and of Peace being re-established, I was in hopes that the following demand which I made for 1783 would have been sufficient, viz.

Pay for a Military Corps of Artificers
For a supply of Stores .

To answer Bills of Exchange expected to be
drawn

£4,492 10 10

10,000 0 0

20,000 0 0

Total 34,492 10 10

"This sum, however, proved very inadequate, for by the time that the Estimate was delivered in this year for 1784 it appeared there had been expended for 1783 as follows:

For Powder, Tents, and other Stores sent
Imprest for Bills of Exchange drawn by order

£22,188 8 8 4

47,550 15

53,084 2 8

Total £122,823 6 1

4,504 17 0 25,000 0 0

"The Demand for 1784 was settled by Lord Townshend as follows:

Pay of the Company of Artificers

To answer Bills of Exchange

Having no better information than his Lordship I did not alter his Estimate."

All this, it must be borne in mind, is only the expenditure of the last year of the siege for the Ordnance and Store branch, and does not include the cost of the infantry. The convoy which arrived in the first year is not embraced in the above. The expenditure in repairs and renewals to barracks, fortifications, &c., part of which was drawn for by the bills of exchange quoted above, cannot be taken at less than £150,000. Probably we shall not be far wrong in assuming that the whole cost of the siege must have reached £750,000.

In the same letter the Master-General explains why, in the Warrant just issued (in 1784), the extra pay for officers at Gibraltar was put on the same footing as home stations, and not like foreign service :

"Inclosed I send you a Copy of His Majesty's Warrant of the 21st July, establishing several Regulations respecting the Engineers; you will find the extra Pay at Gibraltar reduced to half the Ordinary Pay. A great reduction was necessary for time of peace, and it was judged that the other advantages Officers received at Gibraltar put them on a level with those serving in other parts abroad. If the Engineers there sustain some loss of Emolument, they will find some recompense in the better footing on which they are put in point of Rank by the new Establishment contained in this Warrant."

Truly this seems but a sorry recompense to the Corps for the labours and perils of the preceding four years, and for the renown they had gained in this protracted and celebrated defence.

The subject of the siege of Gibraltar may be fitly closed by Holloway's last entries in his journal:—

"July 3rd 1783. Landed at Portsmouth.

"7th. Left Portsmouth at 10 a.m. and arrived in London at 9 o'clock at night.

"10th Wednesday. With Gen' Green & Col. Phipps to Lord Townshend's Levee; afterwards to Court, where we were introduced to the King and kissed hands."

CHAPTER VI.

THE WAR OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION, 1702-1713.

Formation of Train for Service in the Low Countries-Colonel Blood appointed to the Command-Engineers under him-Siege of Venloo-Blood at the Battles of Blenheim and Ramilies-His Death at Brussels — Michael Richards-John Armstrong-His Services on Marlborough's Staff—Demolition of the Fortifications of Dunkirk-Train for Cadiz-Attacks on Cadiz and Vigo-Portugal Train under Borgard--Barcelona Train-Carleton's Memoirs-Siege of Barcelona-Its Capture, and that of Valenza― Borgard Wounded and Mauclere placed in Command of the Train-Defence of Barcelona by Lewis Petit-Siege of Alcantara -Death of Mauclere-Isaac Petit killed at Alicante-New Train formed under Michael RichardsBattle of Almanza and Defeat of Galway-Defence of Denia and TortosaConsolidation of Trains-Capture of Minorca-Lewis Petit appointed Lieutenant-Governor, and Peter Durand Chief Engineer-Loss of DeniaSiege of Alicante-Explosion of Mine and Death of John RichardsPeace of Utrecht--Engineers in America and the West Indies.

THE War of the Spanish Succession, which, as already related, led to the acquisition by Great Britain of the fortress of Gibraltar, was carried on with vigour at other points. In order to secure a more intelligent continuity, the history of the Engineers in their connection with Gibraltar has been treated without interruption throughout the eighteenth century. It is now proposed to trace the deeds of those of their number who were employed elsewhere during the same period. The most important of these services were rendered in the campaigns of the Duke of Marlborough, to which we will revert.

