Letters from the Peninsula, 1808-1812, by Lieut.-Gen. Sir William Warre by Lt.-General Sir William Warre Rev Edmond Warre

Author:Lt.-General Sir William Warre, Rev Edmond Warre [Lt.-General Sir William Warre, Rev Edmond Warre]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782890485
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Wagram Press
Published: 2013-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

Hd. Qrs., Francoso, July 10,1810.

My Dear Father,

I received your letters of 13th, 15th June, on the 1st of this month, and my having been absent at the outposts alone prevented me writing by last packet to thank you for the very interesting information you give me about Ferguson in particular, and the other occurrences of the day, as also for the affectionate friendship and solicitude on my account, which would be a sufficient reward in themselves for anything I can ever do.

I send you, annexed, a sort of journal of my proceedings during my little excursion to the outposts, which was very interesting. It was written in considerable hurry and just as the things occurred to me. The opinions also merely speculative, as I have but little means of positive information. I should therefore wish you to consider it as merely for your amusement and confidential, and for those few who can feel any interest in such trifles because they concern me.

Our situation becomes every day more interesting. The heroic defence of Ciudad Rodrigo has delayed the operations against this country, but I consider that it is impossible the place can hold out much longer.

What the issue of this contest may be, it is very difficult to guess. The enemy have certainly from 70 to 80,000 men, and we as certainly Troops of the Line not so many, though we have other advantages which they cannot have, particularly the people and the country in our favour. Lord Wellington and the Marshal appear very confident and in high spirits, and so does the whole army, who are in excellent order. Our Chiefs know best the real situation in which they stand, and the confidence everyone feels in them will make the Army do wonders. Much must depend upon the Portuguese troops. At all events I think prudence would dictate the removal of all property from this country, and leaving as little to chance of war in point of business as possible, and although I by no means wish to croak, when I consider the great superiority of the enemy in numbers, and the nature of our Troops, with many other circumstances, I confess I do not feel quite so confident of our ultimate success. But I shall not form any decided opinion till I see our people tried.

Pray thank my dear mother for her kind letter of the 30th May from Hendon, and Tom for his of the 19th June, and for Greenwood and Cox’s abstract of my account I am a good deal surprised they have not received my claim for losses. By the account I see they have received no part of them and suspect they do not much exert themselves, as I know other Officers have received theirs. By Tom’s letter I observe a warrant has been issued for £36, 15s., I suppose for my horse shot at Vimiero.

I hope you have had a pleasant trip to Woburn and Holkham. I am always happy when I hear of your amusing yourself in a way I know to be so much to your satisfaction.

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