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Portugal to Waterloo With Wellington

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Portugal to Waterloo With Wellington
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Author(s): John Edgecombe Daniel
Date Published: 2010/02
Page Count: 240
Softcover ISBN-13: 978-1-84677-921-3
Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-1-84677-922-0

A reporter's eye on great historical events

Readers may be of the initial opinion that the view of an officer of the Commissariat Department would be necessarily less dynamic than that of a regimental officer. In fact, Daniel's position as a non-combatant has proved to be the exact opposite and of particular value to those interested in his subject matter by his comparative detachment from the narrow and confused view of the actual battle line. Daniel was able to overview the great events of which he was a participant and leave us essential reports that few were in a position to witness. Actually, Daniel was often close enough to the action as to have comrades killed next to him, so this is far from a view 'from behind the lines.’ We follow Daniel on campaign with the 'Great Duke' throughout the Peninsula, over the Pyrenees and into Southern France. When the time comes to bring the Emperor to account at Waterloo, Daniel once again joined Wellington's Army in the field and he has provided another vital insight into the campaign of 1815 to enhance our knowledge of these pivotal events.

We followed the staff to the hill, which commands a most extensive view on every side. At this moment Marshal Beresford came galloping up from the 3rd Division, which we had left passing the Nivelle near Zarra, and ascending the heights through the woods. This division under the command of the Hon. Charles Colville, after driving in the enemy’s outposts in front of Zugarrimurdi, and co-operating in the attack at Zarra, passed the Nivelle near that town, and moving through the woods on the right of the 7th Division forced its way with its usual promptitude to the enemy’s grand position, where it arrived before the rest of the line.<br>
The right brigade under Colonel Keane of the 60th regiment supported by the left and Portuguese under Generals Brisbane and Power, forthwith proceeded to storm a strong redoubt situated about the centre of the enemy’s line of fortifications and near the road leading to the town of St. Pe, in which the brigade suffered very much, particularly the gallant little battalion of the 87th regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Gough, who was wounded, and the 94th under Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd, who unhappily was killed, being shot through the body as he was leading and encouraging his men to the storm: on receiving his wound he staggered a few paces, and tossing his sword into the air, exclaimed, “It’s all over with me:” he was instantly borne into a cottage near at hand, where breathed his last, and was that same hour buried under a large tree, together with an ensign of the 87th regiment, on the side of the very same hill which, but a few days previous to the action, he had in the course of conversation on the heights of Zugarrimurdi, pointed out to me as the post his regiment would probably have to attack.<br>
While the 3rd Division were thus engaged, the 6th under Sir Henry Clinton were storming the redoubts and entrenchments at that point of the line near Anhou, where a very severe conflict was maintained for some time; but our brave battalions resolving upon victory, at length gained the ridge, and the enemy’s huts were in a short time seen blazing like beacons all along that part of the line. The range of heights directly in front of us, the crests of which were crowned with French infantry, had now to be attacked. Lord Wellington (who was stationed on the hill, directing everything in person) accordingly ordered the 7th Division to move by one road, and the 4th by another parallel with it, each supported by a very large force of Spaniards.<br>
These troops began to ascend the heights under a galling fire from the enemy, who on their approach suddenly fell into line, and their bugles sounding, a volley from right to left was fired upon the advancing columns: in a moment the enemy’s line disappeared: our men now cheered, and continued their exertions to gain the summit of this stupendous hill; but before this could be accomplished (to our astonishment) the hostile line reappeared, and crowning the heights as before, their bugles were again sounded, and another volley fired: they then disappeared, and our troops gaining the ridge, drove them down the other side of the hill.<br>
About this time we heard a very harmonious sound of bugles, and soon caught a view of the Light Division under Major-General Charles Baron Alten, which had moved over the mountains of Le Rhone, and were storming a strong redoubt about a mile on our left, where the whole of the French 88th regiment, by which it was defended, were made prisoners.—The enemy now fled from hill to hill, pursued by our victorious troops. The 3rd Division being ordered to march upon St Pe, came up with the enemy’s rear-guard at that town in the evening, and a sharp affair which ensued, closed the operations of the day.<br>
The baggage of the army, ordered to halt on the heights of the Pyrenees, had been packed and loaded ever since daylight; descending now from the heights they quitted Spain, and marched over the field of battle in the evening; but the moon not rising until late in the night, a great part thereof went astray and did not join the divisions until the next day. I encamped for the night upon the green of St. Pe: the 3rd Division were at bivouac in the woods near that place, with the 7th and 4th Divisions on their left and the 6th on their right. Thus ended the battle of the Nivelle, which (if not the most sounding of Lord Wellington’s victories) was at least one of the boldest and most interesting operations of the Peninsular war, as the enemy occupied a tract of country not only exceedingly strong by nature, but fortified in a most extraordinary manner, every hill being crowned with a redoubt.<br>
Their right rested on the sea coast near St. Jean de Luz, and their left on the river Nive near Cambo. The strength of the works which they had constructed at these two points made it impossible to turn either their right or left; Lord Wellington therefore resorted to the bold measure of attacking their centre, which was a perfect chain of redoubts and fortifications. The nature of this engagement, and of the ground upon which it was fought, did not admit of the cavalry being brought into action. The artillery was actively and warmly engaged as usual. There fell into our hands on this occasion, 51 pieces of cannon; 1500 prisoners, and a large quantity of ammunition, besides which, the enemy (it was calculated) lost upwards of three thousand men.<br>
That very distinguished officer Colonel Barnard of the 95th (rifle corps) was so severely wounded as not to be expected to survive.
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