Nor was it in bringing forward guns and ammunition alone that Wellington was busy during December: he caused a great quantity of gabions and fascines to be constructed by the men of the four divisions nearest the front, giving two vintems (2½_d._) for every fascine and four for every gabion. He had a very strong trestle-bridge cast across the Agueda at Marialva, seven miles north of Rodrigo and out of the reach of its garrison, and he began to collect carts from every direction. Not only were they requisitioned in Beira, but Carlos de España, who was lying in a somewhat venturesome position within the frontiers of Leon, ordered the Spanish peasantry, even as far as Tamames, to send every available ox-wain west-ward--and many came, though their owners were risking dire chastisement at the hands of the governor of the province of Salamanca. Marmont, as we have seen, began to move troops eastward for Montbrun’s Valencian expedition about December 15th. The first news of this displacement reached Wellington on the 24th, when he heard that Brennier’s division had evacuated Plasencia and fallen back behind the Tietar, taking with it all its baggage, sick, and stores. This might be no more than a change of cantonments for a single division, or it might be a part of a general strategical move. Wellington wrote to Hill that evening, ‘some say they are going to Valencia, some that they are to cross the Tagus. I will let you know if I should learn anything positive. I have not yet heard whether the movement has been general, or is confined to this particular division[168].’ The right deduction was not drawn with certainty, because at the same time false intelligence was brought that Foy had started from Toledo and gone into La Mancha, but had returned again. This was a confused account of his movement; but the rumour of his coming back discounted the certain news about Brennier’s eastward move[169]. [168] Wellington to Hill, _Dispatches_, viii. p. 482, compare Wellington to Liverpool, viii. pp. 485-6, of the next morning. [169] See _Dispatches_, viii. p. 520. See the Dickson MSS., edited by Major Leslie, for letter from Almeida in December.