received several wounds, of which he
died immediately after the surrender. In the whole, nearly eight hundred
French were either killed or taken, and they had previously lost two
hundred men in a terrible storm which overtook them at the commencement
of their expedition, and which drove back many of their vessels to their
own ports. This affair cost Major Corbet his honour: he was tried by a
court-martial, and deprived of his commission of lieutenant-governor.
The states erected a splendid monument in the town-church to the memory
of the gallant Major Pierson.
THE GARRISON OF GIBRALTAR RELIEVED.
The garrison of Gibraltar, at the commencement of this year, were again
reduced to great straits by the persevering Spaniards. The supplies
which Rodney had thrown in the year before were nearly exhausted; and
some vessels which had been accustomed to run down from Minorca and some
of the Italian ports were captured by the French and Spanish cruisers.
Under these circumstances, one of the first efforts of the campaign was
the relief of this important place. Admiral Darby was appointed to this
important service. After escorting the East and West India trade to
a certain latitude, Darby arrived off Cadiz, where he saw the Spanish
fleet at anchor. While, therefore, he forwarded the convoy with
provision!, stores, etc., to Gibraltar, with some ships of the line
and frigates to cover them, Darby remained with the rest of his fleet,
cruizing between Cadiz Bay and the mouth of the Straits of Gibraltar,
watching the enemy. The Spanish admiral, Cordova, had boasted that he
would meet the English at sea; but upon second thought, he considered
himself safer where he was, and still remained at anchor. The convoy got
safe into the harbour, where it was hailed with transports of joy by
the half-famished soldiers on the rocky heights of Gibraltar; and their
cheers were responded to by those below. The succours were landed with
very little difficulty, and Darby then returned to the Channel station.
The Spaniards were disheartened by this success of the British, and were
mortified by the circumstance that their grand fleet had cowered
before an inferior force; but they were again encouraged by promises of
co-operation from France, and therefore still continued the siege.
REVOLT IN WASHINGTON'S CAMP.
The earliest events of this year were unfavourable to the American
cause. For some months all discipline had been relaxed in Was
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