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 JOURNAL 
 
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 MOVEMENTS 
 
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 BRITISH LEGION. 
 
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 BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 ^■ 
 
 BY AN OFFICER, 
 
 •ATI.; OF THK CilrARTUR-MASTKK-GUNKRAI.'s STAKF. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY EFFINGHAM WILSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE, 
 
 CORNHILL. 
 
 lH3(i. 
 
Il 
 
 I.KWIS AND CO.. PRINTERS. 15, FRITH.STRKEt7sOH(». 
 
 I' 
 
/ * 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 Five days after the action of Ayetta, in 
 prosecution of my original intention, and 
 with the special leave of the Lieut. -General, 
 I continued my route to England, having, 
 most fortunately, not been impeded by 
 several wounds received in that truly brilliant 
 affair. — Since my arrival in London, I have 
 seen Captain Henningson's ** Year with 
 Zumalacarregui " "which, in the literary 
 acceptation of the term, is unquestionably an 
 excellent book — Captain Henningson's pages 
 are, however, so distorted by party spirit, 
 particularly where, in imitation of his clique. 
 
\ 
 
 VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ragu- 
 
 lie so lavishly abuses the English 
 muffins," as he is most courteously pleased 
 to term General Evans, and his troops ; that 
 it is impossible to repress a smile of mingled 
 pity and contempt — pity for the bitter 
 partizanship which could conceive the 
 epithet — contempt for the man who could, 
 not excitedly utter, but deliberately write it 
 — Captain Henningson is however, I believe, 
 a very young man, as certain of his critiques 
 prove, or he would have discrimination 
 enough to perceive that such wholesale abuse 
 as he thinks proper to indulge in, comes wdth 
 a very bad grace from a German, from whom 
 might be expected, at least, the good taste 
 of abstai'iing from invidious comment on 
 the subjects of a country, at this moment 
 affording him an asylum and a home ; par- 
 ticularly on men who hold a rank in the 
 British Army, to which he, Captain Henning- 
 son, cannot have the most vemoie pretention. 
 
rUKl'ACK. 
 
 Vll 
 
 'I'lie fact of the " Year with Zuinalacar- 
 rr^iii ' having heen written, as it evidently 
 has been, after the Author's return from Ser- 
 vice, more than ever confirms me in the' 
 determination to give my notes, composed 
 amid the toil of duty, unaltered, and un- 
 embellished to the world. — It will be seen 
 that mine are the facts of daily observation, — 
 not got up at the eleventh hour for a par- 
 ticular and interested purpose, but written 
 under the influence of surrounding circum- 
 stances, as they severally occurred — In fur- 
 therance of this end, as will also be seen, I 
 have even retained matter, which, in any 
 other case, might be deemed superfluous ; 
 and no stronger proof can be given than in 
 the hicreasing admiration, (romantic it may 
 appear to some), with which I have described 
 the country, as mv advance into it, each 
 succeeding day, made me more acquainted 
 with its sublimity. *. 
 
I'll 
 
 Vlll 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 What errors may occur in the course of 
 this volume, must be considered as purely 
 typographical, and the result of my return to 
 San Sebastian, at the moment when my 
 MSS. is consigned into the Printer's hands. 
 Had the publication been of a different 
 character, and not with a specific and present 
 object in view — that of the early disabuse of 
 the public mind, in regard to certain im- 
 pressions erroneously entertained of the 
 British Legion, I should have deferred giving 
 any notes to the world, until a more favorable 
 opportunity occurred. — As it is, it may be 
 hoped the public, generally, will make every 
 due allowance for the imperfections of a work, 
 submitted to press during my absence — 
 although I can scarcely expect the mere 
 literary critic will consider my plea an extenu- 
 ation. 
 
 I had intended giving some further personal 
 details of the battle of Ayetta — details which 
 
PllEFACK. ix 
 
 I have reason to believe will not be without 
 interest to the Public : but these I shall re- 
 serve for a future volume. 
 
 " THE AUTHOR. " 
 
 London, June 'Jt/t, 1836. 
 
n 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Page 
 
 Arrival at San Sebastian — Description of its grandeur— Punish- 
 ment of a soldier for mutiny — Hard duty of officers— Dinner 
 given by the Ist regiment — Ball to the inhabitants — ^Traitors 
 in San Sebastian — Affair of Hernani — Removal to Portagalette 
 — Attack on Lord John Hay's boats — Infamous quarters — 
 Affair of Portagalette — March to Bilbao — ^Affur of the Puenta 
 Nueva — Cariist prisoner — Position of the enemy 1 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Withdrawal of the Carlist forces — Bilbaon manners and amuse- 
 ments — Removal of my regiment to St. Mames — Remarks of 
 the Author on the decline of monasteries — Detached to Soroza 
 — Wretchedness of quarters — Return to St. Mames — Melan- 
 choly accident at Soroza — Station of the English and French 
 men-of-war — Touching anecdote* of a Carlist 38 
 
\. 
 
 Xll 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 ' , CHAPTER III. 
 
 4. 
 