Even before war was declared on May 4th, 1702, a Warrant had been issued for the formation of an Ordnance Train to accompany the force then assembling for service in the Low Countries. This was dated on March 14th, 1702. Colonel George Browne was at first named for the command, but that appointment was almost immediately cancelled, and he was given a similar post in the Train formed for the Cadiz expedition. The vacancy was filled by the appointment of Colonel Holcroft Blood, the Second Engineer of Great Britain, who was at the same time made Chief Engineer of the Train. Colonel Blood at first appears to have refused to take over this command, and the Board

wrote the following letter to the Earl of Romney on the occasion :

"We have just now received a letter from Coll. Blood, by which he refuses to take upon him the command of the Train in Holland in the manner you doth propose, which considering his station of being an Engineer upon the establishment, is of such ill consequence and so far intrenches upon your Lordship's authority, that it justly deserves the utmost punishment, and it is our opinion Coll. Blood should be forthwith discharged from any employment in the office, and some other person appointed by your Lordship to command that train. The com mission you intended Coll. Blood is of the same nature as has been given by your Lordship in other cases, and cannot, as wee conceive, give any occasion to be ridiculed or laughed at, and certainly Coll. Blood making that interpretation of it is a high reflection upon your Lordship and the Board.” (Lett., Mast.-Genl. 1700-1704, No. 3.)

It is a pity that the letter referred to cannot be traced. It can only be presumed that Colonel Blood was angry that the appointment should, in the first place, have been offered to Colonel Browne, who had been his junior as an Engineer, having served under him at the sieges of Cork and Kinsale in 1690.

It is somewhat difficult to trace the names of the other officers who served as Engineers throughout these campaigns, but the following appear in various minutes as having at different times been attached to the train, viz. :-De la Martinière, Charles Blunt, Henry Chaytor, Richard King, John Hanway, James Petit, Thomas Lascelles, Edward Ridley, John O'Brien, Nicholas Dubois, with Alexander Forbes as Adjutant. In addition to these, Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Richards and Captain John Armstrong, although Engineers, served on the Staff of the Army as Assistant Quartermasters-General.

The first event in the war, interesting from an Engineer point of view, was the Siege of Venloo, undertaken by Marlborough's orders, although he himself was not present. Lord Cutts had been desired to assault Fort St. Michael, a powerful detached work, which, from its dominant position, would, if taken, command the town, and probably lead to its immediate surrender. This was successfully accomplished, and Lord Cutts, in his despatch narrating the event, after enumerating his forces, which, as he says, were accompanied by 300 workmen, with a competent number of Engineers

under Colonel Blood who acted as First engineer under Mr. Cohorne, and was to have made the Lodgment continuous. When he saw that I had quitted that design he shew'd the part of a brave officer, charging with the men sword in hand, and killing an officer of Grenadiers who made a vigorous opposition with his party. And Mr.

de la Martinière, an Engineer lately sent from England, was also very serviceable in that action as well by his skill as bravery."

This incident occurred on September 18th, 1702.

In 1705 a sum of £65,000 was ordered to be distributed to the army under Marlborough for services in the German campaign of the previous year. The following were the amounts given: To Engineer Blood, £75; Lascelles (wounded), £33; whilst Hawkins, Chaytor, Blunt, King, and Armstrong each received £16 10s.

Holcroft Blood did not gain renown only by his performance of Engineer duties. His position as Chief of the Ordnance Train placed him at the head of the Artillery. Thus we find him at the battle of Blenheim directing the movements of that arm.

"About daybreak Colonel Blood brought up the Artillery. About 8 o'clock the enemy began to cannonade our army as it advanced. Upon this his Grace ordered Colonel Blood to plant several Counter batteries upon the most advantageous parts of the ground, and His Grace visited each battery and stood by to observe the range of the guns and the effect of their fire."—(Murray, i. 396.)

Blood distinguished himself so much at the battle of Blenheim, that he was raised to the rank of Brigadier-General.

We find other records of his work about this time:—

"October 20th 1704. This day Colonel Blood is marched with 14 pieces of Cannon, 4 Howitzers, and 3 battalions of Foot towards Homburg."-(Extract from a letter written by the Duke of Marlborough to Sir Charles Hedges: Murray, i. 512.)

"October 21st 1704. Colonel Blood, our Engineer, with 18 Cannon and 3 Regiments of Foot, marched the 20th from our army, and to be followed the next day by 32 battalions and 40 Squadrons to form the Siege of Tryers, before which place the Duke of Marlborough designs to be the 28th."(Luttrell, v. 478.)

This refers to the siege of Traerbach, which capitulated after an investment of six weeks.

Blood also commanded the Artillery at the battle of Ramilies on May 23rd, 1706, with reference to which the Board of Ordnance passed the following minute :

"June 4th. 1706. A letter to Brigadier General Blood to thank him for his of the 23rd May, and to congratulate him upon account of the glorious victories and the many successes that has attended" (sic).

And again on September 12th, 1706 :—

"To Brigadier General Blood to thank him for his Account of the Siege of Menin, and that he acquaint the Sub Engineers that the Board expects they should make Draughts of all Towns, Sieges, &c. in all the Campaigns they have been in.”