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.

    53/192 (page 49)
    [July] Enemy. They are now actively besieging Ciudad Rodrigo, and, their Heavy Artillery having arrived, there is little probability of its holding out many Days. They are now in such force that it is generally conceived they will immediately after advance into this Country, & almost everyone appears to think that we cannot make any effectual resistance to their progress. Our advanced Picquets are constantly in sight of those of the Enemy, and the Men frequently approach so near to each other as to hold Conversations. They say it is nothing less than madness our remaining here, and that if we do not speedily fly to our Ships we shall inevitably all be eat up. 25th. Head Quarters remove this day to Almeida, but there are no Orders as yet for the Troops to accompany them. The Army is at present so generally healthy, that it is supposed Lord Wellington will defer hutting them as long as possible.—Almeida is distant from the French Head Quarters only six Leagues. Yesterday commenced here a large Fair, notwithstanding its being Sunday, thus furnishing another instance of the total disregard paid to the Divine Ordinances by a People assuming to themselves an extraordinary degree of Religion, and excluding from the Ark of God’s Mercy all those whose Religion tends to differ from theirs. July loth. Ciudad Rodrigo still holds out, and furnishes another instance of the extraordinary valour with which the Spaniards defend their Cities. The Enemy have three times attempted to storm the place with chosen Troops, and each time have been repulsed with great slaughter. The defence of the Garrison has excited universal admiration. The weather is extremely fine, and at this time of the year Guarda may be considered a very pleasant Quarter, as from its height there is an almost constant breeze : in the Valleys the heat is excessive, and the Troops are less healthy than those here.