The medal which was conferred for this success was the same as that
granted for the Peninsula victories, and was similarly distributed. When
the general silver medal was subsequently authorized for the several
services specified at page 58, the word JAVA was inscribed on one of the
bars, as was done for the capture of Martinique and Guadaloupe.
SIEGE OF CIUDAD RODRIGO.
JANUARY, 1812.
As soon as the troops had recovered from their sickness and fatigue,
Viscount Wellington determined the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, which place
was approached on the 8th. of January, 1812. It was not, however,
regularly invested, for the light division only crossed on that day. The
French garrison in the Francisco redoubt considered the affair merely as
one of observation, and amused themselves with bowing and saluting the
new comers. At night a party was formed from each regiment of the above
division, under Lieutenant-Colonel John Colborne, of the 52nd., and the
redoubt was stormed: the conduct of this officer, and of the detachment,
was highly applauded in the official despatches.
Viscount Wellington, in the afternoon of the 14th. of January, opened
fire from twenty-two pieces of ordnance in three batteries in the first
parallel, and the British established themselves in the second parallel
on the same night. Lieutenant-General Graham facilitated this measure by
having surprised the enemy’s detachment in the convent of Santa Cruz, on
the night of the 13th.; and Major-General the Honourable Charles
Colville, in temporary command of the fourth division, had, on the night
of the 14th., obtained possession of the convent of St. Francisco, and
of the other fortified posts of the suburb. The latter service was
gallantly performed by Lieutenant-Colonel Harcourt, with the 40th.
regiment, which remained from that period in the suburb of St.
Francisco, and materially assisted in the attack on that side of the
place. The siege was prosecuted with such vigour, that on the 19th. of
the same month, two practicable breaches having been made in the body of
the place, the British commander resolved to carry it by storm.
The assault was made on the evening of Sunday, the 19th. of January, in
five separate columns. Brigadier-General Pack, who was destined to make
a false attack upon the southern face of the fort, converted it into a
real one, his advance guard, under the command of Major Lynch, having
followed the enemy’s troops from the advanced works into the
_fausse-braye_, where all opposed to them were made prisoners.
Major Ridge, of the second battalion of the 5th. Fusilliers, having
escaladed the _fausse-braye_ wall, stormed the breach in the body of the
place, together with the 94th. regiment, (Scots Brigade,) commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell. These regiments not only effectually
covered the advance from the trenches of Major-General Mac Kinnon’s
brigade, by their first movements and operations, but preceded it in the
attack.
Major-Generals Craufurd and Vandeleur, and the troops of the light
division on the left, were likewise very forward on that side; and in
less than half an hour from the time the attack commenced, the British
troops were in possession of, and formed on the ramparts of the place,
each body contiguous to the other. The enemy, having sustained a
considerable loss in the contest then submitted.
The British casualties were severe, especially in officers of high rank
and estimation. During the siege, and in the assault, nine officers and
one hundred and sixty-nine men were killed, seventy officers and seven
hundred and forty-eight men wounded; in all nine hundred and ninety-six.
Major-General Mac Kinnon was blown up by the accidental explosion of one
of the enemy’s expense magazines, close to the breach, after having
gallantly and successfully led the troops under him to the attack.
Major-Generals Craufurd and Vandeleur were wounded, the former severely,
whilst leading on the light division to the storm; Lieutenant-Colonel
Colborne, of the 52nd. Light Infantry,[47] who was severely wounded, and
Major (afterwards Sir George) Napier, who led the storming party of the
light division, also wounded on the top of the breach, and lost an arm.
The garrison likewise sustained severe loss, and was reduced to one
thousand seven hundred men.
Viscount Wellington specially praised the troops of the first, third,
fourth, and light divisions, and Brigadier-General Pack’s brigade, by
whom the siege was carried on. His lordship added:—“The conduct of all
parts of the third division, in the operations which they performed with
so much gallantry and exactness on the evening of the 19th., in the
dark, affords the strongest proof of the abilities of Lieutenant-General
Picton and Major-General Mac Kinnon by whom they were directed and led;
and I beg particularly to draw your Lordship’s attention to the conduct
of Lieutenant-Colonel O’Toole, 2nd. Caçadores, Major Ridge. 5th. Foot,
Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, 94th., Major Manners, 74th., and of Major
Grey, 5th. Foot, who has been twice wounded during this siege.
“It is but justice also to the third division to report, that the men
who performed the sap belonged to the 45th., 74th., and 88th. regiments,
under the command of Captain M‘Leod, of the Royal Engineers, and Captain
Thompson, of the 74th., Lieutenant Beresford, of the 88th. (Connaught
Rangers), and Lieutenant Metcalf, of the 45th. (Sherwood Foresters); and
they distinguished themselves not less in the storm of the place than
they had in the performance of their laborious duty during the siege.
“Although it did not fall to the lot of the troops of the first and
fourth divisions to bring these operations to their successful close,
they distinguished themselves throughout their progress, by the patience
and perseverance with which they performed the labours of the siege. The
brigade of Guards, under Major-General H. Campbell, was particularly
distinguished in this respect.”
The British commander was advanced to the dignity of an Earl, with an
annuity of two thousand pounds. Parliament voted its thanks to him and
his gallant army. This success also gained for him, from the Spanish
government, the title of Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo.
The 5th., 43rd., 45th., 52nd., 60th., 74th., 77th., 83rd., 88th., 94th.
regiments, and Rifle Brigade, were engaged in the capture of Ciudad
Rodrigo.
SIEGE OF BADAJOZ.
17TH. MARCH AND 6TH. APRIL, 1812.
