About eleven o’clock
YOUR EXCELLENCY , -- Having learned from Don Alphonzo Xaviero da Minto , an officer upon my personal staff -- `` Luckily sober at that moment -- '' That the advanced guard of the eighth corps of the French army -- `` Stay , though , was it the eighth ? Upon my life , I 'm not quite clear as to that ; blot the word a little and go on -- '' That the -- corps , under Marshal Victor , had commenced a forward movement towards Alcantara , I immediately ordered a flank movement of the light infantry regiment to cover the bridge over the Tagus . After breakfast -- `` I 'm afraid , Major , that is not precise enough . '' `` Well -- '' About eleven o'clock , the French skirmishers attacked , and drove in our pickets that were posted in front of our position , and following rapidly up with cavalry , they took a few prisoners , and killed old Alphonzo , -- he ran like a man , they say , but they caught him in the rear . `` You need n't put that in , if you do n't like . '' I now directed a charge of the cavalry brigade , under Don Asturias Y’ Hajos , that cut them up in fine style . Our artillery , posted on the heights , mowing away at their columns like fun .