ABSTRACT
The fact was that the men who entered Newport were fitter at the time for an hospital than for a battle, after the fatigue and hunger which they had endured. The truth of the matter is that the events of 4 November created such a pitch of excitement among the populace that, at this remove, it is extremely difficult to distinguish what was unfounded rumour from what was factual report. The situation in the Pontypool district was a confused one, for its three brigades were dispersed and their commanders—William Lloyd Jones, Solomon Britton and, it is presumed, David Davies - were out of touch with each other. On 4 November the Merthyr magistrates sent scouts out to report on the situation along the heads of the valleys. They brought back information that men had marched both to Newport and Abergavenny. The attack on Abergavenny was never launched, the tactical errors in Frost’s revised plan being again demonstrated.