The formidable fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo having been captured with such
unlooked-for rapidity, astonished the French General, who had assembled
an army of sixty thousand men for its relief, which now again returned
to its winter quarters. As soon as the breaches were repaired, and the
place put in a state of defence, the Earl of Wellington undertook, for
the third time, the siege of Badajoz. The preparations for this service
had been carried on with extraordinary secrecy, and were completed about
the beginning of March, when the army broke up from its cantonments in
the neighbourhood of Almeida, and, moving with the greatest rapidity,
arrived before Badajoz on the 16th. of that month when the place was
invested by the third, fourth, and light divisions. An advanced post,
the Picurina, was taken by storm on the 25th., and on the following day
two breaching batteries opened fire on the town.
On the 6th. of April three breaches were considered practicable, and
orders were issued for the assault. It was determined to assault the
castle of Badajoz by escalade. Accordingly the attack was made on the
night of the 6th. of April, at ten o’clock. Major-General Kempt’s
brigade[48] led, and he was wounded in crossing the River Rivillas,
below the inundation. Notwithstanding this circumstance and the
obstinate resistance of the enemy, the castle was carried by escalade,
and the third division (known as the “Fighting Third”) established
therein about half-past eleven. Meanwhile Major Wilson, of the 48th.
regiment, carried the ravelin of St. Roque, with a detachment of two
hundred men of the guard in the trenches, and, with the aid of Major
Squire, of the Engineers, he established himself within that work.
The fourth and light divisions were not perceived by the enemy until
they reached the covered way, and the advanced guards of the two
divisions descended without difficulty into the ditch, protected by the
fire of the parties stationed on the _glacis_ for that purpose. They
advanced to the assault of the breaches, led by their gallant officers,
with the utmost intrepidity; but such was the nature of the obstacles
prepared by the garrison at the top and behind the breaches, and so
determined the resistance, that the assailants could not establish
themselves within the place. Many brave officers and soldiers were
killed or wounded by explosions at the top of the breaches, and others
who succeeded to them were compelled to give way. Repeated attempts were
made till after twelve at night, when the Earl of Wellington, seeing
that success was not to be attained, and that Lieutenant-General Picton
was established in the castle, the fourth and light divisions were
ordered to the ground on which they had first assembled for the attack.
Major-General Leith in the meantime had pushed forward Major-General
Walker’s brigade on the left, supported by the 38th., under
Lieutenant-Colonel Nugent, and the 15th. Portuguese regiment, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Do Rego; and he had made a false attack upon the
Pardaleras, with the 8th. Caçadores, under Major Hill. Major-General
Walker forced the barrier on the road of Olivença and entered the
covered way on the left of the bastion of St. Vicente, close to the
Guadiana. There he descended into the ditch, and escaladed the face of
that bastion.
This proceeding was supported by Lieutenant-General Leith, with the
38th., and the 15th. Portuguese regiment; and the British troops being
thus established in the castle, which commanded all the works of and in
the town; and the fourth and light divisions being formed again for the
attack of the breaches, all resistance ceased. At daylight in the
morning of the 7th. of April, the Governor, General Philippon, who had
retired to Fort St. Christoval, surrendered, together with the whole
garrison, which consisted of five thousand men at the commencement of
the siege, of whom one thousand two hundred were killed or wounded
during the operations, besides those lost in opposing the assault. About
three thousand five hundred prisoners were captured, being all that
survived of the gallant garrison.
The regiments present at the capture of Badajos, were the 4th., 5th.,
7th., 23rd., 27th., 30th., 38th., 40th., 43rd., 44th., 45th., 48th.,
52nd., 60th., 74th., 77th., 83rd., 88th., 94th., and Rifle Brigade.
This success cost the British and Portuguese the following heavy
casualties:—Seventy-two officers, fifty-one sergeants, two drummers, and
nine hundred and ten rank and file killed; three hundred and six
officers, two hundred and sixteen sergeants, seventeen drummers, and
three thousand two hundred and forty-eight rank and file wounded. No
wonder that the Iron Duke wept, when he saw that the glory of the
capture was purchased at such a price.
BATTLE OF SALAMANCA.
22ND. JULY, 1812.
On the 17th. of June, the forts at Salamanca were invested by the sixth
division, and operations commenced by the light companies thereof, under
Colonel Samuel Venables Hinde, of the 32nd. regiment. The remainder of
the army was formed in order of battle on the heights of San Christoval,
in front of Salamanca, from the 20th. to the 28th. of June, to meet
Marshal Marmont, who advanced with forty thousand men to relieve the
forts. They were attacked without success on the 23rd., and carried on
the 27th. of June, by a party under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Daviss, of the 36th. regiment. Several skirmishes and changes of
position occurred. The Earl of Wellington advanced in pursuit of the
French Marshal, who, having received reinforcements, crossed the Douro,
and the allies retired, skilfully manœuvring and taking up different
positions in presence of the enemy, until the 21st., when they reached
the ground they had formerly occupied, on the height of San Christoval.
Shortly after daylight on the 22nd. of July, detachments from both
armies attempted to obtain possession of the more distant from the
allied right of the two hills called Dos Arapiles. In this attempt the
enemy succeeded, his detachment being the strongest; by which success
the French position was materially strengthened, and they had in their
power increased means of annoying that of their opponents.
The light troops of the seventh division, and the 4th. Caçadores,
belonging to Major-General Pack’s brigade, were engaged in the morning
with the enemy on the height of Nuestra Senora de la Pena, on which they
maintained themselves throughout the day. The improved position of the
French rendered it necessary for the Earl of Wellington to extend the
right of his army _en potence_ to the heights behind the village of
Arapiles, and to occupy it with light infantry; here the fourth
division, under the command of Lieutenant-General the Honourable Lowry
Cole, was placed.
