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.

    59/192 (page 55)
    [Sept.] Motion ; the Brigade of General Campbell in the Valley of Mondego moved a day’s march towards Coimbra, and Genl. Cole’s Brigade, in which is the 40th, moved to the Valley. A Battalion of Light Infantry alone remains in Guarda. The Town itself is almost entirely forsaken by the Inhabitants. None but the poorest Class of Inhabitants remain. We are quartered in a Village called Faya situated on the Mondego. ' Our sojourn here of course depends on the Movements of the Enemy. The Valley is certainly one of the most beautiful situations in Portugal. The Vines are in immense abundance ; but the Grapes will not be ripe this Fortnight, and ere that in all probability we shall have retrograded many Leagues. It does not appear that any blame attaches to Col. Cox, the Governor of Almeida. The powder was secured in a Bomb Proof, and it is supposed a train must have been unfortunately laid from some damaged Bag, on which a Shell fell and caused the fatal explosion. Col. C. did not surrender till he had fired away the last round of Ammunition. He was much beloved by the Garrison. He is of course (with the few other English Officers that were at Almeida) a prisoner of war. Sepr, 5th. On the 2d. instant we received orders to quit Faya, and proceeded to a village called Villa de Porco, half a League distant only, but more in the line of March in case of a sudden Order. We had just begun to make ourselves comfortable in this latter place, when we were directed to proceed as quick as possible to Lenhares, intelligence having been received that the Enemy had forced our Dragoons at Alverca, and that they were only two Leagues and a half from us on our Flank. It was nearly dark when we marched. Our road lay across the Mountains through a Road nearly impassable. The night being dark rendered the March a most fatiguing one. It was nearly four in the Morning when we reached Lenhares, pretty well tired. On