In this position the SEVENTY-FIRST continued, when on the 14th of October they were again attacked with the greatest impetuosity, and charged with the bayonet. The enemy was completely repulsed, with very considerable loss in killed and wounded, being chased to the spot from which he made the attack. Both parties resumed their original position. In Viscount Wellington’s despatch reporting this affair, the names of Lieut.-Colonel the Honorable Henry Cadogan, commanding the SEVENTY-FIRST, and that of Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Reynell, were particularly mentioned. A soldier of the sixth company, named John Rea, behaved on this occasion in the most gallant manner, and particularly distinguished himself, for which he received a silver medal, with the following inscription: “To John Rea, for his exemplary courage and good conduct as a soldier at Sobral, 14th October 1810.” On the 15th of October the SEVENTY-FIRST were ordered to withdraw into the position at Zibriera, which was a continuation of the lines of Torres Vedras. In this celebrated position, which bid defiance to the French army, the troops were constantly on the alert, and occupied in rendering it as strong as circumstances would admit, and in observing the motions of the enemy. Marshal Massena did not think proper to attack the British army in this stronghold, and occupied his time in reconnoissances and demonstrations, until compelled, through want of provisions, and consequent sickness of his troops, to abandon his designs, and retire to a position in his rear. This object he finally effected in a masterly manner in the night between the 14th and 15th of November, followed by the allied forces. Both armies thus evacuated positions on which the attention of Europe had been fixed, and which they had occupied for a month in the presence of each other. The division in which the six companies of the SEVENTY-FIRST were placed advanced by the route of Alemquer, Cartaxo, Atelaya, and Almoster, and halted in and about the latter place from the 20th to the 26th of November inclusive. The enemy in the meantime retired to an extremely strong position at and in the vicinity of Santarem, where Marshal Massena halted, although threatened by Viscount Wellington, who, after some manœuvring, took up a position immediately in the enemy’s front, having his head-quarters at Cartaxo, and the different corps of the army cantoned in the villages. The brigade to which the SEVENTY-FIRST belonged occupied Alquintrinha. [Sidenote: 1811.] At this place the SEVENTY-FIRST remained in quarters until March 1811, at which period the army, having been reinforced[26], was about to resume the offensive, when the enemy retired during the night of the 5th of March, taking the same road, through Estremadura, by which he entered Portugal.