Unable to overcome the allied army in combat, the French commander turned its flank; when Lord Wellington retired to the celebrated lines of TORRES VEDRAS, where he opposed a resistance which compelled the French Marshal, notwithstanding his superior numbers, to relinquish his design upon Lisbon. The EIGHTY-EIGHTH formed part of the troops which occupied the town and lines of Torres Vedras. The weather was unusually wet, and the army being but indifferently supplied with the materials necessary for the construction of good huts, suffered much from the inclemency of the season; yet, notwithstanding the fatigues of the severe campaign it had gone through, the unfavourableness of the weather to health, and the living principally on salted provisions, of which the rations served out to the army chiefly consisted, the regiment continued in the most effective state. The French, however, suffered much greater privations, and eventually they were forced to retire. On the 14th of November, Marshal Massena (Prince of Esling) left his position during the night, and took the road to Santarem. This operation was performed under cover of a dark and stormy night, and the enemy effectually succeeded in deceiving the British piquets by substituting _straw figures_, in place of his veteran tirailleurs, admirably appointed with caps and accoutrements, and by this ruse succeeded in effecting his movement without loss; verifying an old remark, that “_men of straw_,” by putting on a good appearance, often deceive their neighbours. The allied army moved forward; the head-quarters were established at Cartago, and the third division occupied the village of Togarro. The French commander was subsequently forced to retire from his position. [Sidenote: 1811] In the pursuit of Massena towards the frontiers of Portugal, the Third division was not much engaged with the enemy, but the continual marches to turn the flanks of the French army subjected it to great fatigue. In the course of these marches and constant skirmishes, the regiment lost a most intelligent and enterprising officer, Lieutenant Heppenstall, already mentioned; he fell in the action of FOZ-D’ARONCE, on the 15th of March, 1811. He was buried at the foot of a pine, near the spot where he fell, under the direction of Dr. Arthur Stewart. In the action at _Sabugal_, the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, though present, was not actually engaged, a severe storm of snow and hail, which fell just at the moment the Third division, having issued from the woods on the enemy’s right, was about to charge, completely hiding the French corps (General Reynier’s) from view, and giving its commander an opportunity of retiring unattacked. On the first two days of _Fuentes d’Onor_, it was in position, but on the third and decisive day of that glorious battle it had a brilliant opportunity of distinguishing itself, and earning another honorary inscription for its colours.