INGILBY DIARY. 
255 
sufficient troops to continue the blockade of the forts. The French 
made a feint upon our right and a few shots were fired and exchanged 
between the Artillery, but they declined the offer of battle and even¬ 
tually retired. 
The Army re-occupied our bivouacks in the neighbourhood of 
Salamanca, and operations were recommenced against the two forts. 
In the morning the French appeared on the Alba de Tormes road, 
and threatened our right and rear. A Corps repassed the ford of 
La Martha to the left bank of the river, and took up a position on the 
heights in a direction to oppose them. The French retired in the 
afternoon, and at night we passed to the right bank and bivouacked as 
before. 
The forts were surrendered and the garrisons became prisoners of 
war. By a quick fire of red-hot shot the buildings were set on fire, 
and the magazines being full and not well secured the garrisons were 
compelled to submit. Inflammation, caused by the violent concussion 
upon the drums or tympanum of both my ears by the accident in the 
battery on the 19th, had for several days given me considerable pain, 
but was become very excruciating and deprived me entirely of rest. 
Bivouacked at Obeda. 
Annizal. 
Medina del Campo. Suppuration took place in my ears, and the 
discharge relieved the pain ; my hearing was little impaired, and may 
perhaps always continue so slightly. 
Bivouacked at Villa Verde. 
Villa Neuva. 
The Army marched throughout the night and halted this morning 
at Nave del Bey. In the evening we returned to Villa Verde, remained 
under arms and bivouacked in the morning of the 17tli at Cannical. 
The French manoeuvred to gain some advantages and fell upon one 
of our Divisions (the 4th), but were repulsed, though not without loss. 
In the latter part of the afternoon the Army marched to Villiepa 
Villaescusa, but continuing our movements in the night came again to 
Cannical. 
Lord Wellington occupied a position near Villiessa with the French 
Army in our front. 
The Army was formed into the order of battle, which was declined 
by the French, who manoeuvred upon our right. 
The French continued their movements which cansed the Armies to 
march in two parallel lines. Lord Wellington gradually refused, or 
fell back by his right, in order to preserve his communication with his 
rear from whence we drew all our supplies, and which was threatened 
by this movement of the French General. We repassed the Tormes 
and occupied a position at night upon the heights on the left bank 
under arms. The night was remarkably dark, with heavy rain, accom¬ 
panied with tremendous thunder and lightning, and one loud explosion 
of thunder so frightened the horses of the cavalry that from Colonel 
Ponsonby's regiment 50 broke away from the men as they lay bivou¬ 
acked with the reins in their hands, and caused considerable confusion. 
Our bridles were off for the horses to feed and they made a violent 
rush, but being yoked in the guns were easily stopped. 
1812. 
June 23rd. 
„ 21th. 
« 27th. 
„ 29th. 
w 30th. 
J uly 1st. 
n 12th. 
» 14th. 
n 16th. 
» 18th. 
» 19lh. 
* 20th. 
* 21st. 
