After the capture of Badajoz, Lord Wellington proceeded towards the northern frontiers of Portugal, leaving the THIRTY-FOURTH in Estremadura, under Sir Rowland Hill; and in May the battalion was employed in an enterprise for the destruction of the enemy’s communication across the Tagus at _Almaraz_. After a march made with great secrecy, amidst various divisions of the enemy, the troops approached the bridge, the THIRTY-FOURTH being with the left column, which was prepared with ladders to capture the fort of Mirabete by escalade; but the difficulties of the march had retarded the progress of the troops, and as the attack could not be made before daylight, they remained concealed in the mountains until the evening of the 18th of May, when they moved forward. At daybreak, on the following morning, the left column, of which the THIRTY-FOURTH formed part, commenced a slight attack on the castle of Mirabete, at the same time another column captured the forts, which covered the bridge, by storm. Speaking of the THIRTY-FOURTH, and other corps which operated on the Mirabete, Sir Rowland Hill stated in his despatch, “I regret much that the peculiar situation of Mirabete should have prevented my allowing the gallant corps to follow up an operation which they had commenced with much spirit, and were anxious to complete.” The bridge having been destroyed, and the communication between the several divisions of the French army rendered more difficult, the British troops retired. [Sidenote: 1813] After the victory gained by the army under Lord Wellington at Salamanca, the troops under Sir Rowland Hill penetrated the Spanish provinces, and eventually advanced upon Madrid: they afterwards occupied a line from Toledo to Aranjuez. The THIRTY-FOURTH took part in these movements; and when the concentration of the enemy’s forces rendered a retrograde movement necessary, the battalion suffered, in common with the other corps, the fatigues and privations consequent upon this retreat;--the soldiers were not able to procure any other food besides acorns, chesnuts, and berries from the hedges, for nineteen days together; and the inclemency of the weather augmented the sufferings endured on this occasion. The retreat was continued to the frontiers of Portugal, where the army went into winter quarters. During this year the first battalion was stationed at Secunderabad, in the East Indies.