113 
ID) ab ay, dgh) NE 
LIEUTENANT W. SWABEY, R.H.A., IN THE 
PENINSULA. 
EDITED BY 
COLONEL F. A. WHINYATES, late R.H.A. 
(Continued from p. 107, No. 2, Vol. XXTI1.). 
Cuapter LY. 
Alarms. Difficulties as to forage. March to the front. Siege of 
Ciudad Rodrigo. Return to cantonments. 
26th November.—We were surprised early this morning by an order 
and route to march immediately to Sabugal, next day to Aldea de Ponte ; 
through Bombardier Yates mistaking his road it did not arrive till 8 
o'clock. We were in harness by 12 o’clock, our road was unluckily 
through St. Hstavaio, between which place and Val de Lobo the stony 
hills are next to impassable, and with all our efforts we could not get 
up them till 12 o’clock at night, though the distance is not in all 
12 miles. It was a fine frosty moonlight night and our work kept us 
warm, but we were under the absolute necessity of halting and bivouack- 
ing under the trees. I got part of the troop into a church, and then 
walked into the best house I could find, but my baggage was gone to 
Sabugal and I slept all night in my cloak, nor had we anything to eat 
since breakfast ae eee FS Oe Osi eas Dole tee a. 28 
2/th November.—This morning, without much trouble at the toilet, 
set at it again, the hills worse than before. Several guns were obliged 
to be run up by hand as the horses would not face the hills. I was 
left to bring up the rear, which I succeeded in getting into Sabugal at 
7 o'clock a.m., and was excessively glad to get something to eat with 
Baynes. 
I was again left with the rear and got to Soita at about 9 o’clock, 
having walked most of the distance, and repeatedly put my shoulder to 
the wheel. We left the two store carts and the curricle cart at Sabugal, 
as Captain Macdonald thought the horses would not be able to get on. 
I had a miserable billet this night without a door, we put up a board 
which the wind blew down in the middle of the night, and to my 
considerable amusement alarmed the Doctor. We ought to, and had 
the Captain been persevering, might have been at Aldea de Ponte 
thisenioh ty. a oy Lic mare Ware oc gyltaceht Gy Noite Th Pe hse Sc 
28th November.—Marched at day-break in a hard frost for Aldea de 
Ponte. Captain M. dispatchod me to Guinaldo, head-quarters, and 
3. VOL. XXII. 
