For nearly three months the battalion was encamped on the heights of Roncesvalles, during which period _St. Sebastian_ and _Pampeluna_ were captured. The men were principally employed during this interval in the construction of block-houses and batteries, and the formation of roads for the artillery.
In the early part of the season the neighbouring heights of _Altobispo_ were occupied weekly by the brigades of the division; but as the cold increased with the high winds, the piquets alone were appointed for this duty. Such was the inclemency of the weather, and natural advantages of this position, that it was scarcely thought that the enemy would attempt an attack. This opinion, however, was ill founded, as upon the night of the 11th of October an attempt was made by a strong party upon the advance, composed of fifteen men of the SEVENTY-FIRST, under Serjeant James Ross. Instead of flinching from an unequal contest, this small band, relying upon the strength of the position, and being, moreover, favored by the darkness, which concealed its strength, maintained its ground, and forced the enemy to retire. The bravery of this party called forth high encomiums from Lieut.-General the Honorable Sir William Stewart, commanding the division, and at his request the soldiers composing it were all presented with medals.
On the 8th of November the division was again in motion, for the purpose of entering the French territory; and on the 9th of that month it bivouacked near the heights of Maya, where orders were received to march as light as possible. The heights were passed that night by moonlight, for the purpose of joining the grand army; but the march over bad roads was so fatiguing that when the brigade arrived in position on the _Nivelle_ it was not called upon to take an active part in the glorious proceedings of the rest of the army on the 10th of November, in forcing the French from their fortified position on that river.
After the battle of the Nivelle, the battalion marched in the direction of Cambo, on the Nive, where some smart skirmishing occurred, in which two men were killed, and four serjeants, one bugler, and forty-one rank and file wounded. When the French crossed to the right bank, the SEVENTY-FIRST occupied part of the town of Cambo.