The battle of Vittoria, on the 21st of June, 1813, gained by the army under the Marquis of Wellington, changed the aspect of affairs in Spain, and the troops under Marshal Suchet made some retrograde movements. The Anglo-Sicilian army, under Lieut.-General Lord William Bentinck, advancing into Catalonia, proceeded to invest Tarragona.
On the 4th of July the army, under the command of Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck, marched for Tarragona. The SIXTY-SEVENTH were employed in the subsequent operations, and were present at the occupation of Tarragona by the British, which place was blown up by the French under Marshal Suchet on the night of the 18th of August, after which the enemy retired towards Barcelona.
Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck continued in command of this division of the army until the 23rd of September, 1813, when his Lordship embarked for Sicily, where fresh changes injurious to the British policy required his presence, and was succeeded by Lieutenant-General William Clinton. Previously to his embarkation his Lordship issued the following General Order, dated Tarragona, 23rd of September, 1813:—
"The Commander of the Forces deeply laments that he is compelled to leave the army. It is a pleasing part of his duty to express his perfect satisfaction with the subordination and perseverance displayed by the troops upon all occasions.
"He only regrets that the part assigned to this army in the plan of the campaign has not permitted the troops to partake in those brilliant triumphs which would have been the just recompense of their valour and discipline."
In September the battalion marched into quarters at Valls, and in October it was removed to Vendrills.
1814
Napoleon's reverses in Germany, and the brilliant successes of the allied army under the Marquis of Wellington, had a great effect upon the war in Catalonia, and the troops under Marshal Suchet withdrew from several posts. The SIXTY-SEVENTH marched, in February, 1814, to the vicinity of Barcelona, and formed part of the force employed in the investment of that place.
Hostilities were terminated in April by a treaty of peace. Napoleon abdicated the throne of France, and the island of Elba was ceded to him in full sovereignty with the imperial title for life, and a pension payable from the revenues of France; and on the 3rd of May, 1814, Louis XVIII. entered Paris, and ascended the throne of his ancestors.
Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, in his despatch dated Toulouse, 19th of April, 1814, alluded to the conduct of the troops under Lieutenant-General William Clinton in the following terms:—