Badajoz 06 April 1812 (continued)
The "Forlorn Hope" went first, followed by storming parties who all entered the large ditch in front of the fortifications. When it was full the French exploded the mines beneath. Heavy grape and musketry fire poured into the ditch from the ramparts. The Light and 4th Divisions became hopelessly mixed together in the confusion.
Not a single British soldier had entered the town even though over forty rushes were made at the breaches. The situation was critical. As the frustrated and despairing troops were driven back the desperate British attacks began to fade, leaving behind nearly 2,000 of Wellington's best men smashed upon the defences.
This photo shows the killing zone from in front of the Trinidad bastion looking towards the Santa Maria bastion.
A diversionary attack on the castle by Picton's 3rd Division had been raging with equal ferocity. The British troops finally got to the castle walls and placed ladders against them. They were met by determined resistance and time after time the ladder assaults made no impression.
Colonel Ridge, of the 5th Regiment, seized one of the ladders and placed it against the castle where the wall was lower where an embrasure afforded the men some protection. He managed to reach the ramparts, the troops rushed furiously up their ladders to support him and at last the tide seemed to turn in their favour.
This photo shows the view from a defenders perspective, the lowest part of the wall is in the foreground.
Now, that hope had gone and with it went all hope of holding the town. Simultaneously on the western side of the town the 5th Division had also escaladed the high walls in the face of stiff opposition. The photo shows the assault point by the 5th Division on the Vicente bastion.
Inside the town all hell was let loose as the victorious British troops embarked on the now infamous orgy of debauchery and destruction. The capture of Badajoz cost Wellington some 5,000 men and Wellington was moved to say afterwards, "The capture of Badajoz affords as strong an instance of the gallantry of our troops as has ever been displayed. But I anxiously hope that I shall never again be the instrument of putting them to such a test as that to which they were put last night."
Not a single British soldier had entered the town even though over forty rushes were made at the breaches. The situation was critical. As the frustrated and despairing troops were driven back the desperate British attacks began to fade, leaving behind nearly 2,000 of Wellington's best men smashed upon the defences.
This photo shows the killing zone from in front of the Trinidad bastion looking towards the Santa Maria bastion.
A diversionary attack on the castle by Picton's 3rd Division had been raging with equal ferocity. The British troops finally got to the castle walls and placed ladders against them. They were met by determined resistance and time after time the ladder assaults made no impression.
Colonel Ridge, of the 5th Regiment, seized one of the ladders and placed it against the castle where the wall was lower where an embrasure afforded the men some protection. He managed to reach the ramparts, the troops rushed furiously up their ladders to support him and at last the tide seemed to turn in their favour.
This photo shows the view from a defenders perspective, the lowest part of the wall is in the foreground.
Now, that hope had gone and with it went all hope of holding the town. Simultaneously on the western side of the town the 5th Division had also escaladed the high walls in the face of stiff opposition. The photo shows the assault point by the 5th Division on the Vicente bastion.
Inside the town all hell was let loose as the victorious British troops embarked on the now infamous orgy of debauchery and destruction. The capture of Badajoz cost Wellington some 5,000 men and Wellington was moved to say afterwards, "The capture of Badajoz affords as strong an instance of the gallantry of our troops as has ever been displayed. But I anxiously hope that I shall never again be the instrument of putting them to such a test as that to which they were put last night."
posted by Lorena & John | 2:57 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home