“A light was called for and instantly brought, and Lord Wellington noted the report with a steady hand. His face was pale and expressed great anxiety. In his manner and language he preserved perfect coolness and self-possession. General Hay’s brigade was ordered to advance to the breaches. “You may think that it was nervous work hearing this. “Our General had wisely planned two extreme attacks by escalade on the castle by the Third Division and on the south side of the town by the Fifth Division, and on Fort Pardoleros by the Portuguese. It was known that Soult was within a few leagues. Marmont had pushed his advanced Dragoons as far as the bridge of boats at Villa Velha; the river Guadiana was in our rear. “It was a crisis, and we wondered what thoughts were passing through the mind of our gallant chief as he sat motionless on his horse. “Presently another staff-officer galloped up, out of breath. “‘General Picton--has--got possession of--the castle, sir.’ “‘Who brings that intelligence?’ exclaimed Lord Wellington. “The officer saluted and gave his name. “‘Are you certain, sir--are you positively certain?’ “‘I entered the castle with the troops. I have only just left it. General Picton in possession. He sent me.’ “‘Picton in possession! With how many men?’ “‘His division.’ “It is impossible to describe to you the change this news produced in the feelings of all around. A great sigh of relief could almost be heard. “‘Return, sir, and desire General Picton to maintain his position at all hazards.’ “Having dispatched this messenger, Lord Wellington directed a second officer to proceed to the castle to repeat his orders to General Picton. “Next morning at dawn I set out to visit the breaches. I was just thinking of two friends, Major Singer and Captain Cholwick, of the Royal Fusiliers, both of whom had been with me two evenings before. I was wondering how they had fared in the assault when I met some Fusiliers and asked for Major Singer. “‘We are throwing the last shovels of earth upon his grave, sir.’ “‘Is Captain Cholwick safe?’ I inquired. “‘In the act of climbing over that palisade he was wounded, fell into the water, and we have seen nothing of him since.’ “That did not make me disposed to be very cheerful. “I found the great breach covered with dead from its base to its summit. Many were stripped. Amongst them I recognized the faces of many well known to me. In climbing up the breach my feet receded at every step in the débris, so as to make my progress slow and difficult. Behind the chevaux-de-frise a broad and deep trench had been cut, into which our men must have been precipitated had they succeeded in surmounting this huge barrier. Above was a battery of 12-pounders completely enfilading the great and the small breach, near to each other. No wonder we failed there to enter.