Note 18 — Chapter VIII
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Some Portuguese troops watched the right bank of the river on the side of Portugal, but, during the latter end of the siege, part of the fifth division under General Leith took that duty.
19 I have often been told, from undoubted authority, that this soldier was one of the first who entered the small breach at Rodrigo, and whose Stentorian voice rose above the din of arms.
20 He was mortally wounded at New Orleans, as Brigade-major, while scrambling up the enemy's lines. His horse had been killed under him. He was taken prisoner, and died raving mad from the agony of the wound through his body.
21 He was killed; and his twin-brother, of the 52nd light infantry, fell two years after at St. Sebastian, also at the head of twenty-five volunteers from that regiment.
22 This was with the exception of the two regiments of Portuguese Caçadores, who were left in reserve in the quarries; but many of them afterwards came towards the breaches.
23 He had also two unhealed body wounds open, which he had received at Rodrigo, and one in the trenches at Badajoz a few days before. He now commands the 52nd regiment.
24 The right corner looking from the ramparts; but, as we attacked, it was on the left.
25 There was a trench three feet wide and four deep, cut between the centre and left breach, which was choked up with the dead and wounded.
26 Now Lieut.-Colonel Shaw.
27 The engineer officers suffered terribly in killed and wounded during the siege, as they joined in all the desperate attacks.
28 The fourth and light divisions retired at midnight from the breaches; but many of the soldiers did not leave the ditch, being unable to ascend the ladders owing to the heaps of dead and wounded. The fourth division descended opposite the large breach by only two ladders.
29 Now General Sir A. Barnard.
30 Now Lord Hill, commander-in-chief of the British army.
31 Now Lord Lynedoch.
32 The fifth division took the city of Badajoz, and the third division the castle.