BADAJOS.
Badajos, the capital of the Spanish province of Estremadura, is situated1 near the Portuguese2 frontier, at the confluence3 of the small stream of the Rivillas with the Guadiana. It is very strongly fortified4, both nature and art having contributed their stores to render its position impregnable. A huge rock, one hundred feet high, overlooks the meeting of the waters. On the top of this rock rises an old castle, venerable from its age, and itself a strong fortification. The town occupies a triangular5 space between the rivers, and is protected by eight curtains and bastions, from twenty-three to thirty feet high, with good counterscarps, covered way and glacis. On the left bank of the Guadiana there is a lunette, covering a dam and sluice6, which commands an inundation7. Beyond the Rivillas stands an isolated8 redoubt, called the Picurina. This is four hundred yards from the town. Two hundred yards from the ramparts, rises a defective9 crown-work, called the Pardaleras. On the right bank of[161] the Guadiana rises a hill, crowned by a regular fort, three hundred feet square, called San Christoval. A bridge, supported by twenty-two stone arches, crosses the stream, and this is protected by a bridge head. The strength of this place made its possession a desirable object to both parties. It had been early invested by the French, under Soult, and vigorously assaulted. It was, however, well defended, and would probably have maintained its position, had it not been for the weakness and inefficiency12 of its commanding officers, which caused the battle of the Gebora to terminate in a shameful14 defeat and immense loss to the Spanish army. Rafael Menacho was next made commander of the place. He sustained the siege with great spirit, and everything seemed to promise favorably, when Menacho was unfortunately killed, during a sally, and the command devolved upon Imas, a man most unfitted for this situation. He surrendered, almost without a struggle, to the French; although he had received certain information that a strong army was moving to his assistance, and would soon raise the siege. He demanded that his grenadiers should march out of the breach16. Permission was granted, but they were obliged themselves to enlarge it, before they could do so. The French immediately took possession of the city, and strengthened its defences. Lord Wellington was much chagrined17 at the loss of this place, and early in May sent Lord William Stewart to invest it. The siege was carried[162] on with vigor11, but under great disadvantages, arising from want of the proper materials for construction of the works. In endeavoring to erect18 their batteries, the engineers were obliged to labor19 exposed to a heavy fire from the city, which proved so destructive, that, before one small battery against one of the outworks of the town was completed, seven hundred men and five officers had fallen. When, at length, on the morning of the 11th of May, this battery was completed, before night five of its guns were silenced by the enemy, and the rest were so exposed that it was impossible to man them. The same day news reached our army that the French army were coming to the relief of Badajos. Immediately our commander took steps to raise the siege, as to remain there would have exposed our whole force to destruction. On the night of the 13th, he removed all his artillery20 and platforms; and on that of the 14th, his guns and stores. But so secretly was this done, that the French were entirely21 ignorant of it, until, as the rear guard were about being drawn22 off, they made a sally, and, of course, discovered it. Soon after this, the battle of Albuera occurred.
ASSAULT UPON FORT CHRISTOVAL.
Our own division was not, however, engaged in this battle, having been ordered to Campo Mayor, where, on the 24th, orders reached us that we were again to march for Badajos, Lord Wellington having resolved to invest it in person. We immediately marched, and arrived on the evening of the 27th, where we[163] found Lord Wellington, with ten thousand men. During the absence of our army, Phillipon, the governor of the place, had entirely destroyed the little remains23 of fortifications left by them, repaired all his own damages, and procured24 a fresh supply of wine and vegetables from the country. He had also mounted more guns, and interested the towns-people on his side. The works of the siege were commenced under Wellington’s own direction, on the 29th, and carried on a week, with various success. Then it was resolved to make an assault upon Fort Christoval. The storming party, preceded by a forlorn hope, and led by Major McIntosh, with the engineer Forster as a guide, reached the glacis and descended25 to the ditch about midnight, on the night of the sixth of June. The French had, however, cleared all the rubbish away, so that seven feet perpendicular26 still remained; and above this were many obstacles, such as carts chained together, pointed27 beams of wood, and large shells ranged along the ramparts, to roll down upon the assailants. The forlorn hope, finding that the breach was still impracticable, was retiring, with little loss, when they met the main body, leaping into the ditch with ladders, and the ascent28 was again attempted; but the ladders were too short, and the confusion and mischief30 occasioned by the bursting of the shells was so great that the assailants again retired31, with the loss of more than one hundred men. Two nights after, a second attack was made, but met with no better success.[164] The British troops, with loud shouts, jumped into the ditch. The French defied them to come on, and at the same time rolled barrels of powder and shells down, while the musketry made fearful and rapid havoc33. In a little time, the two leading columns united at the main breach; the supports also came up; confusion arose about the ladders, of which only a few could be reared; and the enemy, standing34 on the ramparts, bayoneted the foremost assailants, overturned the ladders, and again poured their destructive fire upon the crowd below. One hundred and forty men had already fallen, and yet not a single foot had been gained, nor was there one bright spot in the darkness to encourage them to proceed. The order was given to retire. The next day, Wellington heard that the army of Soult was again advancing to attack him; and as to receive battle there would throw all the disadvantage on his side, he thought best to raise the siege. On the 10th, the stores were all removed, and the siege turned to a blockade, which was afterwards terminated, when the armies of Marmont and Soult, having effected a junction35, advanced to its relief. It was nearly a year before the allied36 army again found it desirable to approach Badajos. Meanwhile the war was carried on with great activity, although with varied37 success.
My own time was passed with the regiment38 to which I belonged, either in the mountains, or in foraging39 or bringing supplies, as circumstances dictated40.[165] Although again and again engaged in light skirmishes with small bodies of the enemy, occupied as our own regiment were, it was not my fortune to engage in a general battle, until the last siege of Badajos. And as this city was one of the most important, and its siege the best sustained of any on the Peninsula, I shall give an account of it more in detail than I have thought best to do of the rest.
LAST SIEGE OF BADAJOS.
