The Author's Battalion quartered in Aurantz on 3d January,
1814--The Cantonments at Aurantz broke up on 16th February, and
the Campaign of 1814 commenced--Farther Advance into
France--Skirmishing with the Enemy--Military Manoeuvres--Battle
of Orthes--Defeat and Pursuit of the Enemy--Succession of
Attacks on them--They are driven from their Position in and
near Tarbes--Skirmishing at Tournefoile--The Enemy retire
towards Toulouse.
On the 3d of January 1814, we were ordered to quit a part of the
country, which, from the various occurrences that had taken place since
we first arrived in it, had, in some measure, rendered it interesting to
us. We moved a little to the right, and crossed the Nive, and again
moved in advance about a league or more. This movement was made in
support of some operations which Lord Wellington was conducting in the
direction of the Adour, which being completed, we returned to the Nive,
and took up our cantonments in the villages of Ustaritz and Aurantz.
About this time, nearly the whole of the peasantry, who had fled on our
entering France, were now returning to their habitations, all fear that
we should murder them, and eat their children, having by this time been
completely dissipated. Indeed we were often told after this, that they
would much prefer having a British army among them, to their own people,
for they were always haughty, they said, and overbearing, and never
scrupled to take whatever they had a mind for, while we were orderly and
quiet, and never took an article without amply repaying the owner for
it. Indeed I am well convinced the change the poor people had made in
their lodgers was greatly for the better to them.
My battalion was quartered in the village of Aurantz, from which we
often took a stroll, to look at the scene of our late operations. The
French having, in consequence of Lord Wellington's movements near the
Adour, strengthened their army in that direction, which of course
rendered it necessary they should contract the limits of their front on
the side towards Spain, they had consequently withdrawn their advance
considerably within their former lines. We now also had plenty of
opportunity for shooting, but were but ill supplied with fowling-pieces,
or we might have killed an abundance of woodcocks, every thicket in the
neighbourhood being filled with them.
The weather now was extremely bad, and the roads impassable, except by
yourself wading up to the knees, or having your horse almost continually
nearly up to his belly. In consequence of the difficulty of
communicating by dragoons, on account of the roads, telegraphs were
established all along from the right of the army, on the banks of the
Adour, to St Jean de Luz on our left, the head-quarters of the army.
While in these cantonments, an account arrived of our gallant
Major-general (Kempt) having been appointed to the colonelcy of the 8th
battalion of the 60th regiment, which had just been raised. At the
recommendation of my commanding-officer, now Major Balvaird, the general
kindly transmitted my name to the War Office for the appointment of
paymaster of his battalion; but unfortunately for me, before my name
arrived, his late Royal Highness the Duke of York, as Colonel-in-chief
of the regiment, had nominated another person to the situation. It had
always hitherto been customary for Colonels-commandant, and not the
Colonel-in-chief, to nominate their own staff, but on this occasion
another rule was adopted, which, of course, was a great disappointment
to me, as I had, with considerable trouble, got all my sureties, &c.
prepared, although they were now not needed.
I had, during our stay here, one or more trips to the paymaster-general
for money, for although the paymaster of the battalion had by this time
arrived, I had several months' pay still to draw, the army being
considerably in arrear in their pay. I had thus an opportunity of
visiting St Jean de Luz, and all the enemy's late fortifications and
position in that neighbourhood, and amazingly strong they had indeed
rendered the ground in front of that town. It was a considerable and
well-built town, partaking a good deal of both the Spanish and French
character of course, it being the first French town next to the
frontier; and, as I said before, there being very little difference
between the Basques on either side of the Bidassoa, the change of
countries in respect to inhabitants was not very observable except among
the better orders.
On the 16th of February we broke up from our cantonments in Aurantz, and
commenced the campaign of 1814, crossing the Nive at Ustaritz, and
moving on in the direction of La Bastide de Clarence. We encamped on a
wild heath, without any village or town being near us, and again the
next morning continued our route to the place above-named, which we
reached about noon, and encamped on a hill beyond it.
On the 22d we advanced to St Palais, having passed other villages, the
names of which I have forgot, in the intermediate days. Nothing,
however, of any note occurred in that period. On the 23d we encamped
near La Chere and Charrette; on the 24th we crossed two rapid and deep
streams of the Bidowse. The first we got over with considerable
ease,--it was the Gave de Mauleon, which we crossed at Nabes; but the
second, the Gave d'Oleron, was not only both deeper and more rapid than
the other, but the passage seemed intended to be disputed with us; some
French cavalry having made their appearance on the opposite bank, as we
approached the river. The resistance they could offer, however, seemed
very trifling, for, on our bringing up some guns to the bank, and a few
shots having been fired from them, and from a company of our second
battalion, they withdrew.
