having been collecting contributions in Spanish Estremadura,
Lieut.-General Rowland Hill, with a view of putting a stop to his
movements, broke up his cantonments at Portalegre upon the 22d of
October, proceeding by Albuquerque and Malpartida. On the 27th,
when within a moderate march of the enemy at _Arroyo-del-Molinos_,
Lieut.-General Hill halted his troops, and, at night, breaking up
his bivouac, made a flank movement close to the road by which the
French intended to march on the following morning. In that position
he awaited the approach of day, when, on the 28th of October, the
British marched directly on the rear of the town with such celerity
that the cavalry piquets were rushed upon before they had time
to mount. The French main body, though in the act of filing out,
had so little intimation of danger that the officers and men were
surrounded before their formation was effected, and to seek safety
they individually dispersed. Many of them were killed, and about
1,400 were taken prisoners. All the enemy’s artillery and baggage
were captured. General Brun and Colonel the Prince of Aremberg,
together with several other officers, were among the prisoners.
In this brilliant affair the SEVENTY-FIRST was one of the three
corps that advanced through the centre of the town, and were,
therefore, principally engaged; but the enemy, from his complete
surprise, being unable to make a combined resistance, the British
sustained but trifling loss.
The battalion subsequently returned to Portalegre, where it arrived
early in November.
Lieut.-General Hill, on the 7th of November, issued the following
General Order:--
“_Portalegre, 7th November 1811._
“Lieut.-General Hill has great satisfaction in congratulating the
troops on the success which has attended their recent operations
in Estremadura, and in so doing he cannot but endeavour to do
justice to the merits of those through whose exertions it has
been obtained. A patient willing endurance of forced and night
marches, during the worst of weather and over bad roads, of
bivouacs in wet weather, oftentimes without cover and without
fire, and a strict observance of discipline, are qualities,
however common in British soldiers, which the Lieut.-General
cannot pass unnoticed. Having on this occasion witnessed the
exertion of them in no ordinary degree, he feels that nothing
but the most zealous attention of commanding officers, the
goodwill and zealous spirit of the non-commissioned officers and
soldiers, could produce such an effect, and he requests they
will, generally and individually, accept his warmest thanks,
particularly those corps which were engaged in the action of
_Arroyo-del-Molinos_, whose silent attention to orders, when
preparing to attack, and when manœuvring before the enemy, could
not but excite his notice, and give them an additional claim on
him.”
Letters from the Secretary of State, dated the 2d, and from His
Royal Highness the Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief, dated the 6th
December, were promulgated, expressive of His Royal Highness the
Prince Regent’s approbation and thanks to Lieut.-General Hill, and
the troops under his command, for their brilliant operations on
the recent expedition in Spanish Estremadura, in having totally
surprised and defeated the enemy under General Girard.
Viscount Wellington having made preparations for the recapture
of _Ciudad Rodrigo_, concentrated the main body of the army in
that neighbourhood, and the troops under Lieut.-General Hill were
therefore ordered to divert the enemy’s attention in the south.
The first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST remained at Portalegre
until the 25th of December, when the brigade moved into Estremadura
for the purpose of expelling the French, who were ravaging the
country. After the performance of this duty, the battalion returned
to its former quarters at Portalegre in February 1812.
[Sidenote: 1812.]
Upon the 19th of March 1812, the battalion moved northward to
Castello Branco, where it remained for about a week, and afterwards
returned for the last time to Portalegre.
The Earl of Wellington having made arrangements for the third siege
of _Badajoz_, Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill’s[28] corps was
destined to cover his movements, and with that view proceeded on
the 21st of March towards Merida, and afterwards to Don Benito,
where the troops remained for a few days; but upon the approach of
Marshal Soult with a large army, with the intention of raising the
siege, Lieut.-General Hill retired upon Albuhera, through Arroyo de
San Servan and Talavera Real.
Badajoz having been assaulted and carried by the troops under
the Earl of Wellington on the night of the 6th of April, after a
sanguinary conflict, the movement of Marshal Soult was rendered
nugatory, and the troops under his orders retired into Andalusia.
