Unknown - portrait of Major Thomas Cansh

This miniature portrait by an unknown artist is of Major Thomas Cansh (28 Jan 1781-1850).

It is well documented by an inscription on the front and a portion of a printed document on the reverse.

The front inscription reads "Lieut & Adjut Thos Cansh - Vth Regiment - Valenceinnes, 15 Feby 1817". The 2nd battalion had been disbanded by this date with only the 1st battalion serving in France. As there was no fighting at this time, the date must have some other significance.

Unfortunately the rear document has large portions missing, with essentially four sections.

Section 1 ......Banquet held at Glasgow ......giving.......h details of services of the invited.....

Section 2 CANSH
....reference was made as follows:-
....an who planted his foot on the summit of the ramparts of Badajos
....allant veteran beside me, who planted the British Standard on the
....ilated the French Army on the Plains of Vittoria
....he arms of one of the veterans who now adorns this table - I mean ...

Section 3
....d of Major Cansh's services;-
....the Expedition to Hanover in 1805-1806; In the Peninsular with the
....from October 1813 to the end of that war in 1814, including the battles of
....lines at Torres-Vadras: Actions of Leria, Pombal, Redinha and Sabugal-
....tes d'Onore: Second Seige of Badajos - contused wound on chest: Actions
....capture of Cindad Rodigo - wound to right thigh in the assult ; Third Siege and
....at the assult: Battle of Salamanca - horse killed : Capture of Madrid and the
....Orthes : Actions of Sauveterre and Vic Bigorre, and Battle of Toulouse - horse wounded. Served afterwards in the American War, and was present at the Battle of Plattsburg.

 

(Major Cansh being still alive in 1847 would have been entitled to wear this 1813-1814 Military General Service Medal which shows clasps for CORUNNA, BADAJOZ, SALAMANCA, VITTORIA, and ORTHES. This medal was only sanctioned in 1847 and awarded the next year.)

Section 4 The above mentioned book (presumably Narrative of the Peninsular Campaign 1807 -1814 Its Battles and Sieges (ISBN: 1847342663) by William Francis Patrick Napier) was given to General James W Walker, Irvine by Mrs M J Calder Xmas 1921, who wrote the following letter:-

To the Editor of the "Belfast News-Letter". (This is the oldest English language general daily newspaper still in publication in the world, having first been printed in 1737)
The Storming of Badajos
Dear Sir, Still further interest may be added to our correspondence on the Storming of Badajos, if I mention that my grand uncle, Major Cansh (not then of that rank) was the man who placed and scaled the second ladder by the side of Colonel Ridge, and was the first man alive to enter the city; for Ridge was shot as he gained the ramparts, and expired in Cansh's arms as he fell. Cansh is mentioned in Napier's "Battles and Sieges in the Peninsula" as follows :-
"A second ladder was placed alongside by the Grenadier Officer Cansh, and the next instant he and Ridge were on the rampart . . . the Castle was won." Major Cansh is buried in Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, and a handsome monument erected by his fellow officers and friends gives a long list of the engagements in which he fought. I have a copy of a portrait of my grand uncle, and we have the sword which he carried throughout the Peninsula War. This fine soldier was one of ten sons, each of them measuring six feet and over in height. Not only was he a brave man, but he was also a devout Christian. I have heard my mother tell of how her "Uncle Thomas" never went into battle without prayer and reading a portion of scripture - Yours, etc M J Calder, 8 Stranmillis Road, Belfast.

The action is shown in a postcard and another illustration. The Siege of Badajos was regarded as one of the bloodiest actions of the Napoleonic Wars and more about it can be seen at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Badajoz_(1812)

From the above inscription on the reverse of the miniature, it seems there was a banquet, perhaps shortly after 1921, at which Major Cansh's exploits were remembered. There are many references to Badajos and Colonel Ridge of the 5th (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot on the Internet, including BADAJOZ and War Medals of The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. 5th Foot Regiment The Regimental Museum is at The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers

