officers so supercilious, haughty, and morose to their men, when, by a little good humour, or friendly feeling displayed, I have no doubt they might not only make themselves beloved, but have their orders much better obeyed. We now commenced work vigorously, and in six hours were under cover, without the French having discovered our presence. The operations of the siege were now carried on with great vigour on both sides of the river Guidiana; the opposite one was conducted by the 7th division against fort St. Christoval, an outwork that protected the advance to the bridge. By the 2d of June we had two batteries playing on the walls, and four were opened by the 7th division on fort St. Christoval. The guns were partly served by Portuguese artillery, who behaved extremely well. The troops were told off in two parties, relieving | each other every twenty-four hours. A communication was kept up between the several trenches, and a covered way formed, which prevented the men from being so much exposed in going to, and returning from the camp; but still we suffered severely from the enemy's shot and shell, with which they now plied us hotly, having their guns constantly ready to fire at even a single individual, if he put his head above the trench; and the shells fired from the garrison were thrown so as to make them fall in it. At night we could see them by the light of the fusé, and were often enabled to get out of their way; in the day, we ran more risk, although we could still distinguish them from shot, by the whistling sound they made coming through the air. the direction they were running. By this time the first had fallen short of the trench, and a retrograde movement took place; but the captains were now in a bad plight, for the crowd was so condensed in the direction they had to go, that there was no getting through. The shell was giving intelligence by its quickened revolutions, that it was falling, but there was no means of escape, the whole were fairly wedged in, and had fallen on each other; and had the shell burst among them it would have made dreadful havoc. As I threw myself down by the side of the trench, I perceived Captain S. running about like a chicken in a coop, seeking an opening by which he might escape, but finding none, he wormed his head into the crowd which had fallen in his front, and thus remained. The shell fell in a direction that placed me in imminent danger; it burst, however, without doing any injury. On one occasion when Dennis and I were on duty in the trench, and at one of the batteries with some others, at the formation of an embrasure, we had nearly completed it, but it still required opening and facing off towards the enemy; this was a very hazardous business, as we were sure of a volley of cannon shot, the moment we mounted the parapet. "Come, my brave fellows," said the superintending engineer officer, "which of you will volunteer to go outside, and form the embrasure?" Dennis and I were standing close by him, and jumped upon the top of the breastwork. We were followed by two more, but had scarcely appeared, when a cannon shot striking the parapet close where I stood, covered me with earth. "Never mind," The second or third night after the said Dennis, "to miss is as good as a trenches were opened, Dennis and I mile." He scarcely had finished, howwere down on the working party; Captain ever, when he was served in the same S. was one of the officers. They were manner: no way dispirited, he exclaimed, telling off a covering party, who were to "time about is fair play." One of the go out in front, to prevent any sudden lads who worked with us began to show surprise by the enemy making a sortie, symptoms of fear, "Don't be afraid," said when the word "shell!" was given. All Dennis, "you'll never die till your time eyes were instantly turned on it, watch- come." His eloquence did not seem to ing its direction, that they might run in take effect. "Go into the trench,” said the opposite one. Captain S., although Dennis, "we will do without you." The so valiant on parade, seemed to have no lad was in the act of doing so, when a predilection for a glorious death more than shot struck him, and he fell mortally his neighbours; and he, in company with wounded. Soon after, our dinners hava brother captain, headed the retreat. ing come down, we were relieved by They had not gone many paces when no-others, and called in. The mess I betice was given of another shell falling in longed to had sat down round the camp After remaining a few days in Ceridillo del Arroyo, we removed to Villa Mayor, where we remained until we received orders to march back our old route to Badajos, which we invested on the 17th of March. Our division again taking the left of the Guidiana, along with the 4th and light, while the right was occupied by a brigade of General Hamilton's division, we broke ground rather to the left of our old trenches, within about two hundred yards of fort Picurini. kettle, and were beginning to help them- | themselves as on the first attempt, and selves, when the cry "shell!" was given; after having suffered most severely, withall were on their legs in an instant. We out being able to effect a lodgment, they found by the noise that it was coming in were again ordered to retire. The loss our direction. The others endeavoured in officers and men was considerable. to make their escape; but