bowsprit unshipped, at Algeziras. The remaining 8 renewed their cannonade about 9 in the forenoon, and killed 2 of the marine brigade, and wounded a serjeant of artillery and 2 others. After they had passed as before, they wore ship, apparently with an intention of continuing their visits, but suddenly put about, hauled their wind, and anchored off the Orange-grove. We were afterwards informed, that the discovery of a red-hot shot on board one of the ships was ! the immediate cause of this hasty man-' oeuvre. The enemy continued their firing from the isthmus, recommencing at morning gun-fire on the lGth from their gun batteries. At 7 o’clock, including the expenditure on the 8th, they had discharged 5527 shot and 2392 shells, exclusive of the number fired by the men-of-war and mortar boats. T h£ garrison, on the contrary, took no further notice of them, than to return a few rounds from the terrace batteries at their working parties, who were re-pairing the damage done on the 8th, and completing the rest of their works. In the course of the dav, the Brilliant and Porcupine frigates were scuttled by the navy in the New mole; and at •/ • # night the engineers, with a working party, cleared the lines of rubbish, and restored those traverses which had been demolished. At night, the enemy’s fire was under the same regulation as the preceding evening. The next morning, when our guards were relieving, a signal was made at the tower, near the quarry, under the Queen of Spain's Chair; and the enemy’s cannonade became excessively brisk: fortunately few casualties occurred. Their firing, when this object ceased to engage them, seemed to be principally directed against the obstructions at Landport, and in that part of the garrison. Many of the palisades in the covered way were destroyed, and the chevaux-de-frise considerably injured: artificers were however constantly detached to repair those breaches, so that the who±e were kept in a better state than might be expected. In the afternoon, we began to conclude, that the attack with the battering-ships was no longer to be deferred. Several detachments of soldiers embarked from the camp, and others were standing on the neighbouring eminences; which, with the appearance in the evening of signals like those which had been observed on the night of the 7th, led us to imagine that every preparation was complete ; and the wind at that time blowing gently in the bay, from the north-west, favoured our conjecture. Landport and Waterport guards were134 HISTORY OF THE |_CHAP. VII. immediately reinforced, the furnaces and grates for heating shot were lighted, and the artillery ordered to man the batteries. Thus prepared, we waited their appearance ; for it seemed to be the general opinion, that the battering-ships would advance, and be moored in the night, that they might be less exposed to annoyance in this duty, and open with greater effect together at daybreak. Our attention was however called off from the bay to the land-side, where the enemy had set fire to the barriers of Bay-side and Forbes’s: and the whole of those palisades, to the water’s edge, were instantly involved in flames. The northern guards and pickets were immediately under arms, and a smart discharge of musketry was directed upon several parties, which, by the light of the fire, were discovered in the meadows. The enemy increasing their bombardment, and nothing new happening in consequence of the conflagration, the pickets and guards were remanded under cover; but the artillery continued upon the batteries. We had scarcely recovered from this alarm, before the gun and mortar boats, with the bomb-ketches, began to bombard the northern front, taking their stations off the King’s bastion, extending towards Fort St. Philip. They commenced about an hour after midnight; and their fire, added to that of the land batteries, exceedingly annoyed Water-port and its vicinity. The out-pickets were again under arms, but providentially our loss was trifling. We returned a few rounds from the sea-line, but still disregarded the batteries on the isthmus; excepting when their workmen appeared, or were thought to be employed. Major Lewis, commandant of the artillery, was unfortunately amongst the wounded. The confinement of this active officer at this critical juncture might have been highly prejudicial to the service, had not his seconds been of confirmed ability and experience: owing to their united exertions, the several duties in that complicated and important department continued to be conducted with efficiency and success. When the gun-boats retired, nothing ■ new occurred till the morning of the 12th: the enemy’s firing continued to be supported at the average of 4000 rounds in the 24 hours. About 8 o’clock, reports were received from Europa guard, that a large fieet had appeared in the Straits from the westward. The wind was brisk, and we had scarcely time to form any conjec-; tures concerning them, ere they ap-I proached the bay; and proved to be the combined fleets of France and Spain, consisting of 7 3-deckers, and 31 ships of 2 decks: with 3 frigates and a num-ber of xebeques, bomb-ketches, and hospital-ships; the whole under the command of ten admirals, and a broad pendant. In the afternoon, they were all at anchor in the bay between the Orange-grove and Algeziras. This great accumulation of force could not fail to surprise, if not alarm the garrison. It appeared as if the enemy meant, previous to their final efforts, to strike, if possible, a terror through their opponents, by displaying before us a more powerful armament than had probably ever been brought against any fortress. 47 sail of the line, including 3 inferior two-deckers, 10 battering-ships, deemed perfect in design, and esteemed invincible, carrying 212 guns; innumerable frigates, xebeques, bomb-ketches, cutters, gun and mortar boats, and smaller craft for disembarking men; these were assembled in the bay. On the land side were most stupendous and strong batteries and works, mounting 200 pieces of heavy ordnance, and protected by an army of near 40,000 men, commanded by a victorious and active general, of the highest reputation, and animated with the immediate presence of two princes of the royal blood of France, with other dignified personages, and many of their own nobility. Such a naval and military spectacle most certainly is not to be equalled in the annals of war. From such a combination of power, and favourable concurrent circumstances, it was natural enough that the Spanish nation should anticipate the most glorious consequences. , Indeed their confidence in the effect to1782.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 135 be produced by the battering-ships passed all bounds; and, in the enthusiasm excited bv the magnitude of their preparations, it was thought highly criminal, as we afterwards learned, even to whisper a doubt of the success. In drawing these battering conclu-sions, the enemy, however, seemed entirely to have overlooked the nature of that force which was opposed to them: for, though the garrison scarcely consisted of more than 7,000 effective men, including the marine brigade, they forgot that they were now veterans in this service, had been a long time habituated to the effects of artillery, and were prepared by degrees for the arduous conflict that awaited them. W e were, at the same time, commanded by officers of approved courage, prudence, and ability ; eminent for all the accomplishments of their profession, and in whom we had unbounded confidence. Our spirits too were not a little elevated by the success^attending the recent practice of tiring red-hot shot, which in this attack we hoped would enable us to bring our labours to a period, and relieve us from the tedious cruelty of another vexatious blockade. Before the garrison had well discovered the force of their new visitors, an occurrence happened, which, though trifling in itself, 1 trust 1 shall be excused for noticing. When the van of the combined fleet had entered the bay, 7 and the soldiers in town were attentively viewing the ships, alleging, amongst other reasons for their arrival, that the British fleet must undoubtedly be in pursuit: on a sudden, a general huzza was given, and all, to a man, O 7 e 7 cried out, the British admiral was certainly in their rear, as a flag for a fleet was hoisted upon our Signal-house pole. For some moments the flattering idea was indulged; but our hopes were soon damped by the sudden disappearance of the signal. We were afterwards informed by the guard at that post, that what our creative fancies had imagined to be a flag, was an eaqle, which, after several evolutions, had perched a few minutes on the westernmost pole, and then flew away toward the east. Though less superstitious than the ancient Romans, many could not help fancying it a favourable omen to the garrison ; and the event of the succeeding day justified the prognostication. In the morning of the 12th, the governor reinforced the pickets of the line; nine of which, in future, were stationed in town, and distributed as follows; two at Waterport, two at Landport, two in the lines, and the remaining three in the picket-vard, with the field-officer of the town district. The other picket of the line was stationed at the southward. The following return specifies the strength of the pickets at this period. sub, s. d. r.^f. Tlie artillery, and Hanoverian brigade, each corps........ 1 1 1 39 The 12th, 39th, 56th, and 58th regiments ditto ........... 1 1 1 54 The 72nd and 73rd regiments . . ditto ........ 1 1 1 76 The 97 tti regiment . . . ditto ........ 1 1 1 56 Total four captains, one of the artillery and three of the line 11 11 11 5s0 In the evening about dusk, a num-ber of men were observed to embark from the Orange-grove, on board the battering-ships; which, with the presence of the combined fleet, and the wind blowing favourably, induced us to conclude that the important and long meditated attack was not long to be deferred. The enemy’s cannonade was continued, almost on the same scale as the preceding days, during the night of the 12th. The next morning we observed the combined fleet had made some new arrangements in their position, or moorings, and that the remaining two battering-ships had joined the others at the Orange-grove, where their whole at-tacking force seemed to be now assem-bled. About a quarter before seven o’clock, some motions were observed amongst their shipping ; and soon after136 HISTORY OF THE [chap. VII, the battering-ships got under way, with a gentle breeze from the north-west, standing to the southward, to clear the men-of-war, and were attended by a number of boats. As our navy were constantly of opinion that the battering-ships would be brought before the garrison in the night, few suspected that the present manoeuvres were preparatory to their finally entering on the interesting enterprise; but, observing a crowd of spectators on the beach, near Point Mala, and upon the neighbouring eminences, and the ships edging down towards the garrison, the governor thought it would be imprudent any longer to doubt it. The town batteries were accordingly manned, and the grates and furnaces for heating shot ordered to be lighted. Thus prepared for their reception, we had leisure to notice the enemy’s evolutions. The ten battering-ships, after leaving the men-of-war, wore to the north; and, a little past nine o’clock, bore down in admirable order for their several stations; the admiral, in a two-decker, mooring about 900 yards off the King’s bastion, the others successively taking their places to the right and left of the flag-ship, in a masterly manner; the most distant being about 1100 or 1200 yards from the garrison. Our artillery allowed the enemy every reasonable advantage, in permitting them without molestation to choose their distance ; but as soon as the first ship dropped her anchors, which was about a quarter before ten o’clock, that instant our firing commenced. The enemy were completely moored in a little more than ten minutes, and their cannonade then became in a high degree tremendous. The showers of shot and shells which were now directed from their land-batteries, the battering-ships, and, on the other hand, from the various works of the garrison, exhibited a scene, of which perhaps neither the pen nor the pencil can furnish a competent idea. It is sufficient to say that upward of four hundred pieces of the heaviest artillery were playing at the same moment : an instance which has scarcely occurred in any siege since the invention of those wonderful engines of destruction.* After some hours’ cannonade, the battering-ships were found to be no less formidable than they had been represented. Our heaviest shells often rebounded from their tops, whilst the 32-pound shot seemed incapable of making any visible impression upon their hulls. Frequently we flattered ourselves they were on fire; but no sooner did any smoke appear than, with the most persevering intrepidity, men were observed applying water, from their engines within, to those places whence the smoke issued. These circumstances, with the prodigious cannonade which they maintained, gave us reason to imagine that the attack would not be so soon decided as, from our recent success against their land-batteries, we had fondly expected. Even the artillery themselves, at this period, had their doubts of the effect of the red-hot shot, whi^h began to be used about twelve, but were not general till between one and two o’clock.-)- The enemy’s cannon at the commencement were too much elevated, but about noon their firing was powerful and well directed. Our casualties then became numerous, particularly on those batteries north of the King’s bastion, which were warmly annoyed by the enemy’s flanking and reverse fire from the land. Though so vexatiously annoyed from the isthmus, our artillery totally disregarded their opponents in that quarter, directing their sole attention to the battering-ships, the furious and spirited opposition of which served to excite our people to more animated Enemy’s ordnance Land batteries Floating ditto 186 142 328 Garrison ordnance in action.... 96 424 4 As the ordnance portable furnaces for heating shot were not sufficient in number to supply the demands of the artillery when the attack was at its height, large tires were kindled of wood in the corners of the nearest buildings, and shot, being thrown into these piles, were soon heated red-hot. These supplies were jocularly termed by the men “ roasted potatoes.”17S2.J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. I «J I exertions. A fire more tremendous, if possible, than ever was therefore directed from the garrison. Incessant showers of hot balls, carcasses, and shells of every species flew from all quarters; and, as the masts of several of the ships were shot away and the rigging of all was in great confusion, our hopes of a favourable and speedy decision began to revive. About noon their mortar boats and bomb-ketches attempted to second the attack from the battering-ships; but, the wind having changed to the south-west and blowing a smart breeze, with a heavy swell, they were prevented taking a part in the action. The same reason also hindered our gun-boats from flanking the battering-ships from the southward. For some hours the attack and defence were so equally well supported as scarcely to admit any appearance of superiority in the cannonade on either side. The wonderful construction of the ships seemed to bid defiance to the powers of the heaviest ordnance. In the afternoon, however, the face of things began to change considerably: the smoke which had been observed to issue from the upper part of the flagship appeared to prevail, notwithstanding the constant application of water, and the admiral's second was perceived to be in the same condition. Confusion was now apparent on board several of the vessels, and by the evening their cannonade was considerably abated; about seven or eight o'clock it almost totally ceased, excepting from one or two ships to the northward, which, from their distance, had suffered little injury. When their firing began to slacken, various signals were made from the southernmost ships; and as the evening advanced, many rockets were thrown up, to inform their friends (as we afterwards learned) of their extreme danger and distress. These signals were iin-mediately answered, and several boats were seen to row round the disabled ships. Our artillery, at this period, must have caused dreadful havoc amongst them. An indistinct clamour, with lamentable cries and groans, pro- ceeded (during the short intervals of cessation) from all quarters; and, a little before midnight, a wreck floated in under the town line-wall, upon which were twelve men, who only, out of three-score which were on board their launch, had escaped. These circumstances convinced us that we had gained an advantage over the enemy, yet we did not conceive that the victory was so complete as the succeeding morning evinced. Our firing was therefore continued, though with less vivacity; but as the artillery, from such a hard-fought day, exposed to the intense heat of a warm sun, in addition to the harassing duties of the preceding night, were much fatigued, and as it was impossible to foresee what new objects might demand their service the following day, the governor, about six in the evening, when the enemy’s fire abated, permitted the majority of the officers and men to be relieved by a picket of a hundred men front the marine brigade, under the command of Lieutenant Trentham ; and officers and non-commissioned officers of the artillery were stationed on the different batteries, to direct the sailors in the mode of firing the hot shot. About an hour after midnight, the battering-ship which had suffered the greatest injury, and which had been frequently on fire the preceding day, was completely in flames; and by two o’clock in the morning of the 14th, she appeared as one continued blaze from stem to stern. The ship to the southward of her was also on fire, but did net burn with so much rapidity. The light thrown out on all sides by the flames enabled the artillery to point the guns with the utmost precision, whilst the rock and neighbouring ob-. jects were highly illuminated, forming, with the constant flashes of our cannon, a mingled scene of sublimity and terror. Between three and four o’clock, six other of the battering-ships indicated the efficacy of red-hot shot; and the approaching day now promised us one of the completest defensive victories on record. Brigadier Curtis, who was encamped with his brigade at Europa, being in-138 HISTORY OF THE [chap. VII. formed that the enemy’s ships were in • flames, and that the calmness of the sea would permit his gun-boats to act, marched, about three o’clock a.m., with a detachment to the New mole; and, drawing up his twelve boats in such manner as to flank the battering-ships, compelled their boats to abandon them. As the day approached and the garrison fire abated, the brigadier advanced and captured two launches filled with men. These boats attempted to escape, but a shot killing and wounding several-men on board one of them, both surrendered, and were conducted to Ragged Staff. The brigadier being informed by the prisoners that many men were through necessity left by their friends on board the ships, he generously determined to rescue them from the inevitable death which seemed to impend. Some of these infatuated wretches nevertheless, it is said, refused at first the deliverance which was tendered to them, preferring the chance of that death which appeared inevitable to being put to the sword, which they had been persuaded would be the consequence if they submitted to the garrison. Being left, however, some moments to the horrors of their fate, they beckoned the boats to return, and resigned themselves to the clemency of their conquerors. Whilst the navy were thus humanely relieving their distressed enemy, the flames reached the magazine of one of the battering-ships to the northward, which blew up, about five o’clock, with a dreadful explosion. In a quarter of an hour following, another, in the centre of the line, met with a similar fate. The wreck from the latter spread to a vast extent, and involved our gunboats in the most imminent danger: one was sunk, but the crew were saved. A hole was forced through the bottom of the brigadier’s boat, his coxswain killed, and the strokesman wounded, and for some time the crew were obscured in the cloud of smoke. After this very fortunate escape, it was deemed prudent to withdraw toward the garrison, to avoid the peril arising from the blowing-up of the remaining ships. The brigadier, however, visited two other ships in his return, and landed 9 officers, 2 priests, and 334 private soldiers and seamen, all Spaniards, which, with 1 officer and 11 Frenchmen who had floated in the preceding evening, made the total number saved amount to 357. Many of the prisoners were severely and some of them dread-fully wounded. They were instantly, on being brought on shore, conveyed to our hospital, and every remedy administered necessary for their different cases.