A little after day-break on the 21st, the troops were ordered to be
in readiness to march at a moment's notice; but whether we were to
be engaged in pursuing or combating the enemy, no one could tell.
Appearances, however, were in favour of the latter; for, instead of
marching at the expiration of the usual period allowed to intervene
between the sounding of the warning-horn and the advance, we remained
two hours in camp, waiting instructions, before we could move to
perform our part in the grand drama of the day. About five o'clock,
however, all suspense was at an end.--To arms, resounded through the
camp. In a few minutes every man was at his post, and in a few more we
were on the road to Puebla, where we arrived about eight.
On leaving our encampment, the rain, which till then had fallen in
gentle showers, entirely ceased, and soon after the sun burst from
behind the gloomy curtain, to spread his cheering rays over fields yet
unstained with blood,--over rivers, whose streams, meandering through
Zadora's vale, were yet undisturbed by the strife of man,--to cheer the
sons of freedom on their march to the field of honour, hundreds of whom
were destined, long before he had finished his daily course, to take
their departure for that bourne from whence no traveller returns.
On quitting our camp we were still in ignorance as to the nature of the
service in which we were to be employed, but on our arrival at Puebla
the secret was of necessity communicated to us, for the enemy held the
heights immediately above us, and we were then not more than three
miles from the main body of their army. On this important fact becoming
currently known, a smile of satisfaction played on the cheeks of the
soldiers, and during the time the officers were employed in inspecting
the arms, some of the old veterans encouraged the juniors, by relating
their deeds of former days; others calculated the probable numbers of
the foe; a third party--how long the battle would continue; and the
whole made themselves sure of glorious victory.
The high road from Madrid to Vittoria, which runs through Puebla,
and then up the left bank of the Zadora, takes a sharp turn to the
right, two miles in front of the village. Here it leaves the river
at some distance on the left, and after passing through the town of
Sabujana-de-Alava, leads almost straight towards Vittoria. Pursuing
this route, it was a little in front of the bend in the road that we
first beheld the dense dark masses of the enemy, arrayed in order of
battle, and the advanced bodies of our own and the French cavalry not
more than two or three hundred paces from each other.
The scene which now presented itself to our view was animated and grand
beyond description. On the right bank of the Zadora, and on the face
of a pretty high rugged hill, thousands of our companions were moving
from their stations, and preparing to join us in the grand struggle. On
our right Morillo and his Spaniards were climbing the face of Puebla's
heights, and in our rear, battalion after battalion was closing up,
to be ready to execute the commands of their leader. In our front the
sight was imposing. Turning our eyes to the right, we beheld the left
of the French army posted on the summit of the heights of Puebla,
supported by a strong body of infantry, and some pieces of artillery,
a considerable portion of which was stationed in and around a clump
of trees, near to the back of the hill, and about a mile and a-half
in rear of their most advanced detachment on the heights. Immediately
before us stood the village of Sabujana-de-Alava, in which, and on
a height a little to its right, the centre divisions of the French
army were posted. This height, which partly commanded the high road,
as well as a great part of the river and valley of the Zadora, was
literally covered with infantry, and at least one hundred pieces of
artillery. In a thick wood, a little farther to their right, Joseph had
thrown a considerable body of infantry to protect the passage of the
Zadora, and keep up an unbroken line of communication between the right
centre divisions and the extreme right of his army, which extended
along the river to a point rather beyond Vittoria. It is a singular
fact, that instead of damping the spirits of our soldiers, the latter
appeared more and more delighted, as the French battalions successively
appeared from behind their numerous artillery. One heart and one soul
appeared to animate the whole. All seemed to wish for the commencement
of the engagement, not so much from a desire to brave death in the many
thousand shapes in which the soldier sees the grim king on the field of
strife, but because they had been afraid that the enemy might retire;
and as a battle appeared inevitable, might ultimately occupy a position
presenting greater obstacles to an attack, than any which they could
discover on the plains of Vittoria. With this feeling, therefore, and
the fixed resolution to conquer or die, the right wing of the allied
army moved forward in silence to begin the tremendous conflict.
