THE Duke of Ragusa, commander-in-chief of the French army of Portugal, was in motion the beginning of June, for the purpose of driving beyond the Coa that part of the English army which Lord Wellington (when he set out for the siege of Badajoz) had left upon the frontiers before Ciudad Rodrigo.

On the 5th of June the Duke of Ragusa arrived at Ciudad Rodrigo, with his advancedguard, and a body of two thousand horse; the English divisions forced their retreat into the mountains of Sabugal and Alfayates to get to the Tagus.

Lord Wellington drew back successively his troops round Badajoz; but feeling himself pressed, he resolved to try a grand effort to carry the place before the two armies united. After a dreadful fire of artillery, a first assault was made; but the breach was defended by Frenchmen, 600 English remained on the place. A second assault had the same result-so that the English lost more than 1,200 men in these fruitless attacks. Lord Wellington was about to make a desperate effort, when, on the 16th, the Duke of Ragusa arrived at Merida, and joined the Duke of Dalmatia. The two armies marched upon Badajoz, the siege of which Wellington raised precipitately, re-entering Portugal with all his troops. His lordship candidly confessed, "that he was unfortunately mistaken in his estimate of the quality of the means necessary to take the place

The defence of Tarragona became more obstinate in proportion as the attack advanced. On the 21st, a howitzer blew up the powder magazine of the enemy's breaching battery, but in an hour it was repaired. Three practicable breaches having been opened at four in the morning, Suchet ordered the assault, and at seven all was ready; 1,590 grenadiers were united with scappers and scaling-ladders, and disposed in columns of attack and reserve. They were followed by 1,000 workmen. At seven at night, at the signal of four bombs at once, five columns darted against the points marked out, crying, Vive L'Empereur. Five thousand men defended the works attacked and the lower town. They opposed at first a

strong resistance and a very warm fire; but the BOOK IX. irresistible impetuosity of the grenadiers overthrew all obstacles in a few minutes. Colonel CHAP. XI. Bouvier with his column scaled the breach of the bastion of the Chanoines, and pursued the Spa1811, niards to the extremity of the bastion; they tried to stop the French at the passage of the drawbridge, a dreadful carnage was made, and the ditches were filled with dead bodies. The curtain was next scaled, and the enemy reached the breach of Fort Royal, where ladders were applied. By the capture of the lower town and its dependencies, eighty pieces of cannon fell into the enemy's hands. Their loss, however, was very severe. In his dispatch on this occasion, Suchet made use of the following remarkable expressions: "I fear much, if the garrison wait for the assault in their last hold, I shall be forced to set a terrible example, and intimidate for ever Catalonia and Spain, by the destruction of a whole city."

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In the night of the 29th of May, between ten and eleven o'clock, was lost, in a few minutes, the fort of Olivo, and that which ought not to have been effected without the sacrifice of at least 4,000 of the enemy, was, by their craft and intrigue, performed with less than the loss of 200. The capture of the place appeared to have been the consequence of chang ing its garrison (the regiment of Inberia), for that of Almeria, at nine at night. The enemy having obtained information of this disposition, of the word that had been given, &c. presented themselves at the moment it was to have been carried into effect. A part of the new garrison having entered, the enemy entered with them, giving the word, Almeria, to the centinels as they passed. When within, they began the attack with the bayonet, at the same time aiding their companions without to mount the walls. In the confusion, while one could not be known from another, they killed a great number, and took prisoners eight hundred soldiers, and sixteen officers, according to the dispatch which Suchet sent, to request that the officers might have their baggage sent to them for their journey through Arragon into France. Olivo being taken, all the

BOOK IX. fire of the place was directed against it till it was reduced to a heap of ruins. The French, CHAP. XI. however, did not abandon it, though great numbers of them had been killed. 1811.

