Collections - Letters
Letters of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, 1804-1811.
Letter Number 70
Dated: 27th March 1811. C.B. Vinho Addressed to Mrs C Bevan, Money
Hill, Rickmansworth, Herts
Stamped on address fold AP 13 1811
My dearest Mary,
We are just arrived at our quarters after a very long and difficult days
March. I have however just thought and power to keep my Eyes open to
send you a few brief (sic) to tell you I am quite well This Army
continues to follow up the movements of the Enemy and I suppose will do
so as far as the Frontier of Portugal Our route of course depends on
that taken by Massena This latest has been a very well conducted one
We have made several prisoners and taken some guns; I am not quite sure
of the numbers of either. It is very fatiguing as we get little rest and
little to eat and drink. The name of the village we have just come to is
Vinho: but of which there is a plentiful scarcity. I hope we shall soon
have a day or two to ourselves as I want to write to you & my other
friends in England.
I am glad to find (repeats this phrase) your Mother is going to London.
I think it will be pleasant for all parties and my poor friends days
alone at Money Hill. However you have three young men to take care of
you I hope they are tolerably obedient. If any body would give me
enough to live in the country with you I believe I should be tempted to
by it. I cannot tell you any news the scenes of misery we are daily
witness to is quite beyond expression.
Must beg my best regards to all your family and to mine God Bless you
my dearest friend I am always your faithful ---? C.B.
Vinho
27th March 1811
I have not heard very lately from Paterson but he is quite well. You
must not expect firm letters from me for I have not been in a house
till today these three weeks almost.
NOTES BY TRANSCRIBER
i) Vinho probably near Moita, West of Celorico Cowper puts 1st Bn
4th Foot in Moita for 20-25 March and at Celorico 29 March but the C.O.
is no doubt a better source
ii) 5th Division had been sent before this on a looping course in the
hope of outflanking the French rearguard but it did not come off
iii) Paterson in 2nd Bn 28th was in a Brigade still on the other bank of
the Tagus
iv) It seems incredible that this letter should have survived and
reached England on 13 April - from what despite many new highways is
still a remote corner of Portugal whence postcards do not take much less
time than Wellingtons support services achieved
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