The history of the regiment is summarised at RootsWeb: GOONS-L Re: [G] Chelsea Pensioner - Fifth Fusiliers and includes the following. From 1787 to 1797 the 5th (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot was stationed in Canada. After its return home with the onset of the French Revolutionary War, it raised a 2nd Battalion that was disbanded after the Peace of Amiens of 27 Mar 1802. Both battalions fought under the Duke of York in Holland in 1799, and were afterwards stationed at Gibraltar. On the renewal of hostilities in May 1803, another 2nd Battalion was raised in Sussex. The 1st Battalion was based in Hanover in 1805 and was then despatched to South America where it was involved in the Battle of Buenos Aires on 5 Jul 1807, Returning to Europe it was stationed in Portugal in 1808-09 and fought at the Battles of Rolica (17 Aug 1808) Vimiera (21 Aug 1808) and in the withdrawal to and recovery from Corunna on 16 Jan 1809. Later that year it took part in the disastrous Walcheren Expedition of 13 Jul to 16 Aug 1809. In that year a detachment, that had remained in Portugal, was present at the Battle of Talavera (27-28 Jul 1909).
The 2nd Battalion then went to the Peninsula, and fought at Busaco on 27 Sep 1810, in the operations on the Coa, and at the second siege of Badajos. It formed part of a small force that beat off an overwhelming body of the enemy on the heights of El Bodon, on 25 Sep 1811, during the investment of Ciudad Rodrigo. This was a performance that Lord Wellington notified to the Army as "a memorable example of what can be done by steadiness, discipline, and confidence". The battalion fought at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo on 9 to 12 Jan 1812, and at the Siege and capture of Badajos (17 Mar 16 Apr), where the gallant Colonel Ridge fell. The 1st Battalion having joined from England, both were present at the battle of Salamanca on 22 Jul 1812, after which the 2nd Battalion went home. The 1st Battalion continued to serve under General Picton in the "Fighting Division" until the end of the war. It was engaged in the Battles of Vittoria on 21 Jun 1813, the Nivelle on 10 Nov 1813, Orthez on 27 Feb 1814 Aire on 3 Mar 1814 and Toulouse on 10 Apr 1814. From France it went to Canada, and served on the frontier during the War of 1812, afterwards returning to Europe. The 1st Battalion landed at Ostende too late for Waterloo, but served with the Army of Occupation in France until 1818, during which time the 2nd Battalion was disbanded. (Source: "Records and Badges of the British Army 1900"; by Henry M Chichester and George Burges-Short; 2nd Edition; published in 1900 by Gale and Polden, Paternoster Row, London and Aldershot.)

Thomas Cansh was probably christened 28 Jan 1781 at Govan, Lanark, Scotland being the son of Alexander Cansh and Margaret Maxwell.

There seems to be little other information about the Cansh family on the Internet. However, as a further aside, according to the owners of the Belfast News-Letter referred to above:

"The News Letter [can claim] the first genuine "world exclusive". The boat carrying the first copy to leave America of the Declaration of Independence, and bound for London, hit stormy waters off the north coast of Ireland. The boat sought refuge in Londonderry port and arrangements were made for the declaration to be sent on horseback to Belfast, where it would be met by another ship for delivery to King George III.

Somehow, and in the best traditions of revelatory journalism, the News Letter editor of the day gained access to the priceless document and duly published it on the front page of the August 23, 1776 edition. Today there is a constant demand for copies of that famous and historical front page." 560



Much Later - April 2020

A very kind visitor has sent the following detailed information about Major Cansh;

"I was very interested in seeing the portrait of Major Thomas Cansh by the unknown artist on your web-site and the additional information you had discovered about him. I had been researching the "Cansh clan" as my 4th GGrandfather was Alexander Cansh (1849-?) who was the father of Thomas.  The first documentation I have is his marriage to Margaret Maxwell in August 1776 in Govan.  They had 10 children, 3 dying in infancy.  Thomas was the 2nd.  The fourth son Maxwell (1789-1860 was my 3rd GGrandfather.  A number of the family at that time were cotton hand loom weavers - Maxwell was such in the 1841 census when aged 52, but was a wine & spirit merchant in the 1851 census - quite a career change!  But other Cansh brothers were also in wine & spirit and ran numerous outlets in Glasgow.

