I think we shall remain here quietly for some weeks. Indeed I do not think Ld. Wn. can pursue them much further, as they are moving back upon their reinforcements, and have the strong passes of Guadalajara in their rear, and, besides that, our troops must have some rest, having been so much harassed lately.
What may be the consequences of this splendid victory it is not easy to say. They must be very great, for we have never gained a more decisive or more compleat one, or followed it up so rapidly. I think it must bring Soult up from the South and raise the siege of Cadiz. Marmont’s Army is quite crippled for a time, having lost all its baggage and so many guns and men. They were joined by about 1500 Cavalry and some guns the Evening of the Action, which were beat next day.
Young Cowell is here unwell, but not wounded, and is getting well fast. I shall take care of him. The Guards were scarcely engaged and have lost few men and no Officer that I have heard of. My friend Jackson is quite well. Pray, if any Officer should be coming to the Army, send me 2 lb. of good black Tea. It will be a great treat. Yrs., etc.,
Wm. Warre.
Molloy was taken for a minute by the French Cavalry, but got off. I am very anxious to hear if you have done anything about the appointment I mentioned to the Cape. This action has confirmed my opinion that we may be shot at all day and exert ourselves as much as we please, [but according to the] proverb, “It is a bad thing to be second fiddles to a second fiddle.”
Extract from Letter to Sister
Salamanca, Aug. 29th, 1812.
While you were amusing yourself with quizzing your brother Wm. and abusing him for not being in love with Honour and Glory, I was straining my arms to reach one little leaf of the laurel tree, which, to a fanciful imagination, is considered a sort of introduction to those gentlemen. Lo! while you and ... were trembling at the rolling of the thunderstorm, and ... thinking of Honour and Glory, I was amused by an equally loud though less innocent storm from about 70 pieces of cannon, of which 50 belonged to the adverse gods who fulminated us for 7 hours, as hard as they could, and with malice prepense, but with very little effect except the effect of the sublime, of which there was a good deal, for I think it combined so much of beauty and grandeur and Awe that certainly Edmund Burke would have classed it with the sublime. As for Beauty, ça va sans dire. You cannot think how beautiful it is to be cannonaded all day, being very tired and hungry, and at 5 P.M. instead of setting to to eat a good dinner, to set to to give the French a good beating in a very strong position, which, however, is the best part of the whole divertissement, and though Ld. Welln. naturally got all the Laurels, it was a most glorious business, and would almost put even me in conceit with Honor and Glory....
Since then we have been very peaceably settled here, and the Marshal recovering very fast from the delightful effects of Honor and Glory. I rather expect in a few days we shall leave this for Lisbon by Oporto. It will be an exceedingly interesting journey as, not being able yet to ride, he goes in a carriage as far as San Joaô da Pesqueira (vide the map), and from thence down the Douro, which is beautiful, to Oporto, and from thence in some ship of war to Lisbon. The only thing I am sorry for is not seeing Segovia or Madrid.