By a daring advance the French were once more driven from Salamanca; by combinations evincing consummate skill, and by efforts of an extraordinary character, the enemy's positions on the Douro were turned; the field was then clear for the shock of battle, and the British commander, seeing the way of victory open, ordered forward his divisions; but the French evaded the torrent of war, and withdrew behind the Pisuerga, and afterwards behind the Ebro. Pressing onward with a conquering violence, the allied army traversed rocks and mountains, and marched through regions deemed impracticable for an army, and the French were forced back upon Vittoria, where they prepared for a determined effort to stem the tide of war.
Arriving at the Bayas on the 19th of June, the British found a division of the French army posted behind the river, and an action was commenced. The Royal Fusiliers were directed to attack the village of Montevite. Approaching this rural seclusion through a rocky mountainous country, abounding with trees, the foliage of which concealed their advance, they arrived close to the village unperceived; a few musket-shots alarmed the French, who instantly fled, leaving their cooking utensils and dinner on the fire, and some arms and accoutrements. The Royal Fusiliers pursued, some skirmishing took place, and several men fell in the conflict. The loss of the Seventh was limited to three wounded. The enemy was driven from the position on the Bayas, and forced back upon the Zadora.
From the banks of the Bayas the allied army advanced on the morning of the 21st of June, to fight the French under Joseph Buonaparte in position in front of Vittoria. The Royal Fusiliers formed part of the force destined for the attack of the enemy's centre under the immediate direction of Lord Wellington. They moved from Montevite down by Olabarre, along the valley in the centre. The Royal Fusiliers advanced in line under fire, through fields of corn more than breast high, the French retreating before them; and they overcame numerous obstructions and difficulties with a regularity which excited great admiration. Arriving at the Zadora, they were posted opposite the bridge of Nanclares; and when ordered to cross the bridge they sprang forward with cheerful alacrity and perfect order. The French were eventually driven from the field with the loss of their artillery, baggage, and an immense quantity of treasure. Many soldiers of different corps quitted their ranks to plunder; but it was observed that, when the Royal Fusiliers, pursuing the enemy, passed the French baggage and treasure-waggons, they were so impressed with a sense of the necessity of preserving order, so accustomed to perfect obedience, and jealous of the honour of their corps, that they refrained from irregularities, and followed the enemy with unbroken ranks. A decisive victory was gained: and the excellent conduct of the regiment was rewarded with the honour of bearing the word "Vittoria" on its colours. Lieutenant-Colonel Blakeney was also rewarded with an honorary distinction. The loss of the battalion was only two men killed and two wounded.
The Royal Fusiliers pursued the French army in the direction of Pampeluna, and when the enemy had effected his escape through the Pyrenean mountains, they were employed in the blockade of Pampeluna, a fortress of great strength, and provided with an efficient garrison. They were, however, soon relieved from this duty, and detached against a French division under General Clausel, which was at Logroño when the battle of Vittoria was fought; after a forced march of six days the Fusiliers halted;—the enemy having effected his escape by the pass of Jaca. The regiment afterwards returned to the vicinity of Pampeluna, where it remained a few days, and subsequently penetrated the Pyrenean mountains; the fourth division taking post at Viscayret, in the valley of Urroz, and the Royal Fusiliers being at Espinal, two miles in advance.
Thus the British army, after years of toil and conflict, endured to procure liberty for the oppressed inhabitants of the Peninsula, had forced the intrusive monarch of Spain from his throne, and stood triumphant on the lofty pinnacles of the Pyrenees; but another mighty struggle was at hand, in which the innate valour and hardihood of the British soldiers were about to be tested. The French army had been re-organized by Marshal Soult, who pushed his divisions boldly forward to drive the British from the mountains. The enemy having made a demonstration of an attack on the front posts, two companies of the Royal Fusiliers advanced on the 24th of July to a height westward of Roncesvalles, where they were joined by the remainder of the battalion during the night; on the following morning the enemy attacked Major-General Byng's post in Roncesvalles, and the fourth division was ordered to advance. A detachment of the twentieth regiment evinced signal gallantry in its attacks on the head of a French column; but was forced back by superior numbers. Some sharp fighting occurred during the day, and the Royal Fusiliers had Lieutenant Knowles and six men killed; one serjeant and twenty-three rank and file wounded. The British maintained their positions during the day; but being opposed to very superior numbers, they withdrew after sunset: the Fusilier Brigade being in the rear of the column, under Major-General Ross, the Seventh underwent a night of incessant toil and intense anxiety among the mountains. At day-light they fell in with posts of Major-General Byng's brigade, and the retrograde movement was continued, with short intermissions, until the allies gained a position in front of Pampeluna, where a determined stand was made.
Posted on the heights in front of the village of Villalba, the Royal Fusiliers awaited the approach of their opponents, resolving to perform their duty to their King and country in whatever circumstances they might be placed. Privations, and violent rains soaking the bleak hills, on which the soldiers were posted without any shelter, did not damp their courage, and on the 28th of June they witnessed the approach of the massy columns of the enemy without dismay. The heights occupied by the fourth division were attacked with great fury: the Royal Fusiliers were hotly engaged, and sternly, and with sanguinary tenacity, was the ground contested. Appalling shouts smote the ears of the French soldiers as they stormed the position, and the next moment ranks of British bayonets met them in mid-onset, and in the shock of steel the French soldiers were forced back with a horrid carnage. Four times the Royal Fusiliers precipitated themselves on the hosts of opponents which assailed their post, and on every occasion they proved victorious. The Marquis of Wellington observed in his despatch:—"In the course of this contest the gallant fourth division, which has so frequently been distinguished in this army, surpassed their former good conduct. Every regiment charged with the bayonet,—the fortieth, the Seventh, twentieth, and twenty-third, four different times. Their officers set them an example; and Major-General Ross had two horses killed under him." The battle was renewed on the 29th and 30th of July, and the French commander, being foiled in every attempt by superior skill and unconquerable valour, retired towards France, closely pursued by the victorious allied army.
Officers present at the battle of the 28th of July.
| Lieutenant-Colonel E. Blakeney. | Lieutenant | J. B. Fraser, killed. | |
| Major William Despard, killed. | " | W. Dalgairnes. | |
| Captain | J. Crowder, wounded. | " | C. Lorentz. |
| " | A. Fernie, killed. | " | Martin Orr. |
| " | Jno. Orr, wounded. | " | J. L. Nunn, wounded. |
| " | Hy. Tarleton. | " | A. L. Estrange. |
| " | C. J. Wemyss, killed. | " | D. Cameron. |
| " | W. M. Hamerton, wounded. | " | R. Haggup. |
| Lieutenant | J. Anderson. | " | J. D. King, wounded. |
| " | W. Wilkinson | " | Hon. F. Russel. |
| " | R. Johnson. | " | R. Garrett, wounded. |
| " | G. Loggan, wounded. | Adjutant Jas. Hay. | |
| " | Wm. Payne. | Quarter-Master Jno. Hogan. | |
| " | Thos. Hartley. | Surgeon Mahony. | |
| " | J. Huchinson. | Assistant-Surgeon W. Williams. | |
| " | H. Fisher. | ||
| Officers. | Serjeants. | Drummers. | Rank and File. | Total. | |
| Killed | 4 | 3 | .. | 40 | 47 |
| Wounded | 7 | 11 | .. | 148 | 166 |
| —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | |
| Total | 11 | 14 | .. | 188 | 213 |