Peninsular War

Manuscript extract copied from a letter by priest and guerrilla leader Juan Tapia to Rear Admiral Sir Home Riggs Popham, reading in part “Now I can say to your Excellency that by the last news our allied armies have chased the French from Valladolid…The British troops have been until now in Tudela, Medina del Campo and Cuellar, excepting the troops who went with the Generallissimo Lord Wellington who entered Madrid 12^th August. Successively his Excellency went to Toledo and chased the enemy who were in that place , many people affirm that the intrusive King of Spain has been made prisoner …and his army killed and dispersed, Santocildes has been in sight of Rio Secco, because he suspected the moving of the French to the relief of Astorga and they began their movements but returned on hearing that the garrison had capitulated”, two pages, folding marks, n.p., n.d. (paper is watermarked 1811)