idle surmises were, as usual, made, but, as heretofore, both in his own camp and that of the enemy, no suspicion existed of the bold conception which he was suddenly to carry into execution. About the middle of February, as the weather cleared up, and the cross roads became practicable, Lord Wellington commenced a series of manœuvres to draw Soult from his line of defence on the Adour. He began by driving the enemy from the vicinity of St. Palais. With this view, Sir ROWLAND HILL marched against Harispe. That General, leaving a garrison in St. Jean Pied de Port, retired with his division upon Hillette; but from this position Sir ROWLAND soon dislodged him. Harispe took up ground for the night on the hills above Meharin, and the next morning fell back to a very strong position to the right of Garris, where another body of the enemy was already posted.

As this position did not cover the road through Garris, by which their commnnication with the bridge of St. Palais might possibly be cut off, Lord Wellington made instant dispositions to attack them. It was already evening, and he had only one division up, and a body of Spaniards, but the opportunity was too favourable to be lost; therefore he directed Murillo with his Spanish division to hasten on and occupy St. Palais, while he resolved to assault the enemy in front with the second division under Sir William Stewart. These troops carried the heights with their wonted intrepidity and ardour; but the enemy made many brave efforts to recover them. These attempts were gallantly continued after it was quite dark; and the fire was delivered face to face at close quarters, and many of the enemy were bayoneted on the ground. At last, finding they could make no impression upon the firmness of the defenders, they retired and passed the bridge of St. Palais before the Spaniards had occupied that important post.

The next day, Sir ROWLAND HILL pursued Harispe, and found him strongly reinforced and well posted behind the Gave de Mauleon. The bridge at Navarette was destroyed, but a regiment of the second division passed the stream by a ford, under cover of artillery, and quickly drove the enemy from that village. Their advanced post being thus forced, Harispe led off his main body to the rear, and in the night passed the Gave d'Oleron.

THE BATTLE OF ORTHEZ.

THE position Soult now occupied at Sauvetterre was covered by a broad river, and in other points very advantageous. Lord Welling. ton made so strong a demonstration upon the front of the line on which Soult now rested, that while the attention of the Marshal was wholly engaged by the movements in his front, Sir ROWLAMD HILL crossed the Gave d'Oleron at Villenave, without any opposition, on the 24th of February, and turned his left. Upon this, Soult hastily abandoned his ground, transferred his head-quarters to Orthez, and took up a formidable position behind the Pau. The third & light divi

sions, under Sir T. Picton, had followed the corps of Sir RowLAND HILL, and passed the Gave d'Oleron at the same spot; and the sixth division under Sir Henry Clinton, had crossed also between Montfort and Laas, without meeting any resistance, while Marshal Beresford on the left, kept the enemy close within their tête-de pont at Peyrehorade. Lord Wellington, now disposing his force in three columns, determined to attack the position of Orthez. The left, under Marshal Beresford, forded the Pau about four miles above Peyrehorade, and marching up the right bank, joined the cavalry and Gencral Picton's division, which had crossed by a ford below Berenx. Sir ROWLAND HILL, with his own corps, supported by the sixth and light divisions, marched to force the bridge of Orthez; but the approach was found so strongly guarded, by defences and troops, that the attempt was countermanded.

About eight in the morning of the 27th of February, the sixth and light divisions were moved down the river (to the spot where Picton had forded on the afternoon of the preceding day), and crossed over by a bridge of boats, which Lord Wellington had directed to be laid down for the artillery. The corps of Sir ROWLAND HILL remained upon the high road to Sauveterre, opposite the bridge and village of Orthez. The passage of the Pau, from the depth of the fords and the force of the current, proved very difficult; but the soldiers, by supporting each other steadily, surmounted the danger, and crossed without loss.

Lord Wellington, having carefully reconnoitred the enemy's position, decided to attack it.

Their left flank rested upon the town of Orthez. and their line was posted upon a range of heights extending about a mile in the direction of Dax. Their right stood on a bluff, abrupt point, and was covered in front by the village of St. Boes. The centre of their line, owing to the form the hill, stood considerably retired; and, being thus sheltered by the advanced position of the flanks, was inassailable. A reserve, of two divisions of infantry and a brigade of cavalry, was drawn up on a very elevated and commanding height upon the road to Sault de Navailles.

