General Eliott deliberately watched the progress of the enemy, and kept his garrison close within the fortress, until a favourable opportunity presented itself for a sally, when the following 'Evening garrison order' was issued, dated November 26, 1781: 'COUNTERSIGN, STEADY.--All the grenadiers and light infantry in the garrison, and all the men of the TWELFTH and Hardenberg's regiments, with the officers and non-commissioned officers on duty, to be immediately relieved and join their regiments, to form a detachment, consisting of the TWELFTH and Hardenberg's regiments complete; the grenadiers and light infantry of all the other regiments; one captain, three lieutenants, ten non-commissioned officers and a hundred artillery; three engineers, seven officers, ten non-commissioned officers, overseers, with a hundred and sixty workmen from the line, and forty workmen from the artificer corps; each man to have thirty-six rounds of ammunition, with a good flint in his piece, and another in his pocket; the whole to be commanded by Brigadier-General Ross, and to assemble on the red sands, at twelve o'clock this night, to make a _sortie_ upon the enemy's batteries. The thirty-ninth and fifty-eighth regiments to parade at the same hour, on the grand parade, under the command of Brigadier-General Picton, to sustain the _sortie_ if necessary.' The TWELFTH appeared on parade at the appointed hour, and mustered twenty-six officers, twenty-eight serjeants, two drummers, and four hundred and thirty rank and file, ready to engage in this enterprise. It was the hour of midnight; the moon shone brightly, and all was still in the enemy's camp. The soldiers waited two hours, when the moon set, darkness overspread the sky, and they issued silently from the fortress. The Spanish regiments were asleep in the camp; their guards at the batteries were also reposing, when suddenly the sound of a trampling multitude was heard approaching them; their sentries called, and receiving no answer, fired their muskets and hurried to the guards. They were followed by the British at a running pace; the guards were surprised, the batteries captured, and two Spanish officers, with sixteen soldiers, were made prisoners; the Spanish guards were astounded by the suddenness of the onset in the dark; they hurried to their lines, communicating a panic to the troops in their rear. The British instantly commenced the work of destruction. 'The batteries (constructed of wood upon the sands) were soon in a state for the fire-faggots to operate, and the flame spread with astonishing rapidity into every part. The column of fire and smoke which rolled from the works, beautifully illuminated the troops and neighbouring objects, forming altogether a _coup-d'œil_ not possible to be described.'[15]