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.

    121/192 (page 117)
    [Dec.] amuses himself twice a week; several Accidents have occurred from severe falls, and amongst others the Prince of Orange narrowly escaped with his life. We are now a period of fifty two Days without News from England, the longest time since the British Army have been in the Peninsula; the wind having got Northerly we are anxiously expecting the Mail, when we shall be inundated with Papers; by them we shall have, it is probable, the investment of the Prince with the full powers of Royalty, and also we may expect some insight into his intentions and policy respecting these countries. Deer. I. On the 23d Ulto. an order was received to march immediately in the direction of El Bodon. We halted for the day at a small Village called Arrapiles, and resumed our march the following Morning for El Bodon. On our arrival there we found there was not room for us, & we were directed to retrograde to Fuente Guinaldo. The whole Army was in motion, and it was generally understood that a large Convoy with a very strong escort, was on its way from Salamanca to Ciudad Rodrigo. We remained at Guinaldo till the 29th, when we were ordered to resume our former Cantonments. The Divisions that had been a considerable way in the rear, have fresh Cantonments assigned them, more to the front. It does not appear certain whether another convoy was on its way, or whether the large body of French Troops from Salamanca that moved in the direction of Ciudad Rodrigo was not a party intended to levy Contributions on all the intermediate Towns. It seems that Lord Wellington expects something will yet be done, as each Regiment has orders to make itself thoroughly acquainted with all the Roads in our Front. The weather is fine but excessively cold and frosty. Our Regiment is still very ineffective from sickness; the convalescence is very protracted, & the relapses are frequent; indeed the Corps has this Autumn received a shock it will, I fear, be a very long time recovering.