The War of the Succession in Spain ... 1702-1711. Based on original manuscripts and contemporary records

Front matter

THE WAR OF THE SUCCESSION IN SPAIN. TWrllr. 3 L„iul„n . Hell *■ Son*. THE WAR OF THE SUCCESSION IN SPAIN DURING THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE, 1702-1711. BASED ON ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS AND CONTEMPORARY RECORDS. BY COLONEL THE HONOURABLE ARTHUR PARNELL, K Royal Engineeks. LONDON: GEORGE BELL AND SONS, YORK STEEET, COVENT GARDEN. 1888. The right of translation is reserved. CHISWICK PRESS : — C. WHITTINGHAM AND CO., TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE. TO THE MEMORY OF GEORGE, PRINCE OF HESSE DARMSTADT, FIELD-MARSHAL OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE, AND FORMERLY BRIGADIER GENERAL IN THE ENGLISH SERVICE ; WHO, IN THE WAR OP THE SUC CESSION, HAVING PREVIOUSLY WON THE ADMIRATION OP EUROPE BY HIS INTREPID DEFENCE OP BARCELONA, AND THE LOVE OP THE SPANIARDS BY HIS SYMPATHETIC RULE AS A VICEROY, GAINED FOR KING CHARLES A SECURE FOOTHOLD IN PORTUGAL, ANDALUSIA, VALENCIA AND CATALONIA, AND AT AN EARLY AGE MET A GLORIOUS DEATH ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE, THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.

Preface

. Inasmuch as, hitherto, there has been no work in the English language furnishing a purely naval and military chronicle of the War of the Succession in Spain (for the sketch written fifty-six years ago by the late Lord Stan hope deals mainly with its Bourbon politics), probably no apology for the book now submitted will be deemed necessary. But since, in addition, in all nineteenth century accounts of the times of Queen Anne the notices of this conflict are based (directly or indirectly) on certain " memoirs," which have been discovered to be mendacious concoctions, perhaps the raison d'etre of a fresh and complete history of the war will be even more apparent. The original MSS. which in its preparation have been examined (the great majority never before having been utilized for historical purposes) are among the valuable private collection of the Earl of Egmont (to which the writer was courteously afforded every facility of access) ; the Treasury and State Archives (including the Ord nance Minutes) in the Public Record Office in London ; the State Papers in the corresponding office in Dublin ; the Registers in the War Office (for the investigation of which the thanks of the author are due to the Chief Clerk of the Adjutant-General's branch) ; and the Papers known as the Artillery, Autographs, Byng, Ellis, Establishments, Galway, Godolphin (very full),

PREFACE.

. VIII Haddock, Halifax, Hatton-Finch, Hyde, Ireland, Leake (in much detail), Malet, Miscellaneous, Navy, Ord nance, Richards (very clear and important), Ruvigny, Rooke, Stepney, Strafford (of great interest), Tyrawley, William III. and Wogan, forming part of the Stowe, Egerton and Additional Collections of the British Museum. The privately printed works and papers similarly consulted include the Family Memorials of the Carle tons (kindly lent by the Hon. Mrs. Pigott-Carleton), Stephen Leake's Life of Admiral Sir John Leake* (full of naval information), the Letters of Lord Peterborough to General Stanhope, the straightforward Manuscript of Colonel De St. Pierre (brought to light by his descendant, Major-General E. Renouard James, R.E.), and the Royal Engineers' Journals. The published English works with which these rarer records and the MSS. have been compared comprise all the contemporary London Gazettes* (which provide excellent testimony) ; Boyer's Annals of Queen Anne * (very copious); the London and Gentleman's Maga zines ; * the Diary of Narcissus Luttrell ; Chamber layne's Angliæ Notitiæ* and Magnæ Britanniæ Notitiæ ; * the " Impartial Inquiry into the Manage ment of the War in Spain " * (containing much official evidence) ; the Calendars of the Treasury Papers ; the Reports of the Historical MSS.