A variety of evolutions and movements having been made by the French
Marshal, he proceeded to carry out his plan about two o’clock in the
afternoon; and under cover of a very heavy cannonade, which did but
little injury, he extended his left, and moved forward his army,
apparently with an intention to embrace, by the position of his troops,
and by his fire, the British post on that of the two Arapiles, and
thence to attack and break the line; or at all events to render
difficult any movements to the right. This extension of the French line
to their left, and its advance upon the allied right, gave the British
commander an opportunity of attacking him, for which he had long been
anxious. “The attack of the third division,” says Lord Londonderry, in
his “Story of the Peninsula War,” “was not only the most spirited, but
the most perfect thing of the kind that modern times have witnessed.
Regardless alike of a charge of cavalry and of the murderous fire which
the enemy’s batteries opened, on went these fearless warriors, horse and
foot, without check or pause, until they won the ridge, and then the
infantry giving their volley, and the cavalry falling on, sword in hand,
the French were pierced, broken, and discomfited. So close indeed was
the struggle, that in several instances the British colours were seen
waving over the heads of the enemy’s battalions.”
The British General, in his despatch, observed that “Major-General the
Honourable Edward Pakenham[49] formed the third division across the
enemy’s flank, and overthrew everything opposed to him. These troops
were supported in the most gallant style by the Portuguese cavalry,
under Brigadier-General D’Urban, and Lieutenant-Colonel Hervey’s
squadrons of the 14th., who successfully defended every attempt made by
the enemy on the flank of the third division.”
In front the French were attacked by Brigadier-General Bradford’s
brigade, the fourth and fifth divisions, and the cavalry under
Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton, Bart., and were driven from one
height to another. The cavalry made a most successful charge against a
body of French infantry, which they overthrew, and cut to pieces. In
this charge Major-General Le Marchant was killed. The sixth division,
under Major-General Clinton, was ordered up at a critical period to
relieve the fourth division, which had been heavily pressed, and the
battle was soon restored to its former success.
The enemy’s right, reinforced by the troops which had fled from his
left, and by those which had by this time retired from the Arapiles,
still continued to resist; and while other corps were directed to turn
the right, the sixth division,[50] supported by the third and fifth,
attacked the front. It was dark before this point was carried by the
sixth division, and the enemy then fled through the woods towards the
Tormes. The pursuit was made by the first and light divisions, and
Major-General William Anson’s brigade of the fourth division, and some
squadrons of cavalry, under Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton,
Bart.; but the darkness of the night enabled many of the enemy to
escape, and was unfortunately the cause of Sir Stapleton being wounded
by one of the allied sentries. The same troops renewed the pursuit at
break of day the next morning, with Major-Generals Bock’s and Anson’s
brigades of cavalry, which had joined during the night. On coming up
with the enemy’s rear-guard of cavalry and infantry near La Serna, they
were at once attacked by the two brigades of dragoons; the French
cavalry fled, leaving the infantry to their fate. The gallant charge
made on the infantry by the heavy brigade of the King’s German Legion,
under Major-General Bock, which was completely successful, was highly
commended; the whole body of infantry, consisting of three battalions of
the French first division, were made prisoners on this occasion.
Eleven pieces of cannon, several ammunition waggons, two eagles, and six
colours were captured; one general, three colonels, three
lieutenant-colonels, one hundred and thirty officers, and about seven
thousand soldiers were taken prisoners. Marshal Marmont was badly
wounded, and lost an arm; four general officers were killed, and several
wounded.
The British loss was in all four thousand nine hundred and sixty-four
killed and wounded. Major-General Le Marchant was killed; Field-Marshal
Sir W. C. Beresford, K.B., Lieutenant-Generals Sir Stapleton
Cotton-Leith, and the Honourable George Lowry Cole, and Major-General
Victor Alten were amongst the wounded. The French loss was still more
considerable.
This victory was followed by the surrender of Madrid to the allies, who
entered that city on the 12th. of August, and were joyfully received by
the inhabitants. The title of Marquis was conferred on the Earl of
Wellington.
The following regiments took part in the victory of Salamanca: 5th
Dragoon Guards, 3rd., 4th., 11th., 14th., and 16th. Light Dragoons;
1st., 2nd., 4th., 5th., 7th., 9th., 11th., 23rd., 24th., 27th., 30th.,
32nd., 36th., 38th., 40th., 43rd., 44th., 45th., 48th., 51st., 52nd.,
53rd., 58th., 60th., 61st., 68th., 74th., 79th., 83rd., 88th., and 94th.
Foot, and Rifle Brigade.
CAPTURE OF FORT DETROIT.
AUGUST, 1812.
The negotiations between the British Government and the United States of
America, which had several times been broken off and renewed, ultimately
terminated on the 18th of June, 1812, by the latter declaring war. Their
first design was the conquest of Canada, and early in July the American
commander, Brigadier-General Hull, invaded that country, by crossing the
Detroit River on the 12th. of that month, with two thousand three
hundred men, consisting of regular cavalry and infantry, and militia,
with several field pieces; having driven in the militia towards
Amherstsburg, he advanced to Sandwich, and afterwards approached the
former place with a part of his army to the River Cunard, about five
miles from the fort, where he was foiled in three attempts to cross that
river, which cost him a considerable loss. The garrison of Amherstsburg
at that time consisted of a subaltern’s detachment of the royal
artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Troughton, a detachment of three
hundred men of the 41st. regiment, under Captain Muir, and about the
same number of militia, the whole commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Saint
George, the district inspecting field officer of militia. Some
skirmishes occurred between the troops under the latter officer, and the
enemy upon the River Canard, which uniformly terminated in his being
repulsed with loss. Major-General Isaac Brock detached a force down the
River Thames, capable of acting in conjunction with the garrison of
Amherstsburg offensively, but Captain Chambers who had been appointed to
direct this detachment, experienced difficulties that frustrated the
design; whereupon Colonel Proctor was ordered to assume the command, and
his force was soon after increased with sixty men of the 41st. regiment.
