Chapter XIX

Sir Rowland Hill passes the Nive. Battles of the Nive. The French
are beaten in every attempt against us. We dance-in the New-year
of 1814 at Arcanguez. Reflections on the past and present
situations of the two armies. Soult manœuvres near Dax. We take
the field for a few days in very inclement weather. Return to
cantonments. Heavy fall of snow in the Pyrenees. Capital
woodcock shooting. The army moves to its right. Our battalion
marches to St. Jean de Luz for its new clothing. Sir John Hope
blockades Bayonne. He passes the Adour. The Guards repulse a
sortie from the garrison. We march from St. Jean de Luz to
rejoin the army. Orthes. Handsome peasantry. We rejoin the Light
Division. Soult makes demonstrations against Sir Rowland Hill’s
corps. The 15th Hussars attack a French cavalry post and take
some prisoners. The 7th Division is detached to Bourdeaux. Lord
Wellington marches on Tarbes. Affair near Vic Bigorre. Action
near Tarbes. The French retreat towards Toulouse. We follow
them. A pontoon-bridge is established below Toulouse. The army
crosses. 351

CHAPTER XX.

Battle of Toulouse. The French retreat to Carcassone. The allied
army enters Toulouse. Despatches reach Lord Wellington from
Paris relative to Bonaparte’s abdication, and his departure for
Elba. He transmits this information to Soult, who declines a
cessation of hostilities. We march from Toulouse towards
Carcassone. Count Gazan meets us with a flag of truce. Soult
acknowledges the new order of things. Hostilities cease. The
dismay of fire-eaters at the termination of the war in the
Peninsula and south of France. Sortie of the French garrison
from Bayonne. Some regiments embark at Bourdeaux for America.
Five weeks at Castel Sarrazin. Soult’s army reviewed at
Montauban by the Duke d’Angoulême. We march to Bourdeaux. Take
leave of our Portuguese allies. The parting. Arrive at
Bourdeaux. Lord Wellington reviews the 43d, 52d, and 95th
regiments. We embark for England. 363

CHAPTER XXI.

CAMPAIGN OF 1815 IN FLANDERS.

Embark for Ostend. Proceed to Brussels. We are appointed to Sir
Thomas Picton’s division. Battle of Quatre Bras. Ligny.
Predictions and foretellings _after_ things have occurred, no
uncommon practice. Fire-side tacticians and critics. The army
falls back from Quatre Bras to Waterloo. The cavalry are
engaged. 372

CHAPTER XXII.

Sketch of the battle of Waterloo, but more particularly of the
operations of Sir Thomas Picton’s division. Death of Sir Thomas
Picton. The 27th regiment. Advance of the Prussians. General
attack on the French position, and their total defeat and route.
The morning after the battle. 383

CHAPTER XXIII.

March to Paris. Cambray is taken by escalade. Letters from
Highlanders to their friends in the North. Half a dozen lines
only relative to Paris. Another half dozen as to the three years
spent by the army of occupation in the north of France. On the
distribution of medals. The army evacuates France, and is
dispersed all over the globe. Reflections on this breaking up of
old friends and comrades. A campaign amongst the Glasgow
radicals. Proceed to Ireland. Guarding jails, hunting stills and
White Boys. A few words at parting with my military friends. 396

ROUGH SKETCHES

OF THE

LIFE OF AN OLD SOLDIER.

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