In order to pave the way for the cordial reception of King Charles
the III. orders were sent to Sir Cloudesley Shovel, then commanding
the British Fleet in the Mediterranean, to effect what he could by
conciliation, or by conquest, amongst the different dependencies
of the French and Spanish monarchies, previous to the arrival
of the Royal Claimant. Throughout the whole of that Admiral's
instructions, much dependence was placed upon the energies of the
Marine Forces under his command, and they subsequently bore a
conspicuous share of the mingled services that ensued, in the cause
of the House of Austria. This circumstance may evince the very high
estimation in which they were held as Soldiers, although nothing
materially occurred either under the command of Sir Cloudesley
Shovel, or during the currency of 1703.
After many delays the Archduke arrived at Lisbon, with Sir George
Rooke, upon the 25th day of February 1704, in order to concert a
plan of future operations with his ally, the King of Portugal. The
Admiral was enjoined to attempt nothing without the suggestion and
assent of Both.
The first enterprize was against Barcelona, whither they were
invited by some deputies from Catalonia, and a few leading men
in the city, who gave assurances that it would declare for
Charles the III. if a shew of attack only was made. Here 1600
Marines were landed, at the request and under the command of the
Prince of Hesse, upon the noon of the 19th of May. This force
being inadequate for the purpose, it was next day re-embarked at
the instance of his Highness. Listening to the wishes of their
Majesties, in conformity with his instructions, the Admiral would
have attempted Cadiz; but, upon deliberation, and that there was no
army to co-operate, this idea was given up.
They accordingly turned their thoughts to Gibraltar, where the
Prince of Hesse was landed in the afternoon of the 21st of July,
with 1800 British and Dutch Marines. Proceeding upon the decision
of a Council of War, his Highness was to cut off all communication
with the main land, to bombard and cannonade the place, and to
reduce it to the obedience of the King of Spain.
Having established his post at some mills then near the town, he
sent a summons for the Governor to surrender; who answered, that
all his garrison had taken an oath of allegiance to their lawful
Sovereign, King Philip the V. and that as loyal and faithful
subjects, they would die in its defence.
The Admiral having directed a strong force to proceed against
the south mole, the enemy were driven from their guns.--A number
of boats manned and armed, were then detached under the gallant
conduct of Capt. Whitaker, of the Navy, who soon obtained
possession of the great platform; but about one hundred, whose
impetuous bravery had carried them within the effects of a mine
connected with the fort, were killed and wounded by its explosion.
The rest, however, advancing most rapidly, gained a redoubt,
half-way between the mole and the town.
This attack being made upon a Sunday, almost the whole of the women
belonging to the garrison, were performing their devotions in a
chapel about four miles distant; so that the besieging forces were
between them and their husbands and families.
This circumstance hastened the fall of the place, for the citizens
within strongly urged the Governor to capitulate; who being thus
almost compelled to it, the Prince of Hesse, at the head of the
Marines, marched in upon the evening of the 24th.--The garrison,
indeed, was only composed of two skeleton regiments; but the
strength of the fortifications, the number of cannon mounted being
upwards of 100 pieces towards the sea, and the two narrow passes
of approach from the land, would have rendered it formidable to an
enemy who possessed not the dash of enterprize. Our loss, in the
attempt, was 61 killed, and 206 wounded.
In October of the same year, the Garrison, composed of Marines
under the Prince of Hesse, sustained a siege by 7000 men. The
purpose of the enemy was to have stormed from the south mole,
united with the desperate attempt of a Spanish forlorn hope
climbing the rock, and a general attack from the main land. Against
very superior forces Gibraltar was maintained, until relieved by
Sir John Leake, who reinforced the place with 2000 men.
This Fortress, seated upon the territories of our natural foe, has
long stood a monument of our naval power, which has oftener than
once been especially devoted to relieve its wants; and has also
afforded to the world, a brilliant instance of military defence
under the late Lord Heathfield.
Nothing worthy of notice occurred until the month of September
1705, when it was deemed essential by the Earl of Peterborough
Commander in Chief, to attempt something worthy of our arms, and
the service of the King.
