Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-18
From the Uaited Service Journal.
SKETCH OF THE sTORNING OF BADAJ(


issued relative to the positions the troops were
to occupy.--The day was fine, and all the sol
diers in good spirits, cleaning themselves as if
for review. About two O'Clock saw poor
Harvest; he was sucking an orange, and walk
ing rising ground, alone, and very thought
ful. 1t gave me pain, as | knew he was to
lead the forlorn hope. He observed, "My
mind is made up; aim sure to be killed"
At half past eight o'clock that night the
ranks were formed, and theroll called in an
under Tone. Lieutenant-Col M'Leod spoke
long and earnestly to the eg;ment before it
Joined the division, expressing the utmost
confidence in the result of the attack, and IL
nished by repeating, that he left 1t to the no.
nor of all persons to preserve discipline, and
not to commit any cruelty to the poor inhablt-
ants of the town.
The division drew up in the most profound
silence behind the large quarry, three hundred
yards from the breaches. A small stream sc
parated us from the fourth division. At ten
a carcase was thrown from the town, this was
most beautiful firework, and Illuminated the
ground for many hundred yards-two or three
free balls followed, and falling in different di
re tions showed bright light. and remained
burning. The stiffness that followed was the
prelude to one of the strangest scenes that the
imagination of man can conceive.
Soon after ten O'Clock little whispering
announced that the forlorn hope were stealing
forward, followed by the stormng parties,
composed Of three hundred men, zone hun
dred from each regiment of the brigade y In
two minutes the division followed; one mus
ket SHOT, no more, was fired near the breach
es by French soldier who was on the look
out; we gained ground leisurely, but silently;
there were no obstacles The 52d, 43d and
95th, closed gradually up to column of quar-
ter distance, left in front; all was hushed,
and the town lay buried in gloom; the ladders
were placed on the edge of the ditch, when
suddenly an explosion took place at the foot of
the breaches, and burst of light disclosed the
whole scene-the earth seemed to rock under
us-what a sight! The ramparts crowded
with the enemy; the French soldiers standing
on the parapets; the fourth division advancing
rapidly in column of companies on half cir
Gle to our right, while the short-lived glare
from the barrels of powder and combustibles
flying N the air, gave to friends aud foes a
look as if both bodies of troops were laughing
at each other.
A tremendous firing now opened on US, and
for an instant we were stationary; but the
troops were no rays dQunted The lad
ders were found exactly opposite the centre
breach. and the whole division rushed to the
assault with amazing resolution. There was.
no cheek. The soldiers few down the lad
ders, and the cheering from both sides was
4, full OF confidence
While descending the ladders into the ditch,
soldier Of the SGD, in the hurry, growled
out hearty curse, and was very angry at my
preceding him, aud furious blows were ex-
changed amongst the troops in their eager
ness to get forward; while the grape-shot aud
musketry tore open their ranks. The fist
officer happened to see down was Capt Fer
guson, who had led on our storming party
here, and at Rodrigo; he was lying to the
right of the ladders, with wound on the
head, and holding bloody handkerchief in
his grasp | Snatc.ed il out of his hand and
tied it round his head. The French were
then sending over the fire-balls, which pro-
duced sort of revolving light. The ditch
was very wide, and when arrived at the foot
OF the CCllliC UiCdSii, VI ulhCty uCu
were formed. One cried out, "Who will
lead ?" This was the work of moment. =
Death, and the most dreadfulsounds and cries
encompassed rs. 1t was volcano Up we
went some killed, and others impaled on the
tayonets of their own comrades, OF hurled
leadlong amongst the outrageous crowd.
The cheUaur-de. frise looked like immune
fable bayonets. When within yard OF the
sop, my sensations were most extraordinary;
felt half strangled; and fell from blow
which deprived me Of sensation only re
CO lect seeing soldier pulling me out of the
water, where so many were drowned lost
my cap, but still held my sword. onrecoy-
erins, looked towards the breach; it was
shining aud empty! 6re-balls were in plenty,
and the French troops standing upon the walls,
taunting, and inviaing our men to come up and
= try it again. What crisis, what military
misery! Some of the finest troops in the
world PROSTATE; humbled to the dust.