Chapter IV

British army advances towards Burgos--French outposts surprised
at Rueda--Letter from Berthier to Soult intercepted--Direction
of the march changed--Mr. Stuart and a member of the junta
arrive at head-quarters--Arrogant and insulting letter of Mr.
Frere--Noble answer of sir John Moore--British army united at
Majorga; their force and composition--Inconsistent conduct of
Romana; his character--Soult’s position and forces; concentrates
his army at Carrion--Combat of cavalry at Sahagun--The British
army retires to Benevente--The emperor moves from Madrid, passes
the Guadarama, arrives at Tordesillas, expects to interrupt
the British line of retreat, fails--Bridge of Castro Gonzalo
destroyed--Combat of cavalry at Benevente--General Lefebre
taken--Soult forces the bridge of Mansilla, takes Leon--The
emperor unites his army at Astorga; hears of the Austrian war;
orders marshal Soult to pursue the English army, and returns to
France 450

CHAPTER V.

Sir John Moore retreats towards Vigo; is closely
pursued--Miserable scene at Bembibre--Excesses at Villa
Franca--Combat at Calcabellos--Death of general Colbert--March
to Nogales--Line of retreat changed from Vigo to Coruña--Skilful
passage of the bridge of Constantino; skirmish there--The army
halts at Lugo--Sir John Moore offers battle; it is not accepted;
he makes a forced march to Betanzos; loses many stragglers;
rallies the army; reaches Coruña--The army takes a position; two
large stores of powder exploded--Fleet arrives in the harbour;
army commences embarking--Battle of Coruña--Death of sir John
Moore--His character 473

CHAPTER VI.

Observations--The conduct of Napoleon and that of the English
cabinet compared--The emperor’s military dispositions
examined--Propriety of sir John Moore’s operations
discussed--Diagram, exposing the relative positions of Spanish,
French, and English armies--Propriety of sir John Moore’s retreat
discussed, and the question whether he should have fallen back
on Portugal or Gallicia investigated--Sir John Moore’s judgment
defended; his conduct calumniated by interested men for party
purposes--Eulogised by marshal Soult, by Napoleon, by the duke of
Wellington 502