At a quarter before ten o'clock, the sound of musketry, on the heights
of Puebla, announced to 150,000 warriors, that that conflict had
commenced which was to send many of their number to sleep with their
fathers. As in almost every action fought in a mountainous district,
this one was ushered in with the usual--pop,--then pop-pop,--afterwards
pop-pop-pop-pop, and so on, till these ominous sounds ended in general
vollies, accompanied with the British cheer, or French Vive l'Empereur,
as the tide of success for the time influenced the feelings of the
parties. General Morillo, with the 5th Spanish army, being on the
right, was the first to lead the way. His troops having acted for
some time in conjunction with the corps under Sir Rowland Hill, were
considered superior to almost every other body of Spaniards under
the immediate command of Lord Wellington. Indeed, when commanded by
Morillo in person, they were looked upon as nearly equal to the second
description of Portuguese infantry. On this occasion they shewed
themselves possessed of many valuable qualities, but then these were
neutralized by the want of confidence in their officers; for with
the exception of the chief himself, and a few more of the superior
officers, the men really had no confidence in them. Upon the whole,
however, they attacked with spirit, and drove back the enemy in pretty
good style. But the superiority in point of ground, and latterly in
numbers, would have given the French a decided advantage over their
opponents, had not the 71st British regiment, and light companies of
the second division arrived on the heights soon after the action
began, to support our allies. This seasonable reinforcement enabled
Morillo to continue his offensive operations, till every post which the
enemy occupied on the heights at the commencement was taken from them.
In this little brush Morillo was wounded, the French Commandant was
made prisoner, and the brave Cadogan received his mortal wound.
The heights of Puebla were no sooner in our keeping, than the French
Marshal perceived the value of the prize of which his bungling conduct
had deprived him. To regain the _key of his position_, therefore, his
efforts were for two hours afterwards almost exclusively directed. This
led to the following interesting operations:--
The enemy's intentions were no sooner discovered, than fresh troops
were dispatched to the assistance of the Spaniards and British light
infantry on the heights. The 50th and 92nd regiments were the first
to proceed on that duty, and had almost gained the summit of the
mountain, when they were ordered to retrace their steps. But they
had not descended more than half-way, when a third order stopped the
retrograde movement, and separated the battalions; the former receiving
instructions to proceed to its original destination on the heights,
and the latter to move across the face of the hill, and drive back a
body of about 4000 French infantry, which had been pushed forward to
form an advanced link in the chain of communication between the troops
stationed within and around the clump of planting, and those to be
employed in the recapture of the heights, about 7000 in number. The
separation of the 50th and 92d regiments was not much relished by the
soldiers of either corps, but there being no alternative, part they
did. The former clambered up the face of the hill, till arriving at
the summit, they wheeled to the left, and proceeded along the ridge
about half a-mile, till they arrived at the brink of a deep ravine,
which ran quite across the hill, a little above, and to the left of
the column which the 92d were about to attack. Here the Spaniards lay
along the face of the mountain, and with the 71st on their right, were
engaged in a tirailleur fire with the enemy. On taking leave of the
50th, the 92d regiment descended the hill a few hundred yards, and
then, after wheeling a quarter-circle to their right, directed their
march towards their opponents, who were posted on a ridge several
hundred yards distant, in our progress to which we moved through fields
of wheat, considerably taller than any of our men, and over ditches
so thickly lined with thorns and briars, that the blood ran trickling
down many of the soldier's legs, long before we arrived at the base of
the eminence. On crossing the last ditch at the foot of the hill, the
battalion loaded, then advanced in line, slowly, and with a firm pace,
every moment expecting a glimpse of the enemy, from whom they looked
for a volley, by way of a friendly welcome to the summit of the mossy
ridge. With breathless anxiety we pursued our course; not a whisper
was heard--all was still as death--save when our Colonel, riding along
the line, addressed his followers, some in English, others in Gaelic,
calling upon them to be firm, resolute, and steady, and on no account
to throw away their fire till they had an object in view. He also urged
them to be silent till the order to charge was given, when the whole
were to join in the good old British cheer, till they came in contact
with the enemy, or the latter had fled, when they were again to resume
their former silence. Full of hope, joy beamed on every countenance,
till on arriving within a short distance of where the foe were
originally posted, we beheld our antagonists formed on another height,
some distance in rear of the one they had occupied, to which they had
rather precipitately retired during our advance. To hazard an opinion
as to what would have been the result of the conflict had the enemy not
retired, may be considered superfluous. But I may say, that as there
were no more troops belonging to either nation, who could have been
brought into play for nearly a quarter of an hour, the two parties,
left to settle their own quarrel, would no doubt have considered
themselves fairly pitted against each other, in order that the prowess
of Frenchmen and Scotsmen might be put to a proper test, in the face of
150,000 of their respective countrymen and their allies, and that as
the issue was to settle the claims of each party, it is but natural to
suppose that a severe and bloody action would have taken place.
