Note.—In alluding to the services of the two scientific corps at this siege of Badajoz, Sir J. Jones wrote that “as an engineer and artillery operation, it succeeded to the utmost letter.”
CHAPTER XIX.
Salamanca and Burgos.
After the fall of Badajoz, Lord Wellington decided on marching northward, and carrying the war into Spain. In the meantime, however, he directed General Hill to storm the forts at Almaraz, a great French depôt,—and so weaken the chance of union between the armies of the North and To D.-A.-G. dated Elvas, 6 May, 1812. South. Colonel Dickson[34] was detailed as commanding officer of the Artillery for this service, which consisted of a brigade of 24-pounder howitzers, horsed by the mules of one of the Portuguese Field Brigades, and manned by Captain Glubb’s company of the Royal Artillery, and a Portuguese company. The ammunition, which was carried in Spanish mule carts, comprised 600 24-pounder round shot, 300 5½-inch common shells, 240 5½-inch spherical, and 60 General Sir R. Hill to Lord Wellington, dated 21 May, 1812. 5½-inch common,—case shot. Six pontoons accompanied the guns on this expedition, which was perfectly successful; and in which General Hill was pleased to say that he found the exertions of Colonel Dickson, and his officers and men, to be unwearied.
Before turning to Lord Wellington’s movements in the north, which culminated in the battle of Salamanca, and the temporary occupation of Madrid, a statement of the strength of the Artillery force of England during this eventful year may possibly be found interesting. Two dates have been chosen, and it will be seen that the numbers—already large in the beginning of the year—continued to increase; more especially in the item of drivers for the brigades in the Peninsula. These tables give one an idea of the strain on the resources of England MS. ‘Wear and Tear Return’ of the Regiment for 1811. which was caused by the Peninsular War. No fewer than 1811 recruits joined the Artillery alone, and over 1200 became non-effective from various causes during the same period.
Return of the Artillery Forces of England on the 25th June, 1812, distinguishing the Royal Artillery from the Royal Horse Artillery, and specifying the Numbers serving at home and abroad.
| A. | Officers. | B. | N.-C. Officers and Men. |
| C. | Officers. | D. | N.-C. Officers and Men. |
| E. | Officers. | F. | N.-C. Officers and Men. |
| At home. | Abroad. | Total. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. | B. | C. | D. | E. | F. | |
| Royal Horse Artillery | 49 | 1,417 | 21 | 696 | 70 | 2,113 |
| Royal Artillery | 391 | 8,812 | 331 | 6,599 | 722 | 15,411 |
| R. A. Drivers | 63 | 3,521 | 24 | 1,950 | 87 | 5,471 |
| King’s German Artillery | 21 | 430 | 28 | 587 | 49 | 1,017 |
| Royal Foreign Artillery | 6 | 158 | 15 | 327 | 21 | 485 |
| General Total | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 949 | 24,497 |
| Return of the Artillery Forces of England on 25th Dec. 1812, &c. | ||||||
| Royal Horse Artillery | 51 | 1,452 | 19 | 733 | 70 | 2,185 |
| Royal Artillery | 405 | 8,723 | 333 | 6,817 | 738 | 15,540 |
| R. A. Drivers | 70 | 3,554 | 25 | 2,305 | 95 | 5,859 |
| King’s German Artillery | 21 | 392 | 27 | 638 | 48 | 1,030 |
| Royal Foreign Artillery | 7 | 123 | 15 | 348 | 22 | 471 |
| General Total | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 973 | 25,085 |
The year 1812 was the most eventful in the Peninsular War. Already marked by the successful sieges described in the last chapter, it was to be distinguished by events, both in Spain and elsewhere, which were to have a great effect on subsequent hostilities. The English General—who opened the year with an unexpected attack on Ciudad Rodrigo—was destined, ere it should be much more than half over, to defeat his enemy in a pitched battle, drive him ignominiously before him, and enter the capital of Spain in triumph. These successes were to be further heightened by Soult raising the long-continued siege of Cadiz, in alarm at the intelligence of the French disasters in the north. Scarcely, however, were these advantages to be realised, ere the whole picture should change. The conqueror at Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz should find himself fretting hopelessly before the castle of Burgos; and the General, who entered Madrid in triumph at the head of a victorious army, should lead that same army—in disorder and semi-mutiny—from Salamanca to Portugal, in retreat. The light and shade in the military operations of the Peninsula were also to be intensified by news from without, which should mightily affect the powers whose armies had faced one another for so many years. Another war should be thrust upon England’s preoccupied people;—her own children in America should seize the opportunity of gratifying a seemingly undying jealousy;—while, away in the colds of Russia, the greatest army that even Napoleon had ever commanded, should dissolve, as utterly as the snows amid which they died should melt before the strengthening sun.
It was, indeed, a year of great events: but of these the two with which this history has most interest were the battle of Salamanca and the siege of Burgos.