At the desire of his Lordship, a large body of Seamen and Marines
were landed at Barcelona, who were auxiliary in the reduction of
that important place, at which his Majesty was present.
This city was destined to an attack from the enemy, early in 1706,
whither Sir John Leake, having the Earl of Peterborough on board,
proceeded in April.
His Majesty, King Charles, who was then within its walls, very
strongly urged the immediate debarkation of all our forces; upon
which, 1400 land troops, and the Marines of the fleet, were on the
9th of April, sent to his aid. Their appearance was well timed,
as the French had made a practicable breach, which they would
otherwise have stormed upon the following day.--After repeated
attempts they relaxed in their efforts, and many volunteers from
the city, as well as peasants from the mountains pouring down in
numbers, obliged them to raise the siege precipitately, upon the
11th.--After ten at night the enemy began to retreat; but first
setting fire to their magazines, and placing matches to their
mines. Many of the former, however, were preserved by the natives,
and a number of the latter were extinguished by the soldiery. The
morning's dawn presented their army retreating in disorder, and
grievously harassed by our troops, and the enraged Catalans.
An eclipse of the sun, followed by a total darkness about nine,
suspended for a while every operation, which, when dissipated,
the slaughter was renewed, till prudence recalled them from the
carnage. The enemy's camp, with 100 brass cannon, and stores of
every description, were the fruits of our efforts.
Having thus relieved this important place, the fleet sailed upon
the 18th of May, and landed the forces of every description, upon
the coast of Valencia on the 25th.
This was preparatory to the attack of Alicant, which was deemed
almost impregnable.--Having been apprized that it was reinforced,
and that a regular siege alone could reduce it, the idea was
dropped for a time, and they proceeded against Carthagena, which
immediately submitted; and where a garrison of 600 Marines under
Major Hedges, _who was appointed Governor of it_, was established
for its defence.
An attempt upon Alicant was then resolved upon; but Brigadier
Gorge having upon a close review of the place, and learning the
resolute spirit of its Governor, Major General Mahoni, represented
that not less than 3000 men were necessary to reduce it.--Having
with him not more than 1450 troops, and he being of opinion that
no dependence could be placed in the Spanish Militia, it was
determined to withdraw the garrison of Marines from Carthagena, in
order to assist in these active operations, and to put another in
its stead.
The fleet arrived off Alicant, upon the 26th of June, when a
summons was forwarded to General Mahoni, who, like an Officer,
answered, that he would hold out to the last. His force consisted
of more than 1000 Soldiers, and many inhabitants of the town, who
had volunteered in its defence.
Brigadier Gorge having moved from Elche upon the 21st of July,
where he had remained waiting for reinforcements, to within a
mile of Alicant, all the Marines of the fleet, with 800 Seamen,
were landed upon that day, and the following morning, and the
bombardment commenced in the evening of the 22d. A detachment of
the Naval force under Sir George Byng, rendered very essential
service, by dismounting many of the enemy's guns opposed to the
sea, and driving the men from them.
Upon the 24th of July, the Marines arrived from Carthagena, and
were immediately landed. Four days after, when the troops had
gained possession of the suburbs, all the boats were manned and
armed, in order to attack the town. On the 29th, the ships having
made a practicable breach in the round tower, at the west end of
the place, and another at the middle of the curtain, between
the mole and the easternmost bastion, the Soldiers advanced to
storm them. An Officer with fifteen Grenadiers rashly pushed on
against the breach in the town, but were repulsed before they
could be supported. Upon this occasion there were particularly
distinguished, Captains Evans, Passenger, and Watkins, of the Royal
Navy. Capt. Evans, at the head of a few of the boats crews, was the
first to mount into the breach, and they were rapidly seconded by
the whole forces, who, upon reaching the town, secured every post,
with but little loss; there being only 30 killed, and 80 wounded,
although the Spaniards had prepared for this event, by forcing
temporary loop holes in their houses, from which they kept up a
sharp fire upon our men as they approached.
General Mahoni now retired into the Castle, and was again summoned
by Brigadier Gorge; his answer was such as became him, and what
might have been expected from his character. At this time the
detached squadron had dismounted many of his guns, beat down a part
of the walls, and his Garrison was extremely annoyed by shells from
the bomb vessels. Composed chiefly of Neapolitans, they at last
compelled the brave Mahoni to yield, who, from this cause alone,
surrendered his charge, after a heavy loss, upon the 25th of August.
