34 SWABEY DIARY. 
Lord Wellington should have made himself master of Burgos and 
Pancorvo, drawn Suchet from the south, crossed the Ebro, beat José 
at Vitoria, established his head-quarters within a few leagues of France 
itself, invested Pamplona, ensured his communication with Santander, 
and put himself in a state to defy any attempts to move him. 
4th July.—The troops sent to watch the movements of Clausel’s 
division returned to-day after an unsuccessful march, he having 
crossed the Ebro at Saragossa, with the intention most probably of 
joining and strengthening Suchet. Lord Wellington leaves a corps of 
cavalry at Tafalla, and Spaniards to watch the Ebro at Tudela. 
This movement was very succinctly described to Mr. Croker by 
the Duke of Wellington in the following terms.—(F.A.W.) 
“During the movements preceding the battle of Vitoria I had 
heard of the armistice in Germany. I hastened my move- 
ments at Vitoria because I knew a reinforcement of 20,000 
men was advancing under Clausel, while I had only 6,000 
coming up under Packenham. Their outposts met, but 
Clausel did not attack him, and I had made arrangements 
for falling on Clausel with my whole force; and should pro- 
bably have overtaken, and defeated him and his army, but 
that in spite of my positive orders that there should be no 
wandering, a certain officer of dragoons chose to be taken 
prisoner while he was at dinner in a country house, and 
Clausel became aware of my movements, and hurried away so 
fast, and in such a direction that I did not care to follow him. 
On what slight accidents turn events.”— Croker papers, 
Vol. I, pp. 335-6. 
5th July.—It is understood that the siege of Pamplona is given up 
as it is said to be only provisioned for two months, and its strength 
such that it is estimated 12,000 men would be required to take it, Lord 
Wellington has therefore left O’Donnell to blockade the place with 
12,000 Spaniards, by means of anintrenchedcamp. The army is gone 
to take possession of the different passes. 
6th July.—I received a letter from Gardiner who has been employed 
with the corps in pursuit of Clausel, who instead of joining Suchet has 
made his way over a central pass into France. 
7th July.—I remain very much puzzled at the conduct of Clausel. 
Had the French any intention of continuing masters of Spain it appears 
odd that he should not have attempted to join Suchet. What the 
object of the movements of the latter is I cannot guess, it must entirely 
depend on the information he receives as to the extent of the defeat 
sustained by José, and the promises held out of future co-operation. 
It is a well-known fact that the grand scheme of military policy first 
introduced in the wars of the Republic, namely, the corresponding 
movements of separate bodies, has in this campaign been interrupted 
by Suchet considering himself an independent commander. The 
French want of information is likewise inconceivable, of this we have 
a fresh proof in the 800 men who surrendered at Pancorvo, a body of 
