The battalion was stationed at this town, from the 13th of April until the 11th of May. It having then become expedient to render the communications between the French armies on the north and south of the Tagus as precarious as possible, by the destruction of the bridge of boats at Almaraz, the corps under Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, being the most disposable and convenient force, was accordingly ordered on this important service.
The French, feeling the importance of this bridge to their mutual strength and security, had surrounded it on both sides of the river with formidable enclosed works, having in the interior of them casemated and loop-holed towers. The troops appointed for these strong works, consequently, anticipated an arduous struggle.
Upon the 12th of May the corps broke up from Almendralejos, and marching by Truscillo and Jaraicejo, reached on the 18th of that month the Sierra, 5 miles from Almaraz, on which stands the Castle of Mirabete. This post was so strongly fortified that it blocked up the only road to Almaraz for the passage of artillery, which was considered by the enemy absolutely necessary for the destruction of the works. Sir Rowland Hill thought otherwise, and ascertaining that infantry could cross the Sierra by a track through Roman Gordo, he left his artillery, and descended at night with a column of 2,000 men. The leading company arrived at dawn of day, close to the principal fort, built on a height a few hundred yards in front of the tête de pont, but such were the difficulties of the road, that a considerable time elapsed before the rear closed, during which the troops were fortunately sheltered by a ravine, unseen by the enemy.
On the 19th May the Fiftieth Regiment, and the left wing of the Seventy-first, having been provided with ladders, were appointed to escalade the works of Fort Napoleon, supported by the right wing of the Seventy-first and the Ninety-second Regiment.
From a feint made upon Mirabete, the French were aware that an enemy was in the neighbourhood. The garrison on the alert immediately opened a heavy fire, and vigorously resisted the efforts made to push up the escarp; but the moment the first men gained a footing on the parapet, the enemy took to flight. The whole of this brilliant affair was completed in the short space of 15 minutes, and with little loss. The Seventy-first had Captain Lewis Grant, with 1 sergeant and 7 rank and file killed; Lieutenants William Lockwood and Donald Ross, 3 sergeants, and 29 rank and file were wounded.
The names of 36 non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Seventy-first were inserted in regimental orders for conspicuous bravery upon this occasion, and the Royal authority was subsequently granted for the word “Almaraz,” to be borne on the regimental colour and appointments.
The following orders were issued upon this occasion:—
“Bivouac, near Fort Napoleon,
19th May, 1812.
“Brigade Order.
“Major-General Howard cannot delay expressing his warmest acknowledgments to Lieut.-Colonel Stewart and Major Harrison, of the Fiftieth Regiment, and Major Cother, of the Seventy-first Regiment, who commanded the three columns of attack this morning on Fort Napoleon, and the works on the Tagus, for the gallant and distinguished manner in which they led the columns intrusted to them, as well as to all the other officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, for their bravery and good conduct, which produced the brilliant result of the capture of the works in question.”