E. [Elizabeth] White, Swanage, England, to 'My dear Sir', John Grove White Esq, Flower Hill, near Doneraile, with detailed news of [her husband] William, John's brother, of the 48th Regiment of Foot, fighting in the Peninsular War against the Napoleonic French army in Spain and Portugal.
TitleE. [Elizabeth] White, Swanage, England, to 'My dear Sir', John Grove White Esq, Flower Hill, near Doneraile, with detailed news of [her husband] William, John's brother, of the 48th Regiment of Foot, fighting in the Peninsular War against the Napoleonic French army in Spain and Portugal.
ReferenceU209/A/1/12
Date
7 Jun 1811
Production date 1811 - 1811
Scope and ContentWilliam Grove White appears to have fought in the Battle of Albuera on 16 May 1811, where a mixed British, Spanish and Portuguese corps engaged elements of the French Armée du Midi (Army of the South) at the small Spanish village of Albuera, about 20 kilometres south of the frontier fortress-town of Badajoz, Spain.
TRANSCRIPT:
"You have no doubt experienced some anxiety on your Brothers account[,] I therefore feel it a duty incumbent on me to communicate to you the contents of a letter from the Camp near Almandralego [Almendralejo] 22 May[.] the morning on which he arrived he reached Lisbon on the 6th of May after being detained a fortnight [,] was providentially at Falmouth [,] so I shall with fervent gratitude ever term it [,] as it was he means of his escaping the sanguinary and dreadful conflict [.] he left Lisbon on the morning of the 16th day that will be long remembered by the suffering relatives of those who have so bravely fallen, in his way he rode over the field of battle, he says it was a sad spectacle covered with the dead, and the roads filled with the wounded and dying conveying to the Hospitals at Elvas. The 48 Regt. he says is entirely done up, Col. Duckworth killed Major Brooke severely wounded and a prisoner, and almost every officer in both Battns. lost their colours but not through any fault, the British [press] says is upwards of 4000 [,] the Spaniards 1000 this letter was a few hurried lines written on the ground to relieve my anxiety. I assure you my dear Sir I have of care had occasion for all the fortitude [.] my dear WIllliam's health is still in a very precarious state [,] he was very ill during his passage and after his arrival at Lisbon felt a return of his complaint, God only knows how he will...[be] equal to the duty and..[fatigues]... of a campaign[.] it is my opinion [that] if it pleases the Almighty to spare him now, he will not be able to remain long in the Army[.] his constitution... is so much impaired by resistance in hot climates. With my little family there is great will for active exertion on my part, which is fortunate for me as it leaves less room for gloomy reflections[,] yet they will intrude and but for a firm reliance on our heavenly protector who has hitherto preserved him[,] I should be most wretched. My children have all been great [invalids] but are now better. I wrote to our good mother by yesterday's post. Remember me most affectionately to Mrs. White and say though she does not hear from me very often she is frequently the subject of my thoughts and I will with pleasure [remember] the hours I have spent in her [society]...my kind regards to James. Pray excuse this... it is getting like my time for writing is when all my [letters] are in bed and I am too apt to write unintelligibly [.] I am my dear Sir, yours most sincerely[,] E White"
TRANSCRIPT:
"You have no doubt experienced some anxiety on your Brothers account[,] I therefore feel it a duty incumbent on me to communicate to you the contents of a letter from the Camp near Almandralego [Almendralejo] 22 May[.] the morning on which he arrived he reached Lisbon on the 6th of May after being detained a fortnight [,] was providentially at Falmouth [,] so I shall with fervent gratitude ever term it [,] as it was he means of his escaping the sanguinary and dreadful conflict [.] he left Lisbon on the morning of the 16th day that will be long remembered by the suffering relatives of those who have so bravely fallen, in his way he rode over the field of battle, he says it was a sad spectacle covered with the dead, and the roads filled with the wounded and dying conveying to the Hospitals at Elvas. The 48 Regt. he says is entirely done up, Col. Duckworth killed Major Brooke severely wounded and a prisoner, and almost every officer in both Battns. lost their colours but not through any fault, the British [press] says is upwards of 4000 [,] the Spaniards 1000 this letter was a few hurried lines written on the ground to relieve my anxiety. I assure you my dear Sir I have of care had occasion for all the fortitude [.] my dear WIllliam's health is still in a very precarious state [,] he was very ill during his passage and after his arrival at Lisbon felt a return of his complaint, God only knows how he will...[be] equal to the duty and..[fatigues]... of a campaign[.] it is my opinion [that] if it pleases the Almighty to spare him now, he will not be able to remain long in the Army[.] his constitution... is so much impaired by resistance in hot climates. With my little family there is great will for active exertion on my part, which is fortunate for me as it leaves less room for gloomy reflections[,] yet they will intrude and but for a firm reliance on our heavenly protector who has hitherto preserved him[,] I should be most wretched. My children have all been great [invalids] but are now better. I wrote to our good mother by yesterday's post. Remember me most affectionately to Mrs. White and say though she does not hear from me very often she is frequently the subject of my thoughts and I will with pleasure [remember] the hours I have spent in her [society]...my kind regards to James. Pray excuse this... it is getting like my time for writing is when all my [letters] are in bed and I am too apt to write unintelligibly [.] I am my dear Sir, yours most sincerely[,] E White"
Extent3pp
Persons keyword48th (Northhamptonshire) Regiment of Foot
SubjectPeninsular War 1807-1814, Napoleonic Wars 1803-1815, Battle of Albuera (May 1811), Women's History
AccessHard copies: Accessible to Readers by appointment. Access restrictions apply to some collections. Digital object/copy (if available): see Download Media and/or Digital Reference.
RightsRights/licensing information available on request by email to archivist@corkcity.ie Copyright Cork City and County Archives, Cork City Council, unless otherwise indicated. All Rights Reserved.
LevelItem
Download media