noon
`` And that leave may be sooner or later forthcoming , on conditions . '' As the reader will find in the sequel , the leave has been given and the conditions have been fulfilled , and Mr. Fortescue 's personal narrative -- partly taken down from his own dictation , but for the most part extended from his manuscript -- begins with the following chapter . The morning after the battle of Salamanca -LRB- through which I passed unscathed -RRB- the regiment of dragoons to which I belonged -LRB- forming part of Anson 's brigade -RRB- , together with Bock 's Germans , was ordered to follow on the traces of the flying French , who had retired across the River Tormes . Though we started at daylight , we did not come up with their rear-guard until noon . It consisted of a strong force of horse and foot , and made a stand near La Serna ; but the cavalry , who had received a severe lesson on the previous day , bolted before we could cross swords with them . The infantry , however , remained firm , and forming square , faced us like men . The order was then given to charge ; and when the two brigades broke into a gallop and thundered down the slope , they raised so thick a cloud of dust that all we could see of the enemy was the glitter of their bayonets and the flash of their musket-fire .