Finally, it is an opinion formed after the event.” Here, too, is the testimony to Sir John's military skill from a generous antagonist. Marshal Soult writes: General Moore opposed every possible obstacle to me during a long and difficult retreat, and died in a battle which does honor to his memory." Napoleon now imagined, and not without apparent good grounds, that Louis XIV.'s aspiration was at length realized, and that there were no longer any Pyrenees. Spain and Portubrother's head was placed the crown of Charles V. But his anticipations were disappointed. Public opinion in England strongly pronounced itself for another effort to rescue the Peninsula. It was a tremendous enterprise to look forward to. The flower of the French marshals held nearly every important point, and Soult was strongly established as far west as Oporto. Nevertheless the English Parliament resolved that the attempt should be made. The Portuguese still held pos session of Lisbon, supported by a considerable body of English troops, and Sir Arthur Wellesley arrived at that capital, to take the command, on the 22d of April, 1809. He was at length his own master, and it was distinctly understood that he should not be controlled, nor, except for very urgent reasons, removed. Soult was still lingering on the Douro when Sir Arthur Wellesley disembarked on the banks of the Tagus. them; yet the two incapables by whom he was controlled were persuaded by Junot to put an English fleet of transports at his disposal for the comfortable conveyance of the whole French army, bag and baggage-which principally meant plunder to the nearest French port. The fact was, that Junot was a very able and plausible diplomatist. He certainly thoroughly outwitted the two English generals; and he published a smooth account in the Moniteur, in which he asserted that he had won the field of Vimeira, but had unhap-gal both lay crouching at his feet, while upon his pily been worsted in treating by the extraordinary diplomatic acuteness of Generals Burrard and Dalrymple. Utterly disappointed and disgusted, Sir Arthur Wellesley threw up his provisional command and turned his face homewards. He found England, as well she might be, furiously indignant at the conduct of the two incompetent generals, whose weakness had thrown away the fruits of the battle of Vimeira. At first, and before the facts were known, it was General Wellesley who was principally blamed; but an inquiry having taken place before the Earl of Moira, the whole truth came out, and the proceedings of the younger general were seen in their true light. As an instance of the generous magnanimity of Sir Arthur, may be mentioned that, throughout the investigation, although he persisted steadily in his opinion that his advice had been wrongly slighted, he acknowledged that General Burrard was supported by the technical rules of war. The one commander acted entirely by old routine methods, and as he would have done in any other circumstances-the other wished to act without reference to routine, and according to the peculiar and exceptional circumstances of the occasion. it And now it was that that grand succession of campaigns which form the great Peninsular war was to commence. The system of small expeditions had at last come to an end. Its fruitlessness had been tried and proved, and it was now distinctly understood that England was really putSir Arthur again turned his attention to poli- ting forth her force that the Island Empire tics, resuming the duties of his Irish secretaryship; had determined that the Peninsula should not and meantime the gallant Moore was fighting his languish under French rule-and that the contest last sad campaign. The Convention of Cintra had would be à l'outrance. Hitherto we had played ruined everything. Previously to that unhappy but a comparatively small part in the great blunder, the French forces in the Peninsula had European struggle and that, except at sea, not been driven back behind the Ebro. A large body a very glorious one. It was time to redeem our of Spanish soldiery were hovering around them, national character upon land, and to show that all and there were some 30,000 English troops still our generals were not Dukes of York, Cathcarts, left in the Peninsula. For the native army, how- Burrards, and Dalrymples. It is impossible to ever, Napoleon cared little. The men were in- conceive a more arduous task, or a heavier respondividually brave, but they were totally undis- sibility, than that which devolved upon Sir Arciplined; while, from the singular kindliness with thur Wellesley. He found himself entrusted with which a young Frenchman takes to soldiering as a the sole conduct of the war, and he found, moresort of national and natural pursuit, the emperor's over, that, despite the national enthusiasm for ite raw levies were scarcely less reliable than veteran