Meanwhile the most strenuous exertions were made; and voluntary offers
of service were received from that portion of the embodied militia the
most easily connected. The Attorney-General, John M‘Donell, Esq., acted
as provincial aide-de-camp to Major-General Brock, and other gentlemen
of the first character and influence evinced similar devotion.
A sufficiency of boats being collected at Long Point for the conveyance
of three hundred men, the embarkation took place on the 8th. of August,
and in five days the troops arrived at Amherstsburg. The judicious
arrangement which had been adopted immediately upon the arrival of
Colonel Proctor, of the 41st., compelled the Americans to retreat and
take shelter under the guns of the fort; that officer commenced
operations by sending strong detachments across the river, with a view
of cutting off the enemy’s communications with his reserve. This
produced two smart skirmishes on the 5th. and 9th. of August, in both of
which the Americans suffered considerable loss; the British had only
three killed and thirteen wounded, amongst the latter were Captain Muir
and Lieutenant Sutherland, of the 41st. regiment. Batteries had likewise
been commenced opposite Fort Detroit, for one eighteen-pounder, two
twelve, and two five and a half-inch mortars all of which were opened on
the evening of the 15th. of August, Brigadier-General Hull having been
previously summoned to surrender, and though opposed by a well-directed
fire from seven twenty-four pounders, such was their construction, under
the able directions of Captain Dixon, of the royal engineers, that no
injury was sustained therefrom.
Major-General Brock having collected the force at his disposal during
the 15th. of August in the neighbourhood of Sandwich, the embarkation
commenced a little after daylight on the following morning, and by the
able arrangements of Lieutenant Dewar, of the quartermaster-general’s
department, the whole landed at Springwell, about three miles west of
Detroit. The Indians, who in the meantime had effected a landing two
miles below, moved forward and occupied the woods, about a mile and a
half on the British left. The force which was instantly directed to
march against the enemy, consisted of thirty royal artillery, two
hundred and fifty of the 41st. regiment, fifty Royal Newfoundland
regiment, four hundred militia, and about six hundred Indians, to which
were attached three six-pounders, and two three-pounders. The troops
afterwards advanced to within one mile of the fort, when an assault was
determined upon. Brigadier-General Hull, however, prevented this
movement, by proposing a cessation of hostilities, for the purpose of
preparing terms of capitulation. The American troops that surrendered
consisted of two thousand five hundred men, and were divided into two
troops of cavalry; one company of artillery regulars; the 4th. United
States regiment; detachments of the 1st. and 3rd. United States
regiment, volunteers; three regiments of the Ohio militia; and one
regiment of the Michigan territory. Thirty-three pieces of brass and
iron ordnance had already been secured. This capitulation was concluded
at Detroit on the 16th. of August, 1812, and the 41st. foot bears the
name of the fort on the regimental colour, likewise the 69th. its linked
battalion. The medal granted for this service was similar to that
authorized for the Peninsula; and on the war medal being issued a clasp
was added commemorative of the foregoing events.
BATTLE OF VITTORIA.
21ST. JUNE, 1813.
On the night of the 19th. of June, 1813, the French troops, commanded by
Joseph Buonaparte, having Marshal Jourdan as the Major-General of the
army, took up a position in front of Vittoria, the left resting upon the
heights which end at La Puebla de Arganzon, and extending thence across
the valley of the Zadorra, in front of the village of Arinez. The
Marquis of Wellington reconnoitred the enemy’s position on the 20th.,
with design of giving him battle on the following morning, if he should
still remain in it, and accordingly on the 21st. of June ordered an
attack to be made on three separate points—Lieutenant-General Sir
Rowland Hill, with the second division, was to assail the French left at
La Puebla; with Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham, with the first and
fifth divisions, was to make a wide detour to the left, and crossing the
Zadorra at Vittoria, to attack their right, and to cut off their retreat
by the great road to Bayonne. The centre, consisting of the fourth and
light divisions, (under Lord Wellington himself,) on the right, and the
third and seventh, (under Lieutenant-General Lord Dalhousie,) on the
left, was to pass the bridges in front, and attack as soon as the
movements on the flanks should be executed. The troops moved from the
camp on the Bayas at daybreak; and the operations of the day commenced
by Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill obtaining possession of the
heights of La Puebla. The enemy soon discovered the importance of these
heights, and reinforced their troops to such an extent, that the
Lieutenant-General was obliged to detach first the 71st. regiment and
the light infantry battalion of Major-General Walker’s brigade, under
the command of Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Henry Cadogan, and
successively other troops to the same point. The allies not only gained,
but maintained possession of these important heights throughout their
operations, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts made by the enemy to
retake them. Lieutenant-Colonel Cadogan was here mortally wounded. The
contest was thus at first chiefly on the extreme right and left,
because, on account of the rugged nature of the ridges they had to pass,
the left centre column, (third and seventh divisions,) did not reach the
Zadorra until nearly one o’clock; the fourth and light divisions crossed
the Zadorra immediately after Sir Rowland Hill had obtained possession
of Subijana de Alava, the former at the bridge of Nanclares, and the
latter at the bridge of Tres Puentes. The right brigade of the third
division, followed by the seventh division, under the Earl of Dalhousie,
then crossed the bridge of Mendoza, the other brigades of the third
division fording higher up the river.