The dispositions of Lord Wellington were soon made. Marshal Beresford, with the fourth and seventh divisions, and Col. Vivian's brigade of cavalry, were ordered to carry the village of St. Boes on the right, and to assault the hill above it. Sir Thomas Picton was ordered to march with the third and sixth divisions, and a brigade of cavalry under Lord Edward Somerset, upon the centre and left of the enemy. The light division, under Baron Alten, was directed to advance up a ravine between these two columns, and to give support where it might be wanted. Sir RowWLAND HILL was instructed to lead his corps across the river by a ford about two miles above Orthez, to gain a point in the enemy's rear, and cut off his communication with the town of Pau.

The left wing of the allies began the battle. Sir Lowry Cole, with the fourth division, after a sharp contest, carried the village of St. Boes with spirit. Marshal Beresford now moved forwards, with the division of General Cole, still leading, to attack the right of the enemy on the bold hill above. The troops advanced in gallant order,

but the approach was along a narrow ridge, with ravines on either side. Upon the summit of this, two lines of French infantry were drawn up to oppose them. It was not possible for the assailants to advance upon the enemy in a line of more than two battalions in front. The ground over which they marched was commanded by a heavy battery of field artillery; and in the upper part of the ravines upon their flanks the French had posted strong bodies of light infantry. The troops behaved admirably well, and made brave efforts to reach the summit of the position, but in vain. *

They were beaten back by a terrible fire both of artillery and infantry. A Portuguese brigade was so roughly handled, that it broke in confusion, and was only saved by the timely support of a brigade of the light division, which moved up on its flank and covered its retreat. Under these circumstances, Lord Wellington executed one of those sudden changes of attack which exhibit the ready resource and firm resolve of a bold and able General.

He directed General Walker, with the seventh division, and Colonel Barnard, with a brigade of the light division, to ascend the height by its left, and attack the enemy's right at that bend by which it was connected with the centre. At the same time he ordered Sir Thomas Picton and Sir Henry Clinton to lead forward their divisions, which had hitherto been waiting the result of Marshal Beresford's assault. Thus, suddenly, the face of the battle was changed; for these orders were executed with such rapidity and boldness, that the crest of the position was soon gained, and after some fierce and desperate fighting on the heights, the enemy suddenly retired, moving off at first with good order, and disputing their ground as they retreated handsomely. A body of French cavalry, in particular, made a gallant charge upon two corps of the sixth division in an effort to seize the artillery of that division, but it failed, and they were repulsed steadily by the 42d foot. All the regiments of the third division fought hard, and were distinguished; and a brigade under General Inglis made a most gallant charge with the bayonet on the enemy's left flank; nor could any thing be finer than the advance of of the 52d regiment under Colonel Colborne, which, after the change of attack, led first up the hill.

Marshal Soult conducted his army to the rear in regular echelons of divisions, and they held the several positions taken up till the allies closed on their front and moved upon their flank; but, as soon as he found that Lord Wellington had sent a corps across the river, and that Sir RoWLAND was in full march to intercept his retreat, he hastened the pace of his columns, till, as Sir ROWLAND pressed onwards upon a parallel line of march to cut him off from Sault de Navailles, the French broke their formation, and ran for that point with such speed, that the great body of them passed it in a crowd. However, nearly two thousand prisoners were taken in the pursuit; for wherever any obstacle checked their hurry, they suffered greatly. Near Sault he Navailles Lord Edward Somerset charged them with his cavalry, and captured a great number of prisoners; and they left several guns to the victors. The French loss in killed, wounded, and taken exceeded 6000, and some hundreds afterwards deserted, or rather disbanded, and went to their homes.

49

THE BATTLE OF AIRE.

