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.

    86/192 (page 82)
    [1811] of pursuing the War in the Peninsular with Vigour. The [March] exhausted state of the Troops and the want of Shoes rendered it necessary for the Division to halt the 23d. Portalegre has a beautiful Cathedral, and the principal Cloth Manufactory of the Kingdom is likewise there. This day we marched Four leagues to Arronches; Marshal Beresford with the 2d Division had quitted it before our arrival. Campo Mayor is distant from hence only four Leagues ; the Enemy have four thousand Troops there, and hopes are entertained that a part of our force may get between them and Badajos & cut them off.—We have no Accts. from Lord Wellington. 26th. We left Arronches at daybreak yesterday Morning and arrived before Campo Mayor by a circuitous route about two in the Afternoon. We found the enemy had quitted it at Noon, and that they were closely pursued by our Dragoons. It is impossible to describe the Joy of the Inhabitants as we passed the Town ; they hailed us with the loudest acclamations. We had not proceeded two miles further before a very different Scene presented itself; the road was strewn with the dead and dying. At the end of a long League from the Town we received Orders to return to Campo Mayor. The Enemy were pursued by a part of the 13th Dragoons to the very Walls of Badajos. In their Confusion they abandoned everything, but unfortunately, the 13th not being supported by Infantry, they were enabled to remove their Artillery &c., &c., afterwards. One Howitzer & many Prisoners remained in our possession & the Enemy’s loss in killed was very great; on our side we lost three Officers & about fifty Men.—There is nothing indicating a probability of our quitting this place ; it is supposed that Marshal Beresford waits for instructions from Lord Wellington. In the mean time he has taken up his Quarters at Elvas. 29th. We are anxiously waiting for news from the Army under Lord Wellington; it is near a Fortnight since we have