HLI Chronicle 1914 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

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HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE. 83guns. 'His 4th Division made themselvesmasters of St. Boes after severe fighting, butthey could get no further, the exits from thevillage and the neck beyond being sweptby a devastating artillery fire from aboutthe Dax road, and there being no elbow-roomfor the force to deploy. Moreover, the enemyafter a time assumed the offensive at thispoint. By a determined counter-attack theyrecaptured St. Boes and thrust back the 4thDivision, while holding the 7th Division incheck as this tried to work round the villagefrom the north.A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.Then, just at the critical juncture whenthe Allies were finding themselves in mostserious difficulties away to the north-west,their centre also met with a decided rebuff.For as the left of the 6th Division was workingup the slopes to its front through difficultground it was suddenly assailed by hostileinfantry pressing forward with rare determinationand vigour, was hustled back unceremoniouslyinto the low ground, and fell forthe time being into disconcerting confusion.D'Erlon in the enemy's centre at once procededto push this important advantage home,Reille was busy urging forward his reservesto complete the discomfiture of Beresford'shard-pressed men, and it is said that Soult,who was overlooking the field from highground in the centre of his position, smotehis thigh and exclaimed in exultation "Atlast I have him!" The very completenessof these successes, however, proved to be theundoing of the Marshal's forces, for theirimmediate effect was to attract Reille andD'Erlon in different directions, to cause theirrespective contingents, as it were, to diverge,and to leave an empty space between them.Wellington, who was surveying the scenefrom the Roman Camp, and who had the LightDivision available under his hand, took instantnote of what had happened within his antagonist'sposition. His unerring glancedetected the gap, and he seized the opportunitywithout a moment's hesitation. The 52nd,under Colborne, had already been pushed outsome little way in echelon to the right frontof the Light Division. They were orderedto advance, with instructions to make theirway through the marsh to their left front,and to assail Reille's left as this pressed forwardtowards St. Boes; Beresford wasenjoined to resume the offensive with allpossible vigour; and the 3rd and 6th Divisionswere directed to drive home their attack uponthe position in front of them in full force.The effect was startling in the sudden transformationthat it produced. Colborne's menwere to a great extent concealed from Reille'stroops owing to the lie of the ground; theystruggled through the morass and mountedthe steep declivity beyond without meetingany serious opposition, and their furiousonset on reaching the top was rendered allthe more effective owing to its coming uponthe enemy as a complete surprise. Thevehement rush against Reille's flank, coupledwith the determined advance of Beresford'stwo Divisions, threw the entire French rightwing into disorder, and it was rolled up anddriven back pell-mell across the western mostDax road. Almost at the same momentthe resolute attack of the 3rd and 6th Divisionsproved successful in the centre; theygained the high ground after a briefbut desperate encounter, and managed toget up some guns. And, just as Soult perceived that the fight was going against himafter all, he became aware that Hill was overthe Gave de Pau, had already cut off allprospect of a retreat, eastwards, and wasthreatening the St. Severs road. Reille'soverthrow had already uncovered the routesleading northwards towards Dax, D'Erlon'smen were giving way at all points, ,and theMarshal promptly recognised that the onlychance of escape from annihilation lay inwithdra wing his army by the line of the highground which stretched away north-eastwardsfrom the field of battle parallel to this St.Severs road.RETREAT IN CONFUSION.The high ground extends for four or fivemiles, and from its nature it offered a successionof not unfavourable positions for the operationsof a well-handled rearguard. ' But aboutseven miles from Orthes there is a considerablestream, only readily passable by formed troopsat the bridge over it on the St. Severs road,and Hill was already pushing northwl!-rds ashard as his men could march. In spite of theuproar and commotion Soult contrived toorganise an adequate force, composed ofreserve troops which had not yet been seriouslyengaged, to check the pursuit of Picton's andBeresford's troops, while the remainder of hisarmy hurried away in fair order over the highground, heading for the defile that had to bepassed. His rearguard performed yeomanservice, although it has been hinted that pursuitwould have been pressed more vigorouslyhad Wellington not received a wound just
84 HJGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY CHIWNICLE.ensuing weeks; six pieces of artillery werealso ahandoned to t he foe. The issue of t,heencoLlnter ulllloubtedly at une time trembled inthe ]J fl.lanec, and it was only dec ided by tlwhrilliant w ldiership of the (;ommander uf thesiue thn,t cOlllluered. The uverthrow of Soult'~forces was t he direct rc:mlt of the suddenconnter-strok e del i vered h ~r the 52nd, anincirlent uf war almost as dl:a)llatic in its wa\'as was K ellermallll's famous charge n,t )[arcngo.His happy use of the distinguish ed regiment oflight infa,ntry un t his uccasion was in somerespects a more signal example f tacticalinspirat,ioll on ,Vellington 's pa.rt t hn n allYexploit of 11 is dlll'ing his illu ~triuus career as ILabout the t.ime that the tide of battle turned.But the sight of Rill's troops stepping outjauntily in a parallel column together withsoniC "ood work put in by the allif'd cavalry,who (;am e sweeping round the flanks anddisposing of stragglers, had the effect ofprecipitating the retreat of the FrellGh to snehan extent that they only passed the allimportantIn'idge in considerable confusion.Some det.::lI.:hJuents were cut oft and compelledto sUlTender. Still the het remains that t hebeatell a.rmy got away, and t he experienees oft ha t February aftel'lloon coin ·ide with thosen,ttendillg :most events of a imila.r kind. Theinfantry of a va nquished force can ,\lways outpacetllat of its ouqueror
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HLI Chronicle 1914 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

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