THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
399 
the country in front was so difficult and impracticable for artillery, that he 
was astonished when eighteen British guns opened upon the redoubts at 
daylight in the morning. Under the powerful effect of a shower of shot 
poured upon San Barbe, the infantry of the fourth division stormed and 
carried that redoubt. Ross then galloped, he (Sir Howard) begged the 
Committee to remember the term, galloped, to the rising ground in rear of 
the other redoubts, drove the enemy from it, when the British infantry, 
carried it, and the village of Sarre, and advanced to the attack of Clausel's 
main position. Part of it was carried, but Clausel stood firm, covered by 
another redoubt, and a powerful battery. These were speedily silenced by 
Ross' troop of horse artillery, the only battery that had been able to sur¬ 
mount the difficulties of the ground after passing Sarre," &c. 
Another account,— 
“ The result of these splendid operations was the capture of fifty guns, 
fifteen hundred prisoners, and a considerable quantity of stores and 
ammunition. 
“ Though the whole of the allied army conducted itself in a manner 
impossible to be surpassed, no small portion of the success must be 
attributed to the artillery under Colonel Dickson. By the indefatigable 
exertions of that officer, artillery was brought to bear on the enemy's works 
from situations that appeared utterly inaccessible to that arm ."—Annals of 
Peninsular Campaigns . 
A cavalry affair, “ almost bloodless," Usage, May 26, 1811, reported by 
Major-General Lumley,— 
“ A smart cannonade now commenced against superiority of numbers and 
weight of metal, decidedly in favour of the enemy; but the superior skill 
and well-directed aim of Captain Lefevre and his Corps (R.H;A.), with only 
four 6-prs. was most pre-eminently conspicuous. The enemy had thirteen 
regiments of cavalry in the field. I have the peculiar satisfaction to add, 
the advantage gained has been almost bloodless on our part, while on the 
other the enemy suffered visibly from our artillery." 
In the operations on the Nivelle, “the artillery," the Duke says, “which 
was in the field was of great use to us ; and I cannot sufficiently acknowledge 
the intelligence and activity with which it was brought to the point of attack 
under the directions of Colonel Dickson, over the bad roads through the 
mountains in this season of the year," Nov. 13, 1813. 
These operations are some of the most remarkable the artillery have been 
ever engaged in—the whole campaign is worthy of close study. 
A spectator, Colonel Batty of the Grenadier Guards, describing the 
action on the Nivelle. “The foot and horse artillery displayed a facility 
of movement which must have astonished the Trench; the artillerymen 
dragging the guns with ropes up steep precipices, or lowering them down 
to positions from whence they could, with more certain aim pour forth their 
more fatal volleys against the enemy, &c. Lieut. Colonel Ross' troop of horse 
artillery, and Lieut.-Colonel Tulloh's Portuguese brigade of guns had also 
been moved up in aid of the centre, and a most destructive fire was opened 
against the Trench on their advance; the havoc caused by their fire on the 
great road was terrific," &c. 
