=Ciudad Rodrigo.=--The siege of Ciudad Rodrigo followed the "soldiers' battle" of Albuera. The army, after considerable manœuvring, marching, and countermarching, besieged Ciudad Rodrigo, which, together with the siege of Badajos, had to be undertaken before Wellington's plan of campaign could be carried out. On January 1st, 1812, the order for the siege of the fortress was suddenly issued, but some days elapsed before the order could be put into execution, owing to the inclement weather, snowstorms preventing any possibility of operations. On the 8th the investment of the fortress was commenced, and the earth redoubt of Teson Grande stormed and taken by Colonel Colborne with three companies of the 52nd Regiment. On the 13th the Convent of Santa Cruz, one of the two convents which had been fortified by the French, was stormed and carried by the light companies of the brigade of Guards, and on the night between the 14th and 15th the 40th Regiment escaladed and carried the fortified San Francisco Convent. Meanwhile preparations had been progressing for the general assault, which took place on the night of January 19th. Wellington had written in his orders "Ciudad must be stormed this evening," and the order was carried out in a brilliant manner, but alas! two British Generals were killed, General Crauford being mortally wounded whilst leading the light division, and General Mackinnon killed on reaching the ramparts of the greater breach. In this assault General Picton adjured the Connaught Rangers, who passed with the forlorn hope to storm the breach, to "spare powder and trust to cold iron," and it was by the use of the bayonet that the 43rd and 95th drove the French from the "fausse braye." The city was taken after a siege lasting twelve days, but the troops "committed frightful excesses," which some have condoned as a prescriptive right which successful besiegers may enjoy. The British losses were 9 officers and 217 rank and file killed, 84 officers--including Major-General Vandeleur and Major (afterwards Sir George) Napier, who lost an arm--and 1,000 men wounded. For the successful issue to his generalship, Wellington received the patent of an earl, and was made a Spanish duke, the British Government increasing his annuity to £4,000 per annum. The regiments engaged in the siege were the 2nd Foot Guards (the Coldstreams); 3rd Foot Guards (Scots Guards); 5th, 7th, 24th, 30th, 40th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 48th, 52nd, 60th, 74th, 77th, 83rd, 88th, 94th, 97th, and the Rifle Brigade.