1813
In February, 1813, the regiment was removed from Crato to Monforte, where it received a draught of one hundred and thirty-six horses from the Ninth Dragoons, who were ordered to return to England; at the same time a serjeant and ten men were attached to the staff corps of cavalry.
At the opening of the brilliant campaign of this year, the regiment marched towards Salamanca, and was employed in the operations by which the French troops were driven from that city on the 26th of May. The numbers and improved organization of the allied army enabled the British commander to drive the enemy before him with a strength and violence which the French could not withstand. Rivers were crossed, rocks and mountains were climbed, and barren tracts traversed, with so little opposition, that the power of the enemy appeared to be paralyzed; but in the plains of Vittoria Joseph Bonaparte made a stand, and the Thirteenth Dragoons took part in the engagement on the 21st of June, when the French army sustained a decisive overthrow. The regiment supported the attacks of the infantry on this occasion, and subsequently received orders to advance and act as opportunities might occur. After clearing various obstacles in their front, the Thirteenth approached Vittoria, when the royal carriages were perceived, and Major-General Long instantly ordered a squadron, commanded by Captain Doherty, to pursue them; this was promptly executed, and the whole were captured after a sharp skirmish, in which private Michael Sullivan distinguished himself, cutting down a French officer and capturing his horses. In the mean time, the remainder of the regiment had formed in front of a compact body of the enemy, whom they vigorously charged and routed. Captain Doherty, observing this movement, left the royal carriages in charge of serjeant Scriven and twelve men, and joined the regiment, with which he continued in close pursuit of the enemy during the remainder of the day. Serjeant Scriven reported his having given up the royal carriages to an officer, with a party of infantry, who said he had orders to take charge of them, but he omitted taking a receipt or demanding the officer's name. The commanding officer of the regiment, Major Patrick Doherty, received a gold medal for this battle.
Following the rear of the French army, the regiment arrived at the foot of the Pyrenees, and entering the pass through these celebrated mountains, near Pampeluna, to furnish posts of correspondence between the different divisions, it proceeded to the valley of Roncesvalles,—a place celebrated for the defeat of Charlemagne by the Duke of Gascony, assisted by the Saracens; a pillar erected on the spot, to commemorate the victory, was destroyed by the French in 1794. Up this valley the French army, commanded by Marshal Soult, advanced on the 25th of July, and some sharp fighting occurred, which ended in the retreat of the British to a position in the mountains in front of Pampeluna. The regiment, excepting one troop detached to assist in the blockade of Pampeluna, was formed in support of the sixth division during the severe contest in the Pyrenees, and when the French were repulsed they were pursued to the confines of their own country.
The passage of the Bidassoa was effected in the early part of October; the French were driven from their position on the Nivelle in November; and the Thirteenth, with the Fourteenth Dragoons, were engaged in the operations by which the passage of the Nive was effected on the 9th of December. On the following day the regiment was at Hasparen, observing the movements of the French troops under General Paris. Some fighting took place on the three subsequent days, and the posts at Hasparen were attacked on the 13th of December. The gallant conduct of private James Armstrong of the Thirteenth, on this occasion, obtained for him the distinguished honour of Sir Rowland Hill's particular notice, and he was immediately promoted. Being one of a small party posted to keep up the communication, he dashed forward and rallied some British skirmishers, who had been forced back, placed himself at their head, and attacked and repulsed the enemy, cutting down some, and taking others prisoners.
1814
The severity of the season detained the allies in their cantonments for a short time, during which period the Thirteenth were employed in the outpost duties, and Lieutenant Phillips is mentioned in the books of the regiment, as having shown great prudence and judgment in bringing off his piquet, when attacked and hard pressed by the enemy's cavalry. In consequence of the want of forage, pounded furze was given as food to the horses.
In February, the army again commenced operations, and the Thirteenth Dragoons were employed in the movements connected with the forcing of the line of the Bidouze and the Gave de Mauleon; and in a sharp affair with the enemy's rear-guard, private Shreenan of the regiment distinguished himself by his great gallantry. The regiment was engaged, on the 17th of February, at Sauveterre, where Lieutenant Geale and several men and horses were killed; serjeant-major Thomas Rosser[7] particularly distinguished himself on this occasion. Being detached with twelve men, he fell in with a party of the enemy of more than double his numbers, whom he charged three times, cutting down three himself, and capturing some men and horses. The same morning, previous to this affair, the mare on which serjeant-major Rosser was mounted was killed by a shell striking her in her side, and he escaped without injury.
After several other movements, the Thirteenth Light Dragoons were engaged in forcing the French position at Orthes, on the 27th of February, 1814. The right and centre of the army assembled opposite the village of Orthes, and the Thirteenth Dragoons, forming part of the body of troops destined to turn and attack the enemy's right, assembled near the junction of the Gave de Pau with the Gave d'Oleron. The village of St. Boës was carried; but the nature of the ground required a change to be made in the plan of the action. The narrow passage behind the village was opened, a body of troops, including the Thirteenth, pushed through, and spread a front beyond, and the French army was forced back with loss. Lieutenant Robert Nesbit was severely wounded; two men and two horses were killed, and six horses wounded, on this occasion. In a charge of the enemy's cavalry, which was gallantly met and repulsed by the Thirteenth, a personal rencontre took place between Lieutenant Doherty and the French officer who led it; the latter was cut down, and surrendered. Many of the enemy were sabred, and captured by the regiment. The commanding-officer of the regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Doherty, received a gold clasp, inscribed with the word "Orthes," to be attached to the riband to which his Vittoria medal was suspended.