304, SWABEY DIARY. 
22nd August.—I received to-day the unwelcome intelligence of the 
misfortunes of my poor troop in the North. It appears that the 7th 
division, Macdonald’s troop, and some Portuguese cavalry superior in 
number to the enemy’s cavalry that skirmished with them, were to 
enter Madrid. The cavalry and horse artillery were in front, and the 
French Dragoons formed to charge, when the rascally Portuguese 
though nearly double the French turned tail and ran back on Mac- 
donald’s guns, and so mixed with them that he could neither fire nor 
retire, and lost 3 of his guns, the carriages of which the enemy burned 
and the guns were spiked. Dyneley was taken prisoner and many men, 
their behaviour was excellent and received the just reward of praise 
from their General. In sympathizing in their misfortunes, I conld not 
help envying them the glory they acquired, and the opportunity of 
conducting themselves nobly. 
Brereton ' joined the troop from Cadiz to-day. 
The disaster to “HM” troop referred to occurred the day before 
Lord Wellington’s troops entered Madrid. he following 
extract” from a letter written by Captain Dyneley on returning 
to Madrid after his capture and escape elucidates this affair. 
—F.A.W. 
“Very shortly after I sent off my letter of August 9th, we 
received orders to march at 2 inthe morning. The troop 
accordingly moved forward about 2 leagues on the Madrid 
road and halted. 
At the request of the German Colonel Commanding,’ I accompanied 
him about a league to the front for the purpose of reconnoit- 
ring the enemy. As soon as their rear guard opened fire 
upon us, we retired upon our advance and remained waiting 
further orders which arrived at 3 p.m. directing us to advance 
immediately as far as ib was safe; we did so until our 
vedettes were driven in, and then halted in the road for the 
night. 
1 Lieutenant William Brereton (Kane’s List No. 1258) served in the Peninsula, France, and Flanders 
from December 1809, to June 1815, including the sieges of Matagorda, Cadiz, (wounded) and St. 
Sebastian ; battles of Barrosa (wounded), Vitoria, the Pyrences, Orthes, Toulouse, Quatre Bras and 
Waterloo (severely wounded); at the affairs of San Munos, Helette, St. Palais, Sauveterre, Aire, 
and Tarbes. 
He was second in command of the expedition under Major-General D’ Aguilar in 1847, which 
captured the forts of the Bocca Tigris in the Canton river, those of Staked Barrier and at Canton, 
spiking 879 pieces of ordnance. } 
He was on board the flag-ship Brittania during the naval action of the allied fleets with the de- 
fences of Sevastapol, 17th October 1854, and directed the rockets fired from that ship against the 
forts and city. Lieutenant-General Sir William Brereton, x.c.B., K.1m. received the Peninsular 
medal with 6 clasps, the Waterloo, China, and Crimean medals. He died July 27th 1864. By his 
will he left a handsome legacy of £1000, to the Royal Artillery, «the interest upon which fo be 
expended in maintaining the game of cricket, to be played by the N.C. officers and privates of 
the Royal Artillery at Woolwich.” 
2This extract is froma very long and amusing letter which with others it is hoped to give in 
extenso in the “ Proceedings” at some future date. 
3 Colonel de Jonquiéres: in the absence of Major-General Bock commanding the allied cavalry 
vice Sir Stapleton Cotton wounded at Salamanca, he commanded the German Legion heavy cayalry 
brigade. 
