May 11^th. In the night the Enemy lengthened their work by the burying place, and were also working by the water side near the House where Major Innes lived; we threw Shot and Shells to all parts of the Town to annoy them, and at night fired two vollies of our Mortars and Cannon.  A great noise of heavy wheel Carriages heard last night between Stanhope’s Tower, and the Town. The Enemy’s fleet in sight to the South East. Captain Flight was of opinion that by firing a Volley from all the Guns that bore on the Enemy’s Gun Battery at Cape Mola, he could effectually silence it in a very short time; instead of which we only now and then fired a shot; and that, on account of the weakness of our own Works.

May 12^th.  The Enemy having been discovered working near Major Innes’s, two 32 Pounders were brought from the Royal Battery to Argyle’s covered way, to fire at the wall behind which they were. We heard them very plainly at work near the burying place, towards which we fired; and threw many Shells the whole Night. About half an hour after Nine at Night they opened a Battery of five Mortars at Water Tower near Major Innes’s, and in about an hour another of Three Mortars in the burying ground near Witham’s five Court; from both these they played with great fury the whole night, throwing above 200large shells; we returned them however many more, tho’ less in size; ours being mostly Cohorns from the lunettes, to annoy their working parties. They dismounted a 32 Pounder on the Royal Battery, and an 18 pounder on the top of the Castle. The Rattling of the Enemy’s Carriages was heard last night, about the same ground as the night before. The Boom this night fell down as far as the ditch of the Anstruther. Four men had a very particular escape from a shell of the Enemy’s, which run down a passage after them and burst in the corner thereof by a necessary house, cut in the Rock, but it did no other damage, than blowing two of them into it, tearing away the seats so as to leave no remains of them, and breaking three or four firelocks to pieces, as likewise the door, the men not being in the least hurt. One of the Gunners had his leg shot off, by a Cohorn Mortar which hung fire.

May 13^th. The Enemy seems to have extended their work, they Bombarded us all Day, which we returned, though chiefly in the night to the Town, where we fired some platoons of small Arms. One of the French Soldiers was wounded on the glacis, and fetched in; he was of Soissonnois’s Regiment, and in too much pain from his wounds to admit of many interrogations at that time; however the intelligence he did give, was that the French Army consisted of three Brigades, but that more was expected; that in a day or two the Besiegers would open two more Batteries, one of eight Guns near the spot of the Windmills, and one of three Guns in the lower end of the Town; that the Regiment he belongs to was ordered to the assistance of the Gunners; that he was one of a party of pioneers of three hundred men; that the working parties were covered by Grenadiers and Volunteers, and that tho Guards were of about fifty Men each. Our fire was so brisk, that we destroyed part of their Fascine work by the Windmills or burying ground.  We were informed by two Minorquin Women who came to the Barrier, that the Serjeant and private man sent out last reconnoitering, had fallen into the hands of the French, and were prisoners at Mahon. Upon a farther observation of the Enemy’s works, it was judged necessary to make a Battery in the place of Arms before the Bridge of the N. W. outward Ravelin.

May 14^th. We kept a very smart fire on the Enemy’s works near the burying Ground, and greatly annoyed them; we heard from the prisoner taken yesterday, that a Battery was to be opened in the morning.

May 15^th. We found the Enemy’s works not to be so far advanced as we expected, a Shell of the Enemy’s fired five Guns upon the N. Counter Guard, which went off together by the Ammunition on the Battery taking fire; it hurt nobody, but did great damage to the Battery; we threw several Shot into the Town, and in the night cut some Embrazures more obliquely to bear on the Battery the Enemy were raising near the old burying ground. Tho Enemy threw very few shells this night; three Embrazures seen in the Enemy’s work near the burying ground.

