We withdraw from Badajoz—Dislike of the British soldier for Page 103 siege-work—Affair of El Bodon—Gallant conduct of the 5th and 77th Regiments—Narrow escape of the 88th from being made prisoners—Picton’s conduct on the retreat to Guinaldo CHAPTER XI Retreat of the French army—Vultures on the field of Page 118 battle—The Light Division and private theatricals—Major Leckie and the musician—Privations—The Connaught Rangers and the sheep—Deficient kits—Darby Rooney and General Mackinnon CHAPTER XII Officers and sergeants—Fairfield and his bad Page 128 habit—Regimental mechanism—Impolitic familiarity—3rd Division at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo—Lieutenant D‘Arcy and Ody Brophy—The Irish pilot CHAPTER XIII Spanish village accommodation—The siege of Ciudad Page 139 Rodrigo—Picton’s address to the Connaught Rangers in front of the breach—Lieutenant William Mackie and the forlorn hope CHAPTER XIV Storm of Ciudad Rodrigo—Gallant conduct of three soldiers of Page 149 the 88th—Desperate struggle and capture of a gun—Combat between Lieutenant Faris and the French grenadier—A Connaught Ranger transformed into a sweep—Anecdote of Captain Robert Hardyman of the 45th—Death of General Mackinnon—Plunder of Ciudad Rodrigo—Excesses of the soldiers CHAPTER XV Results of the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo—The town Page 167 revisited—Capture of deserters—Sale of the plunder—Army rests in cantonments—An execution of deserters—A pardon that came too late CHAPTER XVI Preparations against Badajoz—Description of this Page 175 fortress—Its investment—Line of circumvallation formed in the night—Sortie of the garrison repulsed—Destructive fire of the besieged—Dreadful explosion from a shell—Indifference—Deaths of Captain Mulcaster and Major Thompson CHAPTER XVII State of the enemy’s fort La Picurina from our fire—Attempt Page 187 to storm it—Desperate defence of the garrison—It is carried by assault—Preparations for the grand attack—Frightful difficulties of the enterprise—The attack and defence—Slaughter of the besiegers—Badajoz taken CHAPTER XVIII The sacking of Badajoz—Neglect of the wounded—Spaniards and Page 207 their plunderers—Disgraceful occurrences—Calamities of war—The author’s wound and uncomfortable couch—Extent of plunder—An auction in the field—Neglect of the 88th by General Picton CHAPTER XIX