s, under General Drouet;
and about the same time Soult received orders from Napoleon to act in
concert with him by attacking Portugal south of the Tagus; and a new
French army was formed in the north of Spain, consisting of about 70,000
men, and placed under Marshal Bessieres, who was ordered to give all
the assistance he could to the army of Portugal. Soult, as before seen,
moved towards the frontiers of Portugal; but deemed it indispensable
to reduce Olivenza and Badajoz, before he crossed them, lest he should
leave a Spanish garrison in his rear. Napoleon had given his generals
directions to keep the English in check, and to cause them loss of men
every day by engagements of advanced guards, until the season became
favourable for main operations. Wellington, however, was too cautious
to waste his army in affairs of advanced guards, or in any useless
skirmishes or operations, so that he kept his forces entire; and at the
beginning of March he was re-enforced by about 7000 men. By this time
Massena's army had so eaten up the country that he found it necessary to
move his quarters. He retreated to the frontiers of Spain, followed
by the English, who in the course of the pursuit cut off many of the
fugitives, and took much baggage and ammunition. When, indeed, Massena,
re-crossed the frontiers of Spain, his loss, including the sick and
wounded, amounted to no less than 45,000 men. But Massena still counted
40,000 men, besides the garrison left in Almeida; and having placed his
army in cantonments between the Coa and Agueda, and given instructions
for the blockade of Almeida, Lord Wellington departed for the south, to
see the state of affairs on the Guadiana and the country near Badajoz.
Thus terminated the third French invasion of Portugal.

AFFAIRS OF SPAIN, CAPTURE OF BADAJOZ, ETC.

During his pursuit of the French army, Lord Wellington was mortified by
the intelligence that Soult had captured Badajoz. He had besought the
governor, General Menacho, to make a good stand, and promised him
speedy assistance; but, unfortunately, the Governor was killed by a
cannon-ball, and the command of the garrison devolved upon General
Imaz, who proved unworthy of his trust. Although General Imaz knew
that Massena was retreating, and that Wellington would soon send him
succours, before any practicable breach was made in the walls; and
although he was able to hold out for one month, he held up the white
flag and suspended hostili