After a heroic march the Light Brigade under Craufurd arrived on the battlefield late on the 28th. One of the first sights they found was the building where the surgeons were tending to the wounded. They could easily recognise the place from the piles of amputated limps under the windows out of which they had been tossed. These welcome reinforcements almost replaced Wellesley's battle losses. He had hopes of moving after the French, writing to Beresford on the 29th ' My intention is to get Cuesta to follow them, and I shall follow as soon as my troops are a little rested and refreshed, We shall certainly move towards Madrid, if not interrupted by some accident on our flank... " [18]

With hindsight it reads like a sports commentator who puts a jinx on the leading horse as on the next day he is writing to Frere 'We have received this morning accounts that the enemy are threatening the Puerto de Banos (pass), which leads to Plasencia, in which object if they should succeed, they would cut off my communications with Portugal, and may otherwise do us infinite mischief..' [19]

It was to prevent this that Wellesley had asked Cuesta to post troops in the Puerto de Banos but the old gentleman had sent far too few to be effective. On the 2nd August, confirmation came that Soult was through the pass and threatening the links to Portugal. Wellesley could turn and give battle but not if it cost him a quarter of his army, such costly victories would soon lead to orders for his withdrawal.

He instead moved to Oropesa, leaving open his options to retreat to Portugal via a southern route to Badajoz or stay in Spain. His wounded were left in Talavara under the care of the Spanish, who soon abandoned them in their own rush to escape the advancing French under Joseph. The French proved better at looking after the Bntish wounded than the Spanish. Cuesta once again proved too slow in his movements and was attacked by Soult's forces loosing 6000 men, his own cannon and all those that had been captured from the French at Talavera.

Crossing to the south of the Tagus Wellesley held the bridges which protected both his own army and the Spanish from the French. However he still had problems with getting supplies out of Cuesta. After another round of recriminations regarding accusations of British looting Cuesta had a stroke and was repiaced by General Eguia. Relations remained frosty and despite promises of supplies Wellesley was forced to write on the 18th August to Eguia, ' As the soldiers have not received their provisions for this day... I trust you will have ordered troops to relieve my outposts on the Tagus, if you propose to hold that position,' And again. ' That which obliges me to move into Portugal is a case of extreme necessity, viz., that description of necessity which an army feels when it has been starving for a month...'[20]

The British were on their way back to Portugal; joint efforts with the Spanish were to be abandoned.

Part 9: Was Talavera a Victory?

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