horsed, and so perfect was the training of the officers. It was not
until mid-day that the enemy became discouraged at finding that they
were unable to make any serious impression on our position; they then
retired in good order, Sir Rowland Hill not daring to follow them.

Lord Wellington arrived just in time to witness the end of the battle;
and while going over the field with Sir Rowland Hill, he remarked that
he had never seen so many men hors de combat in so small a space.

I must not omit to mention a circumstance which occurred during this
great fight, alike illustrative of cowardice and of courage. The colonel
of an infantry regiment, who shall be nameless, being hard pressed,
showed a disposition not only to run away himself, but to order his
regiment to retire. In fact, a retrograde movement had commenced, when
my gallant and dear friend Lord Charles Spencer, aide-de-camp to Sir
William Stewart, dashed forward, and, seizing the colours of the regiment,
exclaimed, "If your colonel will not lead you, follow me, my boys."
The gallantry of this youth, then only eighteen years of age, so animated
the regiment, and restored their confidence, that they rallied and shared
in the glory of the day.


THE PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR


Immediately after the battle of Nivelle, Lord Wellington determined
to advance his whole line on to French ground. The right, under his
own command, pushed on towards Orthes, whilst the left, under the command
of Sir John Hope, proceeded in the direction of Bayonne. We (the Guards)
were incorporated in the latter corps d'armee.