The loss of Gibraltar disconcerted the measures of Philip V., and of his grandfather Louis XIV. Eight thousand men, under the Marquis de Villadarias, were immediately detached from the Spanish army to retake the fortress; and the French Admiral received orders to engage the British and Dutch fleets, and to co-operate in the recapture of Gibraltar. The hostile fleets engaged on the 24th of August, about eleven leagues south of Malaga, and, after each had suffered severely, they were separated in the night. The enemy retired to Toulon, and Sir George Rooke sailed to Gibraltar. Here, after having held a Council of War, it was determined to return home; and the confederate fleet sailed for England, arriving at Spithead on the 25th of September. Sir John Leake and Admiral Vanderdussen were left at Lisbon to protect the coast of Portugal, and relieve Gibraltar, if it should be besieged as was anticipated. The Marquis de Villadarias commenced the siege of Gibraltar on the 22nd of October, and the garrison, composed of Marines, under the command of the Prince of Hesse, sustained a siege by seven thousand men. The purpose of the enemy was to have stormed from the South Mole, united with the desperate attempt of a Spanish forlorn-hope climbing the rock, and a general attack from the mainland. The fortress was maintained against very superior numbers; and the fire of the enemy’s batteries having damaged the works, a body of men was landed from the fleet to assist in the defence. Brigadier Fox, and several other officers and men, having been killed on the 5th of December, 1704, aid was solicited from the army in Portugal. Admiral Sir John Leake accordingly sailed from Lisbon on the 10th of December, with a fleet, having on board a battalion of the first and second foot guards; Barrymore’s regiment, now thirteenth foot; Donegal’s regiment, now thirty-fifth foot; the Dutch regiment of Waes; and a Portuguese regiment; amounting in all to upwards of three thousand men. On their passage they fell in with the enemy’s squadron under Monsieur de Pointi, but they succeeded in arriving at Gibraltar, although some of the transports had separated. These corps were safely landed on the 18th of December, and the Prince, strengthened by this reinforcement, made a sortie on the 23rd, and destroyed the lines, that had been erected within a hundred and sixty paces of the palisade. [Sidenote: 1705]