a battalion of the _French Thirty-fourth Regiment_ being made prisoners on this occasion by the second battalion of the British THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment[15]. The French General Brun, and Colonel the Prince d’Aremberg, were among the prisoners. Sir Rowland Hill, speaking of the troops employed in this service, stated in his despatch,--“No praise of mine can do full justice to their admirable conduct; the patience and goodwill shown by all ranks during forced marches, in the worst of weather; their strict attention to the orders they received; the precision with which they moved to the attack; and their obedience to command during the action; in short, the manner every one has performed his duty from the commencement of the operation, merits my warmest thanks.” The conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick, of the THIRTY-FOURTH, was particularly commanded. After this exploit the troops returned to the Alemtejo. Towards the end of December the THIRTY-FOURTH again advanced into Spain, and were employed in operations to surprise a body of French troops at Merida, under General Dombrouski. On arriving at _La Nava_, the British cavalry found three hundred French infantry and a party of hussars in the town, and this body of troops, effecting its retreat to Merida with little loss, informed General Dombrouski of the approach of the British troops, and he retreated during the night. [Sidenote: 1812] In January, 1812, the siege of _Ciudad Rodrigo_ was undertaken, and the THIRTY-FOURTH and other corps, under Sir Rowland Hill, made a movement to co-operate in covering the troops employed in this enterprise, which ended in the capture of the besieged fortress by storm on the 19th of January. When the siege of _Badajoz_ was undertaken, the THIRTY-FOURTH formed part of the covering army, and were stationed some time at Merida. The two divisions of the covering army, under Sir Rowland Hill and Sir Thomas Graham, afterwards advanced upon Almendralejos and Llerena, the THIRTY-FOURTH moving towards the former town. Marshal Soult collected a numerous force and advanced to relieve _Badajoz_; but learning that on the 6th of April that fortress was captured by storm, he retraced his steps.