TheBattleofBailenwasfoughtin1808betweenNapoleonictroopsandtheSpanisharmyunderGeneralReding.Ontheeveningbeforethebattle,severaldragoonsbroughtbeforeRedingabout20peasants,whowerearrestedfortryingtoprovidewatertotheenemy.Thepeasantsknewwellthatdeathwastobetheirpunishment,butoneofthemmadeboldtosaytoReding,"General,wehavedonewrong.However,ourhutsandcornwereapreytotheflames.Noprospectbutstarvationremainedtousfortheapproachingwinter,andtheFrenchpaidtworealesforaglassofwater."
TearssparkledinReding'seyes.Hegaveeverypeasantapieceofgoldworthfiveducats,saying,"Dividethewateramongyourcountrymen,andleavetheFrenchtome."Hewouldnotstoptoreceivetheirthanks,butimmediatelywithdrew.
一八○八年，拿破崙部隊和雷丁將軍率領的西班牙軍隊在拜倫交戰。戰爭前一晚，幾個龍騎兵把約二十個農人抓到雷丁跟前。這些農人被捕，是因為準備供水給法軍。他們很清楚懲罰是死刑，但一人向雷丁大膽陳詞：「將軍，我們錯了，不過，我們的木屋、穀物都被火燒掉，而冬天將臨，我們只會餓死。法國人出兩個雷阿爾買一杯水。」
雷丁熱淚盈眶。他給每個農人一塊值五個達卡特的黃金，告訴他們：「把水分給同胞吧，法國人留給我應付。」他馬上轉身離去，沒有讓農人道謝。
【附注】雷丁在拜倫戰役之中大敗法軍。