The long detention of so respectable a force, until the period of Equinox not only gave time for the enemy to ascertain its object, but endangered its progress along a hostile coast, at so very critical a season.
At last, having assembled at Plymouth, the whole set sail upon the 14th of September, steering directly for the coast of Britanny.—Five thousand Infantry to be strengthened, if necessary, by the Marines of sixteen Sail of the Line, and eight Frigates, were the number employed on this occasion.
They made the coast upon the 18th; but from adverse circumstances, a debarkation was not effected until the 20th. The interval was advantageous for the enemy, who by alarm guns during the day, and lighted fire-beacons upon the tops of corresponding hills during the night, soon apprised their distant countrymen of an invader's approach.
It was in vain that opposition was attempted against the descent of our troops, by a body of undisciplined Militia. After having landed the cannon, with the ammunition and stores, in Quimparley-Bay, the whole were left under the charge of a small party of the Royal Artillery, and a body of one hundred Marines.
On the 21st the army advanced in two columns against Plymeur, which they reached after some slight skirmishing. The place having agreed to surrender, but afterwards treacherously firing upon a detachment, it was given up to plunder. On the following day, the whole moved on to a rising ground within a mile of Port L'Orient, the ultimate object of their views. After a fruitless parley, which the French had established, in order to gain time and to collect their scattered means of defence, hostilities commenced on the 24th.
Some affairs took place between that and the 26th, when after a cannonade, which did considerable damage to the town, a retreat was commenced under cover of the night.
The French were now pouring from all quarters, and the situation of our forces became critical. The fatigues endured by our men of every description were excessive. The opportunity of conquest seems to have been lost in the want of early energies, which allowed a valuable interval to the enemy for defence.
After a loss of about one hundred and fifty killed, wounded, and missing, and some Artillery, the re-embarkation was effected, when the fleet set sail upon the 1st of October, for the Bay of Borneuff, off Quiberon, and to the South of Quimperlay.
The body of Marines I have mentioned, were intrenched at Quimperlay, to guard the landing-place, and the rest, under Colonel Holmes, were united with the Army.
Upon the 4th of October, some troops were landed on the peninsula of Quiberon, without opposition, from whence the natives had fled with all their effects. After remaining ashore some days, the whole returned to England, without having effected any thing during that time, worthy of remark.