296 SWABEY DIARY. 
in the North informed me of their howitzer having been employed in 
battery against the forts at Salamanca! when tkey had three men 
wounded, viz :-Varley, Clayton junior, and Tyrrell; they have likewise 
been engaged in the field. 
Lord W’s head-quarters are at Medina del Campo where he has 
suspended his advance, It is rumoured that this delay is because 
Castafios will not co-operate, and turn the passes through the mountains 
to Madrid, by marching on the enemy’s flank. 
14th July.—Glad to dedicate the day to rest. I lay in my hut and 
amused myself with pleasing speculations. I wrote to Yeamans 
Walcott thanking him for the contents of his letter. 
L5th July.—There came to-day to Llerena nine deserters from the 
Poles. It appears that they have taken some general disgust to the 
service, seven of them were non-commissioned officers. I hear that ten 
who had been caught were shot by the French for desertion. It is 
remarkable that last year they served with the greatest fidelity. These 
Lancers are armed with a long and sharp spike or spear which has a 
rest by the stirrup. It has a loose sling that passes over the arm and 
secures it if ib gets out of the hand. It is adorned with a flag, anda 
body of these men makes a very pretty tournament appearance, which 
effect is quite lost when they are single. They owe their reputation 
to having destroyed a great many of our infantry when their ranks were 
broken at Albuera, but as to their being formidable to formed troops 
it is quite ridiculous; a dragoon with his broadsword is worth two 
of them. They are very fine men individually, dressed in large loose 
Mameluke trowsers, anda Polonais cap. Hxact representations of them 
are in the London shops. 
16th July.—The 13th and 9th went into quarters at Villa Garcia, 
but we preferred remaining in our shady camp to being crammed into 
a crowded unwholesome town, and were consequently permitted to do 
so. Rode to Llerena in the evening. 
17th July.—Had company to dinner whose riot and noise was very 
disagreeable. 
18th July.— Having for some time assumed the high dignity of caterer 
and this day settled my accounts, I find it is a very wearing office. It 
will teach me to be more regular in accounts for the future, the loss of 
about £3 per month is no very good speculation. 
L9th July.—FPassed a dull day in the camp a prey to ennwi and the 
terrible rays of the sun. 
20th July.—Hotter perhaps than ever. Some of the infantry retired 
this morning from Llerena to Zafra, in consequence of an application 
made from the inhabitants to lessen their burden. 
A courier was intercepted with many letters written from ladies of 
the best families in Llerena begging their French lovers to drive the 
English out of the town. ‘These letters ridiculed us and our manners 
in the most contemptuous terms. ‘This exposure was followed by no 
w Those of ‘‘ A”’ and “1”? troops were also employed. They were no doubt the heavy iron how- 
itzers given the H.A. in 1813. 