May 16^th. We fired briskly on the Enemy’s work by the old burying ground; in the afternoon they beat a Parly, the Officer who came in from the General of the Day, brought an instrument which the Spaniards use to catch the ink fish, which they pretended had been fired at them unlawfully: we could never find out that this had been done, and concluded it to be a trick to gain time; about two hours after the Officer was dismissed, we played our Batteries again with great fury, continuing the whole night, and directing all our fire against the Battery they were preparing to open by the old burying Ground. Some of the Enemy’s Fleet in sight from the West.  This Day a shell of the Enemy’s blew up a Barrel and 1/2 of Powder, and fired some shells on the Queen’s Redoubt, but hurt nobody. They continue working in the hollow way by Water Tower, but it does not yet appear that they are opening any Embrazures.

May 17^th.  Early this morning the Enemy opened a Battery of 4 Guns by the old burying Ground, and another of 4 Howitzers by Stanhope’s Tower; from which they fired with great fury, throwing in the Night upwards of 300 ricochet shells.  In the Morning Mr. Boyd went to the French Commander in the trenches, with an answer to the remonstrance of the Day before. In the afternoon a French Officer came with a Letter for the Lieut. Governour, but as he would not submit to be blindfolded he was not admitted into the works, but waited on the glacis till an answer was brought him; he insisted no Officer should be blindfolded, as Mr. Boyd had not been in the morning j notwithstanding the custom of it was pleaded; and an instance given of Lord George Sackville who was treated that way when he went from the Duke of Cumberland to Marshal Saxe, during the late War in Flanders.  The French Fleet in sight off the harbour’s mouth. The Enemy threw up Traverses of Fascines, Earth, and Gabions, at the end of most of the Streets to cover their people passing and repassing.

May 18^th. About 2 o’clock in the Morning a shell from the Enemy set fire to some Powder at the N. W. inward Ravelin, which threw down a communication bridge, and a great part of the counterscarp into the main ditch, this covered and shut up a Subterranean apartment where two Familys were quartered; they were however all by timely assistance dug out and saved, except one woman who was suffocated.  At Day break a smoke was discovered at the same place, and it was found upon examination that the Match and Paper Cartridges were on fire; this alarmed the whole Garrison and everybody’s assistance was called for; it was however by pulling out the stores soon extinguished though with the loss of six or seven men killed or wounded, by two shells from the Enemy which fell among the crowd, at that time very great; this accident has very much shattered the Ravelin, entirely ruined the gorge of it; and filled that part of the Main ditch with so much rubbish, as would greatly facilitate a descent into it.  In the afternoon the Besiegers discovered to us two Embrazures they had opened behind a wall to the right of the gabionade near Major Innes’s House, but a constant fire of our 32 Pounders being kept upon them from the Argyle covered way they were soon rendered useless.

May 19^th. In the Morning a Shell from the Enemy broke into one of the subterranean apartments near the well in the Center of the Castle, where it burst and killed five Sailors, and wounded two, who were asleep in their Beds. A Serjeant of the Artillery had his Leg shattered by a shell on the top of the Castle, of which he died. At Daybreak the Besiegers shewed six Embrazures in their work near the burying Ground, from this and their bomb Batteries they made a very brisk fire, having been pretty quiet during the night.  About one o’clock a Fleet of 17 Sail appeared from the West with English Colours; the Admiral carrying a Blue Flag at the Main Top Mast Head, and the rear Admiral a Red Flag at the Mizzen; the Garrison seemed Convinced they were our own Fleet, their Ships being much larger than those of the French which we had seen not long before, but their coming pretty near to us without sending in even a boat, where the communication was so safe and short, and their standing o)f again where there was not even the least appearance of Danger, brought us all (a very few indeed excepted) to conclude this Fleet to have nothing English about it. The Council of War about 7 o’clock at night sent Mr. Boyd in a boat to this Fleet, whose behaviour in standing off, could not be accounted for; when he had got a little way from St Stephens Cove, a large party of the Enemy fired at him with Small Arms, he likewise sustained some Cannon Shot which did him no harm, and was pursued by two small Vessels, which missed him in the night, by the favour of which he returned, not being able to come up with this supposed English Fleet which stood off again; the Enemy’s Troops beat to Arms at the sight of the Fleet, and were all drawn out of their Camp, they did not fire till night, when they threw about 100 shells, their Carriages were heard in several parts of the Town. This night the Garrison were very alert, least the Enemy should upon this occasion make an attack. Mr. Boyd discovered that the Enemy were forming a very strong Battery upon the Coast; which he says must be designed to Command the usual Anchoring place called the moorings; and between six or eight hundred of the Enemy upon the Hills looking at the Fleet, which we afterwards understood were the Piquets of the Army, turned out to guard the Coast. The Enemy hoisted a red Flag at the signal house, and made fires or smoaks on different rising grounds.