whether from a belief in Dennis's doctrine of predestination, I cannot at present recollect, but instead of running from it, I threw myself down flat in the embrasure. I had scarcely done so, when the shell fell within two yards of me. "Now," thought I, "there is no chance of escape;" and during the few seconds of suspense, while the last part of the fusé was whizzing in my ear, previous to its communicating with the powder with which the shell was charged, reflections (which would have occupied an hour at another time,) on home, parents, death, and my future fate, whirled through my mind like a wild and giddy dream. The shell burst, and for a few moments I was bereaved of recollection: coming to myself I scrambled out from amongst the stuff with which I was covered. "Are you kilt?" asked Dennis, running up to me with an expression of real concern; looking to myself to see whether I was wounded, I replied, "No;" but I had been well frightened. "That's right, my boy," said he, "I don't believe the shot's made that will kill any of us. Many's the long yarn about this business I'll be after telling to the ould women of Ireland yet." On the 6th, the breach in fort St. Christoval being considered practicable, a detachment of the different regiments composing the 7th division, was selected to storm it; being at night we could not see the attack farther than the flash of their fire arms, which, from our encampment, looked like an exhibition of fireworks; but we understood that from the nature of the impediments thrown in the way, although they had advanced under a heavy discharge of shot and shell from the town, and musketry and hand grenades from the garrison, they were unable to succeed, and were ordered to retire. The firing was continued upon the breach for three days longer, and a second attempt was made to carry it on the evening of the 9th, with another detachment of the 7th division. This attack was made with the utmost gallantry, and they advanced intrepidly to the foot of the breach, but the same obstacles presented On the 18th the enemy made a sortie from one of the gates, a little to the right of our trenches, with two thousand men; but they were almost immediately driven in, without effecting anything, having suffered severely. On the 25th, we opened six batteries with twenty-eight pieces of cannon; and having kept up a heavy fire on fort Picurini during the day, for the purpose of destroying the defences, when it was dark, a detachment of five hundred men of our division, under the command of Major-General Kempt, were ordered to storm it. They were formed in three parties, who attacked at different places at the same time; and they succeeded, after an obstinate resistance, in gaining possession of it. Two hundred men garrisoned the place, out of which one hundred and sixty were killed, or drowned in the overflow of the river. The colonel commanding, three other officers, and eighty-six men were taken prisoners. Seven cannon were found in the place, besides some stores. During the assault the enemy made a sortie from the town, with a view either to recover the place, or cover the retreat of the soldiers who manned it; but they were driven in by a party of the detachment stationed to protect the attack. In this affair we lost a great number of officers and men, some of them after the place was taken, the enemy having bombarded the fort from the town, when they found we were in possession of it. The scond parallel was now opened within three hundred yards of the town, in which two batteries commenced firing we been brought hurriedly into action it would have been different; but it is inconsistent with the nature of man not to feel as I have described, in such a situation. The previous warning; the dark and silent night; the known strength of the place; and the imminent danger of attack-all conspired to produce it. Yet this feeling was not the result of want of courage, for I never witnessed any thing like the calm intrepidity displayed in the advance, after we came within range of the enemy's cannon. Being apprized of our intentions, they threw out fire-balls in every direction, and from total darkness, they changed the approaches to the garrison into a state light as day: by this means they were enabled to see the di on the 28th. During this time the weather was so bad, and the rains so heavy, that we were working in the trenches up to the knees in mud, and the river swelled to such a height, that the pontoon bridge over which we crossed the Guidiana, was carried away. On the 29th, another sortie was made by the enemy on the right; but they were repulsed by General Hamilton's division. On the 31st, twenty-seven pieces of cannon were opened in the second parallel, on the walls of the town; and the firing was continued with great effect until the 4th, when another battery of six guns was opened; practicable breaches were effected on the 5th, and we were turned out that night to storm the town, but the enemy having made formidable preparations for the de-rection of our columns, and they opened fence, the attack was deferred until next night, during which time all the guns in the second parallel were brought to bear upon the breaches. This delay was pro- | ductive of very serious feelings throughout the succeeding day, as we were warned at the time to be ready to storm the town the next night. Various were the