File:A history of the Peninsular War (1902) (14579529387).jpg

Identifier: historyofpenins05oman (find matches)
Title: A history of the Peninsular War
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Oman, Charles William Chadwick, Sir, 1860-1946
Subjects: Peninsular War, 1807-1814
Publisher: Oxford : Clarendon Press
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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atforms both of the ramparts andthe fausse-braye narrowest. Moreover here had been situatedthe gun which best flanked the original great breach V The garrison found it impossible either to repair the breachesor to clear away the debris which had fallen from them. Allthat could be done was to commence retrenchments andinner defences behind them. This was done with some effectat the great breach, where cuts were made in the ramparts oneach side of the demolished section, parapets thrown up behindthe cuts, and two 24-pounders dragged into position to firelaterally into the lip of the easy slope of debris which trendedup to the ruined wall. At the second or smaller breach muchless was accomplished—the warning was short, for it had neverbeen guessed that this tower was to be battered, and the spaceupon whic hwork could be done was very limited. It was hopedthat the narrowness of the gap might be its protection—it was1 See Barries report in appendix to Belmas, iv. p. 299. CIUDAD RODRIGO
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tteries thus ;Ml B.V.^a^J^sWe, Qx^rrd, jc(;^ 1912) THE BREACHES COMPLETED 177 but a seam in the wall compared with the gaping void at thefirst and greater breach. On the morning of the 19th the fire was recommenced, withsome little assistance from the two guns which had now begunto work from the advanced battery in the second parallel. Thebreaches continued to crumble: that at the tower looked aseasy in slope (though not nearly so broad) as that at the originalpoint of attack, and an incessant fire all day kept the enemyfrom making any repairs. No more could be done for thebreaches, wherefore Wellington ordered that some of the siege-guns should turn their attention to silencing the French firefrom the remoter points of the northern wall. Several of theirguns were dismounted : but even by dusk there were many stillmaking reply. There was now nothing to prevent the assault from beingdelivered, since it had been settled that no attempt was to bemade to sap up nearer the walls, or to blo

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