Lot
2578 
Great Britain, (Napoleonic Wars - Siege of Badajoz) "Camp before Badajos, March 27th 1812", dateline on folded letter from a British soldier to his aunt at Isleworth, Middlesex, England, reverse with London (4.15) cds and two different strikes London Penny datestamps of Apr. 15th, manuscript "2/4" due rating and docketing at left; some edge wear, Fine, great Napoleonic War content of this bloody siege. Estimate $400 - 600.
The historical letter reads in part: "My dear Aunt. Though almost stewed by the heat of my tent, and my back nearly broken by writing a letter… after ten days pretty brisk firing I take up my pen. …that Elizabeth has completely got rid of her pain in the face which has lasted so long, though in truth, seeing the face to which i t has attached itself, I cannot but think it is a pain of intricate taste and discrimination. …The men are in highest spirits and only fearful of a capitulation depriving them of the fun of a general pillage, which 1 suppose they would not give up for double the value of the plunder they expect to make. Our battery began to fire from 28 guns. The morning before yesterday at nine at night, General Kempt with 400 men, stormed and carried an outwork called Piciarigna, killing, wounding and taking prisoners (mostly wounded) the whole garison, 233 men, loosing 15 Officers and about 200 men himself. How they got in at all is astonishing, I examined it yesterday morning, as accurately as heavy firing would permit, and would for my part rather have attacked the Town itself. The enemy were greatly alarmed at the attack in the Town which seemed in a blaze, firing from every gun they could get to bear on our lines, and throwing showers of shells. The appearance was grand beyond measure, and the English cheers formed a contrast with the yells of the French. Our daily loss in the trenches is not so great as at G.R. the ground being less stony. We have lost some choice Officers however in them, among the number, a young Engineer acquaintance of high promise, his head was carried away by a cannon ball. We are all encamped round the Town, but sheltered from direct fire by little rises in the ground. The firing is pretty heavy at present. In a few days our breaching battery opens fire with 14 first guns, when the roar will be tremendous…"
The Siege of Badajoz (March 16th to April 6th 1812) was undertaken by an Anglo-Portuguese Army under General Arthur Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington) and besieged Badajoz, Spain, forcing the surrender of the French garrison. The siege was one of the bloodiest in the Napoleonic Wars and was considered a costly victory by the British, with some 4,800 Allied soldiers killed in a few short hours of intense fighting during the storming of the breaches as the siege drew to an end. Enraged at the huge amount of casualties they suffered in seizing the city, the troops broke into houses and stores consuming vast quantities of liquor with many of them then going on a rampage. Threatening their officers and ignoring their commands to desist, and even killing several, the troops massacred about 4,000 Spanish civilians. It took three days before the men were brought back into order.
Realized: $350