‘The 15th, in the morning, the enemy appeared one league from Braga; our column was entangled in the defile; the rain came down in torrents; and the wind was frightful. On reaching Salamanca we learned that _the bridge of Ruivaens, over the little river_ (ruisseau) _of that name was cut, and the passage guarded by 1,200 men with cannon_. It was known also that the _Ponte Nova on the route of Montelegre_, which they had begun to destroy, was feebly guarded; and the marshal gave to major Dulong the command of 100 brave men, of his own choice, to carry it. The valiant Dulong under cover of the night reached the bridge, passed it notwithstanding the cuts in it, surprised the guard, and put to the sword those who could not escape. _In four hours the bridge was repaired_; general Loison passed it and marched upon the bridge of Misserella, near Villa da Ponte, where 800 Portuguese _well retrenched_ defended the passage. _A battalion and some brave men, again led by the intrepid Dulong, forced the abbatis entered the entrenchments and seized the bridge._’ _Extract from the ‘Victoires et Conquêtes des Français’._ ‘The marshal held a council, at the end of which he called major Dulong. It was nine o’clock in the evening. “I have selected you from the army, he said to that brave officer, to seize the bridge of Ponte Nova which the enemy are now cutting: you must endeavour to surprise them. The time is favourable. Attack, vigorously with the bayonet you will succeed or you will die. I want no news save that of your success, send me no other report, your silence will be sufficient in a contrary case. Take a hundred men at your choice; they will be sufficient; add _twenty-five dragoons_, _and kill their horses to make a rampart, if it be necessary, on the middle of the bridge to sustain yourself and remain master of the passage_.”’