"The Commander of the Forces cannot part with the officers and non-commissioned officers of the second battalion of the FIFTH regiment, without again requesting them to accept his thanks for their uniform good conduct and brilliant and important services since they have been under his command." The first battalion remained stationary in Madrid, while the Marquis of Wellington marched with part of the army and commenced the siege of Burgos; and, when the advance of the enemy's immense force rendered a retreat necessary, the battalion marched on the 24th of October, with the rest of the third division, to join the army, then retiring from the siege, and, returning with it into Portugal, was stationed for the winter in the villages of Ferrerina and Faya. Lieutenant-General Richard England died on the 7th of November this year, and on the 27th of the same month Major-General William Wynyard, from the Royal West India Rangers, was appointed to the Colonelcy of this regiment. [Sidenote: 1813] On the 16th of May, 1813, the first battalion of the FIFTH broke up from its cantonments, and (brigaded with the Eighty-third, Eighty-seventh, and Ninety-fourth, under the Honourable Sir Charles Colville,) advanced with the rest of the army into Spain. At the memorable and decisive battle of _Vittoria_, it forded the river, and advancing against the right of the French army at Margarita and Hermanded, displayed its usual spirit and intrepidity, driving in a superior force of the enemy in gallant style. The Marquis of Wellington, in his despatch, notices the conduct of the brigade in these terms:--"Major-General the Honourable Sir Charles Colville's brigade of the third division was seriously attacked in its advance by a very superior force, well formed, which it drove in, supported by Major-General Inglis's brigade of the seventh division, commanded by Colonel Grant, of the Eighty-second. These officers, and the troops under their command, distinguished themselves." In this battle, the battalion had Captain Adams, Lieutenant Higgins, Ensign Bolton, Volunteer Rees, and twenty-two rank and file, killed; with Captain Bateman, Lieutenants Galbraith, Welch, and Arthur Johnson, six serjeants and one hundred and twenty-seven rank and file, wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt obtained a medal, and by authority, dated October the 25th, 1817, the word "VITTORIA" is borne upon the colours of the regiment.