Chapter XLIII: Section IV: Relating to the Want of Information

_Sir John Moore’s Journal, November 28, 1808._

“I am not in communication with any of the (Spanish) generals, and neither know their plans nor those of the government. No channel of information has been opened to me, and I have no knowledge of the force or situation of the enemy, but what, as a stranger, I pick up.”

_Ditto, Salamanca._

“It is singular that the French have penetrated so far (Valladolid), and yet no sensation has been made upon the people. They seem to remain quiet, and the information was not known through any other channel but that of a letter from the captain-general of the province to me.”

_Sir David Baird to sir John Moore, Astorga, Nov. 19, 1808._

“The local authorities have not only failed in affording us the least benefit in that respect (supplies), but have neglected to give us any kind of information as to the proceedings of the armies or the motions of the enemy.”

_Ditto, Astorga, 23d November._

“It is clearly apparent how very much exaggerated the accounts generally circulated of the strength of the Spanish armies have been.” ... “It is very remarkable that I have not procured the least intelligence, or received any sort of communication from any of the official authorities at Madrid, or either of the Spanish generals.”

_Sir David Baird to sir John Moore, Villafranca, Dec. 12, 1808._

“I also enclose a letter from the marquis of Romana; you will be fully able to appreciate the degree of reliance that may be placed on the _verbal_ communication made to him by the extraordinary courier from Madrid. It was from the same kind of authority that he desired the information he conveyed to me of a supposed brilliant affair at Somosierra, which turned out to be an inconsiderable skirmish altogether undeserving of notice.”

_Colonel Graham to sir John Moore, Madrid, Oct. 4, 1808._

“The deputies sent over knew nothing but just concerning their own provinces and _pour se faire valoir_, they exaggerated every thing; for example, those of the Asturias talked louder than any body, and Asturias as yet has never produced a man to the army; thus government, with all their wish to get information (which cannot be doubted), failed in the proper means.”

_Lord Wm. Bentinck to sir John Moore, Madrid, Nov. 20, 1808._

“I must at the same time take the liberty of stating my belief, that reliance cannot be placed upon the correctness of information, even if such information should not be kept back, which does not come through the channel of a British officer. It is the choice of officers, rather than the system, that seems to have failed.”

_Mr. Stuart to sir John Moore, Madrid, Nov. 19, 1808._

“In your direct communications with Spanish generals, you must, however, be contented with their version of the state of affairs, which I do not think can always be relied on, because they only put matters in the view in which they wish you to see them.”

_Ditto, Nov. 29._

“The calculation of force which the junta hope may be united in the army under your command will be as follows, if no impediment prevents the different corps reaching the points selected for their junction.”

_Remarks by the author._

British 35,000 They were only 23,500.
La Romana 20,000 ... only 5000 armed.
San Juan 15,000 Totally dispersed.
Levies from the south, say 10,000 None ever arrived.
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80,000 Real total, 28,500.
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_Lieut. Boothby, royal engineers, to sir John Moore, La Puebla, Jan. 1, 1809._

“I shall consider of any means that may more completely ensure the earliest information of the enemy’s movements towards this quarter; but the Spaniards are the most difficult people in the world to employ in this way, they are so slow, so talkative, and so credulous.”