Tarragona was taken by storm about half-past six in the evening of June 28. Although the French were then within pistol-shot of the wall, it did not appear likely the place would have fallen so soon, from the intrepidity of the Spanish soldiers, who shewed the greatest indifference to the shot which were constantly whizzing past them, and precautions had been taken by fortifying a range of buildings which ran in a parallel with the wall, by blocking up the streets leading from it with wine-pipes filled with earth, and cutting a deep and extensive ditch on the side facing the enemy, which formed a barrier as strong as the wall, and would have required new works to have reached it. Such was the state of wretched Tarragona on Friday the 28th of June. At halfpast six in the morning, the French opened by degrees a very heavy fire of great guns and musketry, the Spaniards returning it with equal vigour. It had been concerted this morning by the Spanish General, Campo Verde, who was at Cambrils with 10,000 men, that he should attack the French early next morning, on one side; Colonel Skerrit, who commanded about 1,200 British, on another part, while the garrison made a sortie; but the governor's conduct was so wavering, that a short time after this agreement, he sent off to know if the British squadron could embark the garrison. Captain Codrington, of the navy, pointed out the impropriety of doing so after the above arrangements for an attack, and advised him to hold out. He sent off word again to say, that he would defend the place to the last extremity; that the enemy had made a small breach, but it was of no consequence. About six o'clock in the evening, from treachery, or heinous neglect on the part of the principal officers, the troops stationed to protect the walls were left destitute of ammunition. The French, always vigilant, took immediate advantage of this neglect, marched coolly up to the very gate, forced it open with hatchets and bars, and entered the town. The Spaniards on the wall made resistance for some time with the bayonet, but were obliged to give way to musketry and bayonet combined. A sanguinary tumult ensued -women, children, and defeated soldiers, by their cries of "the French are in the town,' spread the panic to those soldiers who were able to resist, and the flight became general towards the gate opposite to that by which the French entered; but it was too small for the multitude to escape in time from the diabolical fury of the French, who had already begun a savage massacre. Several precipitated themselves from the wall, and were killed. About 4,000 got out,

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and rushed furiously through a body of French infantry, who were waiting for them outside, and continued their flight on the road leading towards Barcelona. They had already got out of range of the French musketry, congratulating themselves on their escape, when a destructive fire assailed them from several field-pieces, which the French, expecting the event, and determining that none should escape, had taken the usual precaution to place behind a deep ditch which they had cut across the road. The miserable Spaniards, now almost stupified with terror, attempted the heights, but the French, equally prepared at all points, coolly put them to death, although de fenceless and unresisting. Those that remained, in despair threw themselves into the sea, where the English boats made every effort to save them, and succeeded in picking up 500, the mangled remains of 8,000 men, women, and children; for these Vandals spared neither sex nor age. Those that remained in the town met with a miserable fate. The French, on entering, set it on fire in several places, and, shocking to relate, an hospital, containing 3,000 wounded Spaniards, was burnt!

The fall of Tarragona, which the French took possession of, occasioned great discomfiture in the minds of the Spaniards; fears were entertained for other important places; and these were in some measure realized by the surrender of Figueras, at discretion, on the 19th of August. The garrison consisted of 3,500 men, and nearly 350 officers. The blockade of Figueras lasted four months, during which time 2,000 men perished within the walls.

That the reader may better comprehend the present designs of the commander-in-chief, we shall here take a brief review of his late operations.

When Lord Wellington expelled the French from Portugal, (such was the expression at the time,) in the month of March, two very powerful fortresses were in the hands of the enemy. Almeida and Badajoz commanded the two high roads from Spain into Portugal; and the enemy which possessed either or both of these fortresses, possessed not only a facility but even a perfect security in any future advanced movement. Lord Wellington, therefore, had no sooner cleared the open country of the enemy, and repelled them into Spain, than he immediately adopted the resolution of besieging these posts. Almeida having been exhausted by the supplies which it had afforded to the French army, was nearly in a state of famine, and Lord Wellington very naturally calculated that it would fall by the mere effect of a blockade. He accordingly took up a position of great ability, so that he at once blockaded Almeida and put him self in a condition in which the enemy could not attack him without having the advantage greatly against them. Almeida, however, in the

BOOK IX.

A gallant action was however successfully fought by General Hill, who succeeded, on the 28th of CHAP. XI. October, in surprising General Girard's division, at or near Arroy de Molino, consisting of about 7,000 1811. men, where he took upwards of 1,500 prisoners, and killed about 240. Among the former, were General Bron, the Prince D'Aremberg, the chief of the staff, two colonels, and forty other officers. General Girard was badly wounded, and escaped to the mountains with about 300 infantry. The enemy lost their artillery and baggage. The English had only nine killed, and thirty wounded. General Hill marched to Merida, where he found ro enemy, and destroyed the extensive magazines at that place.

