On the 25th of February the FIFTY-THIRD commenced their march to re-join the army; but were not in time to take part in the battle of Orthes on the 27th of that month. They passed the Adour at St. Sever on the 3rd of March, and joined the fourth division at Grenade, where they remained a week, and afterwards marched in the direction of Bordeaux, which city was taken possession of by the troops under Marshal Beresford; the population renounced their allegiance to the Emperor Napoleon, and declared themselves in favour of the Bourbon dynasty. [Sidenote: 1814] In the meantime the six companies which returned to England in January, 1813, had been so successful in recruiting, and in obtaining volunteers from the militia, that they were reported fit for service, and embarked at Portsmouth on the 1st of March, 1814, to join the allied army; they landed at Passages in Spain under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Mansel, and advancing through the mountains into France, continued their march to Tarbes, where they arrived on the 30th of March, and were halted for the purpose of carrying on operations against the castle of _L'Ourde_, which remained in the possession of the enemy. Lieut.-Colonel Mansel joined the army and took the command of the second provisional battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Bingham having returned to England on leave of absence about two months previously. The four companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, forming part of the second provisional battalion, had been withdrawn from the road to Bordeaux, and proceeded to the vicinity of _Toulouse_, where Marshal Soult had assembled the French army to arrest the progress of the allies, who did not receive the news of the abdication of Napoleon until the 12th of April. Marshal Soult's position was attacked on the 10th of April, on which occasion the four companies formed part of the force which turned the enemy's right, and carried the heights on that flank. On ascending the heights, the second provisional battalion encountered a French brigade, in column, which was soon routed. The enemy was driven from his positions; and the word "TOULOUSE" on the colours of the regiment commemorates the gallant bearing of the officers and soldiers of the FIFTY-THIRD on this occasion. The four companies had a few men killed and wounded; Lieutenant Hamilton died of his wounds, much regretted, being an officer of great promise. Captains Mackay and Mansel, and Lieutenant Impett, were wounded, and recovered. Names of officers who served at the battle of Toulouse. _Lieut.-Colonel_ J. Mansel. _Major_ O. G. Fehrszen. _Captains_ J. Giles (Major), James Mackay, and R. C. Mansel. _Lieutenants_ C. F. Hunter, J. Hamilton, Thomas Impett, J. Fraser, and G. Fitzgerald. _Adjutant_ J. Wilton. _Assistant-Surgeons_ J. Dunn and C. MacLean. Marshal Soult having retired from Toulouse, the allied army advanced a short distance beyond the town; and the six companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, from England, arrived and joined the fourth division.