Campaign of 1813
Five thousand British troops having arrived at Lisbon as a reinforcement to the army, the Divisions were now formed into eight, as follows:—
| 1st Division commanded by | Lieutenant-General Hon. W. Stewart. |
| 2nd " " " | Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill. |
| 3rd " " " | Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton. |
| 4th " " " | Lieutenant-General Sir Lowry Cole. |
| 5th " " " | Lieutenant-General Sir James Leith. |
| 6th " " " | Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Clinton. |
| 7th " " " | Lieutenant-General Earl Dalhousie. |
Light Division, Major-General Baron Charles Alten; the cavalry under Sir Stapleton Cotton; the Portuguese under Marshal Beresford. Sir Thomas Graham was made his second-in-command after the battle of Salamanca. The 2nd Division was detached in Estremadura. Napoleon's gigantic designs against Russia had caused the French armies in Spain to contribute ten men per company from a number of regiments for the purpose of having veteran soldiers mixed with the new levies. The British and Portuguese armies were now fully equipped and in the highest order. The Light Division was assembled and reviewed upon the plains of Espeja by Lord Wellington, most of whom had seen several campaigns, and few of them but what could boast of having been wounded in their country's service, and who were also ready to receive more if required.
1813 May 21st
Part of the Light Division marched to the ford of Marialba and crossed the Agueda near a mill and then moved on to San Felices, and the remainder of the Division joined us. Bivouacked. The Division is divided into two Brigades, the first commanded by Major-General Sir James Kempt, and consists of the following:—1st Battalion 43rd; five companies 3rd Battalion Rifles; six companies 1st Battalion Rifles and 17th Portuguese Regiment of Line under Colonel Rolt; 2nd Brigade commanded by Major-General Vandeleur; 1st Battalion 52nd; 1st and 3rd Portuguese Caçadores; six companies 2nd Battalion Rifles. Major Ross's troop of Horse Artillery still attached to the Division.
22nd
At daylight, moved forward and passed Santiespiritus and the river Yeltes to Martin del Rio, where we bivouacked. This river rises in the Sierra de Françia, connected with the Gata mountains, and falls into the Huebra. The whole army now advanced in a most efficient state, and under the most favourable circumstances we commenced the campaign of 1813.
23rd
Marched to San Munoz, upon the Huebra, and under very different feelings I now passed through the river at the same ford where the French had cannonaded us on the 17th of November last.