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The Battle
of San Sebastian, Peninsula War in historical military prints Assault
on the Breach of San Sebastian by military artist Mark Churms published by
Cranston Fine Arts, the military print company.
THE STORMING OF SAN SEBASTIAN
The Storming party, 750 volunteers, included 200 men of the Guards, one hundred
each from the First and Coldstream Guards. They moved off at two in the morning
on the 31st August 1813, and occupied a ruined convent where they remained till
half past nine. Aware of the almost impossible task ahead of them, and subjected
to a violent electric thunderstorm, the troops waited in a state of savage anticipation. ' Wild
senseless laughter' was said to have preceded the attack on the breach which
could not be entered except in single file under heavy fire. The troops attacked
in succession, but were struck down by hundreds. General Graham then ordered
the artillery to fire over the heads of the assailants, clearing the ramparts.
A shell ignited a quantity of powder, and under cover of the explosions, the
storming party forced its way into the town.
San Sebastian was savagely sacked and burned, and the good name of Wellington's
Army suffered as it had done at Badajoz. The civilians were raped, robbed and
murdered in revenge for the heavy losses suffered by the troops. The Franco-Spanish
governor retired the citadel (San Marcial) and on the 9th September, after
a gallant resistance of over a week, surrendered the charge he had so faithfully
defended. The casualties among the officers of the first Guards were one Officer,
Ensign Burrard, First battalion (a son of Sir Henry Burrard who was responsible
for the disastrous Treaty of Cintra) severely wounded, since dead, and one Officer,
Ensign Orlando Bridgeman, wounded. In the Coldstream Guards, one officer ensign
Thomas Chaplin, According to Lord Saltoun there were in round numbers, 150 casualties
amongst 200 Guardsman. Total losses of volunteers from all regiments were 1500
men. (text by Atlanta Clifford, assistant to the Curator-The Guards Museum)
In the painting. you see Ensign Chaplin lying wounded, attended by an Officer
of the Coldstream Guards, Orlando Bridgeman is calling Assistant Surgeon Bacot,
First Foot Guards, to go to the aid of his fellow officer, Burrard.
Grenadier Guards at San Sebastian
At San Sebastian they contributed 100 men to the 750
who, in Wellington's words were "to show the way to the breach, if it
should be practicable." A tremendous fire met them as they marched to
the assault. Hurling themselves as a living torrent upon that gap, where
but a man could enter at a time, hundreds fell in the withering fire,
until the artillery, opening over their heads, a magazine was exploded
within, and in the fiery tempest that followed they swarmed headlong up
the works, and San Sebastian was won.
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Assault on the Breach of San Sebastian by Mark Churms.
The Storming party, 750 volunteers, included 200 men of the Guards, one hundred each from the First and Coldstream Guards. They moved off at two in the morning on the 31st August 1813, and occupied a ruined convent where they remained till half past nine. Aware of the almost impossible task ahead of them, and subjected to a violent electric thunderstorm, the troops waited in a state of savage anticipation. Wild senseless laughter was said to have preceded the attack on the breach which could not be entered except in single file under heavy fire. The troops attacked in succession, but were struck down by hundreds. General Graham then ordered the artillery to fire over the heads of the assailants, clearing the ramparts. A shell ignited a quantity of powder, and under cover of the explosions, the storming party forced its way into the town. San Sebastian was savagely sacked and burned, and the good name of Wellingtons Army suffered as it had done at Badajoz. The civilians were raped, robbed and murdered in revenge for the heavy losses suffered by the troops. The Franco-Spanish governor retired the citadel (San Marcial) and on the 9th September, after a gallant resistance of over a week, surrendered the charge he had so faithfully defended. The casualties among the officers of the first Guards were one Officer, Ensign Burrard, First battalion (a son of Sir Henry Burrard who was responsible for the disastrous Treaty of Cintra) severely wounded, since dead, and one Officer, Ensign Orlando Bridgeman, wounded. In the Coldstream Guards, one officer ensign Thomas Chaplin, According to Lord Saltoun there were in round numbers, 150 casualties amongst 200 Guardsman. Total losses of volunteers from all regiments were 1500 men. (text by Atlanta Clifford, assistant to the Curator-The Guards Museum) In the painting. you see Ensign Chaplin lying wounded, attended by an Officer of the Coldstream Guards, Orlando Bridgeman is calling Assistant Surgeon Bacot, First Foot Guards, to go to the aid of his fellow officer, Burrard.
Signed limited edition of 1000 prints. Image size 23 inches x 15 inches (58cm x 38cm). Price £90.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 23 inches x 15 inches (58cm x 38cm). Price £130.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00
ITEM CODE DHM0299
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THE STORMING OF SAN SEBASTIAN
The Storming party, 750 volunteers, included 200 men of the Guards, one
hundred each from the First and Coldstream Guards. They moved off at two
in the morning on the 31st August 1813, and occupied a ruined convent
where they remained till half past nine. Aware of the almost impossible
task ahead of them, and subjected to a violent electric thunderstorm, the
troops waited in a state of savage anticipation. ' Wild senseless
laughter' was said to have preceded the attack on the breach which could
not be entered except in single file under heavy fire. The troops attacked
in succession, but were struck down by hundreds. General Graham then
ordered the artillery to fire over the heads of the assailants, clearing
the ramparts. A shell ignited a quantity of powder, and under cover of the
explosions, the storming party forced its way into the town.
San Sebastian was savagely sacked and burned, and the good name of
Wellington's Army suffered as it had done at Badajoz. The civilians were
raped, robbed and murdered in revenge for the heavy losses suffered by the
troops. The Franco-Spanish governor retired the citadel (San Marcial) and
on the 9th September, after a gallant resistance of over a week,
surrendered the charge he had so faithfully defended. The casualties among
the officers of the first Guards were one Officer, Ensign Burrard, First
battalion (a son of Sir Henry Burrard who was responsible for the
disastrous Treaty of Cintra) severely wounded, since dead, and one
Officer, Ensign Orlando Bridgeman, wounded. In the Coldstream Guards, one
officer ensign Thomas Chaplin, According to Lord Saltoun there were in
round numbers, 150 casualties amongst 200 Guardsman. Total losses of
volunteers from all regiments were 1500 men. (text by Atlanta Clifford,
assistant to the Curator-The Guards Museum)
In the painting. you see Ensign Chaplin lying wounded, attended by an
Officer of the Coldstream Guards, Orlando Bridgeman is calling Assistant
Surgeon Bacot, First Foot Guards, to go to the aid of his fellow officer,
Burrard.
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