effects produced on various individuals. There was an unusual talking of relations-a recalling to mind of scenes forgotten; a flow of kindly feeling which softened down the rough soldier into something sadder, but more pleasing. Many letters were written during that day to absent friends, in a more affectionate style than usual; and many injunctions given and taken, about writing, in the event of the fall of either party, to their relations. The nearer the time drew for the intended attack, the more each individual seemed to shrink within himself, yet still nothing of fear or doubt of our success was expressed; every feeling displayed was natural and manly; at length night came, and the appointed hour for turning out. It was dark and gloomy, not a single star showed its head; the air was still, not a sound could be heard, but the noise of the field-cricket, and the croaking of frogs; every word of command was given in a whisper, and the strictest silence enjoined, which I believe was unnecessary; few felt inclined to speak. At last the order was given to advance, and with palpitating hearts we commenced our march-slow and silent, a dead weight hanging on every mind; had a fire of round and grape shot on us, which raked through them, killing and wounding whole sections. A circumstance occurred at this time, which may be worthy of notice :-A man who had always been very remarkable for his testy disposition, and inveterate habit of swearing on all occasions, happened to hit his foot against a stone, and stumbled. This vexed him, and, uttering an oath, he wished a shot would come and knock his brains out; he had scarcely finished these words, when a grape shot struck him in the forehead, and literally fulfilled the rash wish. We still advanced, silent as before, except the groaning of our wounded comrades, until we reached a sort of moat about fifty feet wide, formed by the inundation of the river; here we had to pass, rank entire, the passage being only capable of admitting one at a time. On this place the enemy had brought their guns to bear, and they kept up such a fire of grape and musketry on it, that it was a miracle any of us escaped. When we reached the other side we formed again, and advanced up the glacis, forcing our way through the palisades, and got down into the ditch. The ladders by which we had to escalade the castle were not yet brought up, and the men were huddled on one another in such a manner that we could not move; we were now ordered to fix our bayonets. When we first entered the trench we considered ourselves comparatively safe, thinking we were out of range of their shot, but we were soon convinced of our mistake, for they opened several guns from angles surrendered with all the garrison; it had consisted of five thousand men, of which number twelve hundred were killed during the siege. which commanded the trench, and poured breach, and behind it, that they could not in grape shot upon us from each side, establish themselves within the place. every shot of which took effect, and every Repeated attempts were made until after volley of which was succeeded by the twelve at night, when Lord Wellington dying groans of those who fell; our si- finding that suceess was not to be obtuation at this time was truly appal- tained, and that our division had sucling. The attack had commenced at the ceeded in taking the castle, they were breaches towards our left, and the can- ordered back to the ground where they non and musketry which played upon our had assembled, leaving the breach cotroops from every quarter of the town at- vered with dead and wounded. When tacked, kept up a continual roll of thun- the governor (Philipon) found the castle der, and their incessant flash one quiver- was taken, he retreated into fort St. Chrising sheet of lightning; to add to the aw-toval, and at daylight in the morning he fulness of the scene, a mine was sprung at the breach, which carried up in its dreadful blaze the mangled limbs and bodies of many of our comrades. When the ladders were placed, each eager to mount, crowded them in such a way that many of them broke, and the poor fellows who had nearly reached the top, were precipitated a height of thirty or forty feet, and impaled on the bayonets of their comrades below; other ladders were pushed aside by the enemy on the walls, and fell with a crash on those in the ditch; while more who got to the top without accident, were shot on reaching the parapet, and tumbling headlong, brought down those beneath them. This continued for some time, until at length a few having made a landing good on the ramparts, at the expense of their lives, enabled a great number to follow. When about a company had thus got collected together, we formed and charged round the ramparts, bayoneting the French artillery at their guns; in the direction that the party I was with took, they had drawn out a howitzer loaded to the very muzzle, pointed it towards us, and a gunner had the match ready to fire, when he was brought down by one of our party; in this direction we charged until we reached the sally-port communicating with the town. In a short time the whole division were established in possession of the castle, but the contest at the breaches was still severe. The light and 4th divisions had advanced from the trenches a short time after us, until they reached the covered way; their advanced