* During the time that the marine brigade were encountering every danger in their endeavours to save an enemy from perishing, the batteries on the isthmus (which ceased the preceding evening, most likely for want of ammunition, and which had opened again upon the garrison on the morning of the 14th) maintained a warm fire upon the town, which killed and wounded several men; and three or four shells hurst in the air, over the place where their countrymen were landed. This ungenerous proceeding could not escape the observation of the spectators in their camp, and orders probably were sent to the lines for the batteries to cease, as they were silent about ten o’clock. Notwithstanding the efforts of the marine brigade in relieving the terri-fied victims from the burning ships, many unfortunate men could not be removed. The scene at this time exhibited was as affecting, as that which had been presented in the act of hostility had been terrible and tremendous. Men crying from amidst the flames for pity and assistance; others, on board those ships where the fire had made * The following extract from a contemporary account by a French officer, who served in the besieging army, and was an eyewitness of this scene, shows a generous appreciation of the efforts made by the garrison to succour those with whom they had been so lately contending:—Je n’ai ni l’anglomanie qui exagere le merits de la nation Britannique, ni la haine nationale qui dissimule; mais c’est pour moi une satisfaction bien douce de payer aux Anglais, liberateurs des malheureux laisses dans les prames, le tribut d'eloges que meri-taient dans ce moment leur courage et leur humanite. L’Espagne et la France doivent etre a jamais reconnoissantes de cette gene* rosite inouie.”1782.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAK 139 little progress, imploring relief with the most expressive gestures and signs of despair ; whilst several, equally exposed to the dangers of the opposite element, trusted themselves, on various parts of the wreck, to the chance of paddling themselves to the shore. A felucca belonging to the enemy approached from the Orange-grove, pro-bablv with the intention of relieving these unfortunate persons ; but, jealous of her motives, the garrison suspected that she came to set lire to one of the battering-ships which appeared little injured, and obliged her to retire. Of the 6 ships which were still in fames, 3 blew up before eleven o'clock; the other 3 burnt to the water's edge, the magazines being wetted bv the enemv » » before the principal officers quitted the ships. The admiral's fag was on board one of the latter, and was consumed with the vessel. The remaining two battering-ships, we flattered ourselves, might be saved as glorious trophies of our success; but one of them unexpectedly burst out into fames, and in a short time blew up, with a terrible report; and Captain Gibson representing it as impracticable to preserve the other, it was burnt in the afternoon, under his directions. Thus the navy put a finishing hand to this signal de-tensive victory. During the hottest period of the enemy's cannonade, the governor was present on the King's bastion, whilst Lieut.-General Boyd* took his station upon the South bastion, animating the garrison by their presence, and encouraging them to emulation. The exertions and activity of the brave artillerv, in this well-fought contest, de- * It will not be improper in this place to repeat, that General Boyd laid the foundation stone of the King’s bastion, as it will bean apology for introducing a remarkable speech of the General on that occasion, in 1773, General Boyd, attended by Colonel Green, the chief engineer, and many tield-otlicers of the garrison, laid the first stone of that work, with the ceremony usual on such occasions. Upon fixing the stone in its place, “ This.’’ said the General, “ is the first stone of a work which I name the ‘ King's Bastion ma\ it be as gallantly defended, as I know it will be ably executed; and may 1 live to see it resist the united efforts of France and Spain." serve the highest commendations. To their skill, perseverance, and courage with the zealous assistance of the line (particularly the corps in town, the 39th and 72nd regiments), was Gibraltar indebted for its safe tv against * **- the combined powers, by sea and land, of France and Spain : and the marine brigade, though they had not so considerable a share in the duties of the batteries, yet merit the warmest praises for their generous intrepidity in rescu-ing their devoted enemies from amidst the flames. Whilst the enemv were cool, and 1 s their ships had received little damage, their principal objects were the King's bastion, and "line-wall, north of Orange's bastion. Their largest ships (which were about 1400 tons burden) were stationed ofl' the former, in order to silence that important battery, whilst a breach was attempted by the rest, in the curtain extending from the latter I to Montague's bastion. If a breach had ‘been effected, the prisoners informed us that “ their grenadiers were ! to have stormed the garrison under ' cover of the combined fleets.” The private men complained bitterly of ’ their officers for describing the batter-' ing-ships to be invulnerable, and for promising that they were to be seconded ' by ten sail of the line, and all the gui , and mortar boats. They further told us, that “ they had been taught to believe the garrison would not be able to discharge many rounds of hot balls: their astonishment, therefore, was inconceivable when they discovered that i we fired them with the same precision and vivacity as cold shot.” “ Admiral Moreno," they said, “ quitted the Pas-i tora, which was the flag-ship, a little ! before midnight: but other officers ro-: tired much earlier." The loss sustained by the enemy could never be I ascertained; but, from the information I of the prisoners, and the numbers seen i dead on board the ships, we estimated it could not be less than 2000 men, including the prisoners. The casualties ' of the garrison, on the contrary, were so trifling, that it will appear almost incredible that such a quantity of fire, in almost all its destructive modes oi14 ) HISTORY OF THE [crap, vil action, should not have produced more effect, with respect to the loss of men. The return stands thus :— SEPTEMBER 13TH, 1782. Killed. fTuunded. Regiments. 0. $. d. 5 0. s. d. U’ Koval’Artillerv • « 1 0 0 5 3 0 0 21 12th Regiment e t 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 39th ditto . 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 5 56th ditto . . • 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 58th ditto . . • • 0 0 0 1 I 0 0 4 72nd ditto . . • • 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 12 73rd ditto . e e 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 8 97th ditto . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Hardenberg’s . • • 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Reden’s . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 De la Motte’s . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Engineers, with the Artiflcer Companv 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Marine Brigade • • 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 Total • « 1 2 0 13 5 0 0 63 Officers killed and wounded. Artillery—Captain Reeves killed; Captains Groves and Siward, with Lieut. Godfrey, wounded. 5Sth regiment—Lieutenant Wetham (who had permission to act as an artillery oflicer) wounded. 73rd regiment—Captain M‘Kenzie wounded. The distance of the battering-ships from the garrison was exactly such as our artillery could have wished. It required so small an elevation that almost every shot took effect; and the cannon thus elevated did not require the shot to be wadded—a circumstance not unimportant, as the time, which at point-blank would have been expended in doubly wadding, was employed in keeping up the cannonade with greater briskness. The damage done to our works held no proportion with the violence of the attack, and the excessive cannonade which they had sustained. The merlons of the different batteries were disordered, and the bank of Orange’s bastion was a little injured ; but the latter was chiefly done by the land fire, and was not of such consequence as to afford any room for apprehension. The ordnance and carriages were also damaged: but, bv the activity of the artillery, the whole sea-line, before night, was again in serviceable order. The enemv, in this action, had 328 pieces of heavy ordnance m play; whilst the garrison had only SO cannon, 7 mortars, and 9 howitzers in opposition. Upwards of 8300 rounds (more than half of which were hot shot\ and 716 barrels of powder, were expended bv our artillerv. What quantity of ammunition was used by the enemy could never be ascertained. The following was handed about as an au-thentic list of the battering-ships :— X’ames of the Battering-ships. Guns in use. Guns in reserve. Men. Commanders. Past ora . , 21 10 760 Rear-Admiral Buenaventura Mcreno. Tailla Piedra 21 10 760 Prince of Nassau Sieghen.* Paula Prima 21 10 760 Don Gavetana Langara. El Rosario . 19 10 700 Don Francisco Xavier Munos. St. Christoval 18 10 650 Don Frederico Gra^ino. Principe Carlos . 11 4 400 Don Antonio Basurta. San Juan . . 9 4 340 Don Joseph Angeler. Paula Secunda 9 4 340 Don Pablo de Cosa. Santa Anna • < 4 300 Don Joseph Goicoechea. Los Dolores 6 4 250 Don Pedro Sanchez. 142 70 5260 • N.B.—About 36 men to each gun in use, besides sailors, &c. to work the ships. Tlie afternoon of the 14th, several thousand men marched with colours from the enemy’s camp to their lines, and many ships in the combined fleet loosed their top-sails. These motions, and the circumstance of many of their boats being manned, caused various speculations in the garrison. Whatever their future operations might be, it was prudent to be on our guard: the artillery were ordered therefore to remain upon the batteries, and the furnaces for heat- * M. d'Arcon, the French engineer, and projector of the floating batteries, embarked on board the Tailla Piedra, and quitted the ship about half an hour after midnight, as he states in the Defence of his plan of attack, which was published at Cadiz the following year.1782.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 141 ing shot to be kept lighted, lest the enemy should be prompted to put all to the stake, and attempt the garrison by a general attack. It was indeed afterwards rumoured, that such a design had been in contemplation, but was overruled by the duke, who was of opinion it would be exposing the fleet and armv to inevitable destruction. •/ Notwithstanding their recent defeat, the enemy continued their cannonade from the isthmus; expending, during the remainder of the month, from 1000 to 2000 rounds in the 24. hours ; diminishing gradually, and confining their shells to the night. Their operations on the land side were also still carried on ; and, if we were able to form any conjectures at this period, from their motions to the northward, their late misfortune did not seem at all to damp their hopes of succeeding against the garrison. A flag of truce went on the 15th with letters from our prisoners to the camp; and about two o'clock in the afternoon, the combined fleet handed in their top-sails. Some hours afterwards they manned their yards, and fired a grand salute. We were at a loss to account for these singular rejoicings.* Lieut. M‘Namara, of the 72nd regiment, was wounded the same day at Willis’s, where our working parties were employed clearing away the rubbish from the batteries. The garrison having experienced the powerful efficacy of red-hot shot, and the governor thinking it expedient to have a continual supply of them, the engineers erected kilns (similar to those used in burning lime, but smaller) in various parts of the garrison. They were large enough to heat upward of 100 balls in an hour and a quarter; and, by this invention, hot shot were, if thought necessary, kept continually ready for use. Our former method of heating the shot was either in the grates and furnaces made for that purpose, or by piling them in a corner of some old house adjoining the batteries (as was * The following extract from the French account of the siege, already quoted, may serve to explain this circumstance: — ‘‘Le 15, le Comte d’Artois fit a, Dom Louis de Cordova 1’honneuT de se rendre a son bord.” principally the practice on the 13th), and surrounding them with faggots, pieces of timber, and small coal. By those means the artificers were enabled to supply the artillery with a constant succession for the ordnance. Answers were received in the afternoon of the 16th to the prisoners’ letters. At night a great number of signals were made by the combined tleet. Shot were therefore again ordered to be heated, and the artillery cautioned to be ready to man the batteries. The 39th and 72nd regiments also lav fully accoutred. The same night, the sailors recovered the gun-boat which had been sunk on the morning of the 14th. As the prisoners informed us that intelligence had been received, previous to the attack of the battering-ships, that Lord Howe, with the British fleet, was preparing to sail for the relief of Gibraltar, the navy began to prepare to raise the Brilliant and Porcupine frigates, which had been scuttled in the New mole; but their efforts, for some time, were not attended with success. The Spanish officers, prisoners, with the Frenchmen who were taken up from the wreck upon the night of the 13th, were sent to the camp on the evening of the 17th. The remaining Spanish privates were encamped upon Windmill-hill, and given in charge to the Corsicans. Of the number who had been saved from the battering- c? ships, were an officer, a captain of marines, and 29 privates, who were wounded. Most of these recovered in our hospital; but the officer, notwithstanding every assistance and attention, died on the 17th. He was buried, the succeeding day, with all military honours, attended by the grenadiers of the 39th regiment. When we reflected of what vast importance this grand enterprise was esteemed, and w hat immense sums had been expended in the ingenious and formidable preparations, it was observed, with no small surprise, by many who were present when the prisoners were landed, that the majority of fhem seemed to be past that age when the vital powders are supposed to be in their greatest vigour. In an expedition wl ere142 HISTORY OF TIIE [chap. vji. youth and strength best promised a favourable issue, this impolitic arrangement certainly could not pervade the whole! The Spaniards, from their dark complexion and meagre diet, have naturally, even when young, an aged look : and yet our observations seemed confirmed by other indubitable facts. Several bodies were thrown ashore, all of which seemed advanced in years; and one in particular appeared, from his grey beard and lean visage, past sixty. This corpse was horribly mutilated, and, with the miserable objects then under the care of our surgeons, convinced us, by ocular proof, of the dreadful havoc which our artillery must have made in the latter part of the day. The westerly wind, which had cast up these unfortunate men, threw also on shore many trifling curiosities, and some things of value, which had floated on the surface of the bay after the battering-ships had blown up. Large wax candles, such as are usually burnt by the Romish priests before their altars ; salt provisions ; and a great number of ammunition boxes, containing 10 rounds of powder in linen cartridges, were collected by the garrison the morning • succeeding the defeat. Considerable pieces of mahogany, and some cedar, were saved from the wrecks of those ships whose magazines did not blow up, which were afterwards converted into various useful articles, serving as memorials of our victory. The governor had a handsome set of tables made for the Convent (the holes in the cedar, where the fire had penetrated, being filled up with sound wood, cut in various figures, forming a beautiful contrast with the burnt part), which will serve as a standing monument to the guests of the transactions of that glorious day. The enemy’s fire on the 19th was warmer than the few preceding days ; and, which was rather extraordinary, it was continued whilst a flag of truce went from the governor, and another returned in answer. The officer who brought the Due de Crillon’s answer was one of his aides-de-camp, the Comte de Ruflgniac, colonel of the French regiment de Chartres. He pressed much to deliver his packet personally to the governor, and offered to submit to be blindfolded, provided he could be admitted into the garrison. He was even so urgent as to put his foot on board our boat, but was informed by the aide-de-camp that his request could not be complied with. As the Count would not be content with this answer, our flag was obliged to return to make known his extraordinary importunity to the governor, who politely excused himself the honour which the Count intended him, as the state of affairs would not then permit