Earth was so scarce that hardly enough could
be had to keep the fascines in place. The siege works were little
else than a mass of dry faggots; and when, after exhausting toil,
the grand battery opened on the Spanish defences, it presently took
fire, was consumed, and had to be made anew. Fresh water failed,
and the troops died by scores from thirst; fevers set in, killed
many, and disabled nearly half the army. The sea was strewn with
floating corpses, and carrion-birds in clouds hovered over the populous
graveyards and infected camps. Yet the siege went on: a formidable
sally was repulsed; Moro Castle was carried by storm; till at length,
two months and eight days after the troops landed, Havana fell into
their hands.[873] At the same time Spain was attacked at the antipodes,
and the loss of Manila and the Philippines gave her fresh cause to
repent her rash compact with France. She was hardly more fortunate
near home; for having sent an army to invade Portugal, whichwas in
the interest of England, a small British force, under Brigadier
Burgoyne, foiled it, and forced it to retire.
[Footnote 873: _Journal of the Siege, by the Chief Engineer, in Beatson_,
II. 544. Mante, 398-465. Entick, V. 363-383.]
The tide of British success was checked for an instant in
Newfoundland, where a French squadron attacked St. John's
and took it, with its garrison of sixty men. The news reached
Amherst at New York; his brother, Lieutenant-Colonel Amherst,
was sent to the scene of the mishap.
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