t daylight on the 3rd of April our nearness to the enemy indicated the approach of another collision. The English general, having ten thousand men pivoted3 on the 5th division at Sabugal, designed to turn Reynier’s left, and surround him before he could be succoured. This well-concerted plan was marred4 by one of those accidents to which war is always liable, and brought on the combat of Sabugal, one of the hottest in which I was ever engaged. The morning was so foggy that the troops could not gain their respective posts of attack with that simultaneous regularity5 which is so essential to success. Colonel Beckwith, who commanded the first brigade, halted at a ford1 to await orders, and at that moment a staff officer rode up, and somewhat hastily asked why he did not attack. The thing appeared rash, but with an enemy in front he could make no reply; and instantly passing the river, which was deep and rapid, mounted a steep wooded hill on the other side. Many of the men were up to their middle in water; and a dark, heavy rain coming on, it was impossible for some time to distinguish friends from foes7. The attack was thus made too soon; for owing to the obscurity, none of the divisions of the army had reached their respective posts; and Beckwith having only one bayonet regiment9 and four companies of 134riflemen, was advancing against more than twelve thousand infantry10, supported by cavalry11 and artillery12.
Scarcely had the riflemen reached the top of the hill, when a compact and strong body of French drove them back upon the 43rd. The weather cleared at that instant, and Beckwith at once saw and felt all his danger; but, well supported as he was, it was met with a heart that nothing could shake. Leading a fierce charge, he beat back the enemy, and the summit of the hill was attained13; but at the same moment two French guns opened with grape, at the distance of a hundred yards, a fresh body appeared in front, and considerable forces fell upon either flank of the regiment. Fortunately, Reynier, little expecting to be attacked, had, for the convenience of water, placed his principal masses in the low ground behind the height on which the action commenced; his renewed attack was therefore uphill, yet the musketry, heavy from the beginning, now increased to a storm. The French mounted the acclivity with great clamour; and it was evident that nothing but the most desperate fighting could save the regiment from destruction. Captain Hopkins, commanding a flank company of the 43rd, immediately ran out to the right, and with admirable presence of mind seized a small eminence15 close to the French guns and commanding the ascent16 by which the French troops were approaching. His first fire was so sharp that the assailants were thrown into confusion, they rallied, and were again confounded by the volleys of this company; a third time they endeavoured to form an attack, when Hopkins, with a sudden charge, increased the disorder18, and at the same moment the two battalions20 of the 52nd regiment, which had been attracted by the fire, entered the line. Meantime the centre and left of the 43rd were furiously engaged, and excited beyond all former precedent21. Beckwith, wounded in the head, and with the blood streaming down his face, rode amongst the foremost 135of the skirmishers, directing all with ability, and praising the men in a loud, cheerful tone. I was close to him at the time. One of our company called out, ‘Old Sydney is wounded.’ Beckwith heard the remark, and instantly replied, ‘But he won’t leave you: fight on, my brave fellows: we shall beat them.’ The musket14 bullets flew thicker and closer every instant; but the French fell fast. A second charge cleared the hill, a howitzer was taken, and the British skirmishers were even advanced a short way down the hill, when small bodies of French cavalry came galloping23 in from all parts, and obliged them to take refuge in the main body of the regiment. Having brought down a Frenchman by a random24 shot, I advanced close to the poor fellow as he lay on his side. Never shall I forget the alarm that was pictured on his countenance25; he thought I was going to bayonet him, to avert26 which he held out his knapsack, containing most likely all his worldly substance, by way of appeasing27 my wrath28. Unwilling29 to injure a fallen foe8, I did not take his life, and in a few seconds he was protected by a charge of cavalry.
The English line was now formed behind a stone wall above; yet one squadron of dragoons surmounted30 the ascent, and with incredible desperation, riding up to this wall, were in the act of firing over it with their pistols, when a rolling volley laid nearly the whole of them prostrate32. By this time, however, a second and stronger column of infantry had rushed up the face of the hill, endeavouring to break in and retake the howitzer, which was on the edge of the descent, and only fifty yards from the wall. But no man could reach it and live, so deadly was the 43rd’s fire. One of my comrades, having previously33 passed the howitzer, took a piece of chalk from his pocket, and, as he said, marked it as our own, and we were determined34 to keep it. Reynier, convinced at last that he had acted unskilfully in sending up his troops in small parties, 136put all his reserves, amounting to nearly six thousand infantry, with artillery and cavalry, into motion, and outflanking the division on the left, appeared resolved to storm the contested position. At this critical period the 5th division passed the bridge of Sabugal, the British cavalry appeared on the hills beyond the enemy’s left, and General Colville with the leading brigade of the 3rd division issued out of the woods on Reynier’s right, and opened a fire on the flank that directly decided36 the fate of the day. The loss of the allies in this sanguinary contest, which did not last quite an hour, was nearly two hundred killed and wounded; that of the enemy was enormous,—three hundred dead bodies were heaped together on the hill, the greater part round the captured howitzer; and more than twelve hundred were wounded,—so unwisely had Reynier managed his masses, and so true and constant was the English fire. Lord Wellington afterwards observed that this was one of the most glorious actions that British troops ever sustained. If by this term we are to understand that a numerous and well-disciplined force was signally repulsed37 by one of numerical inferiority, and that on the British side our national honour was upheld, he was right. In any other sense, the glories of war are, I am afraid, of a cast rather ambiguous. I scarcely ever before saw such determined firmness in our troops. It amounted almost to invincibility38. During the action there was through our ranks to be observed a fierce and terrible anger, before the breakings forth39 of which the enemy quailed40 and fled. Our fire was given with singular exactness and rapidity. This fine conduct arose partly from a sense of extreme personal danger, for of that not a man was insensible; and partly from the desire, which I believe pervaded41 every breast, of properly supporting the officers engaged.
