The loss of St. Simaon left the way open for Santiago's position to be assailed in both front and rear. Santiago, therefore, had to be withdrawn, his retreat was to be covered by Lord Loudon, who had been rushed forward by Schaumburg - Lippe. Loudon with four British battalions and four field guns advanced at great speed and arrived before Santiago had begun his retreat. This meant he was able to level the defences and thus prevent the Spanish using them against him.

Loudon now augmented by six companies of Portuguese grenadiers, fifty British light dragoons and as many Portuguese cavalry, took up a position on the heights of Astilliardes, where he could cover the Portuguese battalions retreating along the road to Sobreira Formosa. The Spanish pressing forward in pursuit, caught up with and attacked the rear of Santiago's force, disaster only being averted by the timely intervention of Lord Loudon. His four field guns commanded by Major MacBean [13] punished the advancing Spanish greatly, but it was not until they came into musket range, to be received with a heavy fire that they gave way. The Spanish having suffered heavily without inflicting any casualties in return, retired in confusion when the British made a spirited counter-attack. The allied retreat was then allowed to continue towards Cardigas without further loss. It was while in camp here, that Lord Loudon formed a corps of Chasseurs, by detaching 50 picked men from each British regiment, to assist the Portuguese outposts along the Zezere. [14]

"Our troops behaved most steadily, facing superior numbers without flinching." [15]

The action to the north had meant a weakening of the Spanish forces around Vilha Velha and Burgoyne observing that these forces had been left unprotected in rear and flank seized the opportunity to strike. He ordered a detachment of 100 British grenadiers, 200 of the 85th and 50 British light dragoons under Lieutenant-Colonel Lee to ford the Tagus on the night of 5 October and attack the Spanish camp. Lee, a dedicated cavalryman, had proved himself in North America fighting the French and Indians. His force enjoyed total surprise and entered the camp without being perceived. Great slaughter now took place as the British infantry, not opting to fire but using their bayonets, killed many while they were still in their tents. The only part of the Spanish force that made a stand was a body of horse. These were charged by Lieutenant Maitland at the head of the light dragoons and were routed with considerable slaughter. Most of the Spanish officers (who to their credit tried bravely to rally their men) were killed, among them a Brigadier-General. Four guns were spiked and another two carried off. The magazines were destroyed, sixty artillery mules captured along with a few horses, a captain and two subalterns of horse, a subaltern of artillery, a sergeant, fourteen privates and a considerable quantity of valuable baggage and loot. The British losses were one corporal and two men killed, eight men wounded, four horses killed and six wounded. It was reported that during the action many of the light dragoons had had their helmets cut through, but without damage to themselves.

This raid effectively discouraged the Spanish from any further action and even when later in October the allies advanced to Sobreira Formosa, they showed no desire to provoke a clash of arms. The coming of the rains saw the Spanish withdraw over the border, "much shattered, their sick are even more than ours," wrote Lord Loudon. The British were put into winter quarters among the Portuguese peasantry and shortly afterwards the preliminaries for peace were signed on 3 November 1762.

Early 1763 saw the end of the Seven Years War as far as Britain and France were concerned and so the British troops returned home. All that is, except the 3rd who had been selected to form part of the garrison of Minorca and 351 men of the 91st who had been drafted into the 3rd to bring them up to establishment. The 91st along with the 75th, 83rd and 85th had been earmarked for disbandment. John Burgoyne and his light dragoons returned home to find themselves very high in royal favour and it was at a royal review on Wimbledon Common on 20 May that the King commanded that in future they should be styled the '16th, The Queen's Light Dragoons'. They therefore became Queen Charlotte's Light Dragoons and for some time retained the title of 'The Queens'.

Unfortunately Burgoyne's later military career was not so glorious, as it was he who twenty-five years later surrendered to the Americans at Saratoga. It was also in America that Colonel Lee threw in his lot with the American colonists and had several exchanges with Burgoyne, as well as an unfortunate experience at the hands of the 16th Light Dragoons.

Footnotes