1794]      FRESH PREPARATIONS FOR LODGMENT            107
thing would  have succeeded, and a lodgment have been made within 700 or 800 yards of the Mozzello.
6th July.—The enemy do not seem to have any conception of our intentions. They seem alarmed for themselves and are enclosing their half-moon battery. Yesterday was given up to forwarding stores, and a strong working party was employed all night in moving sand-bags, shot, shells, &c. &c., to a rock within 50 or 60 yards of the place where our lodgment is intended. It is evident that it would have been impossible to have finished the battery and carried the things necessary to it in one night. I am sorry that many more stores are not forwarded to the rock where these were placed last night. The Engineer is quite incapable. The Commanding Officer of Artillery is also a man without method or arrangement. A grenadier of the Koyal Irish (a German) deserted yesterday. It is hoped that he has not gone to Calvi. The General, not being very well, desired me to post the picquets. Lieutenant-Colonel Wemyss was field officer. I advanced them near to the wall where the reserve was the other night. The Corsicans were still more forward. The Monteciesco is not yet abandoned, but two of the guns are silenced. The third, a field 6-pounder, fires but seldom. The battery against this was thrown up by men of the Royal- Louis, and manned by the Marine Artillery of the Commerce de Marseilles. The orders are given for the advance, and everything is so well detailed that there can be no doubt of our establishing ourselves. I cover the attack with the reserve the same as before. We march in an hour hence and shall be on our ground about nine; we have from that time till half-past three to get the battery ready. It is to be hoped that we shall open upon them at four to-morrow morning.
Qth July.—A diversion was made by the Corsicans upon the right near the Monteciesco on the night of the 6th. The 18th Eegiment was ordered to show itself in that quarter in the evening, and the reserve and working parties advanced to the intended place upon the left. The atten-