prosecution, the authorities at home were by no. troops. Napoleon saw his advantage, and made a means coöperating with him in the spirit and with second and overwhelming descent upon Spain. the energy which the emergency demanded. The Sir John Moore, with his small army, was ordered very reverse was the case, and continued to be so to cooperate with the Spaniards in the south-eastern throughout nearly the whole of the Peninsular provinces. Disgusted, however, with their vacilla-war. It was, indeed, only a genius like that of tion and untrustworthiness, he advanced to give Wellington which could have borne up under the battle to Soult, whose army he hoped to find isolated. manifold discouragements and vexations-many But the emperor himself immediately moved from of them no doubt intentional-which he had to Madrid to support his general; and then came the endure from home. However, he lost not a day. famous and the melancholy retreat upon Corunna. In less than a fortnight after his arrival, he had This campaign has been much criticized, and Sir organized his troops, and was on his way to the John Moore's generalship has been strongly Douro. He had under his command the Portublamed. The Duke of Wellington's opinion of it guese army, augmented to its full extent, and inwas this: The only error I can discern in Sir creased by an English force of 30,000 men. John Moore's campaign is, that he ought to have native troops, numbering about 15,000 men, were looked upon the advance to Sahagun as a move-officered in part, though not to the extent usually ment in retreat, and have sent officers to the rear supposed, by Englishmen; and General Beresford, to mark and arrange the halting-points of each their commander, was an officer of great and brigade. But this is an opinion formed after a deserved distinction. Yet there were two enemies long experience of war, and especially of Spanish close at hand-Soult was to the north, at Oporto, war, which must be seen to be understood. preparing to cross the Douro with 24,000 men, The and Victor and Lapisse, with 30,000 more, were had so successfully outwitted, Soult rejected the descending from the inland provinces. They were proposal, and learning from a pedlar that there all to close round Lisbon. Wellesley's plans were was a wild mountainous road over the Sierra into at once decided-he determined on immediately Galicia, he at once decided upon taking it. The assailing Soult, whose force lay encamped, not little remaining baggage was then flung away, and dreaming of attack, in Oporto. the French fled helter-skelter every straggler The town, it will be remembered, is situated on being cut down by the peasants-and with the the north side of the river-Wellesley was ap-clamor of the British cavalry close in their ears. proaching from the south. The Douro, at Oporto, A river, the Cavado, stretched across the fugitives' is nearly three hundred yards across, and the course, and a Portuguese guard kept the bridge. bridge of boats by which it was generally trav-The latter were unwary enough to allow an adersed had been brought over to Soult's side, with vanced party of the French to fling themselves all the barges and other craft in the neighborhood. upon them, and capture the structure, which was Some miles up the river General Loyson held a hastily repaired, it having been half cut down; and bridge by which Soult, in case of reverse, would Soult thus managed to save all the survivors of the be able to join Victor. Wellesley's plans were army, except the rear-guard, which was cut to simple, but during. His object was to seize the pieces by the pursuers. The defeated marshal bridge held by Loyson, to get the British cavalry ultimately reached Orense, in Galicia, with the under Sir John Murray across at another point, wreck of his army. He had 19,000 men left of which was fordable, and somehow to cross the the 25,000, and they brought nothing back but the broad stream himself and take the French by sur-clothes on their backs and the arms in their prise at Oporto these movements to be as nearly hands. simultaneous as possible. Bold as was the scheme, Such was the famous battle of the Douro. So it was successful. The French, lulled in false sudden were the movements, and so decisive the security possibly, too, indulging in stronger success, that it is said that the dinner prepared at wines than their own land produces, and not the Oporto for Soult and his staff was eaten by Welmore watchful on that account-little thought of lington and his. The exploit has always taken the the thousands of British bayonets mustering highest rank in the annals of military strategy. heneath the opposite orange and cork-tree groves. When marshals like Victor and Jourdan were in Creeping along so as to be unseen by the enemy, the field on one side, and Wellesley on the other, Sir Arthur Wellesley