The French, feeling the importance of this bridge to their mutual strength and security, had surrounded it on both sides of the river with formidable enclosed works, having in the interior of them casemated and loop-holed towers. The troops appointed for these strong works, consequently, anticipated an arduous struggle. Upon the 12th of May the corps broke up from Almendralejos, and marching by Truxillo and Jaraicejo, reached on the 18th of that month the sierra, five miles from Almaraz, on which stands the Castle of Mirabete. This post was so strongly fortified that it blocked up the only road to Almaraz for the passage of artillery, which was considered by the enemy absolutely necessary for the destruction of the works. Sir Rowland Hill thought otherwise; and ascertaining that infantry could cross the sierra by a track through Roman Gordo, he left his artillery, and descended at night with a column of 2,000 men. The leading company arrived at dawn of day close to the principal fort, built on a height a few hundred yards in front of the _tête-de-pont_; but such were the difficulties of the road that a considerable time elapsed before the rear closed, during which the troops were fortunately sheltered by a ravine, unseen by the enemy. On the 19th of May the fiftieth regiment and the left wing of the SEVENTY-FIRST, having been provided with ladders, were appointed to escalade the works of _Fort Napoleon_, supported by the right wing of the SEVENTY-FIRST, and the ninety-second regiment. From a feint made upon Mirabete, the French were aware that an enemy was in the neighbourhood. The garrison was on the alert; immediately opened a heavy fire, and vigorously resisted the efforts made to push up the scarp; but the moment the first men gained a footing on the parapet the enemy took to flight. The whole of this brilliant affair was completed in the short space of fifteen minutes, and with little loss. The SEVENTY-FIRST had Captain Lewis Grant, with one serjeant and seven rank and file, killed; Lieutenants William Lockwood and Donald Ross, three serjeants, and twenty-nine rank and file were wounded. The names of thirty-six non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the SEVENTY-FIRST were inserted in regimental orders for conspicuous bravery upon this occasion, and the Royal authority was subsequently granted for the word “ALMARAZ” to be borne on the regimental colour and appointments.[29] The following orders were issued upon this occasion:-- “_Bivouac, near Fort Napoleon_, “19th May 1812. “BRIGADE ORDER.