The History of the Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort's Own) Formerly the 95thCope, William Henry
History
The History of the Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort's Own) Formerly the 95th
Cope, William Henry
Great Britain. Army. Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
On the 25th, at an early hour, the Regiment advanced towards
Pamplona, and arriving about a mile and-a-half from it, they moved to
the left, just out of range of the guns of the place, and proceeding
by a mountain road to Villaba, encamped near that village.
On the 26th Lord Wellington intending to intercept General Clausel,
who having learnt the rout of the main French army at Vittoria, was
endeavouring to make good a retreat into France by the east of Spain,
the Regiment (with some other divisions of the army) moved to Noain
and past the aqueduct of Pamplona, and encamped near Muro, at the
junction of the roads from Tudela and Zaragoza.
Next day they started early, and near Barasoain halted to cook and
refresh. Then passing through Tafalla, where they crossed the Zadacos
river by a stone bridge, and where the inhabitants received them with
acclamations of joy, they encamped in an olive-grove near Olite.
On the 28th passing through the town of Olite and striking out of
the Zaragoza road they took that to San Martin. And after crossing a
barren plain, halted to cook in a pine-wood near Murillo del Fruto.
They had then marched about four leagues; but their labours were not
nearly over. For starting again they skirted the river and got to
Gallepienza, where they crossed it by a stone bridge; and proceeding
by a mountain track, where darkness overtook them, they encamped in
a ploughed field, near Caseda, about midnight in tremendous rain.
The whole march had been about twenty-four miles; and they had been
pushed on in the hope of intercepting Clausel; but it was here
reported that the Alcalde of Tudela had given Clausel notice of the
movements of the column, and that he had effected his retreat by
another road.
Therefore the Regiment halted on the 29th; and on the 30th beginning
its return to Pamplona, crossed the Aragon at Caseda and marched to
Sanguessa, near which they encamped, and halted during July 1.
On the 2nd they resumed their march towards Pamplona; passing Narden
and Andoain, and encamped near Monreal.
On the 3rd the Regiment returned by Noain to Villaba, and moving past
it, encamped at the village of Berissa near Pamplona. On the next
day it furnished working parties to throw up works to shelter our
picquets from the fire of the place, or from a sortie of the garrison.
On the 5th the Regiment commenced its march into the Pyrenees; and
proceeding up a narrow valley to Ostiz, encamped near a rivulet.
And on the 6th, penetrating into the mountains, they marched by
Olague to Lanz, which is situated at the foot of the Pyrenean range.
At daybreak on the 7th the Regiment began to climb the mountains and
halted on a mountain side near Gustella and Lagassa, where they were
about to encamp for the night. But in three hours they got a fresh
route and were ordered to move into San Esteban.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account