The battalion subsequently returned to Portalegre, where it arrived early in November. Although the Thirty-fourth Regiment was allowed to inscribe the words, “Arroyo dos Molinos” on its colours, still, for some inexplicable reason, the same privilege has always been refused to the other regiments that were present at that action. Lieut.-General Hill, on the 7th of November, issued the following General Order:— “_Portalegre, 7th November, 1811._ “Lieut.-General Hill has great satisfaction in congratulating the troops on the success which has attended their recent operations in Estremadura, and in so doing he cannot but endeavour to do justice to the merits of those through whose exertions it has been obtained. A patient, willing endurance of forced and night marches, during the worst of weather, and over bad roads, of bivouacs in wet weather, oftentimes without cover and without fire, and a strict observance of discipline, are qualities, however, common in British soldiers, which the Lieut.-General cannot pass unnoticed. Having on this occasion witnessed the exertion of them in no ordinary degree, he feels that nothing but the most zealous attention of commanding officers, the goodwill and zealous spirit of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers, could produce such an effect, and he requests they will, generally and individually, accept his warmest thanks, particularly those corps which were engaged in the action of Arroyo dos Molinos, whose silent attention to orders, when preparing to attack, and when manœuvring before the enemy, could not but excite his notice, and give them an additional claim on him.” Letters from the Secretary of State, dated the 2nd, and from His Royal Highness the Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief, dated the 6th December, were promulgated, expressive of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent’s approbation and thanks to Lieut.-General Hill, and the troops under his command, for their brilliant operations on the recent expedition in Spanish Estremadura, in having totally surprised and defeated the enemy, under General Girard. Viscount Wellington, having made preparations for the recapture of Ciudad Rodrigo, concentrated the main body of the army in that neighbourhood, and the troops, under Lieut.-General Hill, were therefore ordered to divert the enemy’s attention in the south. The first battalion of the Seventy-first remained at Portalegre, until the 25th of December, when the brigade moved into Estremadura, for the purpose of expelling the French, who were ravaging the country. After the performance of this duty, the battalion returned to its former quarters at Portalegre, in February, 1812. [Sidenote: 1812.] [Sidenote: 1st bat.]