Rebellion and Savagery by Geoffrey Plank

Author:Geoffrey Plank [Plank, Geoffrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Europe, Great Britain, General, Revolutionary
ISBN: 9780812207118
Google: kBURCgAAQBAJ
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
Published: 2015-06-30T01:41:58+00:00

Figure 9. In his History of the Island of Minorca, first published in 1752 and reprinted in 1756, John Armstrong argued that the islanders were of Celtic origin. In support of this assertion, he described ancient ruins on Minorca, including the altar and cairn depicted here, which he claimed closely resembled pre-Christian monuments in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. (Courtesy of the Annenberg Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Pennsylvania.)

These publications appeared in the tense two-month period before the news of Blakeney’s surrender was confirmed. Once the British knew that the island was lost, public commentary shifted focus. Blakeney’s capitulation agreement avoided declaring whether the islanders were British, Spanish, or French subjects. The document identified them simply as “les naturels de l’isle” but unambiguously stipulated that they would remain on the island and that France would assume responsibility for their government.137 Whether or not the inhabitants had ever owed allegiance to Britain, the issue, for now, seemed moot. From the perspective of Britain they were beyond reach, unavailable for either punishment or reform, and the public’s attention turned to the military commanders.

Admiral John Byng had been dispatched from England with a fleet of ships in April 1756 to help defend Minorca. He sailed first to Gibraltar with a body of troops and orders to embark more men detached from Gibraltar’s garrison. The officers at Gibraltar objected to this plan, not only because it would weaken their defensive position against Spain but also because they believed that the French were too strong and that it was too late to save Minorca. To make a show of complying with Byng’s orders, they gave him some troops, though fewer than he ordered. Eleven days after sailing from Gibraltar, Byng came within sight of Minorca. He saw a large number of French ships patrolling the coasts, a French army in Port Mahon, and the British flag flying over Blakeney’s fort. After one inconclusive engagement with the French fleet, Byng convened a new council of war. He knew that Blakeney still held his position, but the garrison was obviously outnumbered. Indeed, the French may have landed as many as 15,000 men.138 The admiral, who had earlier argued in favor of proceeding, reversed his position, and his advisors, many of whom had participated in the first council of war and argued then against any effort to relieve Minorca, agreed with him this time. The shipboard council resolved to turn back, judging that any effort to relieve the fort would be costly and futile and would permanently weaken the garrison at Gibraltar through the loss of valuable troops.139

Prior to the officers’ decision to abandon Minorca, rumors had spread across the Atlantic world that Byng had gained a major victory against the French. A shipmaster in Philadelphia reported that Byng had “gained the advantage” against the French fleet.140 Another in Newport, Rhode Island, spread the news that Byng had “beat the French and secured the garrison.”141 A newspaper in Antigua also reported Byng’s victory, and that press account spread at least as far as Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

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