Commission; Kemble's State Correspondence ; the Wentworth Papers ; the Hatton Papers; Collins's Peerages;* Burke's Ex tinct Peerage ; Cannon's (official), Duncan's (official), Gillespie's, Hamilton's, Higgins's, Nicolas's, Packe's and Trimen's Records of the British Army; and " Notes and Queries." With these have been associated the * The asterisk denotes that the work in question was printed in the last century.

PREFACE.

. IX works of Agnew, Birch,* Boswell, Brodrick,* Bur chett,* Burnet,* Burton, Campbell* (a good authority on naval transactions), Chamberlen,* Cockburn,* Coxe, Craik, Cunningham,* D'Aulnoy,* D'Auvergne,* Defoe, Drinkwater,* Dunham, Dunlop, Dyer, Freind * (documents), Gibson,* Gleig, Hare,* Harrison,* Hazlitt, Hervey, Jeffrey, Jesse, Kane,* Kennet,* Kingston * (important), Lediard,* Lee, Lockhart, Lowndes, Macaulay, Macky,* Morris, Murray (despatches), Noble, Oldmixon,* Orrery,* Ralph,* Ranke, Rieutort* (highly important), Roscoe, Salmon,* Sayer, Smollett,* Somerville,* Alexander and James Stanhope (letters), Strickland, Swift, Teonge, Temple,* Tindal,* Wallace, Walpole,* Warburton, Watt, Wilson, and Wyon, be sides several scarce treatises and pamphlets.* Lastly, the foreign memoirs, histories and letters (founded on contemporary French, German, Dutch, Spanish and Italian sources), of which a like advantage has been taken, are the works of Ayala,* Berwick,* Barre,* Colbert, De La Torre,* Daniel,* Duclos, Feuquieres,* Griffet,* Harrach,* Hippeau, Kiintzel (most valuable), Lamberty* (chiefly official), Larrey,* Lettres Historiques,* Limiers,* Millot* (Noailles), Noorden, Pollnitz,* Quincy* (very detailed), Re boulet,* St. Simon,* Targe* (including San Felipe, San Vitali and Ottieri), Tesse, Torcy,* and Voltaire.* In regard to the war itself, although the battles of Malaga, Almanza, Saragossa and Villa Viciosa certainly present features of considerable interest, yet it is not in these actions that its characteristic element is to be found, but rather in its numerous expeditions, sieges and defences, which were of great varies}', and involved momentous naval operations.

Among those in which the English more especiallv distinguished themselves, the noble defences of Gibraltar, Barcelona and

PREFACE.

. X Alicant stand out conspicuously. At the first, the long and successful resistance constituted in reality the conquest of a fortress which, previously thereto, had only been wrested from the enemy by surprise. The second was the occasion of the principal Austrian success that occurred during the war; and the well timed naval relief by which this was rendered complete was effected under circumstances of an extraordinary nature, now for the first time made public. The third supplied an episode of courage and endurance against a resolute attack by mining almost unique in the annals of warfare. When we come to a consideration of the chief actors in the contest, we shall find that in this country little hitherto has been known respecting the young Imperial field-marshal, Prince George of Hesse Darmstadt, who was the moving spirit of the Allies, the director of their chief expeditions, and the hero of their greatest achievements.

Nevertheless the career of this daring soldier and much-loved viceroy, who was killed at the assault of Montjuic, was one to which the records of those times cannot easily supply a parallel. On the part of the English the leader who bore the brunt of the fighting was undoubtedly the gallant and modest Henry De Ruvigny, Earl of Galway. With an army mainly composed of inferior Portuguese militia, he drove Philip V. from the throne, captured Madrid, proclaimed Charles III., and marched through Spain from one side to the other. Yet in order to extol a contemptible impostor, the memory of this great Huguenot general has been aspersed by Lord Macaulay and most English writers of the present century; hence it is hoped that the following history will re-exhibit his conduct in that true light in which it was seen by his own contemporaries.

PREFACE.

