“This great service was thus performed by Sir Rowland Hill. The enemy, who had failed in all their attempts with their whole force upon Lord Wellington’s left, withdrew to their entrenchments on the night of December 12th, and passed a large body of troops through the town of Bayonne. With these, on the morning of the 13th, they made a desperate attack on Sir Rowland Hill. This, as has appeared, was not unexpected; and Lord Wellington had placed at his disposal not only the sixth division, but the fourth division, and two brigades of the third. Soult’s objects were to gain the bridge of _St. Pierre_, to make himself master of the road to St. Jean Pied de Port, and to break through the position of the allies. For these purposes he put forth his whole strength, and was completely vanquished. Even before the sixth division arrived, Sir Rowland Hill had repulsed him with prodigious loss; and although he skilfully availed himself of a high ground in retreating, he could not stand against the famous charge of General Byng, and was entirely defeated. It was a battle fought and won by the corps of Sir Rowland Hill alone and unaided. At the instant of victory Lord Wellington came up, and in the ecstasy of the moment of triumph, caught him by the hand, and said, ‘Hill, the day is your own.’” The THIRTY-FIRST had seven rank and file _killed_, and three serjeants, two drummers, and twenty-seven rank and file _wounded_. Lieut.-Colonel Leith, who received a cross for his conduct, was slightly wounded. Ensign Hardy died of his wounds. Brevet Major Peter Fearon, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, who commanded the fifth Portuguese Caçadores, received an additional distinction to the medal which had been granted him for the battle of Albuhera. The THIRTY-FIRST subsequently received the Royal Authority to bear on the Regimental colour the word “NIVE,” to commemorate the gallantry of the second battalion in the actions which ensued on the passage of that river. No further actions occurred during the few remaining days of the year 1813; and the army occupied winter-quarters. [Sidenote: 1814] Leaving their cantonments at the village of St. Pierre, the THIRTY-FIRST advanced with the troops under Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, in the middle of February 1814, when the French corps, under General Harispe, were driven from Hellete, and afterwards forced from a position on the heights of _Garris_ on the 15th of February. The battalion had one private killed, and six rank and file wounded. Brevet Major Peter Fearon, who commanded the fifth Portuguese Caçadores, died of his wounds. The other officer wounded was Captain Knox, who was subsequently promoted to the brevet rank of major. On the 27th of February, the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST, in Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill’s division, crossed the Adour, on the right of _Orthes_, with the loss of only two rank and file wounded.