These works being exposed to the fire of the ships, as they could stand within little more than musket shot, were hastily evacuated, and in less than an hour they were occupied by 600 Seamen and Marines. The passage was now open for the Duke of Savoy to prosecute his destination, while frigates were stationed along the different parts of the sea coast, in order to keep up a mutual communication.
Having reached Toulon, every aid was afforded by the fleet both as to men and cannon, but the enemy daily augmenting his forces, and having made a successful sally, induced the raising of this siege upon the 10th of August, after a loss of more than a thousand men.
One happy result arose from this attempt however, which was, that the French, under a sudden dread of consequences, sunk a number of their largest men of war, which were ever after unfit for service.
King Charles having often urged the reduction of Sardinia, with a view to open a passage for his troops in Naples to attack Sicily, as well as on account of its sources of supply of all kinds of provisions for his armies, of which they were much in want, a body of Marines was drawn from Tarragona, a strong sea port and Garrison in Catalonia, to assist in this enterprize. Upon the 1st day of August, 1708, the whole arrived before Cagliari, the capital. Upon receiving a very equivocal answer to a summons sent in, the bombardment commenced that evening, and continued without intermission until next morning, when at the break of day, Major General Wills, and the whole of the Marines, with one Spanish regiment were landed. The place, in consequence, almost instantly surrendered.
The whole having been re-embarked, the fleet again set sail, upon the 18th of August, for Minorca, and arrived at Port Mahon upon the 25th.
At this period, two of the Marine Regiments were drafted, and both officers and men were incorporated with the other four, now employed upon this service. The measure was necessary, in order to supply the casualties that had occurred, and to render these corps effective.—For this purpose, all the Marines capable of duty, were drawn from a number of the fleet about to return home, as well as to assist in the reduction of an island, which, every officer conceived, would make a spirited and tedious defence.
The first attack was against Fort Fornelle, which was cannonaded by two of the ships, and fell after a contest of four hours.
A detachment having been pushed to Cittadello, the capital, it surrendered without resistance.
The batteries were opened on the works defending the town of Port Mahon, upon the 17th of September, when, after a short but brisk fire, and the loss of only six men, a lodgment was effected under the very walls of St. Philip's Castle; and next day the enemy capitulated.
Thus was this strong fortress, and important island, gained by a force of only 2400 men, while the garrison consisted of more than one thousand Soldiers, with upwards of 100 pieces of cannon mounted, and having every thing requisite for sustaining a long siege.