[507] To Beresford, May 14. The 30,000 total allows for Spencer and four divisions being left in the North.
[508] To Lord Liverpool, May 24.
[509] To Lord Liverpool, May 23.
[510] Apparently on April 10, according to Schwertfeger’s History of the German Legion, i. 329.
[511] He outrode his own estimate, since according to a letter to Charles Stuart (Dispatches, vii. 572) he had intended not to reach Elvas till the 21st, ‘unless I see reason on the road to go a little quicker.’
[512] Memorandum for Spencer, dated May 15th, the night before Wellington’s departure. Dispatches, vii. p. 567.
[513] To Spencer, May 24. Dispatches, vii. p. 602.
[514] This is mentioned by Wellington himself (Stanhope’s Conversations, p. 90): ‘He could not stand the slaughter about him and the vast responsibility: the letter was quite in a desponding tone. It was brought me by Arbuthnot while I was at dinner at Elvas, and I said, “This won’t do: write me down a victory.” So the dispatch was altered accordingly.’
[515] Wellington to Beresford, May 19, 4.30 p.m.
[516] Bron’s brigade was composed of the 4th, 20th, 26th Dragoons, Bouvier’s of the 14th, 17th, 27th Dragoons, Vinot’s of the 2nd Hussars and 27th chasseurs, Briche’s of the 10th Hussars and 21st chasseurs.