The Expedition against Rochefort,

£125 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

The Expedition against Rochefort was instigated by Pitt on his return to office, “It was hard to see how he could initiate any operations of value at so late a period of the year, but there was one species of diversion which, though little recommended by experience of the past, lay open to him still, namely a descent upon the French coast. A young Scottish officer, who had travelled in France, gave intelligence based on no very careful or recent observation, that the fortifications of Rochefort were easily assailable; and Pitt on the receipt of this intelligence at once conceived the design of surprising Rochefort and burning the ships in the Charente below it.” [Fortescue History of the British Army Vol.II, p.307.] Sackville declined, and Conway was passed over due to his youth, so military command of the operation settled upon Sir John Mordaunt “… who had showed merit in the past, but had now lost his nerve and was conscious that he had lost it. He and Conway alike objected to the project as based on flimsy and insufficient information, but both thought themselves bound in honour to accept the trust confided to them.” [ ibid. ] After the Isle d’Aix was captured the expedition ground to a halt, fresh information revealed the French were well prepared at Rochefort and it was decided to attack the forts at Charente, but the order was countermanded by Mordaunt. Hawke intervened to let the General know that unless operations were prosecuted immediately he would return the fleet

• Year: 1758

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.