Marched to Elvas and found myself getting better.
17th
Marched to the camp before Badajoz. The 3rd and 4th Divisions were upon the ground. Some time after dark, broke ground before Fort Picurina and the town.
18th
On piquet with the company near an old ruin some little distance from the town, and from which we had a good view of the working parties' operations in the trenches.
19th
Weather for some days back cold and rainy. The enemy collected a body of horse and foot and made a sortie upon our works. They had a number of men to take away our tools and fill up the trenches. They drew back very soon. At the moment of the attack our different parties were relieving, and the weather being very dull, accompanied with a drizzling rain, the enemy got very close before they were observed. The enemy's cavalry dashed through our camp, and at the spot where the Engineers were engaged in carrying on the work for the siege, captured an officer, and a Dragoon tried to drag him away with him. Our people in the camp at the moment fancied they were the Portuguese cavalry, but soon were undeceived, and a number took up arms and ran forward to attack them. They made their way back as rapidly as they had moved forward. The officer, Colonel Seres, who commanded the sortie, died of his wounds in the town.
25th
About twelve o'clock A.M. our first battery opened and played handsomely upon Fort Picurina.