it. We shall have occasion again to mention the Count before the close of this work. The wind changed to the east in the night of the 19th; but the combined fleet still remained at anchor in the bay. The 20th, the mortar boats, which had remained inactive for some time, bombarded the garrison. They seemed to be attended by only four or five gunboats, and were extremely cautious in directing their fire. Three shells fell in Southport ditch, amongst the 39th regiment. Some changes took place in the governor's suite on the 21st: town-major Captain Foulis was appointed aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief, and Captain Delhoste, of the 72nd regiment, town-major. A flag of truce, the same day, brought over a letter from the duke, in answer to one from the governor, of the preceding day. Their boat also brought clothing for the Walon prisoners. In the evening, about eight o’clock, reports were received from the northern guards, that the enemv were in motion in their camp, and that troops were marching down to the lines. About the same time some extraordinary signals were made by the Spanish admiral. The three pickets remaining with the field-officer in town were immediately detached to reinforce the captain of Landport, the lines, and Waterport, who, beside their usual guards, had each two pickets with them before. The 39th and 72nd regiments were again ordered to lie accoutred, and the artillery cautioned to be alert. ByI 782J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 143 this disposition it was evident the governor still expected a further attack upon the garrison; and that evening it was most to be apprehended, as it was possible that the Duke by that day might receive an answer from Madrid, indicating his future operations. Upward of 1200 men being thus distributed in the vicinity of the Grand battery, with two regiments at hand to act as corps de reserve, we waited the further movements of the enemy. A little before midnight, a soldier of the 73rd regiment, removing rubbish from the Prince’s lines, fell from the extremity, Z V z and was killed. An officer with a small detachment was immediately ordered from Landport to bring in the body. This was discovered by the enemy’s advanced parties, who opposed it by a brisk discharge of musketry in regular platoons. Queen’s lines guard protected our party, who returned with the body without any casualties. The steady and animated fire supported by the enemy convinced us of the strength , of their advanced posts. Nothing extraordinary, however, happened during the night after this occurrence. The governor still continued the party at Lower Forbes’s under the lines. On the night of the 23rd they discovered two men near the stone sentry-box, within the ruins of the old barrier. The serjeant’s orders (the reader may remember) were, not to fire but in his own defence, or in case of an alarm ; but observing them measuring with a chain the distance between the foot of the rock and the Inundation, and thinking they might be persons of some consequence, and probably possessed of memorandums which might discover the motives of their manoeuvres, he determined in this case to fire: they, in return, alarmed at his preparations, suddenly appeared On the defensive; but the serjeant was so lucky as to kill the principal person, and the other ran offi The body was instantly brought in, but no papers of consequence were found about him. He was thought to have been a volunteer. The serjeant, who was a cadet in General Reden’s regiment, was soon afterwards promoted to a commission ; but whether for this service, or in his tour, I cannot inform my reader. The enemy’s firing seemed now to be directed under the following regulations. About five or six in the morning, when the night-pickets were retiring from their posts, the cannonade commenced, and continued pretty brisk till noon. From twelve to two o’clock there was the usual intermission; for, as I have remarked before, the Spaniards would not be deprived of their customary nap, or siesta. In the decline of the day they discharged more or less, as their caprice dictated. About seven in the evening their cannon ceased, and their mortars took up the fire, continuing it till daybreak of the succeeding day. The ammunition now expended was generally from 400 to 500, and sometimes 600 shells in the 24 hours, with from 600 to 1000 shot. The profusion of the former had greatly diminished the O J immense piles in their artillery park, and their howitzers were by no means •r so lavish of their troublesome shells as they had been. The 24tli, the Brilliant frigate was raised after much trouble. The same day about noon, upward of 50 boats, which had been assembled for the attack, returned to the westward, and the mantlet-boats retired up the river Palmones. The departure of the former, with others which had left the bay the two preceding days, reduced their remaining small craft to a very trilling number.1 14 HISTORY OF TIIE [chap. VIII. CHAPTER VIII. The Combined Fleets remain in Gibraltar Bay, being determined to oppose the relief of the Garrison—Captain Curtis visits the Enemy’s Camp to establish a cartel—Enemy raise additional works—The Combined Fleets greatly distressed by a hurricane—A Spanish line-of-battle ship is driven under the walls of Gibraltar, and submits to the Garrison—At this juncture the British Fleet appear in the Straits, but the comoy unfortunately pass the Rock to the eastward—Letters received from the British Ministry by the Governor—The Combined Fleets, after making repairs, follow the British Fleet into the Mediterranean, but avoid an action—Lord Howe conducts the convov safe into the Bay, returns to the westward, and is followed by the Combined Fleets—Enemy’s cannonade diminishes, and the lire from the Garrison increases—Enemy establish a post under the Rock near the Devil's Tower—Repeat their attacks from the gun-boats—'Pile Due de Crillon acquaints General Eliott that the preliminaries of a General Peace had been signed—Hostilities in consequence cease—The Emperor of Morocco sends a present of cattle with a letter to General Eliott, who soon afterwards receives from England official accounts of the Peace— Interview* between the Due de Crillon and the Governor—The Governor views the Spanish batteries, and dines at San Roque—The Duke returns the visit, in the Garrison—Ceremony of investing the Governor w ith the Order of the Bath—Sir George Augustus Eliott’s speech to the Garrison, upon communica':ing to them the Thanks of the King and Parliament for their Defence of Gibraltar. Notwithstanding that we might naturally infer, from the dispersion of their small craft, that the enemy had at length relinquished the hope of taking Gibraltar by force of arms, yet the continuance of their cannonade, and the presence of the combined fleets (though frequent opportunities had offered for their return to the westward), rendered their conduct so ambiguous that we could form no idea what line they purposed to pursue in their future operations. We knew a relief was intended by the British fleet; but we could never imagine, if there was anything of an equality, that the enemy would venture an opposition, even though a victory might make them masters of Gibraltar. We waited, therefore, a few days to observe the movements of our adversaries, and by their actions expected to solve the difficulty. The evening of the 26th of September, the whole of the combined army were under arms, formed in one line ( which extended about four miles and a half) from the river Guadaranque.to very near Fort Tonara. Some persons of high rank, attended by a numerous suite of cavalry, passed along the front; and they were not dismissed till after sunset. In the evening, Major Horsfall, of the 72nd regiment, was wounded by a splinter of a shell. At night, another of our workmen in the Prince’s lines fell from the extremity, and was killed. A party wras detached from Landport to bring in the body, and the Queen’s lines and other guards ordered to protect them; the enemy however remained quiet. The 27th, their parties began to collect brushwood for fascines. This circumstance served the more to increase our doubts relative to their future conduct. The same day, our navy got up the Porcupine frigate ; the engineers also finished the Royal and Green’s lodge batteries. The former is 1300, and the latter 900 feet above the level of the isthmus; yet, notwithstanding this elevation, the enemy’s fire, during Don Alvarez’s bombardment, was found to be so galling, that the engineers were under the necessity of covering them with caissoned mer-1782.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 145 Ions. Several launches full of troops were observed, on the 29th, going on board the combined fleet. They were supposed to be marines who had been landed from the men-of-war previous to the grand attack. A flag of truce, the same day, brought clothes for the prisoners. Early on the morning of the 30th, a soldier of the 72nd regiment deserted from the Serjeant’s party at Lower Forbes’s. His own brother was one of the guard. The same day, the combined fleets were joined by a line-of-battle ship. The enemy’s cannonade still continued to be about 1000 or 1100 rounds of shot and shells in the 24 hours. Willis’s batteries, and the extremity of the Prince’s and Queen’s lines, were much damaged from the 64-gun battery. A flag of truce went from the garrison with a letter, and two parcels, which had been sent on the 29th, directed for persons who could not be found amongst the prisoners. In the evening of the 30th, the mortar-boats bombarded our camp. At first we imagined they were alone, but the gun-boats soon afterwards fired upon the town from the northward. Two shells fell in the hospital, and wounded several of the sick. Other casualties also happened in the garrison. The prisoners upon Windmill-hill were alarmed, on two or three shells falling near their camp; and it was not without some severity that their guards could keep themselves within the boundaries. Early on the 1st of October, a boat came into Little Bay, with a Corsican on board, who had escaped from Algeziras. He had been mate of a neutral vessel: but, hearing that some of his relations were in the Corsican corps, he was determined to join his countrymen. The intelligence which he brought was, that Lord Howe only waited some reinforcements to sail for the relief of Gibraltar, and that the combined fleet were resolved to oppose him. Thus consoled with the hope of preventing the intended succours, the enemy still flattered themselves that Gibraltar must of necessity submit, through the mere failure of provisions. In the course of the day, the corpse of a Spanish officer was washed ashore under our walls: a purse of pistoles, and a gold watch, were found in his pockets. He was buried with respect, two navy officers attending the funeral; and the following day, a flag of truce delivered the watch and money, to be returned to his friends. The 2nd, several men were wounded by the enemy’s shot, in the gallery above Farringdon’s, which continued to be prosecuted with diligence; and Serjeant Harrop, of the 72nd regiment (a man universally noticed and admired for his gallantry and conduct in the works), was killed at Willis’s. We observed, the same day, several boats which formerly had mantlets in the bow, returning from the river Palmones; having, as we imagined, undergone some alterations, to enable them to act as gunboats. In case of a visit from the latter, signals were now determined upon, to intimate when the artillery were to man the batteries. Two guns quick, and a red flag hoisted upon a flag-stall' erected on the South bastion, was to be the day signal; two guns quick and a light, the signal for the night. In the evening, we had an opportunity of practising our new signals, by the approach of the mortar-boats, which bombarded the garrison for about two hours. The gun-boats, though perhaps attending them, did not lire. Previous to their visit, some muskets were discharged, and some signals made amongst the fleet; but we could not observe any particular movements. In the forenoon of the 3rd, a Spanish frigate, with a flag of truce at her foretop-gallant mast-head, anchored within gun-shot of the Old mole. head, and immediately Captain Curtis went on board her. In the forenoon, Captain Curtis returned, and the frigate sailed back to the fleet. The wind at the time was so strong, that she was obliged to leave her anchor behind; which being mentioned to the governor, orders were sent, not to fire upon the boats when they returned to fish it up. The following day, Captain Curtis, accompanied by the governor’s secretary and a naval officer, went in his L146 HISTORY OF THE [CHAP. VIII. barge to the Orange-grove; where a carriage waited, and conducted them io Buena Vista, the Duke’s quarters. The intention of this visit, we afterwards understood, was to establish a cartel with the Spaniards for the exchange of prisoners. Captain Curtis was introduced, by the Due de Crillon, to his Royal Highness the Comte d'Artois, who thanked him, in very handsome terms, for his humanity and gallantry in relieving the unfortunate prisoners from the burning battering-ships; requesting Captain Curtis at the same time to inform the governor, that he entertained the highest esteem and respect for him, for his benevolence and liberality to the prisoners upon the same occasion. Before Captain Curtis returned, which was in the evening, the kilns for heating shot were lighted, and other preparations made, as if some attack was expected. During this correspondence, the enemy’s batteries observed a proper silence, in respect to the flag. Captain Curtis informed us, that Lord Howe, with the British fleet, was certainly on his passage to the Mediterranean. The garrison did not however feel that indescribable satisfaction and pleasure on receiving this intelligence, which we had experienced when Admirals Rodney and Darby were announced in 1780 and 1781. A French rear-admiral, in a three-decker, with a frigate, and several smaller armed vessels, joined the combined fleet on the 3rd. The man-of-war had many signals flying when she entered the bav, which were answered by the Spanish admiral. The enemy’s cannonade was still continued, w'ith such variation as their caprice dictated. The number of rounds of shot and shells usually exceeded 800 in the 24 hours, and sometimes amounted to 1100 or 1200. We amused them with a trifling return, directed chiefly to their parties, who, to our astonishment, were still forming considerable depots of fascines and materials in the lines. Lieutenant Kenneth M‘Kenzie, of the 73rd, was wounded on the 4th, in the communication from the King’s to the Queen’s lines. Two days afterwards, agreeably to a flag of truce of the preceding day, the Spanish prisoners (excepting 10 sick in the hospital, and 59 W alons and foreigners who requested to stay behind) were sent to the combined camp, The Walons who preferred staying in the garrison were embodied into those corps which chose to receive them. The 39th and 58th regiments entertained 10 each; and the remainder were incorporated with the Corsican company. Two of the enemy’s engineers had been observed on the 4th, picketing out a work, extending from the ruins of the Mahon battery to the western beach, crossing the north-west angle of the farthest gardens. We were at a loss what to conclude from this appearance of a determination still to prosecute the siege. They did not however let us remain long in suspense; for, on the morning of the 6th, we discovered that they had erected a strong boyau of approach, extending, in the line before mentioned, about 430 yards—near a quarter of a mile. It was raised with sand-bags; and from its resemblance to the original epaulment of the 64-gun battery, some imagined it was intended for the same purpose; though the engineers were of 'Opinion, it was • only a communication to some additional works in embryo. Although the enemy, by throwing up this extensive work, gained by stealth a second advantage upon the garrison, yet the governor was determined, if possible, to prevent them completing it. The Old mole head howitzers, with a warm fire from the heights, were opened at night upon this new object; and, as the former almost entirely enfiladed it, the enemy were so much annoyed, that it was never finished. The night of the 6th, they made good the communication to the parallel, from the extremity of the boyau, near the ruins of the Mahon battery, which was left imper- fect the preceding night. The following day, the St. Martin’s battery took fire from the wadding or discharge of their own cannon. One merlon was destroyed, and another considerably damaged, before the flames were extinguished. We threw1782.