Badajoz

March 17th - April 6th 1812

Plans of the action

Third & successful assault on Badajoz, 6^th April 1812, commencing at 2130hrs.

Deployment of troops for the assault:

4^th Division             To attack the breach in Trinidad & the new one to the west of it

Light Division         To attack the breach in Santa Maria bastion.

3rd Division             To escalade the castle.

5^th Division              (a) One British brigade to escalade the bastion of San Vincente.

(b) One Portuguese brigade to escalade the outworks of Pardeleras.

(c) One British brigade held in reserve.

Trench Guard            To escalade San Roque

Power’s Portuguese brigade       To make a feint attack on the bridgehead, Tete de pont.           

The assaults by the 4^th & Lt Division on the main breaches, after 2 hours failed and the men were recalled. It was Picton’s infantry that managed to scale the castle walls and Maj – Gen Walker’s brigade carried the bastion of San Vincente.

Allied casualties for the assault were 744 men killed & 2858 wounded.

Total losses for the siege & storm from the 15^th March to 6^th April were 4670.

Strength of the French garrison was 5003.

Fort San Cristobal                   From the Castle looking at San Cristobal

The bridge over the River Guadiana

The Castle from Fort San Cristobal            The walls of the Castle the attack of the 3rdDivision

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