General, the Honourable William Stewart, commanding the second
division, arrived just as we had gained the top of the ridge.
Finding the enemy had retired, he ordered us to form column at
quarter-distance, and then ordered two Spanish pieces of artillery
to a rising ground on our right, to cannonade the enemy at the clump
of planting formerly mentioned. This drew upon us the fire of a
French battery on the left of the wood, which caused us the loss of a
sergeant, corporal, and some privates. During the cannonade, General
Stewart, addressing Colonel Cameron, said, "Poor Cadogan, I regret
to hear, is mortally wounded. The French are pushing strong columns
towards our right,--they must be opposed." Then waving his hand, so
as to describe a half-circle in his front, the General continued,
"In front, Colonel, it is all sunshine--all sunshine:--it is on the
heights of Puebla the battle must be fought. Being now the senior
officer in the first brigade, you will instantly proceed thither with
your battalion,--assume the command on the heights,--yield it to none
without a written order from Sir Rowland Hill or myself,--and defend
your position while you have a man remaining." Then taking a pencil
from his pocket, he wrote an order to the above effect--the shot and
shell flying about his ears all the time. To receive this order,
Colonel Cameron left an officer with General Stewart, and with his
corps proceeded towards the scene of action on the heights, where, as
the sequel will shew, both were much wanted.
Sometime previous to this movement being made, Sir Rowland Hill had
attacked the French advanced posts in front of Sabujana-de-Alava,
for the double purpose of preventing them sending more troops to the
heights, and taking possession of the village, should an opportunity
offer. The second and third brigades of the second division were
accordingly ordered on this service, and conducted themselves with
their usual gallantry. They advanced with great firmness and bravery,
but being opposed to men who knew what was required of soldiers on
the field of battle, their first efforts were not crowned with that
success which their conduct merited. However, this did not in the
least degree depress their spirits. Again they advanced and gained
ground, but were once more forced to retire. During these, and many
other attacks which followed, it was truly interesting to witness the
cool bravery displayed by the assailants, who, after every successive
repulse, advanced to the very muzzles of their opponent's pieces before
they gave their fire. As the wave, when foiled in its attempt to force
itself over the boundary which nature has set for it, recedes but to
return with increased force, so were the assaults of our friends
renewed, till by the most praise-worthy perseverance and heroic
bravery, they finally carried their point, and established themselves
in the village of Sabujana-de-Alava. It would be an act of injustice,
however, were I to omit to state, that the vanquished also did every
thing in their power to ensure a different result. More devoted bravery
than that which was exhibited at this point, by both parties, is but
seldom seen on a field of battle.
A considerable time before the village fell into our hands, the 92d
regiment had arrived on the heights, and taken part in the operations
in that quarter. Ascending the hill in an oblique direction, the 92d
first touched the summit of it at a point about half a-mile in rear of
the post occupied by the 50th regiment. Immediately in front of the
latter, a deep ravine ran quite across the mountain, the western side
of which was in possession of the 71st and 50th regiments, and the
opposite bank in that of the enemy. The western slope was extremely
abrupt, and from the bottom of the ravine, really of difficult access.
