“Gibraltar. 
—— 
Spanish 
lines erect- 
ed, 1730. 
Famous 
siege of 
Gibraltar 
by the Spa- 
niards and 
French, 
1779— 
1783. 
270 
1730, Lieutenant General Sabine was governor of Gib- 
raltar. During his government, the Spaniards erected 
the forts and lines across the isthmus, about a mile from 
the garrison, which effectually prevent any communica- 
tion with the country, and are of considerable advan- 
tage in case of a siege. 
Although the Spaniards had been defeated in three 
different attempts to recover Gibraltar, they still conti- 
nued to look upon that fortress with a jealous eye, and 
seemed only to wait for a favourable opportunity of 
wresting it, if possible, from the dominion of Great Bri- 
tain. No such opportunity, however, occurred, until 
the war in which England was engaged with her Ame- 
rican colonies. France having: espoused the cause of 
our Transatlantic enemies, the court of Madrid thought 
‘proper to come forward with an offer of mediation, up- 
. 
*Prepara- 
tions for the 
attack and 
defence, 
June, 1779. 
The Spani- 
ards form a 
camp at St 
Roque, 
July. 
The garri- 
son erect 
new batte- 
ries. 
The enemy 
‘enforce a 
strict block- 
-ade by sea 
and land, 
August. 
on terms to which the belligerent powers could not ac- 
cede. The refusal of Great Britain was followed by a 
declaration of war on the part of Spain. It was obvious 
that this war was undertaken principally with a view 
tothe recovery of Gibraltar ; and accordingly a contest 
ensued for the possession of that celebrated fortress, 
which will be ever memorable in the military annals of 
this country. 
At this period, General Elliott was governor of Gib- 
raltar, Lieutenant-General Boyd lieutenant governor, 
and the garrison consisted of 5582 men. On the 21st 
of June 1779, the communication between Spain and 
the garrison was closed, by an order from Madrid. In 
the mean time, preparations had been privately made 
for the defence of the place, as soon as’ intelligence was 
received of the probability of a war; and when the first 
hostile indications of the Spaniards were perceived, the 
northern guards were reinforced, land port. barriers 
were shut, and an artillery officer was ordered to Wil- 
lis’s batteries, to observe the movements of the enemy, 
and protect the Devil’s-tower guard. In short, every 
precaution- was taken to insure the safety of the garri- 
son. In the month of July, the Spaniards formed a 
camp on the plain below St Roque, which was daily 
reinforced with additional regiments of cavalry and in- 
fantry ; and large parties were constantly employed in 
landing ordnance and military stores at Point Mala. 
The garrison, in the mean time, were not less active. 
The works at Willis’s were put in the best repair, and 
new batteries erected on the heights of the north front. 
‘A new battery was also begun in the navy-yard, as a 
resource, in case the enemy’s operations should make it 
necessary to lay up the ships. In the month of August, 
the enemy were enabled to enforce a strict blockade; 
their army was now in force before the place; their 
squadron under Admiral Barcelo, who commanded in 
the Bay, could prevent succours from being thrown in 
by neutral vessels ; whilst their grand fleet, united with 
that of France, would be superior to any which Great 
Britain could equip. The plan, therefore, seemed to 
be, to reduce Gibraltar by famine; and the place, in- 
deed, might have been in imminent danger, had not 
the garrison fortunately received a supply of provisions, 
&c. in the preceding month of April. On the 27th, a 
fascine-work was observed to be begun upon the glacis 
north of Fort St Philip, which afterwards proved to be 
a mortar-battery. The enemy’s camp was now consi- 
derably increased. It consisted of two lines, (indepen- 
dent of the Catalonians, who were separately encamp- 
ed,) extending from Point Mala in af oblique direction 
into the country, towards the Queen of Spain’s Chair. 
In the beginning of September, their workmen -in the 
lines were busily employed in filling up with sand the 
‘completed ; and the gun bein, 
GIBRALTAR: 
teries on the heights, the Devil’s-tower gu: 
drawn, and the governor opened on 
Green’s lodge, (a battery constructed since the block: 
commenced, ) Willis’s and Queen Charlotte’s batteries. 
This fire disconcerted the enemy ; their advanced guards 
were in a short time compelled to retire, the workmen 
assembled in the lines were obliged to disperse, and the 
cavalry galloped off towards the camp. For some hours 
Spee Foe mepepren 
within the of ns e garrison. i 
was continued on the Pt te : ; 
Gen. Don Martin Alvarez de Sota Mayor. 
The great command which the garrison 
enemy’s operations from the Green’s lodge battery, in- 
duced the engineers to mount still higher, and endea- “= 
vour to erect a battery on the summit of the northern 
front. A place was, therefore, levelled, and a road for 
On the 12th ¢ 
wheeled carriages begun at Middle-hill. 
of October, the platform on the summit ofthe rock was 
mounted, the enemy’s 
forts were, on the following day, saluted with a 
rounds of shot and shells. This gun was mounted on 
a traversing carriage, and was distinguished by the name 
of the Rock-gun, On the evening of the 19th, the ene 
my’s working parties were uncommonly busy ; and on 
the following morning at day-break, the garrison were 
surprised on observing 35 embrasures opened in their 
lines, forming three batteries; two of fourteen guns 
each bore on our lines and Willis’s, and one of seven. 
parently for the town and Waterport. They were cut 
through the parapet of their glacis, and situated between 
the barrier of the lines and Fort St Philip. The gover- 
nor ordered the artillery to direct their fire on these 
works, and on the seven-gun battery in ‘particular, 
where the enemy had a ' finishing what was left 
imperfect in the night. Our workmen now became ex 
tremely diligent ; new communications and works were 
raised in the lines ; and on the. 27th, guns were carried 
up, to be in readiness for a new battery to be erected 
below the Rock-gun. Nothing remarkable occurred 
during the months of November and oats ber. Both 
ies were occupied in improving and augmenti 
Meir works, The garrison, eeravaes now began to be. 
greatly distressed for want. of provisions; not only 
bread, but every-article necessary to the support of life, ee 
of 
A gun 
3... mou! 
for 
a 
was procured with difficulty, and only pda rane } 
at exorbitant prices. This distress was i ly Tea sions 5 