Marshal Marmont having, during the progress of the siege,
penetrated into the province of Beira, and threatened Ciudad
Rodrigo and Almeida, the Earl of Wellington, after the fall of
Badajoz, crossed the Tagus, leaving Sir Rowland Hill’s force to
watch Marshal Soult, which took post at Almendralejos for that
purpose.
The battalion was stationed at this town from the 13th of April
until the 11th of May. It having then become expedient to render
the communications between the French armies on the north and south
of the Tagus as precarious as possible, by the destruction of the
bridge of boats at _Almaraz_, the corps under Lieut.-General Sir
Rowland Hill, being the most disposable and convenient force, was
accordingly ordered on this important service.
The French, feeling the importance of this bridge to their mutual
strength and security, had surrounded it on both sides of the river
with formidable enclosed works, having in the interior of them
casemated and loop-holed towers. The troops appointed for these
strong works, consequently, anticipated an arduous struggle.
Upon the 12th of May the corps broke up from Almendralejos, and
marching by Truxillo and Jaraicejo, reached on the 18th of that
month the sierra, five miles from Almaraz, on which stands the
Castle of Mirabete. This post was so strongly fortified that it
blocked up the only road to Almaraz for the passage of artillery,
which was considered by the enemy absolutely necessary for the
destruction of the works. Sir Rowland Hill thought otherwise;
and ascertaining that infantry could cross the sierra by a track
through Roman Gordo, he left his artillery, and descended at
night with a column of 2,000 men. The leading company arrived at
dawn of day close to the principal fort, built on a height a few
hundred yards in front of the _tête-de-pont_; but such were the
difficulties of the road that a considerable time elapsed before
the rear closed, during which the troops were fortunately sheltered
by a ravine, unseen by the enemy.
On the 19th of May the fiftieth regiment and the left wing of the
SEVENTY-FIRST, having been provided with ladders, were appointed to
escalade the works of _Fort Napoleon_, supported by the right wing
of the SEVENTY-FIRST, and the ninety-second regiment.
From a feint made upon Mirabete, the French were aware that an
enemy was in the neighbourhood. The garrison was on the alert;
immediately opened a heavy fire, and vigorously resisted the
efforts made to push up the scarp; but the moment the first men
gained a footing on the parapet the enemy took to flight. The
whole of this brilliant affair was completed in the short space of
fifteen minutes, and with little loss.
The SEVENTY-FIRST had Captain Lewis Grant, with one serjeant and
seven rank and file, killed; Lieutenants William Lockwood and
Donald Ross, three serjeants, and twenty-nine rank and file were
wounded.
The names of thirty-six non-commissioned officers and soldiers
of the SEVENTY-FIRST were inserted in regimental orders for
conspicuous bravery upon this occasion, and the Royal authority
was subsequently granted for the word “ALMARAZ” to be borne on the
regimental colour and appointments.[29]
The following orders were issued upon this occasion:--
“_Bivouac, near Fort Napoleon_,
“19th May 1812.
“BRIGADE ORDER.
“Major-General Howard cannot delay expressing his warmest
acknowledgments to Lieut.-Colonel Stewart and Major Harrison,
of the fiftieth regiment, and Major Cother of the SEVENTY-FIRST
regiment, who commanded the three columns of attack this morning
on Fort Napoleon and the works on the Tagus, for the gallant and
distinguished manner in which they led the columns intrusted to
them, as well as to all the other officers, non-commissioned
officers and privates, for their bravery and good conduct, which
produced the brilliant result of the capture of the works in
question.”
“_Truxillo, May 22nd, 1812._
“GENERAL ORDER.
“Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill congratulates the troops on
the success which has attended their exertions in the present
expedition. Every object for which it was undertaken has been
attained, and in the manner most desirable and effectual. It
is highly gratifying to the Lieut.-General to report on this
occasion his admiration of the discipline and the valour of
the troops under his command. The chance of war gave to the
fiftieth and SEVENTY-FIRST regiments the most conspicuous share
in these events, who nobly profited by the opportunity; but the
Lieut.-General is satisfied that the same zeal and the same
spirit would have been found in every corps if there had been
occasion for bringing them into play.
“The Lieut.-General has not failed to report to his Excellency
the Commander of the Forces the particulars of this brilliant
service, and the good conduct of all those concerned in it.
