408 LIEUT.-GENERAL THOMAS DYNELEY, 0.B., R.A. 
LETTER III. 
(To Caprain J. K. Dovetas, R.A.) 
FurntEs p’Onoro, 
January 22nd, 1812. 
As you will see my name among the wounded, my dear John, I do 
flatter myself you will all be happy to hear that I am now perfectly re- 
covered. I got a thump on the head from the splinter of a shell on the 
15th, which brought meto theground. I bled a good deal at the time 
and, having near two miles to walk to hospital, I became a little sick ; 
however, I soon got the wound dressed, borrowed a horse, and was back 
at the guns in less than an hourand a half, by which you may suppose I 
could not have been much hurt. For the next eight and forty hours 
I felt a little queer, but since then have not found the least incon- 
venience. You will wonder what business I had at Rodrigo. I will 
tell you. At the time the siege was first talked off, Colonel Framing- 
ham! happened to be staying with the troop, and he kindly wrote to 
General Borthwick? requesting he would employ me. Not hearing from 
him in answer, I set off to head-quarters at Gallegos, where the General 
told me he had not recéived “ Fram’s” letter, but that, even had he 
done so, it would be impossible for him to ask Lord Wellington, as he 
kad already refused an application he made for Henry Baynes’ com- 
pany ®to be employed. I told him I had a letter of introduction from 
the Chancellor * to his Lordship, and if he would only introduce me I 
would ask myself. He agreed to do so and I set off next morning and 
was in the battery by daylight. At 12 o’clock I came out and was 
introduced to his Lordship, who said, in answer to my request: ‘ Cer- 
tainly, put yourself under Major Dickson”.’? The Major was much 
pleased with my offer-and put me on duty at 2 o’clock, where I 
remained until 2 o’clock the next day. I do assure you the duty 
has been pretty severe, 24 hours on and 24 hours off, and we 
crowned it all with a most brilliant storm. I went down with our 
troops, merely intending to see them make the start, but when 
there I thought I might as well see the whole of the fun, and made 
one of the party to enter the breach, and certainly it was a very 
fine thing. As soon as the French suspected we were coming they 
threw a quantity of hand grenades and light balls from a 13-in. mortar 
which enabled them to see completely the whole of our troops. Our 
columns then pushed on and the whole business was finished in less 
than a quarter of an hour. The sight in and at the top of the breach 
was dreadful. We absolutely trampled the poor wounded fellows to 
death. The enemy soon left the ramparts, and the scene of plunder, 
that took place afterwards, was dreadful to a degree. The poor 
1 (Kane’s List, No. 524.) 
= (Kane’s List, No. 553.) 
3 2nd Captain H. Baynes covnamanded Captian J. May’s Company ist battalion in his absence as 
Brigade-Major R.A. 
4 John Scott, created Baron Eldon in 1799, and Lord High Chancellor in 1801. 
5 (Kano’s List, No 844.) 
