» li in the month of January, when Sir George Rod- 
Mere) int the bay with a convoy, after having de- 
feated the Spanish fleet under Langara. - At the same 
ime, the garrison was reinforced by the second batta- 
ion of the 73d. regiment. . After the, departure of Sir 
reorge Rodney with the fleet, in the month of Febru- 
ary 1780, the a adiaga resumed the: blockade with the 
same vigilance as before. No other event of import- 
ance occurred until the month of June, when. the ene- 
ny made an unsuccessful > a to destroy our ves-. 
=~ in the bay by means of fire-ships, which was defeat- 
ed by the skal and intrepidity of theseamen: This at~ 
tempt, however, induced the governor to direct parti- 
cular attention, towards that quarter of the garrison.: 
Batteries for heavy metal were made on the rock above 
Parson’s lodge, at Rosia ; and orders were given to clear 
the new mole of shipping, that the ordnance might have 
enemy more liberty to play. On the morning of the Ist of 
eet works October, it was observed that the enemy had raised an 
Tha, epaulement, about six or seven hundred yards in advance 
“Oct. of their lines, It was about thirty yards in extent, and 
was erected near the windmill, or tower, on the neu- 
tral ground, about 1100, yards distant from our grand 
battery. The garrison were at a loss to conceive what 
could induce the enemy to act in a manner so contrary 
to the usual mode of approaching a besieged place, by 
erecting.a work so distant, and which had no connec- 
tion with their established lines. But it now appeared 
evident, that they had determined on a more serious.at- 
tack, in case the second. blockade: should prove unsuc- 
cessful. On, the night of the 21st, the enemy) threw 
F sand in the front of their .epaulement, to cover it from 
, our fire ; and.on the 26th, they lengthened it, to the 
west about thirty yards. The night of the 28th, they 
erected. two large traverses in the rear for magazines. 
From the compact appearance of this new. work, which. 
was distinguished by the name of the Mill battery, the. 
a concluded that. it.was intended fora mortar, 
7. 
'y. On the night of the 17th )of November; two. 
ces d’armes for musketry were thrown up on the 
1ks of the Mill battery ; the parapets formed semi- 
circles adjoining the battery, but afterwards extended, in, 
an oblique direction, towards the lines. On the night, 
‘approach of the 23d, the enemy began an approach from the lines 
bu ihe to this battery, which they completed during the month 
sattery, of December.. On the 12th of April 1781, the garri- 
mber. son, who for some time had been greatly in want of 
mj. Provisions and necessaries, was relieyed by the arrival 
‘again of the fleet under Admiral Darby. As soon as the van 
ed by of the convoy had come to an anchor off the new mole 
imiral and Rosia bay, the enemy opened a smart fire from all 
rit ign the batteries which bore upon the garrison. The fire 
was returned by the latter ; and the bombardment was. 
continued during the 13th and 14th. On the 15th and 
following days, it was continued with greater vivacity 
on the of the enemy ; but the batteries of the gar- 
rison discontinued their fire, and the guns at Willis’s 
were drawn behind the merlons, to secure them against 
the enemy’s shot. On the 16th, 18th, and 19th, the 
enemy’s gun-boats attacked the shipping in. the. bay ; 
but were obliged to retire, after doing, some mischief. 
At this time, the batteries at Willis’s exhibited :a very 
disorderly and ruinous ap ce; the merlons were 
considerably damaged, some of the cannon dis- 
ured, gineers. and, workmen 
mounted and inj 
were therefore employed in repairing them. The re- 
mainder of the month of April was remarkable for cx- 
essive rains, attended with most dreadful thunder and 
Hightuing, which, in addition to the fire from the ene- 
GIBRALTAR. 
271 
my, had an awful and tremendous effect during the Gibraltar 
night. The bombardment continued warm and well “~~~ 
supported, but apparently without any particular ob. 
oe on the part of the besiegers. In the month of 
ay, their fire became more regular, and amounted, 
upon an.average, to 1500-rounds in the twenty-four 
hours. Their cannonade was directed , principally a- 
gainst our upper batteries, On the 23d, the gun and The ene- 
mortar boats renewed their attack upon the camp, with my’s gun 
more dreadful effect than upon any former. occasion ; ne pry 
seven individuals within the garrison were killed, and keg peters 
twelve or thirteen wounded. The boats continued to upon’ the 
repeat their vexatious visits during the month of June, camp, 
and kept the garrison in. a constant state of alarm, as May 23d, 
experience had. proved their destructive effects. The '75! 
governor, therefore, resolved to retaliate, by endeavour- The gover- 
ing to annoy the enemy’s camp from the old mole head, oF retali- 
and this experiment was found to succeed. At the same {'°* 73 le 
time, some brigs were ordered to be cut down and con- j, eae 
verted into prames, which were to be moored. between 
the new mole and Ragged Staff, at such a distance from 
the works as to be easily protected, and yet far enough 
out to keep their boats at a respectful distance. 
In the month of November, the besiegers had ad-, The gani- 
yanced so far in completing their.approaches, and their 07 make 
batteries exhibited so perfect and formidable an appear~ * °°™* - 
ance; that the governor thought the; time was now 
come to strike a blow, which should frustrate all their 
views, by destroying these stupendous works, which. 
had cost, them such ‘inimensé labour and éxpence. Ha- . 
ving, procured the necessary. information from desert~ 
ers, this important design, which had not been. pre- 
viously communicated to the garrison, was put in exe- 
cution, on. the night of the 26th. | A strong detachment: 
was formed. into three columns, and tools for demolish- 
ing the works delivered. to, the workmen... The desti- 
nation of the columns having been made known to the: 
different, officers,, and the necessary: orders given, the: 
detachment began,its march, about,a quarter before: 
three in the. morning of the 27th. The.enemy, thus- 
taken by surprise, and assailed, with irresistible ardour,: 
gave way on every side, and precipitately abandoned. 
the works, The business was completed,by the exer 
tions of the workmen and artillery.The-batteries were and destroy - 
soon in.a state for the fire-faggots to operate ;, and the a pose I 
flames spread with.astonishing rapidity. In the course “°\4"° 
of an hour,:theobject-of the sortie was fully effected ;-Noy, 27th. 
and. trains (having. been laid to the magazines, the’ 
troops were drawn off... Not the smallest effort was. 
made by the enemy to save their works, or avenge. 
their destruction. Scarcely had the rear of the detach- 
ment) got within the garrison, when the principal ma-. 
gazine blew up with a tremendous explosion ; throwing 
vast pieces of timber, which, falling into the flames, 
added to the general conflagration. This important 
object was accomplished with little loss on the part of 
the garrison. For some time the enemy did not think 
roper to take any measures towards extinguishing the 
aap 3, on the 30th their batteries continued burning 
in five different places; and when they ceased to smoke, 
the works seemed to be completely destroyed, nothing 
but heaps of sand remaining, _ In the inning of 
December, they seemed as if suddenly roused from their 
reverie ; upwards of a thousand, men were at work, 
making fascines, &c., From these operations the gar- 
rison concluded that they were resolyed to restore their. 
works, when sufficient. materials were prepared. For 
some,months the enemy continued to repair their 
works, but apparently only for defence. .In the month 
3 
