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.

    16/192 (page 12)
    [1809] [August] [Sept.] Talavera had not been followed by more happy Consequences. I had fully expected to have joined the Army at Madrid, elated with hope and flushed with victory. On the contrary I found that they were depressed by Famine and Sickness, and in full march to the Frontiers of Portugal. This reverse was owing to two Causes : the neglect of the Spanish Commissariat in not furnishing Provisions, and the inability not to say worse of Cuesta. Fortunately for his country this General solicited his resignation, a request which the Junta appears very readily to have complied with. I remained in Lisbon, or rather in the Tagus, till the 3rd September. The oppressive state of the weather prevented me from paying that attention to its Curios- ities I otherwise should. The Aqueduct, which is certainly the principal, I only saw from a distance ; the theatres I never visited. The Convent of San Jeronymo I found worthy of attention ; it is an immense building and is calculated to afford a high treat to the Lovers of Architecture; it contains some fine paintings by some of the most esteemed Masters, and a very good Library. On the 3rd in the evening I crossed the Tagus to Aldea Gallega, a small town nearly opposite to Lisbon, and about fifteen miles over. This place furnishes nothing worthy of remark, being a small and dirty Town. I had much difficulty in procuring a Billet; indeed I found the People generally more uncivil here than in any other place. Having procured a Couple of Mules I set forward on my Journey the Afternoon of the 5th, intending to sleep that Night at a Village called Pegoens. On my arrival there however I found it so extremely miserable and so entirely devoid of every species of accommodation, that I determined to proceed to another village, Vendas Novas, three Leagues further, eight Leagues or thirty two miles from Aldea Gallega, a Portuguese League being fully equal to four Bnglish miles. It was late when I reached Vendas Novas. The Inn however afforded some bad Chocolate and a miserable Bed in a more miserable Room. At an early hour the following morning I set off for Montemoro Novo three leagues further. On my way I met Col. Stibball