Wellington, soldier and statesman, and the revival of the military power of England . which the Kings army was composedwere assembled around Vitoria and the adjoininglands; they were huddled together in ill-unitedmasses, disordered after the discreditable town rises from a small plain encompassed byhills, which afford favourable positions for defence,the Zadorra, a feeder of the Ebro, runs before itsfront; the main road to Bayonne and anotherroad to Pampeluna, through the Pyrenees, formedavenues for retreat. The French army was aboutsixty thousand strong, and as Clausel and Foy wer
Wellington, soldier and statesman, and the revival of the military power of England . which the Kings army was composedwere assembled around Vitoria and the adjoininglands; they were huddled together in ill-unitedmasses, disordered after the discreditable town rises from a small plain encompassed byhills, which afford favourable positions for defence,the Zadorra, a feeder of the Ebro, runs before itsfront; the main road to Bayonne and anotherroad to Pampeluna, through the Pyrenees, formedavenues for retreat. The French army was aboutsixty thousand strong, and as Clausel and Foy werenear at hand Joseph might accept a battle withsome chances of success,—at least might make theBritish General pay dear for a victory. But themiserable arrangements which from first to last weremade by the French commanders in this campaignwere continued up to the latest moment. The ac-cumulation of impedimenta which, in the event of areverse, would entangle and encumber a retiringarmy, were collected, for the most part, in andnear Vitoria ; a fraction only was sent forward and. Vitoria 207 away ; and this required an escort of two thousandor three thousand men, to this extent weakeningthe principal force. It was imperative to summonClausel and Foy to the field, and possibly theymight have accomplished this had the orders beentransmitted by armed bodies of men; but thetask was committed to guides and peasants, whoought never to have been entrusted with such a mis-sion. Above all it was, of course, essential to recon-noitre the ground and to place the army upon goodpositions; the whole of the 20th might have beenemployed for this purpose, but nothing of the kindwas done or even attempted. No doubt Jourdanwas ill and could not mount a horse ; but there wereexcellent officers in the French army; that theyneglected this duty it is to be greatly feared was dueto their characteristic disputes and jealousies. Asthe result, the morning of the 21st of June foundthe French army dispers
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