Sir John Moore arrives at Salamanca; hears of the battle of Espinosa--His dangerous position; discovers the real state of affairs; contemplates a hardy enterprise; hears of the defeat at Tudela; resolves to retreat; waits for general Hope’s division--Danger of that general; his able conduct--Central junta fly to Badajos--Mr. Frere, incapable of judging rightly, opposes the retreat; his weakness and levity; insults the general; sends colonel Charmilly to Salamanca--Manly conduct of sir John Moore; his able and bold plan of operations 425 CHAPTER IV. British army advances towards Burgos--French outposts surprised at Rueda--Letter from Berthier to Soult intercepted--Direction of the march changed--Mr. Stuart and a member of the junta arrive at head-quarters--Arrogant and insulting letter of Mr. Frere--Noble answer of sir John Moore--British army united at Majorga; their force and composition--Inconsistent conduct of Romana; his character--Soult’s position and forces; concentrates his army at Carrion--Combat of cavalry at Sahagun--The British army retires to Benevente--The emperor moves from Madrid, passes the Guadarama, arrives at Tordesillas, expects to interrupt the British line of retreat, fails--Bridge of Castro Gonzalo destroyed--Combat of cavalry at Benevente--General Lefebre taken--Soult forces the bridge of Mansilla, takes Leon--The emperor unites his army at Astorga; hears of the Austrian war; orders marshal Soult to pursue the English army, and returns to France 450 CHAPTER V. Sir John Moore retreats towards Vigo; is closely pursued--Miserable scene at Bembibre--Excesses at Villa Franca--Combat at Calcabellos--Death of general Colbert--March to Nogales--Line of retreat changed from Vigo to Coruña--Skilful passage of the bridge of Constantino; skirmish there--The army halts at Lugo--Sir John Moore offers battle; it is not accepted; he makes a forced march to Betanzos; loses many stragglers; rallies the army; reaches Coruña--The army takes a position; two large stores of powder exploded--Fleet arrives in the harbour; army commences embarking--Battle of Coruña--Death of sir John Moore--His character 473 CHAPTER VI.