The French Colonel and some men who were taken with him, passed through this since I wrote. He belongs to the Gendarmerie and is a handsome looking fellow, though he has a very sneaking appearance. He as well as his companions were wounded. The Lt.-Col., his friend, was killed. We last night took 9 Dns. prisoners at Freixedas which the French occupied, and have since again abandoned. Adieu. Yr. most affecte. Son,
Wm. W.
I am writing as hard as I can, so pray excuse the difficulty you will have in reading this Postscript.
The Major of Artillery Barretto, who proved a traitor, was sent by Cox as a flag of truce. The scoundrel told all he knew, and never even returned to the place. I suppose he found it too warm a berth, and was devilish glad to get out of it. A traitor is almost always a coward. He flies from a greater hoping to find a lesser danger with the enemy, or from the same reason that a man robs or murders, from natural vice or villainy. What miscreants are Alorna, etc., etc.
[23] There is some confusion here; to make good sense “the latter” should be read. But see Oman, vol. iii., p. 275.
Extract from Letter, dated Hendon Place, Oct. 2, 1810.
Hendon Place, Oct. 2, 1810.
No arrivals, and of course no news from dear William. Lord W. had retreated towards Vizeu. We presume things were going on as usual on the 11th, as Paris papers to the 23rd are in town, and they hear at Paris in eleven days from the army.