252 
INGILBY DIARY. 
The place was contemptible enough and had not a single gun 
mounted, but was sufficiently unassailable for these irregularly armed 
Guerillas. The band had a grotesque appearance, and consisting of 
both cavalry and infantry, and amounted to about 300 men. Many of 
the cavalry wore caps, and the infantry helmets, others had neither and 
were bare-headed. All had different arms, that is, hardly any two were 
armed alike. Some were deficient in fire-arms, and had but a pike, 
another was gallantly equipped with a brace of pistols in his girdle, a 
sabre at his side, a musket at his shoulder and a pike attached to his 
saddle, some had no saddles, others used ropes for bridles, but at least 
all were animated wfith a like spirit for plunder, hatred of the French, 
and unanimous cheers and vivas on our appearance in their camp. The 
garrison of the citadel awed the town of Legura de Leon, but a mes¬ 
senger was instantly dispatched summoning the Alcaldi to provide for 
our breakfast, which was promptly and liberally complied with. 
Uniforms they had none, with the exception of three or four, and in 
ascertaining if they had any means to attempt an escalade or take the 
place by a coup de main, I found the band, upon an average, had not 
more than three rounds each of cartridges. I returned to Fuente del 
Maestre the same night, and found the Corps had quitted their quarters 
1812. suddenly and had marched in the direction of Llerena. 
Mar. 26th. Joined the Brigade at Llerena. Sir Thomas Graham had endeav¬ 
oured to surprise a Corps of the French at this place. They had, 
however, obtained timely information of his march, and gained the 
mountains without the loss of a man. 
Intelligence arrived from Legura de Leon at the moment I proceeded 
to report to the General; as expected, at the appearance of a British 
officer to reconnoitre, the garrison apprehended being besieged and 
abandoned the citadel the same night. 
" 27th * Maguilla. 
* 31st * Ousagre. 
April ist. Los Santos. 
» 2 nd. Villaba. 
« 4th - Santa Martha. 
* 5th. Torre del AJmendzel. 
« eth. By order of the Quarter-Master-General, I rode over and recon¬ 
noitred the field of battle of Albuera, on which Marshal Beresford 
had repulsed Soult’s Army last year. It was expected the French 
would again endeavour to raise the siege of Badajos, and that another 
conflict might take place on the same ground. There were several 
trenches nearly filled with the white and bleached bones of the dead 
in that battle. The bodies had been thrown in and there left to decay 
without being covered up with the earth. 
„ 8tii. The Corps bivouacked in position. 
» 9th. The Brigade cantoned in Terre del Almendzal. 
« 12th. Bivouacked near Albuera. 
i3th. Bivouacked near Badajos. The place was taken by assault on the 
night of the 7th. 
The Light Division had been repulsed in repeated endeavours to 
force the breaches^ and suffered severely. 
