After the fall of Badajoz, Lord Wellington decided on marching northward, and carrying the war into Spain. In the meantime, however, he directed General Hill to storm the forts at Almaraz, a great French depôt,--and so weaken the chance of union between the armies of the North and [Sidenote: To D.-A.-G. dated Elvas, 6 May, 1812.] South. Colonel Dickson[34] was detailed as commanding officer of the Artillery for this service, which consisted of a brigade of 24-pounder howitzers, horsed by the mules of one of the Portuguese Field Brigades, and manned by Captain Glubb’s company of the Royal Artillery, and a Portuguese company. The ammunition, which was carried in Spanish mule carts, comprised 600 24-pounder round shot, 300 5½-inch common shells, 240 5½-inch spherical, and 60 [Sidenote: General Sir R. Hill to Lord Wellington, dated 21 May, 1812.] 5½-inch common,--case shot. Six pontoons accompanied the guns on this expedition, which was perfectly successful; and in which General Hill was pleased to say that he found the exertions of Colonel Dickson, and his officers and men, to be unwearied. Before turning to Lord Wellington’s movements in the north, which culminated in the battle of Salamanca, and the temporary occupation of Madrid, a statement of the strength of the Artillery force of England during this eventful year may possibly be found interesting. Two dates have been chosen, and it will be seen that the numbers--already large in the beginning of the year--continued to increase; more especially in the item of drivers for the brigades in the Peninsula. These tables give one an idea of the strain on the resources of England [Sidenote: MS. ‘Wear and Tear Return’ of the Regiment for 1811.] which was caused by the Peninsular War. No fewer than 1811 recruits joined the Artillery alone, and over 1200 became non-effective from various causes during the same period. RETURN of the ARTILLERY FORCES OF ENGLAND on the 25th June, 1812, distinguishing the ROYAL ARTILLERY from the ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY, and specifying the Numbers serving at home and abroad.