Before entering on the details of the double siege, the following list of artillery officers, who were present, may be interesting.
MS. Returns dated 12 Sept. 1813.
List of Officers of the Royal Artillery employed in the Sieges of St. Sebastian under Lieut.-Colonel Dickson, commanding the Artillery under the Marquis of Wellington.
| First Operation. | Second Operation. | |
|---|---|---|
| Lieut.-Colonel May, A. A. General | 1 | 0 |
| Lieut.-Colonel Frazer, R. H. Artillery | 1 | 1 |
| Major Buckner | 0 | 1 |
| Major Dyer | 0 | 1 |
| Major Webber Smith, R. H. Artillery | 1 | 1 |
| Captain Morrison | 1 | 1 |
| Captain Douglas | 0 | 1 |
| Captain Dubourdieu (killed) | 1 | 0 |
| Captain W. Power | 1 | 1 |
| Captain Green | 0 | 1 |
| Captain J. B. Parker | 1 | 1 |
| Captain Deacon | 1 | 1 |
| Captain Dansey | 1 | 0 |
| Captain C. Gordon | 0 | 1 |
| Captain A. Macdonald, R. H. Artillery | 1 | 0 |
| Lieutenant J. W. Johnstone | 1 | 1 |
| Lieutenant Henry Blachley, R. H. Artillery | 1 | 1 |
| Lieutenant R. H. Ord | 1 | 1 |
| Lieutenant W. Brereton, R. H. Artillery | 1 | 0 |
| Lieutenant J. Wood | 0 | 1 |
| Lieutenant Basil Heron | 1 | 1 |
| Lieutenant G. Mainwaring | 0 | 1 |
| Lieutenant R. Hardinge | 1 | 0 |
| Lieutenant R. Harding, R. H. Artillery | 1 | 1 |
| Lieutenant R. F. Phillips | 0 | 1 |
| Lieutenant J. Pascoe | 1 | 1 |
| Lieutenant R. Manners | 0 | 1 |
| Lieutenant W. Dennis | 0 | 1 |
| Lieutenant Hugh Morgan | 0 | 1 |
| Lieutenant C. Shaw | 1 | 1 |
| Lieutenant H. Stanway | 1 | 1 |
| Lieutenant R. Story | 1 | 1 |
| Lieutenant H. Slade | 0 | 1 |
| Lieutenant H. Hough | 0 | 1 |
| Lieutenant F. Monro | 1 | 0 |
| Lieutenant H. Hutchins | 0 | 1 |
| Lieutenant John Bloomfield | 1 | 1 |
| Lieutenant H. Palliser | 0 | 1 |
| Lieutenant T. G. Williams | 1 | 1 |
| Lieutenant A. Macbean | 1 | 1 |
| 25 | 33 |
Lieut. England’s name also appears in some of the Journals of the First Operation, and in Jones’s ‘Sieges,’ and should be included above.
Total, exclusive of King’s German Artillery, present at St. Sebastian:
First Operation.—Colonel Dickson and 25 officers of the Royal Artillery.
Second Operation.—Colonel Dickson and 33 officers of the Royal Artillery.Extract from a letter dated Passages de la Calçada, 12 Sept. 1813:
“These officers vied with each other in their endeavours to forward the object in view in the most indefatigable manner.”—Colonel Dickson to General Macleod.
The story of San Sebastian divides itself into three parts,—viz.: the first siege, terminating in an unsuccessful assault; the blockade; and the second and successful siege. The matériel at the disposal of the Artillery at the first siege was inadequate, even when supplemented by field guns, and guns borrowed from the navy; but during the second siege the supply was ample, and the fire most efficient. In sieges, the association of the Artillery with the breach made by them ceases when the assault commences; but this was not so in the second siege of San Sebastian, when the assault would certainly have failed but for the powerful fire maintained by the Artillery over the heads of the assailants. Of this, however, more hereafter.
Colonel Dickson to D. A. G.
San Sebastian is built on a neck of land jutting out into the sea; and the first point which it was necessary to secure on the land side was a place which had been fortified,—the convent of St. Bartholomew. This was taken, after four days’ vigorous cannonade, by assault, on the 17th July, 1813. Colonel Dickson’s Diary; and Jones’s ‘Peninsular Sieges.’ The guns employed against the convent and the adjoining redoubt were placed in the batteries of the left attack, numbered 1 and 2, and were four 18-pounders and two 8-inch howitzers. Before the assault, however, Sir Thomas Graham, who had been left by Lord Wellington in command, Sir Thomas Graham to Colonel Dickson, dated 15 July, 1813. directed as many field guns as possible to be brought into play in support. This was done; and they were found to be of material assistance, and were served with great effect during the assault. The number of rounds expended against the convent and redoubt was 3000: a large Jones’s ‘Sieges.’ quantity of hot shot was employed; and in his despatch announcing the success of the assault, Sir Thomas Graham To Lord Wellington, dated 18 July, 1813. said: “I cannot conclude this report without expressing my perfect satisfaction with all the officers and men of the Royal Artillery, both in the four-gun battery employed for three days against the convent, and on the opposite bank of the river, whence several field-pieces were served with great effect.”
The batteries against the town had been in course of preparation during the bombardment of the convent; and the following tables extracted from Sir A. Dickson’s letters and returns will show at a glance much that would otherwise occupy much space in description. The numbering of the batteries differs from that of the Engineers; but where possible, both have been shown.
The batteries were divided into those of the right and left attacks. Lieut.-Colonel May assisted, during the first siege, under Colonel Dickson; the left or detached attack was under Colonel Hartmann, K.G.A., and the batteries were armed, manned, and superintended as follows:—