Anyway, one of Maxwell's sons, another Alexander (1824-1882), married Mary Orr Stuart which is again my connection (and why I was named Stuart). I attach two obituaries of Thomas which I also found most interesting - he was quite the soldier.  I recall my mother mentioning him when I was small and she had a hand-written account - alas sadly lost. Interesting that a family member in Ireland has his sword etc I think my cousin has his busby. "

The visitor also kindly sent two obits and a great deal more, for other interested researchers to see:

"Glasgow Herald Monday 4^th March 1850

The late Major Thomas Cansh

The following additional particulars, regarding this distinguished veteran may be interesting. Cansh was born at the village of Govan on the 25th of January 1781 and received his first lesson in the Parish School of the village, kept by Mr John Belch. From his earliest youth he gave indication of being a brave and generous boy, and was always found supporting his weaker companions against the violence and strength of the strong. His life passed on in an even tenor in his quiet village where he was much beloved. In 1798, during the stirring times of that period, he joined the Fencible Cavalry, for service only in Britain. This corps was disbanded in about two years after, and Cansh returned home. Here he remained about 12 months, but he again got tired of an inactive life, and having made application to General Wemyss, that officer gave him a strong recommendation to the Colonel of the 15th Reserve then lying in Ayr, who received the young aspirant very generously, and immediately promoted him. Cansh was now a soldier for life, but it would be a difficult task to tell of all his noble deeds, and hairbreadth escapes, not always without wounds and bruises,- suffice it to say that he was present at the battles of Roleia, Vimiera, Talavers, and Busaco, in the retreat to the lines of Torres Vedras, in the actions of Leyria, Pombal,Redinha, and Sabugal, (where he was wounded in the groin,) in the battles of Fuentes d’Onor, in the second siege of Badajos, (where he received a second wound in the chest,) in the actions of El Bodon and Aldea del Ponte, at the siege and capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, (where he was wounded in the thigh during the assault,) at the third siege and capture of Badajos, (where he was wounded in the neck during the assault,) in the battle of Salamanca, (where he had a horse killed under him,) at the capture of Madrid and the Retiro, in the battle of Nivello, the Nive, and the Orthes, in the actions of Sauveterre, and Vic Bigorre, and the battle of Toulouse, (where he had a horse wounded under him.)

Major Cansh’s services at Badujos are thus spoken of by Colonel Napier in his history of the Peninsula War:-

“These undaunted veterans still swarming round the remaining ladders striving who should first climb, until all being overturned, the French shouted victory, and the British baffled, but untamed, fell back a few paces and took shelter under the rugged edge of the hill. Here, when the broken ranks were somewhat reformed, the heroic Colonel Ridge, springing forward, called with a stentorian voice on his men to follow, and seizing a ladder once more raised it against the castle, yet to the right of the former attack, where the wall was lower, and an embrasure offered some facility. A second ladder was soon placed alongside, the first by the Grenadier officer Cansh and the next instant he and Ridge were on the ramparts, the shouting troops pressing pressed after them, the garrison amazed, and in a manner surprised, were driven fighting through the double gate into the town, and the Castle was won.”

Major Cansh served afterwards in the American war, and was present at the action of Plattsburg. At the late distribution of medals, it fell to his lot to receive one with twelve class, on which were engraved the names of the battle in which he was engaged, in the following order:- Toulouse, Orthes, Nive, Nivelle, Salamauca, Badjos, Ciudad Rodrigo, Fuentes d’Onor, Busaco, Talavera, Vimiera, Roleia.

The mortal remains of this distinguished veteran were borne to the grave on Saturday week with military honours, and the interesting and splendid pageant attracted, at all points of its progress, great multitudes of spectators. The spot chosen for the internment was near the north-west corner of the Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh.

