Journalising went to the wall during this retreat. Roy made some efforts to keep it up, but soon gave in. By the time that the day’s duties were done, he was commonly fit only for sleep. He managed, however, to start a letter to Molly, in readiness for the first chance of getting it off. A thought had come to him one day that if—if something should happen, which might happen to him as to any other man, it would be wished that he should have written once more to his twin-sister. Whereupon he set to work so soon as ten spare minutes could be found. “Dec. 30th, 1808. “MY DEAR MOLLY,—Jack thinks I may be able soon to send a letter on, with Despatches from Headquarters, and I w^d fain have one ready. Close upon the end of the year—truly an eventful year to me. Jack and I keep well, I am glad to say. There is much that I c^d tell you, but have not time. An event which took place yesterday, will, however, be of interest. “We of the Reserve marched at daybreak for La Banessa, and Lord Paget as usual was to bring up the rear. At nine o’clock the Enemy was seen to be examining a ford near to the bridge which had been blown up, and next thing six hundred of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard came over. By-the-by, at the time of the blowing up of the bridge, Napoleon himself was seen by one of our officers standing over on the other side. “Only a small body of the British piquet was there to oppose ’em, and they held on gallantly, but were forced back inch by inch, fighting hard. The English and French squadrons charged one another by turns; and when our men were joined by a few of the 3rd Dragoons, they all went at the Enemy with such Desperate Valour as to break through their front squadron, and to be surrounded by the French. Nothing daunted, they charged back, and broke through again, and so got ’emselves quick out of that scrape. “Then they rallied and formed up anew, and made another charge, supported by the 10th Hussars. The French broke before ever they c^d get up with ’em, and fled through the river, hard pressed by our brave fellows. A lot of prisoners were taken, and among ’em is Marshal Lefebre Desnouettes, Duke of Dantzic—I say, doesn’t Boney love dukes?—Commander of the Imperial Guard. Pretty big haul that! “No question but the French fought with great valour, as was to be expected. General Lefebre says this same Guard at Austerlitz sent thirty thousand Russians flying. They didn’t send our Dragoons flying yesterday, though. ’Twas just about the other way.