Among others, I had been unusually excited, and had dealt out wounds and destruction with an unsparing hand. 137In endeavouring to reach the enemy, all concern for my own preservation42 was forgotten. Just as the action commenced, a round shot struck a horseman close to my side, and brought him down. Daniel Lowry, an intimate friend, who was also within a few paces, was slain43. My old captain was hit, and badly wounded; his place was, however, well supplied by Lieutenant44 Brown, who succeeded in the command of the company. After the action had ceased, the latter officer was pleased to take special notice of my conduct, and by his recommendation I was made corporal in one of the companies of the regiment. We halted on the field of battle during the succeeding day. Some of our men were quartered in a chapel45 which had been recently occupied by French troops. Nearly the whole of the interior fittings were destroyed. As the place had been used for Roman Catholic worship, saints and images, attired46 in fanciful vestments, ‘black, white, and grey, with all their trumpery,’ had been abundant. These petty divinities, despite of their alleged47 virtues48, were upset and destroyed; some were prostrate on the floor, others were broken and disfigured, not a few had been consumed, and all that remained of many were a few glowing embers.
As food now became dreadfully scarce, a small party, of which I was one, went in search of bread or any other article of sustenance49 we could procure50. After wandering at least ten or twelve miles from the camp ground, we observed a young heifer, to which we immediately gave chase; but the animal was so timid, and withal so swift of foot, that after a weary pursuit the game was lost. The French soldiers had, in fact, laid waste the land. Having spread themselves over the surface of many a league, they had, like a devastating51 army of locusts52, devoured53 every particle of food within reach; and what in some respects is worse, what they did not eat was destroyed. On ascending54 an eminence, we saw the smoke of several burning villages. 138One of the men discovered also, at a moderate distance, what appeared to be two or three huts; we accordingly made for them; on arriving near the spot, we found they were tents, pitched apparently55 for temporary use. Two or three women and some children presently appeared, when we asked if they had any bread and wine to sell; telling them at the same time, to secure their favour, that we were English soldiers. They were inexorable, and declared they had nothing; but one of our party, not disposed to credit the ladies, forced his way into the tent, and dragged out a leathern bottle, containing perhaps twenty or thirty gallons of liquid. We flattered ourselves it was wine, but on inspection56 it was filled with oil. Several loaves of bread were, however, discovered, with which we made free; but had nearly paid a high price for the liberty taken. All on a sudden the whole party of women and children set up a dismal57 piercing shout, and almost at the same instant a numerous and armed party of men were observed rapidly coming down the mountain side upon us. We were few in number, and unfortunately were without our muskets58. Sensible that if overtaken, our lives were forfeited59, a hasty retreat became necessary. We were chased for several miles; but owing to our superior speed, we at length left our pursuers behind. When out of the reach of danger, we halted, almost dead with fatigue60, and divided our spoil. It amounted to a small piece of bread for each; but how sweet that morsel61 was, no man can tell but he who has been driven to desperate acts by the call of biting hunger. The next day our division took the route of Valdespina, to look out for the enemy on the side of the passes leading upon Coria; but Masséna was in full retreat for Ciudad Rodrigo, and on the 5th he crossed the frontier of Portugal; so that Lord Wellington now stood victorious62 on the confines of that kingdom, having executed what to others had appeared incredible and vain.
139The pursuit was continued. When Masséna reached the Agueda, his cavalry detachments, heavy artillery, and convalescents again augmented63 his army to more than fifty thousand men; but the fatigue of the retreat and want of provisions would not suffer him to show a front to the allies; he therefore fell back to Salamanca, and Lord Wellington invested Almeida. Our division occupied Gallegos and Espeja, and the rest of the army were disposed in villages on both sides of the Coa. Here Colonel Waters, who had been taken near Belmonte, rejoined the army. His escape was most extraordinary. Confident in his own resources, he had refused his parole; but when carried to Ciudad Rodrigo, he rashly mentioned his intention to the Spaniard in whose house he was lodged64. This man betrayed him; but a servant, detesting65 his master’s treachery, secretly offered his aid, and Waters coolly allowed him to get the rowels of his spurs sharpened. When the French army was near Salamanca, Waters, being in the custody66 of gendarmes67, waited until their chief, who rode the only good horse in the party, had alighted; then, giving the spur to his own beast, he galloped68 off. This was an act of astonishing resolution and hardihood; for he was on a large plain, and before him and for miles behind the road was covered with the French columns. His hat fell off, and thus distinguished69, he rode along the flanks of the troops, some encouraging him, others firing at him, and the gendarmes, sword in hand, close at his heels; but suddenly breaking at full speed between two columns, he gained a wooded hollow, and having baffled his pursuers, evaded70 the rear of the enemy’s army.
The beautiful village of Fuentes d’Onoro was now destined71 to suffer. It had escaped all injury during the previous warfare72, though occupied alternately for above a year by both sides. Every family in it was known to our division; and it was therefore a subject of deep regret to 140find that the preceding troops had pillaged73 it, leaving only the shells of houses where, three days before, a friendly population had been living in comfort. This wanton act was so warmly felt by the whole army, that eight thousand dollars were afterwards collected by general subscription74 for the poor inhabitants; yet the injury sank deeper than the remedy. The allies occupied a fine table land, lying between the Turones and the Dos Casos; the left at Fort Conception, the centre towards the village of Alameda, the right at Fuentes d’Onoro, the whole distance being five miles. The first and third divisions were concentrated on a gentle declivity75, about a cannon76-shot behind Fuentes d’Onoro, where the line of ground occupied by the army turned back, and ended on the Turones. The French came up in three columns abreast77. General Loison fell upon Fuentes d’Onoro, which was occupied by five battalions of chosen troops. Most of the houses in this village were at the bottom of the ravine; but an old chapel and some buildings on a craggy eminence overhung one end. The low parts were vigorously defended; yet the violence of the attack was so great, and the cannonade so heavy, that the British abandoned the streets, and could scarcely maintain the upper ground; and the fight was becoming perilous78, when three fresh regiments79, coming down from the main position, charged with so little ceremony, that the French were forced back, and, after a severe contest, finally driven over the stream of Dos Casos.