May 20^th. The Enemy’s works by Major Innes’s were greatly demolished, and the houses thereabouts battered down by four 32 Prs we kept continually playing on them from the covered way of Argyle. In the afternoon the Enemy’s Battery by the old burying ground took fire, on which we played them very smartly with shells, Cannon shot and Musquetry; till it was extinguished, they returned us Small Arms from the Town to draw our fire from their battery, which was much torn and demolished; they opened a Battery at Stanhopes Tower, from which they fired several ricochet Shot; fewer shells than usual were thrown by them to day, and those came chiefly from Major Innes’s and the Turks mount above Marlborough Fort.  The Fleet this morning is out of sight, but from the signal they were seen yesterday to make of descrying an Enemy, it is hoped they are in Chace of the French Fleet, as a Ship, supposed to be one of the French scouts, was discerned at the same time the signal was made. Several ships came in sight again from the Southward, with a very light breeze from the S. W. and were near three Leagues distant at sunset.

May 1^st. A Drummer came in from the Enemy to the Governor, with a Letter, contents not known, and was sent back in an hour or two; supposed to be to demand a French Criminal which had been carried away by Captain Noel.  Mr. Boyd went out with the Drummer, and took that opportunity to walk up to the ground where two Windmills had been pulled down, but could not discover any works begun on that side; nor does it appear that they have begun any Batteries, or brought up any Cannon as yet.  An alarm was purposely given to try the readiness of the Troops, when they all appeared at their posts; the piquet ordered to mount at sunset, to continue at their posts all night; and hold themselves in readiness till sunset next Day, till relieved by the New piquet. The French Fleet off the harbour. Three Spanish Boats went off from the Western part of the Island, to the Enemy’s Fleet; and continued amongst them till evening.

May 2^d. General Blakeney sent a Drummer to the Marshall, the message not known. About Evening a large party of the Enemy’s Pioneers and Spaniards marched round to Cape Mola. We fired from the Queen’s Redoubt at a Ship coming out of a Creek, by Quarentine Island, we imagined she had carried Stores to the N. E. side of the harbour, where from the number of people frequently seen there, it is conjectured that the French are carrying on some work; but Night coming on and the Vessel getting behind the Island, we were prevented from having any more than three shot at her. The French Fleet in sight.

May 3^rd. We fired some Cannon Shot at the Enemy’s Partys passing to and from Cape Mola, and threw some Shells which seemed to put them in great confusion. Mr. Chissel was sent over to Capo Mola to make what discoveries he could, who brought us word the Enemy were at work where we judged them to be. A French Soldier came towards the principal Barrier, and by his gestures seemed inclined to desert; he was encouraged so to do, and some went over the Palissadoes to conduct him in, but he then turned back and made off, upon which the Sentrys were ordered to fire upon him, and he was killed. The Enemy’s Fleet to leeward, a great distance off, Several Guns were fired from the Queen’s Redoubt at a very considerable party of the Enemy who were marching along the Hills on the N. E. side of the harbour, many of them appeared to be Pioneers. A very strong party were seen this Morning at Cape Mola signal House, where they were relieving their Guard. A considerable body of the Enemy were collected on the neck of Land adjoining to Cape Mola, where, it being imagined that they were busied in forming some Battery, several Shots were fired at them, and some Shells thrown, one of which upon its bursting made them disperse, and quit the place.

