On the 14th of September the above companies embarked in the Downs on board the Melpomene and St. Fiorenzo frigates; three companies, with the staff, and Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Nathaniel Levett Peacocke, on board the former; the remaining three companies, under Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Reynell, afterwards colonel of the regiment, on board the latter. They sailed on the following day for Lisbon, and entered the Tagus on the 25th of September, after a short and pleasant passage. The companies were disembarked on the following day, and quartered in the San Benito and Espirito Santo convents.
The greatest exertions were made to complete the companies in field equipment, bât-mules, &c., which being effected, the detachment marched from Lisbon on the 2d of October to Mafra, where it was shortly afterwards joined by Lieut.-Colonel the Honorable Henry Cadogan, who assumed the command, and Lieut.-Colonel Peacocke returned to the second battalion in North Britain.
The detachment being ordered to join the army under Lieut.-General Viscount Wellington, then retreating before Marshal Massena, Prince of Essling, marched from Mafra on the 8th of October, and on the 10th of that month effected the junction at Sobral, where it was brigaded with the fiftieth and ninety-second regiments under Major-General Sir William Erskine, in the first division under Lieut.-General Sir Brent Spencer, K.B.
The army having retired into a position in the rear of Sobral, that place was occupied by the SEVENTY-FIRST, having for its support the fiftieth and ninety-second regiments and Major-General Alan Cameron’s brigade. On the 12th of October the piquets were violently attacked by the enemy’s advance, and retired skirmishing. In the meantime the place was ordered to be evacuated, and the piquets having joined, the SEVENTY-FIRST took up a position on the outside, within musket-shot of the town. In this affair the detachment had eight men killed, and thirty-four wounded.
In this position the SEVENTY-FIRST continued, when on the 14th of October they were again attacked with the greatest impetuosity, and charged with the bayonet. The enemy was completely repulsed, with very considerable loss in killed and wounded, being chased to the spot from which he made the attack. Both parties resumed their original position.