The FIFTY-THIRD resumed their post before Almeida; but the French garrison contrived to destroy the works and guns of the fortress, and to effect its escape during the night of the 11th of May. When the siege of Badajoz occasioned the advance of Marshal Marmont with the French army to Spanish Estremadura, the FIFTY-THIRD, and other corps left on the Agueda, made a corresponding movement, and joined the army under Lord Wellington in the Alemtejo. The French armies separating again, the FIFTY-THIRD returned, with the sixth division, of which they formed part, to the northern frontiers of Portugal. On the 11th of September the battalion crossed the Agueda river to the small village of Felicio Chico, to protect the inhabitants from the depredations of the garrison of Ciudad Rodrigo. A numerous French army advancing to throw a supply into that fortress, the FIFTY-THIRD withdrew across the river, and proceeded to Fuentes d'Onor; from whence they moved to the vicinity of Espejo. The French forces advancing, the allies, being much inferior in numbers, withdrew a few stages; the enemy soon retired again, and the FIFTY-THIRD went into village cantonments. Major-General Campbell, being appointed to the staff of the army in India, took leave of the sixth division, in an order dated the 5th of November, and after expressing his thanks to the general officers commanding brigades, and officers commanding regiments, he adverted "to his feelings of regret at being about to separate from that brigade which it was so long his pride to command, and especially from the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, the only remaining corps of his original brigade, whose undaunted steadiness and gallantry, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Bingham, gained them the admiration of the army the first time they were under fire." [Sidenote: 1812] In January, 1812, when Lord Wellington besieged and captured _Ciudad Rodrigo_, the sixth division was at Penna Verde; but it advanced to the frontiers on the approach of the French army: when the enemy withdrew, the FIFTY-THIRD fell back to Grajal. They subsequently traversed the country to Elvas, and formed part of the covering army during the siege of _Badajoz_, which fortress was captured by storm on the 6th of April. After taking an active part in the operations of the covering army, the FIFTY-THIRD again marched northward, and halted at Castel de Vide on the 2nd of May. The services of the second battalion in Portugal and Spain, had been equally meritorious with those of the first battalion in India. After returning from Spanish Estremadura, it reposed a short period in quarters: in May it moved forward to support the troops under Lieut.-General Hill in their attack on the French bridge at _Almaraz_, and afterwards returned to Castel de Vide.