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 147 a few shells from below, to disturb them in this duty; but otherwise no particular notice was taken of the accident. The enemy found their situation so extremely warm in their new boyau, that-, on the night of the 7th, they threw up a strong shoulder at the extremity near the beach, to protect them against the Hanking fire of the howitzers of the Old mole head. Our shells were nevertheless tired with such judgment and dexterity as just to clear the traverse, and seemed to do as much execution in the interior part as before. Great quantities of fascines. &e., were scattered in the rear; whence we concluded they purposed working in the night, but had been O C? 7 prevented by the vivacity of our fire. They also repaired the St. Martin’s battery. A flag of truce brought over letters for the governor and Captain 1 Curtis on the 8th; and, at night, a } boat sailed for Leghorn with a midshipman and six sailors, bearing home dispatches from the governor. This was the first boat or vessel which left the garrison after the victory of the preceding month. The enemy, about the Sth or 9th, adopted a new plan for the regulation of their bombardment during the night: every 10 or 15 minutes thev discharged five, seven, and sometimes ten mortars at the same time, directing the shells principally to the same object. After a silence of the above period, they saluted us with a second volley, and so on till morning gun-fire. The number of rounds continued variable, from 400 to 600 shots, with almost the same proportion of shells, in the 24 hours. They were enabled to expend these immense quantities of ammunition by receiving constant supplies. The parties in the fascine park appeared now to be considerably increased, and an universal activity seemed still to prevail through the difierent departments. A person, ignorant of what had passed, and suddenly brought to view their proceedings, miglr* therefore naturally conclude from their operations, that they were elated with, and following up some success, rather than depressed oy a defeat. On the night of the 9th, some signals were made at Cabrita Point, which were answered by tbe combined fleets, each ship showing a light. The wind blew fresh westerly on the 10th ; and two frigates and a cutter joined the combined fleets from thar quarter. In the evening, a number of signals were made by the Spanish admiral. which were answered by various ships in the fleet. After sunset, the i gale increased, and at midnight it blew a hurricane, with smart showers of rain. Signal-guns were repeatedly fired by the combined fleets; and from their continuance, and the violence of the wind, we concluded some of them were in distress. At daybreak, a Spanish two-decker was discovered in a crippled state, close in shore olt Orange’s bastion : she was under close-reefed courses, and had lost her mizen topmast. Observing her danger upon an enemy's lee-shore, she suddenly luffed up, and endeavoured to weather , the garrison: as she passed several shots were fired through her from the , King’s bastion, which killed two, and j wounded two others; and soon afterwards she grounded near Ragged Staff, ! and struck to the garrison, hoisting j an English jack over her own colours. ! A boat from the Speedwell cutter im-| mediately took possession of the San r Miguel, or St. Michael, of 72 guns commanded by Don Juan Moreno, a Chef d'Escadre. The officers and men to the number of 634 (many of whom were dismounted dragoons), were immediately landed, and conducted to the quarters before occupied by their friends upon Windmill-hill. The gover nor was present when they were brought ashore, and generously permitted them to take their baggage un-searched, and the officers their stock of fresh provisions. When the morning cleared up, so as to admit of our observing the state of the combined fleets, we discovered the whole iu great disorder. One was on shore near their grand mag-azine; a French ship of the line had lost her foremast and bowsprit ; one, a three-decker, was missing, supposed to be driven from her anchors to the eastward; and three or four L 2U8 HISTORY OF TH [chap. VIII. were forced half-bay over (two within range of the garrison), where they all seemed to be in a very precarious situation. Many of the parapet boats, and other small craft, were also driven on shore near the Orange-grove. If the storm had continued a few hours longer, it is not improbable that a three-decker, with several other ships, would have suffered the fate of the St. Michael. The wind, however, abated as the day advanced; and, when the swell would permit them to assist the disabled ships, the boats were busily employed in carrying out anchors and cables to those which appeared most in distress. The garrison were not idle spectators of these movements : several sea mortars were soon brought to bear on the nearest ships, and one was in a short time obliged to move; but anchoring again off Point Mala, we continued annoying her with shells and red-hot shot, till she warped out of our range. The prisoners were no sooner landed from the prize, than the seamen began to lighten the vessel, by removing her powder ashore, and cutting away the mizen-mast: but she remaining still aground, they carried out anchors to prevent her going further ashore, intending to renew their exertions to warp her off at high water. The St. Michael was esteemed one of the best sailers in the Spanish navy. She was a new ship, built at the Havannah ; very lofty between decks, which were of mahogany, and her beams of cedar. When the combined fleets appeared in the English Channel, the St. Michael was one of the leading ships, and was also in the squadron which fired upon the garrison the 9th of September, when the Due de Crillon opened his batteries. The Spanish officers informed us they had received intelligence, the preceding day, of the approach of the British fleet; which had induced Admiral Cordova to order the combined fleets to lie at single anchor, and prepare co weigh at the shortest notice: that they were thus situated when the gale came on; and, the hurricane still increasing, a three-decker, early in the morning, ran foul of the St. Michael and forced her from her anchor : that she immediately set sail, but, as the event had evinced, found it impossible to weather the rock. The intelligence of Lord Howe being so near, now, for the first time, gave us sensible pleasure; not so much on account of our personal situation, as of the advantage which the enemy's recent misfortunes would give his lordship over his opponents, as well toward accomplishing the object of his orders, as affording him a further opportunity of acting as his lordship’s well-known abilities might dictate. We were so elated by our enemy’s distress, that some were so sanguine as to anticipate the most glorious conclusion of the war and our own sufferings. Our hopes however were soon depressed by the intelligence of Lord Howe’s great inferiority in number. Thirty-four sail to oppose forty-two, which still remained at anchor in the bay, gave us reason to be apprehensive for the safety of the British fleet The navigation of the Straits was so precarious, that if his lordship once entered the Mediterranean he might probably be prevented from returning for a considerable time; and the enemy, though now distressed, might, by the assistance of the camp, soon refit, and attack him under every advantage. By this digression I am, however, anticipating the regular narrative. In the afternoon a French two-decker sailed to the eastward ; and soon after a settee came in from the west, and fired several guns as she entered the bay. At this time it was so very hazy in the Straits, that we could not see the opposite coasts. About sunset several large ships were discovered through the haze ; and soon after, the Latona frigate, Captain Conway, anchored under our guns, and informed us that the ships in the Straits were the van of the British fleet, commanded by Lord Howe, consisting of 34 sail of the line, including 11 three-deckers, with 6 frigates and 31 ordnance transports, and a reinforcement of upward of 1600 men for the garrison. Captain Conway further told us of th/ great anxiety which prevailed at home relative to the situation of Gibraltar j1782.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR 149 and that it was only otf the southern coast of Portugal that Lord Howe had his uneasiness removed, bv receiving intelligence of the enemy’s complete defeat. This welcome information, he said, was accompanied by advice, that “ the combined fleets had taken their station in the bay of Gibraltar, resolutely determined to prevent, if possible, the intended relief.’’ We learned that, upon receiving the latter intelligence, the admirals and principal officers were summoned on board the Victory; where particular instructions and orders were communicated, in expectation of an engagement, which was considered as unavoidable. Although the enemv's signals for < the approach of the British fleet were made earlv in the afternoon, vet the Spanish admiral exhibited not the least appearance of opposition to any reinforcements being thrown into the gar-risen. This favourable opportunity was, however, lost; owing, as Lord Howe expresses in his official letter, “ to the want of timely attention to the circumstances of the navigation.” Only four or Ave transports reached the rock; the rest, with the fleet, were carried by the current into the Mediterranean. At night, or earlv on the 12th, Captain Curtis sailed in the Latona. to inform Lord Howe of the calamity which had befallen the enemy's fleet. At noon the British fleet appeared in good order off Estepona or Marbella ; and the transports, with the frigates, were working to windward to gain the bay. As they approached the isthmus the enemy saluted them from their mortars, and fired upon them from behind the eastern advanced guardhouse. Whilst the British fleet, with the transports, were thus critically situated, the combined fleets were very active in repairing their late damages, and in forming a line of battle along the shore. In the evening a number of troops were embarked on board them from the camp. Their xebeques. cutters, armed brigs, and gun-boats, also assembled in Sandy Bay, with an intention probably of picking up our straggling transports. In the close of the day, however, this ! fleet of craft returned to their main i fleet. At night the Panther man-of war, and several transports, anchored m the bay. The enemy on the land-side persevered in their cannonade; and observing that the St. Michael had run aground within the range ot their batteries, threw great numbers ot shells, with an intent to destroy her. Many burst over her, and some tell very near ; but, as their artillery could only be directed bv her masts, none tell on board. They pointed their usual weight of fire against our works, which the governor now that a prospect ot supplies appeared) returned with unusual vivacity. Their new boyau severely felt the effect of our ordnance. It was considerably deranged, and the enfilading howitzers at the Old mole head prevented them from strengthening it with any additions of consequence. In the garrison orders of the 12th, the following extracts from the dispatches received bv the governor were in-sorted:— G. 0. “ Extract from a letter to the governor, from the Light Hon. the Earl of Shelburne, principal secretary of state to his Majesty. Dated St. James’s, Julv 10th, 1782. “ 1 am also honoured with his Majesty’s command to assure vou in the strongest terms, that no encouragement shall be wanting to the brave officers and soldiers under your command* His royal approbation of the past will no doubt be a powerful incentive to future exertions; and I have the King's authority to assure you. that every distinguished act of emulation and gallantry which shall be performed in course of the siege by any, even of the lowest rank, will meet with ample reward from his gracious protection and favour. These his Majesty's intentions vou will communicate to every part of your garrison, that they may be perfectly sa-for the admires will be tisfied their royal master feels difficulties they are under, tlieir glorious resistance, and . happv to reward their merit.”150 HISTORY OF THE “ Extract from a letter to the governor from the Right Hon. Gen. Conway, commander-in-chief of his Majesty’s forces. Dated Ausust 31st, 1782. “ I am now to add that I have the King’s command to inform you, that he is in the greatest degree satisfied with the brave and steady defence made by your garrison; and his Majesty is desirous of showing them every mark of his royal approbation. It is in this light that his Majesty has been graciously pleased to consent to granting bat and forage-money, as a proper indulgence to your officers.” These extracts were perused by the garrison with great satisfaction, as they demonstrated that the safety of Gibraltar was esteemed a matter of the first importance; and flattered us with the agreeable hones that our late services would be duly appreciated by our friends and countrymen. The British fleet, at daybreak on the 13th, was still off Marbella, with the I wind at west. About nine o’clock a.m. the Spanish admiral made the signal for the combined fleets to weigh anchor. By one o’clock the whole were under way. At three a French rear-admiral, being the last of the rear division, cleared the bay. Their number in all amounted to 80 sail, of which the following, I believe, is an accurate account; 6 three-deckers, 38 two-deckers, including several fifties (total, 44 men-of-war); 5 frigates, 29 xebeques, cutters, armed ships, and brigs; also 2, imagined to be fire-ships. Notwithstanding little doubt was to be entertained of the enemy’s intention of 1 leaving the bay, the Panther man-of-war remained at anchor with several officers of the garrison on board, whom the governor had permitted to act as volunteers in the expected engagement. When the combined fleets had cleared the bay, they stood some time to the i southward, and leaving a line-of-battle ship and two frigates to prevent the Panther from joining her admiral, drove with the current some leagues to the eastward. They then appeared to edge down towards the British fleet, which was in close line of battle upon a wind, with their heads to the south- j [chap. VIII. ward; the transports, with the frigates which had been beating up, falling behind them to leeward. Thus were both fleets situated at the close of the evening. Before the enemy had totally quitted the bay, Captain Curtis landed in a small boat from the Latona frigate, with 20,00(7. in specie for the garrison, having narrowly escaped being cut off by the combined fleets. He told us the British fleet were in high spirits, and impatient to engage, notwithstanding the enemy’s great superiority. When the combined fleets first appeared in motion, the Spanish prisoners who had been landed from the St. Michael were so overjoyed, that they could not forbear expressing their ecstacies in so riotous a manner as to call for some severity, to confine them within the : limits of their camp. As our observations on the manoeuvres of the fleet were interrupted soon ; after sunset, we impatiently waited for the succeeding day to be spectators of the action, which was now considered as impossible to be avoided; and orders were therefore given for preparing several wards in the Navy hospital for ’ the reception of the wounded: but, on the dawn of the 14th, the fleets, to our astonishment, were some leagues distant from each other: the British beimr to leeward m the south-east quarter, whilst the combined fleets appeared in the north-east, off Estepona. In the evening the British fleet could be dis-i covered only from the summit of the rock. It seemed to the garrison that the Spanish admiral, by having the 1 weather-gage, had it in his option to bring the British fleet to action if he pleased. The fleets being thus separated, the Panther, about noon, endeavoured to join Lord Howe, but put j back for want of wind. Seventeen gunboats came from Algeziras, apparently to prevent her leaving the bay ; but observing her cast anchor, they returned. The enemy’s cannonade on the land-side was continued with great vivacity. A few days, nay, probably hours, were to turn the balance for or against their future hopes of obtaining the grand i object of their wishes: they were not , therefore economical in their ammuni-G82.J SIEGE OF GIBKALI AIL 151 tion: nor was the garrison in the least behind them in the brisk use of their ordnance. Lieut. Gromlev, of the Koval Artillery, was mortally wounded m the evening at Willis’s, and died soon after he was brought to the hospital. Part of the combined fleets, in the morning of the 15th, was seen (though the weather was very hazv) oft Mar- •/ •> bella. The British fleet was out of sight: the Panther nevertheless at-tempted to join them. About 8 a.m. the wind came about to the eastward. In the forenoon 9 polacres sailed from the Spanish camp, with troops on board for Ceuta. This brought to our recol-lection the critical state of that garrison both as to men and provisions, when Admiral Kodnev was in their neigh-bourhood in 17 SO; and the enemy, from embracing this opportunity of sending supplies, appeared not entirely to have forgotten it. About noon, the British fteet was discovered in the offing, to the south-east of Ceuta, standing under an easv sail towards the rock. At night the Latona, with 8 or 10 transports, anchored in the bay. They informed us that the Buffalo man-of-war, with the remaining twelve transports, had separated fby order) from the fleet, but had not afterwards joined. This intelligence gave us some uneasiness for their safety ; but we flattered ourselves thev were gone, agreeably to instructions, to the Zafa-rine Islands, the place of rendezvous in case the fleets engaged. Capt. Conway, after a short conference with the go- C7 vernor, returned in the morning of the 16th to the British fleet, which was cruising to the eastward of the rock, with the wind at east. The combined fleets were not in sight: we concluded therefore that they were gone to Malaga to make further repairs, and join those ships which had been forced from the bay on the 11th. Since the arrival of the first transports, the garrison had been busily employed in disembarking the supplies. The former fleets had brought us principally provisions; this brought us only men and ammunition, which probably might, without this supply, have become as scarce articles as the former had been. The exertions of the navy not being successful in floatmgthe St. Michael, a hundred sailors were detached on board on the 17th, to their assistance: and not long afterwards, she was anchored oft’ the New mole. It was peculiarly fortunate that she grounded on a bank of sand, though she was surrounded with rocks : her bottom was therefore little in lured. Sir Charles Knowles, Bart., who had been formerly on this station, was appointed to command her. The wind had now changed to the south-west: and. in the forenoon of the same day, a British frigate appeared from the west. She made a signal when off Europa, which being answered by our fleet, she immediately joined them. At night, the gun-boats being heard in the bav. our batteries were manned to receive them: but, upon a gun being fired from the St. Michael, they threw up their rockets and returned. Some were of opinion that they meditated an attempt to cut her out. The 18th. the wind again came about to the east; and the Buflalo, with eleven of the missing transports, arrived in the course of the day. These ships, as we had conjectured, had separated from the fleet, and were proceeding to the place of rendezvous, when, not hearing any firing, and the wind veering about, they returned, and were very near joining the combined fleets, but discovered their error time enough to rectify it. The missing ves-sel, they informed us, had been taken by the enemy, some days before, oft Malaga; and, having on board the wives and baggage of the two regiments which were on board the fieet, and were intended for our reinforcement, he r capture greatly distressed those corps, and the garrison heartily condoled with them. The Latona, in her return to the fleet, chased and boarded a vessel, which proved to be a Spanish fire-ship. The crew, deserting her, were conducted, bv two gun-boats at-tending, to a xebeque at some distance, which afterwards went into Ceuta. The prize was sent into the bay. About noon, 4 or 5 men-of-war arrived from the fleet, with t: e 25tli and 59th regiments. Lord Mulgrave, who com*152 HISTORY OF THE [CHAP. VIII. manded the disembarkation, landed the troops with the greatest expedition under the line-wall at the New mole, Rosia and Camp bays, and returned to Lord Howe off Tetuan. The two regiments were encamped before ten o’clock at night; the former behind the barracks, the latter upon Windmill-hill. W e now learned that the admiral, having accomplished the object of the expedition, intended to embrace the favourable opportunity of the wind, and immediately return to the westward. Tn the course of the night, the fire-ship brought in by Capt. Conway was purposely set on fire, and being anchored apart from the shipping, blew up without doing any damage. The Latona soon afterwards joined the British fleet. Capt. Vallotton, the governor’s first aide-de-camp, embarked in her to bear