. XI In connexion with Prince George and the Earl of Galway it may be stated that particular efforts have been made to describe the prominent parts taken in this struggle by the Germans and Huguenots. During the later period of the conflict the fighting was essentially maintained by the Germans, who certainly won the battles of Saragossa and Villa Viciosa ; whilst through out the war, and especially at Almanza and Alicant, the services of the Huguenot officers and soldiers were of a very eminent character. In respect of the naval commanders, it will be found that the details adduced regarding Sir George Rooke are by no means in accordance with the reputation with which he is usually credited, and tend to show that the action of the ministers of the day (who were of his own political party) in depriving him of his command was not so uncalled-for as is generally supposed.

As to the accuracy however of this account there is little room for doubt, for the facts are clearly embodied in the records (hitherto unpublished) of his own numerous councils of war. On the other hand, it is certain that the brave and skilful Sir John Leake has been much overlooked. For few British seamen have done their duty with greater merit, or with more success, than the admiral who led the van at the hard-fought battle of Malaga, re lieved the beleaguered fortresses of Gibraltar and Barce lona, reduced Carthagena, Alicant, Majorca and Sardinia, and commanded the fleet at the capture of Minorca. In the appendices to this work it has been deemed ad visable to furnish short memoirs of the previous careers of the two principal generals on the side of the Allies. That relating to Prince George is the first of the kind published in the English language, and will be found to contain particulars not supplied even in Kiintzel's Leben und Brief wechsel. In the note on Lord Galway,

PREFACE.

. XII the interesting narrative already written by Mr. Agnew has been supplemented by Griffet's Recueil, the Journal of St. Pierre, and other evidence. In addition to these fuller accounts, slight biographies of most of the commanders engaged in the war have been included in the footnotes. Among the officers thus dealt with are Admirals Rooke, Cloudesley Shovel, Leake and Byng ; the Dukes of Schomberg and Ormond ; Lords Peterborough, Tyrawley, Portmore, Rivers and Shannon ; Generals Wyndham, Conyngham, Stanhope, Carpenter, Wills, De Montandre, Wade, Nugent, Shrimpton, John Richards, Michael Richards, Petit and Borgard; Prince Henry of Hesse Darmstadt, the Due De Vendome and the Due De Berwick; Marechal De Tesse\ Field-Marshal Von Staremberg, Count Noyelles and General D'Asfeld. Interspersed among the anno tations and throughout the text will be found some novel historical information respecting the Guards, the Royal Engineers, the Royal Artillery, the Marine Corps, and several of the oldest Regiments of the British Army.

At the end is a summaiy of the researches made with reference to the authenticity of the so-called " Memoirs of Captain Carleton." Of this inquiry the literary por tion, relating purely to the question of authorship, is probably not yet exhausted ; but it is not of a historical nature, and when completed will be more fitly adapted to form part of a critical review of the works of that writer to whom (at present) its testimony strongly points. December, 1887. CONTENTS. FIRST PERIOD. CADIZ. 1689-1703. Chapter I. Events preceding the Peace of Rtswick — The French Invasion — The Siege of Barcelona — The Storming of the Breaches pp. 1 — 10 Chapter II. The Spanish Succession — The Spanish Court— The Death of Charles II.— The Policy of Louis XIV.— The Strategy of the Allies pp. 11—20 Chapter III.

The Expedition to Cadiz — The Sail ing — The Landing— The Plunder of Port St. Mary — The Attack of the Matagorda — The Retreat .... pp. 21 — 32 Chapter IV. The Affair at Vigo — The Land Attack — The Sea Attack pp. 33—38 Chapter V. The Treaty with Portugal — The Sign ing of the Treaty — The Proclamation of Charles III. pp. 39 — 42 SECOND PERIOD. GIBRALTAR. 1704-1705. Chapter VI. The Spanish Coast Expedition — The Departure for Nizza — The Demonstration before Barce lona — The Tactics of the Allied Fleet pp. 43—50 Chapter VII. The Surprise of Gibraltar — The Landing on the Isthmus — The Attack — The Capitu lation pp. 51 — 58 Chapter VIII. The Battle of Malaga — The Meet ing of the Fleets — The Engagement; — The Result . pp. 59 — 66 Chapter IX. The Campaign in Portugal — The Allied Preparations — The Bourbon Invasion — The Com bat of Monsanto — The Action on the Agueda . . pp. 67 — 78 Chapter X. The Defence of Gibraltar — The Open ing Operations — The Artillery Attack — The Relief — The Assault — The Action at Marbella — The Retreat of the Bourbons pp. 79—97 CONTENTS.

