place, and the Marquis of Wellington moved with the second division
to attack him, while the remainder of the troops were ordered
towards the Arapiles in the evening. No engagement occurred. The
enemy fortified himself at Mozarbes, on the ground he had taken
up the night before, and moved bodies of cavalry and infantry to
the communication with Ciudad Rodrigo. The superiority of numbers
on the part of the French caused the British army to continue its
march to Ciudad Rodrigo, which it reached on the 19th of November.
Thus ended the retreat from Burgos. The men had suffered greatly
on the march and required rest; the enemy had pressed the retreat
closely with his cavalry, and made an attack upon the rear upon
the passage of the Huebra; the roads were difficult, and in some
parts impassable. The second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST did not
share in the hardships of the main retreat until it had crossed the
Tormes.
Marshal Soult having retired to the Upper Tormes, towards the pass
of Banos, it was reported that he intended to invade Portugal by
the valley of the Tagus. Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill’s division
was therefore moved to the right as far as Robledo, to cover the
pass of Perales. King Joseph, however, in December, took up his
position for the winter, and the allied army was also distributed
in quarters.
Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill’s division occupied Coria and
Placentia, the THIRTY-FIRST being cantoned in the latter place.
[Sidenote: 1813]
The allied army remained in cantonments until the month of May
1813; on the 19th of that month the second battalion of the
THIRTY-FIRST, in the second division, broke up from its winter
quarters, and, forming a part of the right wing of the army, shared
in the operations during the advance upon Burgos and Vittoria; in
the plan for the action of the 21st of June, before _Vittoria_,
Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill’s corps, composed of Morillo’s
Spaniards, Sylveira’s Portuguese, and the second British division,
forming the right of the allied army, was to attack the enemy’s
left, and forcing the passage of the lower Zadora, at Puebla,
assail the French on the heights beyond, entering the plain of
Vittoria, by the defile of La Puebla. The river was passed about
ten o’clock A.M., and Morillo’s Spaniards assailed the mountain
with his first brigade; but meeting with much resistance on the
heights, called up his second brigade, which, the French being also
reinforced, was supported by part of the second division, while
Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, with the rest, passed through
the defile, and, seizing the village of _Subijana de Alava_, held
his ground: he thus connected his own right with the troops on
the mountain, and maintained this forward position, although
the French made great efforts to dislodge the allies from this
vantage-ground.
Meanwhile the fourth division crossed by the bridge of Nanclares.
The action on the British right was severe, and sustained with
great gallantry. The French, being driven from all their defences,
retreated with such precipitation towards Pampeluna as to abandon
all their baggage, artillery, ammunition, military chests, and the
court equipage of King Joseph, whose carriage being seized, he
had barely time to escape on horseback. The defeat was the most
complete that the French had experienced in Spain.
The bâton of Marshal Jourdan was taken, and the Prince Regent,
in the name and behalf of his Majesty, appointed the Marquis of
Wellington a Field-Marshal. In a most flattering letter, the Prince
Regent 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.”
During part of the day, the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST
was stationed to cover a brigade of guns: its loss was not very
great, being one private killed, and thirteen wounded. Captain
Girdlestone was the only officer of the THIRTY-FIRST who was
wounded.
Lieut.-Colonel Leith received a medal for his conduct in command
of the battalion, and the Royal Authority was afterwards given
for the word “VITTORIA” to be inscribed on the Regimental Colour
and Appointments of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, to commemorate the
gallantry of the second battalion in that battle.
The second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment shared in the
pursuit of the enemy after his defeat at Vittoria, and, when the
Marquis of Wellington marched on the 26th of June to intercept the
French General Clausel, it remained with the other corps of the
second division for the siege of _Pampeluna_.
Although the enemy had withdrawn his right and left into France,
he maintained his centre in force in the rich valley of _Bastan_,
which afforded numerous strong positions, and the troops under
Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, having been relieved from the
blockade of Pampeluna, advanced to dislodge the French. On the 4th
of July, and the three following days, General Gazan was driven
from the valley of Bastan by the troops under Lieut.-General
Sir Rowland Hill, and the positions abandoned by the enemy were
occupied by the British. Major-General Byng’s brigade, of which the
THIRTY-FIRST formed part, with some Spanish corps under General
Morillo, took possession of the Pass of _Roncesvalles_ on the 7th
of July. In this celebrated valley the THIRTY-FIRST remained for a
few days.
