In the spring of 1707 the ROYAL DRAGOONS were ordered to take the field, and after a long and difficult march they joined the army in the beginning of April; but no expectation of a general engagement being entertained, and land carriage being difficult to procure, they were detached on the 9th of April as far as Denia, for their clothing, and to refresh their horses a short time in village cantonments. While they lay at Collera, a town situate at the mouth of the river Xucar, in the province of Valencia, the battle of Almanza was fought on the 25th of April, when the allied army, commanded by the Marquis das Minas and the Earl of Galway, was nearly annihilated by the French and Spaniards under the Duke of Berwick. Soon after this disaster the ROYAL DRAGOONS joined the wreck of the allied army, which had been collected by the Earl of Galway, and were employed for three months in marches and countermarches, observing the motions of the opposing army and endeavouring to preserve the rich and extensive province of Catalonia from the power of the enemy. They afterwards formed part of the force assembled for the relief of Lerida, but the undertaking was found to be impracticable. The enemy gained possession of Arragon and Valencia, but were prevented acquiring all the advantages from the victory at Almanza which had been anticipated. [Sidenote: 1708] During the winter and succeeding spring exertions were made to bring the regiments in Catalonia into as efficient a state as possible; and when the ROYAL DRAGOONS took the field to serve the campaign of 1708, they were reported to be "in excellent condition."[40] The allied army in Catalonia was under the orders of Marshal Count Guido de Staremberg, an officer of reputation, who had commanded the Imperial troops in Hungary. The services of the ROYAL DRAGOONS were of a defensive character; sending out detachments to reconnoitre, furnishing piquets and patroles, and traversing the mountain districts of Catalonia in small parties, were the only duties they were called upon to perform. They were encamped a short time in a valley near Monblanco, subsequently on a fertile plain near Cervera, and they passed another winter in cantonments in Catalonia. [Sidenote: 1709] The early part of the campaign of 1709 was also passed in defensive movements: the ROYAL DRAGOONS were encamped with the army on the banks of the Segré, and having forded that river in August, the town of _Balaguer_, situate at the foot of a hill on the banks of that stream and in a district of uncommon fertility, was captured; also _Ager_, a place twelve miles from Balaguer. After placing garrisons in these towns the army repassed the river, and the regiments went into cantonments. [Sidenote: 1710]