SIEGE OF ST. SEBASTIAN. August and September, 1813.
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The allies having advanced to so great a distance from Portugal, that country was no longer used by the British as a place of arms, and the establishments there were consequently broken up. In conjunction with the ocean, the Western Pyrenees offered a fresh base of operations, and the capture of St. Sebastian became of primary importance.
One of the first objects was the reduction of the convent and redoubt of San Bartolomeo, which were battered by the artillery, and so far damaged, that on the 17th. of July, it was determined to storm these posts. The pickets of the 4th. Caçadores, and one hundred and fifty men of the 13th. Portuguese regiment, supported by three companies of the 9th., with a reserve of three companies of the Royals, formed on the right to attack the redoubt; two hundred men of the 5th. Caçadores, and two hundred of the 13th. Portuguese, supported by the 9th. regiment, formed on the left to attack the convent. At ten o’clock in the forenoon, the troops rushed from behind the hill overlooking the convent. Both the convent and the houses of the suburb were assaulted, and in the latter a fierce struggle ensued, but eventually the French were expelled with severe loss.
The capture of the convent facilitated the progress of the siege, and on the 24th. of July the breaches were deemed practicable, when the third battalion of the Royals was directed to storm the great breach, the 38th. regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Miles, the lesser breach, and the 9th. under Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron, supported the Royals, under Major Peter Fraser. At daybreak on the morning of the 25th. of July, the troops advanced to the attack with signal intrepidity; the cannon of the fortress played upon them in front; the ground was difficult to pass; and the volleys of musketry were incessant; at the same time showers of hand-grenades, shells, and large stones were poured down upon them; yet the attack was made with valour; and the defences round the 159breach had not been destroyed, and success was found to be impracticable. Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron and Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, of the 9th., distinguished themselves on this occasion, and the latter (afterwards General Lord Clyde,) who led the left wing of the Royals, was severely wounded. The loss sustained was severe, especially by the third battalion of the Royals, the leading one of Major-General Hay’s brigade, which, being on duty in the trenches, formed the column of attack.
During the contest in the mountains, before described, the siege was turned into a blockade; when the French, however, had been repulsed and driven back with severe loss, the siege was resumed, and was afterwards prosecuted with vigour. On the 26th. of August, the fire against the fort was opened, and Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham directed that an establishment should be formed on the island of Santa Clara, in the bay of St. Sebastian. At three o’clock on the morning of the 27th. of August, a hundred soldiers of the 9th. Foot, commanded by Captain Hector Cameron, sailed from Passages in boats to attack the island. As the boats approached the shore, a heavy fire was opened upon them, but a landing was effected, and the garrison made prisoners.
On the morning of the 27th. of August, the French made a sally against the new batteries on the isthmus, but were repulsed. St. Sebastian was again attacked by storm on the 31st. of August, and the heroic perseverance of all the troops concerned was at length crowned with success. The column of attack was formed of the second brigade of the fifth division, commanded by Major-General Robinson, with the following detachments as supports:—one hundred and fifty volunteers of the light division, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hunt, of the 52nd.; four hundred of the first division, consisting of two hundred of the brigades of guards, under Lieutenant-Colonel Cook; one hundred of the light battalion, and one hundred of the line battalions of the King’s German Legion, under Major Robertson; and two hundred volunteers of the fourth division, under Major Rose, of the 20th. Foot. In reserve were the remainder of the fifth division, consisting of Major-General Spry’s Portuguese brigade, and the first brigade under Major-General Hay, together with the fifth battalion of Caçadores of Major-General Bradford’s 160brigade, under Major Hill; the whole were under the direction of Lieutenant-General Sir James Leith, commanding the fifth division. The difficulties to be overcome were so formidable, and the resistance of the enemy so determined, that the reserve brigade was pushed on by degrees. For five hours the conflict raged at the beaches, when an explosion destroyed the enemy’s traverses. The guns were turned against the curtain, against which a heavy fire of artillery was directed. This passed a few feet only over the heads of the troops on the breach, and was kept up with remarkable precision. The advance of the first battalion of the 13th. regiment, under Major Snodgrass, over the open breach and across the river, and a detachment of the 24th. regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Mac Bean, in support, was gallantly made under a very severe fire of grape. A great effort was next made to gain the high ridge, and to storm the hornwork. The second brigade of the fifth division, under Colonel the Honourable Charles Greville, moved out of the trenches for this purpose, and the third battalion of the 1st. foot, under Lieutenant-Colonel Barns, supported by the 38th., under Lieutenant-Colonel Miles, opportunely arrived to assault the trench of the curtain about the time when the explosion had created some confusion amongst the garrison. After a severe conflict the narrow pass was gained, and the troops on the right of the breach having succeeded in forcing the barricades on the top of the narrow line wall, found their way into the houses which joined it. After an assault which lasted over two hours, a firm footing, under the most trying circumstances, was obtained. Nothing could restrain the impetuosity of the troops, and in an hour more the enemy were driven from all the complications of defences prepared in the streets, and after suffering severe loss, they abandoned the town and retreated into the castle.[54]
Batteries mounting fifty-four pieces of ordnance opened a tremendous fire upon the citadel on the 8th. of September, and in less than three hours the garrison hoisted the flag of truce, and after some discussion surrendered. The loss of the garrison was related to have amounted to two-thirds of their numbers at the commencement of the siege.
From the 28th. of July to the 31st. of August the British had thirty-six officers, thirty-one sergeants, one drummer, and five hundred and three men killed; seventy officers, (including Lieutenant-General Sir James Leith and Major-Generals Oswald and Robinson,) fifty-four sergeants, six drummers, and nine hundred and seventy-three rank and file were wounded. The Portuguese had eight officers and one hundred and eighty-one men killed, and thirty-five officers and five hundred and fifty-nine men wounded.
St. Sebastian on the colours of the 1st., 4th., 9th., 38th., 47th., and 59th. regiments, commemorates this arduous and glorious service.
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