The hour fixed for the departure of the procession was two o'clock, and before that hour a party of artillery, with a gun carriage, as well as a detachment of the 2nd Dragoon guards, from Piershill, were drawn up on the Esplanade, while the local pensioners, and several companies of the regiment, now occupying the garrison - the 21st Royal North British Fusiliers, were drawn up within the Castle. At a few minutes past two, the corpse was borne by eight soldiers from the residence of the departed veteran to the gun carriage waiting for it at the gate, on its way to which the pall was supported by eight officers in the order of their seniority namely - Colonel Browne, 21^st; Colonel Walker ,Royal Artillery; Colonel Campbell, 2nd Dragoon Guards; Colonel Hope, Colonel Eden, Major Ainslie, 21^st; Captain Murray and Doctor Dempster. The mourners were preceded by the band of the 21^st; and as they passed the guard houses, the guard turned out and presented arms, with their backs towards the procession. Having reached the Castle gate, the coffin was laid upon the gun carriage, which is the bier on which the remains of the distinguished officers are carried to the grave, and over the pall was wrapped a Union Jack, above which were placed the hat, sword ,medals and military decorations of the deceased.

In the Esplanade the cortege was then formed, and moved in the following order:- a Vanguard of cavalry, 14 men, riding seven deep, a major’s firing party of the 21st commanded by Major Ainslie, consisting of 200 men, marching eight deep, and with arms reversed - the band of the 2nd Dragoon Guards- the band of the 21st - the bier drawn by four black horses, conducted by two privates and a non-commissioned officer of artillery, and protected on each side by soldiers of the 21^st. The bier was followed by the horse of the deceased, caparisoned with mourning decorations, and carrying the boots, spurs and stirrups of its late master reversed. Then followed the relatives of the deceased and other mourners (not in the army) guarded on each side by infantry ,and succeeded by a funeral party of infantry without arms to the number of upwards of 200 men; the non-commissioned officers and privates of the recruiting service in Edinburgh; the local pensioners to number of about ninety; the company of Royal Artillery stationed at Leith Ford; Major-General Riddell, surrounded by the officers of his staff ,the officers of the garrison etc each with a mourning band on their left arm ;and the rear was formed by another detachment of cavalry.

Inside the grounds were several hundred spectators, among whom were a great number of children from the principle hospitals. The gun carriage having been brought up to the grave, the coffin was lifted off, and the funeral service of the Episcopal Church being read by the Reverend T G S Suther of Saint George's Chapel, the body was lowered into the grave by the chief mourner, Mr Maxwell Cansh, a brother of the deceased, supported by three nephews Mr Robert Cansh, Mr Thomas Cansh, and Mr John Baxter, among with Mr Alexander Dawson, a cousin of the Major’s and Captain Murray, Dr. Dampster, and Colonel Eden. The firing party then discharged three rounds over the grave of this brave veteran, and various corps retired from the ground.

North British Daily Mail Monday 25th of February 1850

Death and Interment of Fort-Major Cansh

The death of that respected and eminent veteran officer, Fort-Major Cansh, took place on Tuesday forenoon last, in the Castle. He had been slightly indisposed for several months previous, but his malady did not assume a serious appearance until within three weeks before his death, nor did it interfere with the discharge of his ordinary duties. Major Cansh has acted for a considerable time as Fort-Major in Edinburgh Castle for which he was eminently qualified by his active habits and extensive military experience acquired during the Peninsular campaign, from which the laurels of so many of our British soldiers have been gathered. During the progress of that campaign, the deceased officer distinguished himself on several occasions by his brilliant exploits and in particular when he signalised himself as an intrepid soldier by being the first man who planted his foot on the summit of the ramparts of Badajos. The medal awarded last year to Major Cansh, along with those other Peninsula heroes, in terms of the General Order of July 1847, bore no fewer than twelve clasps, representing the actions in which he had been engaged, and pointing to a period of service as arduous as it had been honourable. His death will be sincerely regretted by a large circle of friends, to whom he had warmly endeared himself.

On Saturday, his remains were interred with military honours in the Dean Cemetery, and from the Castle down Bank Street, and the Mound along Princes Street, onwards to the Cemetery, the road was thronged with spectators as the funeral procession passed along. Windows, balconies and every available spot from which a view of the melancholy pageant could be obtained was embraced.

