CHAPTER XVIII.

CIUDAD RODRIGO AND BADAJOZ.

Dickson to

THE enemy approaching in force, after the raising of the second siege of Badajoz, the Allies crossed the river on the 17th June, 1811, and on the 19th encamped between Elvas and Campo Maior. Elvas had been put in a state of siege, and a position had been marked out behind Campo Maior, in case the French should show any inclination to attack. The bold front which Lord Wellington here showed deceived the two French Marshals, Marmont and Soult, who had now united their armies, and entered Badajoz in triumph, congratulating its gallant governor, Philippon. They con- Major cluded that he must have received great reinforcements; D.-Gen. and although they crossed the Guadiana with a great body dated of cavalry supported with infantry, and one or two small 1811. affairs with the outposts took place, they declined a general engagement. A want of entente cordiale between Marmont and Soult led soon to a separation, the latter moving towards Seville, whither Wellington despatched Blake's Spanish troops, and the former marching away by the valley of the Tagus towards Almaraz. Thus relieved of their presence, Cust. Lord Wellington took up his quarters at Pontalegre, and allowed his army to have some repose after its recent exertions.

This seems a favourable moment for placing before the reader a tabular return (see next page) which shows the gradual increase in the Artillery element of Lord Wellington's army in the Peninsula. Prepared from the monthly returns, it shows the numbers at different periods, distinguishing between the Royal and Foreign Artilleries. The point which will doubtless strike the reader most is the steady increase in the force of Horse Artillery and Artillery drivers, which took

26 June,

1813.

1814.

July.

December. January.

April.

place; marking the growing recognition of that which had hitherto been overlooked to a great extent, the value of mobility in Field Artillery.

General Howorth vacated the command of the Artillery in the Peninsula in July 1811, being obliged to return to England on account of ill-health, and was shortly afterwards succeeded by General Borthwick. This officer was wounded at Ciudad Rodrigo, and returned to England,-a coolness having sprung up between him and Lord Wellington, which recurred with one of his successors, and continued until the command of the Artillery devolved upon his favourite, then Colonel Dickson, a few months after the siege of Burgos.

Dickson to
D.-A.-Gen.

Castello

1811.

On the 19th July, 1811, Lord Wellington sent for Colonel Major Fletcher, Colonel Framingham, and Major Dickson, and informed them that it was his intention to attempt the siege dated of Ciudad Rodrigo; and after a little conversation as to Branco, the means of transport, &c., he desired Major Dickson to 23 July, proceed to Oporto, to superintend the conveyance of the English battering train up the Douro to Lamego, and thence by land to Francoso, whence it would also be conveyed by land to its final destination. This battering train had arrived in Lisbon in the first instance, and had been carried secretly to Oporto, with a view to the proposed siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, its ostensible destination being Cadiz.1 Two new companies of Artillery which had arrived in Lisbon were now ordered to Oporto to assist Major Dickson. In all these arrangements Lord Wellington underrated the strength of the French army in the north of the Peninsula.

dated

Major Dickson reached Almeida, on his way to Oporto, To D.-A.-G on the 28th July, and arrived at the latter place on the Oporto, 3rd August, where he found Captain Bredin's and Captain 27 Aug. Glubb's companies-now H Battery, 1st Brigade, and 5 Battery 5th Brigade-waiting his orders. Before the 13th the

1 This battering train consisted of 78 pieces, according to Sir J. T. Jones, but, as will be seen presently, only 64 pieces went up the country with Major Dickson from Oporto.

1811.

1

Major

Dickson to

D. A. Gen.

dated Villa da Ponte, 13 Sept. 1811.

Ibid.

20 Sept. 1811.

whole of the train had been embarked in boats, about 160 in number, and despatched to Lamego; but the work and the climate proved too much for Major Dickson, and before he could follow the train he was struck down with a violent fever, accompanied by delirium. When first attacked, he requested Lord Wellington to send some one to take up his duties, and, accordingly, his friend Captain May was sent, and superintended the movement of the train until the 5th September, when the gallant Dickson, only half recovered, and travelling in a litter, arrived at Lamego. Here he found that all the guns and stores had marched for Villa da Ponte, and that Captain May was on the point of following them. On the 8th Major Dickson left Lamego, and reached Villa da Ponte on the 10th, where he fell an immediate victim to a relapse of fever, which lasted acutely several days. Captain Bredin's company had, in the meantime, been recalled to the head-quarters of the army, to take over the brigade of guns from Captain Thompson's, which was almost hors de combat from sickness. The troops left with the battering train were therefore reduced to Captain Glubb's company of Royal Artillery, about 250 Portuguese Artillery, and from 1200 to 1400 Portuguese Militia, intended to assist on the march. Captain Holcombe's company of Royal Artillery was hourly expected. That company is now No. 4 Battery 2nd Brigade.

On the march, the battering train had been arranged by Captain May as follows:-It was arranged, as far as the ordnance was concerned, in five divisions; each gun marched with 350 rounds, and each howitzer and mortar with 160 rounds. An officer was placed in charge of each division, and each division marched separately. The remaining stores and ammunition requisite to furnish a total of 800 rounds. per gun, and 400 for each howitzer and mortar, were under the charge of the Commissary and other officers, and marched in rear.

1 Captain Thompson's company-now D Battery, 11th Brigade-was afterwards employed in the operations on the east of Spain.

While at Villa da Ponte, awaiting orders from Lord Wellington for a further advance, Major Dickson's correspondence was of a nature which reveals to the reader more of the personal element, than his letters, as a rule, allow to become visible. The alternate hoping and despairing as to orders for advance, the ennui produced by enforced idleness,— the impetuous way in which he would fling himself into professional discussions with General Macleod, merely to occupy his leisure, the spasmodic fits of zeal in improving the arrangement of the immense train,-all unite to present to the reader a very vivid picture of him whose hand, so long still, penned these faded letters. His recurring attacks of fever-followed by apologies like the following: "The "fact is, when I am well I forget all, take violent exercise "at all times and seasons, and knock myself up; but I am "determined to be more careful in future"-followed by an inevitable relapse, in proof of the failure of his good resolutions, combine to bring before the reader a very lovable picture of a very earnest man. It is by such study alone. that the Artilleryman can realise the characters of the great among his predecessors in the Corps, and by such links that he can bind them to himself with that almost family tie, of which the Regimental union is but an expansion.

dated

22 Nov.

The extent of the battering train under Major Dickson's To D.-A.-G. command was as follows:-34 24-pounders, 4 18-pounders, 27 Sept. 16 iron 5-inch howitzers, 2 8-inch howitzers, and 8 10-inch 1811. mortars; and much of his leisure at Villa da Ponte was devoted to improving and renewing the somewhat shattered carriages of this ordnance. On the 16th November he re- Ibid. ceived an order from Lord Wellington to commence moving 1811. the battering train to Almeida; and by the 21st the last division, spare carriages, &c., had left. The march was Ibid. most successful. No fewer than 1100 bullocks were employed for the divisions alone, apart from the reserve of stores; and in no case did the march occupy more than six days, although the country was very mountainous; nor did a single accident occur. The bringing up the reserve of ammunition and stores was delayed by want of means.

4 Dec. 1811.