In the evening the battalion marched to San Pedro, and on the 29th of October proceeded to Merida; on the 31st to Montejo; on the 1st of November to Campo Mayor; on the 3rd to Arronches; and arrived at Portalegre on the 4th of November.

Lieut.-General Hill, on the 7th of November, issued the following General Order:—

Letters from the Secretary of State, dated the 2nd, and from His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, dated the 6th December, were promulgated, expressive of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent’s approbation and thanks to Lieut.-General Hill, and the troops under his command, for their brilliant operations on the recent expedition in Spanish Estremadura, in having totally surprised and defeated the enemy under General Girard.

Viscount Wellington having made preparations for the recapture of Ciudad Rodrigo, concentrated the main body of the army in that neighbourhood, and the troops under Lieut.-General Hill were therefore ordered to divert the enemy’s attention in the south.

Lieut.-General Hill marched from Portalegre on the 26th of December, and proceeded on the 29th to a bivouac about a league beyond La Nava, at which village about three hundred French infantry were discovered running to their arms upon the approach of the head of the British cavalry column. They, however, effected their escape to Merida, from which place they had been that morning detached, and acquainted General Dombrouski of the approach of the British troops.

On the 30th of December, the NINETY-SECOND and other British troops entered Merida, the French having retreated during the night, where they halted during the following day.

On the 1st of January, 1812, the British troops moved upon Almendralejos, beyond which, and close to the town, the enemy’s columns were formed, and seen immediately retreating to Azauchal. On the 3rd, Lieut.-General Hill matched his force to Villa Franca. A brigade of infantry, and the cavalry, were pushed forward to Fuentes del Maestre, where a smart affair took place, the enemy retreating upon Llerena with the loss of some prisoners.

Lieut.-General Hill’s division returned to Almendralejos on the 4th of January, and the NINETY-SECOND marched on the following day to Merida, where the troops went into quarters. The siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, which commenced on the 8th of January, being in a state of forwardness, it was expected that the French would make an effort to relieve the place. Lieut.-General Hill was therefore directed to throw a part of his force across the Tagus.

The troops accordingly marched on the 13th of January from Merida to La Nava; on the 14th to Zogalla; on the 15th to Albuquerque; on the 16th to Codesiera; on the 17th to Portalegre; on the 19th to Alpalhao; on the 20th to Niza; and on the following day they crossed the Tagus at Villa Velha; marched from thence to Sarnadas, and on the 22nd to Castello Branco. During this march intelligence was received of the storm and capture of Ciudad Rodrigo by the British on the 19th of January.

On the 2nd of February, the NINETY-SECOND and other regiments under Lieut.-General Hill, were directed to return to Portalegre, where they arrived on the 5th of that month.

The strength of the first battalion at this period consisted of forty-three serjeants, sixteen drummers, and seven hundred and thirty rank and file. On the 4th of March the battalion marched to Alegrete, and on the following day to Albuquerque.

Previously to this time, a large quantity of artillery stores and the battering train had been embarked at Lisbon for the Mediterranean (as it was then reported), but the vessels put into the Bay of Setuval; the whole being landed at Alcacer de Sal, and conveyed up the Alemtejo, soon appeared moving on the plains in front and to the right of Elvas, in one long and continued chain towards the Guadiana. The army now became aware that the third siege of Badajoz was to be undertaken.

Lieut.-General Hill’s corps marched from Albuquerque on the 15th of March, and arrived at La Nava on the 16th;—proceeded on the following day to Merida, where some officers and men of the enemy were made prisoners. The division continued its march to Almendralejos on the 18th of March, where the NINETY-SECOND and other troops were stationed to cover the siege of Badajoz, before which ground had been broken on the previous day.

The division proceeded on the 21st of March from Almendralejos to Merida, and on the 26th advanced towards Medellin and Don Benito, from which places it forced the enemy to retire. Advices were here received, that the enemy, under Marshal Soult, was advancing to Llerena, with a view to relieve Badajoz, to the vicinity of which place the covering army was directed to retire.

On the 31st of March, the division proceeded towards Merida, where it arrived on the 2nd of April; it marched on the 5th to a position near Talavera Real. On the night of the 6th of April, Badajoz was assaulted and carried by the troops under the Earl of Wellington, Marshal Soult consequently retraced his steps towards Seville.