We now prepared to go over; accordingly, every man was ordered to take
off his pouch and buckle it on the top of his knapsack, the ford being
so deep as to take the men up to or above the middle. On this occasion I
had I know not how many of the poor men hanging about me and my horse.
Some were holding by the stirrup, some by the tail, and others by the
mane, or wherever they could lay hold, for the stream was so rapid as to
nearly sweep them off their legs. Indeed I understand several of those
who followed us were actually swept down, and perished.
On reaching the farther bank, we found the French had endeavoured to
render it impassable, by throwing harrows, &c., with their spikes
upmost, in the only places where you could ascend from the river. I
believe a trumpeter of the French was all who fell on this day.
We passed through Ville Neuve, and formed in a field beyond the village,
till the whole division had got over. It was in this village where the
scene between the mother, the child, and some of our officers, took
place. When joined and formed, we moved on to a high and ugly common,
not far in rear of the village of Orion, where we bivouacked for the
night. It was most uncomfortable.
Before we reached our ground this evening, we observed, at a short
distance to our left, a body of about 200 French infantry moving on
parallel to us, but apparently making all haste to get away in front of
us. Some suggested the idea of attacking and taking them prisoners; but
as they were rather before us, it could not have been done without
setting one of the battalions at them in double-quick time, and which
would not have been an easy operation, after a long and fatiguing march,
and fording two rivers. Besides, as our Quartermaster-general said, it
was certain they could not be far from their support; consequently it
would only bring on an affair, which it was not the General's wish to do
at that time, for there was none near to support us should the enemy
send a force against us. This day General Picton's division had a sharp
affair at Navarreins, where they forced the passage of the Gave we had
crossed.
On the 25th, we moved forward early in the morning, and on reaching the
village of Orion, we found that Soult had had his head-quarters the
night before, with a considerable portion of his army, in and around the
village; it was therefore fortunate we did not attack the French
detachment before mentioned, for we should certainly have had Soult,
with all his people, upon our single division. A French band had
remained in this village till our arrival, having deserted in a body
from the regiment to which they belonged, or they, seeing they could not
make their escape, pretended to desert and join our army.
We bent our course towards Orthes, which was now only a few leagues in
front of us. A man brought a cask of excellent wine to the roadside,
with the intention of giving every man of the division a drink, but we
could not wait, and were consequently obliged to leave the good man's
gift. It showed that either good-will or fear had prompted him to this
act. I rather think the former was the cause, as he lived some distance
from the road. We had not continued long on the march, till we heard a
loud and thundering explosion in front of us, which, as it was expected,
turned out to be the bridge of Orthes, which the enemy had blown up. A
short while after we came in sight of the town, and one of our
Portuguese Cacadore regiments being sent forward, a smart skirmish
commenced between them and the French, who had been left on and about
the bridge to prevent our repairing it. I foolishly went down to see
what was going on, and had nigh paid for my curiosity.
We took up our ground behind a height which overlooked the town, through
which the enemy were passing in large columns. In consequence of this,
we got some guns into a field in front of our hill, and commenced a
cannonade upon them, which, we could observe, made them hurry their pace
considerably. They also brought some heavy field-guns to bear upon us,
and fired some shots, but without doing us much injury. Throughout the
whole of the road by which the French had come before us, desolation and
misery marked their footsteps; and in the village of Orion, where Soult
himself had slept the night before, nothing could exceed the despair and
misery of the few remaining inhabitants, who told us they had been
literally stripped of their all; indeed, they appeared most forlorn and
wretched beings, and, as might be expected, poured out the most heavy
and bitter complaints, not unmingled with imprecations, on the heads of
their plundering countrymen. I went into a poor weaver's house here,
where, if I mistake not greatly, the marauders had actually cut the web
he was weaving out of the loom, and carried it off with them.
We remained on this ground all night, and the next morning his lordship
was intently occupied for a considerable time in reconnoitring the
enemy's position. At length, as if he had fully made up his mind how to
act, he ordered our division to fall in, which was promptly obeyed;
then, sending his staff with directions, we were ordered to file to the
right, and to move down towards the river, apparently with the intention
of crossing a little above the bridge, which had been destroyed. On the
other side, immediately opposite what appeared to be the ford, were
large bodies of infantry, together with a great quantity of artillery.
