A History of the Late Siege of Gibraltar
With a Description and Account of that Garrison, from the Earliest Periods

A bestselling account of the siege of the British garrison at Gibraltar from 1779 to 1783, by a participant.

John Drinkwater (Author)

9781108025591, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 February 2011

450 pages, 6 b/w illus. 4 maps
29.7 x 21 x 2.3 cm, 1.07 kg

John Drinkwater (1762–1844) was stationed at Gibraltar with the Royal Manchester Volunteers from June 1779 to February 1783 while it was besieged by a Franco-Spanish force. He kept a careful record of events during the longest siege endured by British forces. Returning to England a captain, in 1785 he published his account of the unsuccessful siege, which went through four editions in five years. The siege by both land and naval forces put the garrison under great pressure, as food and fuel became scarce. Two successful naval expeditions in 1780 and 1781 evaded the blockade to bring provisions and extra troops, and to evacuate civilians. The siege was lifted, and Gibraltar remained a key British naval base in the Mediterranean. As well as giving his own eyewitness account, Drinkwater got assistance from other officers and men, and also provides illustrations of Gibraltar and plans of the siege.

Dedication
Preface
Advertisement to the second edition
Subscribers
1. Historical account of Gibraltar
2. Description of the garrison
3. Communication between Gibraltar and Spain interrupted
4. Spaniards renew the blockade of Gibraltar
5. Admiral Darby, with the British Grand Fleet, relieves Gibraltar
6. Spaniards prepare to re-establish the batteries destroyed by the sortie
7. Two French officers discovered reconnoitring
8. Captain Curtis visits the combined camp to establish a cartel
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Military history [HBW]