pieces were particularly
troublesome. This weapon is almost unknown in our service, but it is a
very efficient one, especially in the defence of works, and its use
should not be neglected. Every fortified post should be supplied with a
proportion of them, and a certain number of men in every regiment
practised in firing them.

The charge recommended by Colonel Pasley, for blowing open gates is from
sixty to one hundred and twenty pounds, and this is, doubtless,
sufficient in ordinary cases; but in this instance we were apprehensive
that the enemy might have taken alarm at our being so much on that side
of the place, and in consequence, partially or wholly, built up the
gateway. It was afterwards found that some attempts of the kind had
been made by propping up the gate with beams.

The charge was so heavy, that it not only destroyed the gate, but
brought down a considerable portion of the roof of the square building
in which it was placed, which proved a very considerable obstacle to the
assaulting column, and the concussion acted as far as the tower, under
which an officer's party of her Majesty's 13th regiment were standing at
the time, but without occasioning any casualties. In cases of this
nature it is of course the first object to guard against any chance of
failure; and it is impossible, even now, to say how much the charge
might have been reduced with safety.

The enemy appeared so much on the alert, and the faussebraye was so much
in advance of the gate that we never contemplated being able to effect
our object by surprise. The only question was, whether it ought to be
done by day or night. It was argued in favor of the former, that the
Artillery would be able to make so much more correct practice that the
defences would be in a considerable degree destroyed, and the fire so
completely kept under as to enable the explosion party to advance with
but little loss, and with the advantage of being able to see exactly
what they were about. Captain Thompson, however, adhered to the latter,
and we were afterwards convinced it was the most judicious plan; for
although the fire of the Artillery was necessarily more general than it
would have been in daylight, still it was so well directed as to take up
a good deal of the attention of the besieged, and draw upon their
batteries a portion of the fire, which in daylight would have been
thrown down upon the explosion party and assaulting columns. It would
also, even in da