1805
In November, 1805, the regiment embarked for England. One of the transports, having on board the two flank companies, and one battalion company under the command of Captain Wilson, was taken on the 15th of December by the squadron of the French Admiral, Guillaumet, consisting of six sail of the line (one commanded by Jerome Buonaparte) and several frigates. The captured companies were put on board La Voluntaire frigate, where they remained prisoners about three months: they were subsequently restored to liberty in consequence of that vessel putting into the Cape of Good Hope, which she expected to find a friendly port, but which had surrendered a short time before to the British forces under Lieut.-General Sir David Baird and Admiral Sir Home Popham. At the Cape these companies remained about seven months, when they embarked once more for England, and rejoined the regiment in April, 1807.
In the mean time the head-quarters and the remainder of the regiment had landed, in December, 1805, at Portsmouth, its strength amounting to 20 officers, 31 serjeants, 12 drummers, and 289 rank and file.
1806
In January, 1806, the regiment received new colours, on which, in addition to former devices, were the Sphynx, and the word Egypt, granted to it by his Majesty, in consideration of its distinguished conduct in that country in 1801, as already detailed.
1807
In 1807 the establishment of the regiment was 696. In the month of June of that year it embarked for Guernsey, and remained there till June of the following year, receiving, during its stay in that island, 330 general-service men from the depôt in the Isle of Wight, and above 150 militia volunteers.
1808
In June, 1808, the regiment returned to England, 860 rank and file strong, and was quartered at Ipswich, until the 18th of July, when it was brigaded with the Twentieth Foot and a battalion of the Ninety-fifth Rifles, under the command of Major-General Acland, and embarked at Harwich for Portugal, to join the forces about to be assembled in that country.
The peace of Tilsit, which was concluded at this period between France and other continental powers, gave a more determined character to the war pursuing between England and France. Napoleon, who by this time had become sensible of his inability successfully to invade Great Britain, sought the humiliation of his rival in excluding, by the above treaty, the manufactures of England from the markets of Europe. As a part of his scheme for universal empire, he gained the royal family of Spain into his power by treachery, placed his brother Joseph on the throne of that kingdom by force, and effected the conquest of Portugal. Such acts of tyrannical ambition failed not to rouse the just resentment of England, and led to the bold determination of rescuing the Peninsula from the rapacious conqueror. Portugal was destined to receive the advance-guard of a British army, which, as in Egypt, was to encounter the victorious legions of Napoleon, and, as in Egypt, also to triumph. On the 1st of August, 1808, a body of British troops, commanded by Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, landed near Lisbon, and on the 17th of the same month they defeated a French force at Roleia. At this first meeting of the great rival powers, a severe struggle terminated in favour of English valour, and was a faithful precursor of the ability of the commander, and of the successes which were to accompany the gallant army on their future career.