SWABEY DIARY. 593 
troops on the Salamanca road, I should not be surprised if we got un- 
heard of to the rear of the enemy by crossing the Douro at this point ; 
10,000 men for the defence of its passage as well as their works at 
Zamora and Toro will thus be rendered useless. We may even march 
on northward without attackmg Burgos. These ideas give me great 
pleasure, as the undertaking of so bold a measure proves us to be 
stronger than the enemy, and I now look forward to a happy and no 
very distant conclusion of the war. At the passage is a redoubt which 
prevented the passing of the French at that point. The ascent from 
the river is a frightful undertaking for artillery, being long and 
steep; our men gave infinite satisfaction by the active way in which 
they embarked and disembarked their carriages and horses; but we 
met with an unfortunate accident with a gun and ammunition waggon, 
which after being pulled by hand a great way up the wharf, broke 
away from the men and were considerably injured. Six wheels, 
thirty-six felloes and spokes had to be replaced; fortunately we 
halted at Torre de Moncorvo, and the damage was repaired. The 
ascent from the Douro is the most tremendous ever encountered by 
artillery. 
19th May.—A vulgar fellow named Lieutenant Murphy of the 7th 
Portuguese Regiment in an unmilitary manner demanded Newland’s 
quarter, and on Newland’s remonstrating, ordered some Portuguese 
to charge into the house, they fixed their bayonets, but seeing we 
stood in the door, the men had the respect not to oppose us. Newland! 
told the man that he was a vulgar, ill-bred fellow, and as that did not 
affect him, put him under arrest, whilst I to be sure did not spare him. 
It was only by writing an apology that he escaped being broke. 
At Moncorvo there is a Moorish castle and it is on what is called 
the Moresco or Moorish Road, but the people only know its name and 
cannot tell why it is so called. 
20th May.—Marched at 4 o’clock to Fornos, a small village only 9 
leagues from Salamanca, as the crow flies, but the crow is the onl 
two-legged animal that can cross the Douro, so that I hope the French 
will gain no intelligence. he people in this town speak a mixture of 
Portuguese and Spanish; the French were never with them, but the 
dirt and backwardness of manner is not the less a characteristic of 
their Portuguese origin. I should mention that the current where we 
passed the Douro is so rapid that communication with Oporto only 
1 Lieutenant R. Newland (Kane’s List No. 1229), remained with “EB” troop to the end of the 
war, he was present at the battles of Salamanca, Vitoria, Orthes, and Toulouse, as well as other 
minor engagements. Captain Newland served in the campaign of 1815, and was engaged in the 
retreat from Quatre Bras and at the battle of Waterloo. Medal, and Peninsula medal with four 
clasps. Soon after the general peace in 1815, he went on half-pay, retired in 1832, and settled at 
Kempston near Bedford, in the neighbourhood of his old comrade and friend. They both hunted 
regularly with the Oakley hounds, and in the March number of Bailey's Magazine for 1871, we 
find the following :—~“ Captain Newland, an old Waterloo man, who afterwards lived at Kempston 
was very popular, and knew more about hunting than most men. Billy Swabey, another Waterloo 
hero, must not be forgotten. He lived at Clifton Hall, and was a regular attendant in the field. 
He had first-rate horses, and his saddle flaps were always cut square at the bottom. He was in 
the artillery with Captain Newland, and it is said when they were both at their guns during the 
battle, they saw a cannon ball coming directly in Swabey’s way, and Newland called out‘ Good- 
bye, Billy, you’re done,’ but Swabey saw it in time, ducked his head, and burst out laughing.” 
a ae Newland, who was a J.P, and served as High Sheriff for Bedfordshire, died J uly 12th, 
81 