May 4^th. We fired from the Queen’s Redoubt at the Enemy’s Parties passing May «h. the Neck of Land to Cape Mola. The Enemy’s Fleet in sight off the harbour’s mouth. The Duty being very hard upon the Subalterns, on application to Lieut. Colonel Jefferys the Adjutants were ordered to mount their Guards; and for their further ease, one Sub: was taken from the Carolina, and one from Kane. It having been found inconvenient to do Duty by the Long Roll; it was therefore changed; for in case of an alarm when the Regiments are out, Officers may be wanting to some, it is thought necessary to alter the method of mounting Guards, and their Duties, and to do them by Roster, by which means a more equal Number of Officers of each Regiment are off Duty.  We fired Cannon, and threw several Shells, to the other side of the harbour; the Enemy carrying on a work on Cape Mola. This day the Islanders ceased bringing Vegetables and other refreshments to the Garrison, it being forbid by the Enemy.

May 5^th. The French Fleet to the West. We fired shot and three Shells at the Enemy, who were bringing Fascines over the Top of the Hill at Cape Mola. This night Carcasses were thrown to Cape Mola, as we had been informed the besiegers had broke ground there, the third instant.

May 6^th. This morning we discovered a work the Enemy had carryed on, on the brow of the hill of Cape Mola; higher than, or above, the level of the top of the Castle; it appears like a Battery, and joins the old Wall near to the Sea: we also perceived another work of Fascines, we fired several Shot at these works. Last night two Men were sent out to reconnoiter, who went up the Line Wall, and through the Streets of St Philips, from Water Tower to Stanhope’s Tower; but discovered nothing of the Enemy’s proceedings.

May 7^th. We discovered for certain that the Enemy’s work by the old Wall on Cape Mola, was a Battery of five Embrazures with sand bags in them, we fired at it continually from the East Counter Guard, as we did at the other work from Charles’s Fort; we discontinued firing in afternoon, but gave them about 70 shot and some Shells in the Night.  Their Fleet off the Harbour every day. An 8 inch Mortar burst, and an 18 Pounder flawed so, as to be condemned; A Serjeant and a Private Soldier were sent out to reconnoitre, but they did not return any more. The masonry of our works gives way by the explosion of our own Guns. All works in the Garrison are now carried on during the Night.

May 8^th. At break of Day the Enemy opened two Batteries, one by the old Wall on Cape Mola, where they had 5 Guns of different natures, the highest of which seemed to be 26 Pounders, the other a Fascine Battery of 4 Mortars, their largest 13 Inch; from which they played very smart on the Castle, and Queen’s Redoubt; it was returned from the top of the Castle, from most of the works on that side, and from two Guns at the Queens Redoubt; in about two hours their fire slackened, only one or two of their Guns playing, and those chiefly against the center of the Castle.  At night we fired both Cannon arid Small Arms on a party of the Enemy heard at work by the burying Ground in the Town, they returned some small shot. A Shot of the Enemy’s fired one of our Guns, which went into the harbour. They dismounted a Gun on St Stephen’s Battery, and one at S. W. Lunette.  Two Soldiers of Lord Effingham’s Regiment were killed by one of our own Guns not being sufficiently Sponged; this day there was an order not to fire the same Gun above once an hour; there being many bad Guns, and the Embrazures slight.

May 9^th. In the Evening a party of the Enemy approached towards the Glacis of Marlborough Fort, they were fired at with Small Arms, which they returned and retired behind the wall on the top of the Hill; keeping an irregular fire for near two hours; we sent them a few Shot from Carolina’s lunette, the new Tenaille, and Hospital Battery; from tho Marlborough several Cohorn Shells were directed up the Hill at them, some shells were also thrown to the Town near tho old burying ground, where we heard the Enemy at work, as were some Carcasses to give light.  Some of the Enemy’s fleet in sight.

