History of the war in the Peninsula and in the south of France from the year 1807 to the year 1814, vol. 2 — John Shaqi
History of the war in the Peninsula and in the south of France from the year 1807 to the year 1814, vol. 2Napier, William Francis Patrick
History
History of the war in the Peninsula and in the south of France from the year 1807 to the year 1814, vol. 2
Napier, William Francis Patrick
Peninsular War, 1807-1814
The third column was more successful; the breach was carried, and
the neighbouring houses also, as far as the first large cross
street; beyond that, the assailants could not penetrate, but they
were enabled to establish themselves within the walls of the town,
and immediately brought forward their trenches, so as to comprehend
this lodgement within their works.
The assault of the fourth column, which was directed against San
Engracia, was made with such rapidity and vigour that the Polish
regiment of the Vistula not only carried that convent itself, but
the one adjoining to it; and the victorious troops, unchecked
by the fire from the houses, and undaunted by the simultaneous
explosion of six small mines planted in their path, swept the
ramparts to the left as far as the bridge over the Huerba; and, at
that moment, the guards of the trenches, excited by the success of
their comrades, broke forth, without orders, mounted the walls,
pushed along the ramparts to the left, bayonetted the artillery-men
at their guns in the Capuchin convent, and, continuing their
career, endeavoured some to reach the semicircular battery and the
Misericordia, and others to break into the town.
This wild assault was soon checked by grape from two guns planted
behind a traverse on the ramparts, and by a murderous fire from
the houses. As their ranks were thinned, the ardour of the French
sunk, and the courage of their adversaries increased. The former
were, after a little, driven back upon the Capuchins; and the
Spaniards were already breaking into that convent in pursuit, when
two battalions, detached by general Morlot from the trenches of
the false attack, arrived, and secured possession of that point,
which was moreover untenable by the Spaniards, inasmuch as the guns
of the convent of Santa Engracia saw it in reverse. The French
took, on this day, more than six hundred men. But general La
Coste immediately abandoned the false attack against the castle,
fortified the Capuchin convent and a house situated at an angle of
the wall abutting upon the bridge over the Huerba, and then joining
them by works to his trenches, the ramparts of the town became the
front line of the French.
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