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.

    132/192 (page 128)
    [1812] [March] [Apr.] that of the Enemy was certainly more than double. Their loss was principally in killed ; several Officers|]& about eighty Men were made Prisoners. The weather continues fine, & everything appears to augur a successful issue to the Siege. 30th. The first breaching battery opened this Morning, and the remainder will commence their fire to-morrow ; it is confidently expected thaPthe place will.fall by the 4th, tho’ it is generally apprehended that it must be taken by Storm ; should this be the case it is scarcely to be conceived the Enemy will come off so well as they did at Ciudad Rodrigo. It is known that a large French force is advancing to the relief of the Garrison, but it is supposed that they cannot possibly arrive here before the loth. Apl. 2. The Breach is in a considerable state of forward- ness, and appears to be fifty or sixty yards wide ; the wall was found exceedingly tough, and it is only this Afternoon that they have well got to the Earth ; eighteen Guns from two Batteries are constantly playing upon it, & it is hoped that on the day after to-morrow it will be perfectly practicable. Besides the great Breach a second is making from an Eight Gun Battery, the effect of which is I believe still more advanced than the other. The Fire from the Enemy is very great ; they have brought between thirty & forty guns to bear upon our works ; the Batteries of course are much injured by them, but the Casualties amongst the Men are very few. A very desperate resistance is apprehended at the Storm- ing. It is impossible to anticipate the carnage that must ensue without feelings of the utmost horror ; no idea is enter- tained of a Capitulation, indeed it is one of the fundamental rules of the Code Napoleon, that any Governor giving up a Fortress without standing the assault shall be shot. We have heard nothing further respecting the advance of Soult. Genls. Graham & Hill have with them thirty thousand