Frost and excessive cold. Get a letter from Burgoyne,[21] dated Salamanca, about my coat. He tells me that General Hope is with them at Alba, and that the French have attacked Madrid in force, and are reported to be repulsed with loss. Also that Napoleon has declared in Paris—“I am now going at the head of 200,000 men to place a prince of my own family on the throne of Spain, after which I shall proceed to plant the Imperial eagles on the walls of Lisbon.”
Napoleon has been at Aranda de Duero some time.
December 14.—Start for headquarters, and find that General Stewart has surprised a valuable convoy of cotton in some town on the Douro, taking thirty-seven prisoners, fine-looking fellows.
Colonel Murray tells me I shall find General Paget at Toro, and that Captain Campbell is going thither. Arrive at Toro. General Paget not there, and I get put up at his old quarters, and am informed that an officer had murdered his landlord, and immediately after, there enters a man with his head all bloody, and people screaming.
My first object was, and always is, with the Spaniards, to make them cease their storm, and then I can redress or excuse their wrongs and talk reason to them. For the passion of the Spaniard rises at the sound of his own voice; he hears it reciting in an angry tone, and his grievances mount to sudden fury and chide the tardy execution of revenge. I take the man to General Beresford.
Noises and knockings at the door all night.
December 15.—In the morning an old woman enters and gives a most humorous description of the night’s disturbances.
Start with Captain Bayley for Tiedra, and there find General Paget, who had arrived with the Reserve.
December 17.—Hard frost, march to Villalpando. Met by the people with enthusiastic exclamations.
The Generals have a confab, Sir D. Baird having joined.