There is no doubt that the fight with the guerillas was a lucky thing for us.

I would not have missed it for anything, for I must say there was much more excitement in it than in a battle, at least as far as my experience of a battle goes.

At Talavera we had nothing to do but stick up on the top of a hill, watch the French columns climbing up, and then give them a volley or two and roll them down the hill again; and between times stand to be shelled by Victor's batteries on the opposite hill.

I cannot see that there is any fun about that.

This fight, too, has turned out a very good thing for us.