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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
The Brigade-Major takes care, this time, that the captains shall have 
copies of the rules, as well as “ catgut fuzes.” 
Badajos. Sir John May says “ I understand (at this siege) from the 
Spaniards that the French complained much of the effect of the shrapnel 
case shot, which they said was new to them, and that the English must have 
poisoned the balls, as the men hit by them never recovered from the effects 
of their wounds,” &c. 
Evidence goes to shew how the French musketry fire was kept down, and 
guns were prevented from being remounted by the fire of shrapnel at this 
siege; but the paper is limited, and room must be kept for other extracts. 
The late Sir Bobert Gardiner, although not approving of shrapnel under 
all circumstances, gives a remarkable instance of its efficacy at Badajos :— 
te At the last siege of Badajos, our batteries were excessively galled by the 
fire from the south flank and face of the St Pedro bastion. It soon became 
our object of course to enfilade and silence this annoyance; but neither 
round shot or common shell, though plunging in ricochet and exploding 
over the bastion could do it. At last we resorted to shrapnel, and that 
silenced our friends very soon.” 
“ On the fall of the place I went to the spot, to examine and ascertain if 
any traces of the effect of our fire remained. 
“ I found the left cheek of every gun carriage in the enfiladed flank of the 
bastion perfectly riddled with balls from our shrapnel. In fact, I don't 
think they fired half a dozen rounds from this point, from the time our 
enfilade began. No man indeed could stand to the guns under such a 
shower of balls.” 
St Sebastian. The effects produced by shrapnel at the siege of St 
Sebastian were very remarkable. Major-General Sir John T. Jones, K.C.B., 
Boyal Engineers, in the “ Journal of Sieges,” states a The spherical 
case shot from the 68-pr. carronades appeared to have very great effect; 
and it was afterwards ascertained that the garrison suffered much from 
this species of ammunition. They endeavoured to retaliate the annoyance 
on the besiegers, and with that view fired shells filled with small balls, 
to burst over the heads of the troops, but which produced no effect.” 
General Bey, the commandant, wrote to Soult as follows:—Aout 29,1813, 
“ Yous ne pouvez, Monseigneur vous faire une idee de la quantite de 
bombes et d'obus que l’ennemi y lance. Dans la ville c’est une grele con- 
tinuelle d’eclats d’obus, de boulets creux et de balles.” 
Pleasant. 
The attempt to retaliate must have been amusing to scientific observers. 
A tremendous burst, but “ no effect.” A hint for the French arsenals. 
Belmas, “ Defence de Saint Sebastien, 13 Nuit, du 23 au 24 Juillet,— 
Au jour les Anglaise firent de toutes leur batteries un feu terrible, tant sur 
les breclies que sur la ville. Ills lancerent une immense quantite de boulets 
creux, renfermant jusqua quatre cents balles.” 
L’Adjutant commandant de Songeon chef de la place pendant le siege, 
fait dans ses rapports les remarques suivants:— 
“ Ces projectiles nous causerent beaucoup de mal. II serait a desirer 
qu’on s’occupat dans nos arsenaux d’en confectioner de semblables. Quand 
vos obus ou boulets creux ne peuvent contenir que soixante ou soixante 
dix balles, il paraitrait ridicule que ceux de l’enemi en contenaient, jusqiia 
