Lieutenant Hill accompanied his battalion to South America in 1806, was reported to have volunteered for the forlorn hope at Montevideo (but this was later disproved), and commanded the scaling party that captured the north gate of the city during the Battle of Montevideo in 1807. He was wounded and taken prisoner in the subsequent attempt on Buenos Aires in June. He accompanied his battalion to Portugal in 1808, was present at the Battle of Roliça, was wounded at the Battle of Benavente, and present at the Battle of Corunna.