Head-quarters, St. Jean de Luz,
Tuesday, February 22, 1814.
My dear M——,
As the movements going on give me now a little more leisure, and it is impossible to say how soon my opportunities of writing may be arrested by a march, I begin my weekly despatch early this week. Lord Wellington, when he returned from driving the French across the Gave, found his expedition here could not leave port owing to bad wind and tide, though all was ready. He therefore instantly set about new arrangements, so as to be independent in a great measure of the result of this grand bridge.
All the divisions of the army consequently moved towards the right yesterday, except the Guards and the rest of the first division, which remain in our front backed by a corps of Spaniards at Guethary and Bidart, in advance of St. Jean de Luz, through which place, however, they did not march. To superintend this movement Lord Wellington was off again yesterday for Garris, near to St. Palais, with most of the head-quarters’ staff, Adjutant-general Pakenham remaining here on account of a slight illness.
The last move left us in front of the Gave, the French still strong in Sauveterre and on a ridge of hills and strong ground running between the two Gaves d’Oleron and Pau. The plan is now, it is concluded, to drive them across both Gaves, and then make good our way round to the other side of the Adour and the citadel of Bayonne. In the meantime, as the plan here is still expected to take effect to-morrow morning early, we are all alive; the little bay full of shipping and small ships of war, which cruise backward and forwards, or anchor there, with carpenters, sappers, soldiers, &c., on board, and all the flotilla ready in Sacoa, and the Admiral superintending.
Head-quarters are come home delighted with the country on the Gaves, and with their reception. The people in many instances come in numbers to meet our troops instead of offering resistance. The prisoners also many of them say they are ready to serve son Altesse Royale, but this is rather too soon to begin, it is thought, for this may be only to escape and return to their old army.
One young man, who was of the country, ran into his father’s house as they were marching by, and all the family were found around him. He was separated and marched off; but the story has been told at head-quarters, and General Pakenham has sent for the man back (who was on his way to Passages), and means to send him home to his friends.
I was talking to General Pakenham yesterday about forming a French royalist corps out of the prisoners and deserters. It must be done very cautiously of course at first, but it would in my opinion have a good effect and soon increase. At present the idea that all deserters must be sent away from their own country to England deters many from deserting, who would otherwise be willing. This object would also do away with the disgraceful ideas naturally attached to desertion in a soldier’s mind.
Reports say that Lord Wellington had a narrow escape with his staff, whilst reconnoitring on the right in the late move. He is said to have been going up a hill when a French cavalry regiment was coming up on the other side. The engineer officer was going round and saw the regiment; upon which he galloped back to give information, but before he could reach Lord Wellington they were just close to the top of the hill, and Colonel Gordon, who was in the advance, saw some of the French videttes close. He gave the alarm, but they all had a gallop for it, pursued by some of the dragoons.
Though the English horses were most of them well tired, they were soon out of reach of the French, and all escaped. Lord Wellington relies almost too confidently on the fleetness and excellence of his animals, when we consider what the loss would be if he were caught; he is, however, now rather more cautious.