The true Democrat., 1855-02-14
Storn1ing a City.

When city is taken by storm, in military phrase, and in accordance with the usages of war, it is " given up to tue so1diery."~ What this means will be apparent from the frightful pie ture of Badajos, as it appeared on the night af- ter it had been carried by the Allies, under Wellington, April 6, 1915. Says an English officer, who participated in the assault:
 It was nearly dusk, and the few hours while 1 slept had made a fearful change in the condi- tlon and temper of the soldiery. In the morn. ing they were obedent to their officers, and pre- served the semblance of subordination; now they were in state of furious intoxication; discipline was forgotten, and the splendid troops of yesterday had become fierce and sanguna- ry rabble, dead to every touch of human feel ing, and filled with every demoniac passion that can brutalize the man. The city was in terrible confusion, and on every side horrible tokens of military license met the eye.
 One street as approached the castle, was al- most choked up with broken furniture for the house had been gutted from the cellar to the garret, the partitions torn down, and even the beds ripped up and scattered to the winds, in the hope that gold might be found concealed. A convent at the end of the strada of St. John
 
 ed nun ill the arms of drunken soldier
 Further on the confusion seemed greater-- Brandy and wine casks were rolled out before the stores; some were full some half drunk out, but more staved in, iii mere wantonness and the liquors running through the kennel Many narrowing scream saluted the ear of the passer-by; many female supplcation was heard asking in vain for mercy. How could 1t be otherwise, when 1t is remembered that 20,- OOO nfunated madmen were loosed upon an Immense population, among which many of the lovellcst We men in the world might be found? All within that devoted city were at the dispo- sal ot furious and licentious army over whom for the time, control was lost, aided by an infa- nous collection of camp-folowers, who were, Ii possible, more sanguinary and pitiless even than those who had survived the storm.
 It Is useless to dwell upon a scene from which the heart revots. Few females u this beautiful town were saved from insutthat nig ght. The noblest and the beggar-the nun, and the wife and daughter of the artizan--youth and all were involved in general ruin. None were respected, and consequently few escaped. The madness of those desperate brlgands was vari- ously exhibited; some fired through doors and windows; others at church bells; many at the wretched inhabitants as they fled into the streets to escape the bayonets of the savages, who were demolishng their property within doors; while some wretches, as if blood had not flown in sufficient torrents already, shot from tue ao'naosos tear oa0n companions, as they staggered on below. What chance had the miserable in habltants to escape death, when more than one oi11cer perished by the bullets and bayonets of the very men whom a few hours before he had led to the assault?
 This city contained about 16, GOO inhabitants, and twice before within the space of thirteen months, been subjected to the horrors of s ege, by the |" Llberators of the Peninsula" If such a fate awaits the inhabitants of Sebasto- pol, Tn the event Of its fall, may we not pray that the attack upon it may not succeed?