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.

    90/192 (page 86)
    [1811] Pounders are to open in the Morning ; it is intended to use [April] every caution not to injure the Town. As soon as Olivenza falls, it is understood we shall commence the siege of Badajos, which is said to contain a Garrison of only Seven hundred men ; we shall however find more annoyance there, as it is much better supplied with Artillery. 17. The Battery was completed on the night of the 13th, but on bringing up the Guns the entrance was found to be too narrow : we had therefore the mortification of being obliged to wait another 24 hours. This was remedied the following Night & at Daylight yesterday the Battery was ready to open. At half past five a Flag of Truce was sent in offering them the honours of war ; which they rejected; the Guns immediately opened. At noon they sent out offering to deliver up the place, provided they were allowed to go to France as Prisoners of War, not to serve till regularly exchanged; they were answered, that as they had given us the trouble of erecting and opening our Batteries, they must now surrender at discretion. A second message was then received from them requesting the terms offered them in the Morning ; the only reply was a renewal of the Firing. Finding us determined and aware that a very short time would suffice to render the breach practicable, they surrendered at discretion, and about two o’clock a portion of our Troops marched in, when 21 Officers and upwards of four hundred Men were made Prisoners. We were received by the Inhabitants with the loudest acclamations. Notwithstanding the Enemy kept up an incessant Fire Night and Day upon our working parties, our Casualties were only four killed & eight wounded. The expectation of marching immediately upon Badajos was general. To our surprise however we yesterday received Orders to proceed in the direction of Santa Marta which is on the high Road to Seville, & distant from Olivenza seven Leagues. We arrived in the neighbourhood of the former place this Morning, when we found directions to wait here till further