The unfavorable issue of the two former investments, had induced Lord Wellington to wait until a combination of favorable circumstances should at least give more hope of success. The auspicious41 moment had, in his view, now arrived. The heavy rains which occur at this season of the year would so raise the rivers in the high lands, where his troops were located, that there would be no risk of their detention42 in proceeding43 at once to the Alemtejo, while this same flow of waters, in the more level portion occupied by the French, would prove a fatal impediment to the junction of their forces, which were at this time considerably44 scattered45, owing to the difficulty of obtaining provisions. Regiments46 were despatched, therefore, to bring all the stores of clothing and provisions from the different points where they had been left, and concentrate them near Badajos.
Wellington himself, having remained at his headquarters, on the Coa, until the last moment, in order to conceal47 his real intentions, now came in person to superintend the new works. As the French had[166] strongly occupied the stone bridge over the Guadiana, he ordered a flying bridge to be thrown across, which was completed on the 15th of March, 1812. Over this Major-general Beresford passed, and immediately invested Badajos, with an army of fifteen thousand men. A covering army of thirty thousand occupied different positions near; and, including a division on its march from Beira, the whole of the allied forces now in Estremadura numbered fifty-one thousand. The garrison48 of the enemy, composed of French, Hessian and Spanish troops, was five thousand strong. Phillipon, its brave commander, had been busily occupied, since the last siege, in strengthening the defences of the place, and in procuring49 supplies for the expected invasion. Every family was obliged to keep three months’ provision on hand, or leave the place, and every preparation was made for an obstinate50 and long-continued resistance. General Picton took the chief command of the assailants. He was alternately assisted by Generals Kempt, Colville, and Bowis.
The night of the 17th was ushered51 in by a violent storm of wind and rain. It was extremely dark and uncomfortable; but, as the loud roar of the tempest would effectually drown the noise of the pick-axes, eighteen hundred men were ordered to break ground only one hundred and sixty yards from the Picurina. They were accompanied by a guard of two thousand men. So rapidly did they work, that, though it was late when they commenced, before morning they had[167] completed a communication four thousand feet in length, and a parallel six hundred yards long, three feet deep, and three wide. The next night these works were enlarged, and two batteries traced out. To destroy these works was now the first object of the besieged52. On the 19th, thirteen hundred of their number stole out of the city, unobserved, into the communication, and began to destroy the parallel. They were soon discovered, however, and driven away. As they rode up, part of the French cavalry53 entered into a mock contest, giving the countersign54 in Portuguese, and were thus permitted to pass the pickets55; but they soon betrayed their real character, and our troops, hastily seizing their arms, drove them back to the castle, with a loss of three hundred men. One hundred and fifty of the British fell, and, unfortunately, Colonel Fletcher, the chief engineer, was badly wounded. Owing to this circumstance, and the continued wet and boisterous56 state of the weather, the works advanced slowly; but the batteries were at length completed. Owing to the heavy rains, the parallel remained full of water, and it was found impossible to drain it. But this was in some degree remedied by making an artificial bottom of sandbags. One place yet remained, on the right bank of the Guadiana, which Wellington had not invested. The eagle eye of Phillipon soon perceived his advantage. He erected57 here three batteries, which completely swept our works with a most destructive fire; and its effect would have been yet greater, had[168] it not been that the mud obstructed58 the bound of the bullets. A courier was instantly despatched to the fifth division, stationed at Campo Mayor, for assistance. But misfortunes seldom come alone. The heavy rains had caused such a rise in the river, that the flying bridges were swept away, and the trenches59 filled with water. The provisions and ammunition60 of the army were still on the other side of the river, so that we were soon in want of both. To add to this, the earth thrown up for intrenchments became so saturated61 with water that it crumbled62 away, and our labors63 were for the time wholly suspended. A few days of fine weather, however, relieved us from our unpleasant situation. The river subsided64, another flying bridge was constructed and row-boats obtained, so that the communication might not again be interrupted, under any circumstances. On the 25th the reinforcement from Campo Mayor arrived, and the right bank of the Guadiana was immediately invested. The same day, our batteries were opened upon the fort. The enemy were by no means silent spectators of this invasion. They returned our fire with such vigor, that several of our guns were dismounted, and quite a number of officers killed. Marksmen were also stationed on the trenches, to shoot every one who should show his head over the parapet.
General Picton now resolved to take the fort by assault. Its external appearance did not indicate much strength, and he hoped for an easy victory.[169] But the event proved that these appearances were deceptive66. The fort was strong; the ditch fourteen feet perpendicular, and guarded with thick, slanting67 poles, and from the top there were sixteen feet of an earthen slope. Seven guns were mounted on the walls, and two hundred men, each armed with two loaded muskets68, stood ready to repel69 all intruders. Loaded shells were also ranged along the walls, to be pushed over, in case of an attack. General Kempt took the direction of the assault, which was arranged for the night of the 25th. Five hundred men were selected from the third division, of which two hundred were stationed in the communication of San Roque, to prevent any assistance reaching the fort from the town; one hundred occupied a position at the right of the fort, one hundred at the left, and the remainder were held as a reserve, under the command of Captain Powis.
About nine o’clock, the signal was given, and the troops moved forward. The night was very clear, although there was no moon; and the fort, which had loomed70 up in the darkness still and silent, as though untenanted, answered back the first shot of the assailants with a discharge that caused it to resemble a sheet of fire. The first attack was directed against the palisades in the rear; but the strength of these, and the destructive fire poured down upon them, obliged them to seek some weaker part. They turned to the face of the fort; but here, the depth of the ditch, and the slanting stakes at the top of it,[170] again baffled their attempts. The enemy lost not a moment in pouring their fire upon the assailants, and the loud death-screams told that the crisis was becoming more and more imminent71. The alarm-bells in the city itself now rung out their shrill72 sounds, the guns on the walls and on the castle opened on the assailants, rockets were thrown up by the besieged, and the answering shots from the trenches served to increase the tumult73. All eyes were turned in the direction of the fort. A battalion74, hastily sent out from the city, advanced to its aid; but they had scarcely entered the communication, when the troops stationed there rushed to the onset75, and in a few moments they were driven back within the walls. By the light of those streams of fire, which ascended76 every moment from the Picurina, dark forms might be seen struggling on the ramparts, in all the energy of determined78 contest. Continued rounds of artillery had broken down the palisades in front, and the assailants were fighting, hand to hand, for an entrance.
