Letters from the peninsula, 1808-1812

by Sir William Warre

Finchampstead, 1909.

LIST OF LETTERS

	PAGE
1808 [CHAPTER I]
Portsmouth, May 22	[3]
H.M.S. Resistance, St Helens, May 24	[4]
Cove, June 8	[5]
Cove, June 17	[8]
Cove, June 22	[11]
Cove, June 27	[41]
1808 [CHAPTER II]
Porto Roads, July 25	[19]
Off Ovar, Monday evening, July 25	[20]
Camp Lavos, near Figueira, Aug. 8	[21]
Lourinhao, 12 miles south of Peniche, Aug. 19	[24]
Vimiero, Aug. 22	[25]
Buenos Ayres, Lisbon, Sept. 27	[28]
Lisbon, Sept. 29	[36]
1808-9 [CHAPTER III]
Avanilla, near Sahagun, 5½ leagues from Saldaña, half-past 5 P.M., Dec. 23, 1808	[46]
Sobrado, between Lugo and St Jago, Jan. 4, 1809	[48]
Barfleur, at sea, Jan. 18	[50]
Plymouth, Jan. 23	[51]
Lisbon, March 3	[53]
Lisbon, April 1	[56]
Undated (?) April 7	[59]
Headquarters, Thomar, April 27	[60]
Lisbon, July 13—arrived Aug. 24, per Colonel Brown	[66]
Lacebo, Aug. 10—Los Hoyos, Aug. 13	[68]
Salvaterra, Aug. 18—Castello Branco, Aug. 20	[71]
Headquarters, Lisbon, Sept. 6	[77]
Headquarters, Lisbon, Sept. 11	[81]
Lisbon, Sept. 25	[85]
Lisbon, Oct. 10	[86]
Lisbon, Oct. 26	[90]
Lisbon, Oct. 26	[93]
Lisbon, Dec. 1	[95]
Thomar, Dec. 31	[97]
1810 [CHAPTER IV]
Lisbon, Feb. 6	[104]
Lisbon, Feb. 17	[108]
Lisbon, March 10	[112]
Coimbra, March 21	[115]
Coimbra, March 30	[117]
Headquarters, Mango Aide, May 3	[119]
Fornos d’Algodres, May 9 (extract from letter to Sister)	[123]
Headquarters, Fornos d’Algodres, May 15	[125]
Headquarters, Fornos d’Algodres, May 23	[130]
Extract (London, June 20), Fornos, June 6	[132]
Extract (Hendon, July 8), Fornos, June 13	[133]
Headquarters, Fornos d’Algodres, June 20	[134]
Headquarters, P.A., Francoso, near Pinhel, June 27	[137]
Francoso, July 9	[139]
Francoso, July 10	[151]
Francoso, July 25	[154]
Lagiosa, Aug. 8	[156]
Lagiosa, Aug. 22	[158]
Lagiosa, Aug. 29	[162]
Lagiosa, Aug. 29, 6 P.M.	[166]
Hendon Place, Oct. 2	[167]
Hendon Place, Oct. 16 (extract, news of Bussaco, Sept. 27)	[168]
Hendon Place, Oct. 25 (referring to letter Oct. 6)	[169]
Headquarters, P.A., Casal Eschin, a mile to the eastward of Enxara dos Cavaleiros, 5 leagues from Lisbon, Oct. 20	[171]
Extract, Falmouth, Nov. 14	[175]
Extract, Honiton, Nov. 18	[177]
1811 [CHAPTER V]
Portsmouth, May 5	[180]
Portsmouth, May 7	[181]
Portsmouth, May 9	[183]
Headquarters, St Olaia, June 20	[184]
Headquarters, St Olaia, June 27	[188]
Headquarters, St Olaia, July 1	[191]
Lisbon, July 5	[192]
Lisbon, Aug. 2	[192]
Cintra, Aug. 17	[195]
Cintra, Aug. 23	[198]
Cintra, Sept. 7	[202]
Lisbon, Oct. 17	[205]
Lisbon, Nov. 23	[209]
Lisbon, Nov. 30	[212]
Lisbon, Dec. 6	[213]
Lisbon, Dec. 14	[216]
1812 [CHAPTER VI] January to September
Torres Novas, Jan. 4	[221]
Coimbra, Jan. 10	[222]
Gallegos, Jan. 20	[223]
Elvas, March 6, extract	[226]
Elvas, March 18	[229]
Camp before Badajos, March 20	[234]
Camp before Badajos, March 29-(April 3), extract	[235]
Camp before Badajos, April 2	[236]
Badajos Camp, April 7	[241]
Camp before Badajos, April 10	[247]
Nava, on the road between Sabugal and Alfaiates, April 24	[248]
Fuente Guinaldo, May 20, extract	[252]
Fuente Guinaldo, May 28	[254]
Salamanca, June 17	[258]
Salamanca, June 25	[262]
Villa Escusa, Province of Toro, June 30	[269]
La Seca, Province of Valladolid, July 7	[274]
La Seca, July 10, extract	[278]
La Seca, July 13	[279]
Salamanca, July 24	[284]
Salamanca, July 27	[292]
Salamanca, Aug. 29, extract	[295]
(?) Salamanca, Sept. 2, extract	[297]