Chapter XI. The Siege of Badajoz— The Capture of Valenza — The Siege of Albuquerque — The Attack of Badajoz— The Relief of Badajoz pp. 98 — 105 THIRD PERIOD. BARCELONA. 1705-1706. Chapter XII. The Expedition to Catalonia — The Composition of the Forces — The Lisbon Con ference pp. 106 — 112 Chapter XIII. The Delay before Barcelona — The Reduction of Denia — The Investment of Barce lona — The Refusal to attack the Place — The Efforts to proceed to Italy — The Proposed March to Valencia pp. 113 — 125 Chapter XIV. The Capture of Barcelona — The Monrjuic Project — The Storming of the Outworks and Death of the Prince — The Bourbon Stratagem — The Capitulation — The Revolt of Catalonia . pp. 126 — 139 Chapter XV. The Reduction of Valencia — The Dispersion of the Allies — The Campaign of Ramos — The Defence of San Mateo — The Blockade of Valencia City pp. 140—148 Chapter XVI.

The Campaign in Arragon — The Combat of San Estevan — The Bourbon Advance on Barcelona pp. 149 — 153 Chapter XVII. The Defence of Barcelona — The Opening of the Siege — The Defence of Montjuic — The Cutting-in Exploits of Prince Henry .... pp. 154 — 162 Chapter XVIII. The Relief of Barcelona — The Operations of Leake — The Arrival of the Fleet — The Retreat of the French pp. 163 170 FOURTH PERIOD. MADRID. 1706. Chapter XIX. The March to Madrid — The Allied Army — The Siege of Alcantara — The Cap ture of Ciudad Rodrigo — The Occupation of Madrid — The Advance to Guadalaxara — The Combat of Xad raque pp. 171—183 Chapter XX. The King's Junction with Galway — The Delay at Valencia City — The Arrival of Charles at Guadalaxara pp. J84 CONTENTS. Chapter XXI. The Capture of Alicant — The Reduction of Carthagena — The Siege of Alicant — The Conquest of Ivica and Majorca pp. 191 — 196 Chapter XXII.

The Retreat from Madrid — The Rest at Chinchon — The March through Castille — The Operations in Mnrcia, Arragon and Portugal pp. 197 — 203 FIFTH PERIOD. ALMANZA. 1707. Chapter XXIII. The Separation of the Allies — The Reinforcements — The Defection of the Austro- Spaniards pp. 204 — 209 Chapter XXIV. The Battle of Almanza — The Advance of the Allies — The Opening of the En gagement — The Crisis of the Battle — The Austrian Retreat pp. 210 — 222 Chapter XXV. Xativa and Denia — The Loss of Valencia City — The Siege of Xativa — The Defence of Denia — The Campaign of the Cinca .... pp. 223 — 233 Chapter XXVI. The Siege of Lerida — The New Allied Army— The Attack of Lerida — The Fall of Lerida — The Loss of Ciudad Rodrigo .... pp. 234 — 243 SIXTH PERIOD. ALICANT. 1708-1709. Chapter XXVII. The Siege of Tortosa — The New Austrian Policy — The Attack and Capitulation — The Attempted Surprise pp. 244 — 251 Chapter XXVIII.

The Capture of Minorca — The Reduction of Sardinia — The Landing at Mahon — The Attack pp. 252—257 Chapter XXIX. The Defence of Alicant — The Loss of Denia — The Siege of Alicant — The Explosion of the Mine — The Release of the Garrison . . pp. 258 — 266 Chapter XXX. The Combat on the Caya — The Engagement — -The Operations in Catalonia . . pp. 267 — 272 LAST PERIOD. SARAGOSSA. 1710-1711. Chapter XXXI. The Combat of Almenara — The Two Armies— The Encounter pp. 273 — CONTENTS. XVI Chapter XXXII. The Battle of Saragossa — The Affair at Penalva— The Fight — The Result— The Bourbon Strategy pp. 279—287 Chapter XXXIII. The Surprise at Brihuega — The Second Retreat from Madrid— The Action . pp. 288 — 293 Chapter XXXIV. The Battle of Villa Viciosa —The Engagement — The Result pp. 294—299 Chapter XXXV.

