596 SWABEY DIARY. 
an old saying in the military world that the French only once omitted 
firing salutes when they were defeated, and that was after the battle of 
Trafalgar where all their guns being taken they had none left to rejoice 
with. 
27th May.—Not at all sorry to find a day of rest, I availed myself 
of the opportunity to write to England. 
We heard to-day that Lord Wellington with the 2nd and light 
divisions, having pushed on the cavalry consisting of General Fane’s 
brigade and Bean’s! troop of Horse Artillery, overtook the enemy’s 
rear-guard and killed and destroyed 300 of them. 
From a Horse Artillery point of view this action is very note- 
worthy, illustrating the mobility of that arm and its effective 
co-operation with cavalry in the Peninsula. As Part II. of 
this diary deals almost exclusively with “ D” troop, we can- 
not fail to read with interest its experiences on this occasion. 
Both Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Dickson and Major Augustus 
Frazer wrote accounts of the affair, the substance of which is 
as follows.—(f.A.w.) 
On May 26th, Lord Wellington moved forward towards Salamanca, 
on approaching which place infantry columns of the enemy 
were seen halted at each side of the town, a part of the 
cavalry being however on the left bank of the river to 
observe the movements of the allies. As the latter advanced 
the cavalry retired across the bridge into Salamanca, but the 
infantry remained for a considerable time unmoved. In the 
meanwhile Sir Rowland Hill’s Cavalry and Captain Bean’s 
troop of Horse Artillery were ordered to push for the ford 
of Santa Martha, a little above the town. As soon as the 
French saw these troops’ approach the river they moved off 
their whole force, which included about 2500 infantry, two or 
three squadrons, and three or four guns. General Fane who 
was in command of Sir Rowland Hill’s Cavalry passed the 
river ina moment. Owing to the ravines and intricacies of 
the ground near the river, which obliged the Horse Artillery 
to make a detour, it was not possible to bring the guns into 
play for some time, during which the enemy retired by 
squares along the Arivolo road towards Aldea Langua. At 
the distance of a league and a half from thé city however the 
guns of “D” troop came into action and fired with effect, 
every shot going through the ranks of the unfortunate 
enemy, who retired with extreme rapidity but in great order. 
The pursuit was continued for five or six miles, the Horse 
Artillery cannonading them from every available point 
although the interposition of the cavalry between the enemy 
and the guns at times masked their fire. The loss of the 
enemy was about 400 men killed, wounded, and prisoners, 
1 On the death of Captain Lefebure, the command of “‘D ”’ troop was given to Captain George 
Bean, known in the Regiment as ‘‘ Handsome George,’”’ he was killed in command of it at 
Waterloo,.—(F.A.W.) 
