The only casualties to-day are 6 or 7 killed or wounded and 1 French Officer killed. The trench is as much advanced as can be expected, considering the constant heavy rain which had set in and is very unfortunate for our poor fellows.
Both Hd. Qrs. encamp near Badajos to-morrow.
Lord Wellington will be much obliged to you if you would have the Pipe of wine bottled for him, marked with his name, and taken care of for him in a good place till his return, as he wishes to keep it as a bonne bouche! I saw young Cowell the day before yesterday. He was quite well, and is a fine gentlemanly fellow as possible, and seems to like the business very much.
General Leith is very well, and on his march here with his division, the 5th. Pray carefully avoid mentioning the probability of a general action, or the badness of the weather, to my mother. I have merely told her that we were encamped at a distance from Badajos to facilitate our communications, which so far is true, and I think my dear sisters also need know nothing about the matter....
Camp before Badajos, 20th.
We have had most dismal weather since we began the siege. It has rained incessantly. It however goes on very well, and our loss in the trenches not very great.
The enemy made a sortie yesterday about 11 to 12 A.M., with about 2500 men, but were repulsed with loss it is supposed of about 300 men. We have also lost some men, but I do not know exactly how many. Poor Capt. Cuthbert, A.D.C. to General Picton, was killed by a cannon shot. Lt.-Col. Fletcher, Chief Engineer, wounded slightly, and some more Officers. I hear we had 80 men killed. Some of their Dragoons galloped into our Engineer Camp, but of 4, 3 paid the price of their temerity. Hill has taken 4 Officers and some few men at Merida, and, if the weather would but hold up, we should go on famously here. The Prisoners yesterday say that General Verlet commanded the sortie, and I have also heard that they had two Officers killed on 16th. They are keeping up at this moment a brisk fire from the town, which I hope in a few days we shall be able to answer. Our trench runs very near the Fort Picorina. From both parties a pretty brisk fire of musquetry is kept up.
I enclose my answer to ... which, if you approve of, you can deliver; if not, as you know my sentiments on the subject, you can answer for me.