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Eva Blomqvist · Paul Groth ·
Victor de Boer · Tassilo Pellegrini ·
Mehwish Alam · Tobias Käfer ·
Peter Kieseberg · Sabrina Kirrane ·
Albert Meroño-Peñuela ·
Harshvardhan J. Pandit (Eds.)
LNCS 12378

Semantic Systems
In the Era of Knowledge Graphs
16th International Conference on Semantic Systems, SEMANTiCS 2020
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, September 7–10, 2020
Proceedings
Lecture Notes in Computer Science 12378

Founding Editors
Gerhard Goos
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Juris Hartmanis
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

Editorial Board Members


Elisa Bertino
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
Wen Gao
Peking University, Beijing, China
Bernhard Steffen
TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
Gerhard Woeginger
RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
Moti Yung
Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/7409
Eva Blomqvist Paul Groth
• •

Victor de Boer Tassilo Pellegrini


• •

Mehwish Alam Tobias Käfer


• •

Peter Kieseberg Sabrina Kirrane


• •

Albert Meroño-Peñuela •

Harshvardhan J. Pandit (Eds.)

Semantic Systems
In the Era of Knowledge Graphs
16th International Conference on Semantic Systems, SEMANTiCS 2020
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, September 7–10, 2020
Proceedings

123
Editors
Eva Blomqvist Paul Groth
Linköping University University of Amsterdam
Linköping, Sweden Amsterdam, Noord-Holland,
The Netherlands
Victor de Boer
Department of Computer Science Tassilo Pellegrini
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, St. Pölten, Austria
The Netherlands
Tobias Käfer
Mehwish Alam Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz Institute for Karlsruhe, Germany
Karlsruhe, Germany
Sabrina Kirrane
Peter Kieseberg Vienna University of Economics
UAS St. Pölten and Business
St. Pölten, Niederösterreich, Austria Vienna, Wien, Austria
Albert Meroño-Peñuela Harshvardhan J. Pandit
VU Amsterdam ADAPT Centre
Amsterdam, The Netherlands Trinity College Dublin
Dublin, Ireland

ISSN 0302-9743 ISSN 1611-3349 (electronic)


Lecture Notes in Computer Science
ISBN 978-3-030-59832-7 ISBN 978-3-030-59833-4 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59833-4

LNCS Sublibrary: SL3 – Information Systems and Applications, incl. Internet/Web, and HCI

© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2020. This book is an open access publication.
Open Access This book is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution
and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and
the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.
The images or other third party material in this book are included in the book's Creative Commons license,
unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the book's Creative
Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use,
you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication
does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant
protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are
believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors
give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or
omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional affiliations.

This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG
The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
Preface

This volume contains the proceedings of the 16th International Conference on


Semantic Systems (SEMANTiCS 2020). SEMANTiCS offers a forum for the exchange
of latest scientific results in semantic systems and complements these topics with new
research challenges in areas like data science, machine learning, logic programming,
content engineering, social computing, and the Semantic Web. The conference is in its
16th year and has developed into an internationally visible and professional event at the
intersection of academia and industry. Contributors to and participants of the confer-
ence learn from top researchers and industry experts about emerging trends and topics
in the wide area of semantic computing. The SEMANTiCS community is highly
diverse; attendees have responsibilities in interlinking areas such as artificial intelli-
gence, data science, knowledge discovery and management, big data analytics,
e–commerce, enterprise search, technical documentation, document management,
business intelligence, and enterprise vocabulary management.
The conference’s subtitle in 2020 was “The Power of AI and Knowledge Graphs,”
and especially welcomed submissions to the following topics:
• Web Semantics and Linked (Open) Data
• Enterprise Knowledge Graphs, Graph Data Management, and Deep Semantics
• Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques
• Semantic Information Management and Knowledge Integration
• Terminology, Thesaurus, and Ontology Management
• Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery
• Reasoning, Rules, and Policies
• Natural Language Processing
• Data Quality Management and Assurance
• Explainable Artificial Intelligence
• Semantics in Data Science
• Semantics in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies
• Trust, Data Privacy, and Security with Semantic Technologies
• Economics of Data, Data Services, and Data Ecosystems
We additionally issued calls for three special tracks:
• Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage
• Blockchain
• LegalTech
Due to the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, SEMANTiCS 2020
took place in a highly reduced form. All on-site events were canceled and postponed to
2021. To keep a minimum level of continuity, the conference chairs decided to keep the
call for scientific papers open and to publish a selection of reviewed papers as pro-
ceedings. The authors of accepted papers also provided a video presentation of their
vi Preface

contribution, which was made available via the conference’s website. In total, we
received 36 submissions to the scientific call.
In order to properly provide high-quality reviews, a Program Committee
(PC) comprising of 131 members supported us in selecting the papers with the highest
impact and scientific merit. For each submission, at least four reviews were written
independently from the assigned reviewers in a single–blind review process (author
names are visible to reviewers, reviewers stay anonymous). After all reviews were
submitted, the PC chairs compared the reviews and discussed discrepancies and dif-
ferent opinions with the reviewers to facilitate a meta–review and suggest a recom-
mendation to accept or reject the paper. Overall, we accepted 8 papers which resulted in
an acceptance rate of 22,2%.
We thank all authors who submitted papers and the PC for providing careful reviews
in a quick turnaround time.

September 2020 Eva Blomqvist


Paul Groth
Victor de Boer
Tassilo Pellegrini
Mehwish Alam
Tobias Käfer
Peter Kieseberg
Sabrina Kirrane
Albert Meroño-Peñuela
Harshvardhan J. Pandit
Organization

Chairs and Program Committee of SEMANTICS 2020


Conference Chairs
Victor de Boer Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tassilo Pellegrini St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria

Research and Innovation Chairs


Eva Blomqvist Linköping University, Sweden
Paul Groth University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Special Track Chairs

Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage


Mehwish Alam FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz Institute for Information
Infrastructure, Germany
Albert Merono Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Blockchain
Peter Kieseberg St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria
Tobias Käfer Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany

LegalTech
Sabrina Kirrane Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria
Harshvadhan Pandit ADAPT Centre, Ireland

Industry and Use Case Chairs


Christian Dirschl Wolters Kluwer Deutschland GmbH, Germany
Marco Brattinga Ordina, The Netherlands
Andreas Blumauer Semantic Web Company, Austria

Poster and Demo Track Chairs


Maria Maleshkova University of Bonn, Germany
Ilaria Tiddl Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Workshop and Satellite Events Chairs


Laura Daniele TNO, The Netherlands
Tabea Tietz FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz Institute for Information
Infrastructure, Germany
viii Organization

Proceedings Chair
Victor de Boer Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Promotion Chairs
Thomas Thurner Semantic Web Company, Austria
Julia Holze AKSW, InfAI, Leipzig University, Germany
Stefan Summesberger Plantsome Communication, Austria

Local Chairs
Catelijne Rauch-Blok TNO, The Netherlands
Ronald Siebes Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Thomas Thurner Semantic Web Company, Austria

Publicity Chair
Arjen Santema The Netherlands Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping
Agency, The Netherlands

Permanent Advisory Board


Sören Auer Fraunhofer, Germany
Andreas Blumauer Semantic Web Company, Austria
Tobias Bürger BMW Group, Germany
Christian Dirschl Wolters Kluwer Deutschland GmbH, Germany
Victor de Boer Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Anna Fensel Semantic Technology Institute (STI) Innsbruck, Austria
Dieter Fensel Semantic Technology Institute (STI) Innsbruck, Austria
Mike Heininger GfWM, Austria
Sebastian Hellmann Leipzig University, Germany
Ute John GfWM, Germany
Martin Kaltenböck Semantic Web Company, Austria
Elmar Kiesling TU Wien, Austria
Tassilo Pellegrini St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria
Axel Polleres Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria
Felix Sasaki DFKI, Germany
Harald Sack FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz Institute for Information
Infrastructure, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
(KIT), Germany

Program Committee - Research and Innovation Track and Special Tracks


Acosta Maribel Karlsruhe Institute of Technology(KIT), Germany
Alam Mehwish FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz Institute for Information
Infrastructure, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
(KIT), Germany
Anelli Vito Walter Politecnico di Bari, Italy
Asprino Luigi University of Bologna and ISTC-CNR, Italy
Organization ix

