The National Register.
London, England, 1813-08-22 00:00:00

AUGUST 22=_

TIIE N.

The river Lanz runs in the valley which was on the left of the !'
allied, and on the right of the French army, along the road to
Ostiz. Beyom, this river there is another range of mountains con-
fleeted with Lizasso and Marcalain, by which places it was now ne-
ce-sary to communicate with the rest of the army. •
I joined the sd and 4th divisions just as they were taking up
their ground on tl:e (.27th; and shortly afterwards the enemy formed
their army on a mountain, the front of which extends from the
hhth road to Ostiz to the high road to Zubiri, and they placed one
division on their left of that -road on a height, and in some villages
in front of the third division. They had here alio a large body of
cavalry.
In a short time after they had taken np their ground, the enemy i,"
attacked the bill on the right of the fourth division, which was
then occupied by one battalion of the 4th Portuguese regiment, and
by the Spanish regiment of Pravia.
The troops defended their ground, and drove the enemy from it
with the bayonet. Seeing the importance of this hill to our posi-
tion, I reinfinced it with the 40th regiment ; and this regiment,
with the Spanish regiments of El Principe and Pravia, held it from
this time, notwithstanding the repeated efforts of the enemy, daring
the ;17 th and 28th, to obtain possession of it.
Nearly at the same time that the enemy attacked this height on
the 77th, they tookpossession of the village of Sorausen on the road
to Ostiz, by which they acquired the communication by that•
road, and they kept up a tire of musketry along the line till it
was dark.
We were joined on the morning of the 28th by the sixth division
of infantry, and I directed that the height should' be occupied on
the left of the valley of the Lanz ; and that the sixth division
should form across the valley in rear of the left of the t.ourth divi-
sion, resting their right on Oricain, and their left upon the heights
above mentioned.
The sixth division had scarcely taken their position when they
were attacked by a very large farce of the enemy, wkich had been
assembled in the village of Sorausen.
Their front was, however, so well defended by the fire of their
own light troops from the heights on their left, and by the fire from
the heights occupied by the fourth division and Brigadier General
Campbell's Portuguese brigade, that the enemy were soon driven
back with immense loss, from a fire on their front, both flanks and
rear.
In order to extricate their troops from the difficulty in which
they found themselves in their situation in the valkl of the Lanz,
the enemy now attacked the height on which the left of the fourth
division stood, which was occupied by the seventh Cae adores, of
which they obtained a momentary possession. They were attacked,
however, again by the seventh Caqadores, supported-by Major-Ge-
neral Ross, at the head of his brigade of the fourth division, and ,
were driven down with great hose.
The battle now became general along the whole front of the
heights occupied by the fourth division. and_ in every part in our
favour, excepting where one battalion of the tenth Portuguese Re-
giment of Major-General Campbell's brigade was posted. This
battalion having been overpowered, and having been obliged to
give way immediately on the right of Nlajor-GeneralßOSS's brigade,
the enemy established himself on cur line, and Major• General Kiss
was obliged to withdraw from his post.
. 1, however, ordered the 'l7th and 48th regiments to charge, first
that body of the enemy which had first established themselves on
the height, and next those on the left. Both attacks succeeded,
and the enemy were driven down with immense loss ; and the (oh
division having moved forward at the same time to a situation in
.the valley nearer to the left of the 4th, the attack upon this front
ceased entirely, and was continued but faintly on other points of
our line.
In the course of this contest, the gallantifourth division, which
has so frequently been diqiiiguished in this army, surpassed their
former good conduct. Every regiment charged with the bayonet;
anal the 41th, the 7th, '20411, and flour differeut times. Their
officers set them the example, and Nlajor•Greneral Ross had two
horses shot under him. The Portugnese troops likewise. behaved
admirably ; and I had every reason to be satisfied with the conduct
of the Spanish regiments del Principe and Pravia.
I had ordered Lient -Gen. Sir Rowland Hill to march by Lanz
upon Lizasso, as s.ion as I found that Lient.-General; Sit' Thomas
Pieton and Sir Lowry Cole hail moved trom and Lieut.
General the Earl of Dallionsie, from .St. Esteven, tit the sttOr pLice,
where both arrived on the 18th, and the .seventh division came to
Marcalain.
The enemy's force which hid been* in front of Sir Rowland
HPI
followed his anarchy and arrived at Ostiz oa the a9th. The enemy

