540, LIEUT.-GENERAL THOMAS DYNELEY, 0.B., B.A. 
Baynes will recollect him, he was in the Quarter-Master-General’s 
department in Sicily, he made the drawing of the battle of Maida, and 
has finished a capital one of the battle of Salamanca. You will all be 
very sorry to hear of the death of poor General Wheatley. It was very 
sudden; I was on the road to the Escorial with the intention of 
going to breakfast with him, when I was met by an officer who told 
me he was dead; his loss is universally regretted, every officer who 
knew him speaks of him in the highest terms. 
As I am writing I have a most beautiful view of the besieged 
castle ; we are now lying about a mile from it, but they are too busily 
employed with the people in the trenches to think it worth while to 
give usa shell. My friend Burgoyne got a lick on the head with a 
splinter yesterday morning; I have seen him since and he has returned 
to his duty. The duties in the batteries are to be taken in three reliefs, 
two of which are to be furnished by the reserve and the other by the 
brigades alternately. Major Carncross! is to be the superintending 
field officer, so that they do not intend the Royal Horse Artillery 
should share the honour. 
The remains of Marmont’s army made a stand once or twice on 
their march from Valladolid, but when we advanced in order of battle 
they retired. Downman asked me to do aide-de-camp for him. As 
our troop was not in front I was happy to consent, and I had an 
opportunity of being up with our advanced vedettes and seeing all 
the fun. 
I have this moment had my mother’s and Jane’s letters of the Ist 
September put into my hands. Thank them most kindly and tell my 
mother I shall manage very well to keep myself warm until the flannels 
arrive. 
I suppose part of the army will be left here to look after the enemy, 
who are now about three leagues in our front, and the remainder march 
in the direction of Madrid to meet Marshal Soult. If he comes he will 
be strong, and I think we had better mind we do not burn our fingers 
after all our success. As for myself, I have never had much confidence 
in either the Spanish or Portuguese troops; their officers have no heart 
for the cause. At the battle of Salamanca I caught one officer, with his 
sword drawn, running away. I stopped him short and made all the 
men at the guns hiss and abuse him, then gave him over to the 40th 
regiment, who hooted him from right to left; but the fellow did not 
care, he saved his head which was his object. As for the famous 
Galician army, I have seen it, and in point of appearance it would be 
a disgrace to the English hulks. In fact, I must not say more on this 
subject, only mark my words, if ever we trust in either army our game 
is up. 
1 Kane’s List, No. 727. 
