midnight
Small parties were pushed on ahead , and presently an officer rode back with the news that he had been as far as the river , and that not a Frenchman was to be seen . It was too late to do any more , and they remained in uncertainty whether the enemy had recrossed the river after making a demonstration , or whether they had marched to their right , so as to make a circuit , and throw themselves between Ciudad Rodrigo and Salamanca , upon the line of communication of the British army . Lord Wellington , with his staff , took possession of a deserted farm-house , the cavalry picketed their horses round it , and the Scudamores , who had been more than twenty-four hours in the saddle , wrapped themselves in their cloaks , and stretching themselves on the floor , were soon asleep . Just at midnight the sound of a horse 's footfall approaching at a gallop was heard , and an officer , who had ridden , without drawing rein , from Canizal , dashed up to the farm . Five minutes later the whole party were in the saddle again . The news was important , indeed . Marmont had drawn his whole army back across the Toro on the night of the 16th , had marched to Tordesillas , crossed there , and in the afternoon , after a march of fifty miles , had fallen upon Cotton 's outposts , and driven them across the Trabancos .