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.

    134/192 (page 130)
    13° [1812] [Apr.] (6th). One Breach was given to the Light Division, two to the 4th. The 3rd were ordered to scale the Walls of the Castle, and a Brigade of the 5th to escalade the walls of the Town near the Olivenza Gate. At the appointed hour the Troops moved to their respective Posts, when a scene of horror at once dreadful and sublime presented itself. There was no Moon but the stars afforded just sufficient light to enable the Men to find their respective destinations. On their being discovered by the Enemy, a Fire so tremendous opened on them, that the oldest Military Men present declare that they never witnessed anything that could be at all compared to it. The explosions from the several Mines the Enemy had prepared were indescribably awful, but certainly furnished a Coup d’Oeil such as I never expect or indeed wish again to witness. The access to the Breach was most difficult from the Counter- carp not having been blown in ; it was necessary to descend into the Ditch by means of Ladders ; on reaching it, it was found full of water, and in some places it was so deep that the Men were drowned in it; on gaining the summit of the Breach, obstacles the most insurmountable presented themselves ; Chevaux de frise made of swords were placed the whole length in the rear of the Breach, and further in the Rear Trenches upon Trenches were cut; repeated attempts were made to get in but our People were as constantly repelled, with the most horrible loss. The Escalades were at length successful, which so much attracted the Enemy’s attention from the Breaches, that the men were enabled to get in, and the Garrison was surrounded. In the meantime the Governor (Philippon) had fled to St. Christoval, but finding it impossible to make any effectual resistance he surrendered at discretion. The usual humanity of the English, was eminently displayed on this occasion, not a French Soldier was put to the sword, tho’ according to the laws of war we should have been justified in putting every Soul to Death. It was about one o’Clock on the Morning of the 7th when our People got possession of the place. For the space of three hours, they had been exposed