I recollect my battalion was leading the division, and it appeared at
this moment as if we were going to be engaged in a most arduous and
hazardous undertaking; for the enemy's artillery would have swept us off
the face of the earth before we could possibly have reached the farther
bank; however, this was only a _ruse de guerre_, and a most deep-planned
and well-executed one it was; for while we were moving down towards the
river, a staff-officer came riding, and ordered us all to hide as much
as possible from the view of the enemy, by crouching down, &c. as we
moved along. It may seem rather paradoxical to be ordered thus to act,
at the same time that we wished the enemy to observe our movement; but
the fact is, there were probably a thousand eyes fixed on us all the
time we lay here, and who watched most closely our every movement;
consequently, we could not stir without the enemy being aware of it; and
if on this occasion we had made a show and a parade of our movement, it
would have been suspected as only a feint at once, as the French
themselves, from often practising this stratagem, would have penetrated
immediately our object. But our Chief went a step too deep for them,
adepts as they are in all the arts of this kind; for he made a pretence
of hiding from them his movement, knowing well that we were observed;
and this completely deceived them. This threat of crossing here was made
in order to favour the construction of a bridge about eight or ten miles
down the river, and the crossing there by another division, as they were
thus enabled to guess where the principal force for opposition would be
required. I believe a better planned or more successful stratagem was
never practised. But I own, when we were marching down to the river to
cross in front of the immense masses which we saw ready to oppose us, I
believed that few would survive to tell the tale hereafter.
The moment when we were just opening from the covered ground to plunge
into the river, we were instantly countermarched with all expedition,
and moved down the river at a quick pace till we reached the pontoon
bridge which had been so successfully constructed and thrown over at the
village of Sala. This being now perfectly safe, we encamped at the
village for the night.
On the morning of the 27th, we early crossed the river called the Gave
de Pau, and moved forward in the direction of the town of Orthes by the
great road. On the right bank of that river, when we came within about
two miles of the town, we were moved more to our left, ascending the
high ridge which runs parallel with the river, and on which the French
had taken up a strong position, and were said to be between 30,000 and
40,000 strong. One division had been ordered to move along the summit of
this ridge, on which ran the great road to Peyrehourade, and to attack
the enemy on that flank, while our division communicated with that and
the 3d division to our right. When the action was commenced, the 2d
division had been directed to ford above the bridge, where our feint had
been made the day before, and passing through the town, to attack on the
opposite flank, and thus cut off their retreat towards the Pau. The
enemy's position proved to be exceedingly strong, and difficult of
access by us.
The action commenced by the 4th division attacking on the road leading
along the ridge, where an obstinate and bloody conflict took place,
without our people being able to make any impression. The attack of the
3d division, on our right, also commenced immediately after; but such
was the nature of the ground on this side, being mostly in long pointed
ridges, running out like the rays of a star, and which were exceedingly
strong, that no efforts were able to force them from this ground.
General Hill had by this time got over the river, and was approaching
the position. My division, having been deprived of two of its regiments,
which had been sent, previous to the commencement of our operations this
spring, to receive their clothing at St Jean de Luz, being rendered weak
in consequence, it was kept in reserve, as I before mentioned. During
this unsuccessful attack, our gallant Chief was for a considerable time
immediately in front of us, watching with the most anxious care every
motion of both armies. He appeared to me to be extremely thoughtful and
serious on the occasion, as our troops did not succeed in forcing this
stronghold of the enemy. The firing at this time was extremely animated,
particularly on the ridge to our left, where great slaughter was made on
both sides. And the French having discovered where he and his staff were
assembled, opened a smart cannonade on the group, but without doing any
mischief, I believe, and without being noticed by him. Their shots
generally fell about our division, which was formed immediately behind
the hill on which he stood.
At length, whether from the request of Colonel Barnard, who was at this
time by his lordship's side, or whether by his own direction, I know
not, but the Colonel was ordered to take on the 52d and 1st Portuguese
belonging to the Cacadores, our 2d brigade, and endeavour to force a
passage through the French line, by the gorge of the valley, which lay
immediately in his front, and they would thus, if successful, penetrate
into the centre of the enemy's position. They accordingly moved up the
valley in column of companies, sustaining all the time the most galling
and destructive fire, for the enemy were thus on each of their flanks,
as well as in front. When they reached within a short distance of the
centre height, they formed line, and moving on at a brisk pace and
carrying every thing before them, they drove the enemy from the plateau,
and thus penetrated into the very heart of their army. This was a most
daring and intrepid movement, for although assailed by ten times their
force, and nearly surrounded by the enemy, these gallant corps hesitated
not to push on, although the very elements seemed as it were to fight
against them; for on the brow of the enemy's position the fire had been
so heavy and so incessant, that the very furze bushes and herbs of all
kinds were in a blaze along the front, through which, with innumerable
foes behind it, these gallant men forced a passage at the point of the
bayonet.
