1810
Portugal and Spain had, in the mean time, become the theatre of war; the French emperor had overrun those countries with troops, and had placed his brother Joseph on the throne of Spain; and a British army, commanded by Lord Wellington, was aiding the inhabitants of the Peninsula in their resistance to the gigantic power of Napoleon. The Thirteenth Light Dragoons were selected to join the Peninsular army. Eight troops, mustering about nine hundred officers and soldiers, embarked at Portsmouth in February, 1810, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Michael Head; they sailed to Lisbon, from whence one squadron was detached to Cadiz, which fortress was invested on the land side by the French, and the Spanish regency had solicited the aid of British troops. The other six troops landed at Lisbon,—Portugal having been delivered, by British skill and valour, from the power of the enemy.
After a short halt at Belem to refresh the men and horses after the voyage, the regiment marched to the Alemtejo, and was attached to the division commanded by Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, which it joined in May, in the neighbourhood of Portalegre. At this period a powerful French army was about to invade Portugal under Marshal Massena, Prince of Esling, who boasted he would drive the English into the sea, and plant the eagles of France on the walls of Lisbon; but he was ignorant of the qualities of British soldiers, and of the abilities of their commander. The allied army withdrew, before the very superior numbers of the enemy, towards Lisbon, in front of which city the celebrated lines of Torres Vedras were forming to arrest the torrent of invasion. The movements of the Thirteenth Light Dragoons were connected with those of the division under Sir Rowland Hill, and eventually with the Portuguese cavalry under Brigadier-General Henry Fane.
After withdrawing from the frontiers of Portugal, the head-quarters were established at Escalhos de Cima, and a troop of the regiment, commanded by Captain William White, with a troop of the Fourth (Portuguese) Dragoons, were stationed at Ladoera, to watch the movements of General Reynier's corps.
On the morning of the 22nd of August, Captain White, when foraging with about fifty of his troop, received information of the approach of a reconnoitring party of about sixty French dragoons, whom he pursued, and attacking them with the most distinguished bravery, wounded several, and captured two officers, the whole of the men, and fifty-eight horses, without sustaining any loss.
Captain White, on perceiving the enemy, sent for the troop of Portuguese cavalry, who promptly advanced to his support, but they could not arrive in time to take an active share in either the conflict or capture.
The following report of this occurrence was forwarded to head-quarters.
"Escalhos de Cima, 22nd August, 1810.
"Sir,
"I have the honour to report to you that the troop of the Thirteenth Light Dragoons, and one of the fourth Portuguese dragoons, under the command of Captain White of the Thirteenth, at Ladoera, this morning, fell in with a patrole of the enemy's dragoons, consisting of one captain, two subalterns, and about sixty men. Captain White fortunately succeeded in coming up with them, when he immediately charged and overturned them; and the result has been the capture of two lieutenants, three serjeants, six corporals, one trumpeter, and fifty privates, and about sixty horses: the captain was also a prisoner, but escaped, during the bustle, on foot.