File:Wellington, soldier and statesman, and the revival of the military power of England (1904) (14779655064).jpg

Identifier: wellingtonsoldie00morr (find matches)
Title: Wellington, soldier and statesman, and the revival of the military power of England
Year: 1904 (1900s)
Authors: Morris, William O'Connor, 1824-1904
Subjects: Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852
Publisher: New York (etc.) : G.P. Putnam's Sons
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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again, asthey struggled through the obstacles in their way,and sought to close with the skilfully posted French ;they were ravaged by a destructive fire of guns andof musketry. Soult, it is said, as he beheld whatseemed a certain defeat, smote his thigh and ex-claimed, I have him at last ; he marshalled his re-serves to make victory complete. But Wellingtonhad watched the battle from a hill on his side ; histactical inspiration turned the scales of fortune.Perceiving that St. Boes and the height could not becarried, he contrived by a movement of characteristicskill, to turn this part of the position to the left;the result was before long developed: safety, nay,success, was admirably plucked from danger. TheFrench army gave way by degrees: its commanderhad no choice but to retreat. Meanwhile Hill hadeffected the passage of the Gave ; Clausel fell backto join his discomfited chief. The retreat was con-ducted in good order; but thousands of conscriptsdisbanded and threw away their arms.
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From the Pyrenees to the Garonne 245 Soult had ably fought a defensive battle; he hadonly just missed a real victory; but probably heshould have fallen on his antagonist when crossingthe Gave: here, again, we see his shortcomings in thefield. On the other hand, Wellingtons strategy canhardly be admired ; but his genius in tactics shoneout finely ; his movement to turn the hill at St. Boeswas a master stroke. The Marshal had lost fourthousand men at Orthes ; besides, perhaps, half of hisboyish conscripts ; but he rose superior to fortune,however adverse ; he made ready to march to theGaronne, where he still hoped to be joined by Suchet.The retrograde movement was across the headsof the streams which descend from the Pyrenees,through a difficult and intricate country ; it waseffected with admirable skill and resource ; it was inno sense a mere passive retreat. Soult made a standat Tarbes on the upper Adour, and successfully heldhis adversary at bay : more than once he assumed adaring of

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