Chapter XLII: Section III: Relating to Equipment and Supplies

_Sir John Moore to lord Castlereagh, October 9, 1808._

“At this instant the army is without equipment of any kind, either for the carriage of the light baggage of regiments, artillery stores, commissariat stores, or other appendages of an army, and not a magazine is formed on any of the routes by which we are to march.”

_Sir John Moore to lord Castlereagh, Oct. 18, 1808._

“In none of the departments is there any want of zeal, but in some of the important ones there is much want of experience.” ... “I have no hope of getting forward at present with more than the light baggage of the troops, the ammunition immediately necessary for the service of the artillery, and a very scanty supply of medicines.”

_Sir John Moore’s Journal._

“My anxiety is to get out of the rugged roads of Portugal before the rains.”

_Sir John Moore to lord William Bentinck, Oct. 22, 1808._

“The season of the year admitting of no delay, there was a necessity for beginning the march, and trusting for information and supplies as we get on unfortunately our commissariat is inexperienced, and a **** of a contractor, Mr. Sattaro, has deceived us.”

_Sir David Baird to sir John Moore, October 29, 1808._

“The want of provisions for the men and forage for the horses has been one of the most serious obstacles we have had to contend with. Nor do I at present feel at all easy upon that subject.”--“The horses are suffering very severely, both for want of proper accommodations and food.” ... “From lord Castlereagh’s letter, I was led to expect that every preparation for our equipment had been made previous to our leaving England; I need hardly say how different the case was, and how much I have been disappointed.”

_Mr. Stuart to sir John Moore, November 17, 1808._

“The continued slowness of the junta is the only explanation I can offer for the want of proper arrangements on the routes for the reception of the English troops.”