May 10^th. We cannonaded each other across the harbour, and the Enemy threw a great many Shells into our works from their Mortar Battery on Cape Mola; we likewise poured a great number of Cohorn shells into the Town to annoy the Enemies Workmen; It is apprehended that the Enemy are forming a Battery near where tho two Windmills were destroyed.  This day an order was given that none of the Batteries should fire without orders from the Field Officer of the Day, but the inconveniency of this being discovered, the order was revoked; and the time for firing left to the direction of the Officers commanding the Guards. The Enemy’s fleet in sight from the Westward.

Taken from the following:

Anonymous, “Siege of Minorca, 1756 By an Officer who was Present at the Siege.” Minutes of Proceedings of the Royal Artillery Institution, Vol. XX, 1893, pp. 537–544, 555–565.

Though the Garrison of Minorca had for several Months before been informed of the preparations the French were making at Toulon, and the adjacent Towns in the South of France, it was not till this night that all were fully convinced the Armament was intended against Minorca.

About 10 o’clock at night the Packet came in, the Captain of her, Mr. Hope Jun brought the first certain account that the French Fleet were sailed, having been in company with them about a Day without being taken notice of.

The Officer of the Town Guard Lieut. Inglish, was sent for about 12 o’clock at night by Col Jefferys and desired to walk about the Streets and observe if any of the Inhabitants were moving; he returned and acquainted him upon his second visiting the Town that they had got notice of the account brought, for that the whole were stirring; he was told he might look upon this as an alarm and open his orders, which he did; and in pursuance thereof put his Guard under Arms, and sent to the Serjeant of the Quay Guard, and likewise to the Serjeant of St Stephens; who was to march out by St Stephens Cove, to open their orders; upon which these three Guards dividing themselves so as to form a Chain of Sentries along the Line wall from St Stephens cove to the Quay, and in five Minutes were so posted, that neither man nor beast could escape their notice.

April 17th. The French Fleet appeared off Fornelle, consisting of 12 Sail of Men of War, and a vast number of Transports; and the Company of Col Rich’s Regiment Quartered there marched for St. Philips; the Guards were augmented, the Town Guard to 60 men, a Captain at Marlborough Fort, a Subaltern at the principal Barriers, a Subaltern at St Stephens, and a Subaltern at the Royal Battery; and everybody prepared to go in to the Castle.

April 18th. Early this morning the French Fleet appeared in sight of Ciudadella, on which the five Companies of Col Rich’s with two Field Pieces marched for St Philips. In the afternoon the French began their Disembarkation at, and near to Ciudadella. Major Cunningham went out with a Party of Pioneers who with a party of Col Rich’s commanded by Lieut. Kennedy, endeavoured to destroy the Road; they were covered by a Captain’s Command from Mahon, and returned to St. Philip’s Castle at night.

April 19^th. A Field Officer’s Party was left at Mahon, and Col Cornwall’s Regiment quartered there marched in to the Castle; as did also the Regiment quartered in the Town of St Philips.

April 20^th. A mine was sprung under the Friary hill at Mahon to destroy tho Road; a Captain’s command was sent to English Cove, and another to middle mount to cover tho retreat of the Field Officer’s party at Mahon; which marched in the Evening bringing with them 3 Spaniards taken in the Streets, the rest having fled and secured themselves. The French came, this night to Alaor. Commodore Edgecombe in the Deptford, and Captain Lloyd in the Chesterfield sailed.

April  21^st. The Princess Louisa, Captain Noel, the Portland, Captain Baird, and the Dolphin with 30 men under the Command of Lieut. O’Hara, sailed out of the harbour ; Captain Scroope with the rest of the Dolphin’s Crew were left behind to strengthen the Garrison as were likewise all the Marines under the command of Capt Mason and two Lieuts, with a Detachment from Gibraltar that was on board the Deptford, commanded by Lieut. Devoisrie; It is said that Capt Baird was very much for the men of War remaining to reinforce the Garrison, which had no other addition but what we have mentioned above, some Greeks and a very few Spaniards. This day the Enemy appeared on this side Mahon. A part of the Garrison was employed in bringing in empty Wine Casks from the Town, and in destroying tho Fascine Battery that was erected at the Quay; to defend the entrance of the harbour.

