General Spencer's Division came to Valle this morning, and, with our Division, remained under arms all day. Lord Wellington reconnoitred the enemy's position, but no attack took place. Bivouacked in a wood near Valle. A deserter informed us that Junot's and Regnier's Corps were in position in front of Santarem. I had left Lisbon to join my regiment before the wound in my thigh was quite healed, and from the continued hardship I had suffered, and being exposed night and day to very inclement weather, my health became very much impaired, but I was in hopes of being able to shake off disease. [Sidenote: 20th] Passed a most miserable night; rain fell in torrents. The Light Division moved with some Dragoons towards the left of the enemy's position. They filled the wooded slope with numbers of Light troops. Some of them skirmished with our advanced parties. We returned at midday and were put into cantonments, the 52nd and 1st Caçadores and the Brunswick Oels into Valle, the 43rd into a large _quinta_ above the village mentioned. The 95th Rifles were put into straggling farmhouses on the banks of the river, where we saw opposite to us, upon the wooded heights, numbers of Frenchmen on duty, observing our movements. [Sidenote: 21st] I felt much refreshed from dry clothes and something to eat, but my thigh was getting worse and my body sadly out of order. [Sidenote: 23rd] Symptoms of dysentery. [Sidenote: 25th] On outlying piquet. A most dreadful night, which made me so ill that I could scarcely crawl. [Sidenote: 26th] General Craufurd came this morning and ordered the _abatis_ to be advanced some yards upon the bridge in case we should have occasion to blow up the principal arch, which would then be clear. I got over the parapet on the enemy's side and went forward to the place the General had ordered the _abatis_ to be moved to. Three of my men began to pull it to pieces and bring the wood. I expected the French would fire at me from the _tête de pont_, and I was suffering so much from disease that I was really careless what happened, but I was allowed to finish my job without interruption. [Sidenote: 30th] Worse and worse, and on the 2nd of December obliged to go from my regiment. I was put into a boat at Vallada, and arrived at Lisbon about midnight. By the greatest good luck, La Tour's Hotel was open, and I got a bed there; excessively ill. [Sidenote: 1810 Dec. 3rd] Removed to a billet with much difficulty; people very uncivil. [Sidenote: 4th]