Coimbra, March 21st, 1810.
My Dear Father,
We arrived here yesterday from Lisbon after a rather tedious and rainy journey, and have for the present established our Hd. Qrs. here, but for how long it is impossible to say, or where we shall go when we do move. Both must depend entirely upon the enemy, who have given us a much longer period of tranquillity than I expected. The bubble, however, must soon burst, and I expect to hear daily of their making some movement, for we have very good reason to suppose they are much distressed by the want of provisions, a want they are not likely to mend by entering this country, in itself considerably exhausted, and where every means will be taken to place what is remaining out of their reach, or destroy it, in case we should be forced to retreat.
I am anxious that the campaign should begin; and to be able to judge of what our Portuguese will in reality do. I confess I have very great hopes of them. Their discipline is most wonderfully improved, perhaps fully as good as necessary for active service, and only wants confirming. I fear their relaxing, when they get out of the immediate control of British Officers, before the enemy, and the class of their own Officers, though very much improved and mostly young men, have scarce experience and firmness enough to control them as we could wish. Their pay, which has in some cases been more than doubled, gives them the means now of living like gentlemen and with respectability. In some cases it is better than ours in proportion, and since the service becomes an object, they will, we must hope, exert themselves, that they may not be deprived of it, which they certainly will without remorse, if they misbehave at all.
Our cavalry is also getting into a very respectable state, and now very tolerably mounted. I saw the 4th commanded by Lt.-Col. Campbell, Augustus’ brother, manœuvre at Lisbon at a gallop extremely well, certainly beyond anything Portuguese Officers had any idea of, and they are certainly equalled by the 1st Brigade, and Madden’s the 2nd, which is mounted on mares, and I doubt will be able to bear the work equal to the other. It is an experiment, and my private opinion is that it will not succeed. Two Brigades of very fine infantry, the 1st cavalry, and 3rd Brigade of Artillery, are with Genl. Hill on the Frontier of Alemtejo, and I believe several other Brigades will be attached to the British Army in the Beira, and I think it most probable that some English Regts., as a reserve, will be attached to Marshal Beresford’s Corps d’Armée. But where we are to go, or what to do, I am perfectly ignorant.
I shall be much obliged to you to send me out a map of Spain and Portugal, published by Fadan, and compiled by Nantiat. It appears to be the best extant, and I am in want of a good one, so much so that you will much oblige me by sending it out by the very first opportunity, and Col. D’Urban, our Quarter-master General, begs me to procure him one also. They must be pasted on canvas and in strong cases. I have just been calling on General Payne, who asked very kindly after you.
The Spaniards have attacked the French at Caçeres and at Valverde and beat them, killing at each a General, one of Division. Though these affairs are of no great consequence in themselves, they may revive the dormant enthusiasm and patriotism of the Spaniards, but I confess I have very slender expectation of it. At Valverde it was done in a very slovenly manner, for they completely surprised the French, and the French General was in bed, but they amused themselves murdering a few unfortunate devils whom they first met, and let him get away with some Dragoons. At Caçeres had their Cavalry behaved as well as their Infantry they would have taken or destroyed all the French, who prepared to receive them, but were completely beaten and followed for about a league.
Believe me ever most truely your affectionate Son,
Wm. Warre.