170 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1813. 



lumn under the earl of Dalhousie 

 arrived at Mendonza, and the 3rd 

 division, under lieutenant-general 

 sir Thomas Picton, crossed at the 

 bridge higher up, followed by the 

 7th division, under the earl of 

 Dalhousie. These four divisions, 

 forming the centre of the army, 

 were destined to attack the heights 

 on which the right of the enemy's 

 centre was placed, while lieut.- 

 general sir Rowland Hill should 

 move forward from Sabijana de 

 Alava to attack the left. The ene- 

 my, however, having weakened 

 his line to strengthen his detach- 

 ment in the hills, abandoned his 

 position in the valley as soon as he 

 saw our disposition to attack it, 

 and commenced his retreat in good 

 order towards Vittoria. Our troops 

 continued to advance in admirable 

 order, notwithstanding the diffi- 

 culty of the ground. In the mean 

 time, lieut.-general sir Thomas 

 Graham, who commanded the left 

 of the army, consistingof the 1st 

 and 5th divisions, and general 

 Pack's and Bradford's brigades of 

 infantry, and generals Bock's and 

 Anson's brigades of cavalry, and 

 who had been moved on the 20th 

 to Margina, moved forward from 

 thence on Vittoria, by the high 

 road from that town to Bilboa. He 

 had besides with him the Spanish 

 division under colonel Longa; 

 and general Giron, who had been 

 detached to the left under a different 

 view of the state of affairs, and had 

 afterwards been recalled, and had 

 arrived on the 20th at Orduna, 

 marched that mornii.g from thence, 

 so as to be in the field in readiness 

 to support lieutenant-general sir 

 T. Graham, if his support had been 

 required. The enemy had a divi- 

 sion of infantry aud some cavalry 



advanced on the great road fronl 

 Vittoria to Bilboa, resting their 

 right on some strong heights cover- 

 ing the village of Garaarra Major- 

 Both Gamarra and Abechuco 

 were strongly occupied, as tetes- 

 de-pont to the bridges over the 

 Zadora at these places. Brigadier 

 general Pack, with his Portuguese 

 brigade, and colonel Longa, with 

 the Spanish division, were directed 

 to turn and gain the heights, sup- 

 ported by major-general Anson's 

 brigade of light dragoons, and the 

 5th division of infantry, under the 

 command of major-general Os- 

 wald, who was desired to take the 

 command of all these troops. 

 Lieutenant-general sir T. Graham 

 reports, that in the execution of 

 this service, the Portuguese and 

 Spanish troops behaved admirably. 

 The 4th and 8th ca^adores parti- 

 cularly distinguished themselves. 

 Col. Longa being on the left, took 

 possession of Gamarra Menor. As 

 soon as the heights were in our 

 possession, the village of Garaarra 

 Major was most gallantly stormed 

 and carried by brigadier-general 

 Robinson's brigade of the 5th di- 

 vision, which advanced in columns 

 of battalions, under a very heavy 

 fire of artillery and musketry, 

 without firing a shot, assisted by 

 two guns of major Lawson's bri- 

 gade of artillery. The enemy suf- 

 fered severely, and lost three pieces 

 of cannon. The lieut.-general 

 then proceeded to attack the vil- 

 lage of Abechuco, with the first 

 division, by forming a strong bat- 

 tery against it, consisting of capt. 

 Dubourdieu's brigade, and capt. 

 Ramsay's troop of horse artillery, 

 and, under cover of this fire, col. 

 Halkett's brigade advanced to the 

 attack of tlie village, which was 