home the governor’s public dispatches. Capt. Curtis also went in her, to communicate information from the governor to Lord Howe; and did not return. At daybreak on the 19th, both fleets, to our great astonishment, were in sight; the combined fleets being some leagues to windward. When the British fleet was abreast of Europa, Lord Howe dispatched the Tisiphone fireship, with a further supply of powder collected from the fleet. The British fleet afterwards put before the wind, and stood, under an easy sail, in close order to the westward. The van of the combined fleet, composed of French ships, followed with a press of canvass at some distance. Bv two «/ o’clock p.m. Lord Howe’s fleet was out of sight; but the Spanish ships sailing heavily, it was night before they disappeared. Though fully convinced of the prudence of his lordship’s conduct, it was no very pleasing prospect for a British garrison to behold a British fleet, though inferior in force, lead the enemy. At night, the wind changed to the south-west; and the succeeding day, a brisk cannonade was heard from that quarter. This, however, could not proceed from the action which afterwards took place between the fleets, as the firing was heard early in the morning. Some time on the 19th, a guard of 2 subalterns and 96 men was ordered from the 25th and 59th regiments on board the St. Michael, where they remained till she was completely repaired Several large ships were observed, on the 20th, to be anchored at some distance from Algeziras; and, as six or seven were conjectured to be fireships, precautions were accordingly taken, and the batteries from South bastion to Europa ordered, in case of alarm, to be doubly manned. The enemy, the same day, got off the man-of-war which ran ashore near their grand magazine. In the evening some movements were observed in the French camp; and on the succeeding day most of the tents were struck. In the afternoon, the resident Spanish priest was confined to his house, for holding conversation wdth some of the prisoners on Windmill-hill. The enemy’s cannonade was still continued, upon an average of about 500 or 600 rounds in the 24 hours. They lined some part of the new boyau with fascines, and raised a few traverses in the rear, notwithstanding our brisk fire : they were, however, prevented from making any additions of consequence. On the 22nd, a polacre arrived from Algiers, with intelligence from the British consul, that Lord Howe had sailed for the relief of Gibraltar. Happily his lordship had effected that business, and, probably, before they at Algiers were informed of the British fleet having left England. The extreme distress which the garrison had experienced in the close of the years 1779 and 1780, and the great-profits which from the exigencies of those periods had arisen to the adventurers who ran the hazard of a voyage with provisions for our relief, were by this time pretty generally known at home. The favourable opportunity of a safe convoy under the British fleet, prompted, therefore, many masters of transports, some of whom had been in the garrison before, during the war, to lay in a stock of various articles, with the prospect that the distresses of their friends might afford these truly humane and generous patriots an occasion to sell them, on their arrival, at their own price. Although these supplies were most highly acceptable, yet the1782 J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 153 garrison was not at this time in such absolute need of their assistance, as to purchase them at those enormous prices which before had been given with pleasure ; nor in justice did we think, from the little risk the adventurers ran, that they deserved such immense profits. A committee of officers from every corps assembled on the 23rd, to consider what measures to pursue in order to prevent such impositions in future; and, as every article brought to the garrison was sold at public auction, it was unanimously agreed, that a certain price should be fixed upon each article, allowing such profit as might reasonably be thought adequate to the hazard; and, when the estimate was published, every officer, I believe, pledged his honour not to exceed the terms therein specified. (See App.) The prudent and manly regulation of the committee was strictly attended to for about a fortnight, but it had not that immediate effect we expected; many of our generous countrymen, rather than dispose of their ventures for a profit of 150, and in some instances 300 per cent., very liberally determined not to land them, but to sell them for a trifling advantage at Lisbon, or elsewhere, in their way home. We should nevertheless have soon got the better of their obstinacy had we continued determined and consistent ourselves; but some individuals who preferred self-gratification to the public good, beginning to evade the agreement, the whole was cancelled and the demands of the adventurers became afterwards as exorbitant, if not more so than before. So little dependence is there upon the adherence of a multitude to any sumptuary regulations, however essential to their real interest. The mortar-boats, on the night of the 23rd, paid us a visit, and did considerable damage. Their shells were chiefly directed towards the New mole. The Hector cutter, in government service, was sunk by a shell, and everything on board lost. Several other vessels narrowly escaped the same fate. We fired upon them from Willis’s and the Old mole: but their gun-boats were silent. The 24th, we "observed that the enemy had struck the tents of four or five battalions, and two regiments were seen this day marching along the beach. The day following some baggage was observed removing from the .Duke’s quarters ; which gave us great hopes that his Grace was preparing to leave the camp, and that matters were verging towards a conclusion. In the evening a deserter came in, a native Catalonian. He informed us there had been an engagement between the British and combined fleets, but could give us no particulars. He further told us that their camp was breaking up: 16 battalions had already marched away, and others were preparing to decamp: that they had ceased to work in their approaches; and that their night-guards consisted of 4000 men, under the command of two brigadier-generals : concluding with acquainting us, that the winter camp before the garrison was to consist of 20,000 men : that additional gun-boats were building to constantly harass us; and that a corporal and 12 men were stationed in the gardens to prevent desertion. The 2cth, the tents occupied by the Duke’s corps encamped before Buena Vista were struck ; which served to increase our hopes, that the prospect was not far distant of an end to our fatigues. Don Juan Moreno left the garrison the same day, with a fiag of truce. Our boat could not learn anv further account of the engagement; but the officers were informed, that a general peace was expected, as the independence of America had been acknowledged by Great Britain. More battalions left the enemy’s camp on the 27th: their cannonade nevertheless was continued, and several shot ranged as far as the entrance of Windmill-hill; a distance of about 5000 yards. Their camp was still decreasing on the 28th and 29th ; and we judged from our observations, that about 23 battalions, with a brigade of artillery, had marched into the country. The last deserters said many had taken their route to Cadiz. The 3lth, we observed the enemy had stationed a guard under the rock near the Devil's tower. They were taken seme i otice154 HISTORY OF THE [CHAP. VIII. of by our artillery, who endeavoured to annoy them with small projectiles from the summit of the northern front. The Tisiphone, Captain Sandys, with five or six ordnance-ships (having 160 Jews on board), sailed for England early in the morning of the 31st. The same day, a soldier of the 97th regiment was killed at Rosia, by a long-range shot from the isthmus. This shot must have ranged more than two miles and a half. Three deserters came in on the 2nd and 4th of November, but could give no satisfactory information relative to the action between the fleets. They said the French troops had quitted the camp with the Royal volunteers. The enemy’s camp continued to break up on the 7th and 8th ; though some of the regiments, it was imagined, took possession of the large building ea^:-ward of Point Mala, which had been built for a hospital. On the 7th, two men-of-war and a sloop (supposed to be French, from the West Indies) passed to the eastward. The Spanish gunboats seemed to suspect they were enemies, and intended to come in: as they were in motion, and appeared to be preparing for an attack. The 8th, 23 gun-boats paraded at a short distance from the garrison, extending in a line a-head to the southward. We expected an attack upon the St. Michael: but, an easterly wind springing up, they returned. Thev had scarcelv got back, when a signal was made at Cabrita Point, and they again put about. Our attention was engaged by this manceu-vre : and, upon investigating the cause, we discovered a sloop standing toward the garrison from the eastward. If this vessel had continued the course she then steered, she might undoubtedly have reached the rock : whether, however, it was owing to the westerly cur- * _ * v rent off Europa, or the ignorance of the crew, we could not determine; in the course of an hour she drove so considerably to leeward as to be out of the protection of our guns, and, after receiving several discharges of round and grape from the gun-boats, was boarded by the enemy. Sir Charles Knowles, Bart, (who since Captain Cur- tis's departure commanded in the bay), ordered several barges out to her assistance, but to no purpose. A boat, with live of her crew, escaped to the garrison, and informed us she was laden with sugar and tea from Falmouth. Soon afterwards a Danish dogger was brought to an anchor in the bay, by a gun from Europa: she was laden with rice and pilchards from i England. A flag of truce on the 9th went with a letter to the Duke ; and, in the evening, another brought over Ensign Lewis, of the 58th regiment, with a quarter-master and a volunteer of the 25th, who had been taken in the Minerva brig, with the baggage, &c., of the 25th and 59th regiments. This flag also brought over other prisoners. By these gentlemen, we learned that an engagement had taken place between ; Lord Howe and Admiral Cordova, and that the latter was returned into port with his fleet much shattered. After the departure of the fleets, little attention was paid by the enemy to the blockade. Not one cruiser was now to be seen in the Straits or to the eastward, and few vessels of force were stationed at Cabrita Point. The idea of gaining Gibraltar, either bv force or stratagem, seemed at length to be totally relinquished. Their cannonade from the land nevertheless was continued ; but, as it gradually diminished, and scarce exceeded at this time 250 rounds in the 24 hours, we imagined it would in a short time totally cease. The St. Philip’s Castle, and several ordnance-ships, had left the bay the evening of the 8th: and, on the 10th and 12th, two light vessels came to Algeziras, which, from their appearance, were thought to be of the latter. On the 12th. a flag of truce went with a letter to the Duke. Whilst it was out the enemv’s gun-boats commenced a smart cannonade upon the St. Michael (which was now refitted"', whilst their mortar-boats bombarded our camp. We returned their fire, and two of the mortar-boats retired very early, the others following them in about an hour. Three or four shot were fired through the St. Michael, but no other damage was received. Our flag returned just1782.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 155 as the cannonade ceased. As it appeared probable that the enemy might renew their attacks upon the prize, Colonel Williams, who commanded the artillery, ordered more mortars to be distributed alomr the sea-line, from the King’s bastion to the New mole fort. The 15th, a regiment quitted their camp; and at night their workmen raised about 20 traverses in the rear of their advanced boyau, extending from the parallel about half the length of the work. Our fire at this period was variable. The day following, between 20 and 30 transports, with troops on board, sailed under convoy of two fri-gates for the westward. Their artillery also about this time removed most of the ordnance from their park to the landing place, where we numbered 30 cannon and 5 mortars, with a great quantity of shot and shells ready for embarkation. The 17th, a xebeque and several armed vessels and gunboats anchored at Cabrita Point, as if they had determined to renew the blockade. Three days after, all the Spanish prisoners taken in the St. Alichael (excepting a few who chose to remain behind) were sent to the camp.- The Spanish officers, on this occasion, informed us that there had been an engagement between the British and combined fleets, which had ended to the advantage of the former. In the evening of the 2t th, a party of about 100 men were seen to go from the eastern part of the enemy’s parallel to the back of the rock. We could not at that time account for the inarching of these troops. The small craft conti-2 nued at Cabrita Point; the men-of-war and larger vessels being at anchor off the Orange-grove. Four sail of the line and three frigates, beside xebeques, &c., were now in the bay. The enemy, on the 21st and 22nd, embarked a vast quantity of powder from their grand magazine on board the men-of-war. Most of the spare ordnance had already been shipped on board, and others were removing daily toward the beach. Two boats arrived on the 23rd from Portugal: they brought certain intelli-gence of the preceding action between the fleets. The particulars of this in- telligence were, that a partial action had taken place between the British of 31 ships, and the combined fleets of 46 ships of the line : that, though the latter had the weather-gage, they studiously avoided a close engagement; and, after a cannonade of several hours, hauled their wind and directed their course to Cadiz. The same day Lieutenant John MTCenzie, of the 73rd, was dangerously wounded at Willis’s. The enemy’s fire now’ scarcely exceeded 150 rounds. Two more boats got in from Faro the night of the 26th, Our success iu obtaining these 'welcome supplies rendered the enemy more vigilant and active to intercept them. Every boat, even friends, which approached the rock, raised their suspicion. Though every appearance in their camp indicated that they had given up all hopes of subduing the garrison by force, their parties on the isthmus continued to be very busy, and some evenings they made additions of traverses to their works. Heavy timber was also brought forward to the parallel, but for what purpose we could not then imagine. Their advanced parties had likewise the audacity frequently to approach half-way upon the causeway from Bay-side; but, tlie artillery having orders to scour the gardens, and the neighbourhood of Bay-side, with grape from the Old mole, their curiosity in a short time was pretty well cooled. Toward the close of this month, the enemy’s fire became more faint and •/ ill directed, whilst ours was more animated and effectual. Our engineers continued to be constantly engaged. The rebuilding of the whole flank of the Prince of Orange’s bastion, 120 feet in length, with solid masonry (which w’as now nearly finished), in the face of such powerful artillery, can scarcely be paralleled in any siege. In the beginning of December, the Achilles ordnance ship, with two or three boats, arrived from England and Portugal. The 6th, a Venetian ship w’as driven by the current under the guns of Europa. We fired to bring her to, and the master instantly came ashore and informed us she w as bound to London; but, before he could re-156 HISTORY OF THE [ciiap. viii. turn, his vessel was boarded by three gun-boats, which towed her to Algeziras. eThe master then came into the garrison, and at night was permitted to follow his vessel. The following evening a German deserted to us from the Walon guards. He informed us that the enemy stationed every evening a guard of 300 men near the Devil’s tower, where they had miners at work in a cave, hoping to form a mine to blow up the north part of the rock. We paid no kind of attention at first to this intelligence, so ridiculous and even chimerical the scheme apneared. Re- I X collecting, however, that a party had been observed to march that way some evenings before, and remarking, upon a closer inspection, that every evening a numerous body of men approached along the eastern shore toward that quarter, we began to give some credit to this singular information.