state, from the latter to the sea they were scarcely commenced. Nothing could be more perfect than Lord Wellington's dispositions. The tents were standing, and every camp seemed quiet. At last the hour arrived when the tide had fallen sufficiently, and two heavy columns issued simultaneously from their concealment, one taking the ford pointing towards the heights of Andaya, and the other moving in rapid march directly against the French position at Sans Culottes. The astonishment of the enemy was great. The columns crossed the centre of the river in safety; then rose a rocket from the steeple of Fuentarabia, and the thunder of the guns already in position on San Marcial answered the preconcerted signal. Another column advanced by the ford of Jonco; others crossed by the upper ones; and from the mountain ridges, the grand movement of attack by seven distinct points was visible; the troops above the bridge "plunged at once into the fiery contest, and those below it appeared in the distance like huge sullen snakes winding over the heavy sands."* The combats which followed prove that to determined valour no difficulties are insurmountable. Nature had provided her strongest means of defence; everywhere rocks, and torrents, and ravines, barred the progress of the assailants; and if an easier surface occasionally presented itself, art had been skilfully employed to render that impracticable. Nothing, however, could stay the victorious rushes of the Allies; and partial checks seemed only to act as stimulants to more desperate exertions. The success with which the Allied divisions had held their own mountain posts against the troops who now confronted them, told them what desperate resistance might be expected in assaulting veteran soldiers, established on alpine heights, and fighting on their native soil. 'Day after day, for more than a month, entrenchment had risen over entrenchment, covering the vast slopes of mountains which were scarcely accessible from their natural steepness and asperity. This they could see, yet cared neither for the growing strength of the works, the height of the mountains, nor the breadth of the river with its heavy sands, and its mighty rushing tide; all were * Napier. 66 despised, and while they marched with this confident valour, it was observed that the French fought in defence of their dizzy steeps with far less fierceness than when, striving against insurmountable obstacles, they attempted to storm the lofty rocks of Sauroren. Continual defeat had lowered their spirits, but the feebleness of the defence on this occasion may be traced to another cause. It was a general's, not a soldier's battle. Wellington had with overmastering combinations overwhelmed each point of attack. Taupin's and Maucune's divisions were each less than 5,000 strong; and they were separately assailed, the first by 18,000, the second by 15,000 men; and at neither point were Reille and Clausel able to bring their reserves into action before the positions were won.' Never had the Allied troops fought better. They had immense difficulties to overcome; but the combinations of their general were masterly, and the subordinate officers led their battalions to each assault with that brave determination which inspires soldiers with a confidence that nothing can bar their success. Many displays of heroism were exhibited; and there was one of ready boldness, which gained the good fortune it deserved. The French garrison had abandoned a strong field-work which covered the right of the Bayonette ridge, and were observed by Colonel Colborne hurrying off in evident confusion. He galloped forward, attended by his own staff and a handful of the 95th, intercepted them in their retreat, and desired them to surrender. Believing that the colonel was in advance of a force too strong to be resisted, the order was instantly obeyed, and 300 men threw down their arms, and were made prisoners by a body not exceeding 20. Officers of every rank and age showed to their followers an example of dauntless intrepidity. During these arduous days the checks were few, and always overcome; and when a foreign brigade wavered for an instant, the road to victory was shown it by a beardless boy.t * Napier. + When Downie's brigade betrayed a dangerous indecision, and declined to go forward, "there happened to be present an officer of the 43rd regiment, named Haverlock, who being attached to General Alten's staff, The misconduct of a few, on this occasion, sullied the brilliancy of conquest; and the same predatory spirit which had occasioned such fearful atrocities when San Sebastian was carried by assault, led to many excesses while these splendid operations were in progress. This breach of discipline brought, as it often did, a summary punishment on the offenders; for many were found by the French in a state of stupid drunkenness, and captivity paid the penalty of crime. Determined to correct an abuse, under any circumstances injurious to discipline and efficiency, and, if committed in a country which he wished to conciliate, ruinous in the last degree, Lord Wellington not only declared that offenders should be punished with unmitigated severity, but that those whose duty required them to repress licentiousness, should feel the full extent of their responsibility. Several officers who had witnessed acts of plunder, and not made strenuous exertions to restrain them, were arrested and sent home;* and the general order issued at Irurita on the 9th of July, was repeated on the 8th of October at Lesaca. Nothing of importance occurred during the few remaining days of 1813. Both armies continued in quarters; in the was sent to ascertain Giron's progress. His fiery temper could not brook the check. He took off his hat, he called upon the Spaniards to follow him, and putting spurs to his horse, at one bound cleared the abatis and went headlong amongst the enemy. Then the soldiers, shouting for El chico blanco,'- — the fair boy,'-so they called him, for he was very young and had light hair-with one shock broke through the French, at this at the very moment when their centre was flying under the fire of Kemp's skirmishers from the Puerto de Vera.”