The weather had been very severe during the last few days, and the troops suffered much from its effects, being obliged several times in each day to wade through rivers, which had no existence at other seasons of the year.
The NINETY-SECOND marched to San Payo on the 28th of November; on the following day to Perales; and on the 30th to Casas de Don Gomez. On the 1st of December it went into winter quarters in Coria, where a detachment of two serjeants and thirty-six rank and file joined from the second battalion, which was at this period stationed in Scotland.
The strength of the first battalion of the NINETY-SECOND regiment now consisted of thirty-seven serjeants, fourteen drummers, and six hundred and forty-five rank and file.
1813
On the 17th of January, 1813, the battalion marched from Coria to Montehermosa, and on the 13th of February it marched to Guejo, thence to Aldea Nueva, and on the 15th to Puerta de Bannos. This movement took place in consequence of the advance of a French force from Salamanca towards Bejar, into which place some troops were thrown, and the enemy, then close to the town, retired. He, however, returned with an increased force shortly afterwards, and in the night attempted to surprise the garrison of Bejar, consisting of the fiftieth regiment, and the sixth Portugese Caçadores, by which he was repulsed with loss. The first battalion of the NINETY-SECOND regiment was put in motion to their support, and the same evening returned to its quarters in Bannos.
While stationed at Bannos in April, the NINETY-SECOND received a draft of forty-six men from the second battalion. The effective strength at this period consisted of forty-four serjeants, fifteen drummers, and eight hundred and seventeen rank and file.
On the 20th of May, the NINETY-SECOND marched from Bannos to Bejar; on the 21st to Valle de Fuentes; on the 24th to Fuenteroble; on the 25th to Calzadilla; and on the following day crossed the Tormes, above Salamanca, from which place the enemy retired with the loss of some men and artillery. On the 27th of May, the NINETY-SECOND, and other corps under Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, passed the Marquis of Wellington in review-order, and marched to Orvado, where they halted.
The NINETY-SECOND marched on the 3rd of June from the camp at Orvado, crossed the Guarena, and encamped near Villa Buena; on the 4th the battalion crossed the Douro at Toro, and marched to Morales; on the 5th to Villa Sexmil; on the 6th to Mucientes, leaving Valladolid to the right; on the 7th to Duenas; on the 8th to Torre Quemada; on the 9th to Quintana del Ponte; on the 10th crossed the Pisuerga, and marched to Pedroza; on the 11th to Valbases; on the 12th to Celada del Camino; and on the 13th to Villa Ricos, on which morning, about daylight, the enemy blew up the Castle of Burgos, and retreated.
On the 14th of June, the battalion marched to Villa Toro; on the 15th to Villa Esquiar; on the 16th it crossed the Ebro, and marched to Pesquez; on the 17th it marched to Villa Mor; on the 18th to Boveano; on the 19th to Alcoide; and on the 20th to Robeo.
In the meantime, the French army, commanded by King Joseph, had taken up a position in the neighbourhood of Vittoria, where the Marquis of Wellington determined to attack the enemy.