On the 17th April, Major Dickson waited on Marshal Beresford at Zafra, and received orders to proceed to Elvas to make preparations for the siege of Badajoz. On the 20th Lord Wellington arrived at Elvas, and issued instructions for the carrying on of the siege to Marshal Beresford, Colonel Fletcher of the Engineers, and Major Dickson, the last-named officer being appointed to direct the Artillery department of the operation. From the 21st April to the 10th May, the greatest exertions were made, both at Elvas and around Badajoz, to prepare the necessary ordnance and stores for the siege, transport them, and make and arm the batteries. The following shows, in a tabulated form, the nature and distribution of the ordnance employed:-- [Sidenote: Prepared from various returns among Sir A. Dickson’s MSS.] TABLE A.[26] FIRST SIEGE OF BADAJOZ. April 23, 1811.--Ordnance selected for the Siege:-- Sixteen brass 24-pounder guns. Eight ” 16-pounder ” Two 10-inch brass howitzers. Six 8-inch ” ” The ammunition to be at the rate of 800 rounds per gun, and 400 rounds per howitzer. The following distribution of ordnance was determined on for the first operations of the siege, on the 8th May, 1811:-- 1. For the attack of St. Cristoval: 24-pounders 3 } 5 8-inch howitzers 2 } 2. For the false attack on Pardaleras: 24-pounders 3 } 4 8-inch howitzer 1 } 3. For the false attack on Picurina: 24-pounders 3 } 4 8-inch howitzer 1 } On the 9th May, the following additional ordnance was sent from Elvas for the St. Cristoval attack, viz.: 24-pounders 2 } 3 8-inch howitzer 1 } Four brass 12-pounders were at the same time ordered from Elvas to enfilade the bridge of Badajoz. Four guns for the attack of St. Cristoval were replaced on the 11th May--having been damaged--by three heavy 12-pounders and a field howitzer. On the 12th May, four 24-pounders were sent from the great park to the Cristoval attack. On the 13th May the siege was ordered to be raised, as will hereafter be shown. * * * * * Badajoz was invested on the right bank on the 8th May, and on the morning of the 11th the breaching battery against San Cristoval opened. Being, however, totally unsupported, and having to resist a very heavy fire from that fort and the Castle, the young Portuguese Artillerymen proved unequal to the contest. Their practice, after a few rounds, became very uncertain; and in the course of the morning the battery was silenced, all the pieces being disabled except one howitzer.