The seventh division and the centre brigade of the third division
attacked the French right centre, in front of the villages of Margarita
and Hermandad, and the Marquis of Wellington, seeing the hill in front
of the village of Arinez weakly occupied by the enemy, ordered the right
brigade of the third division, under Lieutenant-General Picton, in close
columns of battalions across the front of both armies to that central
point. The hill was carried immediately, and the French withdrew under
cover of a cannonade from fifty pieces of artillery and a crowd of
skirmishers, to the second range of heights, on which their reserve had
been posted; they, however, still held Arinez on the great road leading
to Vittoria. The brigade then advanced to the attack of the village of
Arinez; the three right companies of the 74th., under Captain Mc Queen,
with the companies of the 60th., immediately dashed forward and charged
through it, drove out the enemy, and captured three guns; these
companies were then halted under cover of some houses until the
remainder of the regiment and brigade should come up, as the French were
again advancing upon the post with increased numbers, keeping up a
terrific fire of artillery and musketry. Finally they were driven back
in confusion at the point of the bayonet.
By the capture of the village the great road was gained, and the French
extreme left was turned, while they were hard pressed by Sir Rowland
Hill’s attack on their front. They retreated on Vittoria, and the
British continued the advance in admirable order, notwithstanding the
difficulty of the ground. For six miles the action became a running
fight and cannonade. When within a mile of Vittoria, the enemy made a
stand, and the third division, being the foremost, bore the brunt of a
heavy fire, until a hill on the French left was carried by the fourth
division, which caused them to abandon the position.
Meanwhile Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham, with his divisions, had
attacked the French right. The village of Gamarra Mayor was most
gallantly stormed and carried by Brigadier-General Robinson’s brigade of
the fifth division, which advanced in columns of battalions under a very
heavy fire of artillery and musketry, without firing a shot, assisted by
two guns of Major Lawson’s brigade of artillery. The French suffered
severely, and three pieces of cannon were captured. Sir Thomas then
proceeded to attack the village of Abechuco with the first division.
These two villages were strongly occupied by the enemy as
_têtes-de-pont_ to the bridges over the Zadorra at these places. During
the operations at Abechuco, which was carried, the light battalions
having charged and taken three guns and a howitzer on the bridge, the
greatest efforts were made to recover Gamarra Mayor, which were
gallantly repulsed by the troops of the fifth division, under
Major-General Oswald. Two divisions of the French were in reserve on the
heights upon the left of the Zadorra, and it was not possible to cross
by the bridges until the troops, which had moved upon the centre and
left, had driven them through Vittoria. The whole then co-operated in
the pursuit, which was continued by all till after dark.
The movement of the troops under Sir Thomas Graham, and their possession
of Gamarra and Abechucho, intercepted the enemy’s retreat by the high
road to France. They were then obliged to turn to the road towards
Pampeluna, but were unable to hold any position for a sufficient length
of time to allow the baggage and artillery to be drawn off. The whole,
therefore, of the latter which had not been already captured by the
troops, in their attack of the successive positions taken up by the
French in their retreat from their first position on Arinez, and on the
Zadorra, together with all their ammunition and baggage, fell into the
hands of the British close to Vittoria. Only one gun and howitzer were
carried off by the enemy.
Count Gazan, the Chief of the French Staff, in his report, shewed the
state of destitution to which the officers were reduced.—“To such an
extent are they stripped, that no one can account for what he has, or
what is due to him. Several of the generals and officers have nothing in
the world but the coats on their backs, and most of them are
barefooted.” The French occupation of the Peninsula was virtually
settled by this day’s success.
Although the nature of the ground did not admit of the cavalry regiments
being generally engaged, they were kept close to the infantry to support
them, and were most active in the pursuit. The court equipage of King
Joseph was taken, and his carriage being taken, and his carriage being
seized, he had barely time to escape on horseback. The defeat was the
most complete that had been experienced in Spain.
Marshal Jourdan’s bâton[51] was taken, and sent to the Prince Regent,
who in the name and on behalf of His Majesty, appointed the Marquis of
Wellington a Field-Marshal. In a most flattering letter, the Prince
Regent thus conferred the honour:—“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 bâton was taken by the 87th., Royal
Irish Fusiliers, under Lieutenant-Colonel (afterwards Viscount) Gough.
The colours of the fourth battalion of the 100th. regiment were also
among the trophies, and a hundred and forty-three brass guns were
captured on the field.
Both armies were nearly equal in numbers, consisting of about seventy
thousand men each. The French loss was stated by themselves at six
thousand, and the casualties of the allies amounted to nearly five
thousand men.
The following regiments were present at the battle of Yittoria:—The 3rd.
and 5th. Dragoon Guards; 3rd., 4th., 14th., 15th., and 16th., Light
Dragoons; 1st., 2nd., 4th., 5th., 6th., 7th., 9th., 20th., 23rd., 24th.,
27th., 28th., 31st., 34th., 38th., 39th., 40th., 43rd., 45th., 47th.,
48th., 50th., 51st., 52nd., 53rd., 57th., 58th., 59th., 60th., 66th.,
68th., 71st., 74th., 82nd., 83rd., 87th., 88th., 92nd., and Rifle
Brigade.
ACTIONS OF THE PYRENEES.
28TH. JULY TO 2ND. AUGUST, 1813.
After the decisive battle of Vittoria, the British commander blockaded
the fortress of Pampeluna, besieged St. Sebastian, and took up a
position with the covering army in the Pyrenees. On the 17th. of July
the blockade of Pampeluna was entrusted to the Spaniards. The whole
frontier of the Pyrenees, from the pass of Roncesvalles to the mouth of
the Bidassoa river, was now occupied by the second, seventh, and light
divisions, with some Portuguese brigades in the front line; and by the
third, fourth, and sixth divisions as supports, covering the blockade of
Pampeluna, and the siege of St. Sebastian, then going on under
Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham. The British army, after years of
toil and conflict, procured liberty for the oppressed inhabitants of the
Peninsula, had forced the intrusive monarch of Spain from his throne,
and stood triumphant on the lofty pinnacles of the Pyrenees; but another
mighty struggle was at hand, in which the innate valour and hardihood of
British soldiers were about to be tested, and the French Army, having
been re-organized by Marshal Soult, was pushed boldly forward to drive
them from the mountains.