Auer Sören Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany


Aussenac-Gilles Nathalie IRIT CNRS, France
Bischof Stefan Siemens AG, Austria
Bobed Carlos Everis, University of Zaragoza, Spain
Bonatti Piero University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Bozzato Loris Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Italy
Buil Aranda Carlos Federico Santa Maria Technical University, Chile
Buitelaar Paul Insight Centre for Data Analytics, National University
of Ireland Galway, Ireland
Casanovas Pompeu Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
Celino Irene Cefriel, Italy
Ceolin Davide Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Champin Pierre-Antoine LIRIS, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, France
Chrysakis Ioannis FORTH-ICS, Greece, and Ghent University, Belgium
Cimmino Arriaga Andrea: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
Ciuciu Ioana-Georgiana Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Corcho Oscar Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
Daga Enrico The Open University, UK
Daquino Marilena University of Bologna, Italy
De Vos Marina University of Bath, UK
Degeling Martin Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
Demidova Elena L3S Research Center, Germany
Despres Sylvie Laboratoire d’Informatique Médicale et de
BIOinformatique, France
Dietze Stefan GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences,
Germany
Dimou Anastasia Ghent University, Belgium
Ding Ying The University of Texas at Austin, USA
Dirschl Christian Wolters Kluwer Deutschland GmbH, Germany
Dojchinovski Milan Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic
Dörpinghaus Jens Fraunhofer, Germany
Dragoni Mauro Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Italy
Dumitrache Anca Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Eyharabide Victoria STIH Laboratory, Sorbonne University, France
Färber Michael Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
Faron Zucker Catherine Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, France
Fathalla Said University of Bonn, Germany
Feinerer Ingo University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt,
Austria
Fernández Javier D. Roche, Switzerland
Filipowska Agata Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poland
Freire Nuno INESC-ID, Portugal
Gangemi Aldo Università di Bologna, CNR-ISTC, Italy
Garcia Roberto Universitat de Lleida, Spain
Garijo Daniel University of Southern California, USA
x Organization

Gol-Mohammadi Nazila paluno - The Ruhr Institute for Software Technology,


Germany
Gomez-Perez Jose Manuel Expert System, Spain
Gray Alasdair Heriot-Watt University, UK
Haase Peter Metaphacts, Germany
Hammar Karl Jönköping University, Sweden
Heling Lars Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
Herder Eelco Radboud University, The Netherlands
Heyvaert Pieter Ghent University, Belgium
Hoekstra Rinke University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Houben Geert-Jan Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
Huang Zhisheng Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hyvönen Eero Aalto University and University of Helsinki, Finland
Ibrahim Shimaa University of Bonn, Germany
Jacobs Marc Fraunhofer, Germany
Janev Valentina Mihajlo Pupin Institute, Serbia
Käfer Tobias Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
Kaffee Lucie-Aimée University of Southampton, UK
Kannengießer Niclas Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
Karam Naouel Fraunhofer, Germany
Kärle Elias STI-Innsbruck, Austria
Kauppinen Tomi Aalto University School of Science, Finland
Kieseberg Peter St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria
Kirrane Sabrina Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria
Kontokostas Dimitris Leipzig University, Germany
Köpke Julius Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Austria
Lange Christoph Fraunhofer, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
Lefrançois Maxime Ecole des Mines de Saint-Étienne, France
Lera Isaac University of the Balearic Islands, Spain
Lioudakis Georgios ICT abovo P.C., Greece
Lovrenčić Sandra University of Zagreb, Croatia
Lully Vincent Sorbonne University, France
Maccatrozzo Valentina Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Merkle Nicole FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik, Germany
Meroño Peñuela Albert Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Montiel-Ponsoda Elena Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
Moser Thomas St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria
Nixon Lyndon MODUL Technology GmbH, Austria
Nurgazina Jamilya St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria
Obrst Leo Mitre Corporation, USA
O’Sullivan Declan Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Padget Julian University of Bath, UK
Palmirani Monica CIRSFID, Italy
Pandit Harshvardhan J. ADAPT Centre, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Paschke Adrian Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
Paulheim Heiko University of Mannheim, Germany
Organization xi

Pesquita Catia LaSIGE, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal


Pielorz Jasmin Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria
Piras Luca University of Brighton, UK
Potoniec Jędrzej Poznań University of Technology, Poland
Pruski Cédric Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology,
Luxembourg
Revenko Artem Semantic Web Company GmbH, Austria
Rizzo Giuseppe LINKS Foundation, Italy
Rodríguez Rocha Oscar, Teach on Mars, France
Rodríguez-Doncel Víctor Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
Sack Harald FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz Institute for Information
Infrastructure, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
(KIT), Germany
Schlobach Stefan Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Shvaiko Pavel Trentino Digitale Spa, Italy
Silva Paulo University of Coimbra, Portugal
Steyskal Simon Siemens AG, Austria
Sure-Vetter York Karlsruhe Institute of Technology(KIT), Germany
Taelman Ruben Ghent University, Belgium
Tietz Tabea FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz Institute for Information
Infrastructure, Germany
Tiwari Sanju Ontology Engineering Group, Spain
Todorov Konstantin LIRMM, University of Montpellier, France
Tommasini Riccardo University of Tartu, Estonia
Umbrich Jürgen Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria
Uren Victoria Aston University, UK
Usbeck Ricardo University of Paderborn, Germany
Van De Sompel Herbert Data Archiving Networked Services, The Netherlands
van ErpMarieke KNAW - Humanities Cluster, The Netherlands
Van Harmelen Frank Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Vander Sande Miel Meemoo, Belgium
Vidal Maria Esther Simon Bolivar University, Colombia
Villata Serena CNRS, Signaux et Systèmes de Sophia-Antipolis,
France
Waitelonis Joerg yovisto GmbH, Germany
Wang Shenghui University of Twente, The Netherlands
Wenning Rigo World Wide Web Consortium, France
Wöß Wolfram Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria

Additional Reviewers
Bartscherer Frederic Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
Cano Benito Juan Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
Heba Mohamed .
Kuculo Tin L3S Research Center, Germany
xii Organization

Marinucci Ludovica Institute for Cognitive Sciences and Technologies


(ISTC), Italy
Papadopoulos Petros Heriot-Watt University, UK
Saier Tarek Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
Scrocca Mario Cefriel, Italy
Contents

The New DBpedia Release Cycle: Increasing Agility and Efficiency


in Knowledge Extraction Workflows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Marvin Hofer, Sebastian Hellmann, Milan Dojchinovski,
and Johannes Frey

DBpedia Archivo: A Web-Scale Interface for Ontology Archiving Under


Consumer-Oriented Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Johannes Frey, Denis Streitmatter, Fabian Götz, Sebastian Hellmann,
and Natanael Arndt

A Knowledge Retrieval Framework for Household Objects and Actions


with External Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Alexandros Vassiliades, Nick Bassiliades, Filippos Gouidis,
and Theodore Patkos

Semantic Annotation, Representation and Linking of Survey Data. . . . . . . . . 53


Felix Bensmann, Andrea Papenmeier, Dagmar Kern, Benjamin Zapilko,
and Stefan Dietze

QueDI: From Knowledge Graph Querying to Data Visualization. . . . . . . . . . 70


Renato De Donato, Martina Garofalo, Delfina Malandrino,
Maria Angela Pellegrino, Andrea Petta, and Vittorio Scarano

EcoDaLo: Federating Advertisement Targeting with Linked Data . . . . . . . . . 87


Sven Lieber, Ben De Meester, Ruben Verborgh, and Anastasia Dimou

MINDS: A Translator to Embed Mathematical Expressions Inside


SPARQL Queries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Damien Graux, Gezim Sejdiu, Claus Stadler, Giulio Napolitano,
and Jens Lehmann

Integrating Historical Person Registers as Linked Open Data


in the WarSampo Knowledge Graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Mikko Koho, Petri Leskinen, and Eero Hyvönen

Author Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127


The New DBpedia Release Cycle:
Increasing Agility and Efficiency
in Knowledge Extraction Workflows

Marvin Hofer1(B) , Sebastian Hellmann1 , Milan Dojchinovski1,2 ,


and Johannes Frey1
1
Knowledge Integration and Language Technologies (KILT/AKSW),
DBpedia Association/InfAI, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
{hofer,hellmann,dojchinovski,frey}@informatik.uni-leipzig.de
2
Web Intelligence Research Group, FIT, Czech Technical University in Prague,
Prague, Czech Republic
milan.dojchinovski@fit.cvut.cz

Abstract. Since its inception in 2007, DBpedia has been constantly


releasing open data in RDF, extracted from various Wikimedia projects
using a complex software system called the DBpedia Information Extrac-
tion Framework (DIEF). For the past 12 years, the software received a
plethora of extensions by the community, which positively affected the size
and data quality. Due to the increase in size and complexity, the release
process was facing huge delays (from 12 to 17 months cycle), thus impact-
ing the agility of the development. In this paper, we describe the new
DBpedia release cycle including our innovative release workflow, which
allows development teams (in particular those who publish large, open
data) to implement agile, cost-efficient processes and scale up productiv-
ity. The DBpedia release workflow has been re-engineered, its new primary
focus is on productivity and agility, to address the challenges of size and
complexity. At the same time, quality is assured by implementing a com-
prehensive testing methodology. We run an experimental evaluation and
argue that the implemented measures increase agility and allow for cost-
effective quality-control and debugging and thus achieve a higher level of
maintainability. As a result, DBpedia now publishes regular (i.e. monthly)
releases with over 21 billion triples with minimal publishing effort.

