The royal authority was subsequently granted for the word “Vittoria” to be borne on the regimental colour and appointments of the Eighty-seventh, in commemoration of the gallantry of the second battalion in this battle.
Volunteer O’Grady, and Serjeant-Major Wallace, were promoted for their good conduct; and Lieutenant and Adjutant Moore had two horses shot under him in this battle.
The army pursued the French, who, after throwing in reinforcements into the fortress of Pampeluna, continued their retreat. Being reinforced, and Marshal Soult, who had been selected by Napoleon for the command of the French army in Spain, with the rank of “Lieutenant of the Emperor,” having arrived, they forced the British to retire on a position in the Spanish range of the Pyrenees; when the brigade, in which the Eighty-seventh was placed, held the right of the position from the 27th of July to the 1st of August, during which the enemy twice made demonstrations of attack. The French being defeated on the 1st of August, retreated and took up and fortified a position in their own territories; the British pursued through the famous pass of Roncesvalles, and on the 8th of August 1813, first came in view of France, and entered its territories on the 10th of November, having during the intermediate period being engaged in skirmishes, in which a few were killed and wounded.
On the 10th of November the British troops were engaged at the Nivelle, from five o’clock in the morning until dark, meeting with a most obstinate resistance in an entrenched camp. The gallantry of the allies, however, drove the French to Saint Jean de Luz. The Eighty-seventh on this occasion called forth from Major-General the Honorable Charles Colville, who commanded the division, and Colonel John Keane (afterwards Lieut.-General Lord Keane), who commanded the brigade, the most animated praises. One ensign, six serjeants, one drummer, and sixty-eight rank and file, were killed; one lieut.-colonel, four lieutenants, eleven serjeants, one drummer, and one hundred and twenty-three rank and file, wounded. Total, two hundred and sixteen. The strength of the battalion in the field was three hundred and eighty-six.
| Killed. | |
| Ensign— | Hilliard. |
| Wounded. | |
| Brevet Lieut.-Colonel—Hugh Gough. | |
| Lieutenant— | John Kelly, leg amputated. |
| ” | Joseph Leslie. |
| ” | James Kenelly. |
| Ensign— | Henry Bailey. |
The word “Nivelle,” borne on the regimental colour and appointments, by royal authority, is commemorative of the gallantry of the second battalion of the Eighty-seventh on this occasion.
During the remaining part of the year, the regiment was frequently engaged with the enemy in skirmishes.
Private Robert Smith, of the Grenadiers, was, at the request of Sir Charles Colville, promoted to be serjeant for his gallantry.
Volunteers Bourne and Bagenall, who were attached to the light company, were both severely wounded, and promoted to be ensigns for their gallant conduct. Serjeant Prideaux, of the light company, also distinguished himself.