Marshal Soult having arrived at Bayonne on the 13th. of July, to
command, as “Lieutenant of the Emperor,” the united French army of
Spain, on the 25th. of that month attacked with about forty thousand men
Major-General Byng’s post at Roncesvalles. Lieutenant-General the
Honourable Sir Lowry Cole moved up to his support with the fourth
division, and these officers were enabled to maintain their post
throughout the day; but the enemy having turned it in the afternoon, Sir
Lowry deemed it advisable to withdraw during the night, and marched to
the neighbourhood of Zubiri. A detachment of the 20th. evinced signal
gallantry in its attacks on the head of a French column, but was forced
back by superior numbers. The Marquis of Wellington stated in his
despatch, that “in the actions which took place on this day, the 20th.
regiment distinguished themselves.”
Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill’s position in the Puerto de Maya, at
the head of the valley of Bastan, was also attacked by two divisions of
the centre of the French army in the afternoon of the same day. The
brunt of the action fell upon Major-Generals Pringle’s and Walker’s
brigades in the second division, under the command of Lieutenant-General
the Honourable William Stewart. These troops were at first compelled to
give way, but having been supported by Major-General Barnes’s brigade of
the seventh division, they regained that part of their post, which was
the key of the whole, and would have enabled them to re-assume it, had
circumstances permitted it.[52] Sir Rowland Hill, having been apprised
of the necessity that Sir Lowry Cole should retire, considered it
advisable to withdraw his troops also to Irurita, and the enemy did not
advance on the following day beyond the Puerto de Maya.
During the seven hours these brave troops were engaged but little
advantage was acquired by the French, notwithstanding the numerical
superiority of the latter. All the regiments charged with the bayonet,
and the conduct of the 82nd., which moved up with the brigade under
Major-General Barnes, was particularly reported. Lieutenant-General the
Honourable William Stewart was slightly wounded.
These events were not known to the Marquis of Wellington until late in
the night of the 25th. and 26th., whereupon his lordship adopted
immediate measures to concentrate the army to the right, at the same
time making provision for the siege of St. Sebastian, and for the
blockade of Pampeluna.
The hill on the right of the fourth division, which was occupied on the
27th. of July by one battalion of the 4th. Portuguese regiment, and by
the Spanish regiment of Pravia, was attacked; but these troops defended
their ground and drove back the enemy. This height being important to
the British position, the 40th. was ordered to reinforce it, and this
corps, with the Spanish regiments of El Principe and Pravia, succeeded
in holding it, despite the repeated efforts made during the 27th. and
28th. by the enemy to obtain possession. On the morning of the 28th. the
sixth division joined, and it was ordered to form across the valley in
rear of the fourth. Scarcely had they taken their position when they
were attacked by a very large force; their front was however so well
defended by the fire of their own light troops from the heights on their
left, and by that from the heights occupied by the fourth division and
Brigadier-General Campbell’s Portuguese brigade, that the foe was soon
driven back with immense slaughter.
To extricate their troops from the difficulty in which they were placed,
the enemy attacked the height on which the left of the fourth division
stood, which was occupied by the 7th. Caçadores, and succeeding in
obtaining a momentary possession. They were again attacked by this
regiment, supported by Major-General Ross, at the head of his brigade of
the fourth division, and were driven down with great loss.
Now the battle became general along the whole front of the heights
occupied by the fourth division, and in every part was in favour of the
allies, excepting where one battalion of the 10th. Portuguese regiment
of Major-General Campbell’s brigade was posted. This battalion having
been overpowered, and compelled to give way immediately on the right of
Major-General Ross’s brigade, the French established themselves on the
British line, and that general was obliged to withdraw from his post.
The 27th. and 48th. regiments were then ordered to charge, first that
body which had established a footing on the height, and next the portion
on the left. Both attacks succeeded, and the enemy was forced down with
immense loss; and the sixth division having moved forward at the same
time to a situation in the valley of Lanz, nearer to the left of the
fourth, the attack upon that front entirely ceased, and was continued
but faintly on other points of the line.
During this hard-fought action the following regiments were specially
noticed by the Marquis of Wellington, who observed in his despatch:—“In
the course of this contest the gallant fourth division, which has so
frequently been distinguished in this army, surpassed their former good
conduct. Every regiment charged with the bayonet,—the 40th., 7th.,
20th., and 23rd., four different times. Their officers set them the
example; and Major-General Ross had two horses killed under him. The
Portuguese troops likewise behaved admirably, and I had every reason to
be satisfied with the conduct of the Spanish regiments, El Principe and
Pravia.”
As soon as it was ascertained that Lieutenant-Generals Sir Thomas Picton
and Sir Lowry Cole had moved from Zubiri, that post not being considered
tenable for the time during which it would have been necessary to wait
therein, Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill received orders to march by
Lanz upon Lizaso, and Lieutenant-General the Earl of Dalhousie from San
Estevan to the same place, where both arrived on the 28th. of July, and
the seventh division came to Marcalain.
Sir Rowland Hill was followed by the enemy’s force that had been in his
front, and which ultimately endeavoured to turn the left of the allies
by an attack on his corps. They reinforced with one division the troops
that had been opposed to him, and during the night of the 29th. and
30th., occupied in strength the crest of the mountain on the British
left of the Lanz, opposite to the sixth and seventh divisions, thus
connecting their right in their position with the divisions detached for
the attack of Sir Rowland Hill’s corps.
