After a heavy cannonade against a small Spanish fort of eight 24-pounder cannon by the British
ships of the line HMS Impetueux with 74 guns,
HMS London with 96 guns,
HMS Courageux,
HMS Renown and
HMS Captain, each with 74 guns. HMS Impetueus, HMS Brilliant, HMS Cynthia and the small gunner HMS St. Vincent, state on their logs to had taken part on the gunning of the small Fort. No mention on HMS London and HMS Renown logs of being part of the gunning. Under the superintendence of
Sir Edward Pellew, the British effected a landing at a small opening near Cape Prior. The army commander was Lieutenant-general
Sir James Pulteney. The force landed consisted of seven British regiments, one of two battalions, and the
rifle-corps totaling 8,000 troops and 16 field pieces. The Spanish defenders of Ferrol were: Don Francisco Melgarejo (a
Naval Engineer), commander of the naval department;
Juan Joaquín Moreno de Mondragón, commander of the squadron stationed in the harbour; Don Francisco Xavier Negrété, captain-general of the province; and
Field Marshal Count Donadio, who commanded the fortifications that protected the coast. The Spanish ship of the line were:
Real Carlos and
San Hermenegildo, each 112 guns;
San Fernando, 96 guns;
Argonauta, 80 guns;
San Antonio and
San Agustín, each 74 guns. The British rifle-corps advanced up a ridge and was attacked by a Spanish detachment which it drove back with some loss. Early on the morning of 26 August a considerable body of Spanish attacked the British on the heights of Brion and Balon but they were repulsed. British casualties were 16 killed and 68 wounded. The heights overlooked the town and harbour of Ferrol. That night, after observing the strength of the fortifications, the British troops and artillery were embarked back on their ships. ==Aftermath==