I returned to camp and found the soldiers in possession of all sorts of things brought from the town, and crowds of country people bartering with them for clothes and other articles. These two sieges had demoralised the men very much, and coercion was necessary on many occasions (with men that had never behaved ill before), and obliged to be resorted to. The men were made to throw away a quantity of things, and to prevent them secreting any of the articles, their packs were examined, and the plunder that had not been made away with was collected into heaps and burnt. A garrison of Spaniards were put into Badajoz and the place was put in order. Marched to Campo Mayor. [Sidenote: 12th] Marched in front of Arronches. Bivouacked in a wood. [Sidenote: 13th] Marched to Portalegre, 14th to Niza, 15th to Sarnadas, 16th to Castello Branco, 17th halted, 18th to Escalos de Cima and Louza, 19th halted. [Sidenote: 20th] Informed by the peasantry that the enemy was in force at Sabugal and San Miguel d'Acha. [Sidenote: 21st] Marched to Penamacor, 22nd to Quintas de San Bartolomé, 23rd to Alfayates. Bivouacked in front. [Sidenote: 24th] Marched and bivouacked near Castillejo on the Azava. [Sidenote: 25th] Halted in bivouac. My horse, which had been for some days ill, died—a sad loss to a poor soldier in such hard times. [Sidenote: 1812 May 6th] Marched to Campillo. [Sidenote: 27th] Reviewed by Lord Wellington with the rest of the Division between Fuenteguinaldo and El Bodon. He told us we _looked well and in good fighting order_. Our men's clothing was covered with patches of all colours, and many of the officers' dresses were in little better plight. [Sidenote: 1812 June 6th] Marched to El Bodon. [Sidenote: 11th] Marched in front of Ciudad Rodrigo and bivouacked in a wood. [Sidenote: 12th] Visited the town. The Light Division collected here, and with the rest of the army on the 13th made a forward movement near Alba de Yeltes. Bivouacked in a wood upon the river Yeltes, a small stream. [Sidenote: 14th] Marched and bivouacked near Sanchobueno. [Sidenote: 15th] Marched and bivouacked near Matilla. [Sidenote: 16th] Marched a few miles in the direction of Salamanca. [Sidenote: 17th] Marched and forded the Rio Tormes above the town, bivouacked in a wood for the night. General Hill remained with the 2nd Division on the Alentejo frontier, as a check upon Marshal Soult's army, which was in Andaluçia. In May, General Hill, with his Division, took two forts near Almaraz, on the Tagus, by storm, viz. Fort Napoleon and Fort Ragusa, and some works of minor importance. My two brothers were in these affairs.