The following was the order which was observed:-

Detachment of Cavalry

Privates of the 21st Fusilier's with musket's reversed

Brass band belonging to Cavalry Regiment

Brass band belonging to the Fusiliers

The Coffin

(borne on an Artillery Carriage, with gun underneath)

Drawn by four horses

Over the body of the carriage was a flag and the accoutrements of the deceased.

On either side of the coffin were a party of Colonels and Commanders on foot

The horse of the deceased,

with black cover mounted on white

The chief Mourners and Civilians

Privates of the 21st Regiment of Fusiliers

Corporals and Sergeants

Recruiting the party at present stationed in Edinburgh

Detachment of Cavalry

Artillery-men from Leith Fort, on foot

Pensioners in uniform

Servants, and horses of all the officers, who occupied carriages

In proceeding along the streets, the band played at intervals, the “Dead March in Saul” and, on arriving at the place of Interment, the biar was consigned to the grave with military honours."

 

Fort-Major Thomas Cansh or Canch

Key Dates

Date	Age	Event
25 Jan 1781	0	Born Govan, Lanarkshire, to Alexander Cansh & Margaret (nee Maxwell)
28 Jan 1781		Baptised
1798	17	Enlisted with the Sutherland Fencible Cavalry for service in Britain
C1801	20	Joined 15th Reserve on the recommendation of General Wemyss
1803	22	Serjeant of 14th Battalion (Forces War Records)
1804	23	Commenced service with 5th Regiment of Foot
1807 – 1814	26	Served in various battles of the Peninsular War *
1813	32
1814	33	Served at Plattesburg in the American War of Independence
15 Jul 1816	35	Married Agnes Rowan; Govan, Scotland
15 Feb 1817	36	Portrait when at Valenceinnes when Lieut.& Adjunct 5th Regiment
4 Feb 1819 - 22 Apr 1826	38	Served in the West Indies
1820	39	Birth of daughter Margaret when stationed at Shirley Height, Dominica
1824	43	Birth of 2nd daughter Agnes when stationed on Antigua
1830	49	5th Foot - Lieutenant Thomas Canch to be Captain, without purchase, vice Dubourdieu, promoted
1847	66	Awarded the Military General Service Medal
Feb 1850	69	Died. Fort-Major at Edinburgh Castle. Given full military service.
1875		Death of wife, Agnes Canch, nee Rowan

* Distinguished himself at Badajoz; suffered various wounds & had one horse killed under him, had another horse wounded.

Records

Birth Cert - Thomas Cansh; born Govan, Scotland - Scotlands People

Serjeant of 14^th Battalion - Forces War Records

Marriage Certificate – Govan - per Ancestry

Army Service Record - National Archives, Kew

Death – Edinburgh per Ancestry

Will - Thomas Canch; National Archives, Kew

Will - Agnes Canch; Scotlands People

Newspapers/Accounts

The Peninsular War: His service is mentioned in numerous newspapers

• The Storming of the Badajoz; Mid-Sussex Times 2 Apr 1912
• Colonel Napier’ Description of the taking of Badajoz; 13 June 1834

Obituaries

• The late Major Cansh; Glasgow Herald 4 March 1850
• Death and Interment of Fort-Major Cansh; North British Daily Mail 25 Feb 1850

Thomas Cansh - Campaigns (a schedule prepared by S M Latto)

Portrait of Major Cansh with brief notes – held by private collector

Battles and Sieges of the Peninsular War by Napier

London Gazette – Promotions 1830; 1840

 

Thomas Cansh - Campaigns

Fencible Cavalry Enlisted 1798 (age 17) (See Note below)

15^th Reserve in Ayr c1801 (aged 20)

Serjeant of 14^th Battalion 1803 (aged 22)

The Peninsular War 1807-1814

Battle of Rolica * 17 Aug 1808. 1^st battle of the Peninsular War. West coast of Portugal

