Battle of Vera
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1 September, 1813
[edit] The first battle of Vera
The initial battle for the bridge over the Bidassoa at Vera was fought on 1 September as General Dominique Vandamme, retreating from the disastrous battle of Sorauren tried to fight his way back to the main French force.
At the head of some 10,000 soldiers, Vandamme attempted to overwhelm the understrength company of 95th Rifles guarding the span.
The 70 British riflemen fought one of the most spectacular actions of the entire war, stopping many French assaults with deadly accurate fire.
On the evening of the 1st september Two riflemen standing sentry-go on the bridge while the rest of the company was sheltering in a few stone buildings from a rainstorm. The two sentries were ordered to fire their guns if the French approached but a rainstorm wet their powder and they were killed.
An attentive lieutenant, however, saw the French column attempting to cross the narrow bridge and roused his comrades.
The French, with wet powder were unable to fire and resorted to futil bayonet charges, trying to take the buildings, but each sharge was stopped by the accurate fire for which the 95th was rightly famous.
The captain in charge of the detachment, Daniel Cadoux, was refused reinforcements and in fact ordered to quit the post.
Knowing how important the bridge was, Cadoux decided against withdrawal and the British fought on through the night. Up to that point, they had suffered only two casualties; the sentries on the bridge. But come daylight another order came to withdraw. This time Cadoux obeyed. The French, now with dry powder bombarded the village during the pullout and almost every rifleman was wounded. Cadoux himself was killed.
Vandamme's men then crossed the river, leaving behind their baggage and artillery.
