midday
Venegas was known to be at last approaching Toledo , and the king feared that one or both of these forces might fall upon Madrid in his absence , and that all his military stores would fall into their hands . He therefore earnestly desired to force the British to retreat , in order that he might hurry back to protect Madrid . Doubtless the gross cowardice exhibited by the Spaniards , on the previous day , had shown Victor that he had really only the 19,000 British troops to contend against ; and as his force exceeded theirs by two to one , he might well regard victory as certain , and believe he could not fail to beat them . Up to midday , a perfect quiet reigned along both lines . The British and French soldiers went down alike to the rivulet that separated the two armies , and exchanged jokes as they drank and filled their canteens . Albuquerque , being altogether dissatisfied with Cuesta 's arrangements , moved across the plain with his own cavalry and took his post behind the British and German horse ; so that no less than 6000 cavalry were now ready to pour down upon any French force attempting to turn the British position by the valley . The day was intensely hot and the soldiers , after eating their scanty rations , for the most part stretched themselves down to sleep ; for the night had been a broken one , owing to the fact that the Spaniards , whenever they heard , or thought they heard , anyone moving in their front , poured in a tremendous fire that roused the whole camp ; and was so wild and ill directed that several British officers and men , on their left , were killed by it .