The party in the rear of the fort had thrown their ladders, like bridges, across the ditch, resting them on the slanting stakes, and springing on them, drove back their guards. Fifty men, bearing axes, now discovered the gate, which soon fell beneath their blows, and they rushed in to a nearer contest. The little garrison, stern in their resistance, did what they could. Powis, Gips, Holloway and Oates, fell on the ramparts. Nixon, Shaw, and Rudd, were not[171] long behind. Scarcely an officer was left; and yet the struggle continued. At length, when only eighty-six men remained, they surrendered, and the Picurina passed to the allies. Only one hour had that fierce conflict lasted, yet of our troops four officers and fifty men had fallen, and fifteen officers and two hundred and fifty men were wounded. Phillipon felt deeply the loss of this fort. He did not conceal from his soldiers the increase of danger to their city from it; but he stimulated79 their courage by reminding them that death was far preferable to an abode80 in the English prison-ships. They deeply felt that appeal, and, with the first dawn of light, their guns were manned with renewed activity. These were turned against the fort, and so raked it that it was impossible for our troops to remain there, and it was deserted81. This victory gave fresh courage to the besiegers. Our whole force was occupied, the three succeeding nights, in erecting82 new batteries, and in extending the parallels and communications. In the daytime, comparatively little could be done, as the fire from the town so galled83 the workmen. Repeatedly they dismounted our guns, and destroyed the defences which had been erected to shield the laborers84, so that we were obliged to wait until the darkness prevented their marksmen from taking aim, in order to carry on our works. The night of the 27th, an attempt was made to destroy the dam, which had been built for the purpose of forming an inundation, and lessening85 the space where our troops could[172] work; but the moon had now made her appearance, and shone so brightly that the effort was unsuccessful.
On this night a most daring feat15 was performed by one of the French. Having disguised himself, he crept over the wall, and concealed86 himself until he had caught the watchword for the night. Then, boldly mingling87 with the troops, he proceeded to the works. Here the engineer had placed a line to mark the direction of the sap. Just before the workmen arrived, he moved the string, until he brought it within complete range of the castle guns. The men commenced work at once, but the light of the moon enabled the guns to tell with fearful precision upon them; and it was not until a severe loss had been sustained, that the mistake was discovered. Meanwhile, the intruder stole quietly back to his old quarters, which he reached unmolested.
Soult, trusting to the strong intrenchments of the place, had but little fear that it would finally surrender; but he knew a hard-fought battle was inevitable88. He therefore endeavored, as much as possible, to concentrate his forces near; but, while they were marching for this purpose, Graham and Hill attacked their flanks, and forced them to take another direction. The whole of the Spanish army now moved on to the Ronda hills, and threatened to attack Seville. This movement obliged Soult to detach a large part of his army to the assistance of this city, and had, as the event proved, fatally delayed his march[173] to Badajos. On the 30th, Wellington received information that Soult had resumed his march, and would soon arrive; but this news only served to hasten the preparations for the attack. Forty-eight pieces of artillery were now constantly playing against the San Roque, and the siege advanced at all points. Still the San Roque stood firm. General Picton was the more anxious for its destruction, as the inundation, which was caused by the dam, and protected by this lunette, prevented the free action of the troops.
On the night of the 1st of April, several brave fellows determined to see if they could not accomplish by stratagem89 what open force had failed to effect. Two officers placed themselves at the head of a small company of sappers. Under cover of the darkness, and their motions encumbered90 by the powder they were obliged to carry, they stole rapidly, but noiselessly, into the camp of the enemy. It was, indeed, a dangerous experiment. The least noise, the slightest accident, might alarm the sentinel; and then, they well knew, none would return to tell their fate. Scarcely venturing to breathe, they reached, in safety, a spot near the place. One of the officers then went to examine the dam. During his absence, the rest of the party could see the sentinel, as he approached within a very few feet of where they lay concealed. They saw, if they could dispose of him without noise, they might probably accomplish their aim undiscovered. The officer, having examined the dam, now returned, just as the sentinel approached.[174] “Now, boys, is your time,” he whispered. “Remember, one word, one sound, and we are lost.” Riquet, a powerful Irishman, selected for this purpose, seized his cloak, and stood prepared. As the man was passing, he sprang forward, and, throwing his cloak over him, he was in an instant gagged and bound. Then, rapidly and silently, the powder was placed against the dam, the train laid, and the match applied91. They waited a moment, to see that it was not extinguished, and then hastily retreated. A few moments passed, and the loud explosion was the first intelligence the enemy had of the intrusion. All eyes were bent92 anxiously upon the spot, but our hopes were destined93 to a sad disappointment. The dam stood firm, and the inundations still remained. But, although this brave attempt had failed, it soon became apparent to our general that the crisis was rapidly approaching. The bastions of the Trinidad and the Santa Maria had already given way; the breaches94 were daily enlarging, and hope grew strong that we should succeed in reducing the place before Soult should arrive. Nor were the enemy blind to their danger. They had already built a strong intrenchment behind the walls. Now they converted the nearest houses and garden-walls into a third line of defence.
