Moving silently from their camp-ground along the left of the river Rivillas and the inundations, the fourth and light divisions made a short detour, and arrived at the glacis at the moment the third division attacked the castle. Ladders were placed, and about five hundred men of the light division had descended into the ditch with the most heroic bravery, cheering as they went, when suddenly a loud report like thunder was heard, and the storming parties were blown to pieces by the explosion of hundreds of shells and powder barrels. Undismayed by this terrific destruction, the men of the light and fourth divisions raised a loud shout and plunged into the ditch, where many men perished in the inundations; others, after overcoming numerous difficulties, approached the breach exposed to a most destructive fire. As they ascended, loose planks studded with sharp iron points wounded their feet and produced great mischief, and a range of sword-blades with sharp points and keen-edges, firmly fixed in beams chained together and set deep in the ruins, arrested the progress of the soldiers; at the same time a terrible fire of musketry thinned their ranks. Again the assailants rushed up the breaches with the most determined resolution; but the sword-blades stopped their career, and the thundering powder-barrels and hissing shells exploded continually. Numerous and astonishing efforts of valour and intrepidity were made, and the most heroic bravery displayed, yet the obstacles were such as could not be overcome; and about midnight, when two thousand brave soldiers had fallen, the survivors received orders to retire, and re-form for a second attack. In the meantime the third division had captured the castle, and a brigade had carried the bastion of San Vincente; the town was thus forced; partial actions afterwards took place in various places; and the governor escaped to the fort of St. Christoval, where he surrendered. Thus, by the union of ability, energy, and valour, two important fortresses were captured in three months, in the face of two French armies: the British commander was enabled to enlarge the sphere of his operations, and these successes appeared as the first rays of the coming glory which was about to shine resplendently on the British arms. The ROYAL FUSILIERS were subsequently honoured with the royal authority to bear the word "BADAJOZ" on their colours; Lieutenant-Colonel Blakeney and Captain John Mair received medals; but the regiment had to regret the loss of many brave men; the casualties among the officers were so great that the command of the division devolved on a major, all the general officers and lieutenant-colonels being wounded. The loss of the SEVENTH may be seen in the following returns. List of the Officers of the ROYAL FUSILIERS at the siege of BADAJOZ.