and his staff reconnoitred for great battles soon came thick and threefold. The the means of crossing. They succeeded through next was Talavera. Marshal Victor, on hearing the diligence of Colonel Waters, a staff officer, who of Soult's discomfiture, advanced to meet the conmanaged to secure a small skiff, and with this queror, and was speedily strengthened by the forces skiff a flotilla of barges was quietly removed from of Jourdan, with whom came King Joseph in perbank to bank. Then came the word, "Let the son. He had thus an army of more than 50,000 men cross." They commenced the operation un-men, in high condition and perfect discipline. observed, and took up a position in a ruined con- Sir Arthur Wellesley was at the head of forces vent on the top of a steep ascent above the town. Detachment after detachment crossed, and still no alarm. At last, however, their movements were observed, and the drums of the French pickets, and the quick spatter of the fire of the sentinels, warned the British that what they did now must be done in the face of the enemy. The convent was soon attacked-desperately assailed, and as desperately defended. The French poured in from Oporto, but the English, crossing the river by hundreds, met and drove them back towards the city; while, in the very thick of the combat, the cheering of Murray's cavalry was heard above the din of the fray, and Soult was utterly bewildered at being attacked by a formidable body of British horse. He at once saw that the game was up, and he abandoned the city. His flight became a panic and a rout. He sacrificed all his stores, artillery and ammunition, and fled towards the bridge, which he believed to be safely held by For this action Sir Arthur Wellesley was created Loyson. Sir John Murray has been blamed for Baron Douro of Wellesley and Viscount Wellington not having, at this juncture, followed up with his of Talavera; but although these honors were becavalry the flying French, though a vigorous stowed by the government, the country was far charge made by General Stewart, now the Marquis from being satisfied. The British commander had of Londonderry, hurried the progress of the certainly repulsed the French with one man of his fugitives. Before, however, Soult arrived at the to two of theirs; but as, from his position, he bridge, he was confounded by th. appearance of could only conquer to retreat, the immediate withLoyson with his troops, and with the news that drawal of the army in Portugal was severely Beresford, like Horatius Cocles, now held that criticized by the stay-at-home sneerers at our efforts position. He was maddened with vexation. He to redeem the Peninsula. The government, too, felt that the state of affairs was desperate, and he although it sent out titles, sent very little money listened to Loyson's suggestion of a surrender and or stores. The troops were in a very destitute cona second edition of the convention of Cintra. Re-dition, their pay greatly in arrears, and Wellington, flecting, however, that he had to deal with a very sick of Spanish soldiers and Spanish generals, withdifferent man from the two generals whom Junot drew his army along the valley of the Tagus; and numbering 78,000, but of these only 22,000 were reliable Englishmen. The Portuguese troops had not quitted their own country, and therefore the bulk of the allied forces was Spanish, under General Cuesta. This personage was very nearly causing the total loss of the army. He was a braggart impracticable, obstinate man-alike slow in action and prompt in speech-and through his blundering, Sir Arthur Wellesley found himself obliged to oppose his 22,000 Englishmen to 50,000 Frenchmen. On the field of Talavera the Spaniards gave him no available assistance. The brunt of the conflict was entirely borne by his own troops, but so successfully that, notwithstanding the disparity of numbers, we remained masters of the field at the close of a severely fought pitched battle, the forces of King Joseph being repulsed on all hands, leaving the British in possession of seventeen cannon and many hundred prisoners. long and dashing of his fighting men, had in vain him of the two great fortresses of Badajoz and Ciudad Rodrigo. Each was a place of vast strength then, in order to the defence of Portugal, he set | from sickness and starvation to a degree which all himself to meditate the celebrated lines of Torres but disorganized it. The English troops, who had Vedras. While engaged in planning those extraor- been living in comfortable quarters behind the dinary defences, General Beresford, now a mar- barriers, immediately came forth in triumphant shal in the Portuguese service, was busy organizing pursuit, and Massena was driven out of Portugal. the native army which was to help to defend their Still, not wishing to cross the frontier without country. And it was