The Peace of Utrecht — The Military Operations of 1711-13 — The Political Events of 1711-13 pp. 300—307 APPENDICES. A. — Prince George of Hesse Darmstadt p. 309 B. — Henry De Ruvigny, Earl of Galway p. 312 C. — " The Military Memoirs of Captain Carleton " . . p. 316 INDEX. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Map of Spain and Portugal Frontispiece. View of Gibraltar to face -p. 52. Plan of Barcelona to face p. 134. THE WAR OF THE SUCCESSION IN SPAIN. 1702-1711. First Period. CADIZ. 1689-1703.

Chapter I

Events Preceding the Peace of Ryswick. In order to obtain a clear idea of the origin and causes of the war in Spain commencing in 1702, which forms the subject of this history, the reader will find it neces sary to take some cognizance of the affairs of that country during the preceding thirteen years.1 From the completion of the English Revolution in 1689 to the year 1697, when by the treaty of Ryswick Louis XIV. agreed to acknowledge the succession of William III., western Europe was devastated by a great struggle, in which, on one side, were ranged England, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Spain and Savoy ; and on the other, France alone. And whatever may have been the ostensible reasons for this conflict, it is unquestion able that its real object was a desire on the part of the 1 The first two Chapters of this history are of a preliminary nature ; and their main object is to show how, and by whom, the War of the Succession in Spain was principally originated, and also to whose action and conduct was due that revolt of Catalonia to the Austrian cause in 1705, which formed the foundation of the hopes of Charles III. in Spain.

B [1689-1703. 2 CADIZ. greater portion of the civilized world to curb the grow ing aggrandizement of the French monarchy. But to France the progress of this war was by no means inglorious. In Flanders, where the brunt of the fighting took place, her troops contended against the allied English, Dutch, Danes and Germans, led by the English King; and up to the year 1694, the capture of Mons, Kamur and Charleroi, and the victories of Stein kirk and Landen palpably evinced the warlike supe riority of the French armies. Nevertheless the reso lute general who commanded the Allies was not destined to be altogether unfortunate; for in 1695, by dint of excellent strategy, he fairly wrested the mighty stronghold of Namur from the hands of the French king, and thereby checked his conquering career. In Spain the French marshals Noailles and Vendome slowly but surely reduced the numerous small fortresses, and subjugated the open country of Catalonia; and in 1697, by the capture of Barcelona (its capital), almost the whole province was placed at the mercy of the French.

It is to this crowning event, which imme diately preceded the peace of Ryswick, that we have principally to direct our attention. At the commencement of the war, when Marshal Noailles invaded Catalonia, the Spanish empire was in a condition of decline and decay. Governed by the feeble will of Charles II., the Spaniards, with the ex ception of the Catalans, had little aptitude or inclina tion for fighting; their army was small, and as a rule, their officers were without training or experience ; their navy hardly existed ; most of their fortifications were merely walls ; and above all, their finances were in a most unprosperous condition. Nevertheless, during the first two years of the conflict, owing partly to the inconsiderable number of the French forces, and partly to the guerilla tactics of the hardy Catalan militia or miquelets (aided by the difficulties of the mountainous country), nothing of consequence was effected by the French commander.

But in 1691 he captured the fortress of Urgel; whilst for three days the fleet of Admiral D'Estrees bombarded Barcelona and committed terrible havoc. The following year the campaigning was again uneventful ; but in 1693 Noailles gained possession of the important stronghold of Rosas; and in 1694, of that of Gerona, besides the smaller ones of Palamos and Ostalric ; whilst he routed the Spanish army on the banks of the Ter. In 1695, having fallen sick, he was replaced by the Due de Vendome ; ' and on the Spanish side, the cap tain-general Medina- Sidonia was superseded by the Marquis de Gastanaga. At the beginning of this year the hard-pressed Spaniards were powerfully re inforced by a contingent of 5,000 Imperialists, who arrived from Germany under the command of the young Major-General Prince George of Hesse Darm stadt.2 The principal event of the campaign that en sued was the siege of Palamos, in which the Spaniards were assisted by a naval expedition under Admiral Russell.

