After its retreat from Nivelle, the French army occupied an entrenched position in front of Bayonne; the allies passed the _Nive_ on the 9th of December, and the enemy having been dislodged from a post at Ville Franque, withdrew his out-posts to Bayonne. But issuing from thence on the following day, he attacked a Portuguese brigade stationed on the high road from Bayonne to St. Jean de Luz. The KING'S OWN, and other regiments of the second brigade of the fifth division, advancing to the assistance of the Portuguese, were sharply engaged, and evinced great bravery and steadiness in action. Major-General Robinson was wounded, and the French gained some advantage; but they were eventually driven back and suffered severely. The attempt was renewed, but the attacking columns were repulsed, and night closed on the combatants. The enemy again attacked the division on the 11th of December, but was repulsed; in the afternoon of the 12th there was also some sharp skirmishing; and the KING'S OWN acquired, by their intrepid bearing and gallantry in action, the honour of bearing the word NIVE on their colours. At the passage of the Nive, on the 9th of December, the regiment had one man killed; Brevet Major Robert Anwyl, Lieutenant Fraser, and nine rank and file wounded: Lieutenant Fraser died of his wounds. On the 10th of December one serjeant and five rank and file were killed; Brevet Major Timothy Jones, Lieutenants Edward Guichard and Frederick Hyde, with five serjeants, one drummer, and thirty-nine rank and file wounded; and twenty-two rank and file missing. On the 11th of December the KING'S OWN had six rank and file killed; Brevet Lieut.-Colonel John Piper, Lieutenants John Staveley, C. H. Farrington, William Clarke, Edward Rawlins, John Sutherland, James Marshal, and Ensign James Gardner, with eight serjeants, and ninety rank and file wounded. During the winter additional honours were conferred on the officers who had commanded regiments in the late actions; and Lieut.-Colonel BROOKE, of the KING'S OWN, obtained a cross inscribed BADAJOZ, SALAMANCA, VITTORIA, and ST. SEBASTIAN. Brevet Lieut.-Colonel PIPER, two clasps inscribed ST. SEBASTIAN and NIVE. Captain KEPPING, who succeeded to the command of the regiment after Lieut.-Colonel Piper was wounded, on the 11th of December, received the brevet rank of MAJOR, and a medal inscribed NIVE. [Sidenote: 1814] Severe weather obliged the allied army to keep in its cantonments during the month of January and part of February, 1814; and operations having recommenced in the middle of February, after several movements the KING'S OWN were employed in the blockade of _Bayonne_, in which service they were engaged upwards of six weeks.