He will therefore not say more at present than to express his
warmest thanks for the assistance which he has received from
all ranks; and he is confident, when it shall again be his good
fortune to lead them against the enemy, he shall have to report
conduct equally honorable to them, and equally advantageous to
their country.”
The bridge and works in the neighbourhood of Almaraz having been
completely destroyed, the SEVENTY-FIRST returned to Truxillo, where
they remained a few days, then moved to Merida, and afterwards
to Almendralejos. Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill’s force having
received orders to make a diversion in the south, while the main
army was moving northward on _Salamanca_, the battalion again moved
from Almendralejos to the borders of Andalusia, through Llerena.
On this march the advanced parties of cavalry were constantly
skirmishing with the enemy, but the SEVENTY-FIRST were not engaged.
From Llerena the battalion returned to Zafra, where, after a short
halt, it proceeded to Villa Franca, and finally to Don Benito. In
these marches through Estremadura the weather was oppressively hot,
and, joined to the clouds of dust raised by the troops, was so
fatiguing that it was considered expedient at one time to move by
night, and thus these inconveniences were alleviated.
While the force under Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill had been thus
employed, the allied army under the Earl of Wellington had gained
a victory on the 22d of July over the French at _Salamanca_, for
which he was advanced to the dignity of marquis.
From Don Benito the battalion moved upon the 13th of September, and
passing through Truxillo, Talavera, and Toledo, arrived at Aranjuez
upon the 1st of October, from which place, after a halt of three
weeks, it moved to Ponte Duenna, further up the Tagus.
The sudden approach of the united armies of Marshals Soult and
Suchet rendered a speedy retreat necessary, and the division
accordingly retired from Ponte Duenna in the night of the 28th of
October, moving to form a junction with the army of the Marquis
of Wellington, who had now relinquished the siege of Burgos. Near
Madrid the division halted for a short period, when, being joined
by the garrison of that city, the troops retired leisurely by the
Guadarama Pass on Alba de Tormes. This town the SEVENTY-FIRST
occupied from the 7th to the 13th of November, and during that
period sustained a loss in action with the enemy of one serjeant
and six rank and file killed; one bugler and five rank and file
wounded.
The army having received orders to retire on Portugal, the
battalion abandoned this post, arriving at Coria upon the 1st
of December, where the retreat terminated. In this quarter the
SEVENTY-FIRST continued until the 13th of December, at which time
they were pushed forward to Puerto de Bannos, where they were
joined by a draft of 150 men from the second battalion.
[Sidenote: 1813.]
While stationed at this post, an attempt was made, in February
1813, by the French, to surprise Bejar, then occupied by the
_fiftieth_ regiment. The SEVENTY-FIRST were ordered forward to
support, but previously to their arrival that brave regiment had
driven back the enemy, and completely foiled his efforts.
[Sidenote: 2d bat.]
On the 18th of March 1813, the second battalion of the
SEVENTY-FIRST embarked at Gravesend for North Britain, and arrived
at Leith on the 23d of that month.
[Sidenote: 1st bat.]
Upon the 5th of April the SEVENTY-FIRST changed quarters with the
fiftieth regiment, and continued to occupy Bejar until the 21st of
May, at which period the army broke up from its winter cantonments
for active operations. The battalion on its advance moved by
Salamanca and Toro, and encamped at La Puebla on the 20th of June,
the evening before the memorable battle of _Vittoria_.
Upon the morning of the 21st of June, the two armies being in
position, the SEVENTY-FIRST were ordered to ascend the heights of
La Puebla, to support the Spanish forces under General Morillo.
