Extract from Letter to Sister.
(?) Salamanca, Sept. 2nd, 1812.
We leave this to-morrow morning for Porto on our way to Lisbon. We go down the Douro, which at this time of year is quite beautiful, and I think altogether this jaunt promises to be very pleasant, and, if the sea voyage agrees with me, and that the Marshal remains any time at Lisbon, you must not be astonished if I pay you a visit for three weeks or a month, but this is a great secret yet. Say nothing about it to anybody, till I see how things are, when we arrive at Lisbon, as everything must depend upon that. The Marshal and myself are again upon excellent terms. We have great battles sometimes, but they never last very long....
Of Public news I have not a word to send you. The enemy have evacuated Zamora, and are preparing to retire again on any motion of Lord Wellington’s towards Burgos.
Of the six divisions which formerly composed that Army of Portugal (Marmont’s) it has now only 3 Divns. commanded by Foy, Maucune, and Clausel. The latter commands ad interim, till Bonnet recovers from his wounds. Marmont has asked for leave to return to France for the recovery of his health. His wounds are of a very bad nature. The whole army is of about 15,000 men (out of 42,000) and about 1700 Cavalry, and do not seem at all inclined to fight against English honour and glory again. King Joseph is at Valencia. Lord William [Bentinck] at Madrid, but some of our Divisions have moved towards the Douro to drive the enemy further back. They will retire, I am sure, as soon as these seem to advance in earnest. We are in hourly expectation of hearing that the enemy have raised the siege of Cadiz and have abandoned Andalusia. Everything seemed to indicate their intention of doing so. And we have a proclamation of Soult’s, in which he avows it, and endeavours to console the Spaniards for his absence, and promises to return as soon as he can, good natured soul!
I have just seen the garrison of Guadalaxara marched in. About 800 men, a great part renegade Spaniards, and in most miserable plight, as their better countrymen have plundered them of everything, and I don’t pity them. I hate a traitor worse than a Frenchman. There is a General with them and some field Officers, etc., etc.
Transcriber’s Note: Map is clickable for a larger version
MAP OF SPAIN & PORTUGAL