Chapter II

Cuesta passes the Alberche--Sir Arthur Wellesley sends two
English divisions to support him--Soult is appointed to command
the second, fifth, and sixth corps--He proposes to besiege Ciudad
Rodrigo and threaten Lisbon--He enters Salamanca, and sends
general Foy to Madrid to concert the plan of operations--The king
quits Madrid--Unites his whole army--Crosses the Guadarama river,
and attacks Cuesta--Combat of Alcabon--Spaniards fall back in
confusion to the Alberche--Cuesta refuses to pass that river--His
dangerous position--The French advance--Cuesta re-crosses the
Tietar--Sir Arthur Wellesley draws up the combined forces on the
position of Talavera--The king crosses the Tietar--Skirmish at
Casa de Salinas--Combat on the evening of the 27th--Panic in the
Spanish army--Combat on the morning of the 28th--The king holds a
council of war--Jourdan and Victor propose different plans--The
king follows that of Victor--Battle of Talavera--The French
re-cross the Alberche--General Craufurd arrives in the English
camp--His extraordinary march--Observations 377

CHAPTER III.

The king goes to Illescas with the fourth corps and
reserve--Sir R. Wilson advances to Escalona--Victor retires
to Maqueda--Conduct of the Spaniards at Talavera--Cuesta’s
cruelty--The allied generals hear of Soult’s movement upon
Baños--Bassecour’s division marches towards that point--The
pass of Baños forced--Sir A. Wellesley marches against
Soult--Proceedings of that marshal--He crosses the Bejar, and
arrives at Plasencia with three _corps d’armée_--Cuesta abandons
the British hospitals, at Talavera, to the enemy, and retreats
upon Oropesa--Dangerous position of the allies--Sir Arthur
crosses the Tagus at Arzobispo--The French arrive near that
bridge--Cuesta passes the Tagus--Combat of Arzobispo--Soult’s
plans overruled by the king--Ney defeats sir R. Wilson at Baños,
and returns to France 410

CHAPTER IV.

Venegas advances to Aranjues--Skirmishes there--Sebastiani
crosses the Tagus at Toledo--Venegas concentrates his
army--Battle of Almonacid--Sir Arthur Wellesley contemplates
passing the Tagus at the Puente de Cardinal, is prevented
by the ill-conduct of the junta--His troops distressed for
provisions--He resolves to retire into Portugal--False charge
made by Cuesta against the British army refuted--Beresford’s
proceedings--Mr. Frere superseded by lord Wellesley--The English
army abandons its position at Jaraceijo and marches towards
Portugal--Consternation of the junta--Sir A. Wellesley defends
his conduct, and refuses to remain in Spain--Takes a position
within the Portuguese frontier--Sickness in the army 429

CHAPTER V.

General observations on the campaign--Comparison between the
operations of sir John Moore and sir A. Wellesley 447