A squadron of the regiment and a squadron of the royal dragoons, on duty at Frexadas, were sharply engaged with a superior force of the enemy on the 28th of August, and highly distinguished themselves.
Marshal Massena invaded Portugal with such an immense superiority of numbers, that the British commander was under the necessity of withdrawing from the frontiers, and the Fourteenth and sixteenth light dragoons, with the first German hussars, had the honour of covering the retrograde movements. On the 24th of September the enemy skirmished with the piquets in front of Mortagao, from whence a squadron of the Fourteenth under Captain Thomas W. Brotherton, with one of the sixteenth and first hussars, covered the retreat of the light division four miles to some strong ground. The three squadrons repulsed four of French hussars; some of the enemy's dragoons approaching too close, were charged by the squadron of the Fourteenth, and overthrown with the loss of about thirty men. On the following morning the cavalry skirmishers exchanged a few shots, and the Fourteenth were employed in covering the retreat of the light division to the position of Busaco. During this retreat Captain the Hon. Henry Percy was taken prisoner while reconnoitring the flank movement of the enemy.
The Fourteenth were in reserve during the battle of Busaco on the 27th of September; and they were subsequently employed in covering the retreat of the army to the strong lines of Torres Vedras.
On the 1st of October, the out-posts were attacked and driven from the hills bounding the plain of Coimbra to the north, when three troops of the Fourteenth, under Major the Honourable Charles Butler, proceeded through the town, and formed the rear-guard on the main road from Coimbra to Pombal. The remainder of the regiment was formed on the plain, with the other cavalry corps, and withdrew before a superior force of the enemy, crossing the Mondego at a ford below the town, and skirmishing to prevent the passage of the river by the enemy.
The French army continuing to press forward, its advance-guard skirmished with the rear of the allies almost every day, and the Fourteenth light dragoons had frequent opportunities of exhibiting brilliant instances of the innate valour of British soldiers. At Rio Mandevilla the Fourteenth and sixteenth light dragoons, first German hussars, royal dragoons, and Captain Bull's troop of artillery, repulsed a very superior force of the enemy, on which occasion the first French hussars were nearly annihilated. The Fourteenth had six men and six horses killed; eight men and twelve horses wounded.
The French legions continued to press forward as to an assured victory; but the lines of Torres Vedras arrested their progress, and while they remained in front of these extensive works, the Fourteenth light dragoons took the line of out-posts from the Sobral road. The French army withdrew during the night of the 14th of November; the morning of the 15th was foggy, and it was some hours after day-break when the British General discovered the void space in his front. The Fourteenth were ordered forward along the Cartaxo road, and their patrols took a number of French stragglers prisoners. Marshal Massena took up a position at Santarem; the head quarters of the allied army were established at Cartaxo, and the Fourteenth light dragoons furnished the out-posts, extending from the causeway and bridge over the river.
1811
After wasting his army by privation and sickness, the French marshal retreated; and at day-light on the 6th of March, 1811, Lord Wellington discovered the empty camps at Santarem, and moved his own army forward in pursuit. On the 8th of March, a squadron of the Fourteenth commanded by Captain Babington, and supported by the other squadrons of the regiment under Colonel Hervey, made a successful charge on four squadrons of the eleventh and twenty-sixth French dragoons at Venta de Serra, and captured fourteen men and fourteen horses; with the loss of two men and two horses.