They arrived safely at Plymouth in H.M.S. Barfleur on 23rd January. But the stay at home was not to be for long.
Before the end of February, Beresford, who understood and spoke Portuguese, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese army. He retained the services of Captain Warre as his A.D.C. They arrived in Lisbon early in March.
The work before him was the organisation of the Portuguese forces, a task of no little magnitude and difficulty, to which there is abundant reference in the letters.
Sir A. Wellesley arrived in Lisbon towards the end of April, and within a short time important movements were on foot. The French under Marshal Soult had moved southwards from Galicia, and in March had taken Oporto.
Before the end of May, Sir A. Wellesley had retaken Oporto, and Soult had been driven northward, leaving his baggage and artillery and his sick behind him, into the wilds of Galicia.
There followed, after an interval, the summer campaign, which ended with the battle of Talavera. After this, owing to the behaviour of the Spaniards, the British army retired on Badajos, and went into cantonments.
The Portuguese army, which had not taken any part in the Talavera campaign, was meantime growing steadily in numbers and discipline.
In October the Spaniards gained a victory at Tamames, but in November suffered two disastrous defeats at Ocaña and Alba de Tormes.
Peace had now been made between France and Austria, and the French paused while awaiting the reinforcements which were pouring into the Peninsula preparatory to an attack on Portugal, and the attempt to drive the British army to the sea.
During this year Captain Warre was fully occupied with the work of organising the Portuguese forces, translating drill books, visiting and inspecting various corps, and other necessary work. His time was much disturbed by two anxieties. His servant Rankin, of whom he had thought well (see Letter of 23rd December 1808), turned out to be a rogue and a thief. He was tried by Court Martial and shot, in accordance with the severity of martial law which was prevalent at the time.