In possession of such a position, in the face of an enemy greatly
superior in numbers, common prudence would have dictated that the
best policy was to remain on the defensive. Unfortunately, however,
Lieutenant-Colonel R----, was not of that opinion. Being the senior
officer on the heights after the fall of Cadogan, he, contrary to
the advice of the field-officers of the 71st regiment, ordered that
corps to cross the ravine, and attack a portion of the enemy's troops
occupying a position on the northern slope of the hill. With sad
presages of the consequences, the gallant Light Bobs set out on their
perilous excursion. Perceiving their intention, the enemy formed two
bodies of infantry, in order to kill, wound, or capture the whole of
the assailants. These corps were kept out of view of the British: and
as the latter moved round the northern, the former kept moving round
the southern slope, till being nearly in rear of the 71st, they sprung
upon them like tigers, pouring on them vollies of musketry, which made
many, both officers and men, bite the dust. To extricate them from
this perilous situation, it required the full exercise of all the
good military qualities which the whole body of the 71st were known
to possess. From the number of killed and wounded, it was afterwards
evident that in their unrivalled exertions to escape from the fangs of
their opponents, the 71st had not been sparing of their powder. But
what could they achieve against such odds? To rejoin the 50th was the
utmost they could hope for. To that point, therefore, they directed
their steps. To the same point the French troops were marching, and had
partially turned the left of the 71st, when the 92d arrived to take
part in the struggle.
On procuring a firm footing on the heights, the 92d halted for a
minute, till the rear closed up, and then in open column of companies
right in front, was hurried along at nearly a double-quick pace,
till it arrived within two hundred yards of the 50th. Time being
precious, we were ordered to form line on the right centre company
without halting. As soon as the four leading companies had filed so
far to their right, that the right centre one could move forward at
the double-quick step, Colonel Cameron placing himself on the left
of that company, called to the piper to play the Gathering of the
Camerons, and then addressing the officer who led that company, said,
"Now, push forward in double-quick time, and give it to them sweetly."
During the advance, a dread silence reigned through the ranks, the
men's thoughts being employed in the business on which they were to
be engaged. Animated by the presence of their chief, and the warlike
sounds of their favourite bag-pipe, the men advanced with a front
firm as the rocks of their native mountains, to meet the foe flushed
with a temporary success over their countrymen. The re-union of the
two regiments, the 50th and 92d, caused the most lively sensation. As
the latter approached the right of the former, the whole of the 50th,
officers and men, joined in three hearty cheers. On arriving at the
verge of the western bank of the ravine, up which the French troops
were scrambling, the Highlanders, on perceiving the latter, first
poured down upon them a shower of shot, then re-echoed the cheers
of their friends on the left, and, with the rapidity of lightning,
despatched a second volley into the thickest of the enemy's ranks,
which had the effect of making them fly precipitately down the brow of
the ravine,--the living on their feet, and the dead in the manner of
round logs of wood. This rapid movement secured a safe retreat to the
71st regiment, which now slowly retired to a position on our right.
This unfortunate attempt to regain possession of the heights, did not
deter the enemy from making another trial. The _beaten_ troops were
moved round the northern shoulder of the hill, on the eastern bank
of the ravine, and a fresh body of infantry, in total ignorance of
the dangers they had to encounter, carried round the _southern_, to
assault us in the same position from before which their companions
had so recently been driven. In about half an hour the head of the
French column began to descend the opposite eminence, to check which,
a few light troops kept up a smart fire of small arms; but the others,
arranged along the brink of the ravine in a sitting posture, were
ordered to slope their muskets to the rear, and to remain in this
position till the enemy had arrived within twenty or thirty paces of
them, when the whole were to stand up, and bestow upon the assailants
as many pepper-corns as they could conveniently spare. These orders
were admirably obeyed. Not a whisper was heard--scarcely a shot was
fired--during the interval between the crossing of the ravine by
the enemy, and their arrival near the summit of the bank. As before,
however, silence was broken on our lads resuming their standing
position, and giving the foe their first fire. The scene which
followed was equally animated as that which preceded it. After a smart
rencounter, in which the 50th, 71st, and 92nd regiments took part, the
French, as before, were driven back with considerable loss.