Keywords: DBpedia · Knowledge extraction · Data publishing ·


Quality assurance

1 Introduction
Since its inception in 2007, the DBpedia project [8] has been continuously releas-
ing large, open datasets, extracted from Wikimedia projects such as Wikipedia
and Wikidata [15]. The data has been extracted using a complex software
Sebastian Hellmann—https://global.dbpedia.org/id/3eGWH.
c The Author(s) 2020
E. Blomqvist et al. (Eds.): SEMANTiCS 2020, LNCS 12378, pp. 1–18, 2020.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59833-4_1
Other documents randomly have
different content
between the belligerents barely permitting them doing so without
crossing the muzzles of their pieces,—and he will have some faint
idea of what passed on the plains of Vittoria, and be able to paint in
imagination a few of those extraordinary scenes to which we were
witnesses.
The admirable manner in which the troops employed against the
enemy's centre moved forward to the assault, was the theme of
general admiration among all ranks on the heights. Joseph
Bonaparte and his Major-General, Marshal Jourdan, had been at
great pains to strengthen this part of their position, aware that if
they were driven from it the battle was lost. Every little eminence
literally bristled with cannon, behind which 40,000 infantry at least
were drawn up in dense masses, ready to pounce upon all who
should attempt to attack them. The French troops being formed
within a very narrow space, the service in that quarter during the
early part of the action was extremely hot. Notwithstanding the cool
and determined conduct of our companions in their first rencounter,
it was not at all surprising that the thundering of the cannon, and
cheers of the combatants, should in a little time produce feelings,
which none but those who were on the heights can at all describe.
Although we never had the smallest doubt as to the issue of the
battle, yet I confess that it was with equal pride and pleasure that
we beheld from the heights a wavering in some of the enemy's
battalions, about half an hour after the engagement began in the
centre. Yes, it was with pleasure, for so close and murderous was
the conflict in that quarter, that had not the enemy given way,
thousands more of our countrymen must have fallen under the
terrific fire of their opponents,—it being well known that French
infantry will sustain a discharge of musketry for a long time with
unflinching courage. We were, therefore, not at all disappointed to
perceive that our small arms made sometimes but a feeble
impression on their ranks. For, in the first place, it convinced the
soldiers that they were opposed to troops against whom they would
require to use all the physical, as well as moral courage which they
possessed; and the officers that something besides powder and shot
would have to be employed before the French infantry could be
forced from their stronghold. For some time, therefore, volley
succeeded volley, and the discharges from the artillery rolled in a
terrific manner along the vale, without producing any result beyond
that of winding up the spirits of our men to the highest pitch to
which the bravery of men can be screwed. One of the finest qualities
which British soldiers possess, is, that on all occasions their courage
invariably rises in proportion to the exertions required of them, a
quality which was never more nobly exhibited than on the plains of
Vittoria. On going into action, almost every soldier resolves to be in
possession of the laurel leaf, or a grave, before it is done. On this
occasion they were unanimous. Never was there a finer field offered
them to shew their unanimity than Vittoria, and never did they
exhibit it to greater advantage. Proud of his followers, and unwilling
to throw away any more of their precious lives than was absolutely
necessary, Lord Wellington gave orders to make use of a weapon, at
all times irresistible in the hands of British troops. The bayonet,
brought to its proper position, was therefore directed to bend its
course towards the hitherto immoveable columns of the enemy.
Firmly the latter awaited the coming storm, apparently resolved to
brave the furious onset. "Vive l'Empereur," ran along the line with
the rapidity of lightning; but in wishing long life to their sovereign,
the soldiers were not unmindful of their own, and consequently, as
soon as the hostile lines approached close enough to make use of
the steel, the enemy uniformly gave way.
From the first partial breaking of the French line in the centre, the
scene of active operation took a wider range. The enemy driven
from their vantage ground, and perceiving their principal
communication with France seriously endangered, at once resolved
to make every hedge a rampart, and every ditch or rivulet a river,
and to defend them to the last extremity, to give time to their
baggage and their artillery to draw off towards Pampeluna.
Arranging themselves, therefore, behind the various ditches and
hedges which intersected the fields in every direction, they
compelled the British troops to extend their lines also, in order to
oppose a front equal to that of the enemy. Interesting as were the
first operations when viewed from the heights of Puebla, those
which succeeded were much more so. The salvos of artillery indeed
were neither so frequent nor so appalling, but the vollies of
musketry were more numerous, and that beautiful mode of firing,
called "running fire," was practised on a scale of greater magnitude
than had ever before been witnessed by any British officer. How
often, during the awful struggle, did I witness the British soldiers
walk up to the brink of a ditch, behind which their opponents were
arrayed, and in the most cool and determined manner, cross their
pieces with the latter before they gave their fire. On those occasions
the conflict invariably assumed a sanguinary aspect, for the ditches
being generally too deep for our men to pass in face of an enemy,
the French always remained on the opposite side, and kept up a
smart fire of musketry, till our artillery or cavalry could be brought
forward to dislodge them. In this manner the battle raged in the
centre from one o'clock till four, by which time the French had been
pushed back almost to Vittoria, where all was confusion and dismay,
and from whence Joseph and Jourdan were flying to secure their
personal safety.
From Lord Wellington's mode of proceeding on the right and in the
centre, it was evident that he relied not a little on the faithful
execution of that part of the operations entrusted to Sir Thomas
Graham, for the success of his enterprise. When the hour passed at
which the latter was to attack, (one o'clock) Lord Wellington
appeared uneasy, and I believe despatched more than one courier to
ascertain the real cause of Sir Thomas Graham's non-appearance. Be
this as it may, it was not long after the hour when Sir Thomas
brought his men into action, and began that struggle, the issue of
which destroyed all the hopes of the enemy, and turned a simple
defeat into one of the most complete routes recorded in history.
The French infantry on the heights seeing that all was lost in the
centre and on the right, began to execute a retrograde movement
between four and five o'clock. On their intentions being discovered,
the first brigade, 50th, 71st and 92nd regiments, and two
Portuguese brigades, which had arrived on the hill sometime before,
gave chace to the fugitives, but so superior were the enemy at this
game, that in an hour and a-half we entirely lost sight of them,
although we ran almost all the way. On mentioning this circumstance
to a French officer one day, he said, "I will back my countrymen
against all the soldiers in the world in a race of that kind."
Continuing the pursuit, we passed Vittoria, and at eleven o'clock,
P.M., bivouacked in a field a league and a-half in front of it. By this
time the night was so dark, that it was with difficulty we could
discover the person immediately before us. Notwithstanding this,
however, the troops who had been opposed to each other in the
centre and on the left during the day, seemed unwilling to relinquish
the honourable avocation of killing and maiming one another, for the
deadly strife continued in those quarters till eleven o'clock in the
evening.
The price paid for this splendid victory was, from four to five
thousand British and Portuguese killed and wounded. The loss of the
French was never accurately ascertained, but was estimated at from
ten to fifteen thousand killed, wounded, and prisoners. All their
cannon, save two pieces, and all their baggage, money, ammunition,
and provisions fell into our hands.
CHAPTER XIX.
The British General who pointed out the road to victory on the 21st
of June, has by many been denominated a military quack, who never
gained a battle but by sheer blundering. This assertion, no less
ridiculous than false, I shall not notice farther than to remark, that
the Emperor of the French must at one time have entertained a
similar opinion of our unrivalled General's military talents, otherwise
how can we account for him appointing a general to the chief
command in Spain who was totally unfit for the station he occupied
at Vittoria. On perusing the details of the battle what opinion will
military men of later times entertain of Marshal Jourdan's abilities as
a general when they discover that he posted a few light troops only
on the heights of Puebla, when they should have been crowned with
a force sufficiently numerous to have held them against all mortal
flesh? What opinion will they have of his military qualifications, when
they read, that he permitted his right wing to be driven from his
principal and direct line of communication into France, when to have
preserved which, next to beating his antagonist, should have been
his principal object. What will they think of the Hero of Gemappe,
when they perceive that he not only allowed his wings to be turned,
but thrown back upon his centre, and his whole army ultimately
forced back upon an outlet, not broader than was necessary to
