As the British-Portuguese forces were outnumbered here , on July 22 , General Arthur Wellesley , 1st Duke of Wellington sent Sending Brigadier-General Robert Craufurd a letter , saying Statement that he ( Wellington ) was `` not desirous of engaging Participation in an affair Hostile_encounter beyond the Coa . ''

On July 24 , Craufurd 's Light Division , with 4,200 infantry , 800 cavalry , and six guns , was surprised Change_sentiment by the sight of 20,000 troops under Marshal Michel Ney .

Rather than retreat Escaping and cross Motion_directional the river as ordered Arranging by Wellington , Craufurd chose Choosing to engage Participation the French , narrowly avoiding Preventing_or_letting disaster Catastrophe .