410 LIEUT.-GENERAL THOMAS DYNELEY, 0.B., B.A. 
1b 1) MED RS IE A 
(To tHE Same.) 
Macouitta, Estremapura, 
March 80th, 1812. 
Having a few leisure moments my dear John I do not think I can 
apply them to a better purpose than that of thanking you most kindly for 
your letter of February 17th. I think my last to Mrs. Close! was 
dated February 23rd, since when we have been continually on the 
march. 
On the 25th of this month we started from Azeuchal to surprise the 
garrison of Llerena. After marching the whole of that day and night 
we arrived before the place at daylight the next morning, but by some 
unfortunate accident the Chasseurs Britanniques fired upon the 51st 
Regiment or the 5lst fired upon the Chasseurs, it is not yet decided 
which were the aggressors, but certain it is that an assistant surgeon 
and two men of the 51st were killed, and the paymaster, one officer 
and one man wounded. This fire disturbed the garrison, and while we 
were dismounting they marched out on the other side of the town. 
We then advanced to within about 500 yards of the town and by order 
of Sir Thomas Graham (who commanded the whole) opened our fire 
upon what, he said, were troops forming in front. We were rather 
astonished at the fire not being returned, but at daylight we discovered 
we had been pounding away at a brick wall. We then went round to 
the other side of the town, when we saw the enemy, about 3000 infantry 
and 500 cavalry, half a mile ahead going over the mountains. The 
cavalry then pushed on with Bull’s troop, which opened fire, but at too 
great a distance to annoy- them at all, and the whole party got clear off 
without losing a man. ‘Thus ended our“ surprising party.” We 
marched into Llerena, where we remained that day, and marched again 
from thence to this place at daylight the next morning, the 27th, where 
we have been ever since, expecting to move every hour. At this 
moment in consequence of some information Sir 'l'homas has received, 
Bull’s troop is ordered immediately to the front to support the cavalry. 
The report is that the “surprisers,” consisting of 10,000 men, are to 
make the best of their way to the rear as Marmont with 30,000 is about 
to form a junction with Soult and Count Dorsenne with 30,000 more 
for the relief of Badajos. Should it not fall before he is able to carry 
this into execution, I have no doubt we shall,leave our bones on the 
plains of Albuera. We have not had any news from Badajos these 
three days. Lord Wellington sent word to the Governor to say that 
if a single Englishman lost his life by the springing of a mine, he 
pledged his word that every Frenchman should be put to the sword. 
I should have liked much to have been in the siege, but General 
Borthwick refused to forward my application, and I could not get away 
on leave from my division, as we were in expectation of moving every 
instant, so that I was prevented speaking for myself. You will be 
1Mys. Close was a daughter of General Douglas, Married Major Douglas Close, for many years 
employed in the India Office. 