secure the retreat of one of his divisions, on such an emergency?
Why, that he was a person perfectly incompetent to command an
army of sixty or seventy thousand Frenchmen against such an
adversary: for by the first error he placed the key of his position in
our hands,—by the second, he barred the door of the principal outlet
from the field against himself,—and by the effects produced by
these, his army was huddled together, and in a short time became
such an ungovernable mass, that he had latterly no other alternative
than to abandon his artillery, stores, &c. in order to preserve his
cavalry and infantry from entire destruction.
In the company which I had the honour to command in 1813, there
was a man named Walsh, whose character was so tainted, that not a
soldier in the company would associate with him. Whether
designedly, or through neglect, I will not pretend to determine, but
on inspecting his arms at Puebla, I found his bayonet bent like a
sickle. Enraged at his conduct, I reprimanded him sharply; but
instead of expressing regret for the offence, Walsh turned his head
as I was moving off, and most unfeelingly said, "What am I to do
with the bayonet, Sir? if we charge to-day I will not be able to thrust
it into any Frenchman's guts." This ruffianly speech caused a thrill of
horror to run through the company like a shock of electricity. On our
march from Puebla towards the scene of action, Walsh's whole
conversation was nothing but a connected chain of blasphemous
sentences. Oath succeeded oath, with such frightful rapidity, that his
companions at length became horror-struck. In this state of mind he
went into action on the lower part of the position, where the shot
and the shell plunged around him without producing any visible
amendment. The regiment proceeded to the heights, Walsh all the
way pursuing a similar course, venting curses on all and every thing
around, above, and below. When we had arrived within about two
hundred yards of the 50th, and before any one had heard the sound
of a ball at that point, the unfortunate wretch, in the very act of
uttering a dreadful torrent of blasphemy, fell a lifeless corpse, his
head having been perforated by a musket ball. Walsh's sudden and
striking exit from this to another world, furnished conversation to his
companions during the remainder of the day. His death was viewed
by them as a striking manifestation of the divine wrath for his
numerous and heinous offences against the Author of his being.
Between the second and third attacks on the heights of Puebla, the
pay-sergeant of the company, accompanied by a corporal and
private, requested my permission to bring Walsh's knapsack from the
rear, and dispose of its contents by auction, for behoof of his family.
Highly approving of this admirable display of feeling on the part of
the company, I waited on Colonel Cameron, and solicited permission
for the sergeant to go and take the necessaries from the dead man's
back. Quite delighted with the idea, the Colonel readily gave his
sanction. In a few minutes the auction began; the biddings went on
with life, till the whole was disposed of. By this praise-worthy act
thirty-one shillings were added to the balance due to the deceased,
and remitted to the widow. Two officers of the 50th, who were
standing beside me during the sale, declared, with tears in their
eyes, that it was one of the most singular and beautiful exhibitions
they had ever witnessed. Singular it undoubtedly was; for in the
annals of warfare it was perhaps the only public auction ever
attempted amidst the roaring of artillery and vollies of musketry.
A young lad belonging to the sixth company committed a singular
act of cowardice at Vittoria. On ascending the heights, he, under
some frivolous pretence, fell out, but forgot to rejoin his comrades.
In a few days thereafter, notice arrived from an hospital in the rear,
that he had received such a bad wound in the hand that amputation
had been performed at the wrist. On investigating into the matter, it
turned out, that in order to avoid the chance of being hit in action,
he had actually inflicted a wound on himself which might have
proved mortal. Thus, to avoid the possibility of dying the death of
the brave, he imprinted the stamp of the coward on his person, and
suspended round his neck a load of ignominy and dishonour which
can only be hid in the grave.
When inspecting the arms of the first company, a young lad who had
never been in action before, stepped up to the captain of it, and
informed him he was so unwell that he would be obliged to fall out.
On inquiring the nature of the complaint, Captain C. received for
answer, "A sair wame, Sir." Conceiving that all was not right, Captain
C. was induced to walk with him to Colonel Cameron, who, on taking
the sick man by the shoulder, and causing him to face the heights of
Puebla, pointed to some French sentries on their summit, and then
inquired if he saw them. Replying in the affirmative, the Colonel then
said, "Well, my man, those fellows you see on the top of the hill are
the best doctors in the world for complaints like your's," and raising
his voice he continued, "and by —— if I live you shall consult them
this day!" Covered with shame, poor B. rejoined his companions,
moved forward with them in very depressed spirits, but during the
action was one of the keenest spirits in the fray, and ever after his
Captain had more difficulty in restraining his courage than he had in
rousing it into action at Vittoria. This little incident shews most
unequivocally, that in going into action for a first time, young
soldiers should invariably be incorporated with old ones. For had this
youth been allowed to retire, under the feigned plea of sickness, he
would have remained a coward ever after.
A French colonel, commanding a portion of their light troops on the
heights of Puebla, finding the ground unfavourable for equestrian
exercise, sent his charger to the rear a little before the action began.
Being a very corpulent man, his running pace was that of a duck,
which of all others is the worst calculated to carry a person out of
the clutches of a light bob. Seeing there was no possibility of making
his escape, the Colonel wheeled round, and surrendered himself a
prisoner. Perceiving him covered with a profuse perspiration, our lads
were ill-mannered enough to indulge in a hearty laugh at his
expense. Seeing he was the butt of the group, the worthy
representative of Sir John Falstaff very good humouredly remarked
to an officer of the 92d regiment on surrendering his sword, "O God!
O God! what a fool was I to part with my horse. For the want of it
now I have become your merryman."
Colonel Cadogan, of the 71st, who fell on the heights of Puebla, was
leading a charge of his light troops when he was hit. The Colonel
had turned round to cheer on his followers, and had just repeated,
"Well done, well done, brave Highlanders!" when the intrepid leader,
mortally wounded, fell from his horse into the arms of a kindred
spirit, Captain Seton, commanding the light company 92d
Highlanders, son of the late Sir William Seton of Pitmidden,
Aberdeenshire.
Yes, tho' too soon attaining glory's goal,
To us his bright career too short was given;
Yet, in a glorious cause, his phœnix soul
Rose on the flames of victory to heaven.
CHAPTER XX.
In the afternoon of the 22d, the second division moved from its
bivouac in front of Vittoria, passed through Salvateira, and towards
the "wee short hour ayont the twal," encamped in a wood a few
miles in front of it. During the march we were every moment
presented with numerous evidences, animate and inanimate, of the
total wreck of King Joseph's royal fortunes. Around, and on every
side of us, lay men and horses, dead and dying, waggons of all
descriptions, some overturned and emptied of their contents, others
on their wheels, and filled with letters unopened and unheeded,
although written to please the taste of every one in the army, being
addressed to officers and soldiers of all ranks, from Jourdan down to
the youngest drum-boy, on subjects grave, gay, and voluptuous. On
passing a tremendous pile of letters, I presented a handful of them
for acceptance to the Marquis of Almeida; but after a long tirade
against Bonaparte, he politely declared that he would not soil his
fingers with them. The Marquis' hatred to the French was only
equalled by that of Prince Blucher.
On passing Salvateira, our men were repeatedly invited by a
dragoon, dressed in the uniform of a hussar, to join him in a full-
flowing can, and he would "pay the piper." Our lads having
expressed some doubts as to their new friend's ability to perform his
promise, the latter instantly pulled from his boot a doubloon, and
holding it up, told the sceptics that his boots were filled with similar
pieces. How the cash came into the possession of the hussar it is for
him to say; but I think we may infer that he obtained it without
running any great hazard of losing a life, which, as a soldier, was
worth nothing.
From the earliest period to the present, the armies of every nation
have contained men who, unless narrowly looked after in action, are
more apt to make war against the effects than the persons of their
enemies. To people of this stamp no leniency should at any time be
shown, for in whatever light we may view a military plunderer, he
must invariably appear to us dressed in the despicable garb of a
traitor to his friends, his sovereign, and his country.
If soldiers would reflect on the ignominy which attaches to the name
of a plunderer, and permit themselves to contrast his character with
that of a soldier who retires from the service covered with honour,
no man, possessing the feelings of a real soldier, would for a
moment hesitate what course to pursue. The soldier who has
discharged his duties faithfully and honourably, plods his way
towards home with a breast swelling high with native pride, and
when relating to a group of admiring relations and friends around
the domestic hearth, his hair-breadth 'scapes by flood and field,
