Historical Record of the Seventy-first Regiment, Highland Light Infantry: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1777, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1852Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Seventy-first Regiment, Highland Light Infantry: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1777, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1852
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 71st (Highland Light Infantry)
While stationed in this quarter, the companies were frequently
engaged in skirmishes with the enemy, particularly at St.
Hellette, heights of Garris, and St. Palais, in the month of
January 1814.
In the beginning of February the battalion marched from Urt,
and during its advance had frequent skirmishes with the enemy’s
rear-guard.
On the 26th of February the battalion was in action at
_Sauveterre_, and upon the 27th had the honor of participating in
the battle of _Orthes_.
In commemoration of this victory the SEVENTY-FIRST afterwards
received the Royal authority to bear the word “ORTHES” on the
regimental colour and appointments.
Two divisions of the French army having retired to _Aire_, after
the action of the 27th of February, Lieut.-General Sir Rowland
Hill moved upon that town to dislodge them. Upon the 2d of March
the French were found strongly posted upon a ridge of hills,
extending across the great road in front of the town, having their
right on the Adour. The second division attacked them along the
road, seconded by a Portuguese brigade, and drove them from their
position, in gallant style. Lieutenant James Anderson and seventeen
rank and file were killed; Lieutenant Henry Frederick Lockyer, one
serjeant, and nineteen rank and file, were wounded.
A detachment from the second battalion, consisting of one captain,
four subalterns, and a hundred and thirty-four rank and file, under
the command of Major Arthur Jones, joined at Aire.
On the 25th of March part of the battalion was engaged in an affair
at _Tarbes_, in which Lieutenant Robert Law was wounded, and upon
the 10th of April was in position at _Toulouse_, where some of the
companies were employed skirmishing, and sustained a loss of one
serjeant and three rank and file killed; six rank and file were
wounded.
During the night of the 11th of April the French troops evacuated
_Toulouse_, and a white flag was hoisted. On the following day the
Marquis of Wellington entered the city, amidst the acclamations
of the inhabitants. In the course of the afternoon of the 12th of
April intelligence was received of the abdication of Napoleon,
and had not the express been delayed on the journey by the French
police the sacrifice of many valuable lives would have been
prevented.
A disbelief in the truth of this intelligence occasioned much
unnecessary bloodshed at _Bayonne_, the garrison of which made
a desperate _sortie_ on the 14th of April, and Lieutenant Sir
John Hope (afterwards Earl of Hopetoun) was taken prisoner.
Major-General Andrew Hay was killed, and Major-General Stopford was
wounded.
A treaty of peace was established between Great Britain and France;
Louis XVIII. was restored to the throne of France; and Napoleon
Bonaparte was permitted to reside at Elba, the sovereignty of that
island having been conceded to him by the allied powers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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