Battle of Vimeiro * 21 Aug 1808. Central Portugal

Battle of Talavera * 28 Jul 1809

Battle of Busaco * 27 Sep 1810 Western Portugal

Retreat to Torres Vedras – part of Battle of Busaco 27 Sep 1810

Action at Leiria part of above action

Battle of Pombal 11 Mar 1811

Battle of Redinha 12 Mar 1811

Battle of Sabugal 3 Apr 1811 (wounded in the groin)

Battle of Fuentes de Onoro * 3-5 May 1811 Spain nr Portuguese border

Badajoz (2^nd siege) 22 Apr – 12 May 1811 & 18 May – 10 Jun 1811 (wounded in the chest)

Battle of El Bodon 25 Sep 1811

Combat of Aldea da Ponte 27 Sep 1811

Battle of Ciudad Rodrigo * 19 Jan 1812 (wounded in the thigh)

Storming of Badajoz * (3^rd siege & capture) 16 Mar – 6 Apr 1812 (wounded in the neck)

Battle of Salamanca * 22 Jul 1812 (had his horse killed under him)

Madrid

Retiro

Battle of Nivello * 10 Nov 1813

Battle of the Nive * 9 – 13 Dec 1813

Battle of Orthes * 2 Feb 1814

Sauveterre

Vic Bigorre

Battle of Toulouse * 10 Apr 1814 (had a horse wounded under him)

The American War of Independence

Plattsburg Aug 1814 (also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain)

In 1814, most of Britain's army was engaged in the Peninsular War. Then in April, Napoleon I abdicated the throne of France. This provided Britain the opportunity to send 16,000 veteran troops from the Peninsula and other garrisons to North America. Several experienced Major-Generals were also detached from the Duke of Wellington's army to command them.

Medal

1813-1814 Military General Service Medal, issued 1847 (“*” above indicates clasps)

Note. Fencible Cavalry regiments were (fencibles from the word defencible) British Army regiments raised in Britain and in the colonies for defence against the threat of invasion during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars in the late 18th century. Usually temporary units, composed of local volunteers, commanded by Regular Army officers, their role was, as their name suggests, usually confined to garrison and patrol duties, freeing the regular Army units to perform offensive operations. Some 42 regiments were raised in Scotland, each comprising 10 companies. As Colonel Major-General William Wemyss of Wemyss who had commanded the Sutherland Regiment (disbanded March 1799) had strongly recommended Thomas Cansh to 15^th Reserve, it may be surmised that Cansh had initially enlisted with the Sutherland Regiment.

The Mid-Sussex Times Tuesday 2nd of April 1912

The Storming of Badajos 6^th April 1812

“No age, no nation ever sent forth braver troops to battle than those who stormed Badajos.” (Napier)

Next Saturday, 6^th April, will be the centenary of the storming of Badajos, one of the grandest feats of arms ever performed by the British Army, and “lest we forget” let us recall the desperate bravery of the men engaged on that terrible night, and admit “that a British Army bears with it an awful power.”

Wellington, having stormed Ciudad Rodrigo on the 19th January 1812, turned his attention to Badajos, which had twice previously been unsuccessfully besieged. The fortress, situated on the river Guadianna, in Spain, lies about 5 miles from the Portuguese frontier, and was one of the keys of Portugal, and as Wellington had already possessed himself of another key, in Citadel Rodrigo, it was absolutely necessary for the furtherance of his future plans that Badajos should be in his hands also. Accordingly, on the night of the 17th March ground was broken 160 yards from the Pieurina fort, a strong detached work close to the walls of the town and opposite the Trinidad bastion. Again, as at Ciudad Rodrigo, Wellington suffered from insufficiency of materials and stores, and as Napier remarks “the crimes of the politicians were atoned for by the blood of the soldiers.” However, the work went on in spite of the sorties and heavy fire of the French, and the wet and boisterous weather.

