The French Prisoners brought in unanimously concur in stating that the Enemy have received large reinforcements, and with all the insolence of the French Character they tell us a very short time will elapse before we are driven into the Sea. It may here be worthy of remark, that in passing through Alenquer (a Town of considerable size, which for some time was Massena's Head Quarters) the British Officer observed on the house he occupied written in large Letters — Le logement du Prince d'Esling; he immediately inscribed under it — "Qui a fait plus de bruit au battant la caisse qu'en betrant les Anglais." It is said that Massena commenced his military career as a Drummer.
DECEMBER
December 5th. The respective Armies remain in the same positions as on the last Date. The situation is so far advantageous for ourselves, as the troops are more cheaply and expeditiously supplied by means of Boats, the greater part of our army being in the vicinity of the Tagus.
I yesterday rode to the advance, a distance of about twelve or fifteen miles from hence. I remained an hour within Pistol Shot of their Centinels, but no Shots are now ever exchanged. The Enemy are intrenching themselves as strongly as possible at Santarem, from which it would appear they have no intention of abandoning the Position they at present hold.
English papers received yesterday to the 7th ulto. confirm the unpleasant intelligence of the King's Malady. On the supposition that it may continue, many Speculations are afloat. It is conjectured by several, that in the event of a Regency there will be an entire change in the policy hitherto observed towards the Peninsula. Most people however seem to think, that, should a British Force continue here, no set of Ministers would dare to displace Lord Wellington, as from his deserved popularity and local knowledge such a change would not fail to excite the utmost discontent among the British and despondency among the Portugueze Troops. As the Wind has now been fair several Days, we may very soon expect intelligence of a much later date.
14th. Our news from England does not come later than the 27th Ulto., at which time nothing had been done with respect to a Regency. Whoever may be Ministers, I have not a doubt that the same policy will be pursued towards this Country. In the meantime the Enemy continue to maintain themselves at Santarem, and from thence to Thomar and Leyria. Lord Wellington amuses himself with hunting and shooting, and it is said that a few days since in the ardour of the chace he and Massena were very near coming upon each other. The rides in this neighbourhood are excellent. There are several beautiful Quintas within a short distance, but it is melancholy to observe the devastation committed on them by the Enemy, every House exhibiting proof of the most wanton and unprofitable barbarity. The Murders they have perpetrated on the unfortunate Peasantry, instigated it is supposed by disappointed Avarice, are horrible & scarcely to be credited.
26th. A second journey to Lisbon, where I remained three or four Days, afforded me an opportunity of observing a great change in the Sentiments of the People. They now appear to think that Lord W. was right in not risking an attack on the Enemy. The utmost tranquillity prevails there, and business and amusement are carried on and pursued with as much avidity as if the Country were in a state of profound peace. Nothing new on the part of the Enemy. It is rumoured Lord W. means to move the Army somewhat nearer Lisbon for the purpose of facilitating the supplies.
31st. An Aide du Camp of Massena's has been taken with despatches on his way to Almeida. As he was disguised when taken, he was liable according to the Laws of war to be shot as a spy. His Life was offered him on condition of making a full disclosure of everything he knew. The information gained from him of course has not transpired; but it is supposed to be important, as Genl. Hill made a sudden movement with his Division towards Abrantes, and Sir Stapleton Cotton who was at Lisbon on the point of embarking for England has joined the Army to assume again the Command of the Cavalry.
1811
JANUARY
January 13th. Another Fortnight has elapsed without anything particular having occurred. It is confidently stated that Reinforcements to an immense amount are on their way to join Massena, but it would seem as if Lord W. did not expect operations would speedily commence, as Sir S. Cotton and other General Officers are proceeding to England.
20th. We were last night awoke at midnight with an Order to pack the baggage, and be in readiness to march at a Moment's Notice. At nine o'Clock this morning, however, intelligence arrived from Head Quarters that this precaution was no longer necessary. It seems the Enemy entered Rio Mayor yesterday evening in force, & it was deemed likely that they were about to advance to their old ground. They moved back again however towards Leyria in the course of the Night, and in consequence the bustle amongst us subsided.
25th. The utmost tranquillity again prevails; the 9th Corps has joined Massena, but it is probable that his whole force is not at present more than it was when he first entered Portugal.
The Marquis Romana died the day before yesterday at Head Quarters; his death adds another to the many instances of the awful uncertainty of Human Life. On the 23rd Inst. his Baggage passed thro' this place, and he was to have followed it as yesterday; it being his intention to have proceeded to the Alemtejo with his Army to increase the Allied force in that Quarter, under the apprehension that Mortier with the 5th Corps was about to invade that Province. A few hours after his Baggage had set out he was seized with spasms in his stomach & almost immediately expired. His zeal in the cause was unquestionable, but his Talents were considered below par.
