In the early part of the year 1703 Queen Anne augmented her forces in the Netherlands. The Queen Dowager's was one of the corps that proceeded from England on the occasion, and joined the Duke of Marlborough, who was in command of the allied army, and began operations in the month of April. On the 10th of May following, the Queen Dowager's Regiment had an opportunity of distinguishing itself by a service, which evinced the utmost intrepidity and discipline, and, in fact, saved part of the allied army from being surprised by the enemy, and probably from severe defeat. The _Duke of Marlborough_, being engaged in the siege of _Bonn_, and the forces under _Marshal D'Auverquerque_ dispersed in quarters, the French Marshals _Villeroy_ and _Boufflers_ determined to attempt the surprise of the latter: by a night march they arrived with a force of 40,000 men in the neighbourhood of _Tongres_, which was occupied by two battalions of foot,--one of _Elst_, (afterwards disbanded,) and the other of _Portmore_ (the Queen Dowager's). The speedy reduction of _Tongres_ was necessary to the success of the French Marshals, and it was accordingly attacked with great vigour; but the two regiments defended themselves, with extraordinary bravery, _for twenty-eight hours_; and when at length reduced to surrender, they had secured time for _Marshal D'Auverquerque_ to collect his forces in a position under the cannon of Maestricht, so strong, that the enemy declined a general engagement. For its conduct at Tongres the Queen Dowager's Regiment was made _Royal_, and obtained the motto, '_Pristinæ Virtutis Memor_.' Shortly after the above gallant affair, the capture of the fortress of _Huy_ by the confederates enabled the Commander-in-Chief to obtain the release of the brave corps which had been made prisoners at _Tongres_, and the following provision was made for that purpose; _viz._:-- 'The Governor, 900 men, and two Brigadier-Generals to remain prisoners of war, till the two regiments taken by the French at Tongres are released.' These terms were speedily complied with. [Sidenote: 1704] Archduke Charles of Austria having been acknowledged as sovereign of Spain by a great part of Europe, was seconded in his efforts to establish his claim by a combined English and Dutch force, commanded by the Duke of Schomberg; and he was further encouraged in his undertaking by having Portugal for his ally. His object, was to enter Spain by the Portuguese frontiers, and the auxiliary force accordingly proceeded to Lisbon. The Queen Dowager's was one of the regiments selected for this service, and having embarked from Holland, the regiment landed at Lisbon on the 16th of March, 1704. The Duke of Schomberg was succeeded in his command by the Earl of Galway, who advanced with the army to the vicinity of Ciudad Rodrigo, but returned to Portugal for winter quarters. [Sidenote: 1705]