On August the 9th that commander arrived off Palamos with the Allied fleet, and landed 4,000 English and Dutch foot under Brigadier-Generals Stewart and Count Nassau. The Allied troops having invested 1 Louis Joseph, Due de Vendome, was an illegitimate grandson of Henri IV. and was born in 1654. He had fought at the battle of Steinkirk (in 1692) and had shown himself a good officer. He was a favourite with Louis XIV., who treated him as a Prince of the Blood. With his soldiers he was very popular ; and in any dangerous enterprise he could always reckon on their hearty support. 2 For a short account of the past career of Prince George of Hesse Darmstadt, see Note A. [1689-1703. 4 CADIZ. the place, the admiral shelled it from the sea and effected considerable injury. But hearing that a superior French fleet was on its way from Toulon to relieve the fortress, he determined to retire in time and advised Gastanaga and Darmstadt to do the same.

Accordingly the expeditionary troops re-embarked; and the Spaniards retreated to their intrenchments on the Ter near Ostalric (which fortress Vendome had ruined and abandoned). On the conclusion of the campaign Gastanaga (who had proved an inefficient generalissimo) became partially insane, and was succeeded by Count Francisco De Velasco. In 1696, at the opening of active hostilities, Velasco was in command of the Spanish and German foot in the Ter intrenchments; whilst the horse, numbering 4,500 sabres, were encamped at Massanet, eight miles in advance, under Prince George. On the night of May the 31st,1 at the head of a strong force of horse, dismounted dragoons 2 and grenadiers, Vendome set out for Mas sanet, hoping to surprise the Prince. But on learning that he was retiring to the Ter, he pursued with all speed and overtook the Spanish rear within sight of the intrenchments.

Darmstadt had drawn up his horse in three lines on the side of a hill, where he received the French onset. Animating his troopers by his per sonal courage he three times repulsed the superior 1 Unless otherwise specified, all the dates in this work are New Style. In the Old Style calendar, which in Great Britain was not discontinued till 1751, the dates up to December 31, 1699, were ten days, and after that day, eleven days, behind N.S. ; and the O.S. new year began on March 25th. 2 Dragoons were musketeers trained to fight either on horseback or on foot. They were an arm quite distinct from the horse ; but as they usually fought in company with them, the term " horse," throughout this work, is used to imply either horse proper or mounted dragoons. force of the enemy; but at the fourth charge his men gave way, and Velasco (a brave soldier, though with out experience) did not leave his post to support them.

The Prince therefore retreated in good order under the guns of the intrenchments. In this action the Allies lost 300 killed and wounded, and the French 200, amongst whom, however, were two general officers. Shortly afterwards a large detachment of French horse having advanced into the country on a foraging expedi tion, Darmstadt sallied from the Ter and routed them, inflicting a loss of 300 officers and men, including Major-General De Reinac, who was killed. Since his arrival in Catalonia the Prince had become very popular with the Spaniards ; and in a letter from a leading Catalan, written this year, it was stated " that no one in all Catalonia was more beloved than the Prince .... and what the Catalans would not do for the Prince, they would never do for the King." But the great event which won for him the admiration of the Spaniards and a high reputation throughout Europe was the defence of Barcelona.

In the winter Vendome made great preparations in Rousillon for the siege of that fortress; and in May, 1697, with an army of 26,000 men, he advanced towards it. Thereupon the Allies broke up from their camp on the Ter ; and whilst Velasco, with 3,000 horse and 5,000 foot, took post behind the Llobregat, about eight miles to the westward of Barcelona, the Prince entered the place with 1,500 horse and 11,000 foot. About the same time Admiral D'Estr^es arrived in the roadstead with a large squadron from Toulon, and sup plied Vendome with 3,300 seamen and a powerful siege train. The garrison proper of Barcelona consisted of 4,000 militia, who were assisted by the armed burghers; and the governor was the Count De Corsana. The place [1689-1703. 6 CADIZ. was weakly fortified, but was well supplied with victuals and stores; and the regular troops formed a separate command under Darmstadt, to whom the chief direction of the whole defence was entrusted.