FEBRUARY
February 1st. This Morning one of the Brunswick Corps was shot here for attempting to desert to the Enemy. So many of these men have lately been guilty of the same Crime, that Lord W. found it necessary to remove them from the position they occupied in front. They are now quartered in this place. Their defection will furnish matter of great triumph to the malicious Soul of Cobbett.
In the late reconnoissance at Rio Mayor a French, General Officer was certainly wounded in the Head. The Deserters say that it was Junot, and that he has since been buried at Thomar, the wound having proved mortal.
4th. Last Night about twelve o'Clock we felt distinctly the Shock of an Earthquake, and Daylight this Morning presented us the novel appearance of the immense flat between this place & the Tagus in a complete state of inundation. The General Officer wounded at Rio Mayor was Junot. A letter from his lady written from Ciudad Rodrigo announcing her happy accouchement was intercepted & brought to Lord W. There being nothing of a political nature in it, the latter transmitted it to its destination. This piece of politeness was acknowledged by Junot in a letter to Lord W. in which he states that in the skirmish at Rio Mayor he was "Grievement blessé."
Preparations are making at Lisbon for the reception of a great many Regiments from England & Sicily, and it is confidently said that Lord W. will on their arrival, or as soon after as the weather will permit, act on the offensive. This appears to be the general wish; the whole Army is tired of the late inactivity. If something is not done soon, it is probable the New Ministers will put a stop to all ulterior intentions by withdrawing the Army from the Peninsula. Their Organ, the Morning Chronicle, appears to be feeling the public Pulse on the subject. Such a proceeding would blot the Page of History, and should only be recorded as a memento of the infamy of those who could recommend and adopt such a measure.
18th. A continuance of Southerly Winds has prevented our receiving any intelligence from England for a considerable time. The same cause probably has operated against the arrival of the expected reinforcements. In the mean time all remains quiet on this side the Tagus. The 5th Corps of the French Army under Mortier on the other side has taken Olivenza, & besieged or rather invested Badajos. The Garrison made a Sortie a few days since, destroyed the Enemy's works, & killed twelve hundred; their own loss was severe. General Foix, returning from Paris to the Head Quarters of Massena a short time since, with an Escort of two thousand Infantry and a thousand Cavalry, had his Rear Guard attacked by a Colonel Miller with only Eighty of the Ordi
nanza with him. It is worthy of record, that with this small force he captured a great part of the Baggage and killed two hundred & seven Men, among whom was the Colonel of the 70th Regiment. Castanos is appointed to succeed the Marquis Romana. This appointment has given great satisfaction.
MARCH
March 1st. Since my last date we have papers to the 2nd Ulto., at which time the Regency Bill had not passed both Houses. Reinforcements to a large amount are coming out, which will, it is generally supposed, render Lord W. sufficiently strong to enable him to commence offensive Operations with advantage. At all events it appears impossible that the Enemy can remain long in their present Position: there are the most unquestionable proofs of them at present undergoing the severest privations, and two French Officers who passed through this place Prisoners a few days since unequivocally stated that the French Army was too weak to hazard the attempt of forcing the Lines. Indeed they avowed their opinion that Portugal would not be conquered now or at any other time; and this idea they principally founded on the extraordinary devotion of the lower Orders to their Country, & consequent detestation of their Invaders. And indeed it is impossible not to admire this people. On the approach of the enemy they instantly pack up their little all, and abandon their Homes with a cheerfulness almost inconceivable.—In the different Towns and Villages where there are Military, subscriptions have been received by which means several thousand of them are daily provided with an excellent Dinner,
In the meantime the Spanish Troops which marched from this Neighbourhood a few weeks since have been surprised by the Enemy near Badajos, who killed about two thousand of them; the rest dispersed in all directions, leaving behind them the whole of their Baggage, and every piece of their Artillery. They have now, I believe, no regular Army, but they can do an infinite deal more mischief to the Enemy by confining themselves to a desultory mode of warfare, such as the intercepting of small Parties, Convoys, etc. Badajos has not yet fallen, but it is not now expected to hold out long.
