Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-10-14
MHs0MlL AMY
THE STORMING OF CIUDAD RODRIGO.
(BY WELLINGroN-l9ll.1

THE STORMING OF CIUDAD RODRIGO.
(BY WELLINGroN-lSll.)
Whatever the lovity Of the previous moment,
ume scene before us now repressed it effectualy.
The deep-toned bell Of the cathedral tolled SEVEN
and scarcely were its notes dying away in the
distance, when the march of the columns wns
heard stealing along the ground. A low, muir
murIng whisper ran along the advanced files of
tho forlorn hope; stocks were loosened, packs and
knapsacks, thrown to the ground; each man pres
sed his cap more firmly on his brow, and, with
lip compressed and steadfast eye, waited for the
work no more.
tcame it last the word march - passed in
whispers, from rank to rank, and the dark mass
msved on. What moment was that, as we adj
vanced to the foot of the breach! The conscious
ness that, at the same instant from different points
OF that vast plain, similar parties were moving
on; the feeling that, at word the flame of the
artillery and the flash of steel would spring from
mat dense cloud, and death and carnage in every
shape our imhginatious can conceive, be dealt on
all sides. Tho hurried, f,:ul thought of home ;
he years long past, compressed into one minutes
space the last adieu to all we've loved, ming
ling with the muttered prayer to heaven, while
high above all, the deep pervading sense that
earth has no temptation strong enough to turn us
from that path whose ending must be sepulchre.
Each heart was too full for words. We follow.
cd nolselessly along the turf, the dark figure of
our leader guiding us through the gloom. On ar
irving at the ditc., the party with the ladders
moved to the front. Already some hay packs
were thrown in, and the forlorn hope sprang for
ward.
All was still and silent as the grave. "Quiet-
~ my men-quietly!' said McKinnon; "don't
press" Scarcely had he spoken when a musk
IL, whose CHARGE contrary to orders, had not been
drawn, went off. The whizzing bnllet could not
have struck the wall, when suddenly bright
fame burst forth from the raInparts, and shot up-
thn c. Epr ,I,, Ill.
scene before MS was bright as MONDAY. On one
side the dark ranks and glistening bayonets of
the enemy; on the other, the red uniform of the
British columns; compressed like some solid
wall, they stretched along the plain.
deafening roll of musketry from the extreme
right announced that the third division was al
ready in action, while the loud cry of our leader,
as he sprang into the trench, summoned us to the
charge. Tho leading sections, not waiting for
the ladders, jumped down, others pressed rapidly
behind them, when a loud, run,blIng thunder
creps along the earth, Kissing, cracking noise
,oi!owed, and from the dark ditch a forked and
Ilvid lightning burst like the flame from volca-
no. and mine exploded. Hundreds of shells
and grenades scattered along the ground were
ign!ted at the Same moment; the air sparkled
with tue whizzing fuses the musketry piled in
cessantly from the walls, and every man of the
leading company OF the sformers was blown to
pieces. While this dreadful catastrophe was en-
acting before our eyes, the different assaults we're
made on all sides; the whole fortress seemed GRIT
around with fire. From every part arose the
yells of triumph and the shouts of the assaiants.
AS Tor us, we stood upon the verge Of the ditch
GREATNESS, hesitatng. and horror struck. sud-
den darkness succeeded to the bright pIare. but
from the midst of the gloom the agonising cries of
The wounded and the dying rent our very hearts.
=, MAKE way there make way here here comes
macke's party" cried an officer in front, and as
ne spoke, the forlorn hope of the eighty eighth
earno forward at run; jumping reckessIy into
the aitch, they made toward the breach the sup
Portin9 division OF stormers gave one INSPIRING
cheer, and sprang after them. The rush was
tremendous for scarcely had we reached the
cruplbIlng ruins of the rampant, when the vast
column, pressing on like some mighty torrent.
bore down upon our rear. Now commenced a
scene to which nothing ever before conceived
OF war could in any degree compare: the whole
ground, covered with combustbles of eyery dead
iy and destructive continuance, was rent omen
%tha crush; the huge masses Of masonry boun- |
oeo INTO the air like things Of 10 weight: the |
ringing clamor Of the iron howitzers, the crack
ing OF the fuses, the blazing spIinters the shouts
Vi uelahce, inc more than savage yell of those in |
whose ranks alone the dead and dyinn were MN.
Dered, made mp mass Of sights and sounds al |
most maddening with their excitement. On we |
struggled; the mutilated bodies of Ire leadipc, |
files almost filing the way.
By this time the third division had Joined nc
CLASH VI Out tillCkenlnu ranks dread
1oi; every moment some well-known leader fell !
dead or nortally wounded. and his place was
supplied by some gallant fellow. who. sprincino
from the leading files, would scarcely have utter,
ed his cheer Of encouragement. ere he himself
was laid low. Many n voice, with whose tones
was familiar, would break upon my ear in tones
Of heroic daring, and the next momei't broke forth
~ dea'h-ory. For above an hour the fightful
carnage continued, fresh troops continually adj
,ancmg, but scarcely foot ofground was made;
he earth belched forth its volcanic fires, and that
errlble barrier did no man pass. In turn The bra
'est and the boIdest would leap into the wbiz-
ing fame, and the taunting cheers oCthe enemy.
rlumphed in deTision at the effort.
''Stormerg to the front only the bayone,
rust to nothing but the bayonet," cried voice,
'hoso almost cheerful accents contrased strange
Y with tho death-notes around, and Gurwood.
'hnled the ferlorn hope Of the ffty-socond, boun-
ed into The chasIn all the officers sprang stimuli
ineonsly after him; the men pressed madly on
roll OF whitening musketry crushed upon them
iuTiops shout replied TO it. The British spriup.