Although armed civilians were swelling his numbers, Knox convinced himself that about 600 effective French troops amounted to a force nearly ten times his own. Fishguard Fort and its narrow approach offered a defensible position, and the Woolwich gunners were prepared to improvise anti-personnel loads even without round shot. Knox nevertheless ordered the guns spiked, was refused by their crews, and retreated with about 194 men. When he met Cawdor eight miles south, his inflated estimate and abandonment of the town destroyed his claim to command.
Chapter · 2:03:26-2:08:45
Knox overestimates the French and abandons Fishguard
Knox treated roughly 600 effective French troops as a force ten times his own and withdrew despite fortifications and growing local support.