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.

    74/192 (page 70)
    [1810] The Palace at Mafra is a most magnificent pile of building, [Nov.] jjj every respect worthy of being a Royal Residence. It was dark when we arrived there, which prevented our seeing more of it than the Rooms that were thrown open ; and its distance from this part of the Position, renders it difficult to go there by Day for the purpose of viewing it with that attention it is undoubtedly deserving of. The weather is bad, and appears to be breaking. All ideas of taking the Field seem to be abandoned, as the Tents which were served out are ordered again to be returned into Store. The Enemy remain in the same Positions they have for some time occupied. 2ist. On the Evening of the 14th we observed that the Enemy made much larger Fires than usual, which gave reason to believe they were about retreating. Our ideas were well founded, as on the Morning of the 15th when Day broke not one of them was to be seen. Lord W. in consequence ordered forward immediately the Dragoons and Light Division, supported by the First and Second Divisions. On the 17th, it being considered probable that our Division would not march for some Days, I took the advantage of our proximity to Lisbon, being only six Leagues, to go there, from whence I returned this Day. I found the people there, so far as I could observe, generally dissatisfied that the French had got away. They appeared to think that we should have attacked them, and in their opinion the Portugueze Troops alone were amply sufficient to have annihilated them. The Enemy on their retreat took the direction of Santarem, where they still remain, but whether from choice or necessity is uncertain. It is supposed that they are detained there in consequence of some Bridges being carried away by the late very heavy Rains having swelled the Rivers. A variety of Prisoners have already fallen into our Hands. The 40th Regiment left Palmira on Sunday Morning the 19th, and marched to Alenquer, a Town of considerable size, and where it seems for some time Massena