Historical and genealogical account of the Clan Maclean

240 BIOGRAPHICAL AND
troops of artillery and of the line were withdrawn,
and a British detachment sent in to fight the
arduous battle. The officer on whom the de-
fence of this post of danger and honour devolved
was Captain (now Colonel Sir Archibald) Mac-
laine, who, with his company of the 94th, and a
party of the Royal British Artillery, were landed
on the little isthmus. Maclaine nobly defended
his post for several weeks, during the latter
period of which his brave garrison had to with-
stand the fire of twenty pieces of heavy artillery,
to which the enemy had from day to day in-
creased their power of annoyance. His casualties
of course were heavy, but he never slackened
fire, giving, not to say gun for gun and shot for
shot, but generally two for one ! Although the
brave commander personally exposed himself
both by day and night on the battery, he was
fortunate enough to escape both shot and shell.
Others were less favoured by chance — or Provi-
dence ! Major Le Fevre of the Royal Engineers
(who visited the fort by order of the General to
inspect its strength and resources, in order to
report on the expediency of a longer contest,)
was killed by a twenty-four pounder, which cut
off the upper part of his body, while he looked
for a moment over the parapet with his telescope
to catch a hasty view of the enemy's batteries.
The gallant commandant, who was within a few
yards of the unfortunate major at the time, and