During the winter the Earl of Galway proceeded to Portugal, where he remained in a diplomatic capacity. The British troops in Spain were commanded by Major-General Carpenter, and in the spring of 1708 by Major-General Stanhope—afterwards Earl Stanhope: the united English, Germans, Spaniards, Portuguese, and Dutch, comprising the army of King Charles in Spain, were commanded by Marshal Count Guido de Staremberg, an officer who had commanded the imperial troops in Hungary.
After quitting their quarters the Sixth were encamped on the river Francoli, between Monblanco and Tarragona, to defend a defile leading to the plain near the town: they brought about eight hundred officers and men into the field, and their weather-beaten, hardy, and warlike appearance excited admiration. In a letter from the army, dated 23rd of April, 1708, and published at the time, it was stated:—"We cannot yet give any certain account of the number of our forces, but those we have are the finest in the world: such are the regiments of Southwell (Sixth) commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Hunt; that of Blood (seventeenth), commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Bourguet; and that of Mordaunt (twenty-eighth), commanded by Colonel Dalziel[28]."
The regiment was subsequently stationed with the army at Constantino, from whence it proceeded to Cervera; and while in the field, its colonel, William Southwell, was succeeded by Colonel Thomas Harrison, who was performing the duty of adjutant-general to the British troops in Catalonia.
Tortosa and Denia were besieged and taken by the enemy; the allies captured the fertile island of Sardinia in the Mediterranean; and the Sixth were withdrawn from the army in Catalonia to engage in an expedition, under Major-General Stanhope, against Minorca, the second of the Balearic islands, situate in the Mediterranean, near the coast of Spain. This island had fallen successively under the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Moors, Arragonese, and Castilians; and the object of the expedition was to rescue it from King Philip, and place it under the dominion of King Charles.
The regiment marched from the camp to Barcelona, where it embarked on board the fleet. The land forces consisted of the Sixth, and a few dismounted English dragoons, making 750 private men; 760 English marines, 750 Portuguese, 700 Neapolitans, 300 Spaniards, and a train of English artillery, commanded by Major-General Stanhope and Brigadier-General Wade.
A landing was effected on the island in the middle of September: Cuidadella, the capital, and fort Fornellia, were captured with little opposition, and the inhabitants declared in favour of King Charles; but a thousand French and Spaniards garrisoned Port Mahon, situated on a rocky promontory, very difficult of access on the land side, and defended by Fort St. Philip, erected at the entrance of the harbour, which has been stated to be one of the finest in the world. After dragging the artillery along rocky and difficult roads, the siege of Fort St. Philip was commenced; the artillery destroyed two small towers, and made a practicable breach in the outer wall, which was built a quarter of a mile from Fort St. Philip, and, extending from sea to sea, covered the approach to the citadel. Major-General Stanhope intended that the breach should be stormed on the following day; but the grenadiers of the Sixth, and another corps, being on duty near the spot, rushed forward with such ardour and intrepidity, that the garrison was terrified and dismayed. Ascending the breach sword in hand, they overpowered all opposition, captured a redoubt, and, being supported by a detachment under Brigadier-General Wade, effected a lodgment at the foot of the glacis. A battery was constructed immediately, and the garrison was so confused and alarmed at the fury and resolution of their assailants, that they capitulated on the following day (29th of September); but when, on marching out, they saw the small body of men to whom they had surrendered, they were ashamed of having given up so strong a fortress. Thus this valuable island was captured with the loss of about forty men; and the Sixth foot and other troops were honoured with the thanks and approbation of King Charles, and of her Majesty Queen Anne.
Minorca was garrisoned by English troops, and the Sixth was one of the corps selected to take charge of this important conquest.
1709
In the following year Lieut.-General Stanhope having formed a design against Cadiz, embarked two regiments of foot from Minorca, and sailed for Gibraltar, where he expected to be joined by eight battalions of foot and a regiment of dragoons from England; but these troops were so long delayed by contrary winds, that the enterprise was abandoned. The Sixth proceeded to Barcelona, where they landed, and reposed in quarters in Catalonia until the following spring.
1710