Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 4, 1896

168
tSE OELfiO MONTHLY.
William, in person, directed this attack.
He was delighted. He called the attention of
the Elector of Bavaria who was near him to
the prowess evinced by his English and
Scottish soldiers, and three days after, writing
to the prime minister in London, said, "all the
troops displayed considerable courage, par-
ticularly the English, the Scottish, and one of
the Dutch."
On the 16th St. Nicholas gate was won. On
the following day the first counterscarp of the
ditch was attacked by the British Grenadiers.
Rushing to the glacis and casting their
grenades over the palisades into the covered
way, then following up this assault with spirit,
the red-coats carried the counterscarp in the
most gallant style. Now two regiments came
to their aid, but when the gabions were being
placed upon the glacis the French sprung
several mines which caused terrible havoc.
Many of the Guards vaulted over the palisades
into the covered way and used their swords
with incredible bravery till a lodgment was
fully effected.
On the 22nd July a new battery of eighteen
guns arrived fi-om England. Being quickly
placed in position it opened fire upon the
bastion of St. Roche, and soon battered down
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masses of the stone-work, but it was found
necessary to extend the lodgment towards
Portde-fer. This having been effected the
grand assault was made on the 23rd. The
stormers, led on by the gallant Royal Scots as
the forlorn hope, rushed on with great fury.
The Scots pressed on with such vigour and
spirit that, on effecting a lodgment and
planting their flag on the ramparts, their loss
was very trifling, the reward of spirited
audacity.
On the 24th, while preparations were being
made for another combined assault, a white
flag was seen. All tiring ceased, and one and
all were on the "qui vive." Count De Guiscard,
the commandant of the place, advanced from
the breach flag in hand. He requested
permission to confer witli General Ramsay for
the surrender of the town to preserve it "from
further injury. Terms of capitulation were
agreed to, and signed, and in the evening
Colonel Lauder with his Scottish " Mousque
taires" took possession of Portde-fer in the
presence of King William, while old Marshal
Bouftlers with 700 men withdrew into the
citadel, having in three weeks lost ui defence of