Rumors95 were continually circulating that the French army was close at hand; but they were so uncertain that no dependence96 could be placed upon them. About this time, however, certain intelligence[175] was brought that Soult had effected a junction with Drouet and Daricoa, and was already at Albuera. No time was then to be lost. Wellington himself examined the breaches, and pronounced them practicable, and the night of the 6th of April was fixed97 for the assault. Rapidly the news circulated among the army, and eighteen thousand daring soldiers burned for that attack, that was to carry to posterity98 so dreadful a tale. I shall never forget the effect on our own regiment, when it was announced. General Sponsbury himself bore the tidings, and asked if our regiment—the 28th of foot—was willing to lead the assault upon the castle. This offer had already been made to the colonels of the 10th and 17th regiments; but their men were suffering so severely99 from a disease in the eyes, called the Jamaica Sands, that they declined the honor. “My men have their eyes open, at such a time, general,” answered our brave colonel; “nor is their leader ever blind to the interests of king and country.” Then, turning to us, he cried, “What say you, my lads? Are you willing to take the front ranks in this attack?” A loud shout gave its affirmative to this appeal. Every heart thrilled at the honor thus conferred, although all knew how perilous100 such a distinction must necessarily be.
The dreaded101 yet longed-for night drew on, and our officers were busily engaged in arranging the order of the attack, and in preparing the men for their duty. Picton’s division was to cross the Rivillas[176] river, and scale the castle walls, which were from eighteen to twenty feet in height, furnished with every means of destruction, and so narrow at the top that their defenders102 could easily reach and overturn the ladders.
To Leith was appointed the distant bastion of San Vincente, where the glacis was mined, the ditch deep, the scarp thirty feet high, and the defenders of the parapet armed with three loaded muskets each, that their first fire should be as deadly as possible.
The 4th and light divisions were to march against the breaches, well furnished with ladders and axes, preceded by storming parties of five hundred men, with their forlorn hopes. Major Wilson, of the 48th, was directed to storm San Roque, and to General Power was assigned the bridge head.
The morning had been very clear, but, as night approached, clouds covered the horizon, as if to veil the bloody103 scenes of the night. Fog rose thick from the rivers over every object, thus rendering104 the darkness more complete. Unusual stillness prevailed, although low murmurs105 pervaded106 the trenches, and, on the ramparts, lights occasionally flitted here and there. Every few moments the deep-toned voices of the sentinels broke in upon our ears, proclaiming that “all was well in Badajos.”
The possession of this place had become a point of honor with the soldiers on both sides. Three times had the French seen their foes108 sit down before these almost impregnable walls. Twice had they been[177] obliged to retire, with heavy losses. The memory of these disasters, revenge for those who had fallen, hatred109 of their foes, and a strong desire for glory, now nerved each British arm for the contest; while the honor of the French nation, the approval of their idolized emperor, and, more than all, the danger to which their families would be exposed in case of failure, combined with an equal thirst for glory, awakened110 all the ardent111 enthusiasm of the French.
THE FINAL ASSAULT.
At ten o’clock a simultaneous assault was to be made on the castle, the San Roque, the breaches, the Pardaleras, San Vincente, and the bridge head, on the other side of the Guadiana.
The enemy were, as yet, all unconscious of the design of our general, and the dark array of the British moved slowly and silently forward. Every heart was full; for, although now unusual quiet reigned112, every one knew that it was but the prelude113 to that hour when death, in its most terrible and ghastly forms, would be dealt on every side. In one short half-hour the signal was to be given,—nay, even that little time was lost. A lighted carcass was thrown up from the castle, and fell at the very feet of the men in the third division, casting a lurid114 and glaring light for yards around. The wild shout of alarm, the hurried tones of the signal-bells, and the tumultuous rushing of the soldiers, proclaimed that our array was discovered. Not a moment was to be lost. “Forward, my men, forward!” passed from rank to rank. One wild, long, deafening115 shout,[178] responded, and then the besiegers dashed onward116. In a moment a circle of fire seemed to surround the doomed117 city.
Our own division, under charge of General Kempt, had crossed the narrow plank118 that constituted the bridge over the Rivillas, under a heavy fire of musketry, and then, re-forming, ran hastily up the rugged119 hill, to the foot of the castle. Scarcely had we reached the walls, when our brave general fell, severely wounded. His faithful aids-de-camp carried him from the field; and, as they were passing to the trenches, he met General Picton,—who, hurt by a fall, and unprepared for the advance of the signal, had been left in the camp,—hastening onward. A few hurried words passed between them, and General Picton ran on, to find his brave soldiers already ascending120 the heavy ladders they had placed against the castle walls. And well might those men be called brave, who dared attempt to ascend77 those ladders, in spite of the showers of heavy stones, logs of wood, and bursting shells, that rolled off the parapet,—regardless, too, of that ceaseless roll of musketry, that was telling with such fearful precision on their flanks,—forgetting, apparently121, that, even should they live to reach the top, they could scarcely hope to survive the shock of that formidable front of pikes and bayonets that rose to meet them. Deafening shouts echoed on every side, as the besieged endeavored to throw down those heavy ladders; and these were answered back by the groans122 of the dying,[179] and the shrieks123 of the soldiers that were crushed by their fall. Yet, not for a moment daunted124, those behind sprang on to the remaining ladders, and strove which first should meet the death that seemed inevitable. But their courage was fruitless. Every ladder was thrown down, and loud shouts of victory ran along the walls. But the British, though foiled, were not subdued125. They fell back a few paces, and re-formed. Colonel Ridge10 then sprang forward, and, seizing a ladder, placed it against the lowest part of the castle wall, loudly calling to his men to follow. Officer Canch succeeded in placing another beside him, and in an instant they were fighting upon the ramparts. Ridge fell, pierced with a hundred wounds; but, ere his assailants had time to strike again, those ladders had poured their living load into the castle, and, step by step, were its brave defenders forced, fighting, into the street. Here a reinforcement induced them to pause, and a hard-fought conflict ensued. But their assistants came too late,—the castle was ours.
[180]
STORMING OF BADAJOS AND SCALING OF THE WALLS BY THE ENGLISH TROOPS.