—Napier. * " According to all the information which the Commander of the Forces has received, outrages of all descriptions were committed by the troops in presence even of their officers, who took no pains whatever to prevent them. "The Commander of the Forces has already determined that some officers so grossly negligent of their duty, shall be sent to England, that their names may be brought under the attention of the Prince Regent, and that his Royal Highness may give such directions respecting them as he may think proper; as the Commander of the Forces is determined not to command officers who will not obey his orders."-Gen. Order, 8th October, 1813. camp of Lord Wellington the fox-hounds were unkennelled, and he and his officers took the field twice a-week, when he associated with them more as their equal than as their Commander-in-Chief. CHAPTER XX. The Battle of the Nive-Investment of Bayonne-Pessage of the Adour -Battle of Orthez-Retreat of the French-Lord Wellington's Advance on Bordeaux-State of Affairs in France-Battle of Toulouse and Defeat of Marshal Soult-Surrender of Bayonne. THE battles of the Nive equalled those of the Pyrenees in obstinacy and duration. In the latter the French marshal was the assailant; in the former he was the assailed; and though both in his attack and defence he fought under the most favourable circumstances, in both he was signally defeated. In the Pyrenees, the passes were widely separated; the lateral communications indirect; the position extensive, and consequently vulnerable in many points. The shorter lines of Soult's position enabled him to mass troops together with rapidity, and the undulating surface effectually concealed his movements. Hence his attacks were made with overwhelming numbers, and although expected, they could not be distinctly ascertained until the heads of his columns were in immediate contact with the pickets. At Bayonne, the situations of Wellington and Soult were exactly reversed. The Allied general was obliged to operate on both sides of a dangerous river, with bad roads and long and inconvenient lines; while, at the same time, he had to secure St. Jean de Luz from any attempts that Soult might make to gain a post of such importance. The French marshal had the advantage of a fortified camp, a fortress immediately beside him, with a permanent bridge across the Nive, by which he could concentrate on either bank of the river. Among the generals who earned extraordinary renown in these encounters, were Sir Rowland Hill and Sir John Hope. It was a part of Lord Wellington's general plan that Bayonne should be invested on the 23rd, according to the arrangements which he had made with Sir John Hope and Admiral Penrose. He had selected the citadel for his point of attack, and determined to force the passage of the Adour, and about two miles and a half below the town to fix a bridge upon the river. At this point the Adour is 300 yards broad, and a bend in its course conceals it in part, from the view of the garrison of Bayonne. The current is rapid, and there is often a heavy swell, so that for pontoons or open boats it became necessary to substitute decked vessels of from thirty to fifty tons. Of such vessels, called chassemarées, there were very many in the ports of St. Jean de Luz, Passages, and Locoa. These were collected at Locoa; and a good bridge with a flexible boom was also prepared. On the 22nd of February the flotilla put to sea, protected by Admiral Penrose, with the "Porcupine" frigate, "Syren" brig, and five gun-boats. On the 23rd, Sir John Hope marched from his cantonments to direct the passage of the river. Field-guns were moved forward to protect the launch of the boats. At the sight of the troops the enemy's picket retired upon the citadel. Fifty men were rowed to the right bank, and a hawser having been stretched across the river, the five pontoons were formed into rafts, and a detachment of the Guards was ferried over. At this time only six companies of Guards, two of the 60th Rifles, and a small party of the rocket corps, had arrived on the right bank. About five o'clock, a detachment from the garrison of the citadel, 1500 in number, attacked the Allied troops, but were soon driven back. The flotilla appeared off the Adour on the morning of the 25th, and, with the exception of three or four of the chasse-marées, reached the land in safety. The bridge having been now complected, and fresh troops and artillery having passed the river, the citadel of Bayonne was closely invested. The garrison were labouring at an advanced line of defence, but were at once driven in. The position occupied by Soult at Sauveterre was covered by a broad river. Numbers, position, everything was in his favour, and yet was he compelled to retire at every point. The fortress of Bayonne is about four miles from the sea, at the confluence of the Nive and the Adour. The town stands astride the former river, but altogether on the left bank of |