Parties of Victor's cavalry were patrolling the country between Talavera and Oropesa.
Terence had sent Bull, with five hundred men, to occupy all the passes across the Sierras, with orders to capture any orderlies or messengers who might come along; and a day later four men brought in a French officer, who had been captured on the road leading south.

He was the bearer of a letter from Soult to the king, and was at once sent, under the escort of four troopers, to headquarters.
The men who had brought in the officer reported that they had learned that Wilson, with his command of four thousand men, was in the mountains north of the Escurial; and that spies from that officer had ascertained that there was great alarm in Madrid, where the news of the British advance towards Plasencia was already known; and that it was feared that this force, with Cuesta's army at Almaraz and Venegas' army in La Mancha, were about to combine in an attack upon the capital.

This, indeed, was Sir Arthur's plan, and had been arranged with the Supreme Junta.

The Junta, however, being jealous of Cuesta, had given secret instructions to Venegas to keep aloof.
On his arrival at Plasencia, the English general had learned at once the hollowness of the Spanish promises.

He had been assured of an ample supply of food, mules, and carts for transport; and had, on the strength of these statements, advanced with but small supplies, for little food and but few animals could be obtained in Portugal.