The fugitives, as on the former occasion, were withdrawn round the
northern side of the hill, and a third column of attack formed on
the southern side, to make another dash at us, in order to obtain
possession of that position which they should never have lost. In this
his last effort, the enemy was far from exhibiting the same spirit as
in the two former ones, although he made a much greater display of his
numerical force. In order to intimidate us, masses of infantry crowned
the height, but none of them moved forward to support the troops
advanced towards us, whose efforts were feeble, and altogether unworthy
of themselves. This we attributed to the situation of their affairs in
the centre, which a short time before had begun to take an active part
in the business of the day.
Sir Rowland Hill being in possession of Sabujana-de-Alava, the 3d, 4th,
7th, and light divisions crossed the Zadora between twelve and one
o'clock at various points, a little in front of the enemy, and attacked
their centre, and right centre columns with much gallantry--Sir
Rowland Hill doing himself the honour of waiting on the French left
centre divisions in a similar manner, accompanied with the troops
under his personal command. From this period, down to four o'clock,
events of the most important and interesting description were every
moment taking place along the whole of Zadora's vale, from where the
Hero of Salamanca issued his mandate to his followers,--to that spot
which the Hero of Barossa was deluging with blood, in order to cut
off the communication of the enemy with France by the principal and
direct road to St Jean-de-Luz. But who will attempt to describe these
events, as viewed by us from the blood-stained heights of Puebla? I
confess myself unable to do so as they ought. Let any man fancy himself
standing on the summit of a high hill, looking down on a plain covered
with 150,000 men, from 10,000 to 15,000 horse, and from 300 to 400
pieces of artillery vomiting fire and death in every direction, and
thousands of the infantry pointing their deadly weapons at each other,
the space between the belligerents barely permitting them doing so
without crossing the muzzles of their pieces,--and he will have some
faint idea of what passed on the plains of Vittoria, and be able to
paint in imagination a few of those extraordinary scenes to which we
were witnesses.
The admirable manner in which the troops employed against the enemy's
centre moved forward to the assault, was the theme of general
admiration among all ranks on the heights. Joseph Bonaparte and his
Major-General, Marshal Jourdan, had been at great pains to strengthen
this part of their position, aware that if they were driven from it
the battle was lost. Every little eminence literally bristled with
cannon, behind which 40,000 infantry at least were drawn up in dense
masses, ready to pounce upon all who should attempt to attack them.
The French troops being formed within a very narrow space, the service
in that quarter during the early part of the action was extremely hot.
Notwithstanding the cool and determined conduct of our companions
in their first rencounter, it was not at all surprising that the
thundering of the cannon, and cheers of the combatants, should in a
little time produce feelings, which none but those who were on the
heights can at all describe. Although we never had the smallest doubt
as to the issue of the battle, yet I confess that it was with equal
pride and pleasure that we beheld from the heights a wavering in some
of the enemy's battalions, about half an hour after the engagement
began in the centre. Yes, it was with pleasure, for so close and
murderous was the conflict in that quarter, that had not the enemy
given way, thousands more of our countrymen must have fallen under the
terrific fire of their opponents,--it being well known that French
infantry will sustain a discharge of musketry for a long time with
unflinching courage. We were, therefore, not at all disappointed to
perceive that our small arms made sometimes but a feeble impression
on their ranks. For, in the first place, it convinced the soldiers
that they were opposed to troops against whom they would require to
use all the physical, as well as moral courage which they possessed;
and the officers that something besides powder and shot would have
to be employed before the French infantry could be forced from their
stronghold. For some time, therefore, volley succeeded volley, and
the discharges from the artillery rolled in a terrific manner along
the vale, without producing any result beyond that of winding up the
spirits of our men to the highest pitch to which the bravery of men can
be screwed. One of the finest qualities which British soldiers possess,
is, that on all occasions their courage invariably rises in proportion
to the exertions required of them, a quality which was never more
nobly exhibited than on the plains of Vittoria. On going into action,
almost every soldier resolves to be in possession of the laurel leaf,
or a grave, before it is done. On this occasion they were unanimous.
Never was there a finer field offered them to shew their unanimity
than Vittoria, and never did they exhibit it to greater advantage.
