Note 419 — SECTION XIV: CHAPTER II

Soult’s doings on this day are best told by his aide-de-camp St. Chamans, who was with him all the morning. No attention need be paid to the narrative of his panegyrist Le Noble, who tells a foolish story to the effect that a commandant Salel came at six o’clock (more than four hours before the Buffs began to pass), and assured some of Soult’s staff that the English were already crossing the river. ‘On hearing this,’ says Le Noble, ‘the Marshal sent for Quesnel, the governor of Oporto, and asked if there was any truth in the rumour. The latter denied it and Soult was reassured. If only Salel had been believed, all the English who had then passed might have been killed or captured,’ and a disaster avoided. As a matter of fact Quesnel was right, and not a British soldier had yet crossed [Campagne de Galice, p. 247].