1808	The French Repulsed at Rosas	89

Cochrane landed with his marines, under Lieutenant James Rivers Hore of that corps, and took possession of, the castle of Mongal ; an important post completely commanding a pass in the road from Barcelona to Gerona, then besieged by the French, and the only post between those towns occupied by the enemy. The Spanish militia are represented to have behaved admirably, in carrying an outpost on a neighbouring hill. Lord Cochrane demolished the works, and gave up to the Spanish militia the arms of the 71 prisoners made on the occasion.

In the latter part of September, cruising off the coast of Languedoc, Lord Cochrane landed with a portion of his officers and men, and blew up and completely demolished the semiphoric telegraphs at Bourdique, La Pinde, Saint-Miguire, Frontignan, Canet, and Foy, with their telegraph houses, 14 barracks of the gens d'armes or douanes, one battery, and the strong tower upon the lake of Frontignan. The telegraphs being of the utmost consequence to the safety of the numerous convoys that passed along the coast, their destruction was a serious blow to the French, and particularly beneficial to the patriots, and those who espoused their cause, by preventing about 2000 troops, intended for the important fortress of Figueras, from advancing into Spain.

Always anxious to do justice to those who embark with him in services of danger, Lord Cochrane, in his official letter, attributes the successful result of the enterprise just recorded to the exertions of Mr. David Mapleton, the first, and Mr. Urry Johnson, the second lieutenant, Mr. George Gilbert, assistant surgeon, Mr. William Burney, gunner, and Messieurs Houston Stewart and George Charles Stovin, midshipmen, of the Impérieuse,

On the 7th of November a body of about 5000 French troops occupied the heights around the bay of Rosas, at the north-eastern extremity of Spain ; and at noon on the same day, a small detachment entered the town of Rosas, the inhabitants of which had fled for protection either to their boats or to the citadel. At this time the British 74-gun ship Excellent, Captain John West, and bomb-ship Meteor, Captain James Collins, lay within point-blank shot of the town. A well-directed fire from these ships soon compelled the French precipitately to retire towards some houses and ruins in the rear of the town, which they occupied as an advanced post. On the 8th, at noon, observing that the French were hard pressing a body of Miguelets, Captain West made a sortie from the citadel at the head of 250 of the Excellent's seamen and marines ; but the superior force of the French, who endeavoured, with their cavalry, to surround the British, compelled the latter, after being successful in their object of rescuing the Miguelets, to retire within the fortress. The seamen and marines, who, throughout this to them to novel engagement

^ back to top ^