Proud of his followers, and unwilling to throw away any more of their
precious lives than was absolutely necessary, Lord Wellington gave
orders to make use of a weapon, at all times irresistible in the hands
of British troops. The bayonet, brought to its proper position, was
therefore directed to bend its course towards the hitherto immoveable
columns of the enemy. Firmly the latter awaited the coming storm,
apparently resolved to brave the furious onset. "Vive l'Empereur," ran
along the line with the rapidity of lightning; but in wishing long life
to their sovereign, the soldiers were not unmindful of their own, and
consequently, as soon as the hostile lines approached close enough to
make use of the steel, the enemy uniformly gave way.
From the first partial breaking of the French line in the centre, the
scene of active operation took a wider range. The enemy driven from
their vantage ground, and perceiving their principal communication
with France seriously endangered, at once resolved to make every hedge
a rampart, and every ditch or rivulet a river, and to defend them to
the last extremity, to give time to their baggage and their artillery
to draw off towards Pampeluna. Arranging themselves, therefore,
behind the various ditches and hedges which intersected the fields in
every direction, they compelled the British troops to extend their
lines also, in order to oppose a front equal to that of the enemy.
Interesting as were the first operations when viewed from the heights
of Puebla, those which succeeded were much more so. The salvos of
artillery indeed were neither so frequent nor so appalling, but the
vollies of musketry were more numerous, and that beautiful mode of
firing, called "running fire," was practised on a scale of greater
magnitude than had ever before been witnessed by any British officer.
How often, during the awful struggle, did I witness the British
soldiers walk up to the brink of a ditch, behind which their opponents
were arrayed, and in the most cool and determined manner, cross their
pieces with the latter before they gave their fire. On those occasions
the conflict invariably assumed a sanguinary aspect, for the ditches
being generally too deep for our men to pass in face of an enemy, the
French always remained on the opposite side, and kept up a smart fire
of musketry, till our artillery or cavalry could be brought forward to
dislodge them. In this manner the battle raged in the centre from one
o'clock till four, by which time the French had been pushed back almost
to Vittoria, where all was confusion and dismay, and from whence Joseph
and Jourdan were flying to secure their personal safety.
From Lord Wellington's mode of proceeding on the right and in the
centre, it was evident that he relied not a little on the faithful
execution of that part of the operations entrusted to Sir Thomas
Graham, for the success of his enterprise. When the hour passed at
which the latter was to attack, (one o'clock) Lord Wellington appeared
uneasy, and I believe despatched more than one courier to ascertain the
real cause of Sir Thomas Graham's non-appearance. Be this as it may,
it was not long after the hour when Sir Thomas brought his men into
action, and began that struggle, the issue of which destroyed all the
hopes of the enemy, and turned a simple defeat into one of the most
complete routes recorded in history.
The French infantry on the heights seeing that all was lost in the
centre and on the right, began to execute a retrograde movement between
four and five o'clock. On their intentions being discovered, the first
brigade, 50th, 71st and 92nd regiments, and two Portuguese brigades,
which had arrived on the hill sometime before, gave chace to the
fugitives, but so superior were the enemy at this game, that in an
hour and a-half we entirely lost sight of them, although we ran almost
all the way. On mentioning this circumstance to a French officer one
day, he said, "I will back my countrymen against all the soldiers in
the world in a race of that kind." Continuing the pursuit, we passed
Vittoria, and at eleven o'clock, P.M., bivouacked in a field a league
and a-half in front of it. By this time the night was so dark, that it
was with difficulty we could discover the person immediately before us.
Notwithstanding this, however, the troops who had been opposed to each
other in the centre and on the left during the day, seemed unwilling to
relinquish the honourable avocation of killing and maiming one another,
for the deadly strife continued in those quarters till eleven o'clock
in the evening.
The price paid for this splendid victory was, from four to five
thousand British and Portuguese killed and wounded. The loss of the
French was never accurately ascertained, but was estimated at from
ten to fifteen thousand killed, wounded, and prisoners. All their
cannon, save two pieces, and all their baggage, money, ammunition, and
provisions fell into our hands.