ly formed on a small open
portion of the beach, with a natural breast-work in their front, having
on the other side a hollow way, and a village rising beyond it with a
sudden ascent; on the left, the ground was intersected by hedges, and
covered with orchards, and from this quarter the enemy advanced in
order. The British troops immediately quitted the breast-work, in order
to meet them half way, and a straggling fire began; but the French
edging to the left, took possession of the hill, from whence they
piqueered with the advanced posts of the English. In the meantime, the
rest of the infantry were disembarked, and the enemy at night retired.
As the light troops were not yet landed, general Bligh encamped that
night at the village of Erville, on a piece of ground that did not
extend above four hundred paces; so that the tents were pitched in a
crowded and irregular manner. Next morning, the general having received
intelligence that no parties of the enemy were seen moving on the hill,
or in the plain, and that fort Querqueville was entirely abandoned,
made a disposition for marching in two columns to Cherbourg. An advanced
party took immediate possession of Querqueville; and the lines and
batteries along the shore were now deserted by the enemy. The British
forces marching behind St. Aulne, Ecoeurdeville, Hommet, and La Galet,
found the town of Cherbourg likewise abandoned, and the gates being
open, entered it without opposition. The citizens, encouraged by a
manifesto containing a promise of protection, which had been published
and distributed in order to quiet their apprehensions, received their
new guests with a good grace, overwhelming them with civilities, for
which they met with a very ungrateful return; for as the bulk of the
army was not regularly encamped and superintended, the soldiers were at
liberty to indulge themselves in riot and licentiousness. All night long
they ravaged the adjacent country without restraint; and as no guards
had been regularly placed in the streets and avenues of Cherbourg, to
prevent disorders, the town itself was not exempted from pillage and
brutality. These outrages, however, were no sooner known, than the
general took immediate steps for putting a stop to them for the present,
and preventing all irregularities for the future. Next morning, the
place being reconnoitred, he determined to destroy, without delay, all
the forts and the basin; and the execution of this design was left t