Wellington had resolved, however, to attack this position. The Earl of
Dalhousie was ordered to possess himself of the top of the mountain in
his front, thus turning the enemy’s right; and Lieutenant-General Sir
Thomas Picton was to cross the heights, so as to turn his left by the
road to Roncesvalles. As soon as the effect of these movements on the
flanks should become apparent, the front of the position was to be
attacked. Major-General the Honourable Edward Pakenham, who had been
sent to take the command of the sixth division on Major-General Pack
being wounded, turned the village of Sorauren as soon as the Earl of
Dalhousie had driven the foe from the mountain, by which that flank was
defended. The sixth division and Major-General Byng’s brigade, which had
relieved the fourth division on the left of the position on the road to
Ostiz, at once attacked, and succeeded in carrying that village.
The front of the main position was likewise attacked by
Lieutenant-General Sir Lowry Cole, with the 7th. Caçadores, supported by
the 11th. Portuguese regiment, the 40th., and the battalion under
Colonel Bingham, consisting of the 2nd. and 53rd. regiments. These
combined operations compelled the enemy to abandon a position pronounced
by the British commander to have been one of the strongest and most
difficult of access that he had ever seen occupied by troops. In the
retreat therefrom the French lost a great number of prisoners.
During the course of these operations, and as their success was
observed, troops were detached to the support of Lieutenant-General Sir
Rowland Hill, before whom the enemy appeared in his front late in the
morning, and commenced at once an extended manœuvre upon his left flank
which obliged him to withdraw from the height which he occupied behind
the Lizaso to the next range; there, however, he maintained himself, and
that general specially praised the 28th., 34th., and 60th. regiments.
At sunset the Marquis of Wellington having continued the pursuit of the
enemy, after his retreat to Olague, found himself immediately in the
rear of their attack upon Sir Rowland Hill, from whose front they
withdrew in the night, and on the 31st. of July took up a strong
position, with two divisions, to cover their rear in the pass of Donna
Maria. This pass was attacked and carried by Sir Rowland Hill and the
Earl of Dalhousie, notwithstanding a vigorous opposition, and the
strength of the position. On this occasion Lieutenant-General the
Honourable William Stewart was wounded. A very thick fog prevented that
advantage being taken of the situation of the enemy, which otherwise
might have been effected.
Meanwhile the Marquis of Wellington moved with Major-General Byng’s
brigade and the fourth division, under Lieutenant-General Sir Lowry
Cole, by the Pass of Velate upon Irurita, in order to turn the French
position on Donna Maria. Major-General Byng (afterwards Earl of
Strafford) intercepted in Elizondo a large convoy and captured several
prisoners. The pursuit of the enemy was continued in the valley of the
Bidassoa, and many prisoners and much baggage were taken; the latter
General possessed himself of the valley of Bastan, and of the position
on the Puerto de Maya, so that the British forces on the night of the
1st. of August, occupied nearly the same positions as on the 25th. of
July.
The French troops having been considerably reinforced and re-equipped
after their recent defeat, made a most formidable attempt on the 28th.
to relieve the blockade of Pampeluna with the whole of their forces,
excepting the reserve under General Villatte, which remained in front of
the British corps on the great road from Irun. This attempt was however
entirely frustrated by the operations of a part only of the allied army,
and the enemy sustained a defeat, and suffered considerably both in
officers and men. They sent off the guns to St. Jean de Pied de Port on
the evening of the 28th. of July, which alone ensured their safety.
Again the fourth division was most highly spoken of—the British
commander stating that it is impossible to describe its “enthusiastic
bravery.”
On the morning of the 2nd. of August, the enemy still continued posted,
with a force of two divisions, on the Puerto de Echalar, and nearly the
entire army behind the Puerto, when the fourth, seventh, and light
divisions advanced by the valley, of the Bidassoa to the frontier, it
having been determined to dislodge them by a combined attack and
movement of the three divisions. The seventh division having, however,
crossed the mountains from Sumbilla, had necessarily preceded the
arrival of the fourth, and Major-General Barnes’s brigade was therefore
formed for the attack, and advanced, before the fourth and light
divisions could co-operate, with a regularity and gallantry which the
British commander “had seldom seen equalled, and actually drove the two
divisions of the enemy, notwithstanding the resistance opposed to them,
from those formidable heights.” This exploit was the admiration of all
who witnessed it. Major-General Kempt’s brigade of the light division
likewise forced a very considerable force from the rock forming the left
of the Puerto. The enemy were now in their own territory, and the
British troops awaited in the Pyrenees the capture of St. Sebastian and
Pampeluna.
In these combats, which have been designated the “Battles of the
Pyrenees,” the following regiments were engaged, namely: 2nd., 3rd.,
6th., 7th., 11th., 20th, 23rd., 24th., 27th., 28th., 31st., 32nd.,
34th., 36th., 39th., 40th., 42nd., 45th., 48th., 50th., 51st., 53rd.,
57th., 58th., 60th., 61st., 66th., 68th., 71st., 74th., 79th., 82nd.,
91st., and 92nd. Foot.
As may be readily conceived, the loss of the allies during these
protracted encounters was great; they had forty-one officers and eight
hundred and forty-seven men killed, and three hundred and twenty-eight
officers and five thousand one hundred and seventy-two men wounded;
many, however, were but slight cases.[53]
SIEGE OF ST. SEBASTIAN.
AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, 1813.
The allies having advanced to so great a distance from Portugal, that
country was no longer used by the British as a place of arms, and the
establishments there were consequently broken up. In conjunction with
the ocean, the Western Pyrenees offered a fresh base of operations, and
the capture of St. Sebastian became of primary importance.