Marshal Soult having arrived at Bayonne on the 13th of July to
command, as Lieutenant of the Emperor, the united French army of
Spain, amounting to above seventy-eight thousand men, exclusive of
garrisons, collected more than sixty thousand of his own left, and
advanced on the 25th of July to force the Pass of _Roncesvalles_.
The brigade which had been ordered to occupy the Pass, and of
which the THIRTY-FIRST formed a part, kept the French in check for
several hours, but was obliged to fall back, on perceiving that a
strong body had succeeded in turning the position.
The THIRTY-FIRST had two privates killed, and three wounded, in
the action on the 25th of July. On the 28th and 30th of July, the
battalion was engaged in the attack made upon the enemy on the
heights in front of _Pampeluna_, and had Captain Girdlestone,
Ensign Smith, and Quarter-Master McIntosh, together with
thirty-three rank and file, wounded:--two rank and file were killed.
Lieut.-Colonel Leith received a clasp, in addition to his former
medal, for his conduct on these occasions.
The THIRTY-FIRST regiment subsequently received the Royal
Authority to bear the word “PYRENEES” on the Regimental Colour and
Appointments, to commemorate the services of the second battalion
in these several combats, which have been designated the “_Battles
of the Pyrenees_.”
On the 31st of July, Major-General Byng’s brigade captured a large
convoy near _Elizondo_, and made many prisoners.
The British troops resumed their position in the Pyrenees, awaiting
the capture of St. Sebastian and Pampeluna. St. Sebastian was
captured on the 31st of August, and on the 31st of October the
French garrison of Pampeluna surrendered prisoners of war.
Pampeluna being captured, the right of the allied army, which had
been employed in covering the blockade, became disengaged, and
the British Commander looking down from the lofty Pyrenees on the
well-guarded territory of France, resolved to carry the war into
the heart of that country. The British army, early on the morning
of the 10th of November, descended into the valleys on the French
side; the division of which the THIRTY-FIRST formed part entered
France by the Pass of _Maya_, having sustained some loss in the
capture of one of the enemy’s redoubts. Only one man belonging to
the battalion was killed, but Captain Girdlestone and eleven rank
and file were wounded. Marshal Soult’s army was driven from his
fortified position on the river _Nivelle_, and several guns and
prisoners were captured. The French being pursued on the following
day, retired to their fortified camp near Bayonne.
Captain Thomas Samuel Nicolls was promoted to the rank of Major
in the army for his conduct on this day, and the THIRTY-FIRST
afterwards received the Royal Authority to bear the word “NIVELLE”
on the Regimental Colour and Appointments, in testimony of the
gallantry of the second battalion in that action.
The passage of the river _Nive_ was effected on the 9th of
December: the THIRTY-FIRST passed over without the loss of a man,
one serjeant only being wounded.
Lieut.-Colonel Leith received an additional clasp for his conduct
on this occasion, and Captains Patrick Dowdall and Peter Fearon
were promoted to the rank of Majors in the army.
On the 13th of December, the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment shared in the action at _St. Pierre_, near Bayonne,
when the enemy abandoned two pieces of cannon, which were taken
possession of by Captain Hemsworth’s company.
The Marquis of Wellington, in his despatch dated _St. Jean de Luz_,
14th December 1813, thus alluded to the conduct of the brigade
under Major-General John Byng,[42] of which the THIRTY-FIRST formed
part.
“I had great satisfaction, also, in observing the conduct of
Major-General Byng’s brigade of British infantry, supported
by the fourth Portuguese brigade, under the command of
Brigadier-General Buchan, in carrying an important height from
the enemy on the right of our position, and maintaining it
against all their efforts to regain it.
“_Two guns and some prisoners_ were taken from the enemy, who
being beaten at all points, and having suffered considerable
loss, were obliged to retire upon their entrenchment.”
In a very interesting life of the late Viscount Hill, by the
Reverend Edwin Sidney, A.M. is the following account of the action
at _St. Pierre_, near Bayonne.
“This great service was thus performed by Sir Rowland Hill.
The enemy, who had failed in all their attempts with their
whole force upon Lord Wellington’s left, withdrew to their
entrenchments on the night of December 12th, and passed a large
body of troops through the town of Bayonne. With these, on
the morning of the 13th, they made a desperate attack on Sir
Rowland Hill. This, as has appeared, was not unexpected; and
Lord Wellington had placed at his disposal not only the sixth
division, but the fourth division, and two brigades of the third.