[181]While these events were passing at the castle, more terrific, more maddening, if possible, was the contest at the breaches. Just as the firing at the castle commenced, two divisions reached the glacis. The flash of a single musket32 from the covered way was the signal that the French were ready, and yet all was still and dark. Hay packs were thrown hastily into the ditches, and five hundred men sprang down the ladders, which were placed there,[182] without any opposition126. Why was this ominous127 stillness? But the assailants had hardly time to ask, when a bright light shot up from the darkness, and revealed all the horrors of the scene. The ramparts were crowded with dark figures and glittering arms, while, below, the red columns of the British were rushing on, like streams of burning lava128. A crash of thunder followed that bright light, and hundreds of shells and powder-barrels dashed the ill-fated stormers into a thousand atoms. One instant the light division paused, and then, as if maddened by that terrific sight, they flew down the ladders, or leaped into the gulf129 below. A blaze of musketry poured its dazzling light into the ditch, as the fourth division came up, and descended with equal fury. But the enemy had made, at the bottom of the ditch, a deep cut, which was filled with water. Into this snare130 the head of the division fell, and more than a hundred men were drowned. Those behind checked not an instant, but, turning to the left, came to an unfinished intrenchment, which they mistook for the breaches. It was covered in a moment; but, beyond it, still lay a deep and wide chasm131, between them and the ramparts they wished to gain. Confusion necessarily ensued, for the assailants still crowded on, until the ditch was full, and even then the press continued. Not for one moment ceased the roar of the musketry upon those crowded troops, and the loud shouts of the enemy, mingled133 with the din13 of bursting grenades and shells. The roaring[183] guns were answered back by the iron howitzers from the battery, while the horrid134 explosions of the powder-barrels, the whizzing flight of the blazing splinters, and the loud commands of the officers, increased the confusion. Through all this the great breach was at length reached, and the British trusted that the worst was over; but, deep in those ruins, ponderous135 beams were set, and, firmly fixed on their top, glittered a terrible array of sword-blades, sharp-pointed and keen-edged, while ten feet before even that could be reached, the ascent was covered with loose planks136, studded with sharp iron points, which penetrated137 the feet of the foremost, and sent them rolling back on the troops behind.
Behind these sword-points, the shouting Frenchmen stood rejoicing in their agony, and poured in their fire with ceaseless rapidity; for every man had a number of muskets, and each one of these, beside the ordinary charge, was loaded with a cylinder139 of wood, full of leaden slugs, which scattered like hail, when discharged. Hundreds of men had fallen, and hundreds more were dropping; but still the heroic officers rushed on, and called for new trials. Yet, there glittered the sword-blades, firm, immovable; and who might penetrate138 such a barrier? Yet, so zealous140 were the men themselves, that those behind strove to push the forward ranks on to the blades, that they might thus themselves ascend on a bridge made of their bodies; but they frustrated141 this attempt by dropping down, for none could tell who fell from[184] choice, and who by the effect of that dreadful fire, and many who fell unhurt never rose again, crushed by the crowd. For a little while after the commencement of this terrible attack, military order was preserved; but the tumult and noise was such, that no command could be distinctly heard; and the constant falling and struggling of the wounded, who sought to avoid being trampled142 upon, broke the formations, and order was impossible. Yet, officers of all stations would rush out, and, followed by their men, make a desperate assault on that glittering steel, and only fall back to swell143 the pile of dead and dying. Two hours were spent in these vain efforts, and then the remaining soldiers turned sadly and slowly away; for they felt that the breach of the Trinidad was, indeed, impregnable. An opening still remained in the curtain of the Santa Maria bastion, and to this they directed their steps; but they found the approach to it impeded144 by deep holes and cuts, and their fearfully lessening numbers told how useless the attempt would be. Gathering145 in dark groups, they leaned despairingly on their muskets, and looked with sullen146 desperation at the ramparts of the Trinidad, where the enemy were seen, by the light of the fire-balls which they threw up, aiming their guns with fearful precision, and tauntingly147 asking, “Why they did not come into Badajos?” And now, unwilling148 to be finally conquered, Captains Nicholas and Shaw, with fifty men, collected from all regiments, made one more desperate[185] attempt to reach the Santa Maria breach. Already had they passed the deep cuts, and toiled149 over two-thirds of the dangerous ground, when a discharge of musketry levelled every man, except Shaw, to the earth. Nicholas, and a large proportion of the rest, were mortally wounded.
After this, no further attempt was made; and yet the soldiers would not retire, but remained passive and unflinching, under the fire of the enemy. It was now midnight. Already two thousand brave men had fallen, when Wellington, who was watching the progress of the attack from a height close to the quarries150, sent orders that the troops should retire and re-form for a second assault. But so great was the confusion, that many of the officers did not receive the orders, and so endeavored to prevent the soldiers from leaving, which occasioned many deaths.
But the gallant151 defenders of Badajos, although successful at the breaches, found that there was no time to look idly on. The whole city was girdled by fire. The third division still maintained its ground at the castle; the fifth were engaged at the Pardaleres, and on the right of the Guadiana, while General Walker’s brigade was escalading the bastion of San Vincente. This brigade had stolen silently along the banks of the river, the noise of its ripple152 having drowned the sound of their footsteps until they reached the barrier gate. Just then the explosion took place at the breaches; and by its light the French sentinels discovered their assailants. In[186] an instant, a sharp musketry was opened upon them. The Portuguese troops, panic-struck, threw down the scaling-ladders which had been intrusted to them; but the British snatched them up, and reared them against the walls, which, in this place, were thirty feet high. Unfortunately, the ladders were too short, and this placed them in a most perilous and uncomfortable position. A small mine was sprung beneath their feet, adding its quota153 to the fearful number of the dead; beams of wood and shells, fraught154 with living fire, were rolled upon their heads, while showers of grape from the flanks swept the ditch, dealing155 death-blows thick and fast on every side. But, fortunately for our troops, the reinforcement to assist in the defence of the castle was just at this time called for, and a part of the walls lower than the rest was left unmanned. Three ladders were hastily placed here, but they were still too short. But British valor156 and ingenuity157 soon overcame this difficulty. A soldier, raised in the arms of his comrades, sprang to the top; another followed. These drew their comrades after them, and soon, in spite of the constant fire which the French kept up, they ascended in such numbers, that they could not be driven back. Dividing, on their entrance, one-half entered the town, while the other, following the ramparts, attacked and won three bastions. Just as the last was yielding, General Walker fell, covered with wounds. A soldier, who stood near him, cried out, “A mine! a mine!” At that word,[187] those troops which had crossed the strong barrier, whom neither the deepness of the ditch nor the height of the wall could appal158, who flinched159 not a moment at the deadly fire of the enemy, shrank back at a chimera160 of their own raising. Their opponents saw their advantage, and, making a firm and deadly charge, drove them from the ramparts. But, before the French had time to rejoice in their victory, a reserve, under Colonel Nugent, made its appearance, and the fleeing soldiers returned, and soon gained the field.