This movement had the effect of at once deciding the fate of the day,
for Soult seeing his very centre and strongest position carried, which
separated between his wings, at once ordered a retreat of his whole
force. The remainder of our division were now despatched with all speed
in pursuit of the flying enemy, but they never attempted after this to
make a stand, and nothing was left for us to perform but to give chase
to the fugitives. When we reached the enemy's centre position, we found
that every thing had been cleared away which could in the least impede
his movements; every hedge and ditch had been completely levelled, so
that nothing remained but a beautiful plain on the top of the ridge,
except where works of defence had been thrown up. We were not successful
in capturing any of the enemy, except the wounded, who had necessarily
been left on the field, and we did not lay hold of any of his materiel,
except a few guns which he had been obliged to abandon in a swamp below
the position.
I have related only such things as fell within my own observation, but
no doubt many were the heroic and gallant deeds that were performed in
this hard contested battle, besides what I have detailed. As might be
expected, the gallant 52d and its supporting corps, the 1st Portuguese
Cacadores, suffered dreadfully, leaving probably one-fourth of their
numbers on the field. But I must not omit mentioning one trait of
gallantry which attracted the admiration of the whole army. Lord March
(now the Duke of Richmond) had for some time been on the personal staff
of Lord Wellington, where his services had been most efficient. He also
was at this time a captain in the 52d regiment, but from his high civil
rank had never served as an infantry officer with his regiment. He was
determined to know and practice his duty in every situation, and
therefore requested leave from his lordship to be permitted to join his
corps as a captain, which was granted of course, and this was his first
debut in the character of an officer of foot. It was no doubt a sharp
trial; and poor fellow, while bravely leading on the company which his
Majesty had intrusted to his command, he fell dangerously (then supposed
mortally) wounded. This was a noble example to set our young nobility,
and they cannot do better than to follow such a precedent. I understand
he has been heard to say, "that the chance of a staff-officer being hit
in action, is not near so great as that of an officer of infantry, who
must quietly brave all that comes against him, while a staff-officer,
being well mounted, can quickly get out of danger; and that if a
gentleman wishes truly to learn his profession as an officer, he ought
to serve for a time in the infantry whilst engaged in operations in the
field."
This was a most decided, but withal an unfruitful victory, and only
tended to establish more firmly the superior skill of our commander, and
the superior bravery of the British army. We had heard of the
proceedings of the allies in the north, and of a number of the French
generals having deserted the cause of their once potent, but now fallen
master. And I verily believed that Soult had collected his whole force
together here for the express purpose of either allowing himself to be
surrounded, and thus make a show of being compelled to surrender, or of
inducing his whole army to come over at once to the side of the
Bourbons, but in all these conjectures I was completely mistaken; for
whatever may have been Soult's faults as a man, he has always shown
himself a consistent and an able defender of the cause he first
espoused, and as such is certainly respectable.
We pursued the flying columns of the enemy for about two leagues beyond
the field of action, crossing in our pursuit the river Luy de Bearne,
and at night took up our abode in bivouack, near the village of Bonne
Garde. The night proved extremely cold and frosty, for in the morning
when I intended to arise, I found my cloak frozen to the ground. We had
no kind of covering. My commanding-officer had taken up his abode in a
cottage close by, where there was no bed but what the people occupied.
He therefore got into the kneading-trough, in which he slept very
comfortably; but in the morning I remember he turned out like a miller.
We started soon after daybreak, and continued our march, crossing the
small river Luy de France. Here I remember our assistant
Quartermaster-general told us what great difficulty he found in
obtaining information from the inhabitants as to the by-roads which run
parallel to the great road from Orthes; for these good people could not
conceive why he should be hunting after by-roads of this description,
which were generally very bad, while the great road, which was always
good, lay so near the line by which he wished to move, not knowing
perhaps, or not understanding, that other divisions of the army were
moving on the high-road, while we wished to make a corresponding
movement on their flank. They would always, however, after directing him
how to proceed for a while, bring him again on to the great road, which
he wished to avoid for the reason before given.
The comfort, and the efficiency of an army in the field depends more, I
am persuaded, on the abilities and zeal of officers in the
Quartermaster-general's department, than on any other branch of the
service; for if they are remiss or unacquainted with their duty, the
marches and counter-marches, the halts, and the changes of direction,
are so numerous and annoying, that the spirits and strength of the
troops are soon worn out, and of course dissatisfaction and inefficiency
soon follow. But to the credit of the officers of this department at the
period of which I am writing, I believe never army possessed more able,
more zealous, or more active staff-officers, than we did, and that
principally owing to the excellent example set them by the head of this
department, than whom a more able conductor of an army does not exist.