Soult’s objects were to gain the bridge of _St. Pierre_, to
make himself master of the road to St. Jean Pied de Port, and
to break through the position of the allies. For these purposes
he put forth his whole strength, and was completely vanquished.
Even before the sixth division arrived, Sir Rowland Hill had
repulsed him with prodigious loss; and although he skilfully
availed himself of a high ground in retreating, he could not
stand against the famous charge of General Byng, and was entirely
defeated. It was a battle fought and won by the corps of Sir
Rowland Hill alone and unaided. At the instant of victory Lord
Wellington came up, and in the ecstasy of the moment of triumph,
caught him by the hand, and said, ‘Hill, the day is your own.’”
The THIRTY-FIRST had seven rank and file _killed_, and three
serjeants, two drummers, and twenty-seven rank and file _wounded_.
Lieut.-Colonel Leith, who received a cross for his conduct, was
slightly wounded. Ensign Hardy died of his wounds.
Brevet Major Peter Fearon, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, who
commanded the fifth Portuguese Caçadores, received an additional
distinction to the medal which had been granted him for the battle
of Albuhera.
The THIRTY-FIRST subsequently received the Royal Authority to
bear on the Regimental colour the word “NIVE,” to commemorate the
gallantry of the second battalion in the actions which ensued on
the passage of that river.
No further actions occurred during the few remaining days of the
year 1813; and the army occupied winter-quarters.
[Sidenote: 1814]
Leaving their cantonments at the village of St. Pierre, the
THIRTY-FIRST advanced with the troops under Lieut.-General Sir
Rowland Hill, in the middle of February 1814, when the French
corps, under General Harispe, were driven from Hellete, and
afterwards forced from a position on the heights of _Garris_ on
the 15th of February. The battalion had one private killed, and six
rank and file wounded. Brevet Major Peter Fearon, who commanded the
fifth Portuguese Caçadores, died of his wounds. The other officer
wounded was Captain Knox, who was subsequently promoted to the
brevet rank of major.
On the 27th of February, the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST,
in Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill’s division, crossed the Adour,
on the right of _Orthes_, with the loss of only two rank and file
wounded.
Lieut.-Colonel Leith gained another distinction, and the
THIRTY-FIRST afterwards received the Royal Authority to bear
the word “ORTHES” on the Regimental Colour and Appointments, in
commemoration of the conduct of the second battalion in that battle.
Advancing rapidly against the enemy, Lieut.-General Sir Rowland
Hill engaged him at _Aire_, on which occasion the THIRTY-FIRST had
Ensign Hardcastle (Captain in the third Portuguese Caçadores) one
serjeant, and two rank and file wounded.
On the 10th of April, the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment was in action with the French in the suburbs of
_Toulouse_, and had one private wounded.
During the night of the 11th of April, the French army evacuated
Toulouse, and the white flag was hoisted. On the day following,
the Marquis of Wellington entered the city amidst the acclamations
of the inhabitants. In the afternoon of this day intelligence was
received of the abdication of Napoleon; and had not the express
been delayed on the journey by the French police, the sacrifice of
many valuable lives would have been prevented. A disbelief in the
truth of this intelligence occasioned much unnecessary bloodshed
at _Bayonne_, the garrison of which made a desperate sortie on the
14th of April, and Lieut.-General Sir John Hope (afterwards Earl of
Hopetoun) was wounded and taken prisoner. Major-General Andrew Hay
was killed, and Major-General Stopford was wounded. This was the
last action of the Peninsular war.
The advance of the Allied troops into the heart of France led to a
Treaty of Peace, by which Louis XVIII. was restored to the throne
of that kingdom, and Napoleon Bonaparte was permitted to reside at
Elba, the sovereignty of that Island having been conferred upon him
by the Allied Powers.
The war being ended, the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment was ordered to return to England. It marched from Toulouse
to Bourdeaux on the 3rd of June, and on the 12th of July embarked
in the Rodney, disembarking on the 23rd at the Cove of Cork, whence
it immediately marched to Middleton.
In commemoration of the services of the second battalion, the
THIRTY-FIRST subsequently received the Royal Authority to bear the
word “PENINSULA,” on the Regimental Colour and Appointments, in
addition to the names of the several actions in which the second
battalion had taken a prominent part, during the war in Spain
from 1808 to 1814, namely, “TALAVERA,” “ALBUHERA,” “VITTORIA,”
“PYRENEES,” “NIVELLE,” “NIVE,” and “ORTHES.”
Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Leith was nominated a Knight Commander
of the Order of the Bath for his conduct in command of the second
battalion during the Peninsular war.