Having adjusted every thing, the fleet proceeded to the Island
of Ivica, where it arrived upon the 9th day of September. The
Governor instantly saluted, and tendered submission and obedience
to King Charles the III. It was afterwards resolved to attack
Majorca, to the Viceroy of which a summons was sent in, upon the
14th of September. He, with some others in the interest of the
Duke of Anjou, appeared resolute to defend themselves; but when a
few shells were thrown into Palma, the capital, the inhabitants
obliged him to retire to his palace, and there enter into terms. A
Garrison of one Captain, one Lieutenant, and 100 Marines was placed
here, and all the disaffected to our cause, were withdrawn from the
island.
Nothing farther, connected with my subject, appears on the face of
the military transactions of this year. In the month of June, 1707,
an opportunity presented of co-operating with the Duke of Savoy
and Prince Eugene in an intended attack upon Toulon. Towards the
close of it, the fleet proceeded for the coast of Italy, where it
anchored upon the 28th, between Nice and Antibes, about a league
from the Var.--A conference took place on the following day betwixt
the Commanders in Chief, when it was decided, that a joint attack
should be made upon a part of the enemy's army then entrenched upon
that river, before they could be reinforced.
These works being exposed to the fire of the ships, as they
could stand within little more than musket shot, were hastily
evacuated, and in less than an hour they were occupied by 600
Seamen and Marines. The passage was now open for the Duke of Savoy
to prosecute his destination, while frigates were stationed along
the different parts of the sea coast, in order to keep up a mutual
communication.
Having reached Toulon, every aid was afforded by the fleet both as
to men and cannon, but the enemy daily augmenting his forces, and
having made a successful sally, induced the raising of this siege
upon the 10th of August, after a loss of more than a thousand men.
One happy result arose from this attempt however, which was, that
the French, under a sudden dread of consequences, sunk a number of
their largest men of war, which were ever after unfit for service.
King Charles having often urged the reduction of Sardinia, with a
view to open a passage for his troops in Naples to attack Sicily,
as well as on account of its sources of supply of all kinds of
provisions for his armies, of which they were much in want, a
body of Marines was drawn from Tarragona, a strong sea port and
Garrison in Catalonia, to assist in this enterprize. Upon the
1st day of August, 1708, the whole arrived before Cagliari, the
capital. Upon receiving a very equivocal answer to a summons sent
in, the bombardment commenced that evening, and continued without
intermission until next morning, when at the break of day, Major
General Wills, and the whole of the Marines, with one Spanish
regiment were landed. The place, in consequence, almost instantly
surrendered.
The whole having been re-embarked, the fleet again set sail, upon
the 18th of August, for Minorca, and arrived at Port Mahon upon the
25th.
At this period, two of the Marine Regiments were drafted, and
both officers and men were incorporated with the other four, now
employed upon this service. The measure was necessary, in order to
supply the casualties that had occurred, and to render these corps
effective.--For this purpose, all the Marines capable of duty, were
drawn from a number of the fleet about to return home, as well
as to assist in the reduction of an island, which, every officer
conceived, would make a spirited and tedious defence.
The first attack was against Fort Fornelle, which was cannonaded by
two of the ships, and fell after a contest of four hours.
A detachment having been pushed to Cittadello, the capital, it
surrendered without resistance.
The batteries were opened on the works defending the town of Port
Mahon, upon the 17th of September, when, after a short but brisk
fire, and the loss of only six men, a lodgment was effected under
the very walls of St. Philip's Castle; and next day the enemy
capitulated.
Thus was this strong fortress, and important island, gained by
a force of only 2400 men, while the garrison consisted of more
than one thousand Soldiers, with upwards of 100 pieces of cannon
mounted, and having every thing requisite for sustaining a long
siege.
Sir George Byng arrived at Lisbon upon the 14th of October, having
her Majesty the Queen of Portugal on board, but, although many
other objects of service were in contemplation, nothing farther was
attempted during 1708.