They accordingly advanced in open column, and having formed
line, were immediately hotly engaged with the enemy, and upon
this occasion suffered an irreparable loss in the fall of their
Commanding Officer the Honorable Colonel Henry Cadogan, who fell
mortally wounded while leading his men to the charge, and being
unable to accompany the battalion, requested to be carried to a
neighbouring eminence, from which he might take a last farewell
of them and the field. In his dying moments he earnestly inquired
if the French were beaten; and on being told by an officer of the
regiment, who stood by supporting him, that they had given way at
all points, he ejaculated, “God bless my brave countrymen” and
immediately expired.[30]
While recording the deep sense of sorrow which the SEVENTY-FIRST
experienced in the demise of a commanding officer who had so often
fought at their head, and whose devoted gallantry had so frequently
called forth their admiration, it is but a meet tribute to the
memory of that brave spirit to extract from the despatch of the
Marquis of Wellington the following expressions of his lordship’s
regret at his loss:
“And I am concerned to report that the Honorable Lieut.-Colonel
Cadogan has died of a wound which he received. In him His Majesty
has lost an officer of great zeal and tried gallantry, who had
already acquired the respect and regard of the whole profession,
and of whom it might be expected, that if he had lived he would
have rendered the most important services to his country.”
After the fall of the Lieut.-Colonel, the SEVENTY-FIRST continued
advancing, and driving the enemy from the heights, until the
force which was opposed to them became so unequal, and the loss
of the battalion so severe, that it was obliged to retire upon
the remainder of the brigade. In the performance of this arduous
duty the battalion suffered very severely, having had one field
officer, one captain, two lieutenants, six serjeants, one bugler,
and seventy-eight rank and file killed; one field officer, three
captains, seven lieutenants, thirteen serjeants, two buglers, and
two hundred and fifty-five rank and file were wounded.
The officers killed were Colonel the Honorable Henry Cadogan,
Captain Henry Hall, Lieutenants Humphrey Fox and Colin Mackenzie.
Those wounded were Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Charles Cother, Captains
Samuel Reed, Joseph Thomas Pidgeon, William Alexander Grant,
Lieutenants Alexander Duff, Loftus Richards, John M^cIntyre,
Charles Cox, William Torriano, Norman Campbell, and Thomas
Commeline.
On this occasion the French suffered a great loss of men, together
with all their artillery, baggage, and stores. King Joseph, whose
carriage and court equipage was seized, had barely time to escape
on horseback. The defeat was the most complete that the French
had sustained in the Peninsula. It was this victory which gained
a bâton for the Marquis of Wellington, who was appointed a Field
Marshal. In a most flattering letter, the Prince Regent, in the
name and behalf of His Majesty, thus conferred the honor: “You have
sent me among the trophies of your unrivalled fame the staff of a
French Marshal, and I send you in return that of England.” This was
in allusion to the bâton of Marshal Jourdan, which was taken by the
eighty-seventh regiment at Vittoria.
The SEVENTY-FIRST subsequently received the Royal authority to bear
the word “VITTORIA” on the regimental colour and appointments, in
commemoration of this signal victory.
When the SEVENTY-FIRST paraded on the morning of the 22d of June,
the dreadful havoc made by the action of the preceding day became
painfully manifest, and an universal gloom was thrown over all, at
missing from their ranks nearly four hundred brave comrades who had
been either killed or wounded on the heights of La Puebla.
The enemy, having been completely beaten at all points, was
forced to retreat in confusion on Pampeluna, and the British army
immediately followed in pursuit. The battalion in this advance
arrived at Pampeluna on the 29th of June, and shortly afterwards
followed, as part of Sir Rowland Hill’s army, a large force of the
enemy, who were retreating into France by the valley of Bastan.
During this forward movement the SEVENTY-FIRST had some skirmishing
in the valley of _Elizondo_, but without loss. Upon the 8th of July
the SEVENTY-FIRST arrived at the heights of Maya, from whence, for
the first time, they had the cheering prospect of beholding the
empire of France extended before them in all its fertile beauty.
Joy was diffused through every heart; every trial and danger were
forgotten while viewing this splendid and gratifying sight. Upon
these heights the battalion was encamped until the 25th of July.
Marshal Soult having been selected by Napoleon for the command
of the French army in Spain, with the rank of “Lieutenant of the
Emperor,” that officer used the most active exertions for its
re-organization, and made immediate arrangements for forcing the
British position in the Pyrenees. With this view he advanced
in person with a large force against the right, stationed at
Roncesvalles, and detached Count D’Erlon with about thirteen
thousand men to attack the position of _Maya_.
