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Add MS 89728/1/1
- Record Id:
- 040-004566468
- Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
- 032-004566466
- MDARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100191687979.0x000001
- LARK:
- SLARK:
- Format:
- ISAD(G)
- Reference (shelfmark):
- Add MS 89728/1/1
- Title:
- Letters sent by Sir James Willoughby Gordon to his wife during the Peninsular War
- Scope & Content:
- Letters sent by Sir James Willoughby Gordon to his wife during June and August 1812.
These letters begin on HMS Fawn on 28 Jun as Gordon sets sail from Falmouth for the Peninsular. However, bad weather forces a return to Falmouth for several days.
The first letter from Lisbon is dated 12 Jul where Gordon is making preparations for a march across Portugal and Spain to Madrid.
The route followed the Tagus river stopping at the following towns in order: Azambuga, Santarem, Golega, Abrantes, Nisa, Sarnados, Castello Branco, Penamacor, Sabugal, Puebla de Azaba, Cuidad Rodrigo, Puebla de Cahilio, El Carpio, and to Cuellar where Gordon met up with Lord Wellington at army headquarters.
Gordon then proceeded to support the army in their arrangements for marching on Madrid. They travelled from Cuellar, to Mozoncillo, to Segovia, over the Navacerrada mountains, and on to Madrid.
The letters include interesting details including rations, bandits in the hills, the manners and work ethic of the Portuguese and Spanish, the Bishop's palace in Castello Branco, Lord Wellington's character, Il de Fonsa palace, a skirmish with the French on 11 Aug outside Madrid, and the palaces in Madrid.
The final letter from Madrid, dated 30 Aug, encloses a table comparing the heights of mountains. The document is entitled Table comparative des Principales montagner dont on a mesure et observe les hauteurs audessus du niveau de la Mer and is annotated in English by Gordon: "Taken down from the Walls of the Room of King Joseph’s Secretary, Madrid, August 18 1812 – JWG."
- Collection Area:
- Western Manuscripts
- Project / Collection:
- Additional Manuscripts
- Hierarchy Record Ids:
- 032-004566466
036-004566467
040-004566468 - Is part of:
- Add MS 89728 : Letters sent by Sir James Willoughby Gordon during the Peninsular War
Add MS 89728/1 : Letters sent by Sir James Willoughby Gordon to his wife during the Peninsular War
Add MS 89728/1/1 : Letters sent by Sir James Willoughby Gordon to his wife during the Peninsular War - Hierarchy:
- 032-004566466[0001]/036-004566467[0001]/040-004566468
- Container:
- View / search within Archive / Collection: Add MS 89728
- Record Type (Level):
- File
- Extent:
- 1 folder
- Digitised Content:
- Languages:
- English
French - Scripts:
- Latin
- Start Date:
- 1812
- End Date:
- 1812
- Date Range:
- 1812
- Era:
- CE
- Access:
-
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- User Conditions:
- Material Type:
- Archives and Manuscripts
- Legal Status:
- Not Public Record(s)
- Names:
- Wellesley, Arthur, 1st Duke of Wellington, army officer and statesman, 1769-1852