receives their congratulations on his safe return, and hears their
murmurs of applause, without the smallest blush on his cheek, being
conscious that he has done his duty, and that none can upbraid him
with one dishonourable act. Widely different indeed must the
situation of the military plunderer be on arriving at his native place.
There the bitter cup of self-conviction will invariably rise to his lips,
and choak his utterance as often as he attempts to impose upon his
friends with tales of war, in which he wishes them to believe he
acted an honourable part. There he will spend a life of unceasing
misery and extreme wretchedness; for although he may be removed
far from any of those companions whose evidence could rise up in
public against him, still the never-dying conscience will hourly
remind him of the humiliating fact, that he had forfeited all
pretensions to the designation of a soldier. Soldiers, therefore, would
do well to bear these facts in constant remembrance, and unmindful
of every thing save their honour, conduct themselves at all times,
and under all circumstances, in such a manner, that, on retiring from
the busy scenes of a military life, they may have it in their power to
say,
"The wars are o'er, and I'm returned,
My hands unstained with plunder."
Sir Thomas Graham having been ordered to advance towards the
French frontier, by the high road leading from Vittoria to Irun, came
up with a French corps at Tolosa, which he attacked and defeated
with considerable loss. After this rencounter, he continued his route,
drove the enemy across the Bidassoa, and invested San Sebastian.
It being nearly four o'clock in the morning of the 23rd before our
baggage arrived in camp, we had just thrown aside our wet clothes,
and gone to rest, when those pests of every soldier's nocturnal
repose—the bugles—again called us to arms. Although our sleep was
short, yet a rather comfortable, but hurried repast, enabled us to
strut away as gay as larks. But our gaiety unfortunately was short-
lived, for in half-an-hour the rain again descended in torrents, and
for five hours pelted us severely. Had we been moving, the rain
would have given us little trouble. But by some unexplained mistake
we were kept nearly five hours under arms, half-a-mile from where
we started, when we ought to have been under cover of our
canvass. Such mistakes should never escape censure, for the health
of an army is of paramount importance to a general, and it must be
injured by a few hours unnecessary exposure to a deluge of rain.
Resuming our march, we drew two leagues nearer to Pampluna and
encamped.
The Marquis of Wellington having pushed forward with the third,
fourth, and light divisions towards Pampluna, the second and sixth
divisions, and General Hamilton's division of Portuguese followed
their friends at an early hour on the 24th. In the afternoon we were
visited by a tremendous thunder storm. The lightning appeared
before, behind, and on every side of us, in every shape which the
electric fluid can be exhibited to the eye of man. The lightning
flashed, and the thunder in terrific peals rolled over our heads in a
manner so grand, yet appalling, that language is insufficient to
convey to those who did not witness it, even a faint idea of the
awfully sublime spectacle. At times the thunder growled for a few
moments in a threatening manner, and then burst so suddenly upon
our ears, that it was no uncommon thing to see numbers bending
their heads, while the artillery of heaven was expending its wrath.
About the time that the storm was at its height, Lieutenant
Masterman of the 34th regiment was killed by the lightning, as was
the mule on which he was mounted. Nine men of the same corps
were also knocked down, but the most of them were but slightly
injured. His watch was melted, and his sword belt was cut into as
neat little square pieces, as the most expert tradesman could have
performed a similar operation with a knife or scissors.
We continued our movement upon Pampluna on the 25th, 26th, and
27th, without meeting with any thing worthy of notice, save the
smoking ruins of a few houses which the enemy had burned in their
retreat, and one of the two pieces of artillery which Joseph
Bonaparte carried with him from the fatal field of Vittoria, and which
had been dismounted by some of the artillery brigades attached to
the leading divisions two days before. In the evening of the 27th, we
encamped in the vicinity of Pampluna.
As Sir Rowland Hill approached Pampluna, the Marquis of Wellington
gradually withdrew a portion of the other divisions from before that
fortress, and with the Spanish corps of General Mina, proceeded on
the 27th to attempt the capture of General Clausel, who being too
late to take part in the battle of Vittoria, was endeavouring to effect
his escape into France, by a road to the eastward of Pampluna.
Informed of the Marquis' intentions, Clausel wheeled to the right,
and directed his march upon Saragosa. There being no visible
prospect of bringing the enemy to action, the Marquis returned to
Pampluna, and resigned the pursuit of the fugitives into the hands of
the indefatigable Guerilla chief.
The French army was so much in want of provisions when it arrived
under the walls of Pampluna, that Joseph was compelled to draw
largely on the stores of the garrison to satisfy the cravings of his
half-starved followers. This was a most egregious blunder on
Jourdan's part, for it deprived the Governor of the means of
prolonging the defence of the place beyond a very limited period.
On quitting Pampluna, the French army retired towards their own
country in two columns, the principal part of it by the pass of
Roncesvalles, the other by that of Maya. Conceiving that Jourdan
would attempt to fortify the heights at both of those places, Lord
Wellington pushed forward the third and fourth divisions, second
brigade of the second division, and some Spanish and Portuguese
troops towards the former; and the remaining brigades of the
second division, and a brigade of General Hamilton's Portuguese
division were ordered to proceed against the enemy at Maya.
Accordingly, about seven o'clock in the morning of the 2nd of July,
the first, third, and fourth brigades of the second division, one
brigade Portuguese infantry, a few pieces of artillery and some
cavalry, moved from their encampment in front of Pampluna, and in
the afternoon encamped near La-Zarza. Next morning we plodded
our way under torrents of rain, to a bleak mountain a little in front of
the village of Lanz and encamped. Early on the 4th we again moved
forward, and about one o'clock arrived at Almandos, after a
disagreeable tramp across the dreary pass of Lanz. A little in rear of
the village, our columns closed up preparatory to an attack upon the
enemy's position at Barrueta, three miles farther in advance.
About two o'clock, the first brigade led by General Steuart in person,
entered Almandos, and on arriving at the centre of it, made a sharp
turn to the right, filed through several fields by a narrow foot-path,
descended the left bank of a deep ravine, crossed a small stream,
and then scrambled up the right bank, for as the whole face of it
was covered with round trundling stones, the operation was rather a
difficult one. We at length, however, gained the summit, and on
taking a view of the obstacles we had surmounted, we were not a
little surprised that the enemy should have permitted us to obtain a
footing in that quarter, without making an attempt to confine our
operations within a more limited sphere. A few hundred men
judiciously posted, might have accomplished this, at least, for some
little time. On perceiving us fairly established on the left of the
enemy's chain of advanced posts, Sir Rowland Hill gave orders for
the other brigades to move through Almandos, thence along the
high road towards Barrueta, and attack the French posts in front of
that town. On being attacked, the latter retired across a ravine which
runs in front of the village, and joined their main body, the left of
which rested on the summit of a high and very steep mountain, the
centre occupied the village of Barrueta, and the right extended to
the Bidassoa, the right bank of which they occupied with a few light
troops. On retiring behind the ravine, the enemy lined the right
bank, the Portuguese the left. Between them a smart fire of
musketry was kept up with considerable animation for some time,
during which the 50th regiment made an effort to carry the village.
The latter went up to their antagonists in their usual gallant style,
but the French brought forward a very superior force, and drove
them back. To support the 50th in this operation, the left wing of the
92nd was pushed towards the village, and the right wing and 71st
regiment kept in reserve. The services of the 92nd left wing,
however, were not required, for before they reached the scene of
action, the 50th had received orders to retire, Sir Rowland Hill not
deeming it prudent to bring on a more general affair that evening.
The enemy being in the same position, the troops cooked early next
morning, and on the arrival of the Marquis of Wellington about noon,
resumed their arms, and moved against the enemy. Forming the
right of our little army, the first brigade was ordered to ascend a
high, steep, and extremely slippery mountain on our right, in order
to throw itself in rear of the enemy's left wing. The operation was a
fatiguing one; but on arriving at the summit of the hill, a peep of the
French territory, and of the ocean, which the soldiers aptly enough
called the high road to England, banished in an instant every trace of
fatigue, as the spontaneous and deafening cheers of our poor
fellows sufficiently testified. Previous to this, the left column of the
enemy paid but little attention to our demonstration against their
extreme left, but the boisterous expression of feeling just alluded to,
which the enemy had attributed to a cause very different from the
real one, made them bestir themselves. Conceiving it to be General
