The fortified town of _Calvi_, situate on a tongue of land which forms a beautiful harbour thirty-three miles from _Bastia_, the capital of Corsica, still held out in the French interest, and the EIGHTEENTH regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel David Douglas Wemyss, was selected to join the troops, under Lieut.-General C. Stuart, appointed for the reduction of this fortress. The regiment accordingly sailed from Bastia, and, having landed near Calvi on the 19th of June, took post on a ridge of mountains three miles from the town. Owing to the numerous rocky heights and steep acclivities before the town, the soldiers and seamen had to make roads along difficult precipices, to drag guns up the mountains, and to carry up materials for erecting the batteries, which they performed with cheerfulness. A practical breach having been made in the west side of the Mozello, on the 18th of July the light infantry (including the light company of the EIGHTEENTH) and the second battalion of the Royals, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Moore, "proceeded with a cool steady confidence, and unloaded arms, towards the enemy, forced their way through a smart fire of musketry, and, regardless of live shells flung into the breach, or the additional defence of pikes, stormed the Mozello; while Lieut.-Colonel Wemyss, with the ROYAL IRISH regiment, and two pieces of cannon under the direction of Lieutenant Lemoine of the royal artillery, equally regardless of opposition, carried the enemy's battery on the left, and forced the trenches without firing a shot."[31] After the capture of these important posts, the siege of Calvi was prosecuted with vigour, and on the 10th of August the garrison surrendered. The loss of the ROYAL IRISH regiment was limited to six rank and file killed; Lieutenant William Johnston, one serjeant, and ten rank and file wounded. In the early part of this year, General Sir John Sebright, Bart., died; and the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on Major-General Sir James Murray, Bart., who afterwards took the surname of Pulteney. [Sidenote: 1795] [Sidenote: 1796] The ROYAL IRISH regiment was stationed in the island of Corsica during the year 1795, and nine months of 1796. In the mean time the success of the French arms, particularly the brilliant career of General Bonaparte in Italy, had produced a change of sentiment among the inhabitants of Corsica. Bonaparte was a native of the island; the Corsicans gloried in him as a man who reflected honour on their country, and they regretted that the island had become annexed to Great Britain, as this event placed them in hostility to their victorious countryman, and they began to plot measures to effect its separation. It appearing evident that the expense of the defence would exceed the advantage derived from the possession of the island, the British troops were withdrawn in October, and the EIGHTEENTH proceeded to the island of Elba. [Sidenote: 1797] [Sidenote: 1798] [Sidenote: 1799]