Frasers of Philorth > Volume 3

DURING THE PENINSULAR WAR.
II.
Corunna, 26th October 1808.
Dear Mother, — We have been so bothered with orders, counter orders, and
reports, that till this morning nothing certain has been known. The Rifle Corps
and the Forty-third Light Infantry have disembarked this morning, and our
brigade begin to-morrow.
We have a march of at least 600 miles before we can reach the enemy, and by
all accounts are not likely to be very well off on the way, as the only thing the
" Junta " can provide for us is black bread and sour wine, which John will not
relish much ; and on our arrival we may expect to be in snow during the greatest
part of the [time], as our position will be on the left of the Spanish army, and
on the left bank of [the] Ebro, between Bilboa and Pampeluna, which is the
strongest post the French have at present, and it is whispered is to be the first
affair that the British will be employed on. Should we succeed in driving out
the enemy, which is not so easily done as you have settled it in the City, I dare-
say we shall proceed to Italy, which will be rather better than Spain.
There are at present no less than eight people packing up in the cabin, and
the noise they make is such that no person can write, or indeed do anything else.
I wrote Houston by the last piacket, which, as the wind has been fair, he will most
likely have received.
Let my letters be sent if possible in General Ward's First Guards' bag, as by
that means I shall get them sooner and more securely. You must not be surprised
at hearing seldom, as a subaltern has not so many opportunities of writing as a
General, and our allowance of baggage is so small, that we are obliged to leave
even our writing-desks behind us, which is a monstrous inconvenience, but we
must put up with it. I am to carry 100 lbs., including bed, etc., which is more
than half.
We have no news of any consequence, and the army is tolerably healthy.
With best love to all at home,
I am, dear mother, your dutiful son,
Saltoun.