[732] Marmont, in his Mémoires, iv. p. 65, says that he sent for Thiébault’s division when Montbrun was checked, but ‘l’ordre, envoyé lentement, fut exécuté plus lentement encore,’ and Thiébault only appeared at nightfall. The general himself gives the explanation (Mémoires, iv): the French right (i. e. the wing towards Carpio) seeming to be menaced, ‘they sent me off to a point where no enemy was to be found.’
[733] Graham to Cathcart, in his Life by Delavoye, p. 598.
[734] Graham’s diary, ibid., August 26.
[735] For notes on this point see the life of Craufurd by his grandson, Rev. Alex. Craufurd, pp. 184-5. Wellington was vexed that the Light Division had not done the night march, and, according to Larpent’s Journal (p. 85) observed to Craufurd, with some asperity, ‘I am glad to see you safe.’ The answer was, ‘Oh! I was in no danger, I assure you.’ ‘But I was, from your conduct,’ answered Wellington. Upon which Craufurd observed, ‘He’s d——d crusty to-day.’
[736] The account of the march of the Light Division on this day is quite satisfactory. I have Sir John Bell’s note that the idea that Craufurd thought for a moment of retreating by the Pass of Perales, because he feared being intercepted at Robleda, is ‘nonsense.’
[737] Marmont (Mémoires, iv. p. 65) is very sure that he could have ‘isolated, turned, and enveloped’ Craufurd, and have destroyed him. But it is hard to see that he could really have done more than drive him on to an eccentric line of retreat.
[738] Thiébault, Mémoires, iv. p. 66.
[739] Marmont, Mémoires, iv. pp. 513-14.
[740] Thiébault, in his elaborate account of the skirmish (Mémoires, iv. pp. 522-5), says that he did not lose Aldea da Ponte, but I prefer to take Wellington’s definite statement that he did, supported by those of Vere (the Assistant-Quartermaster-General of the 4th Division) and Lord Londonderry—both eye-witnesses.
[741] Thirty killed and 120 wounded. Martinien’s lists show 7 casualties among officers of Thiébault’s regiments (3 in the 34th Léger, 3 in the regiment of Neuchâtel, 1 in the 4th of the Vistula). This at the average rate of 20 or 22 officers per man seems just right. By a tiresome misprint Thiébault speaks of himself as commanding the 31st Léger in many places. It was really the 34th. The 31st was in the Army of Portugal, not in that of the North.