On the 16th of January, 1809, twenty thousand French troops assembled on the opposite hills; about two in the afternoon a heavy battery opened its fire; and three columns of the enemy, covered by clouds of skirmishers, descended the mountains, and drove in the British piquets. The first column carried the village of Elvina; then dividing, attempted to turn the right of Lieut.-General Sir David Baird's division by the valley, and to break its front; at the same time the second column advanced against the British centre; and the third attacked the left at the village of Palavia Abaxo. The brunt of the battle on the right was sustained by the FOURTH, forty-second, and fiftieth regiments, commanded by Major-General Lord William Bentinck, and this brigade resisted the furious onset of the enemy with a firmness which proved the unconquerable spirit and excellent discipline of the troops. The enemy's attempt to turn the right flank by the valley occasioned the right wing of the FOURTH to be thrown back, and the regiment opening a heavy flanking fire with terrible effect, it forced its opponents back in confusion; while the forty-second and fiftieth attacked those breaking through the village of Elvina. Sir John Moore watching this manœuvre with care, saw the noble exhibition of valour made by the KING'S OWN, and the repulse of the enemy by the flanking fire, with feelings of exultation, and called out, "_That is exactly what I wanted to be done. I am glad to see a regiment there in which I have so much confidence_:" but in a short time afterwards this distinguished commander was mortally wounded by a cannon-ball, and died regretted by the army. Eventually the French were defeated on all sides, and they sought refuge on the high ridge of hills from which they had descended. Thus ended a conflict which was glorious to the British arms; the army having repulsed its adversaries, embarked during the night and succeeding day, and returned to England. The KING'S OWN had their commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel Wynch, with Captain John Williamson, Lieutenant Vere Hunt, Ensigns J. P. Jameson and Reardon, wounded; Ensign Reardon died of his wounds. Lieut.-Colonel Wynch was rewarded with a medal; and the distinguished conduct of the regiment procured for it the honourable privilege of bearing the word CORUNNA on its colours. Having landed at Portsmouth on the 31st of January, the KING'S OWN marched to Colchester Barracks, where the second battalion, which had returned from Jersey, was also stationed. The militia being again allowed to extend their services to the line, upwards of seven hundred volunteered for the FOURTH, and the establishment of the first battalion was raised to twelve hundred, and the second to a thousand men.