On the 4th Masséna arrived; and, having examined all the line, made dispositions81 for the next day. Forty thousand infantry, and five thousand horse, with thirty pieces of artillery were under arms; and they had shown, in the action of the 3rd, that their courage was not abated82. The position of the English was, on the other hand, not at all desirable; and it required no common resolution to receive battle on ground so dangerous. The action began by severe 141cavalry fighting; and the British horsemen, being overmatched, retired83 behind the light division, which threw itself into squares; but the main body of the French were upon the seventh division, before the like formation could be effected; nevertheless the troops stood firm, and, although some were cut down, the Chasseurs Britanniques, taking advantage of a loose wall, received the attack with such a fire, that the enemy recoiled84. Immediately after this, a commotion85 was observed among the French squadrons; men and officers closed in confusion towards one point, where a thick dust was arising, and where loud cries and the sparkling of blades and the flashing of pistols indicating some extraordinary occurrence. Suddenly the multitude was violently agitated86; an English shout arose, the mass was rent asunder87, and Norman Ramsey burst forth at the head of his battery, his horses on full stretch, and his guns bounding along like things of no weight, with the mounted gunners in close and compact order protecting the rear. But while this brilliant action was passing in one part, the enemy were making progress in the wood, and it was evident that the battle would soon be lost if the original position was not immediately regained88.
In this posture89 of affairs, Lord Wellington directed the seventh division to cross the Turones and move down the left bank to Frenada. General Crauford, who had resumed the command of the light division, first covered the passage of the seventh, and then retired slowly over the plain in squares, having the British cavalry principally on the right flank. He was followed by the enemy’s horse, which continually outflanked him, and near the wood surprised and sabred an advanced post of the Guards, making Colonel Hill and fourteen men prisoners. Several times Montbrun seemed disposed to storm the light division squares, but we were too formidable to be meddled90 with. Yet, on the authority of Colonel Napier, there was not during the war a 142more dangerous hour than this for England. The whole of that vast plain, as far as the Turones, was covered with a confused multitude, amidst which the squares appeared but as specks91. The seventh division was separated from the army by the Turones; five thousand French cavalry, with fifteen pieces of artillery, were close at hand, impatient to charge; the infantry of the eighth corps92 was in order of battle behind the horsemen; the wood was filled with the skirmishers of the sixth corps; and, if the latter body had issued forth, our division was in imminent93 danger of being broken. No effort of the sort was made. Montbrun’s horsemen merely hovered94 about our squares; the plain was soon cleared, the cavalry took post behind the centre, and the light division formed a reserve, sending the riflemen among the rocks to connect it with the seventh. At sight of this new front, so deeply lined with troops, the French stopped short, and commenced a heavy cannonade, which did great execution from the closeness of the allied17 masses; but twelve British guns replied with vigour95, and the violence of the hostile fire abated. All this time a fierce battle was raging at Fuentes d’Onoro. Masséna had directed Drouet to carry this village, at the very moment when Montbrun’s cavalry should turn the right wing. It was, however, two hours later when the attack began. The three British regiments made a desperate resistance, but, overpowered by numbers, they were pierced and divided; two companies of the 79th were taken, Colonel Cameron was mortally wounded, and the lower part of the town was carried. The upper part was, however, stiffly held, and the rolling of musketry was incessant96. In this manner the fight lasted till the evening, when the lower part of the town was abandoned by both parties; the British maintaining the crags, and the French retiring a cannon-shot from the stream. Fifteen hundred men and officers, of which three hundred were prisoners, comprised the loss of the allies; that of the enemy was 143computed at five thousand, but this I have reason to believe was an exaggerated statement.
The night after the action, I was stationed on the line of sentinels, not far from the French front, and at the extreme verge97 of our own. This service, which demands perpetual vigilance, requires also, on account of its wearisome and continued toil98, no ordinary degree of physical energy, as the safety of the army itself often depends upon the caution and alertness with which the outposts are preserved. Often when pacing some doubtful position, at dead of night, I have applied99 my ear to the ground, to try if by that means a distant footstep could be heard. At the precise time to which I now refer, the feeble voice of many a poor wounded fellow, calling for help, might be heard. These were, however, removed by the parties on both sides without delay, after which the dead were buried with as much decency100 and respect as circumstances allowed. A pile of about one hundred and thirty dead bodies, of which one-third were British, was discovered on a small space at Fuentes d’Onoro; and several large excavations101 or graves were formed, in which the remains102 of our fallen friends were deposited.
