THE BATTLE OF THE NIVELLE


We expected to remain quietly in our winter quarters at St. Jean de
Luz; but, to our surprise, early one morning, we were aroused from sleep
by the beating of the drum calling us to arms. We were soon in marching
order. It appeared that our outposts had been severely pushed by the
French, and we were called upon to support our companions in arms.

The whole of the British army, as well as the division of the Guards,
had commenced a forward movement. Soult, seeing this, entirely changed
his tactics, and from that time, viz. the 9th of December, a series
of engagements took place. The fighting on the 9th was comparatively
insignificant. When we were attacked on the 10th, the Guards held the
mayor's house, and the grounds and orchards attached: this was an important
station.

Large bodies of the enemy's infantry approached, and, after desultory
fighting, succeeded in penetrating our position, when many hand-to-
hand combats ensued. Towards the afternoon, officers and men having
displayed great gallantry, we drove the enemy from the ground which
they courageously disputed with us, and from which they eventually retreated
to Bayonne. Every day there was constant fighting along the whole of
our line, which extended from the sea to the lower Pyrenees - a distance
probably not less than thirty miles.

On the 1lth, we only exchanged a few shots, but on the 12th Soult brought
into action from fifteen to twenty thousand men, and attacked our left
with a view of breaking our line. One of the most remarkable incidents
of the 12th was the fact of an English battalion being surrounded by