In the campaign of 1813, the four companies of the Queen's were frequently engaged, and showed the same spirit of valour and discipline for which the regiment had been distinguished on former occasions. In consideration of the services rendered by this portion of the regiment at the battle of Vittoria on the 21st of June of this year, and of its uniform good conduct in the series of actions which took place in the Pyrenees between the 26th of July and the 2nd of August following, his Majesty has graciously approved of the words Vittoria and Pyrenees, being borne by the regiment, in addition to its other honourable badges of merit and royal favour.

In reporting the above brilliant affairs, in which the army of the allies, commanded by the Duke of Wellington, was eminently successful in driving the French force under Marshal Soult from their strong holds, his Grace observes, 'In the course of this contest (28th July) the Fourth Division, which has so frequently been distinguished in this army, surpassed its former good conduct.' In the action fought two days subsequently, when Marshal Soult's army was posted in a position so formidable, that the Duke of Wellington, in his dispatches, characterises it as one of the strongest, and most difficult of access, he had ever yet seen occupied by troops, the steep hill, crowned with French soldiers, was boldly ascended, and the front of the enemy's main position was fearlessly attacked by a part of Sir Lowry Cole's Division; on which occasion the Battalion, comprising the Queen's and Fifty-third Regiments, is mentioned as having been led by Colonel Bingham.

In conjunction with this operation, the Third Division, under Sir Thomas Picton, having advanced on the enemy's left, the French fled in great confusion, leaving 4000 of their infantry unsupported in the valley, one half of whom were obliged to surrender at discretion. Thus were the attempts of the French Marshal to relieve Pampeluna frustrated, and his army doomed to suffer defeat and severe loss in defiance of extraordinary exertions, which gave them sanguine expectation of success. In these affairs several men of the Queen's were killed, and Lieutenant Hutton and a great number wounded.

On the 2nd of August, the Fourth Division advanced to the Puerto de Echalar, and afterwards moved to Lezaca to cover the head-quarters. At the latter place the Duke of Wellington remained stationary with his army in position to cover the siege of St. Sebastian, at this time pushed with great vigour by a portion of the allied army under Sir Thomas Graham.

No movement of consequence was made until the 31st of August, when the French crossed the Bidassoa in considerable force. With great fury they made repeated attacks on the Spanish position on the heights of San Marcial. The First and Fourth Divisions were, in consequence, moved forward to protect the flanks of the Spaniards, but the latter repulsed the enemy with such spirit, that they sought protection under their cannon; and giving up all hope of the relief of St. Sebastian, they re-crossed the Bidassoa, and during the night retreated from their position on the left bank of that river. In this operation the Second Provisional Battalion was left at the pass of the Crown Mountain, to keep up the communication with the Seventh Division.

On the 31st of August also the fortress of St. Sebastian was attacked and carried by assault. The British army had the proud satisfaction of victoriously entering the territory of France, and was led by its able commander to a position in front of the Bidassoa, considered one of the strongest in the Pyrenees, extending from Zugano Mardie by La Rhona to the sea.

In the storming of Marshal Soult's intrenched position on the river Nivelle, on the 10th of November, the attack of the centre columns was led by the four companies of the Queen's, supported by their comrades of the Fifty-third. The men carried bags of fern to fill up the ditch, and small scaling-ladders to mount the rampart of a redoubt which they were ordered to take. In this service they were completely successful. The battalion advanced with a British huzza, and the enemy abandoned the redoubt and fled. A deep ravine, immediately in the rear of the work, prevented the further advance of the Queen's, who from the crest of the hill had opened a sharp fire upon the fugitives. For the gallant and successful services on this occasion, his Majesty has graciously sanctioned the addition of the word Nivelle to its other badges of distinction.

Soon after this action the army went into quarters for a short time, while preparations were making for crossing the Adour, and forming the blockade of Bayonne. The Queen's was sent to St. Jean de Luz for new clothing, and rejoined the division at St. Severe. The Fourth Division proceeded towards Bourdeaux, to support the Seventh under Lieutenant-General Lord Dalhousie, and after the surrender of that city returned to the Plains of Toulouse.

1814

In the night of the 8th of April, 1814, the Fourth Division struck its tents, and proceeding by forced marches crossed the Garonne over a pontoon bridge; on the next day the army closed upon Toulouse. On the 10th the Division proceeded along the front of the enemy's strongly fortified position, exposed to a galling fire of grape, until it reached the right of their line, when it advanced up the heights; while the rest of the troops formed in two lines in its rear. A strong column of French now issued from the works, and threatened the flank and rear of the Fourth Division; but the Second Provisional Battalion, being thrown back en potence, opened a heavy fire and charged the enemy, who thereupon retreated to their trenches; the brigade then pushed up the hill, and carried the point to which its efforts had been directed. The city of Toulouse was now enclosed on all sides except that of the canal of Languedoc, along which a road was left open by the Duke of Wellington, in order to save the town from the destruction which must have followed its being taken by storm. Of this road the French availed themselves, and, retreating during the night, encamped about three leagues off. Both armies being now apprised of the abdication of Napoleon, the battle of Toulouse closed at once the campaign and the war. In addition to the other marks of distinction granted to the regiment for meritorious services, it has been authorised by his Majesty to assume the word Toulouse.