Soon after this period the French were compelled to evacuate103 Almeida; but by a singular and ingenious train of operations, the men who defended it contrived104 to effect their escape. During the battle of Fuentes d’Onoro, General Brennier, the governor of Almeida, with his garrison105 of fifteen hundred, skirmished boldly with the blockading force, and loud explosions, supposed to be signals of communication with the relieving army, were frequently heard. When all hope of succour vanished, a soldier named Tillet contrived, with extraordinary courage and presence of mind, to penetrate106, although in uniform, through the posts of the blockade, carrying Brennier orders to evacuate the fortress107. The blockade, it would appear, was imperfectly maintained. 144This was noticed by Brennier, who prepared to force his way through the encircling troops. An open country and a double line of troops greatly enhanced the difficulty; yet Brennier was resolved, not only to cut his own passage, but to render the fortress useless to the allies. To effect this, he ruined all the principal bastions, and kept up a constant fire of his artillery, so directed that the mouth of one piece crossed that of another; while therefore some shots flew towards the besiegers, and a loud explosion was heard, others destroyed pieces without attracting notice. At midnight, on the 10th, all being ready, he sprang his mines, sallied forth in a compact column, broke through the piquets, and passed between the quarters of the reserves with a nicety that proved at once his talent of observation and his coolness. General Pack followed with a few men collected at the instant, and plied22 him with a constant fire; yet nothing could shake or retard108 his column, which in silence, and without returning a shot, gained the rough country upon Barba del Puerco. Here it halted for a moment, just as daylight broke; and Pack, who was at hand, hearing that some English dragoons were in a village, sent an officer to bring them out, thus occasioning a slight skirmish, and consequent delay. The troops of the blockade had paid little attention at first to the explosion of the mines, thinking them a repetition of Brennier’s previous practice; but Pack’s fire having aroused them, the 36th regiment was close at hand; and the 4th also, having heard the firing at Valde Mula, was rapidly gaining the right flank of the enemy. Brennier, having driven off the cavalry, was again in march; yet the British regiments, having thrown off their knapsacks, followed at such a pace that they overtook the rear of his column in the act of descending109 the deep chasm110 of Barba del Puerco, killed and wounded many, captured about three hundred, and even passed the bridge in pursuit. Lord Wellington, it is said, was stung by 145this event, and issued a remonstrance111 to the army, couched in terms which no one could misunderstand.
When Marmont had thus recovered the garrison of Almeida, he withdrew the greater part of his army to Salamanca. Lord Wellington also set out for that province; but before he could arrive, a great and bloody112 battle had closed the operations. Beresford held a conference with the Spanish generals at Valverde, on the 13th, when it was resolved to abide113 the enemy’s attack at Albuera. The position taken by the allied forces was, it is said, singularly defective114. It was occupied by thirty thousand infantry, above two thousand cavalry, and thirty-eight pieces of artillery; but the brigade of the fourth division being still absent, the British infantry, the pith and strength of the battle, did not amount to seven thousand. The French had fifty guns, and above four thousand veteran cavalry, but only nineteen thousand chosen infantry; yet being of one nation, obedient to one discipline, and animated116 by one spirit, their excellent composition amply compensated117 for inferiority of numbers. Beside which, it is acknowledged by military men, that the talents of their general were immeasurably greater than those of his adversary118. Soult examined Beresford’s position without hindrance119 on the evening of the 15th, and having detected the weakness of the entire arrangement, resolved to attack the next morning. Passing by the varied120 evolutions which preceded the contest, it may be sufficient to observe, that a little before nine in the morning, Godinet’s division issued from the woods in one heavy column of attack, preceded by ten guns. He was flanked by the light cavalry, and followed by Werle’s division of reserve; and, making straight towards the bridge, commenced a sharp cannonade, attempting to force the passage. The allies’ guns, on the rising ground above the village, answered the fire of the French, and ploughed through their columns, which were crowding without judgment121 146towards the bridge, although the stream was fordable above and below.
Beresford, convinced that the principal effort would be on the right, sent Blake orders to form a part of the first and all the second line of the Spanish army on the broad part of the hills, at right angles to their actual front. Soon after, the enemy’s columns began to appear on the right; and Blake, moving at last, proceeded in the evolution with such pedantic122 slowness, that Beresford, impatient of his folly123, took the direction in person. Great was the confusion and delay thus occasioned; and before the troops could be put in order, the French were among them. In one short half-hour Beresford’s situation was rendered nearly desperate. Two-thirds of the French were in compact order of battle, on a line perpendicular124 to his right, and his army, disordered, and composed of different nations, was still in the difficult act of changing its front. The Spaniards were already in disorder; some had given way; and Soult, thinking that the whole army was yielding, pushed forward his columns, while his reserves also mounted the hill, and all the batteries were placed in position. At this critical moment, General Stewart arrived with Colonel Colborne’s brigade, which formed the head of the second division. The colonel seeing the confusion above, desired to form in order of battle previous to mounting the ascent; but Stewart, carried away by the impetuosity of his feelings, led up without any delay in column of companies, and attempted to open out his line in succession as the battalions arrived at the summit. Being under a destructive fire, the foremost charged to gain room, but a heavy rain prevented any object from being distinctly seen; and four regiments of Hussars and Lancers, which had passed the right flank in obscurity, came galloping in upon the rear of the line, at the instant of its development, and slew125 or took two-thirds of the brigade. In the tumult126, a lancer fell upon Beresford, 147but the marshal, a man of great strength, putting his spear aside, cast him from his saddle; and a shift of wind blowing aside the mist and smoke, the mischief127 was perceived from the plains by General Lumley, who sent four squadrons out upon the Lancers, and cut many of them off.
During this unhappy effort of the second division, so great was the confusion that the Spanish line continued to fire, although the British were before them; on which Beresford, finding his exhortations128 to advance fruitless, seized an ensign, and bore him and his colours by main force to the front. Yet the troops would not follow, and the man went back again on being released. At this juncture129, Sir William Stewart once more advanced; and the weather having cleared, he poured a dreadful fire into the thickest of the French columns, convincing Soult, that whatever might be the result, the day was not yet won. Houghton’s regiments soon got footing on the summit, Dickson placed the artillery in line; the remaining brigade of the second division came up on the left; and two Spanish corps at last moved forward. The enemy’s infantry then recoiled; yet soon recovering, renewed the fight with greater violence than before. The cannon on both sides discharged showers of grape at half range, and the peals131 of musketry were incessant, and often within pistol-shot. But the close formation of the French embarrassed their battle, and the British line would not yield them one inch of ground nor a moment of time to open their ranks. Their fighting was, however, fierce and dangerous. Stewart was twice hurt, Colonel Duckworth of the 48th was slain, and the valiant132 Houghton, who had received many wounds without shrinking, fell, and died in the act of encouraging his men.
