find Mr. Smyth bearing a part In several attacks upon the enemy’s coasting trade near Rochefort; and as he was subsequently engaged in a series of important operations, which were productive of great advantage to the cause of Spain, we shall here give an outline of the occurrences on the coast of Andalusia, from the period of his Admiral’s arrival in Cadiz bay, until the Milford’s departure from thence, in July, 1811.
Sir Richard G. Keats sailed from Spithead, with his flag on board the Implacable 74, Captain George Cockburn; and arrived at Cadiz in that ship, July 17th, 1810. At this period, the French army under Marshal Victor occupied the strong posts of San-Lucar, Kota, Santa-Maria, El Trocadero, Puerto-Real, Medina-Sidonia, and Chiclana; they had completed the blockade of the island of Leon, by land; and were busily employed in improving the defences of Fort Santa-Catalina and the batteries of El Trocadero, and in constructing additional works along the whole line of coast, from the Guadalquivir river to the sea-beach opposite Punta-de-Sancti-Petri. A considerable flotilla was preparing at San-Lucar; and the seamen originally trained to gun-boat service at Boulogne, and who had been employed on the Danube, in 1809, had already arrived to assist in the reduction of Cadiz. Eleven or twelve British and Spanish line-of-battle ships were lying as near to the city as the depth of water would admit; and at least 300 merchant vessels, of different nations, were crowded together between them and the shore. The enemy’s batteries in the neighbourhood of Matagorda were daily exchanging shot and shells with Fort Puntales; and the colours of Joseph Buonaparte were displayed in every direction on the terra firma. The obstacles to be overcome by Marshal Victor before he could approach Cadiz from the eastward, were, however, of an appalling nature, for the description of which we are principally indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel George Landmann, of the Royal Engineers, author of “Historical, Military, and Picturesque Observations on Portugal, illustrated by seventy-five coloured plates, including authentic plans of the sieges and battles in the Peninsula, during the late war[1].”
- ↑ Published by Cadell and Davies, London, 1818.
