984, MASTEReGENERAL OF THE ORDNANCE IN IRELAND. 
did very good service and they are already carried forward 
within less than 100 paces of the town which has no out- 
works.” 
The siege was carried on with great vigour until Lord Galway was 
severely wounded—his hand being struck off by a cannon ball which 
necessitated the amputation of his right arm. The leading spirit of 
the army being incapacitated from serving for some time the entire 
command devolved on Count Fagel, General of the Dutch troops, and the 
Marquis des Minas, General of the Portuguese and Generalissimo of 
the allied forces. They were out-generalled and out-manceuvred by 
the French Marshal, Tessé, who succeeded in throwing 1000 men into 
Badajoz. The siege was raised and on October 17th the allies began 
their retreat. Marshal Tessé followed them with part of his army, 
“but the march of the confederate forces being covered by the 
Marquis de Montandre with six battalions and eight squadrons, they 
drew off in very good order withoutany loss . . . . On arrival 
at Hlvas the army separated and went into winter quarters.” 
The following spring found the veteran Harl of Galway once more 
in the field and eager to march with the allied troops into Spain and 
join forces with the Harl of Peterborough. But, as before, his actions 
were hampered by the vacillating councils of the Portuguese Generals 
who were in favour of a defensive war in their own country rather 
than an offensive campaign in Spain. The old saying that “ every 
cock crows on his own dunghill”’ was strongly exemplified in the case 
of the Portuguese officers, whether taken as a body or individually. 
They were willing, and more than willing, to serve with the British 
and Dutch troops, for had not Hngland and Holland engaged themselves 
by treaty to pay 13,000 Portuguese soldiers while the war lasted, and 
were not Hngland and Holland better paymasters than His Majesty the 
King of Portugal? But they hoped to acquire a maximum of glory 
ata minimum of risk and also at a minimum of discomfort. After 
several councils of war had been held it was decided to march to the 
frontier and besiege Alcantara. ‘he allies arrived in front of this 
place early in April, and on the first night of their arrival 800 sappers 
were employed in raising earthworks and digging a trench deep 
enough to cover the troops. “The Marquis de Montandre,” we are 
told, “sustained the workmen with five battalions of foot and 200 
horse.” The French kept up a brisk fire all night and next day made 
a vigorous sally. Being repulsed with loss, the enemy surrendered 
the town on April 14th and the allies were left in possession. 
Lord Galway took advantage of this success to again press the 
question of a march to Madrid. Lord Peterborough sent pressing 
messages: ‘‘ Come over and help us,” was the continual cry from the 
Carlists and their allies in Spain. Barcelona was besieged by a large 
French army under Marshal Tessé and invested on the sea-board by a 
fleet of 80 French ships. Peterborough had his hands full in Catalonia. 
Charles III. was shut up in the beleaguered town. Never was there 
