For the services of the regiment in this arduous battle, Sir William Gordon, the brother of Colonel Gordon, received the medal which would have decorated that gallant soldier’s breast, had he happily survived the action.
Lieutenant Pine, the subaltern of the Grenadier Company of the 83rd, was promoted to a company in the 66th Regiment for his distinguished valour in hastening to the assistance of the colours—in carrying which through this battle, officer after officer had been shot down. Lieutenant Pine seized one of the colours and bore it gallantly forward, and did not relinquish it till he was himself severely wounded and obliged to be relieved of his honourable burden. Many sergeants also were killed and wounded in protecting the colours through this fierce battle.
Its casualties, however, had so weakened the 83rd, that it was deemed unable to keep the field any longer; it was on this account ordered to Lisbon, and on its departure from the army General Cameron expressed his approbation of the corps, and his appreciation of its conduct in the battle of Talavera, in the following brigade order:—
“BRIGADE ORDERS
“Talavera de la Real, August 29th, 1809.
“The death of Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, who so gloriously fell at the head of the 2nd Battalion 83rd Regiment, while charging the enemy on the 28th ult., leaves Brigadier-General Cameron the painful necessity of regretting the loss of a sincere friend and gallant officer, and his regiment that of a brave and worthy commander.
“The conduct of the 83rd Regiment in the arduous contest of Talavera merits the Brigadier-General’s warmest thanks, and he hopes that Major Napper will justly appreciate the merits of those few that are left.
“The very weak state of the 83rd renders it necessary to send them to Lisbon. The Brigadier-General requests them to accept of his best acknowledgments for their uniform good conduct whilst under his command, and has, at the same time, to assure them that he shall be proud to have the 83rd again in his brigade, when established in health and numbers.
“By order,
“(Signed) H. Balneavis, Captain,