On one of these occasions when our assistant Quartermaster-general had
occasion to wait upon the authorities of a village, he jokingly asked
them for passports, as is customary in France, to proceed into the
country. "Ma foi," says the worthy Mayor, "you obtained your passports
at Vittoria, you need no others now."
We halted for the night near the village of Duerse. In the morning, we
forded the Adour near a small village, the name of which I forget, and
making a long and rapid march, we took possession of the city of Mont de
Marsan, where we found immense magazines of provisions, which had been
collected by the enemy. This was the most valuable capture that had been
made by the British army since its arrival in the Peninsula; for
although a great deal of treasure was obtained at Vittoria, yet a
considerable portion of that fell into the hands of individuals; but
this was secured for the benefit of the whole army. The enemy had
abandoned the city previous to our arrival, consequently it was a
bloodless conquest, which rendered it the more valuable. Mont de Marsan
is what may be termed a fine and an extensive city, containing about
3000 inhabitants.
The people received us kindly upon the whole, and showed us great
attention. Here we had superb quarters, and the change from what we had
lately been accustomed to, produced a rather uncomfortable feeling; for
our clothes and all our equipments so little corresponded with the
magnificence around us, that we should have preferred less stately
mansions, if comfortable, as more congenial with our respective
establishments. But we did not long enjoy our splendid lodgings; for,
having secured the booty, we left the city, and returned to the banks of
the Adour. The march both to and from this city had been along straight
flat roads, cut through an immense pine forest, with which this
department is almost completely covered. The roads had been for some
time much traversed, and having a sandy bottom, were consequently very
bad at this season of the year; added to which, a violent storm of snow
and sleet assailed us all the march of this day, which made it a rather
uncomfortable business. We halted for the night in a village named, I
think, St Maurice, and the next day were moved into St Sever, a
considerable town on the left bank of the Adour, in which Lord
Wellington had taken up his head-quarters. Here we remained some days,
doing duty over his lordship, when we crossed to the right bank, and
moved up the river, halting at the town of Grenade. We next morning
continued our route up that bank till we reached Barcelonne, a
considerable town some little distance from the river, and nearly
opposite Aire, a large town on the left bank, and near which General the
Hon. Wm. Stewart, with the 2d division, had had a smart brush with the
enemy on the day we captured Mont de Marsan.
On the evening of the 10th we halted at the village of Arblade, and, on
the 11th, entered Tarsac, where we remained for the night. We were next
morning pushed on to a village in front, about a league distant, but
were allowed to remain there only for one night, for the enemy now began
to appear in our front in considerable force. We were consequently
withdrawn, and, passing through Tarsac, the division formed in a wood
about half-way between that and Aire. We expected something serious was
about to occur, but, from what cause I know not, the enemy again
retreated, leaving a body of cavalry on the road about half-a-league
beyond Tarsac, to which we again returned and took up our quarters.
On the 16th, as these fellows still continued so near us, although
evidently without any infantry to support them, it was determined either
to drive them away or take them prisoners. I must observe, our 15th
hussars were at this time occupying Tarsac with ourselves, and one
squadron of them were selected for this service. The advance of the
French consisted only of one squadron, the remainder of their regiment
being at some distance in rear as supports; consequently it was but fair
that an equal force should attack them. Captain Hancox's squadron (in
which was Captain Booth, with his troop) was pitched upon for this
affair. The remainder of the 15th were drawn out to support them, if
needed, but were not to take any part in the combat. Every one of course
went out to see the fight.
Accordingly this squadron moved on to the front, and steadily advanced
upon the enemy, who seemed determined to stand the charge, as they put
every thing ready to receive our gallant dragoons. When within a proper
distance the word "trot" was given, and soon after "gallop," and then
"charge," when our fellows dashed in among the French, upsetting them in
all directions, and cutting many of them down to the ground. In a few
minutes the business was settled, for our people returned, bringing in
with them the captain commanding, (and who, I believe, had been
personally engaged with Captain Hancox,) with about twenty-five men,
prisoners. The rest made their escape. The French captain, and the
greater part of the twenty-five men, were wounded, and some were left
dead on the road.
I shall not soon forget the little wounded captain. He, I believe, was
either a native of Tarsac, or somewhere near, and had been determined
to show his valour to the utmost; hence his standing, when he ought to
have retired; but all the way, as they were bringing him along into the
village, and after he reached the house where he directed them to take
him, he kept crying out, "I'm as brave as a lion!--I'm as brave as the
devil!" and could scarcely be got to hold his peace while the surgeon
was dressing him. Most piteous moaning was made by many of the
inhabitants, to whom it seems he was well known.