The battalion marched into quarters in Almendralejos on the 13th of April. A French force having made an irruption into the province of Beira, the Earl of Wellington, with the main body of the army, crossed the Tagus immediately after the fall of Badajoz.

On the 12th of May, the battalion marched from Almendralejos, and bivouacked near Merida; on the 13th near Arroyo-del-Molinos; on the 14th near Villa Mesias; on the 15th entered Truxillo, and marched again about midnight; on the 16th bivouacked near Jaraicejo, and on the following day proceeded to the mountains near Casas del Puerto.

On the 18th of May, the NINETY-SECOND marched at night to attack the enemy’s fortifications covering the bridge of Almaraz. The ruggedness of the footpath through the mountains, and the darkness of the night, presented serious obstacles to a rapid march; it was consequently daylight before the troops were formed in the Valle de Canas.

The fiftieth regiment and a wing of the seventy-first were formed in one column, and were destined to assault Fort Napoleon on the 19th of May; while the NINETY-SECOND under Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, and the other wing of the seventy-first, were formed in a second column, ready to support the attack on Fort Napoleon, or to carry the tête-de-pont at the same moment, both columns being provided with scaling ladders.

Fort Napoleon was carried in gallant style by the column sent against it, the enemy flying from it towards the tête-de-pont; the NINETY-SECOND dashed forward and entered with him. The commandant of Fort Ragusa, on the opposite bank of the Tagus, being seized with a panic, had cut away the bridge of boats; many of his countrymen consequently were either drowned or made prisoners.

The attention of all was now directed to the passage of the river. Some of the NINETY-SECOND immediately leaped in, and swam to the opposite side, bringing the boats back with them.[14] Thus was the bridge secured, together with Fort Ragusa, which the enemy immediately abandoned.

The enemy attached great importance to his establishment at this place, which secured the only direct communication between his two armies, and its destruction had the effect of placing them several days’ march more distant from each other, and over mountainous roads hardly passable by artillery. The works and bridge at Almaraz having been destroyed, and about five hundred prisoners secured, the troops returned to Jaraicejo.

To commemorate the gallantry of the NINETY-SECOND in the above enterprise, the Royal Authority was afterwards received for the word “Almaraz” to be borne on the Regimental Colour and Appointments.

On the 21st of May, the troops marched to Truxillo, where they halted for two days. At this period intelligence was received that the French had pressed forward towards Almendralejos.

On the 24th of May, the corps under Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill marched to a bivouac near Villa Mesias; on the 25th proceeded to the vicinity of Rio del Agua; on the 26th to near San Pedro, and occupied quarters in Merida on the day following.

The NINETY-SECOND marched from Merida on the 5th of June, and went into quarters in Almendralejos. On the 12th of June it marched to Fuentes del Maestre, and on the following day proceeded to Puebla de Sancho Perez. The enemy having moved from Andalusia in some force, evinced an inclination to bring on an action in this advanced position, probably to divert the Earl of Wellington from his operations upon Salamanca, with which place Marshal Soult had no direct communication since the loss of the bridge of Almaraz, and every movement in advance threw him farther from co-operating with Marshal Marmont.

The battalion retired to Los Santos on the 16th of June; on the 17th to Santa Martha; and on the 18th to a wood in front of Albuhera, where all the infantry under Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill were assembled; some field-works were immediately thrown up to strengthen the position, and enable the Earl of Wellington, without apprehension for the safety of that corps, to prosecute his attack upon the enemy’s forts at Salamanca, which were captured on the 27th of June.

On the 2nd of July, the battalion advanced to Santa Martha; on the 3rd it marched to a bivouac near Villa Alva, where the enemy brought up some guns, and cannonaded the troops; on the 4th it bivouacked near Feria; on the 5th near Bienvenida; on the 6th near Villa Garcia; and on the 7th it entered Llerena.

The NINETY-SECOND marched from Llerena, by Arlones, on the 8th of July to Berlenga, where some cannonading and a cavalry skirmish took place, after which the enemy retired, and the battalion returned on the following day to Llerena.

The battalion again marched from Llerena on the 20th of July to Bienvenida, and on the following day to Zafra. The enemy at this time moved to his right, and had a force near Fuentes del Maestre.

