250 SWABEY DIARY. 
17th May.—Threatened with a march to-day, an occurrence I shall 
not regret, for I am apt to be desponding when too quiet and 
unemployed. 
18th May.—Marched to Fuente del Maestro an excellent town. 
From a conversation I had with my landlord he gave me proof enough 
that many of the inhabitants favoured the French, or rather thought it 
wise to appear to do so when they were nigh, for he pointed out to me 
several names of places favoured considerably in the raising of contri- 
butions, and when I reminded him of the mild character of the French 
General who had commanded in some of them, he cleared my doubts 
by instancing the oppression of the same officer in other places, so 
that their plans are systematic. Speaking in these remarkable words 
he decried the imbecility and local tyranny of the Junta, “Hs la 
Junta que es la perdiciose de Espaiia.”* I never got such a lesson in 
Spanish politics. ; 
19th May.—At 12 o’clock last night we received an unexpected order 
to march two hours before daybreak to Azauchal, and there to await 
orders. We arrived there by 6 o’clock finding the baggage of the 
Royals and 3rd Dragoon Guards on its way to the rear, the idea was that 
a squadron of the enemy’s cavalry had turned them out of Ribera. 
20th May.—Advanced to Torremexia a desolated village with 
nothing worthy the name of a house. We had a ground floor swept 
out where horses had been standing, but there were no windows or 
doors. It seems the force that appeared yesterday was exaggerated 
by General Slade’s account, they having chased his picket from Llera, 
and absolutely run down 3 horses and taken their riders prisoners. 
This proves to me that light cavalry are the only people for outposts. 
I will not commit to paper my ideas on the subject of General Slade’s 
leaving Ribera; it is now again occupied. Close to this town runs a 
roa, or rather the remains of one, made by the Romans and formerly 
reaching from Merida to Lisbon, these relics of which there are many 
in Spain are called Calhada. 
21st May.—Whinyates? and Bent® went forward to Zafra with two 
guns as the enemy with an unknown force threatens that outpost. 
We received intelligence of General Hill’s complete success in 
carrying the works and destroying the bridge at Almaraz one of the 
roads to Plasencia over the Tagus; hisloss, men killed 80, and 100 
i Tt is the Government which is the ruin of Spain. 
2 Second Captain Edward Charles Whinyates (Kane’s List No. 1002), accompanied Sir Ralph 
Abercrombie’s expedition to the Helder in 1799. Afterwards joined the army under the Duke of 
York, and served in the campaign in North Holland. He was present at the capture of Madeira 
in 1801. He was adjutant to the R.A. in the expedition under Lord Cathcart against Copenhagen 
in 1807. 
He served with “‘D’”’ Troop in the Peninsula from 1810 to 1813, and was at the battles of Busaco 
and Albuera, the affairs of Usagre, Aldea de Ponte, Ribera, San Mufos, with many other minor 
combats. 
In the campaign of 1815, he commanded the 2nd Rocket Troop, and was engaged in the retreat 
from Quatre Bras and at Waterloo, where he was severely wounded. He received for his services 
the C.B. and K.H., the Peninsular medal and two clasps and the Waterloo medal. In 1852, he 
was appointed Director-General of Artillery, and the same year Commandant at Woolwich. General 
Sir Edward Whinyates, Colonel Commandant, R.H.A., died December 25th, 1865. 
3 Lieutenant Wm. Henry Bent, R.A. (Kane’s List No. 1449). 