* The above deserter also informed us that the enemy had removed some ordnance from the parallel, but that their guards and advanced parties were still very strong. By this period, our engineers had penetrated a considerable distance in the gallery above Farringdon’s battery, and had opened 5 embrasures to the front of the rock ; and, to have a more secure communication to this singular work, a covered way was sunk, by blasting the rock from the above-mentioned battery to the entrance of the gallery. The success with which this work had been prosecuted, and the considerable advantages which promised to result from it when finished, induced the governor to order that a similar battery, but only for 2 guns, should be made in the rock near Crouchett's battery, above the Prince of Hesse’s bastion; and the workmen had now made some advances therein. On the 12th, a guard-boat of the St. Michael, with 2 officers and 7 sailors, j vent over to the enemy. We after- * In 1727, the besiegers formed the design of blowing up Willis s batteries by a mine ; but it is imagined they found it impracticable, as they neve? attempted to spring the mine, , though the Journal of that Siege mentions it was loaded. wards learned from the officers, who returned in a flag of truce, that the sailors rose upon them, saying they were resolved to go over to the enemy : that Lieut. Small, who commanded the boat, drew his hanger, and attempted a stroke at the man who was spokesman upon the occasion; but that he was knocked down by the coxswain with the tiller of the rudder: that, whilst he was thus senseless, they had it in debate to throw him overboard: but, by the intercession of the young midshipman, he was preserved, and, when taken ashore, was some time before he recovered. The enemy’s parties under the rock, near the Devil’s tower, began now to engage our curiosity. Every part of the north front was explored, to endeavour, if possible, to discover what they were about. At length, on the 15th, a place was found above Green’s lodge, whence we could distinguish a part of their work. The communication with this post, being along a level beach, was greatly exposed to our fire. When their parties were discovered advancing from the east fiank of the 64-gun battery, our artillery at Willis’s and on the heights prepared to salute them. They were permitted to approach unmolested within 200 or 300 yards, when a general volley was discharged of cohorn-shells, with grape, seconded by the mortars on the Levant battery, loaded with hand-shells, or grenades, quilted together. A chance, or mine, was sometimes sprung upon them from the top, when they had nearly got under the rock; the stones from which added not a little to their confusion and loss. Notwithstanding that they were in this manner obliged every evening to pass the gantelope of our fire, they continued to bring ma-terials, and maintained their post with surprising obstinacy. Some of the guard were seen frequently, in the day, to advance from their cover: a party of Corsicans, who hitherto had done no other duty than guard the prisoners on Windmill-hill, were ordered therefore to the post above Green’s lodge, to fire wall-pieces upon those that appeared from belowSIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 157 17S2.J A flag of truce went from the garrison on the 17tli. The Spanish aide-de-camp informed us that preliminaries of a general peace were expected to be signed in the course of the mouth. The succeeding dav another flag went from the governor with letters to the Duke : it had scarcely returned, when 29 gun and mortar boats commenced a spirited attack upon the St. Michael, and other ships, at anchor off Buena Vista. Since these boats had made a custom of firing upon the garrison, we never remarked them to be arranged with more judgment, or to behave with greater gallantry, than thev did on this occasion. The mortar-boats composed the centre division, and a division of gun-boats was arranged on each flank : their line of battle extending about 2 miles. They got their distance the first round, and retained it with such precision, that almost every shell fell within 50 yards of the St. Michael, which was the chief object of their attack. The 74th shell fell on board, about mid-ship: pierced the first, and broke on the lower deck; killed 4. and wounded 11 sailors, 3 of them mortally. After this accident, Sir Charles Knowles, being apprehensive of the most fatal consequences if a shell should fall into the magazine, removed the powder, through the opposite portholes, into a launch, which was immediately towed under the rock : SO barrels, which could not be removed, were thrown into the sea. The enemy still maintained a warm fire, but, it is imagined, did not observe that anv had fallen on board the ship. Several shells carried away ornaments and parts of her rigging: fortunately how-ever she received no further injury. Not one shell came ashore from the boats. Captain Gibson, at the commencement of the action, rowed out with S gun-boats from the New mole, and very warmly attacked their northern division. On his appearing in motion, 3 parapet boats advanced from the Orange-grove to take our boats in flank. One of this number was however soon disabled bv the garrison, and the other two joined the main body. When the enemy had expended their ammunition, the mortar-boats retired, and the gun-boats covered their retreat in a most beautiful manner. They stood towards the Orange-grove, and embarked some of their crews on board the men-of-war. Three of the line-of-battle ships, two frigates, and a xebeque, with several bomb-ketches, and other vessels, which were ail laden with military stores, sailed to the westward. The enemy’s land batteries, as is mentioned before, were gradually diminishing in their fire; but, upon this occasion, they supported the boats from the bay with a very animated addi-tional cannonade. The remainder of the enemy's ships, laden with military stores, sailed on the night of the 19th from the Orange-grove to the westward. The wind continued easterly: and, on the succeeding night, or rather the morning of the 21st, blew so strong a gale, that the St. Michael was driven from her anchors more than half-bay over: every exertion was made to recover her station, but all proved ineffectual ; when fortunately an eddv-wind brought her about, and Sir Charles Knowles was happy to run her aground within the New mole on a sand-bank south of the tank. The gale was so powerful on Windmill-hill, that the tents of the 59th regiment were tom from tin pickets, and carried a considerable distance from the camp-ground. To obviate the like disagreeable circumstances in future, that regiment was removed to encamp in Southport ditch, opposite Sydow’s (formerly Harden-berg’s) regiment. This arrangement obliged the town-parade to be changed: and the guards afterwards assembled on the Red sands, which continues at this time to be the general parade. In the course of the day, the St. Michael was warped into deep water, and moored in the New mole. At night a deserter came in: he informed us that the enemy had 20 miners at work near the Devil's tower, protected by a strong guard; that we annoyed tlieir communication with that post very much, and every evening killed and wounded many men. In consequence of this intelligence, cur the toward158 HISTORY OF TIIE [chap. VIII. that quarter was increased. A flag of truce, on the 20th, had informed us that the women belonging to the 25th and 59th regiments were at the enemy’s camp, waiting more moderate weather, to be sent by water into the garrison. The 22nd, they were received; but, upon their landing, they were conducted to the Naval hospital, where some few of them were detained by the faculty as exceptionable. Lieut. Small, of the navy, came over on the 23rd, in a flag of truce. He told us the enemy’s small craft had materially suffered from the storm which had so greatly endangered the St. Michael. The Due de Crillon, the day following, visited the parallel, and was present in the western boyau, whilst an engineer picketed out a work at the extremity of it, near the beach. At intervals, we could now distinctly hear the explosion of the mines in the enemy's cave or gallery at the Devil's tower. Few men were however to be seen in that neighbourhood ; though at night they continued the reliefs, and brought materials as usual. In the afternoon of the 25th, being Christmas-day, we observed the gun and mortar boats in motion, and, about four o’clock, 18 of the former and 11 of the latter advanced from Algeziras, apparently with an intention of renewing their attack upon the unfortunate St. Michael; but, 11 of our gun-boats, under the personal orders of Sir Charles Knowles, opposing them, the centre division of mortar-boats, and the southward division, stood toward Europa, and began a warm bombardment upon our camp; throwing their’shells indiscriminately from Windmill-hill to South shed. Our gun-boats in this action behaved with great gallantry, directing their opposition entirely against the mortar-boats ; the fire of which they in a great measure diverted from the shipping. A blind shell nevertheless fell into the ward-room of the St. Michael; and another shell carried away the mizen-mast of the Porcupine frigate, and burst in the state cabin. Seven or eight shells fell within the hospital-wall: one exploded in a ward, and killed and wounded several of the sick. Several houses and sheds wer° also destroyed, and others considerably injured. In short, it was thought to be the warmest attack we had ever experienced from the gun-boats; and our men, being mostly in spirits after their Christmas dinner, were consequently less trxm their guard. One was killed, and seven were wounded, in the camp. As our artillery had time to prepare, the enemy’s cannonade was returned with great vivacity; but the mortar-boats and southward division had taken so judicious a station, that few ordnance could be brought to bear upon them. We had nevertheless some reason to conclude their loss was superior to our own. Their land batteries (with the addition of Fort St. Philip and the Black batterv, which had been silent some time') upon this occasion, as upon the last, increased their fire upon the town. We therefore had the enemy upon our whole front, from Europa Point to Landport. At a quarter past six o’clock the mortar-boats retired, and were covered in their retreat by the gun-boats, as before.* This dishonourable and cruel mode of prosecuting the war, we had reason to think, would be continued till a peace should put an end to all hostilities. The enemy had been very industrious in impressing this pleasing information on the memories of the women who had been lately detained by the weather in their camp. They were told, for their comfort, that, as the besieging army had been reluctantly compelled to re linquish the idea of recovering Gibraltar, they were determined to harass and alarm the garrison by successive attacks from the gun and mortar boats, * It was during this attack that the materials from which this work is compiled were in the most imminent danger of being entirely destroyed.— A 13-inch shell from the enemy s mortar boats, falling above the camp guard, rolled along the road leading from Buena Vista and entered the author's marquee, brushing the pillow of his bed, and lodging closely under the corner of the bedstead ; though lighted when it entered, and though its force must have been greatly spent in the ricochets before it entered, the fuse luckily broke as it lodged within, and the marquee, with its contents, by that fortu»ate circum stance was preserved.1783-3 SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR- 159 which, for the purpose of having regular reliefs, were to he increased in number : thus, by being exposed to a revengeful enemy, the prospect before us promised to be more irksome and vexatious than the more interesting period which had passed. Although the enemv’s fire from the isthmus was almost discontinued, the governor, towards the conclusion of December, made up for their deficiency by a more animated discharge than usual: every night the whole north front appeared a continued line of fire. The Devil’s tower chiefly engaged his attention : their guard at this post was generally relieved about seven or eight o’clock in the evening, if not prevented by our fire. The work of sand-bags, which we could see from one spot, was totally destroyed; and the sloping timbers which they had placed against the rock to protect them from the overhead fire, were much shattered by the weighty fragments of rock which were C J o hurled upon them from above. The night of the 27th, the enemy opened three embrasures in the epaulment at the east end of the 64-gun battery. The embrasures were then masked, and, the succeeding evening, were faced with fascines. The night of the 29th, they raised a work of sand-bags, of about 100 feet in extent, at the western extremity of the new boyau. It was picketed out when the Duke was present, and extended to the rear at right angles with the epaulment. The 3( th, 19 gun and mortar boats came out of the river Palmones, where they generally retired to repair, after firing upon the garrison. The evening of the succeeding day being very calm, and some movements being observed amongst them, we expected they would commence the new year with another visit: but we were happily disappointed. Since we were sufficiently persuaded of the conduct which the enemy had determined to pursue for the remainder of the war, the governor again adopted the idea of retaliation : the gun mounted on Colonel Williamson’s elevated carriage was removed to the Old mole | head, and other preparations were made | U) annoy their camp when the boats should renew their attack. In th course of December several vessels an boats arrived with stores and supplies. Others likewise left the bay, and fiags of truce frequently passed between the governor and the Duke. Their purport was not, however publicly known. The last day of December, a party of the navy fished up one of the guns from the wreck of the battering-ships ; and the following dav, the 1st of J a-nuary, 1783, the gun, which was of iron and a 26-pounder, was drawn in procession by the British tars, with a Spanish ensign, which had been taken from on board one of the ships, displayed over it, and attended by a band of music, playing “ God save the rung. * Our observations made upon the enemy's proceedings at the Devil's tower were as vet very unsatisfactory, though, by the enterprising activity of a serjeant in the artificers, we knew that they were in reality at work in a cave : for he had descended, by means of ropes and ladders, so low down the face of the rock as to see the mouth of the cave, and hear the people converse. Early, therefore, on the morning of the 4th, three of the governor’s staff went in a barge, protected by two gunboats, to reconnoitre this post. Their curiosity prompted them to approach nearer than was perhaps prudent, as the guard fired musketry upon them, and a gun or two were discharged from Fort Barbara. Soon after they returned, the new 3-gun battery, at the east end of the 64-gun battery, was unmasked, though the guns were under metal. In the afternoon of the same day, the gun and mortar boats advanced in two divisions from Algeziras, and, when halfbay over, were joined by a third divi-* sion of five from Cabrita Point, consisting in all of thirty-three. The centre division of sixteen, principally mortar- * Many more of these guns were afterwards recovered from the w recks; and most of them, being of brass, were sold ; the produce of the sales, and other moneys arising from the head-money granted by Parliament for the battering-ships, and the sale of the St, Michael prize, w ere ♦proportioned in shares to the garrison and marine brigade.—See Appendix160 HISTORY OF THE boats, was warmly attacked by Sir Charles Knowles, with eleven of ours, whilst the northern division was as briskly annoyed from the Kind’s bas- y J O tion. This division of twelve gun-boats had the boldness to approach within the range of grape, and suffered very considerably. One was undoubtedly sunk by a howitzer shell, and others were greatly damaged. Two of the mortar-boats were also driven from the line, and several others were observed to be in confusion. The land- | batteries, which had been silent since the Duke had visited the lines on the 2nd of January, seconded the attack by sea with a very animated fire. The bay being calm, and little wind blowing to carry off the smoke, the appearance of this attack altogether, from the extent of the front engaged, was tremendous. Lieutenant Holloway, of the engineers, aide-de-camp to General Green, was wounded by a splinter of a shell, which fell opposite to General de la Motte’s quarters at the southward, where the , staff at the southward usually assem- | bled upon these occasions. Two men were killed, and one wounded, in the garrison; but the seamen had no casualties. The St. Michael also on this occasion escaped; and it was remarked not one shell fell near the hospital. When the boats had expended 83 shot and 206 shells, they retired: from the isthmus 578 shot and 102 shells were discharged in this short period. When our artillery had put the batteries in order, a party was detached, about eight in the evening, to the Old mole; and upward of 100 rounds of red-hot shot, with large and small shells, were thrown into the enemy’s camp: all appeared to answer, except the heavy shells, the fuses of which were in general too short for the range. The following morning, several pieces of a gun-boat, an oar, with some bread, garlic, &c., were seen floating in the bay, and gathered by our boats. This served to strengthen our conjecture of the preceding evening, that one of their gunboats had been sunk in the action. In the evening, about nine o’clock, our northern guards were surprised with a sudden discharge of musketry on the [chap. vin. causeway, and in the neighbourhood of Bay-side : it was immediately returned from Landport and the lines, with a few rounds of grape from Covert-port battery ; after which there was a dead silence. The next morning a bloody hat, with several shot-holes through it, , was taken up near Bay-side. We could not otherwise account for this firing than by supposing that some of the enemy, attempting to desert, had been observed and pursued. One or two of our own men in the Fleche were wounded by the scattered grape-shot from the Covert-port battery. The evening of the 9th, the enemy paraded with only 23 boats, seemingly with an intention of renewing their attack upon the shipping and garrison; but Sir Charles appearing with his small force, his opponents thought proper to retire. We were however alarmed, early the next morning, by their firing upon the garrison: they approached very cautiously, and directed their fire towards the New mole. Sir Charles Knowles had his boats soon manned; but had not been long out before one of them was unfortunately sunk by a splinter from one of our own shells which burst in the air. The crew were instantly taken up by their friends, and the boat towed in. The land batteries opened as before, and continued firing until the boats retreated. Our shipping received no damage, nor were any seamen hurt; but in the garrison we had 1 killed and 15 or 16 wounded, beside a Jew\ an inhabitant. One of their shells fell into the north pavilion of the South barracks, and burst upon the second floor: the officers were luckily out; for the rooms, above and below, were totally destroyed. When the smoke had sufficiently dispersed, we numbered 38 boats, but (as their sterns were towards us) could not distinguish how many carried mortars. The governor saluted their camp in the evening from the Old mole. A boat arrived on the 11th from Faro, wdth dispatches to the governor. The Brilliant frigate was ordered soon afterwards to be prepared for sea. The enemy’s cannonade from the1783.J SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 161 land, except when the gun-boats fired, was at this time so trifling that it scarcely deserved the name of a con-tinuation. Our engineers were therefore employed in repairing the curtain of the Grand battery, the north face and flank of Montague’s bastion, with the adjoining curtain ; and, though the men were much exposed in this duty, the enemy seldom if ever molested them. Their parties continued bringing various materials from the parallel to the post at the Devil's tower. We never allowed them to pass, or even appear, without a tremendous volley of shells and grape, and fragments of stones discharged from the summit of the rock. But our artillery were not solelv engaged with the enemv in this quarter; every annoyance that could be devised was directed against them in all quarters. The ordnance, since the arrival of the last dispatches from Faro, were kept in as quick action as the metal would permit. A party of Corsicans were also stationed in the lines to punish their patroles, who frequently had the audacity to approach within a few yards of the extremity. The evenings of the 18th and 19th, the enemy played otf a number of rockets and other fireworks at Algeziras, accompanied with several discharges of cannon. They likewise saluted us from the lines with a volley of shells, and 21 rounds of shot. We could not divine the cause of these rejoicings. On the 25th some sparks of fire communicating to an ammunition box at Middle-hill guard, the