During the night of the 26th of July, the NINETY-SECOND marched towards Villa Franca, near which place the battalion bivouacked about daylight. The French were about a league in front at Fuentes del Maestre. Between nine and ten o’clock in the morning of the 29th of July, a brigade of French guns was drawn up on a height, in front of their position, and fired a royal salute. Many were the surmises as to the cause of this rejoicing, until some of the British officers ascertained at the outposts, that the salute was in honor of a victory supposed to have been gained by the French at Salamanca.

Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, however, received more authentic intelligence from the scene of action, and immediately afterwards issued the following order:—

The troops were under arms, and after the salute, Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill advanced; the enemy, however, did not await this proof that the victory was on the side of the Allies, but immediately retired, and Fuentes del Maestre was occupied by the British troops.

On the 1st of August, the battalion went into quarters in Villa Franca.

The allied army under the Marquis of Wellington, which title was conferred upon him after the victory of Salamanca, entered Madrid on the 12th of August, and was received with every demonstration of joy by the inhabitants. Marshal Soult, in consequence of this movement, raised the blockade of Cadiz, and abandoning Western Andalusia, moved towards Grenada.

Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill’s corps, of which the NINETY-SECOND formed part, advanced on the 28th of August to Usagre; on the 29th to Villa Garcia; on the 30th proceeded to the left to Maquilla; on the 31st to El Campillo; on the 1st of September the troops marched to Zalamea; on the 2nd to Quintana; on the 3rd to La Nava; and on the 4th to quarters in Don Benito.

On the 13th of September, Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill crossed the Guadiana, and marched to Mojadas; on the 14th to Villa Mesias; and on the 15th to Truxillo, where the troops halted.

The troops resumed their march from Truxillo to a bivouac near Jaraicejo on the 19th of September, and on the day following crossed a pontoon bridge thrown over the Tagus, where that of the enemy formerly stood, and bivouacked near Almaraz; on the 21st the division proceeded to Naval Moral; on the 22nd marched to Calzada de Oropeza; on the 23rd to La Gartera, and there halted.

On the 26th of September, Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill’s division marched to Talavera de la Reinha; on the 27th to Cebolla; on the 28th to Torrijos; on the 29th to Toledo; on the 30th to a bivouac near Villa Mejor; and on the 1st of October to quarters in Aranjuez.

At this period, the Marquis of Wellington was engaged in the siege of the Castle of Burgos. Information was also received that Marshal Soult and King Joseph, with their united armies, were advancing from Valencia, and that their advanced guard was in the neighbourhood of Ocanna, and moving on Madrid.

In consequence of the necessity of raising the siege of the Castle of Burgos, and retreating, the NINETY-SECOND, and other corps under Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, moved from Aranjuez on the 23rd of October, crossed the Tagus, and marched to Colominarde Orejo; on the 25th advanced to the bridge of Fuentes Duenna; on the 27th of October, the enemy appeared on the opposite bank of the river and reconnoitred. The troops under Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill marched on the following day to Villa Conejos, and on the same evening crossed the Jarama at Puente Larga, and went into position; on the 29th they marched to a bivouac near Valle de Moro; on the 30th near Abavaca; and on the 31st to El Escurial. The Marquis of Wellington, with the main body of the army, was at this period returning from the neighbourhood of Burgos towards Salamanca.

The NINETY-SECOND marched to a bivouac near the village of Guadarama on the 1st of November; on the 2nd crossed the Guadarama mountains, and bivouacked at Villa Castine; on the 3rd at Blasco Sancho; on the 4th at Naveos Duenna; on the 5th at Canaracillo; on the 7th crossed the river at Alba de Tormes, and bivouacked. On the 8th of November, the battalion was ordered into the town of Alba de Tormes to defend it, the allied army being at this time concentrated between that place and Salamanca.

The French, under Joseph Buonaparte, appeared on the 10th of November in great force on the heights above, and close to Alba de Tormes; after reconnoitring the place, the enemy commenced a very hot cannonade from a numerous artillery; at the same time pushing forward his light troops close under the old walls of the town, his columns ready to advance at the first appearance of the British being staggered by the effects of his artillery and numerous sharpshooters.

