Both battalions having sustained considerable loss during this campaign, the second transferred its private men fit for duty to the first battalion on the 24th of December, and, proceeding to England, was stationed in Colchester barracks, where it was shortly afterwards recruited in numbers by volunteers from the militia.
The second battalions of the thirtieth and forty-fourth regiments being also reduced in numbers were sent to England, and the first battalion of the King's Own remaining in cantonments on the northern frontiers of Portugal, was united in brigade with the second battalions of the forty-seventh and fifty-ninth regiments, under the orders of Major-General F. P. Robinson.
1813
The campaign of 1813 was opened in May, when the army, entering Spain, advanced against the enemy; the Fourth formed part of the force which traversed the mountainous country of Tras-os-Montes, turned the enemy's position on the Douro, and forced him to retreat; the rear of the retiring army was closely followed in its retrograde movement; and the enemy, having blown up the castle of Burgos, took a position on the Ebro, from which he was forced by a flank movement.
The King's Own, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Brooke, shared in the privations and fatigues consequent upon a march of several hundred miles, sometimes traversing romantic mountain scenery, ascending rugged precipices, or crossing rivers; on the 20th of June, they were bivouacked at Margina, from whence they advanced on the following day to attack the French army commanded by Joseph Bonaparte in its position in front of Vittoria.
The regiment formed part of the force under Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Graham, which advanced against the right of the French army by the Bilboa road, and having taken possession of Gamara Minor, the Fourth, forty-seventh, and fifty-ninth regiments were sent forward in columns of battalions, with the heroic Major-General Robinson at their head, to storm the village of Gamara Major, which was occupied as a tête-de-pont to the bridge across the Zadora. Supported by two guns of Major Lawson's brigade of artillery, the three regiments advanced with a determined countenance; the French artillery opened a destructive fire, and volleys of musquetry assailed the brigade in front; yet, undismayed by the storm of bullets which rent chasms in the ranks, the British regiments bore down upon their adversaries with fixed bayonets, drove the enemy from the village with great slaughter, and captured three guns.
This success was followed by an attack on the village of Abechuco, by the first division. Meanwhile the French made great efforts to repossess themselves of Gamara Major; but were repulsed, and Abechuco was carried.
The possession of these villages enabled the troops to attack the bridges across the Zadora; but these bridges were commanded by a division of the enemy posted on the heights beyond the river. Here the King's Own, led by the gallant Lieut.-Colonel Brooke, had another opportunity of displaying their native valour; they charged three times across the bridge of Gamara Major; and when the centre columns of the British army had penetrated to the vicinity of Vittoria, the enemy vacated the heights, the river was passed, and the retreat of the French army by the high road to France was intercepted. Finally the French army was thrown into confusion, and driven from the field with the loss of its artillery, ammunition-waggons, and all its baggage and equipages.
The Fourth had Lieutenant George Thorne, and Lieutenant and Adjutant Thomas Barker killed; with Captains John Williamson, John E. Kipping, James Ward, Charles James Edgell, and Ensign John M'Crohon, wounded; also seventy-five non-commissioned officers and soldiers killed and wounded. Their gallant conduct was afterwards rewarded with the honour of bearing the word Vittoria inscribed on their colours.
After this victory the King's Own were detached, with the remainder of the left column, towards Bilboa, with the view of intercepting a body of French under General Foy, who retreated on Bayonne. After the enemy was driven beyond the frontiers of Spain, the regiment was engaged in the siege of the strong and important fortress of St. Sebastian, and supported the unsuccessful assault of the works on the 25th of July: it also had the honour of taking a conspicuous and important part in storming the breach on the 31st of August.