Fuente Guinaldo, May 28, 1812.
My Dear Father,
I had yesterday the pleasure to receive your very affectionate and kind letter, and with all my soul I thank you for all the solicitude you express about me, and congratulations on my escape at Badajos. I have hitherto been very fortunate, and have much cause to be grateful to Almighty God for his infinite goodness in protecting me. It appears to mortals almost a lottery. Some are never hit, while others less exposed never go into action without.
I felt painfully the loss of so many friends, but in this profession we dare not long indulge or admit such feelings. It would but ensure continued misery, and such is the force of habit or prejudice that one scarcely feels for the death of a friend in action, whose death if from illness or other cause would be a source of real affliction; and fortunate it is that it is so. We are all quite well here (barring a broken shin I got from a stone, which has confined me for a day or two, but is now getting well) and all most anxious for a move, though it is yet a secret which way it is to be. As far as conjecture goes I do not think we shall recross the Tagus, for the present at all events, and probably move forward towards Salamanca.
Sir Rowland Hill’s success at Almaraz has put us all in great spirits, and must have puzzled the enemy a good deal as to Lord Wellington’s plans. This affair has been conducted with his usual judgement and gallantry. The General had arrived by a rapid march in front of the Enemy’s works at Mirabete, which is a strong pass over the mountains leading to the Bridge at Almaraz, and about a league distant from it, but he was delayed here a few days, as he found the works were not to be carried by a coup de main, nor could he while they were in the enemy’s possession get his Artillery over the steep rocky mountains in order to attack the Forts, which protected more immediately the Enemy’s Arsenal, Barracks, Bridge, etc. He therefore left it behind, and a Corps to observe the Fort, and made his Infantry scramble over the mountains with nothing but their fire-locks, and immediately attacked with the greatest gallantry the enemy’s works on the other side of the River, and carried them, turning their fire on those which they had over the Bridge on this side, which they were forced to abandon, and he got possession of the whole, except those at Mirabete, with the loss of only two Captns. killed, about 9 Officers wounded, 25 men killed, and 120 or 130 wounded. I have not seen the return. The enemy lost 300 taken Prisoners, and 200 were drowned by the Bridge giving way, or killed. 300 cars of different descriptions, the Bridge, Arsenal, and Barracks they had constructed, a large Depôt of Stores and Provisions, all the works, and two large Pontoons they had on the stocks, completely destroyed, and the communication the most direct between the North of Spain and Castile cut off, which must annoy the French very much, and force them to communicate by the Bridge of Arçobispo, which is considerably about. Major Currie, A.D.C. to Sir R. Hill, goes home with the account, but as he goes by the Packet, which has been detained, I think it the surest way to send this in the mail.
The enemy on hearing of this affair have evacuated Ledesma, and only left a very small garrison to take care of their sick at Salamanca, which shows that they do not think of opposing us should we move on in that direction.
Hill had moved again towards Medellin and Don Benito, which will force the enemy to withdraw the small parties they have in that neighbourhood, or advance in force, which I do not think they are likely to do.
Lord Wellington has adopted a new plan in order to derive a more effectual assistance from the Spaniards. Each British Regiment, except the Guards and Dragoons, are allowed to enlist ten men per Company of a certain stature, 5 ft. 6 inches, who are to be in every respect treated as British soldiers, to serve as long as the Army remains in the Peninsula, and then to have a month’s pay to take them to their homes. I think it is a most excellent plan, and I have very little doubt we shall very soon get the whole number, 5000, and they will make excellent recruits, for in point of activity and fineness of appearance the Spanish Peasantry are certainly inferior to none, and this measure may hereafter serve as a foundation for a more regular Spanish Army, and Napoleon will be greatly annoyed at our having adopted this measure of filling up our casualties, without draining England, and with recruits little inferior to our own in appearance or physical strength.
I went yesterday to a Review of the Light Division, 43rd, 52nd, 95th, 1 and 3 Caçadores, and a troop of R. Artillery. It was a most animating sight, and they moved very well. Ld. Wn. was apparently much satisfied with them. They are getting very strong again in numbers, nearly 3000 in the field, but very weak in Officers from the losses at Cd. Rodrigo and Badajos.