We understood afterwards that this regiment, the 13th French hussars,
had fallen rather under the displeasure of Soult, for some ill conduct
on a former occasion, and that they were thus determined to wipe off the
stain and retrieve their character; but they would have shown more
sense, and have rendered more service to their country, had they retired
when they saw it was determined to drive them away.
On the 18th, we again advanced by the road the French had taken, and,
crossing the Adour at the bridge and village of La Row or Arros, we
pursued our route till we reached the town of St Germain's, where we
halted for a short space; and thence to Plaisance, a good town, where we
remained for the night. An unfortunate circumstance occurred in or near
this town, which might have produced the most disastrous
consequences:--A man, who most likely had been resisting the plundering
of his house, was basely murdered by some soldier or soldiers of the
division; but although every endeavour was made to discover the
perpetrators of this vile act, they could not be found out; but a
subscription was set on foot among the officers of the division, and 100
guineas were collected and paid to the unfortunate widow, who, though
grieved for the loss of her husband, was thankful for the money. I
strongly suspect my friends the Portuguese were the culprits on this
occasion.
On the 19th we again moved forward, and, passing Obrigort, halted for
the night at the village of Aget. Towards the close of this day's march,
we both heard and saw smart skirmishing, down on the great road which
runs parallel to the ridge on which we were, and from Auch to Tarbes,
along the plain on our right, and passes through Vic Bigore. Near this
town the firing was very brisk. We understood it was Picton's division
driving the French before them.
The next morning we started early, and, continuing our march along the
ridge of the height on which our last night's quarters were situated, we
reached pretty soon the town of Rabasteins, where we learnt that the
enemy had taken up a position in and near the town of Tarbes. We,
accordingly, changing our direction, moved to our right, down the road
leading from the former to the latter place. We passed on this road the
sixth division, which, it seems, was ordered to keep on the flank of the
enemy, which, should he make a stand, this division was to turn. When we
got within about a mile and a half of Tarbes, we discovered the enemy
posted on a strong woody height on the left of the road, with a windmill
on its highest and most distant point.
The whole of our 95th people were accordingly ordered forward, to
endeavour to drive them from this position. My battalion formed the
right, the 2d battalion the centre, and the 1st battalion the left of
our line of skirmishers. We found them covered in front with a great
number of light troops, which occupied us some time in driving in, and
in which service we suffered considerably, for they occupied the hedges
and dikes on the high ground, from which it was necessary we should
dislodge them. We had also a considerably-sized brushwood to pass
through before we could get at them. At length, after much smart
skirmishing, we gained the height, but found the whole of their heavy
infantry drawn up on a steep acclivity, near the windmill, which allowed
them to have line behind line, all of which could fire at the same time
over each other's heads, like the tiers of guns in a three-decker. We
continued, however, to advance upon them, till we got within a hundred
paces of this formidable body, the firing from which was the hottest I
had ever been in, except perhaps Barossa. At this moment I received a
shot through my right shoulder, which compelled me for a moment to
retire; but meeting the main support of my battalion advancing with
Colonel Ross at its head, and finding my wound had not disabled me, I
again advanced with him, until we got close under the enemy's line, and
took post behind a hillock, which protected us from their fire.
We here found Colonel Norcott, who then belonged to the 2d battalion,
riding about on his large black mare; but he had not ridden long till he
also was wounded through the shoulder, from which he still suffers.
While we were in this situation, a shot struck a captain of ours in the
side where he had his drinking-horn slung; in fact it struck both the
horn and his side; but, from some cause, it did not penetrate the flesh,
but bruised it sore, which is generally painful. The captain, and those
about him, thought he was shot through the body; they accordingly picked
him up, and were carrying him off to the rear, when he cried, "Stop, let
me feel," and putting his hand down to the place, and finding no wound,
he sprung out of their arms, and, with the most ludicrous appearance
possible, returned to his post again. No one present could refrain from
laughing at the ridiculousness of this occurrence, although at the
moment the men were falling fast around us. At this time also, a spent
shot, one which I imagine had first hit the ground, struck me on the
left arm, but did not injure me. I now thought it better to go to the
rear to get my shoulder dressed, immediately after which I became quite
faint from loss of blood. The firing still continued most animated on
both sides; but before an hour had elapsed, the French were driven
completely from every position they held on this very strong hill; and
as I returned, (after having been dressed, and having swallowed some
spirits to remove the faintness,) I found them posting away with all
expedition to the plain below, some guns, which had just arrived, giving
them an occasional shot, but from which they did not suffer much, they
marched with such rapidity. We immediately followed them down to the
plain, on reaching which, we perceived a body of French troops coming
apparently from the town of Tarbes, pursued by the 3d division, with
whom they had been engaged, and which, with some exertion, we thought we
could intercept and cut off; but they, perceiving our intention,
inclined considerably to the right, and marching with all speed, they
got away before us.
