The French army in Spain having received numerous reinforcements, a powerful and well-appointed force advanced under Marshal Massena, Prince of Esling, to complete the conquest of Portugal; and the very superior numbers of the enemy rendered it necessary for the British army to limit itself to the defence of Lisbon. Lord Wellington, however, resolved to maintain a forward position as long as possible, and among the reinforcements sent to his aid was the first battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. On this occasion, Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost stated in orders:—"On the departure of the Royal Fusiliers the Lieutenant-General commanding acknowledges with pride and pleasure that this corps is an instance among British soldiers of the union of regularity and good conduct in quarters with patience and valour in the field of battle. Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost has that opinion of the commanding officer, the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of this already distinguished corps which induces him to pronounce his confidence that the Royal Fusiliers will maintain their reputation on whatever service they may be employed, and that when called upon to face the enemy of their country, they will again add to their own fame, and exalt the glory of the British arms."
The first battalion landed at Lisbon on the 27th of July, every man in health and under arms, and after a short repose advanced up the country to join the army in the field. On passing Thomar, the battalion halted a few days, and was reviewed by Major-General Leith and the Portuguese General, Miranda, who expressed their admiration of the appearance of the officers and men, and of the ease and steadiness with which they manœuvred in battalion and performed light infantry movements. After the review the battalion advanced to Villa Cortez; and on the surrender of Almeida the army withdrew to the rocks of Busaco, where it took up a position to oppose the superior numbers of the enemy, whose commander vaunted he would drive the English into the sea, and plant the eagles of France on the towers of Lisbon. The first battalion of the Royal Fusiliers was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Blakeney, and formed in brigade with the seventy-ninth, under Colonel the Honourable Edward M. Pakenham, in the first division commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Brent Spencer; the second battalion was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Myers, Baronet.
The British and Portuguese troops were in line on the ridge of the lofty and precipitous hills of Busaco; in front lay the army of Massena on another range of heights, and the dark mountains were crowned with the bivouac fires of the opposing bands. On the morning of the 27th of September, as the light appeared, the fire of musketry commenced between the advanced posts stationed in the deep hollows which separated the two armies: shortly afterwards the French columns of attack appeared, and throwing forward crowds of skirmishers, they speedily emerged from the hollow beneath, and assailed the British position with that impetuosity which distinguishes the first onset of French soldiers. They were opposed by the unconquerable firmness of British soldiers; the heads of columns were pierced by musketry, and charged with the bayonet; and the formidable masses of veteran Frenchmen were overthrown and driven down the mountain sides with a terrible clamour and confusion, leaving crowds of killed, wounded, and prisoners behind. Being unable to overcome the steady valour of the British infantry, the French commander desisted, and the allied army stood triumphant on the contested heights. The Royal Fusiliers were stationed on a portion of this range of rocks which was not seriously attacked, and their loss was limited to two private soldiers killed, Lieutenant Mair, and twenty-two rank and file wounded. Colonel Pakenham, commanding the brigade, was rewarded with a gold medal. After this vain attempt to force the rocks of Busaco, the French commander made a flank movement to turn the left of his opponent's position; when the allied army withdrew to the lines of Torres Vedras, and there opposed a resistance which the French marshal did not attempt to force.
While the opposing armies confronted each other, several sharp actions took place between the advanced posts; and on the 13th of October a company of the Royal Fusiliers was ordered to drive back a reconnoitring party of the enemy which had entered the village of Burlada, situate between the two armies. This service was performed with distinguished gallantry, and the French were driven back at the point of the bayonet.
After searching in vain for a vulnerable part in the British lines, the French commander, instead of driving the English leopards into the sea, retired to the strong position of Santarem; Lord Wellington advanced, and, establishing a series of posts to watch his opponents, placed his army in cantonments.
The twenty-third, or Royal Welsh Fusiliers, having arrived from America, the two battalions of the Seventh and first battalion of the twenty-third were constituted a brigade under the command of Colonel the Honourable Edward M. Pakenham: it was designated the "Fusilier Brigade," and attached to the fourth division commanded by Major-General the Honourable Lowry Cole: the first battalion of the Seventh was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Myers, and the second by Lieut.-Colonel Blakeney.
1811
In January, 1811, Colonel the Honourable E. M. Pakenham was placed at the head of the Adjutant-General's department, and the command of the Fusilier Brigade was intrusted to Major-General Houstoun. The brigade was stationed, at this period, at Aveiras de Cima.
At length disease, want of provisions, and the impregnable lines of Torres Vedras, turned the vain boasting of the French commander into defeat; he retraced his steps towards Spain, covering wantonly, and with brutal cruelty, the line of his retreat with rapine, bloodshed, devastation, and burning villages. The Royal Fusiliers moved forward in pursuit; several skirmishes occurred, and, on the 12th of March, the brigade was in line near Redinha (a town in the central part of Portugal, in the province of Beira), and advancing to attack the rear column of the French army under one of Napoleon's most active and enterprising generals, Ney; but as the British ranks moved majestically forward in firm array, the French fired a volley and instantly fled under the cover of the smoke towards Condexia.
In the meantime Marshal Soult, being at the head of another French army, had captured Badajoz, the capital of Spanish Estremadura; also Olivenza, another fortified town on the west frontier of Spain; and a detachment from his army had besieged Campo Mayor, a barrier fortress of Portugal, in the province of Alemtejo; and on the 14th of March the Royal Fusiliers were detached to the Alemtejo, to join the forces under Marshal Sir William Carr Beresford, and take part in the relief of Campo Mayor, and in the re-capture of Badajoz and Olivenza. While on the march, Campo Mayor surrendered; and the British, continuing their route, arrived before the town on the 25th of March, as the French columns were marching out, when the thirteenth light dragoons and some Portuguese cavalry charged with great gallantry, and threw the enemy into confusion.