178 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1813. 



CliaussSe, and fired with effect 

 against several formed bodies of the 

 enemy in the plain near the town ; 

 while the column, consisting of Ger- 

 man light battalions, the brigade of 

 guards, and a Spanish division of 

 general Giron's, continued to ad- 

 vance by the Chaussee. 



Two Spanish battalions, and one 

 Portuguese, forming a separate 

 column on the left of the Chaussee, 

 passed quickly on the left of the 

 town. 



General Bradford and the line 

 battalions of the Germans driving 

 in the enemy on their front, by 

 the Pampeluna road, and colonel 

 Longa from the side of the moun- 

 tains still more on the right, turn- 

 ing and forcing from very strong 

 positions, all the posted bodies of 

 the enemy on the right of the 

 town. 



Still the enemy held possession 

 of the town, which was much 

 more capable of defence than had 

 been represented. 



The Vittoria gate was barrica- 

 doed, and also the Pampeluna gate 

 on the bridge; and both were 

 flanked by convents and other 

 large buildings occupied by the 

 enemy, and the town was no where 

 open. A nine-pounder was there- 

 fore brought up under cover of the 

 fire of the light battalion, close to 

 the gate, which was thus burst 

 open. 



It was now dark, and it was im- 

 possible to distirguish the troops 

 of the different nations engaged, 

 which gave the enemy, now flying 

 from every point, an opportunity of 

 escaping with much less loss than 

 he must have suffered, had we had 

 day-light. 



The conduct of all the troops 

 concerned in this attack was highly 



creditable, that of the line batta- 

 lions on the Pampeluna road, and 

 of the light battalions at the Vit- 

 toria gate, was such as was to be 

 expected from these distinguished 

 corps; and the column of the left 

 did equal honour to the Spanish 

 and Portuguese arms. 



Colonel Longa's corps, after a 

 repetition of long and severe 

 marches, undertook and executed, 

 with the greatest spirit, the fatigue- 

 ing duty of this day, and behaved 

 in the most gallant manner. The 

 battalions sent from Arpeyton by 

 lieut.-general Mendizabel repuls- 

 ed, with great steadiness, an at- 

 tack of the enemy, and after- 

 wards pursued him down from the 

 mountains, taking a good many 

 prisoners. 



I have not got the return, but I 

 believe about two hundred prison- 

 ers were taken by the two Spanish 

 corps, and many wounded meri 

 were left here. The enemy's loss 

 in killed, too, must have been con- 

 siderable. 



This place has, besides the de- 

 fences at the gates, new towers to 

 flank the exterior wall, and a 

 strong wood block-house in the 

 square, which shows the import- 

 ance the enemy attached to its oc- 

 cupation. 



It would be unjust to the troops 

 employed in this assault, not to 

 mention their exemplary conduct 

 when in possession ; there was no 

 excess committed. The German 

 legion and colonel Longa's corps 

 passed on, and formed immediately 

 beyond the town. 



1 have the honour to enclose a 

 return of the killed and wounded 

 of the British and Portuguese in 

 these two days, which, considering 

 the nature of the service, could not I 



