GIBRALTAR - EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE LIFTING OF THE SIEGE ...

Hammer

£650

GIBRALTAR - EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE LIFTING OF THE SIEGE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BRITISH OCCUPATION; Remarkable 12 Dec. 1704 letter (fully typed transcript; no address wrapper) from "Gibralter" [sic] to an unnamed correspondent from "Lt. Coll. [E.] Revett" of the Royal Marines force that was sent to relieve the British Occupation force soon after the Occupation started (in July/August 1704); a detailed account of the naval engagement with a disguised French fleet en route to Gibraltar, etc.; "The Enemy had approached very near this place [Gibraltar] and have made four breaches, and last night we made a sally, with about 300 men, to burn and throw down their approaches, which we did above 600 paces with ye loss of not 20 men killed and wounded & no officer hurt. This will divert them [the enemy] for one fortnight longer, before which we hope Sir John Lake will come into us, who is somewhere in the Mediterranean...We have, in Garrison, 3,220 men..of which 600 sick & wounded, and we have had killed about 100 since they have been before the Town, which is 11 weeks..." Important Historical account of the very first days of British Gibraltar.