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.

    84/192 (page 80)
    [1811] [March] double Meaning in this Movement. It is pretty certain that we are destined for the Alemtejo, this place being in the high Road from the Ponte de Murcella to Thomar & distant from the latter place eight leagues ; there is little doubt but we shall commence our march for Thomar to-morrow Morning. At the same time by this movement we threaten the Enemy’s left Flank. Tho’ distant from the Scene of Action we heard the firing distinctly the whole Day ; the carnage must have been dreadful; we have not the possibility of knowing the extent of our loss , but I think it may be fairly estimated at a thousand men. We had the satisfaction of knowing however that our brave fellows were compelling their Enemy to retire. 16th. Yesterday Afternoon we received an Order to march in the direction of Thomar, which place we were to have reached this Evening, but the distance (eight Leagues) prevented us; we have halted for the night at or rather in the vicinity of a small Village called Venda Nova, and to-morrow we pursue our march to Tancos, where it is intended we shall cross the Tagus. It will be a week before we reach the Enemy, and ere that period it is to be feared Badajos may have fallen. Lord W., after pursuing his Foe to a certain point, proposes assuming the command of the British force in the Alemtejo. The wretched Inhabitants are returning to their destroyed dwellings. They could by no means understand our retrograde movement of this Day, and it was with difficulty we could persuade them that the French were not at our heels. The enormities committed on the property and Persons of these poor People by the Enemy can scarcely be recited with the expectation of gaining belief. The entire destruction of the different Towns and Villages they have lately passed through renders it probable that they have no intention of ever again invading the Country, but the Ruin and Devastation they have occasioned cannot be entirely effaced in a less period than half a Century.