No event has given me individually greater pleasure, or will be received by the army in general with more satisfaction than the appointment of the Duke of York, who, notwithstanding the malice of his enemies, and the mischievous revolutionary exertions of a set of low-bred soi-disant reformers, was a most excellent Commr. in Chief, and certainly brought the Army to a point of discipline and systematic order that claims from it its utmost gratitude. As to his private amours they are nothing to us, and most indecently brought forward by that set, who perhaps the least ought to have agitated it, from motives most unwarrantable, as we all know. Pray remember me most kindly to General Ferguson and Farrer, and to Ross, Campbell, my friend John Brown, of whom I rejoice to hear such good accounts, and to his brother. With kindest love to all, etc., etc. Ever, my dear Father, etc.,
Wm. W.
We have a report of a brilliant victory by Sir C. Cotton in the Mediterranean against 9 sail and 2 frigates of the enemy with 10,000 men for Catalonia from Toulon, but it requires confirmation. Don Josè desires to be remembered to you. Pray make my best respects to his Excellency the Ambassador.
I hear from dear Jacko that he is quite well, amusing himself very pleasantly. The Marshal desires to be most kindly remembered to you; pray do also say the same from me to his brother.
St Olaia, June 27, 1811.
My Dearest, Kind Father,
Though I have little to add to what I wrote to you, and my letters to dear Emily and my Uncle William contain all the no news I have to send, I will not delay thanking you for yours of the 5th and 8th and for the newspapers.... We have been kept very alert lately by a reconnaissance Marshal Soult made on the 22nd on Campo Mayor, with 14 Squadrons, pushing at the same time 1000 Cavalry and as many Infantry close up to Elvas. He saw nothing, but I am sorry to say we lost upwards of 100 men and horses, which is a very serious loss to us at present, mostly of the 10th and 2nd German Hussars. It is attributed to some mismanagement in posting our Pickets (which I thought very apparent), and by no means the fault of the Officers commanding them. Poor Lutyens while retiring from a party which had crossed the Guadiana in his rear, most unfortunately mistook a French body of Cavalry for his own reserve, and did not find out his mistake till too late. He then, however, very gallantly attempted to fight his way through them, but was at last overpowered, losing 5 or 7 killed and 20 wounded, and the remainder of 40 taken with himself and another Officer. One Officer escaped wounded. We have not since seen anything of the enemy, and it is my opinion that they will not at present attack us, as some think, though it is very difficult to say what those fellows may risk, they are so presumptuous and insolent, though Albuera and the other beatings they have received, must have at least given them prudence and a better opinion of us, and I am unwilling to believe that, now that Badajos is relieved, and he can have no immediate object to gain, he will risk an action which if unsuccessful to him must have the most disastrous consequences, and perhaps decide the fate of the Peninsula, if he should have a war to divide his attention to the North. It is the largest army they have in Spain, and all they can collect from all parts of the South.
It would appear to me the height of rashness to venture it at one cast against troops which have just beaten the two Corps of which it is composed, and without any positive advantage to gain, for they cannot yet be in a state to advance far into Portugal. I am well aware of the consequences which would attend a defeat of us, against their superior Cavalry and numbers, but I feel so confident that this is scarce possible from the state and high spirits of our brave troops, that I have not the least uneasiness about it, and I also am much pleased with our position, which, I think, though not strong by nature, will enable us to bring all our troops into play in the manner best suited to them, and for the use of the bayonet, which in the hands of a British soldier is always decisive. Nor are our brave Portuguese by any means unaware of its utility or backward in applying it with full vigour. The whole army are in the best spirits and most willing to give these boasting miscreants another dressing before we go into quarters, which are, however, very necessary.