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7ISTE

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thus reinforced, and occupying a position in the mountains %voich
appeared little liahle to attack, and finding that they could make
impression on our front, determined to euleavour to tura oar
left by an attack on Sir itowlatitt
They reinlorced with one division the troops which had been
already opposed to him, occupy lug the same points in the
mountain, on which was formed their principal three, bit tier
drew into their lea Cie troops which occupied toe heigits oorisite
the third division, and they had, during the night of the .9th and
30th, occupied in strength the crest of the monatam me our lett of
the Lanz, opposite to the .sixth and seventh di% i•ions ; hits con-
necting their right in their positiou with Cie divisions detached to
attack Lieut.-Gun. Sir Rowland Hill
I. however, determined to anaek their position. and ordered
Lieutenant-General the Earl of Dallion•ie to posses- himself of the'
top of the mountain in fro•it, by which the enemy's right w•mld
be turned, and Lientenaut-General Sir Thomas Ponou to cross the
heights on which the eneny's left hail stood, and to tom their left
by the road to Roncesvalles. All the arrangements were made to
attack the front of the enemy's posit Om. as soon as the etfect of
these movements on their timk.,,hould begirt to apoear. Major.
General the Hon Edward Pakenham, whom Iha I sent to take the
command of the sixth division, Mitior-Geheral Park having been •
wounded. turned the -village of Sorausen, as soon as the Earl of
Dalhousie had driven the enemy from the mountain, by wheels that
flank was defended : and the sixth division. mid Major-General
nyng's brigade, which had relieved the fourth division on the left
of our position on the road to Ostizt instantly attacked and carried
that
Lie ntenant-Getrral Sir Lowry Cole likewise attacked the front
of the enemy's main position with the 7th Cacatlores,, supported by
the 11th Portuguese regiment, the 40th, and the battalion miler
Colonel Bingham, consisting of the (.Teen's and 531 regiment. All
these operations obized the enemy to anandon a position which is
one of the strongest and most difficult of access that I have yet
seen occupied by troops.
In their retreat front this position, the enemy lost.a great 11UUl•
ber of prisoners.
I cannot sufficiently applaud the conduct of all the general offi-
cers officers, and troops throughout these operations. Toe attack
made by lieutenant aeneral the Earl of Dallionsie was odinirably
conducted by his Lordship, and executed by Major-General Inglis
and the troops composing his brigade ; anti that by Major-General •
the Hon. Edward Pakenham and Major-General Byng, and that by
Lient.-General Sir Lowry Cole, and the movemenumade !•y Sir
Thomas Pieton, merit my highest commendation.
The latter officer co-olwrated is the attack of the mountain by
detaching troops to his left, in which the Honourable Lieutenant.
Colonel Trench was wounded, but I hope not seriously.
While these operations were goiug on, and in proportion as I
observed their success, I detached troops to the support of Lieut..
General Sir Rowland Hill.
The enemy appeared ilt his frmit late in the morning, and imme-
diately commenced au extensive manoeuvre upon his kit Ralik,
which obliged hint to withdraw from a height which he occupied
behind the Lizasso to the next range. He there, however,• main-
taitied himself, and I enclose his report of the coudnet of the
troops. 1 co:diluted the pursuit of the enemy, atter their retreat
from the mountain to °Lupe, where I was at sumad, immediately
in the rear of their attack upon Lieutenant-Genend Sir Rowland
Hill. They withdrew from his front in the nigki; and yesterday;
took up a strong position, with two divisions, to ettYer their rear,
in the pass of Dona M.via.
Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, and the.F.arl. of Dalhousie,'
attacked and carried the pass, notwithstanding the vigorous resist.!
once of the enemy and the strength of their position. I veil con-
cerned to add, that Lea -General the Hon. Wat. SteVkirt was
%%minded upon this occasion.
I enclose Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill's report.
Li the mean time I moved with 'Major-General Byna's brigade
and the 4th division, under Lieut. General Sir Lowry Cole. I) the
pass of Velate opus irnrif a. ill order to the enemy p sition
on Dona iMaria Major-General {Wag took, in Elizondo, a large
convoy going to the enemy. atria tunic many prisoners.
We hare this day continued the pursuit of the etiony hi the rd.
ley of the Bidassoa, anti mitoy prisoners and much hagea •e have
ij been taken. alajor-Cience„l bis possessed himself of the
'1 valley of Bastan, and of the portion on the Peertil de ; atid
the army will be this night nearly in the smile positioos Wry
occupied on the•
trust that 11. R H. the Prince Recent
the zutitiuct of the troopa of his Majesty

will he siti•fied with
ud of his Attic* ou this A
immiumni