not too soon. The French another blow, he rallied at the important fortress were now again threatening Portugal; and to of Almeida, and faced round on his pursuers beMassena and Ney-the "Spoiled Child of For-neath its walls. He was beaten in half an hour, tune," and the "Bravest of the Brave"-was spe- and Almeida was shortly invested. cially given the charge of coping with the hero of The French being now expelled from Portugal, the Douro and the repulser of Victor and Jourdan. Lord Wellington prepared to follow them into The emperor, indeed, was seriously alarmed for Spain, and great became the excitement at the the safety of his Spanish dominions. He could no Tuileries. One by one, Napoleon had seen his longer despise the "Sepoy General," and he de- most favored and his previously most successful termined this time, if possible, to crush him. The marshals out-generalled and out-fought. Even the whole of the French army, which at this period"Spoiled Child of Fortune" had lost his luck. was closing upon Wellington, amounted to nearly Soult, the best of his manoeuvrers, had been taken 380,000, while the English commander possessed by surprise and routed; and Ney, the most headin all hardly 60,000, and half of these Portuguese, though now well-disciplined and steady soldiers. Such was the aspect of affairs when the famous lines of Torres Vedras were formed. A glance at the map will show that Lisbon is situated on the inner part of a promontory, of which the Atlantic washes one side, and the Tagus and its estuary the other. The promontory is scarcely more than eighteen miles broad; and by carrying a succession of fortified posts, strongly defended, through the Before, however, attempting to carry the war country-which offered good capabilities for the into Spain, the English general, who never negpurpose from the ocean at Vedras to the back oflected the means to any great result, bethought Lisbon on the Tagus, Viscount Wellington was, in effect, making a fortified place of the whole city and its immediate vicinity. He thus determined each was garrisoned by Frenchmen-each comto defend Lisbon after even Portugal had fallen. manded a border defile; and to advance into Spain, He did not, however, rest within the lines; but leaving such posts in the possession of the enemy, when Massena and Ney began to approach, he would be, in case of a reverse, to hamper-perwent forth to watch and check their progress. The haps to preclude-a retrograde westward moveFrench advanced, confident of victory. Welling-ment. At all events, it would be to place himself ton's plan of defence was utterly unknown to them, between two fires. He, therefore, determined that but they guessed that something unusual was in Badajoz and Ciudad Rodrigo should fall. It was preparation, from the conduct of the country peo- a bold idea, and few generals so ill-supplied as ple, who kept retiring with the British forces, and Wellington was with the requisite material for driving their cattle before them-so that Ney and bombardment would have embraced it. Massena had, contrary to the wont of French gen- literally no heavy artillery-no battering trains erals, to trust exclusively to their own commissa- capable of playing with real effect upon massive riat. Lord Wellington retired slowly before the bastions-and he was also deplorably deficient in advancing French, until he stopped upon the plains sappers, miners, and engineers. Perhaps no genof Busaco, and offered Ney battle. The challenge eral ever advanced against such strong fortresses was at once accepted, and Ney rolled his divisions with such slender means for their reduction. on the British army. It was in vain. They were horn and Vauban would have laughed at the madrepulsed again and again, and the bravery of the ness of the experiment, but Wellington had as Bravest of the Brave was met by cold British much confidence in a wall of men-at least of Engcourage. Wellington was, of course, only fighting | lishmen-as in one of stone or bricks; and, moreon the defensive. After repelling the French he over, he knew that, if his artillery was not what waited to be attacked again, but neither Ney nor it ought to be, his bayonets were. At all events, Massena thought fit to repeat the assault. All at home intrigues and ministerial apathy had kept once, however, he retreated. Massena, persuaded him short of every requisite of a besieging army, that he had lost heart, and was retiring to embark and he had no choice. for England, pursued with great energy. But his The first siege was commenced under the direccommissariat had fallen short. The country he tion of Marshal Beresford, who was watching a found a desert, and the health of his men broke corps of Soult's army, while the commander-indown. Horse-flesh alone was procurable, and even chief proceeded northwards to oppose what he that soon failed