The enemy now having all retired across the plain, began to take up a
strong position on a height at its extremity, towards which we continued
to advance; but Lord Wellington having expected that the 6th division
would by this time have reached their position, and, attacking in flank,
have rendered our attack in front more likely to succeed, and they not
making their appearance, although it was now nigh dusk, he ordered the
divisions here to halt, and bivouack for the night on the plain. I never
saw any one more disappointed, or apparently more annoyed by this last
order, than our Adjutant-general, the lamented Sir Edward Packenham; he
was for attacking them at once; but this could not have been done
without a great sacrifice of excellent troops, as all those were who now
filled the ranks of the British army, having by this time been
completely seasoned, and become almost invaluable. In reviewing the
operations of this day, I need say little, as facts speak for
themselves. The enemy had on the Windmill hill, as it was vulgarly
called, or more properly the hill of Oleac, I believe a whole division,
consisting of at least 5000 or 6000 men, while not a shot was fired by
any but by the sixteen companies of my regiment, amounting probably to
1000 or 1100 men; it is true the other regiments of the division were
drawn up in rear of us, and would have supported us had we been
repulsed. But it is not so much to the driving away of this so much
stronger force, that I would draw the reader's attention, as to the
great loss the enemy sustained, and solely from our fire. I believe I
shall not be far from the truth, if I state their loss in killed and
wounded as equal to the whole strength of our sixteen companies.
Lord Wellington, in his dispatch, mentions the destruction caused in the
enemy's ranks as unusually severe; hence the advantage of rifles over
the common musket, or else the superior mode of using our arms beyond
what is practised in the line. The Americans tauntingly tell us, our
soldiers do not know how to use the weapons that are put into their
hands; and, truly, if we are to judge by the awful destruction which
they have occasionally inflicted upon our brave soldiers, we should be
led to suspect that they understand this science much better than
ourselves. It might, however, be easily remedied, if more attention were
paid to the instruction of the recruit in this most essential
qualification, and more time and ammunition devoted to target practice;
but, at the same time, every officer should be made to know something of
projectiles in general, or he will, as at present, be incapable of
instructing his men. I will venture to assert, that eight out of ten of
the soldiers of our regular regiments will aim in the same manner at an
object at the distance of 300 yards, as at one only 50. It must hence be
evident that the greater part of those shots are lost or expended in
vain; indeed the calculation has been made, that only one shot out of
200 fired from muskets in the field takes effect, while one out of
twenty from rifles is the average. My opinion is, that our line troops
ought to be armed with a better description of musket. If five shillings
more were added to the price, it would make a great difference in the
article, and be very trifling to the public. Our army has always been
too sparingly supplied with flints, which may be had almost for an old
song; but if wanted in the field, nothing can supply their place. Many a
brave soldier has fallen while hammering at a worn out flint. It is true
we can, with the weapons we have, drive any other army out of the field,
but not without occasionally sustaining an overwhelming loss,
particularly when opposed to the Americans; and could we meet them with
the same advantages they possess in point of shooting, our chances of
victory would be greater, and at less expense. These are my private
opinions only, and are deduced from the experience I have had, both as a
heavy infantry soldier and a rifleman. I am now firmly persuaded, that
of the near 200 shots I fired on the 2d of October 1799, in Holland, not
one took effect, from my total want of knowledge how to aim. What an
useless expenditure this was of both time and ammunition! Much indeed
has lately been done by Sir Henry Torrens, to supply the deficiency of
which I have been speaking, but still not sufficient, in my opinion, to
remedy all the evils attendant thereon.
Our loss on this occasion was very heavy, being about 100 men and eleven
officers killed and wounded; the proportion of officers being nearly
double what usually takes place. The regiments which supported us also
had some casualties, arising from the shots which passed over our heads
striking among them; but they were not considerable. My servants having
heard I was wounded, went to Tarbes, (where all the wounded were
collected,) with my baggage. I should consequently have been very ill
off, had not my kind friend and messmate, Major Balvaird, lent me his
tent and bed, as he himself had been ordered on picquet. Immediately
after nightfall, the enemy had all retired from the position in front of
us. We accordingly next morning continued the pursuit, and halted at
night at the village of Lannemazen, not far from the borders of the
Pyrenees, towards which, in their retreat, they had been inclined. This
day and night, my shoulder had become extremely painful. We started
again in the morning; but leaving the Pyrenees, we turned our faces more
towards Toulouse, and took up our abode for the night at a
considerable-sized town, called Castelnau; here the inhabitants received
us very kindly, and we had excellent quarters. However, on the following
morning, we were obliged to continue our march, and passing through
several villages on the road, halted for the night at L'Isle, in Dodon.
