Pampeluna being captured, the right of the allied army, which had been employed in covering the blockade, became disengaged, and the British Commander looking down from the lofty Pyrenees on the well-guarded territory of France, resolved to carry the war into the heart of that country. The British army, early on the morning of the 10th of November, descended into the valleys on the French side; the division of which the THIRTY-FIRST formed part entered France by the Pass of _Maya_, having sustained some loss in the capture of one of the enemy’s redoubts. Only one man belonging to the battalion was killed, but Captain Girdlestone and eleven rank and file were wounded. Marshal Soult’s army was driven from his fortified position on the river _Nivelle_, and several guns and prisoners were captured. The French being pursued on the following day, retired to their fortified camp near Bayonne. Captain Thomas Samuel Nicolls was promoted to the rank of Major in the army for his conduct on this day, and the THIRTY-FIRST afterwards received the Royal Authority to bear the word “NIVELLE” on the Regimental Colour and Appointments, in testimony of the gallantry of the second battalion in that action. The passage of the river _Nive_ was effected on the 9th of December: the THIRTY-FIRST passed over without the loss of a man, one serjeant only being wounded. Lieut.-Colonel Leith received an additional clasp for his conduct on this occasion, and Captains Patrick Dowdall and Peter Fearon were promoted to the rank of Majors in the army. On the 13th of December, the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment shared in the action at _St. Pierre_, near Bayonne, when the enemy abandoned two pieces of cannon, which were taken possession of by Captain Hemsworth’s company. The Marquis of Wellington, in his despatch dated _St. Jean de Luz_, 14th December 1813, thus alluded to the conduct of the brigade under Major-General John Byng,[42] of which the THIRTY-FIRST formed part. “I had great satisfaction, also, in observing the conduct of Major-General Byng’s brigade of British infantry, supported by the fourth Portuguese brigade, under the command of Brigadier-General Buchan, in carrying an important height from the enemy on the right of our position, and maintaining it against all their efforts to regain it. “_Two guns and some prisoners_ were taken from the enemy, who being beaten at all points, and having suffered considerable loss, were obliged to retire upon their entrenchment.” In a very interesting life of the late Viscount Hill, by the Reverend Edwin Sidney, A.M. is the following account of the action at _St. Pierre_, near Bayonne.