A history of the Peninsular War . h and dismay. I had many reasons, he wrote to the Minister of War at Paris,to think that the enemys main attack would be on Ainhoue[DErlons wing], and was there at 7 when the actioncommenced. But finding that there was but a demonstrationin that quarter, I hurried to my right—only to find that every-thing was over V The whole matter, indeed, had gone off with almost incrediblequickness. The crossing of the river had commenced at ,the Croix des Bouquets was carried by 9 oclock, ere Boyers firstbrigade, which had only five miles to go, could reinforce t
A history of the Peninsular War . h and dismay. I had many reasons, he wrote to the Minister of War at Paris,to think that the enemys main attack would be on Ainhoue[DErlons wing], and was there at 7 when the actioncommenced. But finding that there was but a demonstrationin that quarter, I hurried to my right—only to find that every-thing was over V The whole matter, indeed, had gone off with almost incrediblequickness. The crossing of the river had commenced at ,the Croix des Bouquets was carried by 9 oclock, ere Boyers firstbrigade, which had only five miles to go, could reinforce thefront line. And Reilles whole force had been tumbled back intoUrrogne before noon, when Villattes reserve began to turn up,after a nine-mile march from Ascain to Urrogne by hilly 1 Soult to the Minister of War. Report of October 18th. 2 The distance is less as the crow flies, but over country roads it was, asClerc truly remarks, a forte ctape, over three hours marching. PASSAGE OF THE BIDASSOA. OCTOBER 7™ |8|3. 1813] FIGHTING AT BIRIATOU 127 Meanwhile Freires Spaniards, at the upper fords of theBidassoa, had been as successful as the 5th and 1st Divisions onthe lower waters. The left-hand columns, at the Biriatou fords,had been held back for some time by the redoubt and the twoFrench battalions opposite them1, but the right-hand columnscrossed higher up, only finding pickets opposite them, andgaining the crest of the Mandale ridge fell on the flank and rearof the force at Biriatou, and enabled the other columns to getacross the water. The whole then extended to right and left—one brigade linked up with the Guards at the Croix des Bouquets,the others, pushing along the crests, dislodged the single Frenchbattalion at the Calvary on the Mandale ridge2, and finally thetwo isolated battalions at the Col du Poirier much farthereast. These (the 2nd Leger) were so completely out of touchwith any other French troops, that they went off in haste forfear of being env
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