During this day's march, my poor old horse played me a sad trick. He was
one which I had been compelled to purchase as soon after I lost my
little Portuguese one by the bad shoeing of the blacksmith at Sumbilla,
as I could fall in with one for sale. He was a very tall grey horse,
rather old, and whose mouth had not been well made in his breaking; he
was withal rather stubborn, or more properly speaking stupid,
consequently he did not always obey the rein as he ought. The roads were
excessively deep and dirty, and as I was riding at the head of the
battalion, and had occasion to pull him a little to one side, for some
purpose or other, he either would not, or could not, obey the pull of
the rein; and as I had but one hand, he took advantage of it, and sat
down completely on his haunches, in the very deepest of the mire. Of
course I was tumbled right over his rump, and rolled in the mud, and
after extricating myself as well as I could, I crawled out, as pretty a
figure as may well be imagined. This, as might be expected, raised the
laugh of all who saw it, at my expense; but, uncomfortable and
ridiculous as my situation was, I was not hurt, the mud being
sufficiently deep to protect me from any injury by the fall. In this
village I fell in with a Frenchman who had just come from Toulouse,
towards which he understood we were bending our course. He gave me such
a flaming account of the "belle position" in the neighbourhood of that
town, and of the impregnable works which Soult had caused to be thrown
up, and of the superb artillery which were stationed there, and which,
he said, were those who had served in the famous battle of Austerlitz,
and of the utter improbability of any impression ever being made on them
by an enemy, that if I had given credit to the half of what he told me,
I might have been filled with fear lest all our laurels might here be
tarnished. From what motive this rather exaggerated statement was made,
I know not, but am inclined to think it was merely an inclination to
indulge in a trifling gasconade. On the 25th we reached Mont Ferrand,
where we halted for the night.
On the 27th, in the morning, we were moved forward to the village of
Tournefoile, where it seems some of our cavalry had been quartered the
night before, but who had had their quarters beat up during the night by
a body of the enemy, who still held the ground beyond the village. My
battalion, and a Portuguese battalion, were sent forward, the remainder
of the brigade following. We found the enemy occupying the road leading
from the village to a bridge about half a mile distant, together with
the hedges and enclosures in the vicinity. My people extended to the
left, while the Portuguese battalion kept on the road. A smart skirmish
now commenced, during which the enemy gradually retired towards the
bridge; but at this time a most remarkable occurrence took place. One of
our men (the servant of a friend of mine) received a shot in the mouth,
which struck out several of his teeth. One of these was propelled with
such force by the blow that it flew at least twenty yards, and, entering
the left arm of one of the Portuguese on the road, inflicted a deep and
severe wound. When the surgeon of the 43d, who was the nearest to this
man at the time, came to dress the wounded Portuguese, he, instead of a
ball as every one expected, extracted a tooth, at which, no doubt, both
he and all about him were quite astonished; and a report was immediately
set afloat that the enemy were firing bones instead of balls. This most
extraordinary circumstance was not cleared up till they were informed of
our man having had his teeth knocked out, when, after comparing the
relative situations of the two men, it became quite evident how this
most uncommon wound had been inflicted. If any thing like a joke might
be permitted on such an occasion, it may with great propriety be said,
the Frenchman who fired the shot had killed two birds with one stone. I
happened to be near our man at the time, and besides seeing him wounded,
I enquired minutely into the circumstances, or I own I should have
hesitated before I gave implicit credit to the story; so it may
probably be with my reader. Poor fellow, he had afterwards nearly all
his intestines torn out by a cannon-shot at the fatal attack near New
Orleans, and where I saw him writhing in the agonies of death; his name
was Powell, and he was, I believe, a Welshman.
Not long after the commencement of the skirmish, the artillery on both
sides was brought into play; but the enemy kept gradually retiring till
they crossed the bridge, and as we did not pursue them, they quietly
walked off, taking the road towards Toulouse. I cannot conceive for what
purpose this body of troops had been sent here, unless it was intended
as a reconnoissance, to ascertain whether any, and what description, of
troops had arrived at this point, as their waiting, after driving out
our cavalry, to see whether any infantry approached, would seem to
indicate. Major Balvaird was conspicuously brave on this occasion. The
loss on either side was but trifling.