No such opportunity occurred, and the enemy withdrew his guns, after firing upwards of fifteen hundred shot and shell in about three hours. Such was the steadiness of the brigade, that he could not venture on the assault of a place surrounded by an old Moorish wall, in a state of perfect ruin, assailable at all points, and without any other defence than the brave troops that lined it. A strong force was kept watching the motions of the allies, and the enemy’s light troops kept up a skirmish during the 11th, 12th, and 13th of November.

The NINETY-SECOND had eight rank and file killed; Lieutenant Andrew Will and thirty-three rank and file were wounded.

At daylight on the morning of the 14th of November, the enemy’s cavalry were seen crossing the Tormes, about a league above the town, which was evacuated in the course of the day; the bridge blown up, and a small Spanish garrison left in the castle. This night the NINETY-SECOND bivouacked on the Arapiles, the whole army being there in position.

On the 15th of November, the enemy appeared in force about Mozarbes, and his numerous cavalry was observed moving to its left, upon the British line of communication with Ciudad Rodrigo. Towards evening the allied troops were directed to retire from the right, and the NINETY-SECOND bivouacked in a wood behind the Rio Valmuza; on the 16th near Matilla; and on the 17th behind the Rio Cuebra. During these days, the rear-guard was engaged in affairs with the enemy’s cavalry and light artillery. On the 18th the battalion bivouacked near Moraesverde; on the 19th marched to Zamarra; on the 20th to Robledo, and halted.

The weather had been very severe during the last few days, and the troops suffered much from its effects, being obliged several times in each day to wade through rivers, which had no existence at other seasons of the year.

The NINETY-SECOND marched to San Payo on the 28th of November; on the following day to Perales; and on the 30th to Casas de Don Gomez. On the 1st of December it went into winter quarters in Coria, where a detachment of two serjeants and thirty-six rank and file joined from the second battalion, which was at this period stationed in Scotland.

The strength of the first battalion of the NINETY-SECOND regiment now consisted of thirty-seven serjeants, fourteen drummers, and six hundred and forty-five rank and file.

On the 17th of January, 1813, the battalion marched from Coria to Montehermosa, and on the 13th of February it marched to Guejo, thence to Aldea Nueva, and on the 15th to Puerta de Bannos. This movement took place in consequence of the advance of a French force from Salamanca towards Bejar, into which place some troops were thrown, and the enemy, then close to the town, retired. He, however, returned with an increased force shortly afterwards, and in the night attempted to surprise the garrison of Bejar, consisting of the fiftieth regiment, and the sixth Portugese Caçadores, by which he was repulsed with loss. The first battalion of the NINETY-SECOND regiment was put in motion to their support, and the same evening returned to its quarters in Bannos.

While stationed at Bannos in April, the NINETY-SECOND received a draft of forty-six men from the second battalion. The effective strength at this period consisted of forty-four serjeants, fifteen drummers, and eight hundred and seventeen rank and file.

On the 20th of May, the NINETY-SECOND marched from Bannos to Bejar; on the 21st to Valle de Fuentes; on the 24th to Fuenteroble; on the 25th to Calzadilla; and on the following day crossed the Tormes, above Salamanca, from which place the enemy retired with the loss of some men and artillery. On the 27th of May, the NINETY-SECOND, and other corps under Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, passed the Marquis of Wellington in review-order, and marched to Orvado, where they halted.

The NINETY-SECOND marched on the 3rd of June from the camp at Orvado, crossed the Guarena, and encamped near Villa Buena; on the 4th the battalion crossed the Douro at Toro, and marched to Morales; on the 5th to Villa Sexmil; on the 6th to Mucientes, leaving Valladolid to the right; on the 7th to Duenas; on the 8th to Torre Quemada; on the 9th to Quintana del Ponte; on the 10th crossed the Pisuerga, and marched to Pedroza; on the 11th to Valbases; on the 12th to Celada del Camino; and on the 13th to Villa Ricos, on which morning, about daylight, the enemy blew up the Castle of Burgos, and retreated.

On the 14th of June, the battalion marched to Villa Toro; on the 15th to Villa Esquiar; on the 16th it crossed the Ebro, and marched to Pesquez; on the 17th it marched to Villa Mor; on the 18th to Boveano; on the 19th to Alcoide; and on the 20th to Robeo.

