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.

    68/192 (page 64)
    [1810] Nothing particular occurred on the 6th. We halted near [Oct.] rJq Mayor, at which place Lord W. had his Head Quarters. The Enemy continued to advance, occupying the Ground as fast as we quitted it. On the yth we marched to Abrigada, three Leagues, and distant from Lisbon nine. On our march we fell in with a party of the Duke of Brunswick Oels Corps whose appearance excited general astonishment. Anything so fierce I never before saw; their Dress is Black, and in their Caps they wear a Death’s Head. Yesterday I consider as the most uncomfortable Day of my Life without any exception. We commenced our March at Day break having to go to Sobral, a distance of three Leagues. It blew and rained with the most dreadful violence, and in a very short time rendered the Roads nearly impassable. Unfortunately we had a Brigade of Portugueze in our Front, who, unused to march in such fearful weather, could with difficulty be persuaded to face “ the pitiless pelting of the Storm.” Such was our delay in consequence, that at the end of thirteen hours we found ourselves still a League from our destination. Most fortunately an order arrived for us to take up our abode for the Night in Villages near us, where by means of large Fires we succeeded in making ourselves tolerably comfortable. This morning (gth) is showery. It is now ten o’clock, but we have as yet no orders to continue our March. nth. In the Afternoon of the gth we received orders to move to Villages about a Mile nearer our Position. In the course of the same Evening an express arrived, that the 14th Dragoons had been compelled to quit Abrigada about two Leagues from us by a very superior force of the Enemy. In consequence we were directed to march the next Morning (loth) to a village called Filiteira, which we reached about Noon. If possible the Day was more violent than the 8th.