3000 artillery, and 4000
cavalry, so that he already had a decided superiority in numbers. Still
Wellington pursued his march, and the whole of his army arrived upon
the Val Musa rivulet, about six miles from Salamanca, on the 16th of
June. Some of the cavalry and infantry of the enemy lay in front of the
town of Salamanca; but they were driven in by the British, and Marmont
evacuated the town in the night, leaving a garrison of some eight
hundred men, in forts constructed on the rains of colleges and convents,
which commanded the bridge that crosses the river Tormes. The allies,
however, forded the river in places above and below the bridge, and
on the 17th entered the town. Marmont made some efforts to relieve the
forts which were now invested; but they were all taken by the 27th, and
he then took up a strong position on the northern bank of the Duero. He
was followed by Wellington, who took up a line on the southern bank of
that river directly opposite to his opponent. Early in July Marmont was
re-enforced by the expected division, and on the 11th of that month he
threw two divisions across the Duero at Toro, when Wellington moved his
army to the left to concentrate it on the Guareha, an affluent of the
Duero. Marmont now ascended the northern bank of the river with his
whole army, and again crossed over to the southern bank of the Duero,
and assembled at Nava del Bey. He succeeded in re-establishing his
communications with King Joseph and the army of the centre, which
was advancing from Madrid to join him. The two armies remained on the
opposite banks of the Guarena till the 20th of July, on which day they
moved towards the Tormes in parallel lines. They crossed the Tormes on
the following day; the allied army passing by the bridge of Salamanca,
and the French by the fords higher up the river. The hostile troops were
still facing each other, and both armies were still near Salamanca. In
the course of the night Lord Wellington was informed that Marmont was
about to be joined by the cavalry and horse-artillery of the north.
No time was to be lost, and his lordship determined, if circumstances
should not permit him to attack Marmont on the morrow, he would then
move towards Ciudad Rodrigo. The morning of the morrow was spent in
anxious suspense by the allies, birt the enemy gave no indication of his
design to commence battle till noon, when some confusion was observed
in his ranks. After a great variety of skilful manou