The party who had entered the town at the first attack on San Vincente pursued their way through the streets. They met with no opposition, however. All was still and silent as the grave, and yet the streets were flooded with light, and every house illuminated161. Sounding their bugles162, they advanced to the great square of the town, but still met no enemy. All was bright and still, except that low murmurs were heard from behind the lattices, and occasionally a shot was fired at them from under the doors. Hence, leaving the square, they repaired to the breaches, and attempted to surprise the garrison, by attacking them in their rear. But they found them on the alert, and were soon obliged to return to the streets. But the English were now pouring in on every side, and the brave defenders of the ramparts and the breaches turned to defend their homes. A short and desultory163 fight followed. Generals Viellande and Phillipon, brave and determined[188] to the last, were both wounded; and, gradually falling back, they retreated, with a few hundred soldiers, to San Christoval, where they surrendered to Lord Fitzroy Somerset. Then loud shouts of victory! victory! resounded164 through the streets, and found its joyful165 echo in many hearts.
SACK OF THE CITY.
During this siege, five thousand men and officers had fallen; thirty-five hundred having lost their lives the night of the assault,—twenty-four hundred at the breaches alone. If any one would picture to himself the terrible scenes that occured at this spot, let him imagine a lot of less than a hundred square yards, which, in the short space of little more than two hours, was deluged166 by the blood of twenty-four hundred men. Nor did all these fall by sudden death. Some perished by steel, some by shot, some were drowned, some crushed and mangled167 by heavy weights, others trampled down by the crowd, and hundreds dashed to pieces by the fiery168 explosions; and all this occurred where the only light was the intense glare of the explosions, and the lurid flame of the burning dead, which came to mingle132 its horrible stench with the sickening odors of the gunpowder169, and the nauseous smells of the exploding shells. Here, too, the groans of the wounded were echoed back by the shrieks of the dying; and, ever and anon, between the roar of the artillery and the thunder of the bursting shells, were heard the bitter taunts170 of the enemy. Let any one imagine all this, I say, and they may have some faint ideas of the[189] horrors of war. Yet, dreadful as this is, could the veil but drop here, the soldier’s heart might still throb171 with pride, as he recounted the hard-fought battle, where valor stood pre?minent, and none yielded, but to death, until the victory was won. But there is still another dark and revolting page, which, in a history like this, designed to paint the horrors as well as the glories of war, it were not well to omit. I refer to the scenes which followed the victory, when Badajos lay at the mercy of its conquering foe107. If there is one feature of war more repulsive172 than another, one from which every good feeling of the heart shrinks back appalled173, it is from the scene which invariably follows, when permission is given to sack and plunder174 a conquered city. All restraint is laid aside. Men’s passions, wound up almost to frenzy175 by the exciting and maddening scenes through which they have passed, will have a vent65; and no sorrow is too holy, no place too sacred, to shield its occupant from the storm. Our men scattered themselves through the city, all with liberty to do what they pleased, to take what they wanted. Houses were broken open, and robbed. If any resistance was made, death was the certain penalty; and often death in such a form that a soldier’s fate would have been mercy. All, it is true, were not alike. In such an army there are always brave men, who, even in such an hour, would scorn to commit a dishonorable action, and these seconded the attempts of our officers to preserve at[190] least a semblance176 of order; but they were too few to accomplish much. All the dreadful passions of human nature were excited, and they would have way. Many lost their lives in vain attempts to check the cruelty and lust177 and drunkenness of their own soldiers. For two days and nights Badajos resounded with the shrieks and piteous lamentations of her defenceless victims, with groans and shouts and imprecations, varied by the hissing178 of fires from houses first plundered179, then destroyed, the crashing of doors and windows, and the almost ceaseless report of muskets used in violence. It was not until the third day that the soldiers, exhausted180 by their own excesses, could be collected in sufficient numbers to bury the dead of their own regiments, while many of the wounded perished solely181 from want of necessary care. I had imagined that the miseries182 of intemperance183 were no unfamiliar184 sight to me; yet never before, or since, has it been my lot to meet the madness which characterized the eager search for liquor, on every side. An instance that occurred in our own regiment, I will relate. Several of our men, and among them some that I had known in Ireland, and should never have suspected of such conduct, broke into a cellar where was stored a large quantity of wine. There were many casks, and some of them contained wine that bore the brand of scores of years. They tore down the doors for tables, and commenced their mad feast. Bottles half emptied were thrown across the cellar, and what would have[191] sufficed a regiment for months, was recklessly poured upon the floor. Unconscious, or not caring what they did, they stopped not to draw the wine, but, knocking in the head of the casks, proceeded to try their various qualities. At length, overcome by intoxication185, they sank upon the floor, and paid the penalty of their rashness with their lives; for, when a diligent186 search was made for absentees, they were discovered actually drowned in the wine. Many were burned to death in houses which they themselves had fired.
A DISCOVERY.
