The journal of an Army surgeon during the Peninsular War / [by Charles Boutflower].

  • Boutflower, Charles, 1782-1844.
Date:
[1912]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The journal of an Army surgeon during the Peninsular War / [by Charles Boutflower]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    101/192 (page 97)
    [JDNE] the latter however can get further reinforcements from the South he will not be in strength to raise the Siege. The heat of the Weather is dreadful, and will I fear be productive of much Sickness in this Corps of the Army ; indeed I think it probable notwithstanding the warlike appearance of every thing that in the course of the next six Months we shall lose more Men by Sickness than by the Sword. June 2d. We hear nothing further of the Enemy, nor have we any reason to believe that they will be able to raise the Siege. We are in hopes that our Batteries opened this Morning, and, as they are on an immense scale, it is generally believed the place will fall in a few days. What are the intentions of Lord W. when this occurs we know not; it is generally thought however that we shall not advance far into the interior of this Country. 5th. We have reason to believe that the Batteries opened on the 3d. They are said to be excessively formidable, consisting of about fifty pieces of heavy Canon besides a large quantity of Mortars & Congreve Rockets. One of the Bat- teries was erected only fifty paces from the Walls. To prevent the Enemy from hearing the Men at Work during the Construction the following expedient was hit on -.—several hundred Sheep & Goats each with a Bell about the neck were driven immediately under the walls between the intended Battery & the enemy ; the noise they made effectually preven- ted the French from knowing what was going on till Daylight, by which time the work was completed. General Hill, who has been in England some time severely indisposed, arrived yesterday to take the Command of the two Divisions of the Army in this Neighbourhood | he is a Man of such conciliating manners & of a disposition so truly amiable that his return has excited the most lively satisfaction. 8th. It appears that the walls at Badajos are so excess- ively hard, that the progress in the Siege is by no means so quick as the Engineers had flattered themselves; no particular