Memoirs and Services of the Eighty-third Regiment, County of Dublin, from 1793 to 1907 / Including the Campaigns of the Regiment in the West Indies, Africa, the Peninsula, Ceylon, Canada, and India

by Edward William Bray

BADAJOZ

1812.

At Badajoz, in April, the same year, the regiments of the 3rd Division were again called upon to display the burning, irresistible courage of British soldiers, and the capture of that fortress by storm on the 6th April was mainly attributed to the impetuous valour with which they escaladed and took the castle.

On this, as on former occasions, the 83rd highly distinguished itself, and its services on the 25th March were most conspicuous.

On the 25th March, fire was first opened on Badajoz, and it was determined to storm the outwork, La Picurina, after nightfall on that day. For this purpose, General Kempt, with 500 men from the 3rd Division, was ordered to carry it by assault. These he divided into three divisions, the centre of which, composed of 100 men from the 83rd, under the Hon. Captain Powys, was held in reserve. The flank divisions rushed impetuously to the attack, but the strength of the work, and the destructive musketry of the French, having rendered their courageous efforts fruitless, Powys and his reserve were also sent headlong against it. Running vehemently forward, the men of the 83rd soon cleared the intervening space, and in spite of a most galling fire escaladed the work, at a salient angle, and mounted the rampart. Here a desperate struggle ensued. Powys, first and foremost of his men, fell dangerously wounded, but Sergeant Hazlust of his regiment, defending him stoutly with his halberd, kept the French at bay, and held his ground till the remainder of the men, clambering up thickly and resolutely, came to his aid, and driving the enemy before them, cleared the ramparts, and enabled the flank divisions to enter also. For this gallant service, Captain Powys received the rank of brevet major, but did not survive to enjoy the fruits of his bravery. With his dying breath, however, the gallant fellow recommended Sergeant Hazlust to the notice of his superiors, and that valiant soldier, for his conduct on this occasion, was almost immediately promoted to be sergeant-major of the battalion.

On the 6th April, also, the memorable night of the storm of Badajoz, the 83rd most successfully and nobly availed itself of the glorious opportunity of distinction afforded it. The distinguished honour of leading the 3rd Division in the assault on the castle was assigned to it, and, rapidly and resolutely filing over the narrow bridge of the little River Rivillas, the regiment rushed impetuously to the walls, and under a most galling and murderous discharge of shells and combustibles, planted the ladders against them. Four out of the seven ladders were broken and destroyed, but officers and men, mounting the remainder, made the most determined efforts to force themselves in, repeatedly driven back and thrown down, crushed and bruised, from the parapets of the ramparts. The 83rd still persevered, and at length Major Carr, Captain Hext, Lieutenant Broomfield, Adjutant Swinburne, with others, followed closely by their men, effected an entrance at the right angle of the work, and established themselves on the rampart. At about the same time, the remainder of the division scaling the wall at another angle, the French turned and made in full flight for the gate. The officers and men of the 83rd rapidly pursued, and closing the gate, and blocking it with stones, wood, and other materials, secured the castle from recapture by the French, who, crowding from the breaches, and pouring volley after volley through it, endeavoured in vain to retake it. The castle thus being won, the French abandoned the remaining defences, and surrendered the fortress to the British.

The regiment’s loss in this siege and assault was necessarily very severe, amounting to one-third of its number engaged. Three officers—Captains Powys, Fry, and Ensign Hackett—with 1 sergeant, and 36 rank and file, were killed; and 6 officers—Lieutenants Broomfield, O’Neill, Bowles, Lane, Vavasour, and Baldwin—and 81 rank and file, wounded. Major Carr received a clasp and the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Hext that of brevet major, for their own and their regiment’s highly distinguished conduct in this assault, and his Majesty has been pleased to permit the 83rd to bear the word “Badajoz” on its colours and appointments, in commemoration of the important and successful service it there rendered.