[162] Lapéne, Campagnes de 1810-11, p. 121.
[163] See, for a curious note concerning this incident, Lapéne, Appendix, p. 256.
[164] It is sometimes asserted that La Peña proposed to continue the campaign, and was foiled by Graham’s departure into the Isla. But we have Graham’s own statement, in his dispatch to Henry Wellesley of March 24, that no such proposal was made. ‘The only regret expressed to me at Head Quarters on the morning of the 6th, on knowing of my intention to send the British troops across the Santi Petri, was that the opportunity of withdrawing the Spanish troops during the night was lost, and on my observing that after such a defeat there was no risk of attack from the enemy, a very contrary opinion was expressed.’
[166] The forces of the French corps five days later (but the numbers were much the same still) were, to be exact [Return of March 15 in French Archives Nationales]—
| Reynier’s 2nd Corps | 10,251 | men |
| Junot’s 8th Corps | 9,794 | ” |
| Loison’s Division | 4,734 | ” |
| Ney’s other Divisions, horse and foot | 11,066 | ” |
| Montbrun’s Reserve Cavalry | 2,435 | ” |
| Conroux’s Division of the 9th Corps | 5,000 | ” |
| Artillery Reserves, Train, Sappers, Marine Battalion, &c. | 5,855 | ” |
| Total | 49,135 | men |
all exclusive of sick and wounded.
[167] Wellington to Baccelar, March 8: ‘I conclude that Colonel Trant will have retired from Coimbra upon the bridge of the Vouga, which he should destroy, and from thence on Oporto. The enemy have no boats, and I hope to be able to press them so hard that they can get none on the Mondego.... If the enemy should turn toward Vizeu, you will of course do all that you can to annoy them in their march, but send all your baggage, &c., across the Douro.’ (Dispatches, vii. p. 347.)
[168] Viz.:
| 1st Division | 8,100 | of all ranks, | all British | ||
| 3rd Division | 4,500 | ” | and | 1,550 | Portuguese |
| 4th Division | 4,800 | ” | and | 2,100 | ” |
| 5th Division | 3,800 | ” | and | 1,800 | ” |
| 6th Division | 3,850 | ” | and | 2,300 | ” |
| Light Division | 3,400 | ” | and | 900 | ” |
| Pack’s Portuguese Brigade | 2,100 | ||||
| Ashworth’s Portuguese Brigade | 2,500 | ||||
| Cavalry, British | 2,430 | ||||
| Cavalry, Portuguese | 500 | ||||
| Artillery, British | 1,000 | ||||
| Artillery, Portuguese | 500 | ||||
| Engineers, Waggon Train, &c. | 200 | ||||
| Total British | 32,080 | and | 14,250 | Portuguese | |