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.
CAMPAIGN OF SALAMANCA
1812.
The fall of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz having opened the way into Spain, the British army was enabled to commence its march into that country, and the 2nd Battalion 83rd, serving throughout the glorious campaign of 1812, had its full share of danger and honour, in the memorable victory of Salamanca, when the French army, under Marshal Marmont, was signally defeated on the 22nd July, 1812.
On that glorious day, the 3rd Division, commanded by Major-General the Hon. Edward Pakenham (General Picton being absent on account of ill-health) was posted in a wood, behind Aldea Tejada, completely concealed from the enemy, and securing the main road to Ciudad Rodrigo. About 2 p.m., the French, endeavouring to turn the British right and gain the road to Ciudad Rodrigo, extended their left in the direction of that fortress, thereby weakening their centre, and affording Lord Wellington the favourable opportunity he had so long desired of attacking them. He immediately took advantage of it, and assailing in front, with the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Divisions, ordered the 3rd Division to attack the French columns, which were moving down on the Ciudad Rodrigo road, and nobly and gallantly did General Pakenham launch the battalions of the “Fighting Division” against the enemy; forming line by regiments, they rushed impetuously forward, and bearing on with resistless force, carried everything before them.
The 83rd Regiment, with Colville’s brigade, was in the full brunt of this decisive and successful attack. At one time charging gallantly forward, it overthrew the enemy whenever he stood to meet it; at another, halting, and wheeling by divisions, to allow the British cavalry to pass through, it re-formed, and followed hotly on, encouraging and cheering the pursuing troopers.
Three thousand prisoners were taken by the division this day, and special mention of its commander and it was made by Lord Wellington in his despatch. Colonel Campbell, also, who commanded Colville’s brigade (in the absence of that officer commanding the 4th Division), received his lordship’s thanks for its services on the occasion.
The casualties of the battalion in this battle amounted to 13 rank and file killed, and 1 lieutenant (Lieutenant Gascoyne) and 32 rank and file wounded; and it had, moreover, the great misfortune to lose, though not in its own ranks, its gallant lieutenant-colonel (Lieutenant-Colonel Collins), who, commanding a Portuguese brigade, had previously, at the sanguinary battle of Albuera, lost a leg, and now, in this great action again distinguishing himself, received a mortal wound.