October 11, the University of Cervera surrendered to Colonel Green, at this time employed on a particular service at Catalonia: 350 men composed its garrison, and a very considerable depôt of wheat was found. On the 12th, Colonel Green accompanied the Baron de Eroles to the attack of the castle of Belpuig, near Lerida, which being determined to defend itself, was ultimately reduced by mines, and one ten-pounder, the castle becoming a ruin before the surrender upwards of 160 prisoners fell into the hands of the Spaniards.

About fifty miles to the north of Ciudad Rodrigo is the river Douro, flowing east and west, that is to say, across the country. From the south bank of this river issues the river Agueda, which runs southerly towards Ciudad Rodrigo. About twenty miles from its mouth in the Douro, the main stream of the Agueda divides itself into two branches, an easterly one towards Portugal, and a westerly one in Spain. The eastern branch is the river Azava. The westerly branch is the continuation of the Agueda. The plain, therefore, in which Ciudad Rodrigo is situated, is intersected by these two rivers. The Agueda runs down to the town, which is situated upon it, and the Azava flows parallel to it, and about eight miles distant, on the Portuguese frontier.

Lord Wellington took up his position in part between these two rivers, and partly on a ridge of bills on the Portuguese side of the Azava, and about seven miles from Ciudad Rodrigo, so as to have the latter river in his front; and in this position he awaited the attack of the enemy.

On the 24th of September, they encamped for the evening on heights above Ciudad Rodrigo. On the 25th, the enemy moved forwards. General Montbrun, at the head of fourteen squadrons, amongst which were the Lanciers de Berg, moved briskly to the Azava, and having passed that river, began the battle by attacking our army posted on the ridge. General Montbrun's division of cavalry consisted of two parts; the one under himself, the other under General

Wattier. General Wattier took the charge of the attack of the ridge, whilst Montbrun, going off to the left, took the road to Fuente Guinaldo, where was the English right. It was seen, at the same time, that the greatest part of the enemy's infantry were taking the same direction.

Lord Wellington, therefore, having thus discovered the object of their principal attack, immediately hastened reinforcements to his division in that quarter, and himself rode from one position to the other, to encourage them to do their duty; to receive the enemy in squares, and to fail back, when necessary, without disorder.

In the mean time, General Wattier had commenced the feint attack on the English left. Immediately, however, upon his crossing the Azava, he was charged by two squadrons of the 16th and 14th light dragoons, and, for the moment, was compelled to give way. General Wattier now put himself at the head of his men, and rallied them with much spirit. They made a second charge upon the English cavalry, but, as they were advancing, were unexpectedly saluted by a brisk discharge of musketry from a wood on their left flank. This well-timed fire was from the 61st regiment, which, with the most laudable promptitude, had been secretly sent, and posted there during the first attack. The effect was to the full what had been anticipated. The impetuosity of the enemy's charge, and the connection of their ranks, were broken; and Major-general Anson falling upon them at the same time, converted their confusion into a route. They hastily re-crossed the Azava, and were pursued for some distance by the English.

Whilst this was going on, the English left General Montbrun, with the greater part of the French cavalry, and with the French infantry following up immediately behind him, to attack the extreme part of the English right. The position of this right was on a ridge of heights, in front of Fuente Guinaldo, and crossing the road to that town. As Lord Wellington could not foresee the point of their attack, before they put themselves in march, this was the weakest part of the English line. The object of Montbrun was to force through it, and thus, by turning it, and getting into its rear, to shut in the English position between himself and the Azava. Montbrun succeeded so far as to reach the position before the reinforcements sent up by Lord Wellington. The small body of English troops, however, sustained the onset with most distinguished bravery. One regiment of French dragoons succeeded in taking two pieces of cannon, which had been posted on a rising ground, on the right of the English; but they were charged by the 2d battalion of the 5th regiment, under the command of Major Ridge, and the guns were immediately