On the night of the 25th March 500 men of the 3rd division stormed the Pieurina, after which the 2nd parallel was opened, and the siege-batteries bombarded the walls with a view of breaching the Trinidad and Saint Maria bastions. On 5th April the breaches were declared practical, but Wellington, doubting, delayed until a third breach should be opened between the Trinidad and Saint Maria bastions. Next day, after two hours bombardment, a yawning breach was seen, and Wellington ordered the assault for that night. Picton and the 3rd Division were to cross the small Rivillas River and scale the Castle walls, 18 to 24 feet in height, furnished with all means of destruction. Leith and the 5th Division were to make a false attack on the Pardaleras fort, but a real assault on the Sans Vincente bastion, where the glacis was mined the ditch deep, the escarpment 30 feet high, defended by bold troops, each man provided with three loaded muskets. The 4^th and Light Divisions under General Colville and Colonel Andrew Barnard, were to assail the breaches, the 4th Division to attack the Trinidad and the curtain, and the Light Division the Saint Maria bastion. Each division was preceded by storming parties of 500 men, with their respective forlorn hopes, and firing parties, on the crest of the glacis, were detailed to keep down the enemy’s fire. General Power’s Portuguese were to make feint from the other side of the Guadiana river, and Major Wilson, of the 48^th Regiment, was to storm the San Roque outwork with the guards of the trenches.

The Assault

The night of the 6th April was dry but clouded the ramparts and trenches were unusually still but the French under the gallant Governor of Badajos, General Philipon, were watchful. The clear instructions of Wellington ordered 10 o'clock as the hour of the assault, but the disappointment of war are many. An unforeseen accident delayed the attack of the 5th Division, and a lighted fire-ball thrown from the castle discovered the 3rd Division and compelled them to anticipate the signal by half an hour.

The 4th and Light Divisions moved swiftly against the breaches, the trench guard broke violently into San Roque, and the sudden blaze of light and the rattling of musketry indicated the commencement of a vehement fight at the Castle, where 3rd Division under Picton and Kempt, spreading along the front, reared their heavy ladders against the lofty walls, and with incredible courage ascended amidst showers of heavy stones, logs of wood, ignited shells rolled off the parapet, swept by salvos of round shot and volley of musketry. Bayonets and pikes stabbed the leading assailants and the ladders were huried from the walls.

Swarming round the remaining ladders, the undaunted veterans strove who should first climb, until all the ladders being overturned, the troops fell back a few paces and reformed their broken ranks under the edge of the hill. Then Ridge of the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers, sprang forward and raised a ladder against the castle while Cansh, another officer of the ”Fighting Fifth”, seized another ladder and, followed by the shouting troops, gained the ramparts, drove the surprised enemy through the gate into town, and the castle was won. A portion of the French reserve came up, both sides fired through the gate, and the enemy retired “but Ridge fell and no man died that night with more glory; yet many died and there was much glory”. (Napier).

At this time the tight at the breaches was going on furiously. Kincaid, who was Adjutant of four companies of the 95th Rifles (now the Rifle Brigade) lining the crest of the two glacis to fire at the ramparts and the top of the left breach, says that a death like silence of nearly an hour preceded the awful scene of carnage. The 4^th and Light Divisions had reached the glacis, when a bright flame shooting upwards showed the ramparts crowded with dark figures, and the red columns of the British, deep and broad, coming on like streams of burning lava; this was followed by a crash like thunder, and the storming parties were dashed to pieces by the explosion of hundreds of shells and powder barrels. But though amazed for an instant at the terrific site the two Divisions dashed down into the ditch. There were only five ladders for the two columns, and a deep cut filled with water drowned above a hundred of the 7th and 23rd Fusiliers. The engineer officer conducting the Light Division had been wounded early, and the Division rushed towards the breaches of the curtain and the Trinidad, which the 4th division had been destined to storm; the two Divisions got mixed, the reserves came pouring in and the confusion was great. For hours gallant and hopeless attempts were made by individual officers with 50 or 100 men endeavouring to carry the breach by desperate bravery, and as fast as one band was dissolved, another was formed. Across the top of the great breach a range of keen edged sword blades was firmly fixed in ponderous beams, chained together and planted deep in the ruins, and the ascent was covered with loose planks studded with sharp iron points which moved as the men set foot upon them, and the soldiers rolled down upon the ranks behind .

