Note 317 — SECTION XXXII: CHAPTER V
Reading edition
I cannot resist quoting here, as an example of Trant’s over-daring and reckless temperament, his letter to Wilson, urging him to co-operate in the raid, which was lent me by Wilson’s representative of to-day:—
Guarda, 11th April, 1812.
My dear Wilson,—I arrived last night. Hasten up your division: there never was a finer opportunity of destroying a French corps, in other words and in my opinion, their 2nd Division: but I have no certainty of what force is the enemy. At any rate send me your squadron of cavalry, or even twenty dragoons. I am very ill-treated by Baccelar in regard to cavalry. Push on yourself personally. You know how happy I shall be in having you once more as the partner of my operations. Order up everything you can from Celorico to eat: here there is nothing.—Yrs. N. T.
The French 2nd Division was Clausel’s, as it chanced, the one that was precisely not at Sabugal, but executing the raid on Castello Branco.