The British army as usual has been deprived of the fruits of their glorious victory; for Soult, Ney, and Mortier, having penetrated from Castille to Placencia with 34,000 men, added to the impossibility of placing any dependance upon the Spaniards, who during and after the battle of Talavera had remained, except their Artillery, entirely spectators, with 20,000 men, exposing the British army to finding itself between two fires, besides entirely cutting off its retreat and communications with Portugal, obliged Sir Arthur to retire by the bridge of Arçobispo to the other side of the Tagus; that of Almaraz was already occupied by the enemy. Cuesta, who was left at Talavera to keep the army of Victor in check, I suppose not feeling very confident in his troops, set off after Sir Arthur, thus abandoning all such of our wounded, who could not crawl along the road, to the enemy, who however, it must be confessed, on all occasions have treated the English prisoners with great humanity.
We have moved forward with the Portuguese army to occupy the strong passes near this place, and assist, as far as we may be able with our small force of 12,000 men, the British and Spanish armies, the former of which occupies a position on the South Bank of the Tagus at Almaraz, the latter at Arçobispo. The names of these passes are Perales and Gata and are at four leagues distance from Coria. The French have advanced towards Talavera from Placencia. Our army are in very good spirits, and will, I have no doubt, maintain their character better than their neighbours, in whom, you know, I never had much confidence.
I am happy to tell you that Jack Prince is well, also Genl. Fane. Poor Milman is badly wounded, as is Sir W. Sheridan.
I am much obliged to you for the boots and my glass, which I have received, and which I was in great want of.
I will write to you again the moment I am able, and in the meantime I have only to add that I remain, my dear Father, with love to all at home, Your very affectionate Son,
Wm. Warre, A.D.C.
I beg you will believe my hand is really of no consequence and nearly well, nor do I find it a bit the worse for a ride of fifty hours de suite to the British Head Quarters and 36 back, and I am otherwise in as good health as I ever was.
Los Hoyos, August 13.
I have been unable to forward this letter before to-day and have merely to add that my hand is much better. We continue near these passes, though we made the other day a movement to Salteros, but retired again to the same position, and established our Head Quarters at this place. I believe Soult’s, Ney’s, etc., army are moving again into Castille by Baños without deigning to take notice of us. The cowardly Spaniards have suffered the enemy to pass the bridge at Arçobispo with very little resistance, and now occupy the passes in which I left the British army, on its right flank.