The three commanders were then ordered home, and Sir John Moore[17] assumed charge of the troops. _Sir David Baird_ landed at Corunna with reinforcements, including the 2nd Battalion, and on the 20th of December he joined Moore near Mayorga. By the masterly dispositions of Napoleon himself, an overwhelming force of French was concentrated under Soult, and this forced the British to retire on Corunna. Soult, following in pursuit, attacked them in the act of embarking, but met with a crushing defeat. The British, however, paid a high price for their victory: _Baird_ was severely wounded, and the gallant Sir John Moore was killed—his death being a heavy loss to the British Army. At this juncture General Hope[18] took over the command and completed the embarkation of the troops. The Regiment, having been allotted to the defence of the town of Corunna, was not actually engaged in the battle. [Sidenote: July 27th and 28th, 1809, TALAVERA.] In 1809 _Wellesley_, for the second time, landed in Portugal and assumed command. After some delay, on May the 12th he forced the passage of the Douro in the face of a large army under Soult, a most brilliant feat of arms. On the 27th and 28th of July he attacked the French and Marshals Jourdan and Victor, under King Joseph, and thereupon ensued the great British victory of TALAVERA. “Upon this occasion,” wrote _Sir Arthur Wellesley_ in his despatch, “the steadiness and discipline of the 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment, were conspicuous.” [Sidenote: Sept. 27th, 1810, BUSACO.] On September the 27th, 1810, the British Commander, _Sir Arthur Wellesley_, recently created _Lord Wellington_, signally defeated the French under Massena at the battle of BUSACO; the conduct of the 60th (at this time commanded by Colonel Williams[19]), being specially noted by _General Picton_. Yielding to superior numbers and to stress of circumstances, _Wellington_ retreated, and, falling back upon the famous lines of Torres Vedras, was closely followed by the French, who, on being stopped by the fortifications and unable to procure supplies, were soon forced in turn to retreat. [Sidenote: May 3rd and 5th 1811, FUENTES D’ONOR.] [Sidenote: May 16th, 1811, ALBUHERA.] In March, 1811, the British again advanced, driving Ney from Pombal and Redinha, and Massena from Casal Nova and Sabugal. While following up his successes, _Wellington_ was attacked by Massena at FUENTES D’ONOR, on the 3rd of May, and again on the 5th, but he held his ground in spite of severe fighting. In the meanwhile Marshal Beresford,[20] who had four companies of the 60th with his division, had in April taken Olivenza, and on the 16th of May had defeated Soult at ALBUHERA; and the campaign of 1811 was brought to a close by the brilliant action of Arroyo dos Molinos by _General Hill_ on October the 28th, 1811, when the Regiment specially distinguished itself. [Sidenote: 1812, CIUDAD RODRIGO. BADAJOZ.] [Sidenote: July 22nd, 1812, SALAMANCA.]