In the meantime, the French army, commanded by King Joseph, had taken up a position in the neighbourhood of Vittoria, where the Marquis of Wellington determined to attack the enemy.

Accordingly, on the 21st of June, the first battalion of the NINETY-SECOND regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, quitted its encampment early in the morning, and moved to La Puebla, where it crossed the river Zadorra, and ascended the mountain behind the village, which the Spaniards named “Alturas de los Inglezes,” from an action fought there by the English in 1367, when Edward the Black Prince proceeded to Spain to assist Peter, King of Castile, to recover his throne.[15]

The memorable battle of Vittoria commenced by Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill obtaining possession of the heights of La Puebla, on which the enemy’s left rested. The enemy immediately sent a reinforcement of about seven thousand men, with some artillery to this point, and made several attempts to recover his lost ground, but was as frequently repulsed by the troops which were opposed to him; and by that means they covered the remainder of the second division, while filing across the Zadorra, and in its movement to attack the enemy in the village of Subijana de Alava. Each corps kept its ground with coolness and steadiness, until everything was prepared on the left, and the allied army advanced across the plain.

At this juncture, the NINETY-SECOND was again directed to advance, and drive the enemy from every post in its front, which duty it performed in its usual manner, and the French having given way at all points, the battalion continued a rapid pursuit along the Pampeluna road, until about midnight, when it was halted near Ganuz.

On this occasion, the French suffered a great loss of men, together with all their artillery, baggage, and stores. King Joseph, whose carriage and court-equipage being seized, had barely time to escape on horseback. The defeat was the most complete that the French had experienced in Spain.

The bâton of Marshal Jourdan was taken by the eighty-seventh regiment, and the Prince Regent, in the name and behalf of His Majesty, appointed the Marquis of Wellington a Field Marshal. In a most flattering letter, the Prince thus conferred the honor: “You have sent me among the trophies of your unrivalled fame, the staff of a French Marshal, and I send you in return that of England.”

In commemoration of the share the NINETY-SECOND bore in gaining this signal victory, the royal authority was afterwards received for the word “Vittoria,” to be inscribed on the regimental colour and appointments. A medal was also conferred on the commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel John Cameron.

The NINETY-SECOND had four rank and file killed, and sixteen wounded.

On the 22nd of June, the allies followed the retreating enemy, on which day the NINETY-SECOND marched to about a league in front of Salvatierra, and encamped; on the 23rd proceeded to near Arbeniz; on the 24th to near Araquil; on the 25th to near Stormende; on the 26th to near Zuaza; and on the 27th marched to Orcayen, about three miles from Pampeluna, which latter place was afterwards invested.

The NINETY-SECOND marched to a wood near Lizasso on the 2nd of July; on the 3rd to Puerta Velate; on the 4th to Almandoz, where a skirmish took place, the enemy being in position between Beruete and Aniz. On the 5th, after some movements to turn the left of his position, he retreated, and the NINETY-SECOND bivouacked in front of Elizondo, halting there during the following day.

On the 7th of July, the enemy was seen in a strong position on the heights of Maya, and troops were sent across the Bidassoa to attack his right. The NINETY-SECOND marched through the village of Maya in the afternoon, and a good deal of fighting took place during the day, the light troops continuing to skirmish until dark, when the battalion bivouacked.

Advancing early in the morning of the 8th of July, the French retired from their own frontier, which the pursuing troops occupied with three British cheers. The light troops continued the pursuit towards the village of Urdax.

On the 9th of July, the troops marched to the village of Maya. The siege of St. Sebastian was undertaken, and the garrison of Pampeluna was closely invested by the Spaniards at this period.

Upon Napoleon receiving the news of the defeat of the French at Vittoria, he immediately sent Marshal Soult to Spain, with the rank of “Lieutenant of the Emperor,” and the Marshal assumed the command of the army of Spain on the 12th of July. All his energies were directed to retrieve its disasters, and to drive the British across the Ebro.

On the 13th of July, the first brigade, at this period under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, of the NINETY-SECOND, marched to occupy the heights of Maya.

