The journals of Francis Gwillim Simcoe : late of the 27th Regt. of Foot [Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers] ...

April 1809 Arrived at Leiria on the 23rd _ here were 12 Regiments of Infantry, Cavalry, & c_ In the middle of the town are the ruins of a large Castle on a rock which commands a fine view _ Sir John Craddock left the Army at this town _ Sir Arthur Wellesley was expected here but did not join us he was received with great enthusiasm by the Inhabitants of Lisbon & of every town he passed through _ 29th We received an order to march within an hour & arrived at Ourem distant 5 leagues _ I observed that we were marching more to the right than we should have done had we been going to Oporto as it was conjectured. And on our arrival at Ourem we were told that our Brigade which consisted of the 3rd Battalion of the 27th_ 2nd Batt. of the 31st_ 1st Batt. of the 45th _ (an uncommonly fine Regiment) with our Brigade of Artillery, were branching off towards the Tajus, & the main Army gone to Oporto

May 1809 This is the second time that our Regiment has had the misfortune of being detached from the main Army _We are now to fight with the Portuguese Troops, who I fear will not be much good _ Ourem is a small town on the top of a very high hill, & commands a very fine and extensive prospect _ We stayed here 4 days & were billetted on a Priest who was very civil to us _ 3rd Left Ourem for Thomar 3 leagues distant _ it is a very large town in which are a great many Portuguese Troops _ we left the 31st Regt. here _ there is a very large Convent here _ 4th Left Thomar & arrived at Punhete distant 3 leagues, a small town _ The Grenadier Company escorted the Guns about half a league further to a large farm house. the Gardens & Groves were well supplied, the outhouses were very considerable, the cellar was about 100 yards in length, & full of wine _ the man who lived there was the Steward of the place, & sold everything at an exorbitant Price, & then told his master that the Soldiers broke into his houses

May 1809 and took everything away _ Left the 45th Regt. here _ 5th Left Punhete & arrived at Abrantes a large town very irregularly built _ There are here about 5,000 Portuguese Troops Commanded by Genl. Miranda, but they are wretchedly bad; _ 5,000 are gone to join Sir Arthur Wellesley under Marshal Beresford & we are ordered to hold ourselves in readiness to march at an hour’s notice, & always to have three days provisions ready cooked _ Sir Arthur Wellesley is to attack Marshal Soult, who is at Oporto & Villa Real _ We are to attack Victor, who is on the other side of the Tajus, if We can collect sufficient force _ otherwise to defend the Tajus & not allow him to pass it _ I think it must have been particularly grating to the feelings of Sir J. Craddock to be obliged to leave the Army at so critical a period, & to be appointed to the Command of the Garrison of Gibraltar _ I have taken a Copy of an Extract from Genl. Orders to shew what were Sir J. Craddock’s feelings on being obliged to leave the Army _

G.O. Leiria 24th April 1809 _

His Majesty having been pleased to appoint Lt. Genl. Sir John Francis Craddock to the Command of the Fortress at Gibraltar, His duty compels him to quit the Army in Portugal _ It is not in the power of any consideration to diminish the feelings of his severe regret at departing from the gallant Army at so interesting a moment, & in delivering over the Command to Lt._Genl._Sir Arthur Wellesley, however he may acknowledge the distinguished merit of that Officer & his abilities for the discharge of so important a trust _ he must maintain that in zeal for the honour of the British arms, & anxiety for the welfare & interest of those committed to this charge, no successor can surpass him _ The Uniform good conduct displayed both by Officers & men under the very trying & critical circumstances in which Portugal has been lately placed, entitles them to the highest praise, & the

May 1809 Lieut. Genl. in expressing his sincere & grateful acknowledgement to them for it, begs that the Army in Portugal will accept the assurance of his anxious & unceasing wishes for their success in the glorious interests in which they are engaged.

The 16th Light Dragoons & 3rd & 4th heavy Dragoons are arrived. I met with an old schoolfellow of mine in the 3rd & there is scarcely a Regt. in which I do not meet with an Etonian _ 18th Left Abrantes & arrived at Belvir, distant 2 leagues, a small town _ 19th Left Belvir for Cardijos distant 7 leagues _ this was a very long march; it rained the whole day, & the road was uncommonly bad _ our Company was left with the Artillery, which we brought in some hours after the Brigade, with a great deal of difficulty _ the Inhabitants had entirely left this town, & not a creature was to be found in it _ 20th Left Cardijos for Corticada . We have just heard of the total defeat of Marshal