On this occasion the French suffered a great loss of men, together with all their artillery, baggage, and stores. King Joseph, whose carriage and court equipage were seized, had barely time to escape on horseback. The defeat was the most complete that the French had sustained in the Peninsula. It was this victory which gained a bâton for the Marquis of Wellington, who was appointed a Field-Marshal. In a most flattering letter, the Prince Regent, in the name and behalf of His Majesty, thus conferred the honour:— “You have sent me among the trophies of your unrivalled fame the staff of a French Marshal, and I send you in return that of England.” This was in allusion to the bâton of Marshal Jourdon, which was taken by the Eighty-seventh Regiment at Vittoria. The Seventy-first subsequently received the Royal authority to bear the word “Vittoria” on the regimental colour and appointments, in commemoration of this signal victory. When the Seventy-first paraded on the morning of the 22nd of June, the dreadful havoc made by the action of the preceding day became painfully manifest, and an universal gloom was thrown over all, at missing from their ranks nearly 400 brave comrades who had been either killed or wounded on the heights of La Puebla. The enemy having been completely beaten at all points was forced to retreat in confusion on Pampeluna, and the British army immediately followed in pursuit. The battalion in this advance arrived at Pampeluna on the 29th of June, and shortly afterwards followed, as part of Sir Rowland Hill’s army, a large force of the enemy, who were retreating into France by the valley of Bastan. During this forward movement the Seventy-first had some skirmishing in the valley of Elizondo, but without loss. Upon the 8th of July the Seventy-first arrived at the heights of Maya, from whence, for the first time, they had the cheering prospect of beholding the empire of France extended under them in all its fertile beauty. Joy was diffused through every heart: every trial and danger was forgotten while viewing this splendid and gratifying sight. Upon these heights the battalion was encamped until the 25th of July. Marshal Soult having been selected by Napoleon for the command of the French army in Spain, with the rank of “Lieutenant of the Emperor,” that officer used the most active exertions for its re-organization, and made immediate arrangements for forcing the British position in the Pyrenees. With this view he advanced in person with a large force against the right, stationed at Roncesvalles, and detached Count D’Erlon with about 13,000 men to attack the position of Maya.