retaken. The 77th regiment, and three squadrons of Major-general Alten's brigade, distinguished themselves equally eminently. The enemy attacked the position in three columns; the 5th regiment, as we have said, repulsed their left column; the 77th their centre column, and the three squadrons of Major-general Alten their right column. In the mean time, the great body of the enemy's infantry came up, and Lord Wellington seeing their superiority, and that the continuance of the contest in that quarter would lead to a general action, ordered their retreat on Fuente Guinaldo. This was accordingly done in the best possible order. The troops on the position were formed into several squares, and marched in this shape. The French cavalry in vain rushed upon them. The squares halted, and repelled them with the most distinguished steadiness. One of the squares in particular, composed of the 5th and 77th regiments, was charged on three of its sides at once; it halted on the instant, and fixing itself, as in the manner of a determined individual, in position, received and repulsed the enemy with the most heroic firmness. Not a man was scarcely moved from his rank and lines, except where his corpse filled up the space previously occupied by his living body. It is in these kinds of charges, man to man, that the great question of national superiority of mind and manhood is decided: and happily the decision has been invariably in favor of the English, and never more so than in the several sharp contests on the frontiers of Portugal.

This retreat was followed by the whole of the English line, which entered its temporary entrenchments at Fuente Guinaldo in the course of the same evening, and of the following morning. The French followed this movement so far as to present themselves in front of Fuente Guinaldo on the morning of the 26th; but as Lord Wellington declined a battle, from the several reasons already mentioned, they shortly withdrew again behind the Agueda; and, a few days afterwards, both Marmont (who succeeded Massena) and Lord Wellington resumed not only their former positions, but almost their former relations and views. Marmont posted himself at Placentia, and Lord Wellington took up the same line around Ciudad Rodrigo as before.

After the relief of Ciudad Rodrigo, Marshal Suchet advanced against General Blake, and completely defeated the Spanish army under his command. After twenty days labour and fatigue, Suchet succeeded in making a practicable breach in the walls of the castle of Saguntum; but during this period General Blake, with a view to save Saguntum from falling into the hands of the French, advanced to give Suchet battle, and compel him to raise the siege. This was on the 24th of October; a battle ensued, and the result

1811.

was, that after seven hours' hard fighting, the BOOK IX. Spaniards were entirely broken and put to flight, with the loss of 6,500 killed, wounded, and pri- CHAP. XI. soners: (the latter amounted to 4,639, of whom 230 were officers,) forty colonels or lieutenant-colonels, two field-marshals, sixteen pieces of artillery, eight caissons, 4,208 English muskets, and four stand of colours. The day after this battle, which was fought on the 25th of October, Suchet summoned the castle of Saguntum to surrender; and the lieutenant-colonel of artillery, who was sent with an answer to the summons, was conducted through the midst of the officers and prisoners, that he might have no doubt as to the issue of the battle which had taken place the day before. Saguntum accordingly surrendered, and the garrison, added to the men taken from the army under General Blake, made the total amount of prisoners 7,211, of whom upwards of 369 were officers.

After the fall of Saguntum, the key to Valencia, General Blake threw himself into it with 17,000 men: Suchet, however, continued his approaches, and, on the 26th of December, made a furious attack upon the Spanish lines. After a slight resistance, these were broken, and the whole army put to the rout. Blake, with about 5,000 men effected his escape into the city, whilst Mahi and the other Spanish generals retreated to Allayada.

At the close of this year, General Hill surprised and took Merida with very little loss. The following was his letter, on this occasion, to Lord Wellington:

"Merida, Dec. 30, 1811.

"My Lord-In pursuance to your lordship's instructions, I put the troops under my orders in march from their several cantonments, and entered this province on the 27th inst. by Albuquerque, Villa de Rey, and St. Vicente; and by the intelligence which I received from various quarters, I was led to entertain the most sanguine hopes that I should have been able to surprise the enemy's troops stationed in this town. I was, however, disappointed in my expectations, by finding in La Nava, on our approach to that village yesterday, with the column from Albuquerque, a party of the enemy, consisting of about 300 voltigeurs and a few hussars, being part of a detachment which had arrived there the night preceding, apparently on a plundering excur sion, the remainder whereof has proceeded to Cordivallas, another village about two leagues distant. A patrole from La Nava fell in with the head of our column, and gave the alarm to the detachment, which immediately commenced its retreat towards Merida, followed by the cavalry of my advanced-guard, consisting of between 3 and 400 of the 13th light dragoons and 2d hussars. As I considered the intercepting of the