Note 670 — SECTION XXXIII: CHAPTER X

To quote Wellington’s own rather heavy but quite explicit phrases: ‘I am certain that the enemy will move into Estremadura upon Hill, as soon as it is known that I have moved: and I hope everything will then be done by Ballasteros, and the Army of Murcia, and the troops in Cadiz, to divert the enemy from their intentions upon Hill.’ And, on the other hand, in a letter differing in date from that first cited by three days, ‘The Spanish government have desired that in case of a movement by Marshal Soult on General Ballasteros, General Hill should make a movement to divert his attention from Ballasteros. I have directed this movement, in the notion that the Conde de Villemur [the Spanish commander in Estremadura] will also co-operate in it.’ The see-saw of alternate distractions is clearly laid down—but Ballasteros (as usual) proved a difficult factor to manage.