Upon the arrival of this re-enforcement General Prevost returned an
answer to Count D'Estaing that the town would be defended to the
last. Some time was spent by the enemy in landing and bringing up
heavy artillery from the ships, and the French and Americans did not
begin their works against the town until September 23. The garrison
had utilized the time thus afforded to them to erect new defenses.
The allied force of the assailants consisted of more than 10,000
Americans and 5000 French troops, while the garrison, including
regulars, provincial corps, sailors, militia, and volunteers, did not
exceed 2500.
Nevertheless, they did not allow the enemy to carry on their work
without interruption. Several sorties were made. The first of these,
under Major Graham of the Sixteenth Regiment, reached the lines of
the enemy and threw them into confusion. Large re-enforcements came
up to their assistance, and as Graham's detachment fell back upon the
town, the enemy incautiously pursued it so close up to the British
lines that both artillery and musketry were brought to bear upon
them, and they lost a large number of men before they could regain
their works. On the morning of October 4 the batteries of the
besiegers opened fire with fifty-three pieces of heavy artillery and
fourteen mortars. General Prevost sent in a request to Count
D'Estaing that the women and children might be permitted to leave the
town and embark on board vessels lying in the river, there to await
the issue of the fight; but the French commander refused the request
in a letter couched in insulting terms.
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