198 SWABEY DIARY. 
We found the 7th division encamped and we did the same. Doctor 
Macdonald and I in the same tent; our men had not foraged their 
horses till 10 o’clock, fortunately there was no rain in the night. 
“ After the taking of Badajos, Wellington desired to fight Soult 
in Andalusia, and his cavalry under Sir Stapleton Cotton over- 
took and defeated the French horse near Usagre. But 
obstacles arose which prevented Wellington’s following up this 
success. Among them, the fact that Marshal Marmont, who 
in obedience to the orders of Napoleon had made a diversion 
into Northern Portugal on behalf of Badajos and had occupied 
‘and ravaged the country in the neighbourhood of Sabugal 
and Castel Branco, was on the Coa. This obliged the allies 
to return from the vicinity of Badajos to the north. Marmont 
was at first inclined to fight, but found it too dangerous from 
the flooding of the rivers behind him, and finally crossing the 
Agueda on the 24th April, retired to Salamanca. Napier,’ 
Vol. 4., p. 434, et seq. 
L5th..April.—Marched to St. Olaia.- Reva all day. “We found the 
Hat anata? encamped, but for the sake of our horses our indulgent General, 
Alten, allowed us corn. 
This i is a town of little importance. 
~ Elvas appears to be strong, but as we were only encamped near I 
could form no idea of it. I can easily conceive Fort La Lippe, of which 
we had a nearer view, to be with reason termed the strongest fort in the 
world. It stands very high and its guns look into all the approaches. 
I hope to have some Opportunity of taking a nearer view. 
14th April.—Rain all day and all last night. We passed on our road 
to Arronches an unfortunate car-driver dead on the road, and according 
to the inhuman practice of war stripped; no violence appear ed 
about his body, and I conclude he failed from the inclemency of the 
weather. 
“Our men, who have not been dry these two days, and doing very hard 
work, do not suffer much. Arronches has the remains of a wall, but 
the place is insignificant and commanded. 
15th April—We marched, still in the rain, to Portalegre, a city of 
which I had heard so much, that I was disappointed in my expectation 
of its grandeur ; it has this advantage, that the French have not been 
there, and it is the mart for all commodities on their way to Hlvas, 
imported wines and tea and sugar are to be had. ‘he town is remark- 
able for its numerous convents. It is an episcopal see and has a 
cathedral, in which some of the paintings on the altar-piece are very 
highly coloured, but otherwise destitute of merit. 
’ 16th April.—Halted to day and had continualrain. Our menin the 
alcoves of a convent were little better than in the wet, and we had very 
bad and scanty forage. Champagne, claret, &c., are to be had here, 
lump sugar and all sutlers goods, bad linens ‘and ‘cloth ; the things are 
cheaper here than in the north. 
L7th April—tIn.a terrible. wet .day we marched to Alpalhao, into. 
