The Fall of Toulon by Bernard Ireland

Author:Bernard Ireland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group Ltd

All British troops, only 12,000 all told, were transferred to a selected group of ships, the Robust, Egmont, Colossus and Courageux (all 74s), the Meleager 32 and Tartar 28. At 7.30 on the morning of 28 August, the squadron stood in towards the coast near Fort Sainte-Marguerite, some 2 miles east of the ‘Great Fort’, i.e. Fort la Malgue (now spelled ‘Lamalgue’). This, the first objective, had, as required, raised a blue flag.

The troops, under Elphinstone, would be followed by about fifteen hundred seamen. These, commanded by the ubiquitous Lieutenant Cooke, would have the main responsibility of taking over and manning the shore batteries. Cooke was ordered to assume the style of ‘Lieutenant Governor’.

Most ships had to contribute to the force, their contingent being noted in their logs. The Britannia, for instance, recorded first transferring two companies of the 69th Regiment to the Courageux to be landed then, later, putting ashore a force of one lieutenant, two midshipmen and fifty seamen via the Meleager frigate. Forty-five men, with a similar command structure, were detached from the Princess Royal, and so on.

Elphinstone’s own account of proceedings can hardly be bettered:

It was near 9 before all the troops were on shore … I began the march keeping the high ground towards Fort la Malgue and from the heights I first discovered the Spanish fleet at a great distance. About midday the British troops got into Fort la Malgue and so soon as the necessary guards were taken by them to render the place secure, the troops were assembled on the parade, and I had the honour to proclaim Louis XVII King of France in French and English to the apparent joy of all present. Soon after this a deputation came and said there were many displeased I had not proclaimed the Law and Nation, to which I replied that to whatever the Commander-in-Chief had agreed I would bring myself to fulfil but I apprehended that could go no further than the Constitution the late King had himself accepted of [author’s italics]. With this the late French governor of the Fort made the French acquainted and by their applause they seemed perfectly satisfied. I then proceeded to read my authority to govern and had the keys delivered to me. Soon after, deputations came from different orders of Toulon to pay their compliments, and to request that I would send troops to the City as they apprehended tumult on the part of the factions and by the seamen from St. Julien’s Fleet who were landing in crowds. I ordered the 69th Regiment into Toulon and pointed all the cannon of the different Forts towards the Fleet. Four ships slipped their cables and came into the inner harbour and about 3 o’clock I received information that St. Julien had fled and that all ships had submitted.

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