7th. On the evening of the 4th Orders were received for the 4th Division to march the following Morning & occupy Cantonments in the neighbourhood of Cartaxo; the 3rd Divn. was directed to remove from Alemquer & take up our Quarters at Azemboja; these movements were in consequence of Lord W. receiving information that a variety of circumstances indicated an early movement on the part of the Enemy. His conjectures were not ill-founded, as favoured by the obscurity of Night, they abandoned their position about eight o'clock on the evening of the 5th. The next Morning all the British Army was in Motion; the Dragoons & Light Division went in pursuit of the Enemy; the 1st, 3rd, & 4th Divisions marched to Santarem, where we remained last night. It is a town of very considerable size, but exhibits a melancholy instance of French Barbarism; the Churches in particular have suffered the most unheard of devastation; one only was spared, and that had been converted into a regular Theatre, where, so late as Sunday evening last, the triumphal entry of the French Army into Lisbon was represented. The Position they occupied here is certainly one of the finest in Portugal.—It appearing that they had commenced their retreat in two columns, the one by Torres Novas & the other by Golgao, Lord W. likewise has divided his force in pursuit of them. We arrived at the latter place this day, but I have not yet been able to ascertain whether the Enemy (who quitted this Village this morning at eight o'clock) are retreating in the direction of Thomar, or have crossed the Zezere and propose going by Castel Branco. Hitherto we have made but few Prisoners. Lord W. is with that part of the Army following them by the way of Torres Novas.
12th. On the 8th we marched to Thomar, which place the Enemy had quitted the same Morning. We found that their whole force was retreating in the direction of Coimbra. We halted on the 9th, on which Day it was generally understood, & indeed certainly intended, that our Division, with the Second, & a Brigade of Cavalry, should proceed into the Alemtejo, and attack Mortier at present investing Badajos. This arrangement was however altered, an Order arriving in the Night for our marching the next Morning in the direction of Pombal, the Enemy having shewn themselves there in great force, & with an apparent intention of making a resolute defence there, it being a considerable Depot for their stores. We halted for the Night on the side of a Hill about three Leagues from Thomar. On the following morning (the 11th) we proceeded on our way to Pombal, distant upwards of five Leagues. On our route we heard the Enemy were in a strong Position with every apparent intention of defending it. The different Divisions were directed to march as quick as possible, as Lord W. was most anxious to attack them before Sunset. The length of the March & the badness of the Roads rendered this impracticable; the attack was therefore deferred till this Morning, and the necessary orders given for carrying it into execution at Day Break. The Town of Pombal was carried very gallantly yesterday by the Dragoons & Light Brigade; it being however under the Fire of the Enemy's Artillery, they were compelled to evacuate it. In the Evening the Enemy took up a Position on some heights on the right Hand of the great Road leading to Coimbra. Lord W. took up his position immediately opposite to them. Between the two Armies was a flat about half a mile in breadth and a River waist high running in the centre of it. The crossing of this, it was generally conceived, would occasion much loss in our Army, it being so completely commanded by the enemy's Artillery. This loss however we had not to sustain, as at Daybreak we found the Foe had disappeared. We consequently lost no time in pursuing them. We came up with them about a league & a half from Pombal, when the Army was formed for a regular attack, which they again evaded by a precipitate flight. There was however a most beautiful affair of Posts, in which the Enemy lost several hundred in killed, wounded & Prisoners; our loss was about a hundred. Lord W's dispositions for the attack to-day excited the greatest admiration throughout the Army, & prove him to be a consummate General. We have no means of ascertaining the force of the enemy, but it is supposed it is only a Rear Guard consisting of about fifteen thousand men, and, as we hear, all French.—They regularly burn to the Ground every place they pass through. In following them we find each Town & Village a heap of smoking ruins. Our halt this night is near Redinha above three Leagues from Condexa, but I do not at present know how far the enemy are in advance of us.
14th. The Enemy were so strongly entrenched in Condexa yesterday that it was not deemed prudent to attack them. We halted above a League from that place & could distinctly see the Town burning the whole day. In the afternoon they retired, taking the direction of the Ponte de Murcella. The Light Division took up a Position on the Enemy's side of the Town; it was feared the French would make a forced march in the night and pass the Ponte de Murcella without further opposition. At Daylight this Morning we commenced our March & passed through Condexa; not a solitary House remained that was not burnt to the Ground. It was a beautiful Town when we were last here. We had not got a mile from Condexa when a sharp firing commenced in our front- An Order was received for our Division to march to Espinhal, where we arrived this evening; it is possible there may be a 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 befor
e 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.
18th. Early yesterday morning we reached Thomar where we halted for the Day; on our arrival there we had the mortification to learn that Badajos surrendered on the 10th. Whatever were the intentions of Lord W., they are I suppose suspended for the present; in the meantime Marshal Beresford who commands on this side of the water has directed the troops to march in the direction of Portalegre, doubtless with a view to covering the Alemtejo, which may be said in some degree to be threatened by Mortier. Our march to-day was only three leagues We halted for the Night in the vicinity of a small Village immediately on the Banks of the Tagus called Arripiada; the Enemy have never had footing in it, but it is not sufficiently capacious to accommodate the Troops.
We are without news from the Army, but we have learned that notwithstanding the very heavy firing on the 13th our loss did not exceed one hundred and fifty men.
The Journal of an Army Surgeon Page 8