Chapter 46
The Battle of the Nivelle
10th November 1813
See
Battle Plan
There
was now a 20 mile long front along the Nivelle River with
roughly three sectors. In the west, the six mile front
lay along the tidal course of the Nivelle from the port
of St Jean de Luz to Ascain, above which the river became
a mountain stream. This section was very heavily fortified
with redoubts on both the north and south of the river
and Soult had 23,000 men and most of his artillery in
this line with his reserve at Serres. In the centre, from
the bridge at Ascain to the bridge at Amotz the defences
were entirely on the south bank of the Nivelle. The first
line of defence, in the west of the sector lay |
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the Little Rhune with its jagged cliffs and three redoubts
upon it with a star shaped fort called Mouiz adjacent
to it, and to the south of the sector, the strong forts
of St Barbe and St Grenade. In the centre of this sector,
the village of Sare was heavily fortified with a mile
long abattis to the north of it. The second line of defence
in the central sector consisted of the Redoubts of St
Ignace, the Signals Redoubt, Louis XIV Redoubt and Le
Madeleine. Overall there were about 15,000 men in this
sector. On the Eastern sector D’Erlon’s Corps
also had two lines of defence with a series of strong
points and trenches in front of Ainhoue and to the east
as far as Mondarrain (2,500ft) works covered the mountain
tops. The second line, in the eastern sector consisted
of a formidable range of entrenched hill sides from the
bridge at Amotz to the Col de Pinodette
called the Harismendia ridge. Along it were six Redoubts
for infantry and several connecting lines of trenches,
all with artillery. These hills were 400 – 700 ft
high and D’Erlon had two |
Divisions occupying the fortifications. Foy lay still
further east of this position, at St Jean Pied du Port
covering Hill’s position up the Roncesvalle pass
at the Lindus and Altobisco Redoubts. But in early November
the Roncesvalle pass became impassable due to snow and
Hill moved down into the Bastan Valley, so Foy was moved
closer to D’Erlon at Bidarray in response. Wellington’s
strategy of attack in early November was to make a false
attack on the western seaward sector and on the far eastern
sector whilst pouring overwhelming forces against the
centre between the Little Rhune and Ainhoue. The sixteen
mile attacking front had Hill on the right commanding
the 2nd and 6th Divisions, Hamilton’s Portuguese
(including Buchan’s brigade of the 2nd regiment
commanded by John Gomersall & 14th Portuguese). In
the centre Beresford had charge of the Light, 3rd, 4th
and 7th Divisions, Bradford’s Portuguese and Giron’s
& Longa’s Spaniards. To the west, under Sir
John Hope were the 1st and 5th Divisions, Campbells Independent
Portuguese and Freires Galician Divisions. |
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Before Wellington could
attack he had to bring up Hill’s Divisions from
Roncesvalle into the Bastan Valley but heavy snow delayed
this until 7th November when they managed to join Hamilton’s
Portuguese Division at Maya. The attack in the centre
began on 10th November at 6 am with the Light Division
attacking the Lesser Rhune and was according to Oman “one
of the most astonishing achievements of the Light Division
both for rapidity of execution and desperate daring”.
Meanwhile four columns of 33,000 men advanced on the French
line of 16,000 men between the north slope of the Great
Rhune and the Amotz bridge. The outlying Redoubts of Ste
Barbe and Grenade were carried in the first rush and by
8 am the French were desperately trying to defend themselves
from the Redoubts behind the fortified village of Sare.
Meanwhile the 3rd Division attacked the mile long abattis
blocking the lower ground by the Nivelle, which after
several attacks was finally taken, together with the Madeleine
Redoubt. There remained the redoubts of Louis |
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XIV, Signals and St Ignace. At around 10 am after the
Allies had time to re-group the 3rd Divisions attacked
and took the defensive works around the Amotz Bridge.
The 4th and 7th Divisions attacked the Louis XIV Redoubt
whilst the Light Division fresh from their victory on
the Lesser Rhune attacked and took the St Ignace Redoubt.