The French fired with terrible rapidity, everyman having several muskets, and shells and powder barrels exploded unceasingly. Hundreds of men had fallen and hundreds more were dropping, and still the officers called for fresh trials, and the furious men rushed in vain against the sword blades.

With incredible exertions Colonel Barnard had separated the Light Division from the other, but the tumult was so great no command could be heard distinctly, and the piles of dead and wounded broke the formations, and about midnight when two thousand men had fallen, Wellington, who knew that the Castle had been taken, but thinking The enemy would still resist in town, ordered the two divisions to retire and reform for a second assault. Kincaid tells us that they had scarcely got their men together when they were informed of the success of the 5th division on the other side of the town and that the enemy were abandoning the breaches. The light division at once advanced to take possession of them they found them evacuated but though unopposed the utmost difficulty and even danger were experienced in getting in in the dark.

On the other side of Badajos the 5^th Division had made its false attack on the Pardaleros fort and the Portuguese were sharply engaged at the bridge over the Gardiana, and Walkers brigade was escalading the Vicente bastion. Here the ladders proved too short, for the walls were generally above 30 feet high. The enemy’s fire was deadly, a mine was sprung, beams of wood and live shells were rolled over on the stormers heads, showers of grape from the flanks swept the ditch and men fast dropped dead from the ladder.

At last three ladders were placed where the wall was only 20 feet high, and as some of the defenders had been called away to the castle, the stormers, with great difficulty gained the top and dislodged the enemy, and half the 4th Regiment entered the town, and at last, the breaches bring abandoned, the noble Governor Phillipon, entered the fort of San Cristoval, which was surrendered next morning. Then commenced “wild and desperate wickedness”. Many lost their lives in trying to stop the violence, but for two days and nights frightful scenes occurred which “tarnished the lustre of the soldiers heroism, and it was not until the third day that the wounded were looked after, or the dead disposed of”. 5000 officers and men fell in the siege and more than 3500 had been stricken in the assault, more than 2000 falling at the breaches, where the 43rd and 52nd lost more men then the seven Regiments of the 3rd Division at the castle.

This frightful carnage at the breaches took place “in a space of less than 100 yards square, and the slain died not all suddenly nor by any manner anyone manner of death. Some perished by steel, some by water, some were crushed by heavy weights, some trampled upon, some dashed to atoms by fiery explosions. For hours this destruction was endured without shrinking, and the town was won at last”. (Napier).

Sir Harry Smith, writing of the field of Waterloo says “At Waterloo the whole field from right to left was a mass of dead bodies. I had been over many a field of battle, and with the exception of one spot at New Orleans and the breach of Badajos, I had never seen anything to be compared with what I saw”. “The Garrison stood and fought manfully and with good discipline, behaving worthily. Shame there was none on any side”. (Napier).

Kincaid relates that the day after the assault he was conversing with a friend (Smith of the 95th Rifles, afterwards Sir Harry Smith, the Victor of Aliwal) when they observed two ladies coming towards them from the city. The elder lady explained that they belonged to an ancient Spanish family and were yesterday in ahluence (?), but today they knew not where to lay their heads or procure a change of clothes or a morsel of bread. Their home was a wreck, and they themselves were bleeding caused by the wrenching of their earrings through the flesh. They had therefore come to throw themselves on the protection of British officers, for they said, so great was their faith in our national character, they knew the appeal would not be made in vain. The elder lady was the wife of a Spanish officer fighting in a distant part of the country, her sister was a young and beautiful girl just emancipated from a convent. Naturally their appeal was successful, and the ladies were carefully tended. Kincaid admits he fell in love with the younger lady, but “a more impudent fellow (Harry Smith) stepped in and won her.” This lady followed her husband throughout the remainder of the war: she was constantly under fire and endured many and great hardships incidental to campaigning, but she was adored by the Army and was a great favourite with every officer from Wellington down to the youngest subaltern. Years after she accompanied her husband to the Cape, and her name is perpetrated in the town of Ladysmith, since become so famous. We thus have a link connecting us with Badajos where was shown “with what strength and majesty the British soldier fights,” and when England again calls on her sons, may they ,in times of stress, Remember Badajos. C.H.C.