ACHIEVEMENTS OF FIELD ARTILLERY. 
563 
Without attempting a full account of this great battle, or of the 
events which led up to it, we may tell how the French, under Joseph 
Buonaparte, retreating from Burgos before Wellington, found them¬ 
selves on the 21st of June, 1813, in the low lying ground which forms 
a sort of basin in front of Vittoria, with immense convoys of baggage, 
warlike stores, treasure, and works of art, the spoil of Spain, and with 
but one road fit for the retreat of an army so encumbered as was theirs 
in their rear, and with their right menaced by a part of the allied forces 
under Sir Thomas Graham. 
Wellington determined to assail the enemy in three different attacks. 
Sir Thomas Graham with 20,000 men and 18 guns was to attack their 
right and endeavour to cross the Zadora at Gamara Mayor and Ariaga, 
and thus cut their line of retreat. 
Hill, with 20,000 men, was to cross the river at Puebla and threaten 
the enemy’s left, and Wellington himself, with 30,000 men and the 
great mass of the guns, was to attack the enemy’s centre by the bridges 
of Mendoza, Tres Puentes, Villodas, and Nanclares. 
BATTLE OF VITTORIA.—21st June, 1813. 
At 1 o’clock Hill had gained the village of Subijana in front of the 
enemy’s left, and the smoke of Graham’s guns seen up the valley of the 
river showed that he too had launched his men to the attack. The 
Allied centre attack had reached the various bridges it was to cross by, 
and was engaged with the enemy in desultory combats, waiting till the 
moment for a decisive advance was ripe. 
The King, anxious for the safety of his line* of retreat, now com- 
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