contents blew up, and carried away great part of the wall and guard-house, bruising and burning several of the guard. The engineers were immediately ordered to repair the breach, and not quit the post till the works were in their original state. A reinforcement of a subaltern from the line, with a drum and 21 rank and file, was ordered likewise to join that guard every evening; and other regulations relative to it were established. On the 29th Lieut. Angelo Raflaeli, of the Corsican company, was slightly wounded in the lines, in the evening, the gun and mortar boats, in number j 28, fired upon our shipping and the camp. They took their stations otf Europa and Rosia, apparently determined to avoid the fire from the King’s bastion kwhich they had found so fatal to these enterprises), and directed their fire principally against the Brilliant frigate, which was then at anchor otf Buena Vista, and the St. Michael iu the New mole. Their land batteries opened at the same time, directing a furious cannonade into the town, and along our northern front. The garrison returned their fire with great vivacity, though not with their usual success. Our gun-boats were also unfortunate, one of them being damaged very earlv in the action, and obliged to be towed in. We had 3 men killed, and 11 wounded ; 6 of whom were of the 59th regiment. The enemy discharged from their boats 236 shot and 225 shells: and from the isthmus, 555 shot and 245 shells; after which, the former retired, and the latter were silent. The next dav 4 gun-boats fired upon the Brilliant, en pas-i sant, but soon retired. At night, a soldier of the artillery, who had been 1 punished some time before, threw liim-I self down the precipice from the I Queen's battery at Willis’s: he passed } so quickly by the men on duty, that he was scarcely seen ; and was not known till he was missing the next morning. In the course of the month, one of the 25th regiment deserted, and another of the 58th (who had been entertained from the number that remained behind of the prisoners who were taken in the battering-ships) was retaken in attempting to get away. Two boats came in also from Faro, and a third was intercepted in her passage. February was introduced by an ani-* » mated fire from the garrison. Every part of the enemy's works felt the effects of our artillery. Thus aflairs were proceeding, when, on the 2nd, letters from the Due de Crillon informed the governor that the preliminaries of a general peace had been signed between Great Britain, France, and Spain. When the boats met, the Spaniards rose up with transports of joy, and cried out, “ We are all friends delivering the letters with the greatest162 HISTORY OF THE [chap. VIII, apparent satisfaction. They could not inform us what were the terms of the peace ; which occasioned some anxiety in the garrison relative to the fate of Gibraltar. Previously to the boats meeting, the enemy discharged about 30 rounds, but never, after the letters were delivered, fired upon the garrison. Our artillery also ceased in the evening. The Spaniards, the succeeding day, advanced from their works, and conversed with our sentries in the lines, expressing their satisfaction that we were no longer enemies. This intercourse was, however, forbidden by the governor, who ordered the guards to inform those who approached our works that all correspondence of this nature was to be suspended, till official accounts were received from England of the peace. General Eliott answered the Duke’s letter on the 3rd, and ordered the captain of artillery to fire an elevated shot, from Willis’s, over any parties which might pass between their parallel and the Devil’s tower. The Duke, on the 5th, informed the governor that the blockade by sea was discontinued ; in consequence of which, a placard was published in the garrison, signifying that the port of Gibraltar w’as again open. About noon, an elevated gun was wantonly fired over their works, which was the last shot fired in this siege. This return of tranquillity, this prospect of plenty, and relief from the daily vexations of so tedious a siege, could not fail to diffuse a general joy throughout the garrison. Indeed such feelings are seldom experienced; they baffle all attempts to describe them: far beyond the pleasure resulting from private instances of success or good fortune, ours was a social happiness; and the benevolent sentiments acted upon the heart with additional energy, on the prospect of meeting those as friends with w’hom w’e had been so long engaged in a succession of hostilities. The Duke, on the 6th, informed the governor that the preliminaries had been signed the 20th of January at Paris, and that Gibraltar w’as to remain in the possession of Great Britain. From this period, operations on both sides were suspended ; each party anxiously waiting official accounts from England of the peace. Toward the close of the month, the Duke began to withdraw some of the ordnance from the advanced batteries, and to remove materials from the parallel to the camp. The garrison, on the other hand, were employed in making repairs, and in arranging various matters, which could not before be attended to. Several ships, and a number of boats, arrived from England and Portugal; so that provisions became every day more abundant, and consequently the prices of articles more moderate. In the beginning of March, a schooner arrived from Barbary, with a letter accompanying a present of bullocks for the governor. We were ignorant of the contents of the letter : but, it w’as imagined, the subject was to request a renewal of our friendship. Two officers and 24 Corsicans, who in their passage to Gibraltar had been chased ashore on the coast of Barbary by the Spaniards, arrived also in this boat. The former informed uSj that, upon the commencement of the attack of the battering-ships on the preceding 13th of September, the Moors at Tangier repaired to their mosques, imploring Heaven in behalf of their old allies; and that, on receiving accounts of the defeat of the enemy, they made public rejoicing, and gave every demonstration of their affection for the English nation. When the cessation of hostilities took place, parleys were almost daily passing between the governor and the Duke; and the Spanish aides-de-camp never omitted expressing their surprise that the governor had not yet heard from England. Their patience as well as ours was nearly exhausted, w hen the long-expected frigate arrived on the 10th of March: but, for some time, even when she had got into the bay, she kept us in suspense, by steering close along the Spanish shore, and showing no colours. At length, howr-ever, the British ensign was displayed, and the anxious garrison saluted her with a general huzza. She was the Thetis frigate, Capt. Blankett; and, soon after she anchored, Sir Roger1783.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 163 Curtis (who had been knighted for his conduct on the 14th of September ) landed with dispatches for the governor. The Due de Crillon sent a parley to the garrison in the evening, which was answered the succeeding day. The subject of this correspondence probably was to appoint an interview between the generals, as, on the 12th, his Grace, attended by his suite, came down to the extremity of the western boyau, and sent an aide-de-camp to inform the governor he was arrived. General Eliott, attended by Lieut.* Koehler, his aide-de-camp, soon afterwards rode out by Lower Forbes’s, and was met by the Duke on the beach, half-way between the works and Bay-side barrier. Both generals instantly dismounted and embraced. When the common salutations were over, they conversed about half an hour, and then returned to their respective commands. The cannon in the Spanish batteries were now all dismounted ; and large parties were daily removing them, with ammunition, also various materials, from their post at the Devil’s tower to the lines and camp. As their guards were now considerably diminished, numbers of de-serters were daily coming over to the garrison. They were principally foreigners : and the reason they gave was a dislike to the Spanish service. The Duke, on the 18th, sent the governor a present of a grey Andalusian horse. The 22nd, the St. Michael man-of-war sailed for England, where she happily arrived safe. The day following, the governor, accompanied by General Green, the chief engineer, with their aides-de-camp, met the Duke m the Spanish works : they were conducted by his Grace through the whole, and afterwards to the cave at the Devil’s tower. The governor dined with the Duke at San Roque, and returned in the evening. The 31st, * the Due de Crillon, accompanied by the Marquis de Sava, Prince de Maza-rano, Counts de Jamai’que and de Se- rano, Don -------, the intendant, and Capt. Tendon, returned the visit. The governor received his Grace near Forbes’s ; and on entering the garrison, a salute was fired of 17 pieces of cannon from the Grand battery. When the Duke appeared within the walls, the soldiers saluted him with a general huzza ; which being unexpected by his Grace, it was said greatly confused him. The reason however being explained, he seemed highly pleased with the old English custom ; and, as he passed up the main street, where the ruinous and desolate appearance of the town attracted a good deal of his obser-vation, his Grace behaved with great affability. The officers of the garrison were introduced by corps to the Duke, at the convent. When the artillery were mentioned, he received them in the most Battering manner : “ Gentlemen,” said his Grace, addressing himself to them, “ I would rather see you here as friends, than on your batteries as ene-mies, where,” added he, “you never spared me.” The Duke afterwards visited the batteries on the heights. At Willis’s he made some remarks on the formidable appearance of the lower defences ; observing, whilst he pointed towards the Old mole battery, that, “ had not his opinion been overruled, he should have directed all his efforts against that part of the garrison.” The good state of our batteries in so short a period produced some compliments to the chief engineer; and, when conducted into the gallery above Farringdon’s battery,* his Grace was particularly astonished, especially when he was informed of its extent, which at that time was between 500 and 600 feet. Turning to his suite, after exploring the extremity, “ These works,” he exclaimed, “ are worthy of the Romans.” After dinner (at which were present the generals and brigadiers in the garrison, with their suites), he passed through the camp to Europa, each Regiment turning out without arms, and giving three cheers. The youth and good appearance of the troops much engaged liis attention. When his curiosity was gratified in that quarter, he returned, and was conducted about 8 o’clock without Landport, being saluted with 17 cannon on his departure. Now called Windsor. M 2iCst HISTORY OF THE [chap. VIII. His horse startled at the flash of the guns, and almost, if not entirely, unhorsed him; but he escaped without being hurt. The Duke, in the course of the conversation at dinner, paid many handsome compliments to the governor and garrison for their noble defence. “ He had exerted himself (he said) to the utmost of his abilities; and, though he had not been successful, yet he was happy in having his sovereign’s approbation of his conduct.” Before the Due de Crillon entered the garrison, the Comte de Ruffigniac, colonel in the French service (who, the reader may remember, was very pressing for admittance into the garrison some few days after the defeat of the battering-ships, and who, for the sole purpose of seeing the place, had remained behind his brigade^, was admitted into the garrison wuthout the Duke’s knowledge; and, being in the lleche at Landport when the Duke was approaching from Forbes’s, his Grace could not avoid seeing him. As he had entered without the Duke’s permission, his Grace requested he might not see him at the convent; and the Count, being informed of this, withdrew into the garrison, apparently much chagrined at the Duke’s particularity. When his Grace returned, it was said, orders were given not to permit the Count to go back by way of the lines. The following evening, however, after satisfying his curiosity in the garrison, he returned. The 2nd of April the Due de Crillon quitted the camp to repair to Madrid. He was succeeded in command by Lieut.-General the Marquis de Saya, or Zaya, who had accompanied his Grace into the garrison, and (what was very singular) had served as an officer at the preceding siege of Gibraltar in 1727. Deserters still continued coming over to us, and the Spaniards were employed in removing materials from the neutral ground to the lines. Letters often passed between the Marquis and General Eliott; but, though the latter requested to pay his compliments at San Roque, the etiquette observed by the former (orders having been re-ceived from Madrid to prevent all in- tercourse) would not for some time permit him to receive the governor. The 15th of April Sir Roger Curtis sailed in the Brilliant frigate on an embassy to the Emperor of Morocco: he took with him, as a present, four brass 26-pounders (which had been weighed from the wreck of the battering-ships), with proportionable ammunition. His Majesty having been pleased to confer upon the governor the Most Honourable Order of the Bath,* as a mark of his royal approbation for the defence of Gibraltar; and having signified his pleasure by Sir Roger Curtis, that Lieut.-General Boyd should act as his Majesty’s representative in investing General Eliott with the insignia of the order, which ceremony was to be performed in as splendid and magnificent a manner as the state of the garrison would permit; the engineers, soon after the arrival of the Thetis, began to erect a colonnade upon the rampart of the King’s bastion, that the honours might be conferred where the victory was gained. By the 23rd of April (St. George’s day) the colonnade was finished; and, every preparation for the ceremony being completed, the governor commenced by communicating to the troops the thanks of their king and country for their defence of Gibraltar. Detachments from all the regiments and corps, with all the officers not’ on duty, were assembled in three lines on the Red sands at eight o’clock in the morning; and the governor taking post in the centre of the second line, and the usual compliments being * This was not the only honour conferred on the General for his services in defending Gibraltar. Parliament voted him a handsome pension for life; and his sovereign, on his return to Britain in 1787, gave him an additional mark of his approbation by raising him to the British peerage, by the style and title of Lord Heathfield, Baron Heathfield of Gibraltar, with the honourable distinction of bearing, in chief, with his own arms, the arms of the garrison. General Boyd was also honoured with the Order of the Bath, and General Green distinguished by a baronetcy After General Eliott's elevation to the peerage he was never employed on active service ; and a short time afterwards he was attacked with paralysis, of which he died, at his residence near Aix-la-Chapelle, aged 72.1783.] SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 165 paid, his Excellency addressed himself I to the garrison as follows:— “Gentlemen—I have assembled you this day, in order that the officers and soldiers may receive, in the most public manner, an authentic declaration transmitted to me by the secretary of state, expressing the high sense his Majesty entertains of your meritorious conduct in defence of this garrison. The King's satisfaction upon this event was soon divulged to all the world, by his most gracious speech to both houses of Parliament. The House of Lords and the House of Commons not only made the suitable professions in their addresses to the throne, but have severally en-joined me to communicate their unanimous thanks by the following resolutions :— * Die Veneris, 13 Decembris, 1782. ‘ Resolved, nemine dissentiente, by the Lords spiritual and temporal, in Parliament assembled, that this House doth highly approve and acknowledge the services of the officers, soldiers, and sailors, lately employed in the defence of Gibraltar; and that General Eliott do signify the same to them/ * Die Jovis, 12 Decembris, 1782. ‘ Resolved, nemine contradicente, that the thanks of this House [Commons] be given to Lieut.