Recapture of Liven?a in April, 1811T. Egerton, 1827 - Peninsular War, 1807-1814 "This work is now put forth merely as professional memoranda of the artillery and engineers' arrangements at the sieges in Spain"--Preface. |
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24-pounder howitzers 3d division 4th division 8-inch howitzers advance Alemtejo Almeida ammunition army artillery assailants assault Attack of Christoval Badajos bastion besiegers breaching batteries brigade Brigade-Captain bullocks Captain carriages carried castle Ciudad Rodrigo commanding commenced communication consequence corps counterguard counterscarp cover covered-way day-light defences depôt detachment directed distance ditch ditto effect Elvas employed enfilade engineers escalade feet flank force formed fortress forward front gabions Gallegos garrison glacis Guadiana guard gunners guns height hill infantry interior investment killed ladders Lamego Lieutenant Colonel light division Lisbon Lord Wellington lunette Major March Marshal Marshal Marmont Marshal Soult miners morning move night officers Olivença opened ordered ordnance palisades parapet Picurina Portugueze powder rampart ravelin rear redoubt regiment render retrenchment revetement river round shot royal military artificers sappers scarp second parallel Setuval shells siege sortie storming party town trenches Trinidad troops wall whilst workmen wounded yards
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Page 142 - M'Kinnon's brigade instantly pushed up the breach, in conjunction with the 5th and 91th regiments, which arrived at the same moment along the ditch from their right. The men mounted in a most gallant manner against an equally gallant resistance ; and it was not till after a sharp struggle of some minutes that the bayonets of the assailants prevailed, and gained them a footing on the summit of the rampart. The defenders then concentrated behind the retrenchment, which they obstinately maintained,...
Page 433 - An exposed wall may be breached with certainty at distances from 500 to 700 yards, even when elevated 100 feet above the breaching battery ; and it is believed that in case of extreme necessity it would be justifiable to attempt to batter down an exposed wall from any distance not exceeding 1,000 yards; but then the quantity of artillery must be considerable, and it will require from four to seven days...
Page 212 - Antonio, at least till the castle which is above and commands that bastion shall be carried.' ' 7. The troops for this attack must have all the long * The hour originally named was half- past seven, being immediately after dusk, but it was subsequently changed to ten, in consequence of the arrangements being found to require that delay. The garrison took advantage of the interval between the breaching batteries ceasing to batter, and the commencement of the assault, to cover the front of the breaches...
Page 138 - They must have twelve axes, in order to cut down the gate by which the ditch is entered at the junction of the counterscarp with the body of the place. The 5th Regiment...
Page 213 - Having arrived within the castle, and being secured the possession of it, parties must be sent to the left along the rampart, to fall on the rear of those defending the great breach in the bastion of La Trinidad, and to communicate with the right of the attack on that bastion. " 7. The troops for this attack must have all the long ladders in the engineers' park, and six of the lengths of the engineers
Page 112 - ... troops from the several cantonments of the division separately, by the shortest and most convenient route, which the General Officers commanding divisions are requested to ascertain. The troops will be able to cross at the fords above La Caridad, and all the fords below the ford of Los Carboneros inclusive. The troops are to have with them a day's provisions cooked, and they are to be followed by two days spirits, and no other baggage.
Page 138 - Regiment is likewise to have twelve scaling ladders, 25 feet long, and immediately on entering the ditch are to scale the Fausse Braye, in order to clear it of the enemy's parties, on their left, towards the principal breach. It will throw over any guns it may meet with, and will proceed along the Fausse Braye...
Page 138 - ... the fausse-braie, in order to clear it of the enemy's posts on their left, towards the principal breach. " The 77th regiment are to be in reserve on the right of the convent of Santa Cruz, to support the first party, which will have entered the ditch. " The ditch must besides be entered on the right of the breach by two columns, to be formed on the left of the convent of Santa Cruz, each to consist of five companies of the 94th regiment.
Page 295 - The lower or outer line consisted of the old escarpe wall of the town or castle, modsrnized with a shot-proof parapet, and flanks ingeniously procured by means of palisades, or tambours, at the salient * and re-entering points. The second line was of the nature and profile of a field retrenchment, and well palisaded. The third, or upper line, was nearly of a similar construction to the second; and on the most elevated point of the cone the primitive keep had been formed into an interior retrenchment,...
Page 212 - The troops for the storm of the castle, consisting of the 3rd division of infantry, should move out from the right of the first parallel at a little before 10 o'clock, but not to attack till 10 o'clock. ' 5. They should cross the river Rivillas below the broken bridge over that river, and attack that part of the castle which is on the right, looking from...