“Major-General Howard cannot delay expressing his warmest acknowledgments to Lieut.-Colonel Stewart and Major Harrison, of the fiftieth regiment, and Major Cother of the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment, who commanded the three columns of attack this morning on Fort Napoleon and the works on the Tagus, for the gallant and distinguished manner in which they led the columns intrusted to them, as well as to all the other officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, for their bravery and good conduct, which produced the brilliant result of the capture of the works in question.” “_Truxillo, May 22nd, 1812._ “GENERAL ORDER. “Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill congratulates the troops on the success which has attended their exertions in the present expedition. Every object for which it was undertaken has been attained, and in the manner most desirable and effectual. It is highly gratifying to the Lieut.-General to report on this occasion his admiration of the discipline and the valour of the troops under his command. The chance of war gave to the fiftieth and SEVENTY-FIRST regiments the most conspicuous share in these events, who nobly profited by the opportunity; but the Lieut.-General is satisfied that the same zeal and the same spirit would have been found in every corps if there had been occasion for bringing them into play. “The Lieut.-General has not failed to report to his Excellency the Commander of the Forces the particulars of this brilliant service, and the good conduct of all those concerned in it. He will therefore not say more at present than to express his warmest thanks for the assistance which he has received from all ranks; and he is confident, when it shall again be his good fortune to lead them against the enemy, he shall have to report conduct equally honorable to them, and equally advantageous to their country.” The bridge and works in the neighbourhood of Almaraz having been completely destroyed, the SEVENTY-FIRST returned to Truxillo, where they remained a few days, then moved to Merida, and afterwards to Almendralejos. Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill’s force having received orders to make a diversion in the south, while the main army was moving northward on _Salamanca_, the battalion again moved from Almendralejos to the borders of Andalusia, through Llerena. On this march the advanced parties of cavalry were constantly skirmishing with the enemy, but the SEVENTY-FIRST were not engaged. From Llerena the battalion returned to Zafra, where, after a short halt, it proceeded to Villa Franca, and finally to Don Benito. In these marches through Estremadura the weather was oppressively hot, and, joined to the clouds of dust raised by the troops, was so fatiguing that it was considered expedient at one time to move by night, and thus these inconveniences were alleviated.