THE CENTRE OF HILL'S POSITION FROM THE BAYONNE SIDE, SHOWING THE ROAD DOWN WHICH THE 92ND CHARGED, AND THE COPPICE WOOD DEFENDED BY THE 50TH AND PORTUGUESE.

It was now noon.

generals restored their lines of battle. Soult had still Foy's and Maransin's Divisions with which to renew the fight. The ranks of the Allies were wasted with fire, nearly all the staff had been killed or wounded, and three generals had been obliged by wounds to quit the field. In this crisis Hill drew the 57th from Byng's position to reinforce his centre; at the same time, the bridge at Villefranque having been restored, the Sixth Division appeared on the mount from which Hill had descended to rally the 71st. It was followed by the Fourth Division, and that by the brigades of the Third Division; with the Sixth came Wellington, who had hurried from Barrouilhet when the first sound of cannon reached him, but only arrived to witness the close of the battle. Taking in the situation at a glance, he grasped Sir Rowland's hand, exclaiming, "The day is your own." Hill's day of glory was indeed complete; he had played the part of both general and soldier, rallying the 71st and leading the Reserve, "trusting," says Napier, "meanwhile, with a noble and well-placed confidence to the courage of the 92nd and 50th to sustain the fight at St Pierre. He knew, indeed, that the Sixth Division was close at hand, and that the battle might be fought over again; but, like a thorough soldier, he resolved to win his own fight with his own troops if he could. He did so after a manner that in less eventful times would have rendered him the hero of a nation."

Colonel Cameron, in a letter dated 14th January 1814, says " General Barnes' Brigade fought without support for eight hours. Five companies of the 92nd, with General Barnes and myself at their head, charged three different columns of the enemy in succession; no sooner had we driven one before us than they were relieved by a fresh one.'

Napier, in speaking of Colonel Cameron and his regiment at the critical moment when they were forced back to St Pierre, says "How desperately did the 50th and Portuguese fight to give time for the 92nd to rally and re-form behind St. Pierre; how gloriously did that regiment come forth again to charge, with their colours flying and their national music playing as if going to a review. This was to understand war. *Cannon's Record mentions four distinct charges with the bayonet.

The man who in that moment and immediately after a repulse thought of such military pomp was by nature a soldier."

Wellington in his dispatch, writing of the First Brigade, says, "They were particularly engaged with the enemy at that point, and these troops conducted themselves admirably." Next evening Captain Kincaid heard him say that "it was the most glorious affair he had ever seen."

General Sir R. Hill says in Orders, "Headquarters near Petite Mouguerre, 14th December 1813.-The Second Division has greatly distinguished themselves, and its gallantry in yesterday's action is avowed by the Commander of the Forces and the allied army."

Lieut.-general the Hon. Sir W. Stewart, K.B., in his report of the action states, "Several brilliant charges were made by the Portuguese and British, more particularly by the 92nd Highlanders and 18th Portuguese Regiment, gallantly directed by Major-general Barnes."*

In a letter from Sir R. Hill, dated January 8th, 1814, to Sir John Sinclair, President of the Highland Society,† acknowledging the receipt of the report of the competition of Highland pipers held at Edinburgh, for the information of the 71st and 92nd Regiments, he continues-" In justice to these dis

* Sir William mentions four names as distinguished among the regimental officers of the British infantry engaged. Lieut. -Colonel Cameron, 92nd Highlanders; Lieut. -Colonel Leith, 31st Regiment; Major W. A. Gordon, 50th Regiment (commanding the light troops of the First Brigade), and Captain Cameron, 3rd Buffs (commanding the light troops of the Third Brigade). Major Gordon had served in the 92nd in Holland, etc. Captain Cameron had been promoted from the ranks of the 92nd.

+ Now the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. Colonel Cameron gave great encouragement to the regimental pipers, some of whom were among the best in the Highlands, and were successful at various times in the competitions held by the Highland Society of Scotland, in the Theatre or Music Hall, Edinburgh, where the competitors were the most celebrated performers, some coming many days' journey from the distant Highlands,1 before such competitions were common in Scotland. He particularly encouraged the specially Highland airs, and the high class music (Ceol Mor). To this may probably be attributed the fact that all pipers in the Gordon Highlanders are still taught to play "Piobaireachd," and that this ancient and characteristically Highland class of pipe music is still played every day under the windows of the officers' quarters before dinner, according to the custom of the old Highland gentry.

1 Carr's "Caledonian Sketches," and an old officer 92nd.

tinguished corps, it affords me the highest satisfaction to state that they have on all occasions imitated the example of their warlike ancestors. The conduct of the officers and men throughout these campaigns has been so uniformly good as to render it almost unnecessary for me to select particular individuals for praise. Lieut.-colonel Cameron of the 92nd does, however, demand that distinction. During the greater part of the battle of Vittoria he commanded my First Brigade, and also at Maya and other severe operations in the Pyrenees. I am also much indebted to him for leading the gallant 92nd in several successful charges against very superior numbers in the battle of the 13th of last month near Bayonne."

Extract from letter to Colonel Cameron, dated Edinburgh, 24th February 1814, signed R. M'Donald, Secretary of the Highland Society of Scotland-" The Directors cannot refrain from expressing their admiration of the conduct of the 92nd."

Cameron had just received General Barnes' message to fall back on St Pierre, which he was gradually doing, when his horse was killed, and he fell under it. He was close to the French, and in the press was not at first observed, till his orderly corporal ran back to his aid, calling out that the colonel was killed. He was helping him to struggle out from under the horse, when a Frenchman laid hold of the corporal by the neck; a private ran up and shot him dead, but was himself killed immediately after. "The corporal, however, with extraordinary gallantry," persisted in taking his colonel's cloak and saddle with him, exclaiming as he rejoined his comrades, "Fagaidh sinn a chlosach aca, ach cha n'faigh iad an diollaid anns an do shuid fear an Fhasaidh fhearne" (we will leave them the carcase, but they shan't have the saddle on which Fassifern sat.") *

Alison writes: "This battle, one of the most bloody and hard-fought on both sides which had occurred in the whole course of the Peninsular War, cost the British 2500 and the French 3000 men." Napier says-" Nor can the vigour of the combatants be denied where 5000 men were killed and

* This incident is still told in Lochaber, where the credit is given to Private Ewen ban M'Millan, Cameron's servant, but the colonel's letter only mentions the corporal.