In the meantime, the men of the KING'S OWN who had entered the town, finding the streets empty, the houses illuminated with lamps, and no appearance of opposition, excepting a few shots fired by the Spaniards from underneath the doors, they advanced with bugles sounding towards the great square of the town, capturing in their progress several mules laden with ammunition proceeding towards the breaches. Arriving at the square, it was found empty as the streets, the houses decorated with lamps; a low whispering was heard, and the lattices were occasionally opened and shut, but no troops appeared to be in the buildings. The castle had been won by the British troops; but at the breaches the fight was still raging, and dreadful sounds like the deep tones of distant thunder echoed through the town; the KING'S OWN rushed to the scene of conflict to attack the garrison in reverse, but were assailed by a heavy fire of musketry and forced back by superior numbers. At length the garrison was forced from the breaches, partial actions afterwards took place in various quarters, and eventually the governor, finding all lost, escaped with part of his garrison to the fort of St. Christoval, on the opposite side of the river, where he surrendered.
In the storming of Badajoz the FOURTH had Captain H. T. Bellingham and Lieutenant Francis Staveley killed; Lieutenants William Sheppard and Martin Dane died of their wounds; Major Alured W. Faunce, Captains John Williamson, G. W. Wilson, Robert Anwyl, and Thomas Burke, with Lieutenants W. S. L. Alley, J. Salvin, Patrick Conroy, John Browne, John Craster, Hygat Boyd, and Ensigns Robert Arnold and Edward Rawlings, wounded: the regiment also sustained a loss of two hundred and thirteen serjeants, drummers, and rank and file, killed and wounded.
The excellent conduct of the brigade was mentioned in Lord Wellington's despatch; and Lieut.-Colonel Brooke, who commanded the regiment, was also spoken of in terms of commendation.
During the assault, Private George Hatton, of the light company of the KING'S OWN, bayonetted the officer who carried the colours of the regiment of Hesse d'Armstadt, in the French service, and captured the colours, which he had the honour of presenting on the following day to Lord Wellington, who rewarded him with a present of money, and desired that he might be promoted.