Still the combat raged with unabated fury. Colonel Inglis, twenty-two officers, and more than four hundred men, out of five hundred and seventy that had ascended133 the hill, fell in the 57th alone. And the other regiments were 148much the same in loss; not one-third were standing134 in any. Ammunition135 failed; and as the English fire slackened, the enemy established a column in advance upon the right flank. The play of Dickson’s artillery checked them for a moment, but again the Polish Lancers charged, and captured six guns. In this desperate crisis, Colonel Hardinge boldly ordered Cole to advance; and then riding to Colonel Abercrombie, who commanded the remaining brigade of the second division, directed him also to push forward into the fight. The die being thus cast, the terrible battle was continued. The field was heaped with carcases; the lancers were riding furiously about the captured artillery on the upper slope of the hill, and on the lower parts a Spanish and an English regiment, in mutual136 error, were exchanging volleys; behind all, some Portuguese137, in withdrawing from the heights above the bridge, appeared to be in retreat. All now appeared to be lost, when all was in a few minutes gained by the conduct of a few brave and unconquerable men. Colonel Arbuthnot pushing between the fire of the mistaken troops, enlightened their minds; while Cole, with the Fusileers, flanked by a battalion19 of the Lusitanian legion, mounted the hill, dispersed138 the lancers, recovered the captured guns, and soon appeared on the right of Houghton’s brigade.
Such a gallant139 line issuing from the midst of the smoke, and rapidly separating itself from the confused and broken multitude, startled the enemy’s heavy masses, which were increasing and pressing onwards as to an assured victory; they wavered, hesitated, and then vomiting140 forth a storm of fire, hastily endeavoured to enlarge their front, while a fearful discharge of grape from all their artillery whistled through the British ranks. Myers was killed; Cole and the three colonels, Ellis, Blakeny, and Hawkshawe, fell wounded; and the fusileer battalions, struck by the iron tempest, began to reel. In that moment, when the last 149particle of energy appeared to be gone, they arose in almost unprecedented141 might, and surpassed their former selves. Closing at once with their enemies, the strength and intrepidity142 of a British soldier were exhibited in deeds seldom seen. In vain did Soult, by voice and gesture, animate115 his Frenchmen; in vain did the hardiest143 veterans, extricating144 themselves from the crowded columns, sacrifice their lives to gain time for the mass to open out on so fair a field; in vain did the mass itself bear up, and, fiercely striving, fire indiscriminately upon friends and foes, while the horsemen, hovering145 on the flank, threatened to charge the advancing line. Nothing could stop that astonishing infantry. Their eyes were bent146 on the dark columns in front; their firm, heavy, and measured tread shook the ground; their dreadful volleys swept away the head of every formation; their deafening147 shouts overpowered the dissonant148 cries that broke from all parts of the tumultuous crowd, as foot by foot, and with horrid149 carnage, it was driven by the vigour of the attack to the extreme edge of the hill. Here the last stand was made, with the hope of averting150 this mountain torrent151. But it was in vain: the effort only served to increase the irremediable confusion; and the mighty152 mass giving way, like a loosened cliff, went headlong down the ascent.
The rain flowed after in streams discoloured with blood; and of six thousand British soldiers who performed these wonders, fifteen hundred unwounded men were all that remained upon the fatal hill. The serious fighting had endured only four hours; and in that space of time nearly seven thousand of the allies and above eight thousand of their antagonists153 were struck down. Three French generals were wounded, two slain, and eight hundred soldiers so badly hurt as to be left on the field. On Beresford’s side, beside the loss of the British already named, two thousand Spaniards and six hundred Germans and 150Portuguese were killed or wounded. The trophies154 of the French were five hundred unwounded prisoners, a howitzer, and several stand of colours; the British had nothing of that sort to display; but the piles of carcases within their lines told, with convincing eloquence155, who were the conquerors156; and all the night the rain poured down, and the rivers and hills and woods resounded157 with the groans158 of dying men. On the 18th Soult retreated.
Towards winter I was charged with a mission to fetch clothing from Lisbon for the use of the regiment. One description of article was flannel159 shirts, of which I received six hundred, for the approaching winter wear. On returning, I met with an accident, which had nearly deprived me of sight. One of our party, with consummate160 carelessness, placed his powder-horn upon the table, fully35 charged, and by some accident the whole quantity exploded; my face was sadly scorched161, but providentially the organs of vision received no lasting162 injury. Our party consisted of six or seven persons: of these, three were corporals, of whom I was senior. Having to pass over several mountains of vast height, our progress was necessarily slow. One evening, having ascended the slope of a stupendous hill, on which the snow was deep, we were unable to move the cars on which the stores were carried. Having also but an imperfect knowledge of the pass, we found ourselves compelled to spend the night in that bleak163 and desolate164 region. All the shelter we could procure was to creep under the cars. Two of the men were soon after seized with ague, and suffered extremely. The silence which prevailed in this elevated region was singularly impressive.