guards descended without much difficulty into the ditch, and then advanced to the assault with the most determined bravery; but such was the nature of the obstacles prepared by the enemy at the head of the When the town surrendered, and the prisoners were secured, the gate leading into the town from the castle was opened, and we were allowed to enter the town for the purpose of plundering it. We were scarcely through the gate when every regiment of the division were promiscuously mixed, and a scene of confusion took place which baffles description: each ran in the direction that pleased himself, bursting up the doors and rummaging through the houses, wantonly breaking up the most valuable articles of furniture found in them; small bands formed, and when they came to a door which offered resistance, half a dozen muskets were levelled at the lock, and it flew up; by this means many men were wounded, for having entered at another door, there was often a number in the house when the door was thus blown open. The greatest number first sought the spirit stores, where having drank an inordinate quantity, they were prepared for every sort of mischief. At one large vault in the centre of the town, to which a flight of steps led, they had staved in the head of the casks, and were running with their hat-caps full of it; and so much was spilt here, that some, it was said, were actually drowned in it. Farther on a number of those who had visited the spirit store were firing away their ammunition, striving to hit some bells in front of a convent. The effects of the liquor now began to show itself, and some of the scenes which ensued are too dreadful and disgusting to relate; where two or three thousand armed men, many of them mad drunk, others depraved and unprincipled, were freed from all restraint, running up and down the town, the atrocities which took place may be readily imagined; but in justice to the army, I must say they were not general, and in most cases perpetrated by cold-blooded villains, who were backward enough in the attack. Many risked their lives in defending helpless females; and although it was rather a dangerous place for an officer to appear, I saw many of them running as much risk to prevent inhumanity, as they did the preceding night in storming the town. I very soon sickened of the noise, folly, and wickedness around me, and made out of the town towards the breach. When I arrived at where the attack had been made by the light and 4th divisions, what a contrast to the scene I had just left! Here all was comparatively silent, unless here and there a groan from the poor fellows who lay wounded, and who were unable to move. As I looked round, several voices assailed my ear begging for a drink of water. I went, and having filled a large pitcher which I found, relieved their wants as far as I could. enemy's entrenchment, he was shot Mr. Captam Ochterlony sat down by his friend; and, as they expected nothing but immediate death, they took leave of each other. Yet they were not altogether abandoned by the hope of being protected as prisoners: for the captain, seeing a French soldier with two Indians REMARKABLE ANECDOTE. approach, started up, and accosted them CAPTAIN OCHTERLONY and Ensign in the French language, which he spoke Peyton belonged to the regiment of Brig.- perfectly well, expressed his expectation General Monckton, who accompanied that they would treat him and his comGeneral Wolfe in the expedition against panion as officers, prisoners, and gentleQuebec. They were nearly of an age, men. The two Indians seemed to be enwhich did not exceed thirty: the first was tirely under the conduct of the Frencha North Briton, the other a native of Ire- man, who coming up to Mr. Peyton, as land. Both were agreeable in person, he sat on the ground, snatched his laced and unblemished in character, and con- hat from his head, and robbed the captain nected together by the ties of mutual of his watch and money. This outrage friendship and esteem. On the day that was a signal to the Indians for murder preceded the battle, Captain Ochterlony and pillage. One of them, clubbing his had been obliged to fight a duel with a firelock, struck at him behind, with a German officer, in which, though he view to knock him down; but the blow wounded and disarmed his antagonist, missing his head, took place upon his yet he himself received a dangerous hurt shoulder. At the same instant the other under the right arm, in consequence of Indian poured his shot into the breast of which his friends insisted on his remain- this unfortunate young gentleman; who ing in camp during the action of the next cried out, "Oh, Peyton, the villain has day, but his spirit was too great to com- shot me." Not yet satiated with cruelty, ply with this remonstrance. He declared the barbarian sprung upon him, and it should never be said that a scratch, re-stabbed him in the belly with his scalpceived in a private rencounter, had pre-ing-knife. The captain having parted vented him from doing his duty, when his country required his service: and he took the field with a fusil in his hand, though he was hardly able to carry his arms. In leading up his men to the with his fusil, had no weapon for his defence, as none of the officers wore swords in the action. The three ruffians, finding him still alive, endeavoured to strangle him with his own sash; and he was now |