The effective strength of the battalion, under the command of Major James Mitchell, consisted of forty serjeants, fifteen drummers, and seven hundred and sixty-two rank and file, on the 25th of July, on which day the fiftieth regiment was stationed on the right of the brigade, to the left of a pass leading to the village of Maya, which was occupied by a piquet from the second brigade.

The NINETY-SECOND were stationed in the Maya Pass, to the right of the road leading from Urdax, and the seventy-first regiment still further to the left. The enemy collected a force of about fifteen thousand men behind some rocky ground in front of the British right, and with this overwhelming force drove in the light companies of the second brigade, gaining the high rock on the right of the allied position before the arrival of the second brigade from Maya, which was, therefore, compelled to retrace its steps towards the village, instead of falling back to its left on the first brigade.

Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, detached the fiftieth to the right the moment the action commenced. That regiment was severely engaged, and was forced to retire along the ridge; the right wing of the NINETY-SECOND, under Major John McPherson, was sent to its support, and for some time had to stand the whole brunt of the enemy’s column. The right wing of the seventy-first regiment was also brought up, but such was the advantage of the position the enemy had gained by separating the two brigades, and in a manner descending upon the Pass of Maya, while a fresh division was pushing up to it from the direction of Urdax, that the small body of troops received orders to retire to a high rock on the left of the position.

This movement was covered by the left wings of the seventy-first and NINETY-SECOND regiments, which, relieving each other with the utmost order and regularity, and disputing every inch of ground, left nothing for the enemy to boast of. The brigade continued to hold the rock until the arrival of Major-General Edward Barnes’s brigade, when a general charge was made, and every inch of ground recovered as far as the Maya Pass.

On this occasion the NINETY-SECOND was ordered by Lieut.-General the Honorable Sir William Stewart not to charge, the battalion having been hotly engaged for ten successive hours, and in want of ammunition. The NINETY-SECOND, however, for the first time disregarded an order, and not only charged, but led the charge.

During the whole of the action on the 25th of July, the conduct of the NINETY-SECOND was most noble and devoted; and in commemoration of which His Majesty was pleased to permit Lieut.-Colonel Cameron to bear on his shield the word “Maya.” Lieut.-Colonel John Cameron and Major James Mitchell were both wounded at the head of the battalion, and the command devolved on Major John McPherson, who was also wounded, but did not leave the field. The other officers wounded were Captains George W. Holmes, Ronald McDonald, and Samuel Bevan, Lieutenants William Fyfe, Donald McPherson, John A. Durie, James John Chisholm, Robert Winchester, Donald McDonald, James Ker Ross, George Gordon, John Grant, and Alexander McDonald, (died) and Ensigns Thomas Mitchell and George Mitchell.

Ensign Ewen Kennedy was killed. The other casualties were thirty-four rank and file killed, and two hundred and sixty eight rank and file wounded; and twenty-two rank and file missing.

Major-General Sir William Napier, in his History of the Peninsular War, in narrating the action in the Pass of Maya, has alluded to the loss of the battalion, and its gallantry, in the following terms:—

The enemy having turned the British position at Roncesvalles, the troops were withdrawn. The first battalion of the NINETY-SECOND was ordered to march from Puerto de Maya, and arrived in position at Iruite early in the morning of the 26th of July.

The troops composing the right of the allied army at Roncesvalles, having retired towards Pampeluna, the NINETY-SECOND marched, on the 27th of July, from its position near Iruite, and halted between Puerta Velate and Lanz. On the following day, the battalion marched to a bivouac near Lizasso, and, on the 29th, marched somewhat further towards Pampeluna.

On the 30th of July, the battalion advanced to a position between the village of Lizasso and Eguaros, when the enemy appeared at the former place, and commenced an extended movement upon the British left. The NINETY-SECOND, under the command of Major John McPherson, was directed against him, and found itself opposed to a column of about two thousand men, which the battalion immediately charged, and drove from the ridge in a most gallant style. After this the French moved still further to their right, and accordingly the left of the allies was thrown back in the direction of Arestegui. The action ceased about dark.

The NINETY-SECOND had Captain George W. Holmes wounded. Nine rank and file were killed, and twenty-six wounded.

The NINETY-SECOND advanced, and on the 31st of July, came up with the enemy strongly posted on a hill at Dona Maria, which could only be approached by a narrow ziz-zag road through very close underwood. In this favorable position the enemy made great resistance, but was ultimately driven from the heights, and his defeat was particularly ascribed to the persevering bravery individually displayed in the ranks of the NINETY-SECOND regiment.

Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, under whose eye the battalion was this day engaged, bestowed the most flattering encomiums on its gallantry. On this occasion Major McPherson was wounded, and Captain James Seaton assumed the command. Captains James Lee and Dugald Campbell, Lieutenant James Hope, and Ensign Thomas Mitchell, were also wounded. Ten rank and file were killed, and sixty-nine wounded.

After carrying this post, the NINETY-SECOND moved towards Lanz, and, on the 1st of August, marched through the pass at Lanz to Ariscun, and on the 2nd, again occupied the heights of Maya.

The royal authority was subsequently granted for the NINETY-SECOND to bear the word “Pyrenees” on the regimental colour and appointments, to commemorate the services of the first battalion in these combats, which have been designated the “Battles of the Pyrenees.” Medals, bearing the word “Pyrenees,” were conferred on Major John McPherson and Captain James Seaton; and the former was promoted to the brevet rank of Lieut.-Colonel.

The effective strength of the NINETY-SECOND was now reduced to twenty-seven serjeants, fifteen drummers, and three hundred and twenty rank and file. The battalion marched on the evening of the 2nd of August to the village of Erassu, and on the 5th reoccupied the heights of Maya.

On the 8th of August, the NINETY-SECOND marched from Maya to the valley of Alduides, and the next day to Roncesvalles, between which place and the heights of Don Carlos, the battalion remained encamped until the beginning of November.

In the meantime, St. Sebastian and Pampeluna had been captured, and the British commander, looking down from the lofty Pyrenees on the well-guarded territory of France, resolved to carry the war into the heart of that country.

On the 7th of November, the enemy made an attempt to cut off a piquet of the NINETY-SECOND, but was foiled. On the following day, the battalion marched from Roncesvalles to Alduides, and on the 9th proceeded through Maya to Urdax, in which neighbourhood the whole division was assembled.

The British army was put in motion at an early hour in the morning of the 10th of November, and advanced to attack the enemy in his fortified position on the Nivelle. The NINETY-SECOND, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, forded that river a little below Ainhoe, and was ordered to attack the strong redoubts on the heights immediately in rear of the village.

The action became very warm towards the centre of the British line, and the sixth division, with the Portuguese division immediately on the left, having turned the redoubts to the right of the enemy’s position on the heights of Ainhoe, the French in front of the NINETY-SECOND made little resistance, running out of the redoubts in the utmost confusion; the enemy giving way at all points, left the allies a complete victory, and abandoned all his artillery and stores. The NINETY-SECOND occupied the huts in the French position for the night, and the next day advanced to Espelette.

On the 12th of November, the division moved in advance to reconnoitre the enemy at Cambo, and after driving in his outposts and effecting the object in view, the NINETY-SECOND bivouacked at a short distance from the town.

The battalion went into quarters in Cambo on the 16th of November; the enemy having previously blown up the bridge, retired across the Nive, leaving some pieces of heavy artillery behind.

On the 27th of November, a detachment of one hundred men joined from the second battalion, which still remained in Scotland.

The rivers, which had been greatly swollen by the rains, having partly subsided, the allied army was put in motion across the Nive on the 9th of December. The NINETY-SECOND, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, forded that river near Cambo, but did not meet with much opposition, as the enemy retired to prevent his retreat to Bayonne from being cut off by the sixth division, which was crossing lower down the river. The NINETY-SECOND advanced on the same day to Urcuray: on the 10th and 11th, the French attacked the troops on the left of the Nive, but on each day were repulsed.

On the 11th of December, the NINETY-SECOND advanced to Petite Moguerre, a small village near Bayonne, situated between the rivers Nive and Adour.

The enemy was observed at daylight in the morning of the 13th of December, formed in very heavy columns between his entrenched camp at Bayonne, and the village of St. Pierre, on the road leading to St. Jean-Pied-de-Port.

The NINETY-SECOND, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, was ordered to advance to the centre of the position at St. Pierre, against which the enemy appeared to direct his principal attack. The battalion had scarcely arrived on its ground, when it was led into action, and by a most opportune and determined charge, drove the French from the British position (of which they had for a moment possessed themselves) to the very point from whence they had started.