The Count D’Erlon, upon the 25th of July, advanced against the
right of the _Maya_ heights, where the ridges of the mountains
branched off towards his camp. The force at this point was not
sufficient to resist such formidable numbers, and the reserve being
posted at some distance to watch passes of importance, which could
not be left wholly unguarded, was brought up by battalions as the
pressure increased.
The intrepidity with which these attacks were met, and the
obstinate bravery with which every inch of ground was disputed,
were obliged at last to yield to overwhelming numbers; but although
the troops were forced to retrograde, yet in their retreat they
took advantage of every rising ground, and disputed it with the
utmost tenacity. At the commencement of this attack a part of
the first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment was detached
to a neighbouring high peak, under the command of Major William
Fitzgerald of the eighty-second regiment, and was strengthened by
a company of that gallant corps. Lieut.-General the Honorable Sir
William Stewart, in his report to Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill,
thus expressed himself respecting these men:--“I cannot too warmly
praise the conduct of that field officer (Major Fitzgerald) and
that of his brave detachment. They maintained the position to the
last; and were compelled, from the want of ammunition, to impede
the enemy’s occupation of the rock by hurling stones at them.”
In another part of this communication, the Lieut.-General
thus alluded to the eighty-second regiment and to the first
brigade, which was composed of the fiftieth, SEVENTY-FIRST, and
ninety-second regiments:
“I feel it my duty to recommend to your attention, and favourable
report to the Commander of the Forces, the conduct and spirit
of Colonel Grant, and of his brave corps, the eighty-second
regiment; also the whole of the first brigade, than which His
Majesty’s army possesses not men of more proved discipline and
courage. The wounds of him, and every commanding officer in that
brigade, were attended with circumstances of peculiar honor to
each of them, and to those under their orders.”
The following is a list of the killed and wounded in the action
of the 25th of July, as nearly as could be ascertained:--Three
serjeants and fifty-four rank and file killed; six serjeants, one
bugler, and seventy-six rank and file wounded.
The SEVENTY-FIRST continued retiring until the 30th, when
Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill took up a strong position beyond
Lizasso. In this post they were attacked with much spirit by the
enemy, who, at the same time, by manœuvring on the left flank,
rendered necessary a change of position to a range of heights near
_Eguaros_, which all the efforts of the French failed to carry.
Upon this occasion the SEVENTY-FIRST were seriously engaged,
and had one serjeant and twenty-three rank and file killed; two
serjeants, one bugler, and thirty-three rank and file were wounded.
The enemy having been foiled in all the objects of his attacks,
found it necessary, in his turn, to retreat, moving on the 31st
of July by the pass of _Doña Maria_, where he left a strong corps
in an excellent position. This force was immediately attacked
by the columns of Lieut.-Generals Sir Rowland Hill and the Earl
of Dalhousie, and dislodged, after a gallant resistance. In the
action of this day the first brigade, consisting of the fiftieth,
SEVENTY-FIRST, and ninety-second regiments, had the honor of
bearing its share, and of distinguishing itself. The SEVENTY-FIRST
had one serjeant and twenty-nine rank and file killed; two
serjeants and forty-five rank and file were wounded.
The battalion now returned to the heights of Maya, from whence,
after a halt of a few days, it moved to Roncesvalles.
Previously to this change of quarters, an order was issued by
Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, relative to the conduct of the
troops in the actions of the Pyrenees, of which the following is a
copy:--
“_Arrizi, August 3rd, 1813._
“GENERAL ORDER.
“Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill requests that the officers,
non-commissioned officers, and privates of the corps of the
army under his command will accept his best thanks for the
gallant conduct they have displayed during the late active and
interesting operations.
“The chance of service has placed the troops under his command
in situations where they were exposed to an immense superiority
of forces, a circumstance unavoidable in operations so
extensive as those in which this army has been engaged; and it
has at all times been necessary to cede ground to the enemy.
The Lieut.-General, however, has the satisfaction of knowing
that the troops have on every occasion maintained their high
character; that they have only withdrawn from their positions by
superior orders, and then it has been invariably attended with
circumstances highly creditable to them. The Lieut.-General has
not failed to report to the Commander of the Forces the details
of the several affairs in which the corps have been engaged,
and he knows that their services are duly appreciated by his
Excellency.”