-General Boyd, Major-General de la Motte, Major-General Green, chief engineer; to Sir Roger Curtis, Knt., and to the officers, soldiers, and sailors, lately employed in the defence of Gibraltar/” The governor then proceeded:— “No army has ever been rewarded by higher national honours : and it is well known how great, universal, and spontaneous were the rejoicings throughout the kingdom upon the news of your success. These must not only give you inexpressible pleasure, but afford matter of triumph to your dearest friends and latest posterity. As a farther proof how just your title is to such ffattering distinctions at home, rest assured, from undoubted authority, that the nations in Europe and other parts are struck with admiration of your gallant behaviour : even our late resolute and determined antagonists do not scruple to bestow the commendations due to such valour and perseverance. “ I now most warmly congratulate you on these united and brilliant testimonies of approbation, amidst such numerous, such exalted tokens of applause: and forgive me, faithful companions, if I humbly crave your acceptance of my grateful acknowledgments. I only presume to ask this favour, as having been a constant witness of your cheerful submission to the greatest hardships, your matchless spirit and exertions, and on all occasions your heroic contempt of every danger.” A grand feu-de-joie was then fired by the line, each discharge commencing with a royal salute of 21 guns. Three cheers closed the ceremony. The commander-in-chief, general and field officers, afterwards withdrew; and the detachments (formed two deep) marched into town, and lined the streets leading from the convent, by the Spanish church and Grand parade, to the King's bastion. About half-past eleven o’clock, the procession began to move in the following order: all uncovered, and two deep, except the troops under arms. Marshal. Music, 12th Regiment, Playing “ See the conquering Hero comes.” Artillery. Quarter-Master-General, and A d j u tan t-G e n era l, T o w n-M a jo e , and Deputy ; With other Staff of the Garrison. . First Division of Field Officers, Youngest first. Music 58th Regiment. The Commissioner’s Secretary, Bearing on a crimson velvet cushion The Commission. The Commissioner's Aides-de-Camp. Lieut. General Boyd, the King’s Commissioner. The Governor’s Secretary, Beaming, on a crimson velvet cushion.166 HISTORY OF THE SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR, [chap vin. The Insigma Of the Order of the Bath. The Governor’s Aides-de Camp, as Esquires. GENERAL ELIOTT, The Knight Elect ; Supported by Generals De la Motte and Green. Aides-de-camp to the Major-Generals. Major-General Picton. His Aide-de-camp. The Brigadier-Generals, eldest first. Their Brigade Majors. Music, De la Motte’s. Second Division of Field Officers, Eldest first. Music, 56th Regiment. The Grenadiers of the Garrison. No compliment was paid to the knight elect; but, as the commissioner passed, each regiment, with the officers, saluted. When the procession arrived at the colonnade, the general and field officers placed themselves on each i side of the throne ; the artillery formed under the colonnade, and the grenadiers fronting the bastion, along the line-wall. The proper reverences being made to the vacant throne, the commissioner desired his secretarv to . «/ read the commission: which being done, he addressed the knight elect in a short complimentary speech, taking the riband at the conclusion, and placing it over the governor’s shoulder, who inclined a little for that purpose: three reverences were then a second time made, and each took his seat on a crimson velvet chair on each side of the throne, the commissioner sitting on the right hand. The governor was no sooner invested than the music struck up “ God save the King.” The grenadiers fired a volley, and a grand discharge of 160 pieces of cannon was fired from the sea-line. The procession then passed forward through the colonnade, and returned in the same order. The detachments were afterwards dismissed, and each non-commissioned officer and private received a pound of fresh beef and a quart of wine. The generals, with their suites, and the field-officers, dined at the convent. In the evening the colonnade was illuminated with different-coloured lamps, and transparent paintings in the I back scene: and Sir George Augustus Eliott, with the lieutenant-governor and principal officers of the garrison, assembling at the King’s bastion about nine o’clock, there was a display of i fire-works from the North and South bastions, and the Spanish church; the principal of which were fired from the j latter, being opposite to the company. Thus, in festivity and with honour, ended the labours of the garrison of Gibraltar. During a period of three years, seven months, and twelve days (that is from the commencement of the I blockade to the cessation of arms), we I had experienced a continued series of , watchfulness and fatigue, the horrors ; of famine, and every harassing and j vexatious mode of attack which a powerful, obstinate, and revengeful i enemy could devise. On reviewing the transactions of this period, two circumstances cannot fail to strike the attentive reader: viz. the verv slow manner in which the enemy proceeded in their early operations, and the impossibility of maintaining so strict a blockade as to prevent all communication bv sea. To evince these, and other circumstances not unimportant to military readers, I have been re-duced to greater accuracy and minuteness than ordinary historians are obliged to observe; and instead of the acuteness of investigation, or a splendid sententiousness, I have been necessitated to pursue the narrative, almost uninterruptedly, in the tedious form of a journal. I have not presumed to intersperse many animadversions of my own: the only merit to which I can lay any claim, is that of a faithful narration of facts; and I confess I would at any time rather walk in the beaten track of truth, than mislead the judgment of my readers in ihe wilds of fancy and conjecture. A return of casualties is annexed, also the expenditure of ammunition, both by the enemy and the garrison. These papers, as well as the estimate of provisions, I thought better to throw into the form of an Appendix,than to in terrupt the narrative by their insertion.ETAT GE'NE'RAL DE L’ARME'E ESPAGNOEE ET FRANCHISE EMPLOYE'E AU SIE'GE DE GIBRALTAR, SOUS LES ORBRES BE SON EXCELLENCE LE BUC BE CRILLON. e'tat major be l’arme'e ESPAGNOLE. GE'ne'rAL EN CHEF LE CAPITAINE-GE'NE'RAL BUC BE CRILLON. Lieutenans-Generaux. 0 Abarca, Commandant-General des Ingenieurs. Le Comte de Lascv, Commandant General de PArtilierie. Be Habor. Le Comte de Re\ illagigedo. Le Marquis de Caaagagigal. Marecliaux de Camp. Le Marquis de Zayas d’liaut-Regard, Commandant des Gardes Wal-lones. De Tilly, Colonel d’Artillerie. De Teller, Commandt. de» Gardes E>pagnoles. D’Oliver, Major-General de lln-fanterie. Le Marquis de MontTIermoso, Major General de la Cavalerie et Dragons. De Pacliecho. Le Marquis de Brancefor'e. De Roca. Le Marquis de Torremansana. INFANTERIE. Brigadiers. De Garcia de la Mora. De Galazar. D’Allenes. De Gersale. D’Horces. Druhat. De Betcbart. De Vedia. D’lmperioli. Le Comte de Bussy. De Guevara. De Gutierrer. De Tirrel. Le Baron d* Steiuborg. Le Marquis d’Avilles. De Moron. De Caro. De Pinto. De Gourales. De Font. De Lancaster. De Totosa. De Castel d’Oscius. De Sangro. Le Prince de Montfort. De Servino. De Moya. De Colona. * Le Marquis de Valparaiso. Le Due de Montellano. De Nova Cer- rada. De Pignatelli. De Pacliecho Le Marquis Giron. d'Alos. D’Estacharia. Kegimens. x g « "c "2 2 c O-o Gardes Espagnoles . 4 4 Gardes Wallones 4 4 Sabova .... 1 1 Cordova .... 1 1 Burgos .... 2 2 Murcia .... 2 2 Altonia .... 1 1 Volontaires d’Aragon 1 • ler. Reg. de ('atalogne 2 • La Princessa 1 I Naples .... 9 9 Bel chart . , . . 2 9 Compge. deGrenadiers 2 99 Cavalerie demontee 9 20 Dragons do. 2 99 Grenads. Frovinciaux 6 60 Artillerie Volontaires de Crillon • Total InfatPe.ie . 35 144 2 * ■— V si— e » c o o- ir 5 6 X 1 cr. c s X X 1 CJ c zu hr 2 1 . «e S e O X C x ~ £ ? & t u •— | Second Licuts. (A i « g c 1) so u X X 5 o c X u O . JZ x c c X 1 ■ C3 w C2 0 0) « • _ u. X _ C - O rCX 24 1 8 • 28 28 28 28 168 448 112 2184 2912 24 • • I 8 • 28 28 28 28 168 448 112 2184 2912 8 • 1 • 1 2 9 9 9 26 71 20 572 689 8 • 1 • 1 2 9 9 9 26 71 19 5 < 2 688 16 1 1 1 2 4 18 18 18 52 142 39 1144 13/7 16 1 1 1 2 4 18 18 18 52 142 39 1144 13/ / 8 1 • 1 1 2 9 9 9 26 71 20 572 689 6 • 1 1 1 2 6 6 6 18 36 9 324 3s? 12 1 1 1 9 4 12 12 12 36 *79 17 1680 1805 8 1 . T 2 9 9 9 26 71 19 572 688 16 1 1 1 2 4 18 18 18 52 142 39 1144 137/ 8 1 1 , 1 2 e 10 10 8 10 48 64 25 1054 1191 • . . . • 2° 99 22 44 120 99 1152 1338 1 1 1 9 4 20 20 20 40 120 9? ~z 1160 1347 99 9- 99 • 3 3 9 6 • 60 60 60 120 360 60 3960 4509 60 131 24 1126 1341 1-4 |U 13 19 39 30 298 298 64 298 962 2509 612 20544 24627168 APPENDIX CAVALERIE ET DRAGONS. Regimens. X c 0 u "3 3 (D X •— X £ II Z CD « *’ "e i - f- 6 -3 X C 6 X r > 1 CD er. X c ”3 X 5 • & O O u 1 Capitaines. 1 X x 3 £ Si C-J Second Lieuts. X 3 i X 0Q X* o CJC t- o Of X 5 £ CJ X u 3 X x 96 0 X 1 CD tt cl 1 (D • - x t J E- O w Du Roi .... 1 3 • I • • 1 2 3 Q 6 12 2 108 128 De la Reiue . 1 1 3 i • 1 1 1 4 4 4 8 16 3 156 183 l)u Prince 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 8 16 3 156 183 De Bourbon . 2 1 4 1 • 1 1 2 / 7 7 14 28 5 16-i 311 De Faruese . 1 1 3 2 1 • • 1 3 4 4 8 16 3 156 183 D’Alcantara • 1 3 1 • 1 1 1 3 3 3 6 12 9 108 128 D’Algarves . 1 3 9 • 1 1 1 3 9 v 3 6 12 9 108 128 De Calatrava 1 3 • I • • 1 2 3 3 fi 12 2 108 128 De San Iago 1 • 3 • 1 • 1 2 3 6 12 2 108 128 De Mendoza . . . 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 4 4 8 14 3 156 183 De Volontaires . 1 3 • 1 1 1 2 3 3 6 12 2 108 129 De Pavie, Dragons 2 1 6 3 1 1 1 2 6 1 14 2s> 10 264 316 De Lusitania 2 1 6 1 1 • 1 2 6 1 z 14 28 7 264 316 Total C a valerie, See. 16 7 58 12 r* z / 9jl6 47 43 • 55 110 220 46 2064 2440 Do. Infanterie . 35 144 154 10 13 19 39130 298 298 64 298 962 2509 6.2 20544 24627 - — Total geueral 51 151 202 22 20 26 48'46 345 341 64 o5 > 1072 2729 658 22608 27067 E'TAT MAJOR DES TROUPES FRANCOISES. BARON FALKENSTEIN, COMMANDANT EN CHEF. LE MARQUIS DE BOUZOLZ, COMMANDANT EN SECOND. Etat Major. Le Marquis de Crillon, Brigadier. I)e Portal, Major-General. Le Baron F. le x Fort I Aides Maj.- Le Baron C. le 1 Generaux. Fort J Aides de Camp. Du Baron Falckenstein :— Le Comte de Nesle de Fourette. Le Chev. de Grave. Le Chev. de Vault. Le Chev. de Ponce*. Le Comte d’Argoult. Le Comte de Perigord. Le Comte de Lost. Le Marquis de Laillebot. Du M. de Bouzolz:— Le Marquis de Travanec. Le Chev. d’Oraison. Le Marquis de Montaigu Brigade Francoise. Le Vte. de Veneur, Maitre de Camp, Col. Le Marquis deGuerchy, ditto en second. Dubourg, Lieut.-Col. j De Cappy, Major. Le Comte de Crillon, Maitre de Camo, Col. Le Vidame de Nasse, ditto en secon L Le Chev. de St. Roman, Lieut. Col. '‘De Portal, Major. Artillerie. De Goenand, Lieut.-Col.-Commandant. De Barras, Capitaine. aide-Maj. D"Artan } n . Captnes. Brigade Allemande. Le Comt. E. de Sparre, M.-de-C., Col. Le Baron d’Hamilton, M.-de.-C. en second. D. 0. Conell, Lt.-Col. .DOrsner, Major. Le Baron de Wimpffen, M.-de C., Col. ILe Baron de Nivenheim, ditto en second. De Peyrier, Lieut.-Col. OGhier, Major. Genie. D’Arcon, Colonel. Doria, Major. De l’Hillier De Bonleman D’Assiguy De Samis Damoiseau } D’Aumout j Capitaines. Lieutenans. } Gromar de Quinten D’Hemerv I T • r Cadmau ’ < Lieuts.en premier. Le Ch.d’Ali honse > second De Marten j en secuntt’ Fich I .... ~ ?au troisieme. Fournier j Homines, 130. Le Marq. de Pi.issegur, Capitaine, avec brev.de Colonel. Administration. De Wildemonth 7 Capitaines De Meunier ) en second. Officiers chargee du detail dc la Tranchee. Broche1, Directeur Chaumel, Sous- Directeur Intendant de Rouissiere. Commissaire de Boileau. Commissaire du Demaine Monmergne. Tnspecteur ) Demange, Directeur j 1 j Thion, Premier Medecin. Ides Postes. Boduer-, Chiruraieu j Massoi, second do. lllopitai.appendix 169 llegimens. D’Officiers superieurs. D' Homines Brigade J De Lvonnois • 65 1,024 Francoise ( De Bretagne . . 65 1,0 J 6 Brigade J Roval Suedois • . 65 1,000 Allemande ( De Bouillon . • . 52 1,025 Tolal Francois • . 247 4,055 Espagnol .... • . 1669 27,06/ Grand total .... • . 1916 31,122 33,0o8 Officiers et d’hommes. Il v avoitun Corps d’Ingenieurs aux ordres de M. d’Abarca, compose de 8 Ingenieurs en Chef, 12 en second, 11 ordinaires, 14 extraordmaires, 12 Ajudans. Lne Gompaguv ( e are chaussee, de 40 Cavaliers, aux ordres d’un Lieut. Il v a une Compagnie de Cadets, dont le Capt-taine est un Colonel. Les Compagnies de Sapeurs ont chacune un Capitaine, un Lieutenant, un Sous-Lieutenant. A GENERAL RETURN OF CASUALTIES. Killed. REGIMENTS. 5 | Soldiers. | Drummers. Rank & File. Royal Artillerv . o 1 0 20 12th Regiment . T 3 1 13 25th „ 0 0 0 1 39 th ,, 1 3 1 16 56th ,, 0 0 0 17 58th ,, 1 1 0 11 59 th 0 0 0 2 72nd ,, 0 2 0 31 / 31 cl j 5 • 0 0 0 30 97 th ,, 0 0 0 / Reden’s Regiment 0 2 0 7 De la Motte’s . 0 3 0 16 Svdow’s, for- | merly Har- > 0 o 0 18 denberg’s . . 1 Soldier-Artificer) 0 1 0 6 Company • / Marine Brigade . 0 1 0 Corsican Comp. 0 0 0 0 Total • . 5 19 2 197 CC Q Ob — o (X cc j* p £ Rank & File. u O o | Soldiers. | Drummers. Rank & File. 0 0 0 8 0 o 0 11 0 0 0 10 1 0 0 10 0 0 0 1 1° 0 0 0 1 1 0 6 0 0 0 10 0 1 0 9 1 0 0 6 0 1 5 0 0 1 8 0 0 o 6 0 0 0 2 0 2 (1 21 0 1 1 21 0 1 0 13 1 5 0 31 0 -0 1 5 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 5 0 l 0 4 0 0 0 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 o 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 . o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 2 lol 3 13 2 120 Dead Disabled of Wounds, by Wounds. Wounded, Dead by Sickness. i but ecovered. X CC u T. U O s & File. £ cc u cc u o £ L 1 1 □ o £ c o V £ c 5 o C/2 u A ->* 5 o u 8 2 7 105 1 1 0 34 2 4 7 89 0 3 0 32 0 1 0 / 1 0 0 13 3 5 1 44 0 1 0 37 3 2 0 59 1 4 1 34 2 2 2 61 0 1 1 53 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 3 11 5 109 0 1 0 47 5 2 0 / / 0 0 0 58 0 3 1 33 1 6 0 106 1 1 1 33 1 1 0 16 0 9 0 42 2 2 0 10 1 / 2 69 0 0 0 4 2 3 0 30 0 0 0 23 0 1 0 8 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — — — — — — 31 46 20 773 j 22 9 505 De- serted. Rank & File. 1 3 1 5 3 11 0 9 o 1 1 1 5 43 0 0 0 ABSTRACT OF THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE GARRISON. Killed, and dead of wounds................................... Disabled bv wounds (discharged)......................... Dead of sickness, exclusive of those who died of the scurvy in 1779 and 1780 . . Discharged, from incurable complaints . . . . . Deserted ...... . . . . 333 138 536 181 43 Total 1231170 EXPENDITURE OF AMMUNITION FROM THE GARRISON AND BY THE ENEMY. GARRISON. KNEW. Commencing the 12th of September, 1779, and endiug the 3rd of February, 1/33. Commencing the 12th of April, 1/81, and ending the 2nd of February, 1733. MONTHS. 1 / / 9. Sept. 12 to 30 October . November December 178). January February March April May June July August September October . November December 1781. January February M arch . April May . June July August . September October N ovember December 1'82. January February March . A pril May . June . J nly August . September October November December 1783. January February Total . Car- L:ght balls. ; MONTHS. Agreeable to the Laboratory Accounts. Shot. Shells. Grape. casses. Shot, Shells. 1767 201 • • • • ^72 1116 1 6 57 183 5 • • • • 82 63 6 4 88 131 38 • • 9 6 3 • . j 17 7 3 e • 5 6 8 • • • • • • 6 • • f • 03 >» 123 • • • • • • £ 246 • • • • • • 0 56 e e • • • • 6 e a • • 85 243 73 1 160 771 6004 510 63 64 160 4242 250 79 54 33 875 63 22 8 • • 32 346 76 9 • • 23 221 17 13 • • 1781. • • 2672 804 2494 2782 26 23 2 6 • • • ■ April 12 to May 31 . 56760 20134 828 2250 104 35 3 1 June 8199 2643 i 428 761 51 13 5 J uly 3)36 69 j 130 172 103 56 2 1 : August . 135) 184 2614 6228 213 58 42 September . 9320 760 1722 11515 64 19 53 £ October 15754 2750 1 509 3587 82 qq 5 £ November . 2430 1120 632 7119 139 60 44 December . 3378 1010 1182. 722 11052 132 60 23 ! January 4342 1012 | 2617 7295 177 21 19 February . 3046 566 3657 10362 733 56 45 March . 5828 1313 2314 2768 370 • • • • April 3541 938 2315 1669 352 • • 14 May . . 2418 856 2052 178 263 1 8 June 2190 653 228 37 100 • • 13 July . . • • 5441 1781 104/ 3 48 August . 750 30 13557 3262 479 215 • * 1 September . 36432 16993 2604 6881 735 12 14 I October 11312 IO673 1937 5701 1157 74 17 November • 2897 3243 2596 12159 1422 26 3 December . 1036 1958 178? 2640 14176 3444 42 25 January 1067 680 210 1047 414 • • • • February • 55 144 1 57163 129151 12681 926 679 Total . • 175741 68363 Cc uted | Computed .• I exclus’vt >of the bat-I tering-J ships. Total.............. 200,600 rounds. British gun-boats . 4,728 shot. 205,328 rp <>4/1 iA/i / rounds, all ot a lotal .... 244,104) K heavy nature, * Spanish gun-boats 14,283 shot and shells. - 258,387 The garrison expended very near 8000 barrels of powder; and the number of ordnance damaged and destroyed during the siege amounted to 53. The number of barrels of powd* r expended by the enemy could never be ascertained, nor what ordnance irwa des-roved.171 An Estimate of the Prices fixed upon Provisions by a Committee of Officers, at Gibraltar, October the 23rd, 1782. To which is annexed the price of various articles, as they ivere sold at different Periods of the Blockade and Siege. The sums are turned luto sterling, at the average exchange of 3s. 3d. the dollar; though the Garrison exchange fluctuated between 3$. 4d. and 3s. 6d. PRICES LIMITED EY THE COMMITTEE. £. s. d. Fresh beef, veal, and mutton, per lb. 0 o 6 Pork, ditto ........ 0 1 3 Ducks and fowls, per couple . 0 9 9 A goose 0 11 0 A turkey 0 14 71 A pair of pigeons 0 3 3 Corned beef, per ib 0 1 3 Corned pork, ditto 0 0 10 Ham, ditto 0 1 101 Bacon and dried tongues, ditto 0 1 3 Cheese, ditto 0 1 3 Salt butter, ditto 0 1 10| An egg 0 0 21 Pickled tripe, per lb 0 1 3 Potatoes, ditto 0 0 74 Loaf sugar, ditto 0 o 6 Powder sugar, ditto 0 Q 1 Best green tea. ditto I T 111 Rohea or Souchong, ditto 0 13 Coffee, ditto 0 1 lei Flour, ditto 0 0 Mould caudles, ditto () 1 <1 Common, ditto 0 0 10 A hogshead of porter 5 13 91 Bottled porter (with bottles), per doz. 0 14 71 A hogshead of port wine 24 4 6 Pert wine (with bottles), per doz. . 1 12 51 Good common wine, per gallon. 0 4 11 Iuferior ditto, ditto 0 3 8 Claret (with bottles'), per dozen 1 17 41 Best fish, per lb 0 1 3 Inferior kind, ditto 0 0 10 Small fry, ditto 0 0 71 PRICES DURINO THE BLOCKADE. £. s. d. £ d. From 0 q 1 to 0 4 1< 1 1 F rom 0 o 1 J > 0 4 From 0 13 0 >> 1 1 111 1 10 4 2 3 9 0 9 9 Round of beef, per lb. • • • • 0 o 11 Salt beef and pork, ditto • • • 0 1 3 0 4 1 0 3 3 0 4 1 From 0 2 6 to 0 4 1 per dozen .... 0 4 101 0 o 6 Sold at an Auction for • • • • • 0 17 1 From 0 q 6 to 9 4 101 } . From 1 8 0 », 2 5 6 • •••••» • • • 0 5 9 From 0 1 3 0 2 1 0 2 6 Malaga wine, per bottle . ... 0 4 1*1 ........................................ .. ... I These articles were generally '•sold, according to their size and quality, at most exorbitant rates. This estimate afterwards underwent some small alteration by the Committee, the wines being fixed, they thought, at too low a price. Beside the articles men’ioned under the head of the Blockade price, the following sold in the course of the siege for the sums annexed to them £. s. d. .A calf’s head and feet • • • 1 14 14 A calf’s pluck ..... • • • 0 14 71 Hind quarter, with the head and tail of an Algerine sheep . 7 10 0 Head and feet of a sheep • • • . o 14 71 A bullock's head, without tongue . • • • l 3 -.1172 APPENDIX. £. s. d. A bullock’s heart . . 0 9 9 A izoat's head 0 8 11 Onions, per lb. .... . 0 2 6 A cabbage ..... 0 1 A bunch of cabbage-leaves 0 0 5 A bunch of carrots and turnips 0 1 A small bunch of radishes 0 0 5 A pint of milk and water 0 1 3 A lemon ... ... 0 0 5 A quill ...... 0 0 64 A live pig sold for .... 9 14 9 A large sow in pig sold for upwards of 29/- A goat, with a young kid, both of which had t>een purchased in England for 15s., sold in the garrison, when the latter was about twelve months old, for near 12/. An English milch-cow was sold, in 1780, for 50 guineas; reserving to the seller a pint of milk each day whilst she gave milk ; and another cow was purchased by a Jew for 60 guineas, but the beast was in so feeble a condition, that she dropped down dead before she had been removed many hundred yards. If these facts were not thought sufficient to demonstrate the exorbitant prices of every article in the garrison, others could be adduced of equally as surprising a complexion. The following are the proportions of the Prize-Money, as distributed to the Garrison of Gibraltar, from the sums arising from the Head-Money grantea by Parliament for destroying the Battering-Ships, and the sale of the St. Michael man-of-war. The subsequent sums are proportions of 30,000/., which was the sum first divided. The governor, 1-16th £. . . 1875 5. 0 Lieutenant-governor . . 937 10 Major-general . 468 15 Brigadier-general . . 267 10 Colonel .... . . 156 1 Lieutenant-colonel . . 80 16 Major .... . 57 15 £. s. d. Captain . 43 10 1 Lieutenant .... . 25 5 6 Second lieutenant and ensign 99 « 0 64 Serjeant .... 3 6 9 Corporal 2 0 114 Private ..... 1 9 1 A second Act of Parliament afterwards passed, for granting to the garrison whatever might be fished up from the wrecks of the battering-ships: and those employed in this duty proceeded with such success, that brass and iron cannon, with other articles, were recovered to a con siderabh* value. Two divisions, of 16,000/. and 8000/., have since been distributed ; the latter of which, it is imagined, will be the last. THE END, London ;—Printed by W. 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