The NINETY-SECOND was recalled to its proper position, and no sooner was it formed there, than the enemy again attacked, and was again repulsed. Besides being exposed during this day to a continued fire of musketry and artillery, the battalion made four distinct charges with the bayonet, each time driving the enemy to his original position in front of his entrenchments.

Lieut.-General the Honorable Sir William Stewart, K.B., in his report of the action, stated, that “several brilliant charges were made by our troops in the centre, against which the enemy’s principal attack was directed, more particularly that by the NINETY-SECOND Highlanders.”

In speaking of the defeat of the enemy’s principal attack on the road to St. Jean Pied-de-Port, where the first brigade was stationed, the Marquis of Wellington said in his despatch, “they were particularly engaged in the contest with the enemy at that point, and these troops conducted themselves admirably.”

On this occasion Lieutenants Duncan McPherson, Thomas Mitchell, and Alan McDonald were killed. Major John McPherson (mortally), Captains George W. Holmes, Ronald McDonald, and Donald McPherson; Lieutenants John Catenaugh, Ronald McDonald, James John Chisholm, Robert Winchester, and George Mitchell, and Ensign William Fraser were wounded. Twenty-eight rank and file were killed, and one hundred and forty-three wounded.

In commemoration of this action, an honorary badge was conferred by His Majesty on Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, bearing the word “Nive,” and the senior captain of the regiment (Captain James Seaton) was promoted to the brevet rank of major. The royal authority was also granted for the NINETY-SECOND to bear the word “Nive” on the regimental colour and appointments.

The enemy retired into Bayonne a little before dark, and the NINETY-SECOND went into its former quarters in Petite Moguerre.

On the 14th of December, the following order was issued by Lieut.-General the Honorable Sir William Stewart, K.B.:—

The NINETY-SECOND marched from Petite Moguerre on the 17th of December, and on the 19th occupied cantonments in Arquite.

On the 4th of January, 1814, the battalion marched from Arquite, and encamped near Urt; on the 8th it went into cantonments in that village. On the 20th of January the battalion marched from Urt for St. Jean de Luz, where it received new clothing, and on the 20th returned to Urt.

The enemy attacked on the 27th of January a piquet of the NINETY-SECOND, stationed in an island on the Adour, but was driven back.

At this period the allied army was put in motion, and the NINETY-SECOND marched from Urt to Urcuray.

The NINETY-SECOND, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, marched on the 14th of February to attack a considerable body of the enemy under General Harispe at Hellette, which was forced to retire to Meharin. On this occasion Lieutenant Richard McDonell was wounded; one private was killed, and seven rank and file wounded.

On the morning of the 15th of February, the NINETY-SECOND marched in pursuit of the enemy, who was discovered, late in the evening, strongly posted on the heights in front of Garris, which the division attacked and carried in gallant style. The French obstinately disputed their ground, and made several attempts to recover it after dark, but finding the British troops immovable, they retreated with considerable loss through St. Palais. On this occasion Major James Seaton was mortally wounded, and expired on the 22nd of the following month. The other casualties were three rank and file wounded.

During the night the enemy destroyed the bridge at St. Palais, and every exertion was made to repair it. On the 16th of February, the NINETY-SECOND crossed in the afternoon, and occupied a position in advance.

On the 17th of February, the enemy was discovered in the village of Arriverete, on the right bank of the Gave de Mauleon, endeavouring to destroy the bridge over it. A ford was discovered a little higher up, which the NINETY-SECOND crossed under cover of the British artillery, and immediately attacking the troops in the village with its usual success, drove the enemy out of it, and secured the bridge by which the troops were enabled to cross. The enemy retired across the Gave d’Oleron, and the battalion, which had ten rank and file wounded in this enterprise, was cantoned in Arriverete and the neighbouring villages.

In honor of this occasion, it was granted by royal warrant, that Lieut.-Colonel Cameron should bear for his crest a Highlander of the NINETY-SECOND regiment, up to the middle in water, grasping in his right hand a broad sword, and in his left a banner inscribed 92nd, within a wreath of laurel; and as a motto over it the word “Arriverete.”

The following is an extract of the Marquis of Wellington’s despatch on this occasion:—