Accordingly, since the enemy had apparently settled down to besiege the Estremaduran fortresses, Wellington and La Romana determined to reinforce Mendizabal up to a strength which would enable him to act as a serious check upon Soult, probably even to foil him completely. On January 14th La Romana ordered Carlos de España and his brigade of some 1,500 or 1,800 men, from opposite Abrantes, to join the small existing remnant of the Army of Estremadura[57]. On the 19th[58], the more important resolve was taken of sending the remainder of the Spanish troops from the Lisbon lines on the same errand--they amounted to about 6,000 men, the rest of La Carrera’s division, and the whole of that of Charles O’Donnell. Starting on the 20th they reached Montemor o Novo on the 24th--where they heard of the disgraceful capitulation of Olivenza,--and Elvas on the 29th. To the same point came in Mendizabal, who, with the remains of his own infantry division--something over 3,000 men, and Butron’s cavalry, had moved from his original post at Albuquerque to Portalegre on the Portuguese border, and had there been joined by Carlos de España’s brigade. Madden’s Portuguese cavalry had already moved back to Campo Mayor and Elvas when Soult first undertook the siege of Olivenza. By the accumulation of all these forces an army of about 11,000 infantry and over 3,000 cavalry was put together[59]. [57] Wellington, _Dispatches_, vii. 143. [58] Ibid., vii. 165, where a letter to Henry Wellesley fixes the resolve to send off these troops to ‘yesterday,’ i. e. January 19th. [59] Viz. La Carrera (including Carlos de España) about 2,500 infantry. Charles O’Donnell’s division 5,000 ” Remains of Mendizabal’s division, which had thrown four battalions into Olivenza and two into Badajoz 3,500 Butron’s cavalry, about 2,500 cavalry. Madden’s Portuguese cavalry brigade 950 ” Artillery 450 artillery. ------ Total 14,900 in all.