them. Nevertheless, Massena rightly deemed would be the last efforts of Masrallied his troops by holding out visions of the sena. The latter, who was expecting every day plunder of defenceless Lisbon. They pushed on, to be recalled in disgrace-for, in fact, Marmont but what they found was not a capital, but a series was to take his place-and who was rendered desof entrenched fortifications-the immortal lines of perate by his losses, made one more effort, in an Torres Vedras. Of course, nothing could be done. attempt to scatter the besieging forces who were The French general encamped before the fortifica- investing Almeida. His army had been recruited tions, and lingered there for two or three weeks; at Salamanca, and his cavalry was stronger than after which, convinced that he had been entrapped, ever. In all, he possessed about 45,000 men. he commenced a sullen retreat-his army suffering | Wellington met him with 32,000 men, and then He had Co they fled, leaving 1,500 unwounded British sol- ensued the battle of Fuentes d'Onore. This was one of the hardest-fought engagements during the war, and it is memorable in military history as one of those rare occasions when bayonets were frequently crossed. Massena was everywhere repulsed, but next day renewed the combat. During its progress a very critical movement on the part of Wellington, for the purpose of concentrating his After some days of uncertainty, Soult retreated troops, exposed the British to imminent danger; upon Seville, and Wellington arrived at Albuera. but it was at last accomplished. The contest was Then followed the first two assaults upon Badajoz. protracted and severe-more so, perhaps, than in They were unsuccessful, and Marmont was adany other Peninsular battle-and various changes vancing, nearly 70,000 strong, with every probaof fortune occurred during the day. Nightfall put bility of being able to effect a junction with Soult. an end to the engagement, and Massena drew off Under these circumstances, Wellington retired his baffled forces. The slaughter was severe upon upon the Portuguese frontier; and after some his side, and, though our losses were considerable, mutual manoeuvring, during which he threatened Massena was irretrievably beaten and ruined. the fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo, he took up his winThe expected order for his recall soon arrived. He ter quarters on the Coa. So terminated the camleft the army with his son and a single aide-de-paign of 1811, and Marmont probably expected a camp, and sank thenceforward into obscurity.quiet winter. If so, he did not know with whom On his discomfiture, Almeida finally surrendered. he had to deal. Wellington had at last procured Meantime Marshal Beresford was busy before a really serviceable battering train, and then, in Badajoz, and Soult was marching against him to the depth of winter, he suddenly invested Ciudad relieve the place. If the gallant English officer Rodrigo. In a few days that all but impregnable had been tolerably supplied with the materials for fortress fell. There was a tremendous conflict as conducting a siege, it is probable that the French the English and Portuguese mounted the breaches, marshal would, on his arrival, have found the and they suffered severely from a mine explosion; British flag flying from the walls of the fortress. but within an hour of the advance of the forlorn But what could Beresford do with breaching cannon hopes, who assaulted the place at three points, the too big for the balls, and with howitzers too small British flag was flying on the battlements. Marin the bore for the shells? Besides, he had no mont was astonished, and made no demonstration efficient corps of engineers, and he was deplorably of action, retiring to Valladolid. Badajoz soon in want of good diggers and trenchers. While he shared the fate of Ciudad Rodrigo. By an inwas thus unprofitably engaged, Soult came up. As genious stratagem the French were made to beBeresford could not carry on the siege in the imme-lieve that the commander of the British forces had diate presence of a French army, he drew up his sent his heavy guns to Cadiz, and they were only entire force upon the ridges of Albuera. They informed of their mistake by the thunder of the consisted of some 6,000 British and 1,500 Ger- artillery as it battered the walls of the last French mans, with 12,000 unreliable Spaniards. Several stronghold in Spain-the so-deemed invincible of the stanch Portuguese brigades, however, dis- Badajoz. The details of this dreadful siege are ciplined by Beresford himself, were present, with well known. It is, perhaps, the bloodiest recorded 2,000 cavalry. In all, he had about 27,000 men, in history. "Never," says Colonel Jones in his of whom perhaps 15,000 might be called soldiers." History of Sieges, "since the discovery of gunSoult had brought with