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.

    126/192 (page 122)
    [1812] [Jan.] Town the same Evening. For this duty, the Light and 3d Divisions, and Genl. Pack’s Portugueze Brigade were selected. At eight o’clock the storming parties moved to the breaches while others escaladed the walls in different places. The first conflict was terrible. No description however, can do justice to the grandeur of the Scenery; the rapid fire of the Musketry, the infinite number of Hand Grenades, and the explosion of two Mines, presented a Coup d’Oeil beautifully awful. We had soon the satisfaction of hearing our brave Fellows give the cheer of Victory, a Victory however dearly purchased; I have not yet seen the amount of our loss, but it is said that the Siege and assault together cost us not less than seven hundred men, and a number of excellent Officers. Genl. MacKinnon was killed by the explosion of one of the mines ; Genl. Crawfurd Comg. the Light Division and Col. Colburne of the 52d, who so gallantly stormed the redoubt on the first Evening, are both dangerously wounded ; their deaths would indeed be a national loss. The Governor had no right to stand the assault; he had not the means after the breaches were practicable of defending himself against our superior numbers. By the laws of war, we should have been justified in putting the whole Garrison to death ; they were almost all however suffered to escape with their lives; this was at best but a milk and water humanity, and in point of policy should be severely condemned : we may live to lament the effects of it. The unfortunate inhabitants, as is ever the case on such occasions, were shamefully plundered by our Troops; in fact, no distinction was made by them between French and Spaniards; gallant as are our soldiers when opposed to an Enemy, I fear they yield to no people on earth in their thirst for plunder. It is almost impossible sufficiently to appreciate the value of this achievement; its conception on the part of Lord W. at this season of the Year, was most admirable, and perhaps exceeds in brilliancy all his former exploits. In justice to