X-Nico

4 unusual facts about Battle of the Nive


Battle of the Nive

Despite poor weather, Hill led five Anglo-Portuguese divisions (2nd, 3rd, 6th, Portuguese and Pablo Morillo's Spanish Divisions) across to the east bank of the Nive near Ustaritz on 9 December.

Longford, Elizabeth, Wellington: The Years of the Sword, Panther Books Ltd., 1971.

Though delayed by congestion at the bridge over the Adour, Soult's attack against the British positions on the ridge around Saint-Pierre-d'Irube was powerful enough for one British lieutenant colonel to flee the field, taking his battalion (1/3rd Buffs Foot) with him.

Dyer baronets

The ninth Baronet was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army and served in the Peninsular War, where he was present at Badajoz, Vitoria, San Sebastian, the Pyrenees, Nive, Orthez and Toulouse.


Sir Howard Elphinstone, 1st Baronet

Promoted regimental lieutenant-colonel on 21 July 1813, after the battles of Nivelle and the Nive, Elphinstone commanded the engineers at the crossing of the Adour and the siege and battle of Bayonne.


see also