[129] Lord Wellington, in his despatch (‘Despatches,’ xi. 69) states that the passage of the bridge ‘was made under the fire of a great part of Major-General Skerrett’s brigade.’ This mistake has been pointed out by Napier (Book xxii. chap. 3); the truth is, only the two 2nd Battalion companies resisted it. [130] Afterwards Lord Seaton; and Colonel-in-Chief. CHAPTER V. The Regiment remained now encamped for more than a month on the slope of l’Arrhune. Extremely inclement weather set in; rain, wind, and sometimes snow. Occasionally tents were blown away, or falling on their sleeping occupants buried them under the wet canvass. The men on picquet also suffered severely. But notwithstanding the altitude and exposure of their camp and the severity of the weather, the health of the Regiment was uncommonly good; not one man, in the 1st Battalion at least, being sick. But this immunity from illness did not extend to all the officers; for Colonel Ross was obliged to leave the camp and the command of the 3rd Battalion, and to take up his residence in the village of Renteria. During this time the French were busily employed in fortifying and throwing up entrenchments on La Petite Arrhune. The officers with these working parties frequently interchanged civilities with our officers, saying: ‘You will not be able to remain on these bleak mountains. You will have to retire into Spain.’ To which the reply was: ‘We will do so, if we are ordered.’ At last La Petite Arrhune exhibited a truly formidable appearance. Stone walls were built with loop-holes to fire through; the ground was escarped where it appeared accessible; and redoubts were built at intervals. [Illustration: BATTLE OF THE NIVELLE 10^{TH} NOV.^R 1813 _E. Weller, lith., London._ _London: Chatto & Windus._ ] Pamplona surrendered at the end of October; and Lord Wellington being thus relieved from any enemy in his rear, immediate measures were adopted to advance into France. Heavy rains and the consequent impracticability of the roads postponed this movement, which was resolved upon in the first days of November, until the night of the 9th. On that day the commanding officers of the three Battalions had been taken up to the top of l’Arrhune, and from that commanding position the task laid out for each of the Battalions, and the ground over which they were to move, had been pointed out to them. After nightfall on that evening the Regiment moved to its ground, and about midnight took up its position, crouching behind the rocks within half-musket shot of the enemy’s picquet. All this was done in profound silence. No horse, nor even a dog, was allowed to go with the Regiment, lest their neighing or their barking should reveal the movement.