Lieut.-Colonel George Guy Carleton L’Estrange, who was promoted
from major in the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, to the rank of
Lieut.-Colonel in the twenty-sixth regiment on the 15th of
December 1812, was nominated a Companion of the Order of the Bath
for his conduct while serving with the second battalion of the
THIRTY-FIRST regiment.
On the 23rd of September, the _second battalion_ proceeded to
Portsmouth, where it was disbanded on the 24th of October 1814, the
officers and men, fit for service, being transferred to the _first
battalion_ of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, at that period stationed
in Sicily.
1814
[Illustration: THE 31^{ST} REG^T SUTLEJ TESTIMONIAL
ERECTED IN CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL
_For Cannon’s Military Records_]
FOOTNOTES:
[38] Vide page 64.
[39] Major-General Sir William Napier’s History of the Peninsular
War.
[40] History of the Peninsular War by Major-General Sir William
Napier.
[41] Lieut.-General Rowland Hill was nominated a Knight of the Bath
on the 22nd of February, 1812.
[42] Major-General Byng, the present General the Earl of Strafford,
and Colonel of the Coldstream Guards, in consideration of his
gallantry in the action of the 13th of December, 1813,--wherein
he led his troops, under a most galling fire, to the assault
of a strong height occupied in great force by the enemy, and
having himself ascended the hill first with the Colour of the
THIRTY-FIRST regiment of foot in his hand, he planted the Colour
upon the summit, and drove the enemy (far superior in numbers)
down the ridge to the suburbs of _St. Pierre_,--received the Royal
Authority on the 7th of July, 1815, to bear the following honorable
augmentation, namely, “Over the arms of the family of Byng, in
bend sinister, a representation of the Colour of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment,” and the following crest, namely, “Out of a mural crown
an arm embowed, grasping the Colour of the aforesaid THIRTY-FIRST
regiment, and, pendent from the wrist by a riband, the Gold Cross
presented to him by His Majesty’s command, as a mark of his royal
approbation of his distinguished services,” and in an escrol above
the word “_Mouguerre_,” being the name of a height near the hamlet
of _St. Pierre_.
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF
THE THIRTY-FIRST,
OR
THE HUNTINGDONSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
GEORGE VILLIERS,
_Appointed 12th February 1702_.
This officer did not long enjoy the colonelcy of the regiment, as
his decease occurred in December 1703, when he was unfortunately
drowned while in command of the regiment on board the fleet.
ALEXANDER LUTTERELL,
_Appointed 6th December 1703_.
Upon the decease of Colonel Villiers, Lieut.-Colonel Alexander
Lutterell was promoted to the colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment, which he held but for a few years, his decease occurring
early in the year 1706.
JOSIAH CHURCHILL,
_Appointed 1st February 1706_.
LIEUT.-COLONEL JOSIAH CHURCHILL was promoted on the 1st of February
1706, to the colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, at that period
serving as _Marines_. In March 1711 Colonel Churchill received
permission from Her Majesty Queen Anne to sell his commission.
SIR HARRY GORING, BART.,
_Appointed 1st March 1711_.
Colonel Churchill having sold his commission, Lieut.-Colonel
Sir Harry Goring, Bart., was promoted to the colonelcy of the
THIRTY-FIRST regiment on the 1st of March, 1711. Sir Harry Goring
retired on the 8th of September, 1716.
LORD JOHN KERR,
_Appointed 8th September 1716_.
Colonel Sir Harry Goring having retired, His Majesty King George
the First conferred the colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment on
Lord John Kerr, the commission being dated 8th of September, 1716.
His Lordship’s decease occurred on the 1st of August 1728.
THE HONORABLE CHARLES CATHCART,
_Appointed 13th August 1728_.