him about 19,000 picked powder, were men more seriously exposed to its troops, 4,000 cavalry, and 50 guns. The battle action." On the glacis, in the ditches, in the of Albuera began unprosperously. The French trench, and on the ramparts, the British had, inch attacked the Spaniards, and the latter ran away. by inch, to fight their way. When Badajoz was Soult thought that the whole army was yielding; won, nearly 1,000 English soldiers and 72 officers but he speedily found out his mistake, and then, lay dead, while 3,500 men and 306 officers were with his well-served artillery, his powerful cav-disabled by their wounds. Wellington is said to alry, and his ferocious Polish Lancers, he fell upon have been utterly overcome, and to have wept over the English troops. The slaughter was at first the terrible slaughter. fearful-regiment after regiment was all but an- But the work was not ended. Marmont was nihilated, and a mass of bewildered Spaniards act- lingering round Salamanca, making advances and ually attacked their own allies. The mistake was then retreating, according to the news he received at last rectified, and then the word was given to of the movements of the British. At length he them to charge. But not a man would move. knew that they were approaching, and after a Beresford seized an ensign by the collar, and number of outpost skirmishes, the armies came dragged him forward into the line of the French in sight of each other near the Tormes, when a fire, hoping that the men would follow their stand-sort of chess game of manoeuvring took place. That ard-bearer. They stood, however, like stocks, and were entirely useless. Still the fight was bravely kept up, and with less inequality, until a fresh French division poured in their masses. This was the most critical moment; but happily the present commander-in-chief suggested, and General Cole ordered, the celebrated charge of the Fusileers. These gallant fellows dashed through the Polish Lancers, and fell upon the French at a point where they least expected it, fighting with the valor of desperation. The carnage was most severe; but Soult's forces were first shaken, then totally discomfited, and, after a confused mêlée, day, on which the two hosts, amounting in all to 90,000 men, marched in parallel lines, sternly regarding each other, has been described as one of the strangest and most remarkable in military annals. Wellington did not wish to risk a battle, and he would not have done so, had not his antagonist committed the extraordinary blunder of separating a large portion of his army from the rest, in hope of cutting off the allied troops from falling back on Ciudad Rodrigo. Instantly Wellington fell like a thunderbolt upon Marmont's weakened force. The fight was short, and the most decisive victory we had yet won in the Peninsula was one of the speediest. Marmont made desperate efforts to rally the fortunes of the day, until he was wounded, and carried off the field; and soon afterwards his troops were in total rout. The French lost all their artillery, and we took thousands of prisoners. Such was the battle of Salamanca-a battle in which 40,000 men were routed in forty minutes. Wellington is described to have been, in his own quiet way, more elated after this engagement than even after Waterloo, and he always regarded Salamanca as the best won victory he had ever achieved. Napier writes "I saw him late in the evening of that great day, when the advancing flashes of cannon and musketry showed how well the field was won. He was alone. But the flush of victory was upon his brow, and his eyes were eager and watchful, but his voice was calm and even gentle. With a prescient pride he seemed to accept this glory as an earnest of greater things to come. In the following month of August, Wellington rode, upon scattered flowers and amid garlands, wreaths, and banners-the whole population cleaving the air with acclamations-into the royal city of Madrid. He then received his marquisate from Great Britain, and his commission as generalissimo of Spain. The story of the failure of the siege of Burgos possesses no particular features of interest. Sev eral breaches were effected, and attacks made upon them, but in no case with success; and when Wellington found that, if he sat longer beneath the walls, he would probably be assailed by the united forces of Suchet and Soult, who were marching on the town, the siege was raised. General Hill was recalled from Madrid, where he commanded the English garrison; and he managed to effect a junction with his chief in spite of some difficulties, after which the entire army retired to the frontiers of Portugal, taking up their position on the Aguedo. Near Salamanca a second battle might have been fought. The French had an opportunity for attack, but they declined it. During the winter Lord Wellington made what might