Though most of his troops were successfully evacuated by the Royal Navy, General Moore was mortally wounded during the battle of Coruña on 16 January 1809. The next day the Rifles sailed for England. They arrived at Spithead on 3 February 1809 and were marched to Hilsea Barracks, three miles from Portsmouth. Green recounts that their uniforms were so ragged and verminous that they were burnt in Barrack Square.