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During the night of the 2nd the troops occupied the villages of Carcar and Andosilla, and a number of mules and cars were collected for the carriage of provisions. Before daybreak on the morning of the 3rd “Armada de tropa” was beating through the streets, and the division was formed in the road to Los Arcos, then occupied by the Carlists. The road from Carcar to Los Arcos lies over a plain, several miles in extent, broken here and there by ridges of hills, affording no verdure but wild thyme and heath; after passing Sesma, a village situated on an abrupt hill, the plain becomes more level, but on the right of the road or rather track to Los Arcos, is a range of hills, with groves of dwarf oak and an occasional olive tree.

The troops had passed these hills, with the exception of the rear guard which had been detained in bringing up a broken gun carriage, and which consisted of a half troop of the English Lancers, and half a company of the Saragoza regiment. The first appearance of the Factions was on one of these hills, where a squadron of Lancers shewed themselves, and trotting down, charged the rear guard. The Infantry of which