For my own part, I had been fortunate enough to pass through all the horrors of the siege, and the bloody scenes of the assault, unhurt. Excitement had rendered me reckless of danger, and I hurried on, scarce knowing where I was or what I did. Now that this had passed, I felt exhausted and weary, and very thirsty. My comrade and myself resolved that our first search should be for something to drink. We hurried on, until we reached a large store, where we thought we should find some liquor. The fastenings of the outer door soon yielded to our efforts, but the door to the cellar we found it impossible to open or break down. Just at this moment, a band of pioneers happened to be passing, who always carry with them huge hatchets188. We called to them, and, with their assistance, soon made our way to the cellar. But here a great disappointment awaited us. We found no liquor, but only two tiers of firkins, used for holding butter. One of our men, in anger, struck his hatchet187 into one of them,[192] when, to our great surprise, out rolled whole handfuls of doubloons. We then struck the heads of the firkins with the butt-ends of our muskets, but could not break them. The hatchets, however, soon completed the work. When the heads were knocked out, the money was so firmly pressed together that it came out in one solid mass. Each one of us then took what we pleased. I placed three handsful in my comrade’s knapsack, and he did the same by me. I then filled my haversack, and even my stockings, with the precious treasure. Part of our company remained as guard, while the rest went to report to our commander the discovery we had made. I soon found that I had stored more money than I was able to carry, so I threw a part of it in an old well. Our commander immediately sent a detachment of men to empty the cellar, and they brought away no less than eight mules’ burden of gold. I cannot now recall its exact amount, but such was its value that our officers determined to send it to Brussels, when the army should leave Badajos.
ATROCIOUS CONDUCT OF THE VICTORS.
We take the following description of the scenes to which we have above referred from an eye-witness. He says: “It has been the practice of modern historians to describe, in the glowing language of exaggerated eulogy189, every act done by the British and their allies, while their pens have been equally busy in vilifying190 and defaming all who were opposed to them. Perhaps there is no circumstance to which this applies with more force than the description[193] usually given of the conduct of the British armies and their allies after the taking of Badajos. While their gallantry is praised to the utmost, their evil deeds are left to find the light as they may; but ‘foul deeds will rise, though all the earth overwhelm them.’” Before six o’clock on the morning of the 7th of April, all organization among the assaulting columns had ceased, and a scene of plunder and cruelty that it would be difficult to find a parallel for took place. The army, so orderly the preceding day,—so effective in its organizations,—seemed all at once transformed into a vast band of brigands191. The horde192 of Spaniards, as well as Portuguese women and men, that now eagerly sought for admission to plunder, augmented193 the number of this band to what the army had been before the battle; and twenty thousand persons, armed with all power to act as they thought fit, and almost all armed with weapons which could be used at the pleasure of the bearers, for the purpose of enforcing any wish they might seek to gratify, were let loose upon this devoted194 city. Subject to no power of control from others, intoxication caused them to lose all restraint on themselves. If the reader can for a moment fancy a fine city, containing an immense population, among which may be reckoned a proportion of the finest women Spain, or perhaps the world, can boast of,—if he could fancy that population and these women left to the mercy of twenty thousand infuriated and licentious195 soldiers, for two days and two nights, he can well imagine[194] the horrors enacted196 in Badajos. Wine and spirit stores were first forced open, and casks of the choicest wines and brandy dragged into the streets; and, when the men had drank as much as they fancied, the heads of the vessels197 were stove in, or the casks broken, so that the liquor ran about in streams. In the town were large numbers of animals,—sheep, oxen, and horses,—belonging to the garrison. These were among the first things taken possession of; and the wealthy occupier of many a house was glad to be allowed the employment of conducting them to our camp, as, by so doing, he got away from a place where his life was not worth a minute’s purchase. Terrible as was this scene, it was not possible to avoid occasionally laughing; for the conducteur was generally not only compelled to drive a herd198 of cattle, but also obliged to carry the bales of plunder taken by his employer perhaps from his own house. And the stately gravity with which the Spaniard went through his work, dressed in short breeches, frilled shirt, and a hat and plumes199, followed by our ragamuffin soldiers with fixed bayonets, presented a scene that Cruikshank himself would have been puzzled to delineate justly. The plunder so captured was deposited under a guard composed principally of soldiers’ wives. A few hours were sufficient to despoil200 the shops of their property. Night then closed in, and then a scene took place that pen would fail to describe. Insult and infamy201, fiendish acts of violence and open-handed cruelty, everywhere prevailed. Age, as well as youth,[195] was alike unrespected, and perhaps not one house, and scarcely a person, in this vast town, escaped injury. War is a terrible engine, and when once set in motion, it is not possible to calculate when or where it will stop.
TERRIBLE DISORDER202.
“The 8th of April was a fearful day for the inhabitants. The soldiers had become so reckless that no person’s life, of whatever sex, rank, or station, was safe. If they entered a house that had not been despoiled203 of its furniture and wines, they were at once destroyed. If it was empty, they fired at the windows, or at the inmates204, or often at each other. Then they would sally into the streets, and amuse themselves by firing at the church bells in the steeples, or at any one who might be passing. Many of the soldiers were killed, while carrying away their plunder, by the hands of those who, a few hours before, would have risked their own lives to protect them. Hundreds of these fellows took possession of the best warehouses205, and acted as merchants; these were ejected by a stronger party, who, after a fearful strife206, would displace them, only themselves to give place to others, with terrible loss of life. To put a stop to such a frightful207 scene, it was necessary to use some forbearance, as well as severity; for, to have punished all who were guilty would have been to decimate the army. In the first instance, parties from those regiments that had least participated in the combat were ordered into the town to collect the hordes208 of stragglers, that filled the streets with crimes[196] too horrible to detail; and, when this measure was found inadequate209, a brigade of troops were marched into the city, and were directed to stand by their arms, while any marauders remained. Gibbets and triangles were erected, and many of the men were flogged. A few hours so employed were sufficient to purge210 the town of the robbers that still lurked211 in the streets, many of whom were Spaniards and Portuguese, not connected with the army, and infinitely212 worse than our troops. Towards evening tranquillity213 began to return; but it was a fearful quiet, and might be likened to a ship at sea, which, after having been plundered and dismasted by pirates, should be left floating on the ocean, without a morsel214 of food to supply the wants of its crew, or a stitch of canvas to cover its naked masts. By degrees, however, the inhabitants returned, and families left alive again became reünited; yet there was scarce a family that did not mourn its dead.”
