Acting Serjeant-Major Paterson was promoted to an ensigncy for good conduct in this action, and Quartermaster-Serjeant Cowell was shortly afterwards promoted also to an ensigncy for length of service and gallant conduct.
The Eighty-seventh subsequently received the royal authority to bear the word “Talavera,” on the regimental colour and appointments, in commemoration of the conduct of the second battalion on that occasion.
The junction of the divisions of Marshals Soult, Ney, and Mortier, in the rear of the British, compelled them to fall back on Badajoz. On the 10th of September, the second battalion of the Eighty-seventh regiment received orders to repair to Lisbon, where it arrived on the 24th; and two strong detachments having arrived from England, and a number of wounded men joining from the hospitals, the battalion was again reported fit for service.
1810.
On the 5th of February 1810, the battalion embarked at Lisbon for Cadiz, and disembarked there on the 12th, which city was at that time besieged by a powerful French army, under Marshal Soult. The whole of this year the battalion was employed in erecting batteries, and strengthening the defence of the place, during which the battalion lost several men.
Lieut.-General Thomas Graham (afterwards Lord Lynedoch) commanded the British forces in Cadiz, and an expedition was resolved upon for the purpose of making a combined attack on the rear of the blockading army under Marshal Victor, who now commanded at the siege of Cadiz, in consequence of Marshal Soult having proceeded with a body of troops into Estremadura.
1811.
On the 18th of February 1811, the battalion embarked at Cadiz, and sailed for Gibraltar.
The army under the command of Lieut.-General Graham consisted of about three thousand men[12], and a body of seven thousand troops commanded by General La Pena. The force of which the Eighty-seventh formed part, disembarked at Algesiras on the 23rd of February, and the troops being united at Tarifa, marched from thence on the 28th of February.
General Zayas pushed a strong body of Spanish troops across the river Santi Petri near the coast on the 1st of March, threw a bridge over, and formed a tête-de-pont. This post was attacked by the enemy on the nights of the 3rd and 4th of March, who was repulsed, though the Spaniards sustained considerable loss.