SWABEY DIARY. ~ 603 
14th June—We started and marched through an unfriendly 
mountainous country to Cornudilla. The army being so long on the 
march is in great want of bread, but “ Awt Cesar aut Nullus” being 
for the first time Lord Wellington’s motto, on we must go and push 
the French to the rear. Sir Thomas Graham passed the Ebro at San 
Martin. 
15th June-—We marched to the Ebro descending to it by a cause- 
way 5 miles in length made between the clefts of stupendous rocks. 
Lord Wellington saw us descend with great anxiety for it was not 
quite certain whether artillery could pass. The descent was very 
sudden and steep, the road very roughly paved, not very wide, and in 
many places with frightful precipices at the sides. It was the most 
nervous thing I ever did; we had the good fortune to get down with- 
out injury though a slip would have been fatal. The pass is called 
the Puente Arenas. After crossing the river we wound about its 
course by a most beautiful but frightful road cut in the side of the 
rock ; perpendicular mountains covered and clothed on all sides with 
trees and shrubs hanging over a narrow smiling valley full of fertility. 
I have read many flowery descriptions of Alpine scenery, yet never 
formed a conception of natural beauty in so fair, or it would be equally 
applicable to say, in so ruggeda form. All I have seen and admired 
in Portugal was nothing to this. The French passed this road when 
they attacked Reynosa, and we found it had been obstructed by walls 
built across it. The rock was so hard that I conclude the usual method 
of cutting ditches across, had been impracticable. Night brought us 
without accident to a camp at Villarcayo. 
16th June.—Passing through Medina, a very good town, we arrived 
at Torme where I dined with the 8rd Dragoons, and heard some account 
of the effect of our fire on the 12th. From all I could collect I am 
certain now of my guns having killed thirty on the road, and many 
more above it, but no one afterwards went over that ground. 
Gardiner’s guns also did great havoc, and in Burgos were found sixty 
wounded with cannon shot and shrapnel shells, of which we made 
great use. 
17th June.—Marched to a camp near Santa de Llorente; again a wet 
night. 
18th June.—The army marched with some caution this morning, the 
enemy with 7000 men having possession of a pass on the Vitoria road. 
As the country was not favourable for cavalry operations, we took no 
further part in dispossessing them than in looking on. The light 
division turned the flanks, General Anson’s cavalry with Lawson’s! and 
Ramsay’s guns drove them; there was much skirmishing and the enemy 
at length retired in confusion. The light division took 250 prisoners, 
a considerable number of oxen anda great deal of baggage. 1 calculate 
the enemy’s loss since we marched at 1500 men, our own about 100 or 
less, and we have only 500 sick. In consequence of the wet weather 
we have unfortunately experienced, Lord Wellington’s plan of carrying 
1 Captain R, Lawson. (Kane’s List No. 943). 
