Historical Record of the Sixth, or Royal First Warwickshire Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in the Year 1674, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1838Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Sixth, or Royal First Warwickshire Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in the Year 1674, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1838
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Infantry. 6th Regiment (Royal 1st Warwickshire)
brilliant achievement with feelings of exultation, and expressed
his admiration in terms which occasioned the following order to be
issued immediately.
"_Heights above Echalar, half-past three o'clock,_
_2nd August, 1813_.
"DIVISION ORDER.--The Lieutenant-general has just been desired by
Lord Wellington to say to the brigade under Major-General Barnes'
command, that '_Their attack on the enemy is the most gallant,
and the finest thing he ever witnessed_.' These were the words of
the Commander of the forces, and Lord Dalhousie feels the highest
satisfaction in communicating them to Major-General Barnes, the
officers, and men."
In his public despatch, the Marquis of Wellington
observed:--"Major-General Barnes's brigade was formed for the
attack, and advanced before the fourth and light divisions could
co-operate, with a regularity and gallantry which I have seldom
seen equalled, and actually drove the two divisions of the enemy,
notwithstanding the resistance opposed to them, from those
formidable heights. It is impossible that I can extol too highly
the conduct of Major-General Barnes and these brave troops, which
was the admiration of all who were witnesses of it."[36]
On this memorable occasion, of which every officer and soldier of
the SIXTH may be justly proud, the regiment had Captain William
Brownlow, two serjeants, and thirteen rank and file killed; Major
Guy Campbell, Lieutenants Everest, Tarleton, and Addison, four
serjeants, and one hundred and thirty-six rank and file wounded.
Majors Guy Campbell, Hugh Maurice Scott, and Henry Gomm were
promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and the regiment was
rewarded with the honour of bearing the word "PYRENEES" inscribed
on its colours.
The SIXTH were stationed several weeks in the lofty Pyrenean
mountains: the corps at Roncesvalles and Maya stood in a most
commanding situation, and the Marquis of Wellington resolved to
place his left in an equally menacing position, by dispossessing
the enemy of some strong ground on the right of the _Bidassoa_,
the key of which was a steep mountain, called La Rhune. The attack
was commenced on the 7th of October, and completely succeeded.
A detachment of the SIXTH, sent forward through the Puerto de
Echalar, was partially engaged, and had Captain Shawe and one
man killed; Captain Rogers, one serjeant, and five rank and file
wounded.
In the attack of the enemy's position on the _Nivelle_, on the 10th
of November, the SIXTH were in the column under Marshal Sir William
Beresford, which carried the redoubts on the left of the enemy's
centre; advanced on the left of the river upon St. Pé; crossed the
stream at that place, and drove a body of French from the heights
beyond the village: in which service the regiment had one man
killed and six wounded; and its gallant bearing was rewarded with
the privilege of displaying the word "NIVELLE" on its colours.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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