THE HONORABLE CHARLES CATHCART, son of Alan, seventh Lord Cathcart,
entered the army in the eighteenth year of his age, and in 1704
he commanded a company in Colonel Macartney’s regiment (since
disbanded), serving on the frontiers of Holland. In 1706 he
commanded a troop in the Scots Greys, which corps distinguished
itself at the battle of Ramilies in the same year: in 1707 he was
brigade major to the Earl of Stair. Continuing in active service
with the army under the Duke of Marlborough, he acquired the
reputation of a brave and zealous officer: in 1709 he was appointed
major of the Scots Greys, and was soon afterwards promoted to
the lieut.-colonelcy of the regiment. On the accession of King
George I., he was appointed one of the grooms of His Majesty’s
bedchamber. In the autumn of 1715 he joined the forces under the
Duke of Argyle at Stirling, and served against the rebels under
the Earl of Mar. On the 23rd of October, he was detached against
a hundred rebel horse and two hundred foot, whom he attacked with
his dragoons, killed many, and took seventeen prisoners. At the
battle of Sheriffmuir on the 13th of November, in the same year,
he charged the insurgents at the head of the Scots Greys, and
contributed materially to the overthrow of the left wing of the
rebel army. His Majesty rewarded him with the colonelcy of the
ninth foot, in 1717; but he only retained this appointment eleven
months. In 1728 he obtained the colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment, and was removed, in 1731, to the eighth dragoons. In 1732
he succeeded to the title of LORD CATHCART; he was appointed lord
of the bedchamber to King George II. in the following year, and was
promoted to the colonelcy of the seventh horse, now sixth dragoon
guards. In 1739 he was advanced to the rank of major-general. His
Lordship was chosen one of the representatives of the Scottish
peerage in several parliaments; and was governor of Duncannon
fort, and of Londonderry. An attack on the Spanish possessions in
America having been resolved upon, in the year 1739, Lord Cathcart
was selected to command the expedition: at the same time he was
appointed commander-in-chief in America; but he died on his passage
in December, 1740, and was buried on the beach of Prince Rupert’s
Bay, Dominica, where a monument was erected to his memory.
WILLIAM HARGRAVE,
_Appointed 1st January 1731_.
WILLIAM HARGRAVE was appointed ensign in a regiment of foot in
1694, and he served in the wars of Queen Anne. He proved a good and
useful officer, but was not conspicuous for any quality calculated
to attract attention. After serving twenty years he was appointed
major of the thirty-sixth foot, and subsequently lieut.-colonel
of the seventh Royal Fusiliers. In 1731 he was promoted to the
colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST foot, and was appointed to the
ninth in 1737. He was removed to the seventh royal fusiliers, and
promoted to the rank of major-general in 1739, and was advanced to
the rank of lieut.-general in 1743. He died in 1751.
WILLIAM HANDASYD,
_Appointed 27th January 1737_.
COLONEL WILLIAM HANDASYD was promoted from the fifteenth foot to
the colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment on the 27th of January
1737, in succession to Colonel William Hargrave, who was removed to
the ninth foot. Brigadier-General Handasyd died near Hammersmith on
the 27th of February 1745.
LORD HENRY BEAUCLERK,
_Appointed 22nd April 1745_.
King George II. appointed Colonel Lord Henry Beauclerk from the
forty-eighth to the colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment on the
22nd of April 1745, in succession to Brigadier-General Handasyd,
deceased. Colonel Lord Henry Beauclerk retired from the service on
the 8th of May, 1749.
HENRY HOLMES,
_Appointed 8th May 1749_.
Colonel Lord Henry Beauclerk having retired from the service,
Colonel Henry Holmes was appointed to the colonelcy of the
THIRTY-FIRST regiment on the 8th of May 1749. Colonel Holmes was
promoted to the rank of Major-General on the 2nd of February,
1756, and to that of Lieut.-General on the 2nd of April, 1759.
Lieut.-General Holmes died in the year 1762.
SIR JAMES ADOLPHUS OUGHTON,
_Appointed 20th August 1762_.
COLONEL OUGHTON was removed by His Majesty King George III. from
the colonelcy of the fifty-fifth to that of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment on the 20th of August 1762, in succession to
Lieut.-General Holmes deceased. Colonel Oughton was promoted to
the rank of major-general on the 15th of August 1761, and to that
of lieut.-general on the 30th of April 1770. His Majesty King
George III. also constituted him a Knight of the Order of the Bath.
Lieut.-General Sir James Adolphus Oughton, K.B., died in April 1780.
THOMAS CLARKE,
_Appointed 3rd May 1780_.
MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS CLARKE, from the Coldstream Guards, was
appointed on the 3rd of May 1780 to the colonelcy of the
THIRTY-FIRST regiment in succession to Lieut.-General Sir James
Adolphus Oughton, deceased. Major-General Clarke was promoted to
the rank of lieut.-general on the 20th of November 1782; and on the
8th of February 1792, he was removed to the thirtieth regiment. On
the 3rd of May, 1796, he was advanced to the rank of general. His
decease occurred in the year 1799.
JAMES STUART,
_Appointed 8th February 1792_.