After a wearisome night, which appeared almost endless, we were happy to perceive the first morning ray. We soon after discovered a man coming our way, driving two bullocks. I thought the omen6 a happy one; and in the 151spirit of the national war then raging I ordered the man to stop, and without hesitation165 pressed the animals into our service, by yoking166 them to our cars. The driver demanded my authority for so doing. I told him to look at my musket. To my dismay I afterwards found that some of the troops had been in the habit of laying violent hands upon cattle, having no other object in view than to extort167 money from the owners when they applied to reclaim168 their property. To put down this practice, Lord Wellington had issued a proclamation, of which, unfortunately, I had not heard, denouncing these excesses in terms of great severity. In fact, strange as it appeared to myself, who had no intention of violating general orders, on my arrival at quarters I was handed over to the provost-marshal, deprived of my arms and acoutrements, and thrown into confinement169 among some of the most ill-favoured vagabonds that ever infested170 man or beast. The officer in whose custody I was placed proved himself one of Job’s comforters. He gave me to understand that not long since a man in the 52nd had been shot for the exact crime of which I was guilty; he then closed the prison-door and departed. Conscious, however, that I had intended neither to rob nor injure, my mind was supported. Let me tell an old-fashioned secret: the Almighty171 has always been my guide and defence. What is more, He always will. But, says an objector, this is rank fanaticism172. That I cannot help: such is the truth; nor can it be altered by the coinage of any term, whether of approval or reproach. On the occasion now described, I was released as if nothing had happened. After my enlargement had taken place, I found that my worthy173 comrades had been to the owner of the animals, and had exhausted174 the entire circle of a soldier’s pleading on my behalf. I was young, had not heard of the late order, knew no better, used no violence, asked for no money, was an Irishman; beside which they gave 152him to understand that I was a good Catholic, to which I believe they subjoined a little cash in hand. These two latter arguments were irresistible175, and the matter was smoothly176 settled.
The new year opened with uncommon177 effort on the side of the British forces in Spain. Lord Wellington, whose means of collecting information were extensive and correct, had discovered that a considerable reduction had taken place in the French army. The Imperial Guards, seventeen thousand strong, were required for the Russian war, and had returned to France; so that the force in the Peninsula was diminished by sixty thousand men. Marmont was also deceived, by what appeared to him the careless winter attitude of the allies, and Ciudad Rodrigo was left unprotected. The Frenchman was mistaken; and Wellington resolved to show that he was, by grasping at that fortress. The troops disposable for the attack of Ciudad Rodrigo were about thirty-five thousand, including cavalry. From the scarcity178 of transports, only thirty-eight guns could be brought to the trenches179, and these would have wanted their proper supply of ammunition if eight thousand shot had not been found among the ruins of Almeida. When the place was closely examined, it was found that the French, in addition to the old works, had fortified180 two convents. They had also constructed an enclosed and pallisadoed redoubt upon the Greater Teson; and this redoubt, called Francisco, was supported by two guns and a howitzer, placed upon the flat roof of the convent of that name. On minutely inspecting these enlarged works, it was resolved to storm Fort Francisco, and, opening the first parallel along the Greater Teson, to form counter-batteries with which to ruin the defences and drive the besieged181 from the convent. Meanwhile, to cover the siege, Julian Sanchez and Carlos d’Espana were posted in observation of the enemy.
153On the 8th of January, the eighth division and some Portuguese forded the Agueda near Caridad, three miles above the fortress, and making a circuit took post beyond the Great Teson. As there was no regular investment, the enemy did not believe that the siege was commenced; but in the evening the troops stood to their arms, and Colonel Colborne, commanding the 52nd, having assembled two companies from each of the British regiments of the light division, stormed the redoubt of Francisco: of this party I had the honour to make one. The attack was so rapid and furious that the assailants appeared to be at one and the same time in the ditch, mounting the parapets, fighting on the top of the rampart, and forcing the gorge182 of the redoubt, where the explosion of one of the French shells had burst the gate open. The post was taken with the loss only of twenty-four men and officers; and working parties were set to labour on the right of it, for the fort itself was instantly covered with shot and shells from the town. This tempest continued through the night; but at day-break the parallel, six hundred yards in length, was sunk three feet deep and four wide; the communication over the Teson to the rear was completed, and the progress of the siege was hastened several days by this well-managed assault. I was exposed to the fire of the enemy for some time previous to our arrival at the fort, but sustained no injury. We were discovered when about a hundred and fifty yards from the fort.
After the redoubt had been taken, I was employed with several others in escorting the prisoners to a place of safety. The garrison, it seems, had no expectation of this unceremonious visit; and when we entered the place I observed several packs of cards, with which the men had been amusing themselves. On returning, I unexpectedly came in contact with a French soldier, who by some means or other had escaped notice. I called out instantly, desiring 154him to surrender, which he did; but while in the act of conducting him to the others, a British sergeant183, who deserves to be named, but on whom compassionate184 silence shall be shown, stopped the prisoner for the sake of plunder185. Enraged186 at this unjust and discreditable interference, I placed my gun on the ground, determined to knock down the interloper, and secure my captive. A scuffle accordingly ensued; when in an instant, we found to our dismay that further contention187 was needless. The Frenchman observing our quarrel, instantly took to his heels, and being exceedingly alert, was out of sight before I could fire at him.
On the 12th we were employed in the trenches, from whence we picked off the enemy’s gunners. The riflemen, also, taking advantage of a thick fog, did great execution; but in the night the weather was so cold and the besieged shot so briskly, that little progress was made. Two days afterwards, the enemy, having observed that the men in the trenches went off in a disorderly manner on the approach of the relief, made a sally, and overturned the gabions of the sap; they even penetrated188 to the parallel, and were upon the point of entering the batteries, when a few of the workmen getting together, checked them until a support arrived, and thus the guns were saved. This affair, together with the death of the engineer on duty, and the heavy fire from the town, delayed the opening of the breaching190 batteries; but at half past four in the evening, twenty-five heavy guns battered191 the rampart, and two pieces were directed against the convent of Francisco. The spectacle was sublime192. The enemy replied by more than fifty pieces; the bellowing193 of eighty large guns shook the ground far and wide; the smoke rested in heavy columns upon the battlements of the place; the walls crashed to the blow of the bullet; and when night put an end to this turmoil194, the quick clatter195 of musketry was heard like the 155pattering of hail after a peal130 of thunder; for the 40th regiment assaulted and carried the convent of Francisco, and established itself on the suburb on the left of the attack.
