The enemy having pressed forward to Valladolid and Tordesillas, thereby threatening to cut off Lieut.-General Sir John Hope’s communication with the army under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, who was then at Salamanca, the battalion marched from the Escurial, on the 27th of November, across the Guadarama mountains, and moving by Villa Castin and Avila, it arrived at Alva de Tormes on the 4th of December.
The battalion advanced from Alva de Tormes towards Tordesillas, on the 11th of December, and Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, learning that the French were moving upon him from the direction of Madrid, which had by this time surrendered, while another column was advancing from the direction of Burgos, moved to the left, to form a junction with Lieut.-General Sir David Baird, crossed the Douro at Toro, and arrived at Vallada on the 21st of December. On the 24th of that month, the battalion marched by Benevente, Astorga, and Villa Franca, arriving at Lugo on the 4th of January, 1809.
1809
The troops took up a position in front of Lugo, on the 6th of January, 1809, and remained bivouacked, in order of battle, until the 8th, when they marched in the night, and arrived at Corunna on the 11th. During these marches, in common with the rest of the army, the battalion suffered from fatigue and the severity of the weather.
On the 12th of January, the battalion was placed in position in front of Corunna; and on the 14th and 15th the women, sick men, and baggage, were embarked for England.
The British army having accomplished one of the most celebrated retreats recorded in modern history, repulsing the pursuing enemy in all his attacks, and having traversed two hundred and fifty miles of mountainous country under very disheartening circumstances, accompanied by severe privation, was not destined to embark for England without a battle.
Marshal Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, having taken up a position above the town of Corunna, made arrangements for attacking the British army as soon as the troops should commence their embarkation. The sick men, women, and baggage having been conveyed on board ship, preparations were made for embarking the troops on the 16th of January, 1809. The French instantly descended from the heights in three columns, and advanced about two o’clock to attack the British position in front of Corunna; a sanguinary action ensued, and before dark, the French were defeated in all their attacks. Lieut.-General Sir John Moore was killed; and the battle was scarcely ended, when, wrapped in a military cloak, his remains were interred in the citadel of Corunna, over which Marshal Soult, with the true feeling of a soldier, erected a monument.
This victory enabled the British troops to be embarked without further molestation. In this battle the first battalion of the NINETY-SECOND was posted towards the left of the army, on the road leading to Betanzas, and throughout the day supported its former reputation.
The NINETY-SECOND, together with the rest of the army, had not only to lament the death of Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, but also that of their own commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Napier, who was killed at its head: the command therefore devolved on Brevet Lieut.-Colonel John Lamont, who was afterwards promoted lieut.-colonel in the regiment. Lieutenant Archibald McDonald was severely wounded on this occasion, and died shortly afterwards. Only two rank and file of the battalion were killed, and four wounded.
This army received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, “for its distinguished discipline, firmness, and valour, in the battle of Corunna,” which were communicated to the regiment, with the following letter, addressed to the commanding officer by Lieut.-General Sir David Baird:—