Bayonne and Toulouse 1813-14 by Nick Lipscombe

Author:Nick Lipscombe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bayonne and Toulouse 1813–14: Wellington invades France
ISBN: 9781472802798
Publisher: Osprey Publishing

The second phase of Allied attacks against Clausel’s men was, once again, delivered with overwhelming force. At about 10.00am the 3rd Division closed on the Nivelle and engaged the works protecting the bridge at Amotz and the Madeleine redoubt; to their left the 4th and 7th Divisions attacked the Louis XIV redoubt while Giron’s Andalusians attacked the Signal’s redoubt. The Light Division, supported by Bradford’s brigade, moved on Taupin’s fresh troops holding the formidable heights of St Ignace. The 3rd Division’s attacks were almost immediately successful. They captured the works and the bridge of Amotz, enabling Power’s Portuguese brigade to cross the river and link-up with elements of Hill’s corps to the east. The fight for the Madeleine redoubt was a more noteworthy struggle with the 87th Regiment suffering considerably in their attempts to storm the strongpoint. Clausel sent reinforcements from Maransin (59e Ligne) and his reserve artillery to assist Conroux’s soldiers in their fight.

The 4th and 7th Divisions, along with elements of Giron’s right column, moved at much the same time against the Louis XIV redoubt. The redoubt had no guns, but Clausel had relocated two batteries from the divisions off to a flank and these guns now wreaked havoc among the advancing, unsupported infantry. The leading light troops managed to dislodge the 130e Ligne from the hill to the west (called ‘Brown Hill’ in Wellington’s orders) but the two and a half divisions had to advance simultaneously across the frontage to overwhelm the defensive fire. Sergeant John Spencer Cooper was with the 7th Fusiliers (4th Division) and subsequently recalled that ‘the tide of war was rolling furiously onward and the advance of our troops from hedge to hedge was really brilliant’. Eventually Ross’s guns arrived to provide fire support and the redoubt was finally carried.

As this fight concluded, the Light Division closed in on their third objective – the hill and redoubts on St Ignace. These were manned by the 9e Léger and 26e Ligne in the breastworks, and the two battalions of the 70e Ligne in the redoubts themselves. The 47e Ligne had been moved earlier to support the left of the French line and the 88e Ligne was in the Signal’s redoubt. Colborne’s brigade led the assault, which, by the very nature of the ground and the well-sited French artillery, was a very slow and laborious process. However, as the light troops closed on the redoubts, the soldiers of the 70e, with rumours that both their flanks were turned, abandoned the strong points without a fight. Taupin tried to rally his men on the Signal’s redoubt but at the sight of the Light Division moving purposefully towards their position, supported by Giron’s Spaniards and by elements of the 4th Division, they could not be made to stand. In desperation Clausel ordered the 88e to stand to the last man; at much the same time the order was given to Colborne to storm the redoubt. The resulting losses in both these fine battalions were reaching critical levels

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