Marshal Massena had reached Ciudad Rodrigo on the 25th of April, and, having concentrated his forces, crossed the Agueda on the 2nd of May, and advanced towards the allied army, posted between that river and the Coa, in order to relieve Almeida. On the approach of the French, the British light division and cavalry fell back upon Fuentes d’Onor, where three other divisions were posted, and in which Viscount Wellington determined to receive the attack of the enemy.
The village of Fuentes d’Onor is situated on low ground, at the bottom of a ravine, with an old chapel and some buildings on a craggy eminence which overhang one end. In the afternoon of the 3rd of May, the enemy attacked the village with a very large force, and was repulsed with loss. On this occasion, the light company of the NINETY-SECOND distinguished itself. Lieutenant James Hill was wounded; nine rank and file were likewise wounded.
The main body of the British army was concentrated in the vicinity of Fuentes d’Onor in the course of the evening and following day. On the 5th of May, the enemy, very superior to the British in numbers, made an attack on the right of the allied position early in the morning, and also on the village, which he repeated during the day, and the action became general. Each of his attacks was successively repulsed, and towards the evening, the victory being decidedly in favour of the British, the French retired to their original position.
On this occasion, the first battalion of the NINETY-SECOND regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, was stationed to the right of Fuentes d’Onor, covering a brigade of nine-pounders, and was exposed to a very heavy cannonade. The light company, and a subdivision of each of the others in its front, were warmly engaged throughout the day, and eminently distinguished themselves. Major Archibald McDonnell, who commanded them, was in consequence promoted to the brevet rank of Lieut.-Colonel. Major Peter Grant and Lieutenant Allan McNab were severely wounded; the latter died two days afterwards. The battalion had also seven rank and file killed and thirty-five wounded.
The NINETY-SECOND afterwards received the Royal Authority to bear the words “Fuentes d’Onor” on the regimental colour and appointments, in commemoration of the gallantry displayed by the first battalion in that battle.
Both armies continued in their positions during the 6th and 7th of May without any particular occurrence, and on the morning of the 8th, the rear of the enemy’s columns was seen retreating on the road towards Ciudad Rodrigo. The NINETY-SECOND still remained bivouacked near Fuentes d’Onor.
The French crossed the Agueda and left Almeida to its fate. That place was evacuated by General Brennier at midnight of the 10th of May, when the enemy blew up the works, and the greater part of the garrison succeeded in effecting its escape during the night.
On the 14th of May, the battalion returned to its former cantonments in Albergaria, where orders were received increasing its establishment to twelve hundred rank and file.
Marshal Beresford, in the meantime, was continuing the blockade of Badajoz; but receiving information that Marshal Soult was advancing from Seville to its relief, he raised the siege on the 15th of May, and having concentrated his force, marched to meet the enemy. On the following day, the battle of Albuhera was fought, and the British gained a brilliant but hard-earned victory. In the night of the 17th, Marshal Soult left Badajoz to its fate, and commenced his retreat towards Seville.
Viscount Wellington now gave orders for Badajoz to be again closely invested. To assist in these operations, the brigade, of which the NINETY-SECOND formed part, was appointed the first in the second division of the army, under Lieut.-General Rowland (afterwards Viscount) Hill, at this time in Spanish Estremadura, covering the siege of Badajoz.