[298] Wellington, e.g., writes to him on August 5, 1809, ‘It is difficult for me to instruct you, when every letter that I receive from you informs me that you have gone further off, and are executing some plan of your own.’
[299] It is most unfortunate that while Wilson wrote and published admirable narratives of his doings in Prussia and Poland in 1806-7, and of his Russian and German campaign of 1812-3, he has left nothing on record concerning Portugal in 1808-9. Moreover the life, by his son-in-law, breaks off in 1807, and was never finished. My narrative is constructed from his dispatches in the Record Office, the correspondence of Wellesley and Beresford, and Mayne and Lillie’s Loyal Lusitanian Legion.
[300] It will he remembered that it was only the first division of the Legion that marched. The second, which could not go forward for want of uniforms and arms, was left behind in charge of Baron Eben. That officer had strict orders to move out to Almeida the moment that he should receive the muskets, &c. that were on their way from England. Eben, however, disregarded his instructions, became one of the Bishop’s clique, and involved his men in the campaign against Soult, thereby marring Wilson’s plans and depriving him of half his proper force.
[301] It consisted of the 45th and 97th regiments.
[302] Napier, who is very friendly to Cradock, makes no mention of this extraordinary dispatch. But it is fully substantiated by Mayne and Lillie, who were both present at Wilson’s council of war, and heard the matter discussed. See their History of the Lusitanian Legion, p. 43.
[303] See the Lusitanian Legion, p. 47.
[304] This fact comes from a letter of Ramon Blanco, governor of Ciudad Rodrigo, dated Jan. 13, which Frere sent home to Castlereagh, and which is therefore now in the Record Office. Blanco complains that he is absolutely without trained artillerymen of any sort.
[305] Carlos d’España, whose name we shall so frequently meet during the succeeding years, was no Spaniard, but a French émigré officer of the name of D’Espagne. Englishmen, on account of his name, sometimes took him for a prince of the Spanish royal family.
[306] Sir Robert Wilson to Frere, dated Jan. 29, in the Record Office. The regiment sent by Pignatelli was called ‘Volunteers of Avila.’
[307] Victor to King Joseph, from Toledo, Feb. 3, 1809.