On the 17th the firing on both sides was very heavy, and the wall of the place was beaten down in large cantles; but several of the besiegers’ guns were dismounted, their batteries injured, and many of their men killed. General Borthwick, the commandant of the artillery, was wounded, and the sap was entirely196 ruined. Even the riflemen in the pits were at first overpowered with grape; yet towards evening they recovered the upper hand, and the French could fire only from the more distant embrasures. In the night the battery intended for the lesser197 breach189 was armed, and that on the Lower Teson raised, so as to afford cover in the day-time. On the 19th it was reported that both breaches198 were practicable, and a plan of attack was immediately formed.
All the troops reached their different posts without seeming to attract the attention of the enemy; but before the signal was given, and while Lord Wellington was still at the convent of Francisco, the attack on the right commenced, and was instantly taken up along the whole line. The space between the army and the ditch was then ravaged199 by a tempest of grape from the ramparts. The storming parties of the third division jumped out of the parallel when the first shout arose; but so rapid had been the movements on their right, that before they could reach the ditch three regiments had already scoured200 the faussebraye, and were pushing up the great breach, amid the bursting of shells, the whistling of grape and muskets, and the shrill201 cries of the French, who were driven fighting behind the retrenchments. There, however, they rallied, and, aided by the musketry from the houses, made hard battle for their post; none would go back on either side, and yet the British could not get forward; and men and 156officers, falling in heaps, choked up the passage, which was incessantly202 raked with grape from two guns flanking the top of the breach at the distance of a few yards. It was now our turn. We had three hundred yards to clear; but, impatient of delay, we did not wait for the hay-bags, but swiftly ran to the crest203 of the glacis, jumped down the scarp, a depth of eleven feet, and rushed up the faussebraye, under a smashing discharge of grape and musketry. The bottom of the ditch was dark and intricate, and the forlorn hope took too much to their left; but the storming party went straight to the breach, which was so contracted that a gun placed lengthwise across the top nearly blocked up the opening. Here the forlorn hope rejoined the stormers; but when two-thirds of the ascent were gained, the leading men, crushed together by the narrowness of the place, staggered under the weight of the enemy’s fire. Our commander, Major Napier, was at this moment struck to the earth by a grape-shot, which shattered his arm, but he called to his men to trust to their bayonets; and all the officers simultaneously204 sprang to the front, when the charge was renewed with a furious shout, and the entrance was gained. The supporting regiments then came up in sections abreast, and the place was won. During the contest, which lasted only for a few minutes after the faussebraye was passed, the fighting had continued at the great breach with unabated violence; but when the 43rd and the stormers of the light division came pouring down on the right flank of the French, the latter yielded to the storm; at the same moment the explosion of three wall-magazines destroyed many persons, and the third division with a mighty effort broke through the retrenchments. The garrison fought for a short time in the streets, but finally fled to the castle, where an officer, who, though wounded, had been amongst the foremost at the lesser breach, received the governor’s sword.
157
STORMING OF CIUDAD RODRIGO.
158The allies now plunged205 into the streets from all quarters; after which, throwing off the restraints of discipline, frightful206 excesses were committed. The town was fired in three or four places; the soldiers menaced their officers, and shot each other; many were killed in the market-place; intoxication207 soon increased the disorder; and at last, the fury rising to an absolute madness, a fire was wilfully208 lighted in the middle of the great magazine, when the town, and all in it, would have been blown to atoms, but for the energetic courage of some officers and a few soldiers, who still preserved their senses. Three hundred French had fallen, fifteen hundred were made prisoners; and beside the immense store of ammunition, above one hundred and fifty pieces of artillery were captured in the place. The whole loss of the allies was about twelve hundred soldiers, and ninety officers; and of these above six hundred and fifty men, and sixty officers, had been slain or hurt in the breaches. General Crauford and General Mackinnon were killed. With these died many gallant men, and amongst others, a captain in the regiment to which I belonged. Of him it was felicitously209 said, that ‘three generals and seventy other officers had fallen; but the soldiers fresh from the strife210 only talked of Hardyman.’ Unhappily, the slaughter211 did not end with the battle; for the next day, as the prisoners and their escort were marching out by the breach, an accidental explosion took place, and numbers of both were blown into the air. The personal sufferings of the soldiers were severe, as the service had been unusually dangerous. While in the front ditch near the glacis, a live shell exploded within a few paces of the spot on which I stood. We threw ourselves flat on the ground, but though nearly suffocated212 by the dust it threw around, no material injury was inflicted213 either on myself or comrades.
The station I was ordered to take on the following day was of a melancholy214 cast. It was in the ditch, among the 159unburied dead. Nothing struck me more forcibly than the conduct of a soldier’s widow. Suspecting that her husband had fallen, she traversed this vale of death to seek him. Never shall I forget the anguish215 of her soul when she discovered the much-loved remains. The brave man had fallen covered with wounds; his countenance was sadly disfigured, and suffused216 with blood. She fell upon his face, and kissed his faded lips; she then gazed at the lifeless form, repeated her embraces, and gave way to the wild and ungovernable grief which struggled for expression. Sin! what hast thou done? Nor can I forbear observing, that a noble disregard for suffering, and fortitude of no common kind, were frequently shown both by officers and men, though severely217 hurt and disabled. None retired to the rear, until compelled by stern necessity. This resolute218 disposition80 to surmount31, and if possible forget all surmountable219 difficulties, reminds me of a French royalist officer, in the late revolutionary war. Being engaged in a desperate action, he had the misfortune to have both his legs carried away by a cannon-ball. While lying on the ground, a wounded soldier indulged in loud and clamorous220 complaints: ‘Peace, friend,’ said the officer, ‘our God died upon the cross; our king perished on the scaffold; and I have lost my limbs. Revere221 the Almighty, and be patient.’