Gazan's intention to give us battle, we detached our light companies
towards his left flank, and supported the movement with the rest of
the brigade. The enemy's centre and right wing were attacked about
the same time by our friends in the centre, and in a short time
forced to retire from Barrueta. Gazan seeing his left wing turned,
and his right wing and centre about to be driven from their
stronghold behind the village, gave orders to those immediately
opposed to us, to follow the example of their friends, and retire
towards Elizonda.
There being but one road by which the enemy could retire, and that
one too narrow for the rapid retreat of 7000 men, part of the French
troops moved through corn fields between the road and the
Bidassoa, and two or three battalions were thrown across the river,
whither they were pursued by some Portuguese infantry. From the
time Gazan began to retreat, he never attempted to make a stand,
but occasionally turned round, and after peppering us for a few
minutes from behind a wall, hedge, or from the windows of a house,
again took to his heels. Some of our light troops on those occasions
conceiving it imprudent to attack the enemy in their strongholds,
flanked them by moving into the fields, so that the former were
always ready to pour a few vollies of musketry on the latter, the
moment they retired from their temporary forts. In this manner the
retreat and pursuit were conducted till both parties arrived at
Elizonda. To prevent a surprise, the enemy had previously run a wall
round the town, from behind which, they annoyed our light troops
as they closed upon them. The French being forced at length to yield
possession of the southern entrance, we walked on, pursued the
fugitives through the various streets amidst the loud acclamations of
the inhabitants, who, before the enemy had finally relinquished their
hold of the northern gate, were ringing a merry peal in honour of
their deliverance. This spontaneous effusion of loyalty was so grating
to the ears of the French soldiers, that, on taking leave of the town,
they swore to be revenged on it the first time they returned.
On being driven from his position in the valley of Bastan, General
Gazan retired with the main body of his corps to a high ridge at the
head of the valley, and with his left foot in France, and his right foot
in Spain, prepared to give us another meeting before he relinquished
his hold of the last position he could now lay claim to in Spain. This
position was reconnoitred by the Marquis of Wellington on the 6th,
and again on the morning of the 7th. At the close of the last
reconnoissance, preparations were made for an immediate attack,
with the view of ridding this part of the Peninsula of the presence of
the invaders.
The right of General Gazan's corps occupied a high and very steep
mountain, called the Rock of Maya. His centre columns were posted
on two heights considerably lower than the other, and about a mile,
and mile and half distant; and the left rested on another height still
farther to the left. In front of the left centre there was a ridge which
ran all the way to the village of Maya,—nearly two miles. On this
ridge the enemy had placed some light troops, and again, a mile in
front of Maya, another body to watch our motions.
The second brigade of the second division being encamped on the
right bank of the Bidassoa, was pitched upon to attack the rock,
while the other brigades should endeavour to drive the enemy from
the other points of their position. Accordingly, the former got under
arms about 11 o'clock, a.m. on the 7th of July, and ascended a
mountain on their left, over which a narrow foot-path led to the
rock, five miles distant. When the second brigade marched from its
ground the sky was clear, but fortunately for our friends, a dense fog
crowned the conical summit of the rock, just as they were about to
cross an adjoining eminence, so much lower than the other, that but
for this the enemy would have been able to form a correct estimate
of the numerical strength of the attacking column. With the able
assistance of this potent ally, the second brigade approached the
enemy undiscovered, till they had arrived within a very short
distance of the summit of the rock. They were no sooner perceived,
however, than their opponents poured down on them showers of
bullets; but the action, though severe, was very short, for, making
use of the bayonet, the second brigade soon rid the summit of the
mountain of the presence of the enemy.
In order to deceive the French General in regard to our real
intentions, the other brigades remained quiet in their camp for
nearly two hours after their companions had quitted theirs. By this
little manœuvre the French were lulled into a fatal security, for, until
they saw us fairly under arms, they fancied themselves reposing in
perfect safety. On moving from our camp a little in front of Elizonda,
we directed our steps towards Errazu, behind which the most
advanced of the enemy's troops were stationed. As we approached
them, they retired towards the village of Maya. At first they retired
slowly, but the firing on the rock caused them latterly to accelerate
their motion. The same cause made us imitate them, in order that
we might be at hand to render our friends assistance should Gazan
attempt to regain by force his lost possession.
The first brigade, followed by Colonel Ashworth's Portuguese,
advanced rapidly up the valley, passed Maya at a trot, and then, with
the 6th Caçadores on our left, moved towards the enemy, with
whom our light companies soon came in contact. The firing at this
point was kept up with considerable vivacity for some time, but with
little loss to either party. Pending these operations of the light
troops, the 6th Caçadores had advanced close to the enemy
scattered over the northern slope of the rock, with the intention of
preventing us communicating directly with the second brigade. A
smart running fire was the consequence of this collision, which
lasted with little intermission till night. Having succeeded in driving
back the enemy, and establishing themselves in this post, the 50th
regiment was ordered to a height upon their right, close and
immediately opposite to the enemy's right columns. These various
movements at length brought a considerable number of the
combatants into close quarters. The shots at first were as usual
rather long, but as the afternoon advanced they became shorter, till
the 50th and the enemy were more than once on the point of
crossing bayonets. Being rather hard pressed, the 92d regiment
moved to their assistance, but the "old half-hundred" had in its usual
off-hand manner repelled the assault previous to the arrival of their
Highland brethren.
General Gazan heartily ashamed of having so gamely yielded up the
possession of a post which he should have held while he had a man
remaining, made many desperate attempts to regain it, but in all of
them he was beat back with considerable loss. During the whole of
the operations on the rock, nothing could exceed the conduct of the
second brigade, 28th, 34th, and 39th regiments, all of whom had
made up their minds to give their bodies to the eagles that hovered
over their heads, rather than permit the enemy to lodge on the
summit of the mountain that night. The 71st light infantry rendered
us good and efficient service on our right, till night's sable mantle
wrapt every earthly object in impenetrable darkness.
The fog being extremely dense, the night dark, and the French little
more than two hundred yards from our advanced posts, we lay
under arms the whole of the night. So very dark was it indeed, that
on the skirmishers being called in, many of them did not really know
which way to move to rejoin their battalions. In front, and on our left
rank, numbers were, for hours after the action had ceased, bawling,
some Français, others Portuguese. So completely were the poor
devils at fault regarding the situations of their respective friends,
that two French soldiers actually passed one of our piquets, and
were made prisoners before they discovered their mistake.
At day-break on the following day, General Gazan made another
attempt to regain the key of his position, but failing as before, he
kept up a loose irregular firing till about seven o'clock, when, seeing
he could make no impression in that quarter, he took advantage of
the fog to retire with his corps into his own territory. Colonel
Ashworth followed him some distance, and skirmished with his rear-
guard till evening.
When General Gazan retired from the heights of Maya, General
Stewart proceeded to look out for suitable ground for our brigade. In
doing so, he spent fully two hours, there being no convenient spot
but what had previously been occupied by the enemy. Before the
General returned from his tour of inspection, a number had begun to
grumble at the delay in placing us in camp. In this number was
Captain H——s, of the 92d regiment, who would not give credit to
the stories in circulation, relative to the not very praise-worthy habits
of the French soldiery. Seeing that the Captain was not to be
convinced, one of his brother-officers said to him in mere jest, "H
——s, perhaps at this moment some of the gallopers may have
already taken a fancy to you;" and then bending forward as if to
examine whether such was not the case, he, to his own surprise,
was able to convince the Captain of the fact by ocular
demonstration. The Captain instantly sprung from the ground, and
bounded along the heath like a deer for several hundred yards,
stopping only twice to try whether an extraordinary shake of his
polluted ankle would not assist him in getting rid of such vile
intruders.
In the action of the 7th July, three Spanish peasants, inhabitants of
Maya, joined our light troops, advanced into the very heat of the
conflict, and fought with the most determined bravery, till one of
them being killed, and another wounded, the third reluctantly
quitted the scene of action to convey his friend back to his native
village. Had the armies of Spain been composed of such men as
