Letters from the Peninsula, 1808-1812

Preface

Some years before his death in 1875, mv father entrusted to me a packet containing letters written by his eldest brother, my uncle, Sir William Warre, from the Peninsula during his service there from 1808 to 1812.

The packet was not opened by me until the year 1908.

The letters, on perusal, seemed to be of interest, as giving a graphic description of the life and opinions of an officer serving on the Staff during the Peninsular War, and, in particular, of one immediately concerned in the organisation of the Portuguese army.

Moreover, the letters, which are written on the spot and without reserve, being chiefly addressed to his father or mother, seem to reflect in some measure, as regards the campaign, and as to home politics, to which there are plentiful allusions, the conversation and opinions of the Headquarters' Staff at the time ; and further, the intimate acquaintance of the writer with the Portuguese character, and with the methods of the Portuguese Government, enhances the illustration of the difficulties which viii PREFACE

had to be overcome in the effort of Great Britain to save her ally from the crushing yoke of French imperial despotism.

Mr James Warre of Oporto, the father of Sir William Warre, was a man of great ability, and of influence both in Portugal and at home. He was a partner in the firm of Warre & Co., which was at the time one of the leading commercial houses in Oporto — an old firm, established in the seventeenth century — with which, however, the family connection was severed at the death of Sir William Warre's brother George, in the year 1850.

The letters themselves, considering the circumstances under which they were written, are very fairly legible ; but in places there are lacuna which are sometimes difficult to fill up. The orthography is not at all consistent — often old-fashioned, sometimes faulty. I have corrected it in some places, but in many have left it as in the original.

I cannot claim to have any particular knowledge of military history, and, as regards the brief introductions to the several chapters, wish to acknowledge in limine my indebtedness to Napier's great work, to Professor Oman's three most interesting volumes, which bring the story of the war down to 1 8 10, and to Sir Herbert Maxwell's Life of the Duke of Wellington.

I am indebted also to my cousin, Mr George Warre, for help in translating the Portuguese words and phrases that occur in the letters.

My thanks are also due to my cousin, Mrs Wm.

PREFACE ix

Rathbone, for kindly allowing me to use several of the collection of family letters in her possession, extracts from which help to fill up some of the gaps in the correspondence.

Lastly, I must acknowledge my debt of gratitude to my friend and publisher, Mr John Murray, for his most valuable help in many ways. Without his assistance, the map which illustrates the volume could not have been constructed.

EDMOND WARRE.

Finch ampstead, 1909.

LIST OF LETTERS

CHAPTER I Portsmouth, May 22

H.M.S. Resistance^ St Helens, May 24

CHAPTER II Porto Roads, July 25

Off Ovar, Monday evening, July 25

Camp, Lavos, near Figueira, Aug. 8 . . .

Lourinhao, 12 miles south of Peniche, Aug. 19 .

Vimiero, Aug. 22 .

Buenos Ayres, Lisbon, Sept. 27 .

Lisbon, Sept. 29 .

1808-9 CHAPTER III

Avanilla, near Sahagun, 5! leagues from Saldana, half-past

Sobrado, between Lugo and St Jago, Jan. 4, 1809 . . 48

Xll

LIST OF LETTERS

Barfieur, at sea, Jan. 18

Plymouth, Jan. 23 .

Lisbon, March 3 .

Lisbon, April 1

Undated (?) April 7

Headquarters, Thomar, April 27

Lisbon, July 13 — arrived Aug. 24, per Colonel Brown

Lacebo, Aug. 10 — Los Hoyos, Aug. 13 .

Salvaterra, Aug. 18 — Castello Branco, Aug. 20 .

Headquarters, Lisbon, Sept. 6

Headquarters, Lisbon, Sept. 11

Lisbon, Sept. 25

Lisbon, Oct. 10

Lisbon, Oct. 26

Lisbon, Oct. 26

Lisbon, Dec. 1

Thomar, Dec. 31

PAOB 50 51

53 56

85 86 90 93 95 97 l8lO

CHAPTER IV 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

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

LIST OF LETTERS xm

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 l8ll

Chapter V

Portsmouth, May 5 Portsmouth, May 7 Portsmouth, May 9 Headquarters, St Olaia, June 20 Headquarters, St Olaia, June 27 Headquarters, St Olaia, July 1 Lisbon, July 5 Lisbon, Aug. 2 C intra, Aug. 17 Cintra, Aug. 23 Cintra, Sept. 7 Lisbon, Oct. 17 Lisbon, Nov. 23 Lisbon, Nov. 30 Lisbon, Dec. 6 Lisbon, Dec. 14

180 181

183 184 188 191 192 192