The siege of Ciudad Rodrigo lasted twelve days. When the commander-in-chief terminated his order for the assault, with this sentence, ‘Ciudad Rodrigo must be stormed this evening,’ he knew well that it would be nobly understood. The difficulties we had to encounter were great. The principal breach was cut off from the town by a perpendicular descent of sixteen feet; and the bottom was planted with sharp spikes222, and strewed223 with live shells. The houses behind were all loop-holed and sprinkled with musketeers.
The French had left their temporary bridges, but behind were parapets so powerfully defended, that it was said the 160third division could never have carried them, had not the light division taken the enemy in flank. To recompense an exploit so boldly undertaken and so nobly finished, Lord Wellington was created Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, by the Spaniards, Earl of Wellington, by the English, and Marquis of Torres Vedras, by the Portuguese.
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1
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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pivoted
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| adj.转动的，回转的，装在枢轴上的v.（似）在枢轴上转动( pivot的过去式和过去分词 )；把…放在枢轴上；以…为核心，围绕（主旨）展开 | |
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4
marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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5
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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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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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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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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allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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battalions
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| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
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precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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26
avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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appeasing
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的现在分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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surmount
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| vt.克服；置于…顶上 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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invincibility
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| n.无敌，绝对不败 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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quailed
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| 害怕，发抖，畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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sustenance
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| n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计 | |
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50
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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51
devastating
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| adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的 | |
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52
locusts
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| n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 )；贪吃的人；破坏者；槐树 | |
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53
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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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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64
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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65
detesting
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的现在分词 ) | |
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66
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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67
gendarmes
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| n.宪兵，警官( gendarme的名词复数 ) | |
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68
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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69
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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70
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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71
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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72
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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73
pillaged
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| v.抢劫，掠夺( pillage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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75
declivity
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| n.下坡，倾斜面 | |
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76
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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77
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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78
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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79
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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80
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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81
dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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82
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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83
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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84
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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85
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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86
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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87
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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88
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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89
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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90
meddled
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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92
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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93
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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94
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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95
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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96
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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97
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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98
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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99
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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100
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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101
excavations
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| n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 )；开凿；开凿的洞穴（或山路等）；（发掘出来的）古迹 | |
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102
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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103
evacuate
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| v.遣送；搬空；抽出；排泄；大(小)便 | |
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104
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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105
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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106
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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107
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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108
retard
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| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
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109
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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110
chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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111
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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112
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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113
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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114
defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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115
animate
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| v.赋于生命，鼓励；adj.有生命的，有生气的 | |
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116
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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117
compensated
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| 补偿，报酬( compensate的过去式和过去分词 )； 给（某人）赔偿（或赔款） | |
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118
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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119
hindrance
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| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
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120
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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121
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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122
pedantic
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| adj.卖弄学问的；迂腐的 | |
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123
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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124
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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125
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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126
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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127
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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128
exhortations
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| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
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129
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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130
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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131
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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132
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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133
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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134
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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135
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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136
mutual
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|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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137
Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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138
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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139
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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140
vomiting
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| 吐 | |
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141
unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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142
intrepidity
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| n.大胆，刚勇；大胆的行为 | |
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143
hardiest
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| 能吃苦耐劳的，坚强的( hardy的最高级 )； （植物等）耐寒的 | |
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144
extricating
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的现在分词 ) | |
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145
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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146
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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147
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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148
dissonant
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| adj.不和谐的；不悦耳的 | |
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149
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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150
averting
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| 防止，避免( avert的现在分词 )； 转移 | |
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151
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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152
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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153
antagonists
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| 对立[对抗] 者，对手，敌手( antagonist的名词复数 )； 对抗肌； 对抗药 | |
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154
trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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155
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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156
conquerors
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| 征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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157
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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158
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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159
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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160
consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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161
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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162
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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163
bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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164
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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165
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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166
yoking
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| 配轭，矿区的分界 | |
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167
extort
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| v.勒索，敲诈，强要 | |
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168
reclaim
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| v.要求归还，收回；开垦 | |
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169
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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170
infested
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| adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于 | |
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171
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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172
fanaticism
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| n.狂热，盲信 | |
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173
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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174
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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175
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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176
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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177
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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178
scarcity
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| n.缺乏，不足，萧条 | |
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179
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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180
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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181
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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182
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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183
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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184
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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185
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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186
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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187
contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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188
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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189
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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190
breaching
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| 攻破( breach的过去式 )； 破坏，违反 | |
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191
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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192
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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193
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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194
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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195
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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196
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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197
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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198
breaches
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| 破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背 | |
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199
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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200
scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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201
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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202
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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203
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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204
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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205
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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206
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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207
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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208
wilfully
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| adv.任性固执地；蓄意地 | |
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209
felicitously
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| adv.恰当地，适切地 | |
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210
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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211
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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212
suffocated
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| （使某人）窒息而死( suffocate的过去式和过去分词 )； （将某人）闷死； 让人感觉闷热； 憋气 | |
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213
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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214
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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215
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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216
suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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217
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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218
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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219
surmountable
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| 可战胜的，可克服的 | |
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220
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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221
revere
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| vt.尊崇，崇敬，敬畏 | |
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222
spikes
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| n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
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223
strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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