An original Peninsular War letter from Ensign Allan MacLean, 79th Foot, who was severely wounded at Toulouse, ink, four sides on a single folded sheet of white paper, including address panel to reverse centre of last sheet with four postal stamps, addressed to his father, Donald MacLean, ‘Writer to the Signet, Edinburgh’, and dated at ‘Alta Biscar Pass, Perynees, 2nd August 1813’, in which he discusses, among other topics, the engagement at Sorauren:

‘ ... You would see by Lord Wellington’s despatch the drubbing which we gave Soult on the 28th and 30th ulto. at the village of Sorauren, one league from Pamplona and the prisoners we took. On the 28th the 6th Division under General Pack was under the line of march when the French came down from a very strong position which they occupied on a mountain, but we soon drove them back. Soon afterwards a very strong column of them made three very gallant and determined attacks on a steep hill, which they at last gained, but held it scarcely five minutes, when they were most gallantly charged by the 4th Division under General Cole and repulsed in every direction ... At daylight on the 30th however our artillery opened a heavy fire (covered by our Brigade) which did much execution and forced them to move a strong column to the left, where they were met by the 7th Division under Lord Dalhousie and driven back with great loss ... the taking of the village was followed by a futile retreat of the enemy in which we took one General, one Colonel and I suppose 10,000 prisoners. The whole army followed close at their heels and have now driven them a second time across the Perynees, where I trust we shall be able to keep them for good and all. These were the first affairs with the enemy that I had the good fortune to be present at and a grander sight than an action I think cannot be ... ’

in generally good condition £150-200

Allan MacLean was appointed an Ensign in the 1st Battalion, 79th Foot in December 1812 and was subsequently present in actions in the Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive and Toulouse, at which latter battle he was severely wounded. He was advanced to Lieutenant in July 1814.