The same writer says: “Early on the morning of the 9th of April, a great concourse of Spaniards, from the neighboring villages, thronged215 our lines. They came to purchase the booty captured by our men; and each succeeding hour increased the supply of their wants, numerous and varied as they were, and our camp had the appearance of a vast market. Some of the soldiers realized upwards216 of one thousand dollars from the sale, and almost all gained handsomely by an enterprise in which they had displayed so much devotion and bravery; and it is only[197] to be lamented217 that they tarnished218 laurels219 so nobly won, by traits of barbarity which, for the sake of human nature, we hope have not often found a parallel.”
It was not until order was in some measure restored that the wounded and dead could be attended to; but now graves were dug, and the mangled remains, so lately full of life and activity, burning with high hopes and fond anticipations220, were laid away, adding their numbers to the vast pile of victims sacrificed to that Moloch—war. It is said that when Wellington learned the number of the fallen, and the extent of his loss in the death of those brave men, a passionate221 burst of tears told how much he was affected222 by it.
WELLINGTON STILL AT BADAJOS.
For a few days Wellington lingered near Badajos, hoping that Soult, to whom Phillipon had sent the fatal news even in the confusion of his surrender, would be tempted29 from his intrenchments to risk a battle with the allies, while the troops were flushed with victory. But this general, although feeling deeply the loss of one of his most impregnable fortresses223, found himself too much occupied with the other division of the allied army to venture on such a course.
It was Wellington’s intention, in case this battle did not take place, to proceed immediately to Andalusia; but, learning that the Spanish general had failed to garrison the fortresses already taken in a suitable manner, he was obliged to alter his own[198] course of action, in order to secure former conquests. While he remained here, his time was busily occupied in repairing the breaches, in levelling the trenches, and restoring the injured fortifications. This being done, he placed here, as a garrison, two regiments of Portuguese, and marched himself, with the main body of his troops, upon Beira.
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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confluence
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| n.汇合，聚集 | |
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fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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sluice
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| n.水闸 | |
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inundation
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| n.the act or fact of overflowing | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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inefficiency
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| n.无效率，无能；无效率事例 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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descended
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perpendicular
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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junction
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allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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foraging
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| v.搜寻（食物），尤指动物觅（食）( forage的现在分词 )；（尤指用手）搜寻（东西） | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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50
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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51
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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54
countersign
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| v.副署，会签 | |
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55
pickets
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| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
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56
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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57
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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58
obstructed
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| 阻塞( obstruct的过去式和过去分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
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59
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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60
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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61
saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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62
crumbled
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| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
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63
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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64
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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65
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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66
deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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67
slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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68
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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69
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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70
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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71
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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72
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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73
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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74
battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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75
onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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76
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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78
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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79
stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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80
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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81
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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82
erecting
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| v.使直立，竖起( erect的现在分词 )；建立 | |
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83
galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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84
laborers
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| n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工 | |
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85
lessening
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| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
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86
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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87
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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88
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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89
stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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90
encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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92
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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93
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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94
breaches
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| 破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背 | |
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95
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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96
dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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97
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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98
posterity
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| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
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99
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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100
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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101
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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102
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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103
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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104
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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105
murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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106
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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108
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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109
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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110
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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111
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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112
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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113
prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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114
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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115
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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116
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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117
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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118
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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119
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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120
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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121
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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122
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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123
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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124
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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125
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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126
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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127
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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128
lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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129
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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130
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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131
chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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132
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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133
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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134
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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135
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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136
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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137
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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138
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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139
cylinder
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| n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸 | |
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140
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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141
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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142
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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143
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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144
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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145
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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146
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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147
tauntingly
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| 嘲笑地，辱骂地； 嘲骂地 | |
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148
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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149
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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150
quarries
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| n.（采）石场( quarry的名词复数 )；猎物（指鸟，兽等）；方形石；（格窗等的）方形玻璃v.从采石场采得( quarry的第三人称单数 )；从（书本等中）努力发掘（资料等）；在采石场采石 | |
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151
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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152
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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153
quota
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| n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额 | |
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154
fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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155
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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156
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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157
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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158
appal
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| vt.使胆寒，使惊骇 | |
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159
flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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160
chimera
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| n.神话怪物；梦幻 | |
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161
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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162
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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163
desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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164
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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165
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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166
deluged
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| v.使淹没( deluge的过去式和过去分词 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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167
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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168
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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169
gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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170
taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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171
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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172
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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173
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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174
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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175
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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176
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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177
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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178
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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179
plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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180
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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181
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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182
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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183
intemperance
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| n.放纵 | |
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184
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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185
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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186
diligent
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| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
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187
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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188
hatchets
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| n.短柄小斧( hatchet的名词复数 )；恶毒攻击；诽谤；休战 | |
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189
eulogy
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| n.颂词；颂扬 | |
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190
vilifying
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| v.中伤，诽谤( vilify的现在分词 ) | |
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191
brigands
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| n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 ) | |
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192
horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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193
Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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194
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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195
licentious
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| adj.放纵的，淫乱的 | |
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196
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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197
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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198
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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199
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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200
despoil
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| v.夺取，抢夺 | |
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201
infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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202
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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203
despoiled
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| v.掠夺，抢劫( despoil的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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204
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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205
warehouses
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| 仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
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206
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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207
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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208
hordes
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| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
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209
inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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210
purge
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| n.整肃，清除，泻药，净化；vt.净化，清除，摆脱；vi.清除，通便，腹泻，变得清洁 | |
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211
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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212
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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213
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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214
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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215
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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216
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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217
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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218
tarnished
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| （通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏 | |
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219
laurels
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| n.桂冠，荣誉 | |
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220
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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221
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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222
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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223
fortresses
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| 堡垒，要塞( fortress的名词复数 ) | |
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