[Sidenote: 1812 Oct. 21st] Marched to Ribas on 21st, and on 22nd to Vicalbaro. [Sidenote: 25th] Marched to the celebrated city of Alcala, and billeted in the College. The headmaster, a priest, appeared a miserable fellow, but by flattering his nation, and paying him and the College some high compliments, he gave me a little bread and some very good wine. I never was so poor as at this moment, little to eat and no money, or I would have seen the priest far enough before I would have flattered him, but being hungry and dry was my only excuse for such conduct. [Sidenote: 27th] Marched to Arganda. Assembled in the dark and marched back to Alcala, which place we reached after daylight. [Sidenote: 28th] Rested in the streets and under the piazzas. In the afternoon marched to Barajas. [Sidenote: 30th] Marched to near El Pardo, a short distance from Madrid. [Sidenote: 31st] Moved close to the city, and halted near to the Segovia Gate. Very much distressed at the wretchedness and deplorable state of mind displayed by great multitudes of people, being aware that we were going to leave them to their fates. The 2nd Division joined the army here. My brother Maud came to me, being very hungry. I luckily had just got a bag of biscuits from a store. He loaded himself and went back to his corps. Our army now commenced its retreat in earnest and marched to Las Rozas and bivouacked near the river Guadiana. [Sidenote: 1812 Nov. 1st] I was truly glad to get away from this unfortunate place, as we could not do the people any good, and pity is at best (under the circumstances) a sorry way of showing good wishes. It would have delighted me, as well as thousands more, if our noble Commander could have risked a battle; that was impossible. He was in full retreat from Burgos, having failed in an assault of it, owing to the guns used on this occasion being too light to make a sufficient breach in its walls, also a very powerful French army was ready to attack him under Marshal Soult, and a large force was moving upon Madrid to attack us. [Sidenote: 2nd] Marched to the camp of the Escorial. [Sidenote: 3rd] Crossed the Sierra de Guadarama and bivouacked near Villacastin. General Hill took the command. My brother Joseph joined. He was in a very bad state of health. The 34th were encamped near us. I brought Maud to dine. [Sidenote: 4th] Marched to near La Vega and bivouacked. [Sidenote: 5th] Marched to near Fuente de Baños and bivouacked. [Sidenote: 6th] Moved to the heights between Flores de Avila and Peñaranda. [Sidenote: 7th] Marched and bivouacked a league from Alba de Tormes. Crossed the river at the bridge of Alba de Tormes and bivouacked in a wood near Calvarrasa de Arriba. The Division on retreat from Burgos joined us here and Lord Wellington took the command. [Sidenote: 10th] Marched into Salamanca. In quarters. The troops placed in different large buildings. The Light Division put into the Irish College. [Sidenote: 13th]