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Updated: May 9, 2025
Lawrence transferred into the Grenadier company The regiment embarks at Cadiz for Lisbon again in consequence of Sir John Moore's defeat at Corunna Hospitality of an English merchant March to join Sir Arthur Wellesley at Castello Branco The Spanish troops reviewed Lawrence's opinion of them Battle of Talavera Lawrence's opinion of the Spaniards justified Severe fighting on the second day of the battle Friendliness between the wounded Final attack and repulse of the French Horrible fate of some of the wounded Advance to Oropesa The Spanish General Cuesta deserts the wounded at Talavera March towards Badajoz Privations on the road Fresh supply of clothes at Badajoz Lawrence invalided to Elvas Is cured chiefly by reflecting on his manner of burial Returns to Badajoz Sir Arthur Wellesley made Viscount Wellington End of 1809.
Next month commenced by Sir Arthur Wellesley leaving the Spanish general Cuesta in charge of Talavera and the wounded, while on the 3rd he proceeded to Oropesa, where he expected to come up with and engage Soult's army.
In the Oropesa Basin the most important ruins are those of Tipon, a pleasant, well-watered valley several hundred feet above the village of Quispicanchi. They include carefully constructed houses of characteristic Inca construction, containing many symmetrically arranged niches with stone lintels. The walls of most of the houses are of rough stones laid in clay.
The rest of the force descended into the plain, and took post at various villages between the Sierra and Oropesa, the most advanced party halting four miles from that town. The French forces under Victor had, in accordance with orders from Madrid, fallen back from Plasencia a week before, and taken up his quarters at Talavera.
If old Saylla represents a fortress set here to defend Cuzco against old Oropesa, it might very naturally have been abandoned when the rule of the Incas finally spread far over the Andes.
He was a native of Oropesa, had been trained in the Italian wars, and held the rank of ensign in the army of the Constable of Bourbon at the famous sack of Rome. It was a good school in which to learn his iron trade, and to steel the heart against any too ready sensibility to human suffering.
Meanwhile the army was about to fall back upon Oropesa, there to await Soult's advance, and if necessary, to give him battle; Cuesta engaging with his Spaniards to secure Talavera, with its stores and hospitals, against any present movement from Victor. After a hearty breakfast, and a kind "Good-by!" from my brother officers, I set out.
The ancient buildings have doors, windows, and niches in walls of small stones laid in clay, the lintels having been of wood, now decayed. When we asked the name of these ruins we were told that it was Saylla, although that is the name of a modern village three miles away, down the Huatanay, in the Oropesa Basin. Like Piquillacta, old Saylla has no water supply at present.
But Don Antonio himself had gone the day before to a hacienda near Oropesa, and messengers have been sent to him to tell him the story, and this evening he rode back with all haste to the city.
The Spanish who still held their ground opened fire, and the French drew back. The fugitives continued their flight to Oropesa, spreading panic and alarm everywhere with the news that the allies were totally defeated, Sir Arthur Wellesley killed, and all lost.
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