On June the 12th Vend6me partially invested the place, but was unable to comprise within his lines a small detached fort named Montjuic, situated on a hill to the west of the town; hence, on that side, the Prince had free communication with Velasco.1 On the 15th trenches and batteries were formed in two attacks against the north-east side of the fortress. The French chief engineer was Brigadier-General De La Para; and the San Pedro and New Bastions were the principal objects against which he directed his works. The same night the Prince made a sortie with 800 men, and considerably delayed the workmen in the trenches. Three nights afterwards, with 400 horse and 1,900 foot, he made two great attacks on the flanks of the besiegers o ******* and inflicted heavy loss. On the 19th the garrison pushed forward counter approaches and warmly harassed the heads of the enemy's trenches.

The French then assaulted in force a detached building held by the Spaniards as an advanced post, and after overcoming a brave resistance, captured it ; whilst later in the night, Darmstadt made a third powerful sortie, which resulted in another severe struggle. In these actions the French lost 1,000 men, and the Allies 200. On the night of the 24th the Prince made the most determined sally he had yet attempted, and a bloody engagement ensued, at the conclusion of which, a cessa tion of hostilities for three hours was agreed upon in order that each side might bury their dead. La Para had now established mortar batteries which co-operated See the plan of Barcelona. with D 'Estates' bomb-vessels in shelling the town ; and by the end of June 2,500 private houses, besides many churches and convents, had been burnt or ruined.

On July the 4th the siege works having been steadily pushed forward, Vendome, with eight regiments, delivered a vigorous assault on the covered way. It was met by the Spaniards with great firmness, and the conflict lasted three hours. During this time three great attempts were repulsed, and in the result the French were driven back to their trenches, leaving behind them an immense number of killed and wounded. Two days afterwards Vendome made a second spirited attack on the same work, and after desperate fighting gained possession of it. Next day the Prince briskly assailed the French lodgment, but the enemy maintained their ground. The following day, in still greater force, he renewed the assault; and again there was much close fighting of the most resolute nature ; but his men were repulsed, and there was a second suspension of arms — this time lasting five hours — to allow the antagonists to attend to their Avounded and dead.

In these four days no less than 3,500 Frenchmen were placed hors-de-combat ; whilst the loss of the Allies was only 500. By this time the besieging army had suffered so great a diminu tion that Vendome wrote to Louis XIV., urgently de manding reinforcements. Thereupon all the available troops in Languedoc and Provence, numbering 6,000 men, were ordered to march Avith speed to the assis tance of the French marshal. Writing home at this period, Alexander Stanhope, the English ambassador at Madrid, thus expressed himself : " As we talk of little else here besides Barcelona, so you can expect little more from me It is certain they have defended themselves beyond expectation, and seem still very [1689-1703. 8 CADIZ. courageous The Prince of Hesse is the idol of the Catalans, and if anything save Barcelona, it will be his being in it."

Shortly after the loss of the covered way the Prince planned a great simultaneous attack on the French lines, to be made by himself from Montjuic, and by Velasco from his camp at St. Feliu, about eight miles distant. But information of the design was brought by a deserter to Vendome, who thereupon resolved to turn the tables on the Spaniards. On the night preceding that on which the attempt was to have been made, he set out at the head of a strong detachment of horse and foot to attack Velasco. Owing to the negligent look-out kept by the Spanish general the surprise was complete ; his camp was thrown into confusion, pillaged and burnt; many of his soldiers were killed ; and he himself escaped with difficulty. Eventually however the Spaniards rallied, and Vendome retired. On the 22nd, the French reinforcements having arrived, and two practicable breaches having been made, the marshal attacked them in great force; and the fighting lasted for nearly seven hours.