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.

    141/192 (page 137)
    Great exertions are making to complete a Dep6t forming on the Douro not far from Almeida ; it is generally supposed we shall then march, and that the operations of the Army will be carried on with a degree of activity unparallelled in the Annals of Military History ; tho’ it is to be feared the lamen- ted death of Mr. Percival, by introducing a new set of Men into the Cabinet, (& consequently new Measures) may tend to paralyze the exertions of Lord Wellington. For my own part I indulge the hope that the new Administration will be formed by Lord Wellesly, in which case the war in this Country may be expected to be carried on with ever increased vigour. Genl. Hill it seems has been again successful, taking the Bridge at Almaraz by a Coup de Main, with loss to the Enemy of upwards of five hundred men and a very large dep6t of Stores etc. etc. Our loss on this occasion is said to be about one hundred in killed & wounded. 6th. On the Evening of the 3rd a Route was received, directing us to quit San Joao de Pesqueira on the 5th Inst. & march to a large wood near Espeja, & about three Leagues from Ciudad Rodrigo. We reached Rehnadas yesterday, & were to have proceeded on our March this day, for which purpose we fell in at 4 o’Clock this morning : just as we were about to set off, an Order was received to remain at Rehnadas to-day, & to go on according to route to-morrow. This delay is said [to] be occasioned by the Road we are to go not being clear of another Division of the Army. We are ignorant of the object of our march to Espeja, but we hear that the whole Army is to rendezvous there, with the exception of the 2d Division ; if this be the case there can be no doubt that we are going against Salamanca ; the Enemy are said to have collected immense Magazines in that place. On the 7th we quitted Rehnadas and halted at a small Village called Cotinos. On the 8th we reached Pinhel, formerly a very neat Town but at present bearing the most deplorable