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.

    110/192 (page 106)
    [18111 [Adg.] io6 24. We are likely to remain in this wretched place a considerable time; the Weather is dreadfully hot, but the Troops are much healthier than they were a week ago. Reinforcements, particularly Dragoons, continue to arrive from England, and Lord W. in the last Gazette appears as a General with temporary Rank, that is, in Spain & Portugal only. The papers to the 7th inst. give a deplorable acct. of His Majesty’s state ; indeed they leave little reason to hope that he is now alive. On the accession of the Prince to the Throne, it is probable the same System with regard to this Country will be persevered in ; and, as the enemy themselves no longer talk of driving us into the sea, it is impossible to calculate when hostilities in the Peninsula will have an end. 29. On the evening of the 27th we received a sudden and most unexpected Order to commence our March in the direction of Penamacor, which place we passed through Yesterday Morning and halted near a village called Merimoa. This Day we have had a march of two long Leagues thro’ a deplorably barren country. We are in bivouac in the neighbourhood of the wretched remains of a Village called San Antonio. Tomorrow we proceed Northward ; our destination is said to be in front of Almeida beyond the Frontier. It seems certain that Lord W. is about to commence the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo. The heavy battering Train will very soon be ready. From the circumstance of nearly the whole Army being brought up it is inferred that his Lordship will give battle to any Force the Enemy can bring to oppose him. 31. Our Route was Yesterday Morning changed, and we were directed to march to Villa de Toro,where we were to receive instructions as to the Cantonments we were this day to occupy. Accordingly at an early hour this morning the Division marched into different Villages, extending nearly in a line about three Leagues distant from Guarda. Here it was intended we should have remained for some time, but an Order has just arrived, directing us to march to-morrow & take up