be called a progress through the south-west of Spain, and into Portugal. He visited Cadiz, which, thanks to its British garrison, its situation, and its fortifications, was the only town in Spain over which the tricolor had not floated. Its siege had been a blockade rather than a course of active operations, and Soult had raised it upon the English occupation of Madrid. Thence the Marquis of Wellington proceeded to Lisbon, where an enthusiastic reception awaited him at the hands of his old friends and coadjutors, the Portuguese; but, while there, he observed a change in the affairs of France which promised a speedy termination of the war in Spain, and his quick mind at once perceived that the time was come for the final and crowning effort. He bade adieu to Lisbon forever, traversed the country rapidly to the east, crossed the Aguedo for the last time, and marched in high spirits into Spain. It was, indeed, a critical period. Bonaparte had fled home from Russia; and somewhere about 20,000 poor, worn-out, frost-bitten, and half-starved stragglers-the remnant of a host of near 400,000 men, were making their weary way through the steppes of Poland to the Danube. This was the first great and overwhelming blow which had struck Napoleon. It was overwhelming in every respect. It destroyed his prestige of victory; it seriously undermined his reputation for judgment and sagacity; and it broke up, for the time, the military strength of France. With 350,000 men sleeping in Russian snows, with the warlike spirit of the country in no inconsiderable degree checked and damped, it was obvious to Wellington that French armies could no longer be pushed across the Pyrences with the old rapidity, and that now was the time for entering on the decisive campaign. His force amounted to fully 70,000 highly disciplined and enthusiastic men, over and above the Spanish contingent. The French had in all nearly 200,000, and King Joseph was nominally at their head; but Wellington well knew his and their relative strength, and pushed confidently on. Notwithstanding these brilliant successes, he was in a critical position, and to remain for any time inactive at Madrid was impossible. The French marshals, whose jealousies and rivalries had often stood the British commander in good stead, were uniting under the pressure of common misfortune. Soult had abandoned the siege of Cadiz ; but he had joined his forces to those of Suchet, while Massena's army was being fast recruited under the command of Marshal Clausel, at Burgos in Old Castile. Wellington, true to his accustomed policy of attacking his enemies in detail, determined, if possible, to annihilate Clausel, and to destroy the fortifications of Burgos, which stood on the high road to Bayonne. On his march, which was rapid, he drove Clausel back from Valladolid, and entering the town of Burgos, he found that the French had deserted it-leaving, however, behind them 2,000 men, to defend the fort and citadel. The situation of this point was so important that Bonaparte's attention had been called to it, and it had recently been put into an efficient state of defence; while Wellington, on the other hand, was no longer provided with the siege trains which had burst the breaches in the walls of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz. The siege of Burgos was consequently unsuccessful; and the subsequent letter of the commander-in-chief to the home authorities is sufficiently explicit as to the difficulties which caused his failure. Writing from winter quarters at Ciudad Rodrigo to Lord Liverpool, he says:-"In regard to means, there were ample means, both at Madrid and Santadar, for the siege of the strongest fortress. That which was The game of war has been often compared to wanting in both places was means of transporting that of chess, and no general has ever done more ordnance and artillery stores to the place where it than Wellington to render the comparison appro was desirable to use them. The people of Eng-priate. It was not so with Napoleon-he fought land, so happy as they are in every respect, so rich recklessly wherever and whenever he found an in resources of every description, having the use enemy. It was Wellington's rule only to fight of such excellent roads, &c., will not readily believe when he had, by superior manoeuvring, placed his that important results here frequently depend enemy at a disadvantage, or when-as at Busacoupon fifty or sixty mules, more or less, or a few he had some distinct ulterior point to gain, of bundles of straw to feed them; but the fact is so, which his antagonist knew nothing. By this sysnotwithstanding their incredulity. I could not tem of policy the English commander spared his find means of moving even one gun from Mad-men; Napoleon's system was freely and recklessly to sacrifice them. Acting upon his characteristic rid." |