A British Rifle Man: The Journals and Correspondence of Major George Simmons, Rifle Brigade, During the Peninsular War and the Campaign of WaterlooSimmons, George
History
A British Rifle Man: The Journals and Correspondence of Major George Simmons, Rifle Brigade, During the Peninsular War and the Campaign of Waterloo
Simmons, George
Peninsular War, 1807-1814; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
I awoke
at daylight refreshed and in high spirits.
[Sidenote: 22nd]
The Division fell in and moved by the Pamplona road (the only one left
to retreat by) in pursuit of the enemy. The French had lost yesterday
about 10,000 men killed, wounded, and taken, besides 151 pieces of
cannon, 415 caissons, and the military chest and the whole of their
baggage. King Joseph was so hard pressed that he was compelled to leave
his carriage, mount a horse, and gallop off. General Gazan's wife was
taken, but sent back in her carriage under an escort this morning.
Moved through Salvatierra, preceded by the 1st German Hussars, 14th
Dragoons, and one troop of Horse Artillery. We followed the French, and
found all the villages abandoned by the inhabitants. The Dragoons came
up with the enemy's rear-guard and took fifty stragglers encamped near
the village of Alvisera.
[Sidenote: 23rd]
At daybreak again followed up the retreating French through Ciordia,
passed the river Buranda into the province of Navarre. We found the
enemy posted upon the river at a small village. The bridge, being of
wood, was set on fire. Our Horse Artillery commenced playing upon the
enemy's column, which soon after moved off. We forded the river and
followed the enemy, pushing his rear-guard so fast that several bridges
were not destroyed, so great was the hurry to get away. The French now
hit upon another expedient to retard our pursuit—they set the villages
on fire, but that made us push on the faster through them, and at
Echarri Ariñez we skirmished with some Voltigeurs, but they soon went
off. The enemy again drew up at La Cuenca. The Horse Artillery opened
fire upon their columns, which caused them to retire through Huarte,
our cavalry occupying the place. The Light Division encamped at La
Cuenca, having moved five leagues. The weather very bad.
[Sidenote: 24th]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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