Later after it lost all support and became completely
isolated the Signals Redoubt surrendered to the Light
Division. Of the 2 Divisions on the French left, one was
holding the 2,000ft Mondarrain heights on the far left
where there were 4 Redoubts and a ruined castle |
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surrounded
by stone breastworks and held by a battalion. This part
of the front was very steep and Wellington just made a
demonstration against it. However separated from it by
the Col de Pinodetta was a ridge rising to 700 ft which
extended as far as the bridge at Amotz. Along the ridge
there were a number of Redoubts, several of them furnished
with artillery, 2 strong ones at each end were the Harismendia
redoubt in the west and the Pinodetta Redoubt in the east,
with 4 more in between, linked by trenches. General Hill’s
Corps, including the 2nd, 6th and Hamilton’s Portuguese
advanced on either side of the Upper Nivelle River. The
6th Division arrived at the Ponsegarray redoubt at the
same time as Hamilton’s Portuguese arrived at the
Foundry of Urdax and eventually the French guarding that
Redoubt and the village at Ainhoue and the Arbonne redoubt
retreated back onto the Harismendia
ridge. The 2nd Division on the east bank of the river
had as its objective the Col de Pinodetta. The 6th Division
drew up in fighting order on the south bank |
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of the river, crossed
without too much difficulty, and then waited for Hamilton
to cross on his right. However, Hamilton was in a more
exposed position and it took him longer. Once both Divisions
were across the river they both attacked up the hill towards
the Harismendia Redoubts, with Clinton leading on the
left at the foot of the hill and Hamilton on the right
having half a mile of open ground to cross. The leading
battalions had a stiff climb through brushwood and occasional
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breastworks
but won their way to the top and found themselves at around
10 am facing the Harismendia Redoubt and the trenches
above the bridge of Amotz. Because the French in the Redoubt
saw that the 3rd Division below them to the right had
already taken the Amotz Bridge, and were pouring across
it, they started to retire and abandon their works. Hamilton’s
Division had climbed the hill about half a mile to the
east of Clinton and when they reached the crest they found
themselves between the Harismendia Redoubt and the next
to its right and directly in front of the winter huts,
made of wood and straw. These were set on fire to delay
Hamilton’s advance but those companies to the right
led by John Gomersall were to windward of the fires and
were able to attack the second Redoubt which they were
able to capture along with six unspiked guns – (see
Hamilton’s dispatch). Meanwhile the 2nd Division
attacked the Pinodetta redoubt on the right of the ridge
and after overcoming some stiff resistance took the remaining
defense
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works. The French
retreated to the area around Cambo.
John Gomersall was mentioned in Wellington’s Supplementary
Dispatches for his conduct in attacking the Harismendia
Redoubts:
“Lieut. Gen. Sir J. Hamilton to Lieut. Gen.
Sir R. Hill ooooooooooooooooooooddddddddddddddddddddddoAinhoue
Sir
In obedience to the orders I received from you, I yesterday
marched an hour after daybreak from our encampment in
front of Urdax with the Portuguese Division of Infantry
and part of Lieutenant Colonel Tulloh’s brigades
of artillery. About 2 miles from Urdax we turned off the
road to the right and advanced against the French foundry
in which the enemy had a small force but who retired on
the advance of the 10th Cacadores commanded by Major Pampeluna
and part of the grenadiers of the 4th Brigade, under Lieutenant
Colonel McNeil of the 10th Regiment. I continued marching
parallel to the 6th Division moving on our left. We crossed
the river at different fords, the 10th Cacadores and part
of the Grenadiers of the 4th Brigade protecting our right
from the Light troops of the enemy, who had advanced in
considerable force. We then assembled and crossed the
ridge of mountains, where we sustained some loss from
the artillery of the enemy, until Lieutenant Colonel Tulloh
opened a well directed fire on them from a commanding
situation. We crossed a deep ravine, ascended and gained
the fortified height at the enemy’s huts between
the two forts at the same period that that on our left
was carried in a very gallant manner by the 6th Division.
The enemy on our gaining the summit of the hill, retired
to the fort on our right, setting fire to their huts,
which burned with such force that for a short time it
retarded our following them: the grenadiers however of
the 2nd Brigade and the Cacadores under Lieutenant Colonel
Gomersall being on our right and to the windward of the
fire of the huts were enabled to follow the enemy to the
fort on our right, near which they made a short stand,
but being pressed by this force drove them from the hill
and carried the fort.
I feel in every respect perfectly satisfied with the conduct
of the Division and have received from Brigadier Campbell
and Brigadier Buchan, commanding brigades and Lieutenant
Colonel Tulloh, commanding the artillery, the most flattering
reports of the good conduct of the officers under their
command, who respectively have recommended the following
officers: Lieutenant Colonel Gomersal, commanding the
2nd Regiment: Major Jacintha of the 14th Regiment: Lietenant
Colonel Hill 4th Regiment: Lieutenant Jose Maria 10th
Regiment: and Major Pampeluna 10th Cacadores.
To the staff of my Division, Major Pinto, Assistant Adjutant
General: Captain Watson Royal Dragoons, Assistant Quartermaster
General, as also my personal staff, Don Gastao de Camera,
I feel very much obliged for their assistance whenever
opportunities have offered. I have had the honour on former
occasions to recommend Captain Watson to your notice,
who has served with me nearly 4 years and who, as the
only British officer attached to me, I beg most strongly
again to call to your attention.
John Hamilton”
The following day Soult’s
army was in full retreat beyond the Nive river, towards
the defensive lines around Bayonne, and along the north
bank of the Nive river. |
Maps
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