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Napoleonic Wars
In the summer of this year (1807) Bonaparte demanded that the ports of Portugal should be shut against British shipping, and other measures were adopted injurious to British commerce, and in violation of existing treaties; and soon afterwards a French army commanded by Marshal Junot, marched into Portugal, with the object, ostensibly of enforcing obedience to Bonaparte's mandate, but, in reality, to seize and imprison the royal family of Portugal, that a division of that kingdom might be made among other persons, to suit the interests of Bonaparte. While negotiations were pending between the courts of France and Portugal relating to the measures against British commerce, the first battalion of the BUFFS embarked at Cork, upwards of a thousand strong, for America; but was afterwards placed, with other troops, under the orders of Brigadier-General Beresford.
The fleet did not, however, sail until after the royal family of Portugal, being intimidated by the approach of the French army to Lisbon, had embarked in vessels in the river Tagus and sailed, under the protection of a British naval force, for the Brazils; the expedition then proceeded to the Portuguese island of Madeira, which surrendered and Brigadier-General Beresford assumed the powers of governor; but the former governor was subsequently restored; and the island being committed to the protection of the British troops until the conclusion of a general peace, Brigadier-General Beresford remained in command of the troops; the BUFFS were landed on the island on the 25th of December, and they remained there nearly eight months. The BUFFS performed a particularly distinguished part in this daring exploit, and their gallantry has been rewarded with the royal permission to have the word "DOURO" inscribed on their colours.The Buffs In The Battle Of Albuera : 1811
The Buffs Under Attack In The Pyranees: 1813,1814 -1815
In Canada The Buffs lost in the several affairs with the enemy, Captain (Brevet Lieut. Colonel) James Willington, Ensign John Chapman, and two rank and file killed; also Lieutenants Kingsbury, West, Benson, and Home, with one sergeant and thirty-four rank and file wounded. The Battalion remained in Lower Canada during the winter of 1814, and the succeeding spring; in which time a treaty of peace was concluded with the Americans; and part of the forces being withdrawn from Canada, the BUFFS embarked from Quebec on the 4th of June, 1815, for Europe." In this year the second battalion was disbanded. The early commanders of the regiment before 1665 were Thomas Morgan, Sir John Norris, Robert, Earl of Leicester; Sir Francis Vere:Horace Lord Vere, Baron of Tilbury; Sir John Ogle; Sir Charles Morgan; Henry, Earl of Oxford; Robert, Earl of Oxford; Aubrey, Earl of Oxford; John Cromwell. After that date, perhaps the most noted men were Sir Walter Vane, 1668; Charles Churchill, 1688; John, Duke of Argyll, 1707; but amongst such a distinguished list of names as that of the commanders consists of, it is invidious to pick one out before another."
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