=Benevente.=--On December 24th Sir John Moore thought it advisable to retire from Sahagun, and on the 28th reached Benevente in very inclement, snowy weather, where another brilliant cavalry affair took place on the 29th, when the 10th Hussars, under General Lord Paget, made a most dashing charge against the cavalry of the Imperial Guard, led by General Lefebvre-Desnouettes, who, together with 70 cavalrymen, were made prisoners. The English cavalry lost 50 killed and wounded, and the French 150 killed. Dr. Payne points out that the single bars for this and the previous battle, as well as the bar SAHAGUN-BENEVENTE, were issued so indiscriminately that it is difficult to distinguish to which bar the recipient was entitled. There is a medal with the single bar BENEVENTE in the Chelsea Hospital. [Illustration: PORTUGUESE PENINSULAR GOLD CROSS FOR COMMANDERS. Awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Brunton.] =Retreat to Coruña.=--Then began the awful yet masterly retreat to Coruña. Through rain and snow, and over almost impassable roads, the British army of about 19,000 retreated with the French army of about 60,000, with 91 guns, hanging on without daring to do more than press the retreat, which became so demoralising to Moore's army, that not only had baggage to be abandoned, but guns and treasure to the amount of £25,000 were thrown over a precipice near Nogales to prevent any possibility of their falling into the hands of the enemy. And so, with his army of comparatively raw troops, Sir John Moore resolutely and defiantly made his way to Coruña, pursued by the veterans, under Ney and Soult, only to find on arriving at the port that the transports which were to bear them to England had not arrived! There was nothing to be done but to accept battle, and this he did in such a splendid manner that it makes his death in the hour of victory an imperishable memory, while the recollection of the valour of his much-tried and distressed soldiers will last as long as men respect courage, especially that which triumphs in the face of adversity. Sir John Moore was buried on the ramparts of Coruña by his staff officers and a few men of the Black Watch and other regiments he loved, but-- "No useless coffin enclosed his breast, Nor in sheet nor in shroud we wound him; But he lay like a warrior taking his rest, With his martial cloak around him." Over his soldier's grave the French Marshals placed a plain tomb, while Marshal Soult, who commanded the French, had placed upon a rock near which Sir John Moore fell a Latin inscription recording the fact. He was not allowed, however, to sleep in his soldier's grave, for the Spaniards removed his body to a more conspicuous position, and covered it with a magnificent monument eloquent of his deeds, but hardly in keeping with his simple spirit.