two unsuccessful assaults, the siege was raised. In concluding his account of the siege in his despatch, Wellington expressed his indebtedness to Picton. On 10 June the allied army took up a defensive line on the right bank of the Guadiana, behind the fortresses of Elvas and Campo Major.
At the end of July Picton moved his division in the direction of Ciudad Rodrigo, and in August that place was closely invested by the allies with a view to blockade. On 25 Sept. Picton's right flank was closely pressed by Montbrun at the head of fifteen squadrons of cavalry and one battery of artillery, who made demonstrations of attack with a view to engage Picton's attention until the arrival of the French infantry and artillery; but Picton saw the critical situation, and that nothing but a rapid and regular movement upon Guinaldo could save his division from being cut off, and for six miles he led the third division across a level plain, harassed by the enemy's cavalry and artillery. To save his infantry from being annihilated by the charges of the enemy's cavalry, each battalion had in its turn to form the rearguard and keep back the cavalry by a volley, then fall back at double time behind the battalion which had formed in its rear. The division was saved by its own discipline and the firmness of Picton, who refused to form squares, and determined to continue his march. On 15 Oct. 1811 Picton was appointed colonel of the 77th or Middlesex regiment.
Marmont retired to Spain, and the allied army went into cantonments, Picton's division occupying Aldea de Ponte. In October Picton's uncle, General William Picton, died and left him his fortune. Early in January 1812 Picton was sent to the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo. On the 14th the 1st battery opened fire, and on the evening of the 19th Picton's division assaulted the right or great breach, while Crawfurd's division stormed the left or smaller breach. Both assaults were successful. Wellington, in his despatch, observed that ‘the conduct of the third division in the operations which they performed with so much gallantry and exactness on the evening of the 19th, in the dark, affords the strongest proof of the abilities of Lieutenant-general Picton and Major-general Mackinnon, by whom they were directed and led.’
In March 1812 Badajos was invested, and Picton was entrusted with the conduct of the siege. The assault was made on 6 April. The third division, which stormed the castle, was led in person by Picton, who was wounded. As he lay disabled in the ditch, he continued to urge on his men until the castle was taken. Subsequently, Picton expressed the warmest admiration of the conduct of his men. He sent his aide-de-camp, Captain Tyler, to report the capture of the place to Wellington, who directed Picton to hold the castle at all hazards. The last effort of the enemy was an attack upon the castle, which Picton's men repulsed with great slaughter. Picton's wound laid him up during the shameless sack of the place which tarnished the heroism of that awful night. A few days later Picton gave a guinea to each survivor in his division as a mark of his approval. Lord Liverpool, in the debate in the House of Lords of 27 April 1812, observed: ‘The conduct of General Picton has inspired a confidence in the army and exhibited an example of science and bravery which have been surpassed by no other officer. His exertions in the attack on the 6th cannot fail to excite the most lively feelings of admiration.’ Picton went to Salamanca with his division, but was too ill with fever to take part either in the attack on the forts or in the battle of Salamanca; and in August, after he had entered Madrid with Wellington, he was invalided to England, where a sojourn at Cheltenham restored his health.
Early in the spring of 1813 Picton returned to the Peninsula, having been received before his departure by the prince regent, who on 1 Feb. invested him with the collar and badge of a knight of the Bath at Carlton House. Picton's division now consisted of the right brigade, commanded by Major-general Brisbane, composed of the 1st battalions of the 45th regiment, the 74th regiment, the 1st battalion of the 88th regiment, and three companies of the 5th battalion of the 60th regiment; the centre brigade, of which he took the command himself, composed of the 1st battalion 5th regiment, 2nd battalion 83rd regiment, 2nd battalion 87th regiment, and the 94th regiment; and the left brigade, commanded by Major-general Power, and composed of three Portuguese regiments. From 6 Sept. 1811 Picton had held only local rank as lieutenant-general, but on 4 June 1813 he was promoted lieutenant-general in the army.
On 16 May 1813 the allied army, nearly one hundred thousand strong, was again in motion. Picton crossed the Douro on 18 May, and on 15 June the Ebro. On 21 June the French, numbering some sixty-five thousand men, held a strong position in front of Vittoria, their left resting on an elevated chain of craggy mountains, and their right on a rapid river. The battle began early in the morning, between the enemy's left and the