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF EVENTS

1807.
Nov.	French Conquest of Portugal.
Nov. 30.	Junot occupies Lisbon.
	Portuguese Royal Family fly to Brazil.
1808.
May.	Napoleon makes Joseph Buonaparte King of Spain.
	Outbreak of Spanish insurrection.
June.	French invade Valencia and Andalusia.
	Siege of Saragossa.
July 14.	Battle of Medina del Rio Seco.
” 20.	Capitulation of Baylen.
Aug. 1-4.	Landing of British army in Portugal.
” 17.	Combat of Roliça.
” 21.	Battle of Vimiero.
” 30.	Convention of Cintra.
Oct.	Napoleon’s invasion of Spain.
Oct. 6.	Sir John Moore takes command of British troops in Portugal.
Nov. 13.	Moore at Salamanca.
” 23.	Battle of Tudela. Spaniards defeated.
Dec. 4.	Napoleon arrives at Madrid.
” 15.	Soult with 15,000 men at Saldaña.
” 20.	Moore reaches Mayorga; junction with Baird.
” 21.	Combat of Sahagun.
” 22.	Napoleon’s pursuit of Moore begins.
” 23.	Avanilla, near Sahagun, 5½ leagues from Saldaña, half-past 5 P.M.—orders to march on Saldaña, 6 P.M.; news received about 7 P.M. of Napoleon’s advance; Moore resolves on and orders retreat.
” 28.	Benavente.
” 29.	Astorga.
” 31.	Bembibre.
	Napoleon leaves the pursuit to Soult and returns to France.
1809.
Jan.	Retreat of Sir John Moore’s army continued.
Jan. 2.	Bembibre.
” 3.	Villa Franca.
” 6.	Rearguard finds army at Lugo in position.
” 8-9.	Lugo evacuated.
” 9-10.	Betanzos.
” 11.	Corunna—no transports.
” 14.	Transports arrive.
” 16.	Battle of Corunna.
” 17.	Embarkation completed.
” 18.	H.M.S. Barfleur sails from Corunna.
” 23.	Arrives Plymouth.
Feb. 20.	Fall of Saragossa.
Feb. (end).	Beresford appointed to command Portuguese army.
March (early).	Beresford arrives at Lisbon.
March 10-20.	Soult’s operations in Portugal; capture of Oporto.
” 29.	Battle of Medellin—Spaniards defeated.
April 22.	Sir A. Wellesley arrives in Lisbon.
May 12-22.	Oporto retaken; Soult’s retreat to Orense and Lugo.
June.	Advance of British army from Abrantes.
July 27-28.	Battle of Talavera.
Aug. 4.	Wellesley retires on Badajos.
Oct. 18.	Battle of Tamames—French defeated.
Nov. 19.	Battle of Ocaña—Spaniards defeated.
” 29.	Battle of Alba de Tormes—Spaniards defeated.
1810.
Jan.	Lord Wellington retires into Portugal.
Jan. and Feb.	The French invade Andalusia.
Feb. 1.	King Joseph enters Seville.
	Siege of Cadiz.
” 12.	Badajos summoned by Mortier.
March to April 22.	Siege of Astorga.
May to July 9.	Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo.
July 24.	Combat of the Coa.
July to Aug. 27.	Siege of Almeida.
Sept. 16.	Masséna advances into Portugal.
” 27.	Battle of Bussaco.
Oct. 1-9.	Wellington retires within the lines of Torres Vedras.
Oct. to Nov.	Masséna before the lines.
Nov. 14.	Masséna retreats to Santarem.
Dec. 21.	Soult moves northward to support Masséna.
1811.
Jan. 27.	Soult invests Badajos.
March 5.	Masséna leaves Santarem.
” 11.	Surrender of Badajos; Soult returns to the South.
” 15.	Foz d’Aronce.
” 29.	The Allies take Guarda.
April 3.	Combat of Sabugal.
	Masséna leaves Portugal.
” 20.	Wellington to the Alemtejo.
May 2.	Masséna resumes the offensive.
” 4.	Beresford lays siege to Badajos.
” 5.	Battle of Fuentes d’Onoro.
” 8.	Masséna retreats; is removed from command.
” 10.	Brennier escapes with garrison from Almeida.
” 12.	Soult raises the siege of Badajos.
” 16.	Battle of Albuera.
	King Joseph leaves Madrid.
	Marmont takes command of the army of Portugal.
” 25.	Reinvestment of Badajos.
June 12.	Siege raised the second time.
	The French retire from Estremadura.
Aug. 8.	Wellington blockades Ciudad Rodrigo.
Sept. 21.	Marmont advances to relieve Ciudad Rodrigo.
” 24.	Action at El Bodon.
” 25-27.	The Allies retreat, and take up position covering the line of the Coa.
” 27.	The French withdrawal—Marmont to Talavera, Dorsenne to Salamanca.
	Ciudad Rodrigo again invested.
	The British army goes into cantonments on the Coa.
	Marmont concentrates near Toledo.
1812.
Jan. 8.	Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo.
” 19.	Taking of Ciudad Rodrigo by storm.
March 16.	Siege of Badajos.
April 6-7.	Taking of Badajos.
May 18.	Hill destroys bridge at Almaraz.
June.	Wellington advances into Castille.
June 17.	Allies enter Salamanca.
” 27.	Forts at Salamanca taken.
July 22.	Battle of Salamanca—Beresford severely wounded.
Aug. 12.	Allies enter Madrid.
Sept.	Siege of Burgos.
Oct.	Retreat from Burgos.
Nov.	Winter quarters near Ciudad Rodrigo.