The battalion marched on the 19th of December to Urcuit, and to Urt upon the 28th of that month. A small piquet of the SEVENTY-FIRST, under the command of Corporal Dogherty, here distinguished itself, by beating off an enemy’s party of nearly treble its strength.
While stationed in this quarter, the companies were frequently engaged in skirmishes with the enemy, particularly at St. Hellette, heights of Garris, and St. Palais, in the month of January 1814.
In the beginning of February the battalion marched from Urt, and during its advance had frequent skirmishes with the enemy’s rear-guard.
On the 26th of February the battalion was in action at _Sauveterre_, and upon the 27th had the honor of participating in the battle of _Orthes_.
In commemoration of this victory the SEVENTY-FIRST afterwards received the Royal authority to bear the word “ORTHES” on the regimental colour and appointments.
Two divisions of the French army having retired to _Aire_, after the action of the 27th of February, Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill moved upon that town to dislodge them. Upon the 2d of March the French were found strongly posted upon a ridge of hills, extending across the great road in front of the town, having their right on the Adour. The second division attacked them along the road, seconded by a Portuguese brigade, and drove them from their position, in gallant style. Lieutenant James Anderson and seventeen rank and file were killed; Lieutenant Henry Frederick Lockyer, one serjeant, and nineteen rank and file, were wounded.
A detachment from the second battalion, consisting of one captain, four subalterns, and a hundred and thirty-four rank and file, under the command of Major Arthur Jones, joined at Aire.
On the 25th of March part of the battalion was engaged in an affair at _Tarbes_, in which Lieutenant Robert Law was wounded, and upon the 10th of April was in position at _Toulouse_, where some of the companies were employed skirmishing, and sustained a loss of one serjeant and three rank and file killed; six rank and file were wounded.
During the night of the 11th of April the French troops evacuated _Toulouse_, and a white flag was hoisted. On the following day the Marquis of Wellington entered the city, amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants. In the course of the afternoon of the 12th of April intelligence was received of the abdication of Napoleon, and had not the express been delayed on the journey by the French police the sacrifice of many valuable lives would have been prevented.