Lord Hood could only obtain a few artillerymen; and ordering on board that part of the troops who, having been embarked as marines, "were borne on the ships" books as part of their respective complements, he began the siege with 1183 soldiers, artillerymen, and marines, and 250 sailors.

"We are but few," said Nelson, "but of the right sort; our general at St.Fiorenzo not giving us one of the five regiments he has there lying idle." These men were landed on the 4th of April, under Lieutenant-Colonel Villettes and Nelson, who had now acquired from the army the title of brigadier.

Guns were dragged by the sailors up heights where it appeared almost impossible to convey them--a work of the greatest difficulty, and which Nelson said could never, in his opinion, have been accomplished by any but British seamen.

The soldiers, though less dexterous in such service, because not accustomed, like sailors, to habitual dexterity.
behaved with equal spirit.

"Their zeal," said the brigadier, "is almost unexampled.