[490] La Romana (June 1, in the Record Office) gives present at Orense 9,633 men—of whom 7,094 were old soldiers, including 381 cavalry and 379 artillery.
[491] Carrol to Castlereagh, from Vigo, June 11.
[492] For some notes concerning Noroña’s character see Arteche, vi. 188.
[493] Carrol, writing from Vigo two days later, says that the French infantry ‘seemed determined at any risk to cross the water at low tide,’ that they came on very boldly, but could not face the fire, and finally gave back.
[494] Carrol, in the letter just quoted, says that thirty-nine dead bodies were left before the bridge-head of Caldelas, which the French could not carry off because of the hot fire that played upon the spot. He estimates the French total loss at 300, while that of Noroña was only 111.
[495] ‘I have been assured,’ says Napier (ii. 127), ‘by an officer of Ney’s personal staff [Col. D’Esménard] that he rashly concluded that personal feelings had swayed Soult to betray the 6th Corps. In this error he returned in wrath to Corunna.’ But was his conclusion rash, or wrong?
[496] Le Noble, p. 280.
[497] Fantin des Odoards, p. 242.
[498] ‘Le Maréchal crut, ou feignit de croire, que Ney avait changé d’idée,’ says his aide-de-camp St. Chamans, p. 151.
[499] La Romana writes to Carrol from Orense, on June 9, to say that he had been intending to march by cross-roads to fall on Ney’s flank, and so aid the division of Noroña. But Soult’s appearance at Monforte with 12,000 men [an under-estimate] compels him to remain behind to observe that marshal [Record Office].