In the passage of the _Nive_, and the actions of the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of December, the regiment co-operated, but was not brought into contact with the enemy; and the army afterwards went into quarters until the severity of the weather was abated. [Sidenote: 1814] Operations were, however, recommenced in February, 1814, and the regiment formed part of the corps under Sir William Beresford, who attacked, on the 22nd of that month, the fortified posts at _Hastingues_ and _Oyergave_, and obliged the enemy to retire within the _tête de pont_ at Peyrehorade. The enemy being in position at _Orthes_, the SIXTH, and other corps under Sir William Beresford, crossed the Gave de Pau on the morning of the 26th of February, and moved along the high road from Peyrehorade towards Orthes. On the following day they advanced to attack the enemy's right, on the heights on the high road to Dax, and at the village of St. Boes. The village was carried by the fourth division; and the SIXTH advanced in column to turn the head of a ravine between themselves and the enemy; but on emerging from the village they were ordered to form line. Colonel Ross's brigade of horse artillery came up at full speed and unlimbered in the rear of the regiment, when sections were thrown back to permit the fire of the artillery to pass through the line. The ground was, however, so low that the troops could not deploy to attack the heights. The SIXTH moved forward, and in the after descent of the back of the ravine the French fire told heavily on the regiment. Several officers and many men fell; Lieut.-Colonel Gardiner, of the SIXTH[37], who commanded the brigade on this occasion, had his horse killed under him while leading the regiment forward, and as a serjeant and a private were extricating him from under the animal, the private was shot through the chest and died instantly, and the serjeant's hands were both pierced by musket-balls: one of the colour-staves was also damaged by a ball. At this moment the Marquis of Wellington came galloping past the regiment, and cried, "SIXTH, incline to your right;" which was obeyed; but the ground was so rugged, and the enemy's fire so heavy, that some confusion took place: the road was, however, boldly gained; and from a ditch and earthen bank the regiment opened a destructive fire on the enemy, who were in line on each flank, and, some kneeling and others lying on the ground, kept up a heavy cross fire. Meanwhile the left of the height on which the enemy's right stood had been carried; Sir Rowland Hill had also forced the passage of the Gave above Orthes; and the troops opposed to the SIXTH eventually gave way, when the regiment moved forward in pursuit.