these, the Peninsular contest would have been short indeed.
During the early French revolutionary wars, an opinion prevailed in
the British army, that the French used poisoned balls. That this
opinion still prevailed at the time of which I write, is evidenced by
the fact, that on the evening of the 7th, I heard one of the 50th call
out, as he passed us on his way to the rear, "I know I am a dead
man, I have been wounded by a poisoned ball."
Conceiving it to be the duty of every officer in charge of a company
to record every little anecdote, which can tend to illustrate the
character or the men under their command, I cannot forbear to
notice an act of coolness on the part of a young lad named M'Ewen,
which cannot be too much admired. In the action of the 7th, a
musket ball grazed his bonnet a little above the ear. Instead of
alarming him, however, M'Ewen very coolly turned round his head to
mark the progress of the bullet, and on seeing it bury itself in the
earth a few yards in his rear, shook his head, and said, "O ye
coaxing rascal."
Until we took possession of the heights of Maya, we really knew but
little of the real discomforts of a camp. We had occasionally suffered
severely from sleet, rain, and cold stiff gales, but such a thing as a
hurricane was a total stranger to us. At Maya, however, our position
was so exposed to the four wind's of heaven, that blow from
whatever quarter it might, the wind always found us at its mercy.
One evening, after we had retired to rest, our encampment was
visited by a tremendous storm of wind and rain. The former howled,
and the latter battered the slender sides of our tents with such fury,
that many of them were blown down. Every precaution was instantly
taken to keep the tent-poles and cords from snapping, but in many
cases our efforts proved fruitless, for the wind continuing to increase
for some time after, down came one tent, then another, and another,
till more than a half of the whole were level with the ground. I had
just fallen asleep, and was enjoying a very comfortable nap, when
"Cast away, cast away!" from a well-known voice, rung in my ears,
and roused me from my slumbers. I instantly started up, and
fancying what had happened, pulled the strings of my tent, and
gave the cast-away wanderer a hearty welcome. But scarcely had
my friend recited his hair-breadth 'scape from suffocation, when
appearances boded nothing favourable to the little vessel in which
we were. Our servants did all in their power to keep the pole
upright, but seeing that to be impossible, I ordered them to haul it
down, and then, in company with my brother-sufferer, proceeded on
a voyage of discovery.
We proceeded, in the first instance, to the tent of three friends,
which being more favourably situated than ours, we hoped would
afford us shelter. On arriving there, however, all was desolation. We
made two or three other unsuccessful attempts to obtain a
temporary shelter from the surly blast; but despairing of finding it,
and the night being extremely dark, we finally resolved to seek
protection under the brow of the hill, and wait with patience the
coming of the morning light. Pursuing our way, without a light or a
guide, we had considerable difficulty in reaching a spot, where,
protected, we might sit and hear the storm expend its fury over our
heads. At length we got under cover, but had not been half-an-hour
in our new berth, when our feet became so benumbed with cold,
that we found it necessary to move about to bring them again to
their natural heat. Wrapt in our cloaks, and with the rain battering in
our faces, we were jogging along towards our arms, when all at
once we came upon a tent which had withstood the fury of the
storm. We were desired to walk in, and accept of what
accommodation the inmates had to spare. We did so, but finding the
tent pretty well filled with others similarly situated with ourselves, I
left my friend Captain H—— under cover, and after a little more
trouble I found out the residence of an old friend, where I remained
during the remainder of the storm.
When day dawned, nothing but desolation was to be seen in our
camp. Out of fifty tents, few were standing, more than the half of
them were complete wrecks, and a number of the others were
seriously injured. The men's arms and accoutrements were greatly
damaged, and a considerable portion of our ammunition was
destroyed.
CHAPTER XXII.
The disastrous issue of the battle of Vittoria, and subsequent retreat
of the French army into their own country, having convinced
Napoleon that neither his brother Joseph, nor Marshal Jourdan, were
qualified to lead the armies of France to victory, he instantly
dispatched Marshal Soult from Germany, with unlimited powers, to
take the command of the French army on the lower Pyrenees, and
oppose the farther progress of the British General in that direction.
From the first moment of Soult's appointment being known to us, we
anticipated warm work; and he seemed determined that we should
not be disappointed. On the 23d of July he issued an order of the
day, intimating that his instructions were "to drive the English from
the lofty heights which enabled them proudly to survey their fertile
vallies, and chase them across the Ebro." "Let the accounts of our
success," continued Soult, in the true Napoleon style, "be dated from
Vittoria, and the birth-day of the Emperor celebrated in that city."
This, although sheer bombast, was not a little ominous of what was
to follow,—broken heads and mutilated limbs.
On the 25th of July, the day which developed to us the mighty plans
by which Soult intended to carry the orders of the Emperor into
execution, the allied army occupied the following positions,
extending from Roncesvalles on the right, to St Sebastian on the left.
The third brigade, second division, commanded by General Byng,
formed the extreme right, and occupied a strong post, three
hundred yards into the French territory, which commanded the high
road from St Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles, five miles in rear.
This brigade was supported by the fifth Spanish army, under General
Morillo. The fourth division was encamped on the heights in front of
Roncesvalles, a few miles in rear of the others;—and the third
division were in position at Olaque, in readiness to move to
wherever their services might be most required. A few miles to the
left of the fourth, Brigadier-General Campbell's brigade of
Portuguese infantry occupied Los Alduides, a French village, to keep
open the line of communication between the right wing and centre,
under Sir Rowland Hill, in the valley of Bastan.
The left wing, under Sir Thomas Graham, consisting of the first and
fifth divisions, was engaged in the siege of St Sebastian. On their
right, the Spanish corps of Generals Longa and Giron extended from
the vicinity of the latter towards the heights of Santa-Barbara,
where, and at Puerto-de-Eschelar and Vera, the seventh and light
divisions were posted.
The troops entrusted with the defence of the heights of Maya, and
valley of Bastan, were stationed as follows:—The fourth brigade,
second division, occupied the village of Errazu; and a Portuguese
brigade, under the Conde de Amarante, a position in the mountains
in front of that place. On the summit of the ridge, over which runs
the high road from the valley of Bastan into France, the 71st and
92d regiments were encamped,—the latter two hundred yards to the
left of the road, and the former three hundred yards still farther to
the left. The 50th regiment were detached about half-a-mile from
the right of the 92d, and lay encamped half-way down the ridge on
the Spanish side. Three pieces of Portuguese artillery occupied the
space between the road and the 92d; and the 82d regiment, from
General Barnes' brigade, seventh division, were posted about a mile
from the left of the 71st. The second brigade, second division, were
encamped in the valley, a little in front of the town of Maya, having
the 34th regiment advanced towards the summit of the heights on
the right of the position, on which that brigade had strong piquets
posted; and the Spanish General O'Donnel, the Conde-del-Abisbal,
formed the blockade of Pampluna, with a force of from ten to fifteen
thousand Spaniards.
A little after 11 o'clock, a.m. on the 25th of July, the enemy,
ascending the heights by a mountainous path which leads from the
French village of Espalete to the Spanish village of Maya, attacked
our piquets on the right with great fury. The latter, on the first
appearance of the enemy, were reinforced by the light companies of
the second brigade, and subsequently by the 34th, 39th, 50th, and
right wing of the 92d regiment. The first assault of our old friend
Druet, the Count D'Erlon, was sustained by the piquets and light
troops with much spirit, but the overwhelming numbers of the
enemy rendered all their efforts to retain their ground unavailing.
The 34th regiment being the nearest corps to the point attacked,
were soon on the spot, and attempted to arrest the torrent; but,
from a similar cause, were nearly cut off. The 50th arrived at the
scene of action at this ticklish period—charged the advanced
columns of the enemy, and in conjunction with the 34th and 39th,
which had followed the 50th, gave a temporary check to their career.
But the Count D'Erlon, availing himself of his great numerical
superiority, charged these corps in front, and detached strong
columns round their flanks, in order to surround them. At this critical
period the right wing of the 92d regiment, nearly 400 strong,
entered the field, and took part in the fray. On their arrival, the
Highlanders were a good deal blown, having advanced from the pass
about a mile and a-half, at a hurried pace. The situation of their
friends, however, was such, that they formed line on coming in sight
of the enemy, and were ordered forward by Colonel Cameron, who
commanded on the heights at the time, without a moment's repose.
The enemy perceiving our intention was to charge them, halted, and
