Historical record of the 71st Regiment Highland Light Infantry: $b from its formation in 1777, under the title of the 73rd, or McLeod's Highlanders, up to the year 1876Hildyard, Henry John Thoroton
History
Historical record of the 71st Regiment Highland Light Infantry: $b from its formation in 1777, under the title of the 73rd, or McLeod's Highlanders, up to the year 1876
Hildyard, Henry John Thoroton
Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 71st (Highland Light Infantry)
The following “Morning Reports” of the 14th of June and 7th of
August, the former being prior to the battle of Vittoria, and the
latter a few days subsequent to the actions in the Pyrenees, will
show how the ranks of the Seventy-first were thinned within a period
of less than two months:—
Sergeants. Buglers. Rank and File.
14th June, 1813, present
and fit for duty 54 21 909
7th August, 1813, ditto 21 15 356
-- -- ---
Decrease 33 6 553
For nearly three months the battalion was encamped on the heights of
Roncesvalles, during which period St. Sebastian and Pampeluna were
captured. The men were principally employed during this interval in
the construction of block houses and batteries, and the formation of
roads for the artillery.
In the early part of the season the neighbouring heights of Altobispo
were occupied weekly by the brigades of the division; but as the
cold increased with the high winds, the pickets alone were appointed
for this duty. Such was the inclemency of the weather, and natural
advantages of this position, that it was scarcely thought that
the enemy would attempt an attack. This opinion, however, was ill
founded, as upon the night of the 11th of October an attempt was
made by a strong party upon the advance, composed of 15 men of the
Seventy-first, under Sergeant James Ross. Instead of flinching from
an unequal contest, this small band, relying upon the strength of
the position, and being, moreover, favoured by the darkness, which
concealed its strength, maintained its ground, and forced the enemy
to retire. The bravery of this party called forth high praise from
Lieut.-General the Honourable Sir William Stewart, commanding the
division, and at his request the soldiers composing it were all
presented with medals.
On the 8th of November the division was again in motion, for the
purpose of entering the French territory; and on the 9th of that
month it bivouacked near the heights of Maya, where orders were
received to march as light as possible. The heights were passed that
night by moonlight for the purpose of joining the grand army; but the
march over bad roads was so fatiguing that when the brigade arrived
in position on the Nivelle it was not called upon to take an active
part in the glorious proceedings of the rest of the army on the 10th
of November, in forcing the French from their fortified position on
that river.
After the battle of the Nivelle, the battalion marched in the
direction of Cambo, on the Nive, where some smart skirmishing
occurred, in which 2 men were killed, and 4 sergeants, 1 bugler, and
41 rank and file wounded. When the French crossed to the right bank,
the Seventy-first occupied part of the town of Cambo.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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