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.

    166/192 (page 162)
    [1812] 13th. I quitted Madrid yesterday & found my Brigade [Oct.] at Pinto, a large village distant three leagues from the Capital. The demonstrations of Soult were the means of making Genl. Hill concentrate his force ; at present, it is supposed, that Soult has taken a direction towards Valencia for the purpose of concentrating with Suchet.—Burgos still resists all our efforts ; the Outworks however at length have been all carried, and nothing remains but the Castle. The Enemy made a Sally a few Evenings since upon our Trenches, & were immediately driven in ; in a short time they sallied a second time with an increased force, and succeeded in driving our People from their work; and, before the Covering Parties could repel them, they had knocked off the Trannions of one of the only heavy guns we have there ; in this last Service Majr. Cocks of the 79th, an Officer of very great promise, was unfortunately killed ; it is said our total loss since the commencement of the Siege amounts to fourteen hundred men. Lord Wellington is expected at Madrid as soon as Genl. Paget shall have arrived at Burgos to take the command of that part of the Army. 25th. Since my last date, having been Gazetted to a Staff Surgeoncy, I am at present at Madrid waiting the result of an application of Genl. Cole, who has written to the Inspr.of Hospls. to request I may be appointed to this Division; should it fail, I shall go immediately to Burgos. On the 23d I bade adieu to the 40th Regiment, after having been with them nearly eleven years ; they are unquestionably one of the finest Regiments in the Army, and will always have my warmest wishes for their welfare. On the 2ist the 4th Division moved from Valdemoro & Pinto to Villages near Aranjuez, and the 3d Divn. marched the same day to occupy the quarters vacated by the 4th Divn. On the 22d I rode over to Aranjuez, which has ever been esteemed the favorite Royal residence in this Country. The Palace is by no means equal in point of magnificence to that