thereby afforded the 34th and 50th regiments an opportunity of
retiring, and re-forming their ranks. Enraged at the failure of his
attempt to capture those two battalions, the French General turned
his fury against the Highlanders, with an intention of annihilating
them with showers of musketry. They, however, nothing intimidated,
returned the fire of their opponents with admirable effect. Perceiving
that D'Erlon was acting cautiously, Colonel Cameron withdrew the
right wing of the 92d, in order to draw the enemy to a piece of
ground where he could charge them. In this he partly succeeded; for
the French General, mistaking our voluntary retreat for a constrained
one, pushed forward from three to four thousand of his troops, who
on advancing towards us, made the air ring with their shouts of Vive
l'Empereur. Conceiving that the enemy had made up his mind to
prove the point of our bayonets, Cameron retired about thirty paces,
and then ordered his men to halt—front—and prepare to charge. On
seeing us halt, the enemy did the same, and instantly opened on us
one of the most terrific fires of musketry which we had ever
witnessed. At this time the space between the combatants was not
more than one hundred and twenty paces, while the numerical force
of the enemy was nearly eight to one against us. From the 92d, to
the French front line, the ground was almost level, but immediately
behind the enemy's advanced body, and from the opposite bank of a
narrow ravine, rose rather abruptly a considerable eminence, from
the face of which the French musketry told with fatal effect on their
opponents. This, however, the Highlanders did not return, for
conceiving that the French General wished to get quit of them by a
general charge, the 92d directed the whole of their fire against that
part of the French force stationed on the brow of the ravine nearest
themselves, and which was so coolly and admirably given, that in
ten minutes the enemy's dead lay literally in heaps. The slaughter
was so appalling indeed, that the utmost efforts of the French
officers to make their men advance in front of their slain, failed. At
times they prevailed upon a section or two to follow them,—but
whenever they obtained a glimpse of the mangled corpses of their
comrades, which every where surrounded them, they invariably gave
way, and retired from the scene of blood. For more than twenty
minutes the Highlanders sustained the unequal conflict, at the expiry
of which more than one half of the men had been killed and
wounded; and all the officers wounded, and borne from the field,
but two lieutenants.
Being one of the two, and the senior in rank, I found myself at once
placed in a situation of considerable importance, surrounded with
difficulties, and beset with dangers on every hand. The enemy
immediately opposed to us was certainly not fewer than 3000,—our
numbers had by this time been reduced to something under 200,
and a great part of them had no ammunition. Thus situated, and
with no friends in sight to render us assistance, it appeared to me
that the most prudent course I could adopt, under all the
circumstances, would be to retire, particularly as it became every
moment more and more evident that the French General's object
was either to annihilate us with his fire, or surround us with his
endless masses. We retired accordingly, pursued slowly by the
enemy, and without the loss of a man, but such as fell by the terrific
showers of musketry which they poured on us during the retreat.
On our arrival behind the height on which we had been engaged, we
found the 28th in close column, and the right wing of the 71st
hastening forward to our relief. The former attacked the enemy's
leading columns, but soon after moving down the hill to the right,
the Bragge Slashers joined the 34th and 39th regiments in the
valley, and left our rear completely uncovered. Under these
circumstances, the 50th and shattered remains of the 92d right wing
retired towards the pass, where General Stewart, who had now
arrived from Elizonda, was making the necessary preparations to
retard the progress of his opponent.
Detaching the right wing of the 71st, and part of the 50th, to a
position in rear, General Stewart, at the head of the left wings of the
71st and 92d, awaited the enemy. The latter, after a little
skirmishing, brought forward a strong body of infantry to overpower
all opposition. Seeing that a general affair would be attended with
no favourable result at this point, General Stewart, after a few
rounds, withdrew the advanced wings, and marching them through
the intervals between the 50th and 71st right wing, placed them
again in position about two hundred yards in rear of the latter. The
enemy followed, and were warmly received by the 50th and 71st. A
smart firing took place, which, as before, ended in the retreat of our
friends through the intervals between the left wings of the 71st and
92d. In this manner, each half of the troops alternately retiring, we
retrograded fully a mile, when, being reinforced by the 82d
regiment, we halted.
At the commencement of the action, Colonel Cameron adopted the
necessary precaution of detaching Captain Campbell of his own
corps, with 150 men, to the summit of the rock of Maya, it being the
key to the whole position. From this formidable post the little
garrison rendered us considerable service; for the face of the
mountain being every where covered with whinstone blocks, Captain
Campbell, in imitation of Andrew Hoffer in the Tyrol, hurled them
down on the pursuers, and frequently with great effect.
But neither stones, bullets, nor bayonets, checked the progress of
the enemy, for the second brigade having deviated from the natural
and prescribed route, retired across the valley of Bastan, some miles
to our right, and left us in numbers from 2000 to 2500 to contend
against eight or nine thousand. The consequence of this false
movement was such as might have been expected. The enemy
seeing the two bodies completely separated, followed up the
advantages they had gained over our column, and at length pressed
us so warmly, that General Stewart, in order to stop the farther
effusion of blood in a hopeless cause, dispatched an order to the
troops on the rock to retire. It was then about seven o'clock in the
evening. Fortunately, however, the cheers of the troops at the base
of the hill, reached the summit of it before the bearer of the order.
These cheers were occasioned by the arrival of General Barnes with
the 6th regiment, and some Brunswick infantry, being the remainder
of his brigade. A more seasonable reinforcement no troops ever
received. On the first appearance of it, our lads were perfectly frantic
with joy. Being seated at the time, they, although greatly fatigued,
sprung upon their feet, and then, without either asking or obtaining
permission to advance, rushed down upon the enemy with
irresistible force, and drove back his numerous hordes in the finest
style imaginable. Taking it for granted that we had been reinforced,
D'Erlon retired about a mile. In order to strengthen our line we had
received a great addition to our numbers, General Stewart caused
the covering sergeants to take ground in the usual regular manner,
by which operation he intended to convey to his opponent an idea
that he only waited for the light of a new day to renew the combat.
Marshal Soult having attacked at day-break the same morning the
right of our army at Roncesvalles, with an overwhelming force,
Generals Cole, Picton, and Byng, after doing every thing in their
power to repel the attack, were ultimately compelled to yield up
their position to the enemy, and draw off towards Pampluna—the
relief, or re-provisioning of that strong fortress being the enemy's
principal object. To frustrate his designs, it became necessary for
Lord Wellington to concentrate a considerable portion of his army in
a position in front of Pampluna. For that purpose we retired from
Maya the same night, and after a fatiguing night's march, halted
next morning at seven o'clock, on a height in front of Barrueta.
CHAPTER XXIII.
I believe one of the best judges now in Britain has pronounced the
action of the 25th July to be one of the most brilliant achievements
performed during the late Peninsular war. Will posterity credit the
fact, that 2600 British troops not only retained the key of their
position, in despite of the utmost efforts of 11,000 of Bonaparte's
best infantry for nine hours, to wrest it from them,—but on receiving
a reinforcement of 1000 men only, actually re-captured about a mile
of the ground which the enemy had acquired in the early part of the
day? Will posterity believe that 400 British soldiers stretched 1000
Frenchmen dead or maimed on the bed of honour, in less than half-
an-hour? I fear not, without something more than a bare assertion;
and therefore I take the liberty of relating the substance of a
conversation which passed a few days afterwards, between the
French General who commanded on that occasion, and a British
Colonel, who was wounded on the 25th, and from the severity of his
wound was obliged to be left behind when we quitted the valley of
Bastan.
The Count D'Erlon, whether from a humane or an interested feeling,
I know not, waited upon Colonel H——, in passing through the
village where the latter was confined to bed, and after condoling
with him on the consequences of the action of the 25th of July, said,
"Pray, Colonel, how many Sans Culottes (Highlanders) have you in
your division?" "One battalion," answered the Colonel. "One
regiment of several battalions, I presume, Colonel," retorted D'Erlon.
"No, General, only one battalion I assure you," replied Colonel H——.
The Count then in a playful manner, and with a smile of incredulity in
his countenance, said, "Come now, Colonel, don't quiz me, do tell
me candidly, how many Highlanders you had in action on the right of
your position on the 25th?" On this query being put, Colonel H——
said, with great earnestness, "I give you my honour, General, there

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