One of the first objects was the reduction of the convent and redoubt of
San Bartolomeo, which were battered by the artillery, and so far
damaged, that on the 17th. of July, it was determined to storm these
posts. The pickets of the 4th. Caçadores, and one hundred and fifty men
of the 13th. Portuguese regiment, supported by three companies of the
9th., with a reserve of three companies of the Royals, formed on the
right to attack the redoubt; two hundred men of the 5th. Caçadores, and
two hundred of the 13th. Portuguese, supported by the 9th. regiment,
formed on the left to attack the convent. At ten o’clock in the
forenoon, the troops rushed from behind the hill overlooking the
convent. Both the convent and the houses of the suburb were assaulted,
and in the latter a fierce struggle ensued, but eventually the French
were expelled with severe loss.
The capture of the convent facilitated the progress of the siege, and on
the 24th. of July the breaches were deemed practicable, when the third
battalion of the Royals was directed to storm the great breach, the
38th. regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Miles, the lesser breach, and
the 9th. under Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron, supported the Royals, under
Major Peter Fraser. At daybreak on the morning of the 25th. of July, the
troops advanced to the attack with signal intrepidity; the cannon of the
fortress played upon them in front; the ground was difficult to pass;
and the volleys of musketry were incessant; at the same time showers of
hand-grenades, shells, and large stones were poured down upon them; yet
the attack was made with valour; and the defences round the breach had
not been destroyed, and success was found to be impracticable.
Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron and Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, of the 9th.,
distinguished themselves on this occasion, and the latter (afterwards
General Lord Clyde,) who led the left wing of the Royals, was severely
wounded. The loss sustained was severe, especially by the third
battalion of the Royals, the leading one of Major-General Hay’s brigade,
which, being on duty in the trenches, formed the column of attack.
During the contest in the mountains, before described, the siege was
turned into a blockade; when the French, however, had been repulsed and
driven back with severe loss, the siege was resumed, and was afterwards
prosecuted with vigour. On the 26th. of August, the fire against the
fort was opened, and Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham directed that
an establishment should be formed on the island of Santa Clara, in the
bay of St. Sebastian. At three o’clock on the morning of the 27th. of
August, a hundred soldiers of the 9th. Foot, commanded by Captain Hector
Cameron, sailed from Passages in boats to attack the island. As the
boats approached the shore, a heavy fire was opened upon them, but a
landing was effected, and the garrison made prisoners.
On the morning of the 27th. of August, the French made a sally against
the new batteries on the isthmus, but were repulsed. St. Sebastian was
again attacked by storm on the 31st. of August, and the heroic
perseverance of all the troops concerned was at length crowned with
success. The column of attack was formed of the second brigade of the
fifth division, commanded by Major-General Robinson, with the following
detachments as supports:—one hundred and fifty volunteers of the light
division, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hunt, of the 52nd.; four hundred of
the first division, consisting of two hundred of the brigades of guards,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Cook; one hundred of the light battalion, and
one hundred of the line battalions of the King’s German Legion, under
Major Robertson; and two hundred volunteers of the fourth division,
under Major Rose, of the 20th. Foot. In reserve were the remainder of
the fifth division, consisting of Major-General Spry’s Portuguese
brigade, and the first brigade under Major-General Hay, together with
the fifth battalion of Caçadores of Major-General Bradford’s brigade,
under Major Hill; the whole were under the direction of
Lieutenant-General Sir James Leith, commanding the fifth division. The
difficulties to be overcome were so formidable, and the resistance of
the enemy so determined, that the reserve brigade was pushed on by
degrees. For five hours the conflict raged at the beaches, when an
explosion destroyed the enemy’s traverses. The guns were turned against
the curtain, against which a heavy fire of artillery was directed. This
passed a few feet only over the heads of the troops on the breach, and
was kept up with remarkable precision. The advance of the first
battalion of the 13th. regiment, under Major Snodgrass, over the open
breach and across the river, and a detachment of the 24th. regiment,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Mac Bean, in support, was gallantly made under
a very severe fire of grape. A great effort was next made to gain the
high ridge, and to storm the hornwork. The second brigade of the fifth
division, under Colonel the Honourable Charles Greville, moved out of
the trenches for this purpose, and the third battalion of the 1st. foot,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Barns, supported by the 38th., under
Lieutenant-Colonel Miles, opportunely arrived to assault the trench of
the curtain about the time when the explosion had created some confusion
amongst the garrison. After a severe conflict the narrow pass was
gained, and the troops on the right of the breach having succeeded in
forcing the barricades on the top of the narrow line wall, found their
way into the houses which joined it. After an assault which lasted over
two hours, a firm footing, under the most trying circumstances, was
obtained. Nothing could restrain the impetuosity of the troops, and in
an hour more the enemy were driven from all the complications of
defences prepared in the streets, and after suffering severe loss, they
abandoned the town and retreated into the castle.[54]
Batteries mounting fifty-four pieces of ordnance opened a tremendous
fire upon the citadel on the 8th. of September, and in less than three
hours the garrison hoisted the flag of truce, and after some discussion
surrendered. The loss of the garrison was related to have amounted to
two-thirds of their numbers at the commencement of the siege.
From the 28th. of July to the 31st. of August the British had thirty-six
officers, thirty-one sergeants, one drummer, and five hundred and three
men killed; seventy officers, (including Lieutenant-General Sir James
Leith and Major-Generals Oswald and Robinson,) fifty-four sergeants, six
drummers, and nine hundred and seventy-three rank and file were wounded.
The Portuguese had eight officers and one hundred and eighty-one men
killed, and thirty-five officers and five hundred and fifty-nine men
wounded.
ST. SEBASTIAN on the colours of the 1st., 4th., 9th., 38th., 47th., and
59th. regiments, commemorates this arduous and glorious service.