Chapter III: Book XVIII: Chap. I

Numbers of the French in the Peninsula shewn—Joseph
commander-in-chief—His dissentions with the French generals—His
plans—Opposed by Soult, who recommends different operations and
refuses to obey the king—Lord Wellington’s plans described—His
numbers—Colonel Sturgeon skilfully repairs the bridge of
Alcantara—The advantage of this measure—The navigation of the
Tagus and the Douro improved and extended—Rash conduct of a
commissary on the Douro—Remarkable letter of lord Wellington
to lord Liverpool—Arrangements for securing the allies’ flanks
and operating against the enemy’s flanks described—Marmont’s
plans—His military character—He restores discipline to the army of
Portugal—His measures for that purpose and the state of the French
army described and compared with the state of the British army and
Wellington’s measures 100

CHAP. II.

Campaign of 1812—Wellington advances to the Tormes—Marmont
retires—The allies besiege the forts of Salamanca—General aspect
of affairs changes and becomes gloomy—The king concentrates
the army of the centre—Marmont returns to the Tormes and
cannonades the allies on the position of San Christoval—Various
skirmishes—Adventure of Mr. Mackay—Marmont retires to Monte
Rubia—Crosses the Tormes with a part of his army—Fine conduct
of general Bock’s German cavalry—Graham crosses the Tormes
and Marmont retires again to Monte Rubia—Observations on this
movement—Assault on San Vincente fails—Heroic death of general
Bowes—Siege suspended for want of ammunition—It is renewed—Cajetano
is stormed—San Vincente being on fire surrenders—Marmont retires
to the Duero followed by Wellington—The French rear-guard
suffers some loss between Rueda and Tordesillas—Positions
of the armies described—State of affairs in other parts
described—Procrastination of the Gallician army—General Bonet
abandons the Asturias—Coincidence of Wellington’s and Napoleon’s
views upon that subject—Sir Home Popham arrives with his squadron
on the coast of Biscay—His operations—Powerful effect of them upon
the campaign—Wellington and Marmont alike cautious of bringing on a
battle—Extreme difficulty and distress of Wellington’s situation 122

CHAP. III.

Bonet arrives in the French camp—Marmont passes the Duero—Combat
of Castrejon—Allies retire across the Guarena—Combat on that
river—Observations on the movements—Marmont turns Wellington’s
flank—Retreat to San Christoval—Marmont passes the Tormes—Battle of
Salamanca—Anecdote of Mrs. Dalbiac 147

CHAP. IV.

Clauzel passes the Tormes at Alba—Cavalry combat at La
Serna—Chauvel’s cavalry joins the French army—The king
reaches Blasco Sancho—Retires to Espinar on hearing of the
battle—Receives letters from Clauzel which induce him to march
on Segovia—Wellington drives Clauzel across the Duero—Takes
Valladolid—Brings Santocildes over the Duero—Marches upon
Cuellar—The king abandons Segovia and recrosses the Guadarama—State
of affairs in other parts of Spain—General Long defeats
Lallemand in Estremadura—Caffarelli is drawn to the coast by
Popham’s expedition—Wellington leaves Clinton at Cuellar and
passes the Guadarama—Cavalry combat at Majadahonda—The king
unites his army at Valdemoro—Miserable state of the French
convoy—Joseph passes the Tagus; hears of the arrival of the
Sicilian expedition at Alicant—Retreats upon Valencia instead of
Andalusia—Maupoint’s brigade succours the garrison of Cuenca, is
beaten at Utiel by Villa Campa—Wellington enters Madrid—The Retiro
surrenders—Empecinado takes Guadalaxara—Extraordinary journey of
colonel Fabvier—Napoleon hears of Marmont’s defeat—His generous
conduct towards that marshal—Receives the king’s report against
Soult—His magnanimity—Observations 182