April 22^nd. General Blakeney sent out a Drummer to the Marshal Duke De Richelieu who commanded the French forces, to know the reason of his invading the Island in an Hostile manner (or to that effect). The fire-ship was sunk this day at the entrance of the Harbour. The Lieut. Governor proposed to Captain Scroope, that the boom which was to have been laid across the harbour to obstruct its entrance, might be cut and brought away; but it was Capt. Scroop’s opinion it would he attended with too much difficulty, as it was so firmly secured with Anchors and Chains.  In the night the Enemy took the Prizes, that were left by the Men of War, up to Mahon.

April 23^rd. The Marshal sent back the Drummer (who had been taken to his April head Quarters at Alaor, where their Encampment then extended near a mile; in going and returning they blind folded him, at middle Mount; where they then had their advanced Guard; In his return before he came to Mahon, he observed several Pieces of Cannon in the road) with an answer; that he came to take possession of the Island, for the same reason that his Britannick Majesty had taken possession of the French Ships (or to that effect). The Enemy had lighted up fires in a line from behind middle mount to Stanhope’s Tower, and a pretty considerable distance further off.

April 24^th. The Town Guard continued in St Philip’s, being now augmented to a Captain’s party, The Enemy at a small distance. Today the French Fleet came before the Harbour from the West, and stood South East.

April 25^th The French Fleet appeared at S. E. standing for the Harbour all „ the Batteries to the sea were manned to oppose them, but they tacked again and stood S. W. The principal Barrier and Sally port by the N. E. Ravelin, were this morning begun to be walled up.

April 26^th. The French Fleet appeared to the S. of the harbour and remained there till Evening, Cruising off and on; and then brought to. The Admiral detached 3 of his Squadron to the E. in Chace, the Wind W.; at night the French Fleet stood to the W. A Drummer of the Enemy’s came in with a letter from the Duke De Richelieu relating to an Officer’s Lady left behind at Ciudadella, and was dispatched again in about two hours. In the night several signal Guns were heard from the French Fleet, and false fires seen from them.

April 27^th. Alarmed about one o’clock this Morning by a report that a Ship was „ attempting the harbour, but it proved false. The Castle brought to an Anchor under her Guns, a Ship of the Island from Genoa bound to Mahon, which was coining in to the harbour; The Enemy marched a large party to Stanhope’s Tower, about noon they fired small Arms from a Window, and there were some shot exchanged on both sides. Their Fleet appeared in sight from the West.

April 28^th. The French Fleet stood from the S. West within a League of the harbour, then Tacked, stood south and lay to, till dark; our sea Batteries were all Manned. The Guards began to parade this Morning in the Subterranean Communications.  Boats with some of the Enemy in them, are frequently seen passing near Quarantine Island. Today we heard that the Enemy were in want of Water, and were on that account obliged to move their Camp.

April 29^th. The Gunners were ordered to lay at the long storehouse near the sea, to be ready on any alarm from that Quarter; the French Fleet to the East, several Guns fired from the Enemy’s Fleet at sea, in the night; and great lights through the Line of the French Camp. As we have no intelligence from the French or Minorquins, it is impossible to ascertain the strength of their Army, the extent of their Camp, or become acquainted with the progress they make.

April 30^th. We fired some Cannon at a party of the Enemy reconnoitering at Phillipit, who retired immediately; the Prince of Wirtemberg was one of them. The French Fleet appeared from the Southward, they consisted of 19 Sail, from whence it is conjectured they had taken some of our merchant Vessels. A few of the Enemy were seen in the Vineyards about three quarters of a mile from the Marlborough, who immediately made off on the firing some Wall pieces and small Arms.