| By the end of August 1813, Wellington had almost pushed the French from
the whole of Spain. Three small enclaves remained in the north, one of them
being the fortress at San Sebastian. The population of the town amounted
to some 10,000 people of whom a number fought alongside the French during
the seige. An initial assault on the fortress was made on the 25th August
but was unsuccessful. On the 31st another attempt was made beginning with
a heavy bombardment and after some time the Allies were able to swarm into
the breeches in the walls. The town itself was soon on fire and Wellington
was accused in some of the Spanish newspapers of having ordered the firing;
the charge was blatantly false. The castle finally capitulated on the 5th
September, not the 9th as given on the medal. |
