History of the Peninsular War, Volume 6 (of 6)Southey, Robert
History
History of the Peninsular War, Volume 6 (of 6)
Southey, Robert
Peninsular War, 1807-1814
The original plan was now resumed of working up to the wall, and mining
under it. The enemy placed two or three guns behind a projecting
palisade, which was so close as perfectly to secure them, and from
whence they did great execution. As there were neither sappers, miners,
nor pioneers, the engineer officers were obliged not only to direct
every operation, but to stand by and instruct the working parties; and
while thus employed, Captain Williams was killed. It seemed miraculous
that any of these valuable officers escaped. The enemy could not now
but have discovered that the besiegers were miserably provided with
artillery, and that they had no ammunition to spare; nevertheless they
began to prepare their second line for an obstinate defence. On the
evening of the 29th the miners hit upon the foundation of the wall,
mined it, and charged the mine with twelve barrels of powder. At
midnight it was sprung, and threw down the wall. Three hundred men were
in readiness for storming: a serjeant and four men, the advance of a
party of twenty who were to lead the way, mounted without opposition,
for the enemy were panic-stricken: they remained some minutes on the
top of the breach before the French, perceiving that they were not
supported, took courage and drove them down. The officer in command of
the first advance did not discover the breach, ... he returned into
the parallel, reporting that the mine had failed, and the storming
party, in consequence of this error, was withdrawn. After this, Lord
Wellington determined to have no more night attacks.
♦A THIRD BY DAYLIGHT PROVES SUCCESSFUL.
OCT. 4.♦
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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