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.

    58/192 (page 54)
    [1810] [Aogdst] A Spaniard well-known by the Name of Don Julian was here yesterday on his way to Celerico to have an interview with Lord Wellington. He is a most enterprising Character, and in the last three Months has succeeded in destroying a great Number of the Enemy. He gives no Quarter to any who make resistance. His followers sometimes amount to a thousand, at others he cannot muster fifty. They make a great deal by plunder, and absent themselves for the purpose of spending their Money ; which having done they again join his Standard. 19th. The Enemy have only this Day opened their Batteries. The Firing on both Sides has been”terrible. Various are the Opinions as to the time the Garrison will be able to hold out, a Week, ten Days, a Month, and some think even to the first of October. Every Day will be of consequence as the Harvest is nearly all in, and there will be time afforded to transport it to the Rear, which must greatly distress the Enemy when they advance. 2ist. Head Quarters remove this Day to Alverche, and the Regts. in the rear are marching forward. Whether it is intended to relieve Almeida or not must soon be determined. This Movement has excited much confidence among the People here. 31st. Since^thejlast date affairs have very materially altered. It appears the Enemy did not open upon Almeida till the 26th, and not on the 19th as was supposed. That same Evening a Shell fell into a large Building containing the Powder and Ammunition in an immense quantity, which exploded and destroyed the whole Town. The loss of lives on this melancholy occasion amounted it is said to upwards of a thousand. The Garrison capitulated on the 28th in consequence of this unlucky and unforeseen event. Measures of the utmost precaution have been adopted by Lord Wellington. The whole Army was Yesterday Morning in