The French armament, commanded by Marshal Duke de Richelieu, arrived at Minorca in the middle of April, and effected a landing at Ciudadella on the 18th of that month; and as no part of the island was fortified to resist so powerful a force, excepting _Fort St. Philip_, situate on a rocky promontory at the entrance to the harbour of Port Mahon, the KING'S OWN were withdrawn from the interior, and effected their retreat to the fort with the loss of one corporal taken prisoner by the enemy.
Preparations were made for a vigorous defence of the fort, and the French commander encountered so gallant and determined a resistance, that he was obliged to send for additional forces. The perseverance and endurance of the garrison became the subject of much admiration, and the vigilance and bravery of the officers inspired the troops with confidence. On the 19th of May the British fleet was descried bearing towards the island, and the men having become much exhausted by hard duty, looked forward for the expected relief with anxiety; but were disappointed: Admiral Byng, after skirmishing with the French squadron, retired, and was afterwards brought to trial for his conduct and shot. Lieut.-General Thomas Fowke, then commanding at Gibraltar, was also brought to trial for not sending a reinforcement from that garrison to Minorca, and was sentenced to be suspended from his appointment for one year. King George II. confirmed the sentence, but directed Lieut.-General Fowke to be dismissed from the service.
Although abandoned to their fate, Lieut.-General Blakeney and the four regiments under his orders defended their post with great gallantry; the men were nearly worn out with incessant duty and watching, so that they frequently fell asleep under a heavy cannonade; yet they persevered with astonishing resolution. About midnight on the 27th of June, a general assault was made at several different points; the garrison met the assailants with great courage, and repulsed them several times with much slaughter; many of the sick and wounded men came out of the hospital to join in the defence. Though repulsed at several points, the enemy, after much hard fighting, gained three of the out-works. Upon this subject a military historian observes,--"So many attacks made at one time against so small a body of men, who had such a variety of works to defend, it is rather a matter of surprise that the enemy were repulsed at so many, and succeeded at so few places."[25]
