5445_0138

1811 Sep.br
Obispo which is in Spain is not in the least destroyed  such inveterate hatred did the French shew against Portugal  I have been to see the town of Almeida  such destruction I never beheld  there is scarcely a house in this once fine town which is not either entirely destroyed or unroofed & the floors burnt  the walls are likewise demolished  such inhuman, wanton, barbarous destruction as was committed by the French was never witnessed  the destruction occasioned by the blowing up of the magazine, which was the cause of the surrender of the fortress, is indescribable  I likewise rode along L.d Wellington’s position of the 5th which is extremely strong  the only weak part was Fuentes de Onor, a small tho’ very good village for the sustaining of which so much blood was shed  the position extends for nearly 3 leagues  there is a small river which divided the position of the two armies about ½ a league in rear of Fuentes de Onor 