I am anxiously waiting to hear of dear Tom’s arrival. Write to me the moment he does. We are not likely to sail for some time,
Yrs., etc.,
Wm. W.
[5] See James’s Naval History, vol. iv., p. 324 ff. May 19, 1808. “Guelderland,” Dutch 36-gun frigate taken by the “Virginie.”
1808
CHAPTER II
INTRODUCTION
After long delay the expedition under Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley sailed from Cork on 12th July. Meanwhile the Government had altered its mind as to the command of the army, and, after Sir Arthur Wellesley had sailed, entrusted the command of the whole force to Sir Hew Dalrymple. Under him were, in order of seniority, Sir Harry Burrard, Sir John Moore, Sir Arthur Wellesley, who thus, after his arrival in Portugal, found himself as the junior Lt.-General only fourth in command.
On 26th July the fleet reached Porto Roads, and on 1st August and the following days, the troops were landed at Figueira, in Mondego Bay, not without difficulty, owing to the surf, which from the open Atlantic beats with violence on the unprotected coast.
It was not till 9th August that the army was able to move forward. Difficulties as to transport were almost insuperable, and some guns had to be left behind. Wellesley had determined to take the coast road, wishing to pick up on his way towards Lisbon the Brigades of Anstruther and Acland which had sailed on July 19th, but had not yet arrived. His impression was that Junot, the French Marshal, had 10,000 troops under his command, but he had under-estimated these, which amounted in reality to about 26,000; though it was true that Junot had detached about 7000 under Loison to quell the insurrection in the Alemtejo.