Nov 25 2011
25th November 1811
2nd Battalion: Vila de Toro
The Coa Valley
The battalion was in Guarda until the 23rd. , now they are marching through the Coa valley. Men and officers alike found Guarda cold and damp. This has had a noticeable effect upon the men’s health, cases of rheumatism and dysentery being rife. Surgeon John Hennen is still on sick leave in Lisbon but fortunately the new assistant surgeon, John Evans, arrived on the 6th November and immediately took charge of the sick. The men have been pleased with the treatment they have received, although it has been noticed that Surgeon Evans is fond of a drink.
There was general pleasure at the return of Quartermaster Kingsley from suspension. The feeling in the battalion was that he was provoked by the aggressive behaviour of Captain Rae of the Royals and reacted as any hot-tempered Irish man would.
Captain McNabb has been appointed commandant at Oyres, Lieutenant Adamson has been sent sick to the rear, and Sergeant Major Woods is on command with the Portuguese Artillery. Major Grey remains in command of the battalion. Lieutenant Colonel Turner has been returned absent without leave, but there is a suspicion that the injury he received at Badajoz is preventing him from talking command.
Six men have died during the last month, and seventeen men have been invalided to England. Among them was Corporal Masterman, who left for England on the 1st November. The following day Thomas Hamilton was appointed corporal. William Glover was appointed corporal on the 11th November.
On the 23rd November, at 5 a.m. an order arrived for the division to move forward to Marmeleiro. There was no explanation. The following day the division marched to Alfayates. Today the division has divided. The first brigade have been sent to watch the Coa, while the second brigade and the Portuguese brigade are here in Vila de Toro, a small place which can hardly accommodate so many men. There is considerable speculation about this unexpected advance, the most popular idea being that Marshal Marmont must have brought the Army of Portugal up from Estremadura, where he has been for the past few weeks.
1st Battalion: Cannanore
Fort San Angelo, Cannanore
The battalion has completed its march across India and is now established in the new cantonment of Cannanore on the Malabar coast, the wettest region of southern India. Fortunately, they have arrived outside the monsoon season, which gives them time to become acclimatised.
They have left several of their officers behind. Five officers are at Trichinopoly, under sentence of a court martial and are waiting to hear if their sentences will be confirmed. A further five officers remain on staff duties. Three officers are in Poonamallee. Lieutenant Nicholson, who does not seem to have recovered his health since his court martial, is on sick leave. Sergeant Francis Garland, who has recently been on command as acting quartermaster with the 19th Native Infantry Regiment , has transferred to East India Company service. There have been six deaths since the last monthly return.
William Wanlass, who spend over a year in the Lunatic Asylum in Madras and the last three months on command in Poonamallee, has rejoined the battalion. He seems to be in a good state of health.
Depot: Hull
A recruit as depicted by the satirist Cruickshank
Although the depot moved to Hull during September, Lieutenant John Roe (1) has remained in Wakefield with a sergeant, two corporals, a drummer and five privates and continues to recruit in that area. In total there are 16 sergeants, eight drummers, 130 rank and file and 23 boys either with the recruiting companies or at headquarters.
Seven recruits have joined since the last return, and a further seven are with the recruiting companies, five of them in Sleaford, which continues to be the most rewarding recruiting ground.
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