British Regiments at the Front, The Story of Their Battle HonoursHodder, Reginald
History
British Regiments at the Front, The Story of Their Battle Honours
Hodder, Reginald
Great Britain -- History, Military; Great Britain. Army
[This regiment (1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry) was always
remarkable for its gallantry. The brave Cadogan well knew the art of
rendering his men invincible; he knew that the courage of the British
soldier is best called forth by associating it with his country, and he
also knew how to time the few words which produced such magical
effects.]
"We were now once more in possession of the place, but our loss, as
well as that of the French, had been very great. In particular
places of the village, where a stand had been made, or the shot
brought to bear, the slaughter had been immense. The French,
enraged at being thus baffled in all their attempts to attack the
town, sent forward a force composed of the very flower of their
army, but they gained only a temporary advantage, for, being
reinforced by the 79th Regiment--although the contest remained
doubtful until night--we remained in possession of it, with the
exception of a few houses on the rise of the hill at the French
side. The light brigade of our division was now withdrawn, and the
71st and 79th Regiments remained as a picquet in it during the
night. Next morning it was again occupied as before. On the 4th
both sides were busily employed burying the dead and bringing in
the wounded, French and English promiscuously mixed, and assisted
each other in that melancholy duty, as if they had been intimate
friends.... During this day, the French generals reconnoitred our
position, and next morning (the 5th), they made a movement to their
left with two strong columns. This caused a corresponding movement
in our lines, and it was scarcely made, when they attacked our
right, composed of the 7th Division, with all their cavalry, and
succeeded in turning it, but they were gallantly met by some
squadrons of our dragoons, and repulsed. Their columns of infantry
still continued to advance on the same point, and were much galled
by the heavy fire kept up on them by the 7th Division, but in
consequence of this movement, our communication with Sabugal was
abandoned for a stronger position, and our army was now formed in
two lines, the Light Division and cavalry in reserve. This
manoeuvre paralysed their attack on our line, and their efforts
were chiefly confined to partial cannonading, and some charges with
their cavalry, which were received and repulsed by the 3rd Regiment
of Guards in one instance; but, as they were falling back, they did
not perceive the charge of a different body of the enemy's cavalry
in time to form, and many of them were killed, wounded, and taken
prisoners. Colonel Hill, who commanded the picquets, was among the
latter; the 42nd Regiment (The Black Watch) also, under Lord
Blantyre, gallantly repulsed another charge made by the enemy's
cavalry. The Frenchmen then attempted to push a strong body of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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