AS the allies advanced, the main body of the enemy at St. Sever fell back upon Agen. The left of the allied army, under Marshal Beresford, was now directed on Mont de Marson, while the right, under Sir ROWLAND HILL, pursued that corps of the enemy detatched to Aire. Unfortunately, the rains set in again on the evening of the battle, and fell so heavily, that the rivers and streams were soon swollen; the march of the allies was thus greatly impeded, for the enemy destroyed all the bridges in their rear. However, Sir Row LAND HILL came up to the enemy on the 2d of March, and found them in position before the town of Aire. They were drawn up on a ridge of hills, which extended across the main road leading to the town, and their right rested on the Adour. Sir ROWLAND attacked them instantly; the second division advanced by the road, and a Portuguese brigade ascended the heights upon their left. The column were commanded by Sir William Stewart, and the Portuguese were led by General de Costa. The second division, notwithstanding the strength of the position, carried the point, which they assailed with great steadiness and vigour; but the Portuguese brigade, although they gallantly won the height, were so stoutly resisted afterwards, that their formation was broken, and they would have been driven off in confusion had not General Barnes come promptly to their aid. The success of the second division enabled Sir William Stewart to detach the brigade of Barnes, and thus, just as the French were about to fall on the Portuguese with a column well formed and full of confidence, they themselves were charged by the British, and beaten off the field. Nevertheless the enemy rallied, and made a strenuous effort to recover their ground; but the brigade of General Byng, which had been hitherto in reserve, was now brought forward, and the French soon gave up the contest; and, abandoning the position and the town, hastily crossed the Adour in so great disorder, that many were taken prisoners in the pursuit, and a small body, being separated from the main force. fled fast towards the town of Pau. In this affair the allies lost about 150 killed and wounded; and here the honourable Lieutenant-colonel Hood, of the staff, was slain.

THE BATTLE OF TARBES.

THE same evening Soult collected his whole army on the right bank of the Adour. Here he placed his troops in position on some favourable heights with his left resting on Tarbes, and his right extending in the direction of Rabastens.

Upon the 20th, Lord Wellington directed the corps of Sir RowLAND HILL, and the third division, to advance upon the enemy's front, while Sir Henry Clinton, with the sixth division, supported

E

by two brigades of cavalry, should cross the Adour near Vic, and march to turn his right. These manoeuvres were well executed and completely successful. Sir RoWLAND drove the enemy to the heights beyond Tarbes, his light troops charging them through the streets of the town; and, as soon as the French Marshal discerned the column of Sir Henry Clinton upon his right, he fell back upon a strong ridge of heights in his rear, nearly parallel to his former position, and upon which his reserve was already formed. The fresh dispositions necessary to attack this post could not be completed till it was already too late in the evening to dislodge him. In the night, however, Soult retired by St. Gaudens on Toulouse.

THE BATTLE OF TOULOUSE.

THE city of Toulouse covers a space of ground about two miles in length from north to south; and the breadth from east to west is a mile and quarter. The Faubourg St. Cyprien stands on the left bank of the Garonne, and is surrounded, like the city itself, by an ancient wall of brick, lofty, of considerable thickness, and flanked by towers. This Fauxbourg is connected with the city by a good

bridge of stone.

About two miles below the city the canal of Languedoc enters the Garonne. This canal and the river surround Toulouse on three sides. On the fourth, or to the south, an open space extends from the Garonne to the canal. To the east of the canal there is a range of heights, and beyond flows a river called the Ers. All the roads from the eastward pass over these heights.

Here was the field position of the enemy. Upon the left and centre five redoubts had been constructed of a very strong profile, and they were connected by lines of intrenchment; but the right of this line, being covered by the river Ers at the distance of half-gun shot, had no such defences. The bridges on the canal were guarded by têtes de pont, and commanded by artillery from the old walls of the city. All the bridges over the Ers by which the right could be approached were broken down, except one at the village of Croix d'Orade, which they left standing for their convenience, with the intention of destroying it at the last moment. On the side of St. Cyprien, the enemy had thrown up strong field-works in front of the ancient walls, and formed an impregnable tête de pont. The south front of the eity is not covered either by the river or the canal; but it cannot be dirctly approached owing to the badness of the roads, which are not practicable for artillery, and to those heights upon the east which command them. The width and rapidity of the Garonne completed the security of the enemy's position, and increased the difficulties of the assailant.

On the 28th Lord Wellington attempted to lay down a bridge at Portet, a village above the town; but, when the sheer line was stretched across, the width proved more than the pontoons would cover. Upon the 31st, a passable point was found higher up. It was some time, however, before the spot was fixed on. When, after the difficulty of the 28th, some officer had expressed an apprehension