 March from Bilbao — Leave Portaga'.ette for Caatro — Romantic 
 character of the march described — Legion fired upon by ban- 
 ditti — Route from Caatro to Limpias — Plunder committed by 
 part of the Legion — Punishment by the Lieutenant-General, 
 and his remarks thereon — Mnrch to Villa Sante over LosTornos 
 
 • — Grandeur of the country — March to Medina del Pomar — 
 Country becomes less mountainous — Reach Otia — Its pass des- 
 cribed — Supper of the Staff at the rich monastery of Ofia — 
 Arrive at Brivieska — Remarks of the Author upon the nature 
 and conduct of the march 
 
 Page 
 
 56 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Arrival of Cordova ;,o meet the Lieutenant-General — Miserable 
 appearance of Brivieska — Wretchedness of the inhabitants con- 
 trasted with the fine appearance of the Biscayans and Guipis- 
 coans — Severe fall of snow and extreme cold in the middle of 
 November — Reported danger of the Lieutenant-General's bag- 
 gage — A description of the Cur^ Merino— Pursuit of him by a 
 Spanish detachment of cavalry — Visit to Burgos — Rude recep- 
 tion by the Governor — Visit the cathedral — Gorgeous beauty of 
 its sculpture — Return to Brivieska — Victory gained by Cordova 
 at Estella — Author's laments upon the mode of conduct of the 
 war — Priest shot at Burgos for holding correspondence with 
 the enemy — Mode of burial — Reported danger of the Lieut.- 
 General's baggage from attack by Merino refuted 94 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Dismissal ef officers from the Legion — March to Vitoria— Ordered 
 to San Domingo — Paul Carganada, ray French servant — Hia 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 xm 
 
 Page 
 
 bravery in a severe affair against Villa Real — Route from San 
 Domingo to Miranda, through the romantic pass of Pancorbo — 
 Paul's downfall — Council of Vitoria — Indifferent reception by 
 the inhabitants — Review of the Legion by Cordova — Ball given 
 by the authorities — Description of Cordova— Governor of Bur- 
 gos dismissed for his rude conduct — Cordova and the Lieut.- 
 General go to Burgos — Massacre of the Chapelgorris by Espar- 
 tero 
 
 119 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Flag of truce from the enemy — Christmas-day — A turkey anec- 
 dote — Repoit of the state of San Sebastian — Anecdotes of 
 Zumalacarregui— Arrival of Count Almadovar, the Minister at 
 War — Description of Vitoria — Promise of the Queen- Regent 
 to visit the Legion in summer — Advance of the Legion from 
 Vitoria — Spirited conduct of the Staff — Unhealthy state of 
 Vitoria — Arrival of the French Legion — Critical position of the 
 Carlists — Affair of Arlaban — Murder of Mr. Street, of the Com- 
 missariat — Increasing sickness at Vitoria — Burial of one of 
 Cordova's aids-de-camp — Forward movement of the combined 
 troops upon the castle of Guabarra— Fails to draw the enemy 
 into action — A Carlist colonel killed by the Queen's cavalry, 
 in revenge for the murder of Mr. Street — True position of the 
 British Legion in the affair of the 17th — Legion !eft unpro- 
 tected against the whole Carlist force on the heights of Zoazo — 
 General Evans's withdrawal of his forces across the Zadora, 
 where a final position is taken up — Anecdote 143 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A long hiatus in the Journal occasioned by Typhus — Ravages of 
 this disease among the troops — Inhumanity of the inhabitants 
 
XIV 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 .-.. . i 
 
 Page 
 
 of Vitoria — Billeting — The Emperor Jahangueiar'a laws there- 
 upon — Insufficiency of supplies to the sick by the Spanish ' 
 authorities — Changes in the Legion — Breaking up of the 2nd 
 and 5th regiments from excessive weakness of numbers — 
 Changes in the Staff— The Londonderry hoax — Remarks there- 
 upon — Sir John EUey's and Colonel Thompson's speech in the 
 House of Commons — Bitterness of the " Morning Herald " 
 against the Queen's cause — Its correspondent supposed to be a 
 hired agent of Don Carlos— The character of the " Isle O'Dogians " 
 vindicated — Return of General M'Dougall from Madrid — Ob- 
 ject of his mission . . . , 177 
 
 , CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Pitiable condition of the convalescents — Removal of head-quar- 
 ters to Aranjues — Distribution of the [Legion — Defeat of the 
 Carlists by Espartero's division at Orduna — His real force — 
 Particulars of Espartero's action — Gallant conduct of a Spanish 
 corporal — Its reward — Important discovery of traitors in Vi- 
 toria — Their trial and execution by the garrot in the Plaza — 
 Attempt of Villa Real to save them 198 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Departure from Vitoria — Curious mode of conveyance — Break 
 down of our vehicle between Miranda and Ona — Perform the 
 remainder of the journey on foot — Mr. Wilkinson's letter in 
 the " Morning Herald" — Brief comments thereoiv — Reach San- 
 cillo through the beautiful pass of Balma-de-ceda — Reception 
 by the padrona of the posada — Descent of a very high and 
 ragged mountain on three wheels — Reach the pretty village of 
 Ontenada — Meet my ex-servant, Paul Carganada, under very 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XV 
 
 SU8P.C.OU8 crcumstances-His great f«nilia,ity with . Spanish 
 CO onel-Reach Santander- Expedition to San Sebastian fully 
 
 s:n.i:i~ p""'' °' ** A"*°-I^isagreeable billeting a^ 
 Santander-Reception by Commodo« Henry on board the L 
 bella Secunda- Conduct of Lord John Hay-Arrival of the 
 Lieutenant-General in advance of the Legion ordered to the 
 coast-Author's remarks-Dinner given by the Lieut.-General 
 at Santander-Departure of the Author for San Sebastian- 
 Wattle of Ayetta 
 
 Page 
 
 214 
 
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 1 1 . '1 I » » .'I 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE MOVEMENTS OF THE 
 
 BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 M 1 1 > / .' 
 
 I ■■» 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ARRIVAL AT SAN SEBASTIAN DB8CRIPTI0N OP ITS OBANDEUR — 
 
 PUNISHMENT OF A SOLDIER FOB MUTINY — HARD DUTY OP 
 OFFICERS — DINNER GIVEN BY THE FIRST REGIMENT — BALL TO THE 
 
 INHABITANTS TRAITORS IN SAN SEBASTIAN— 'AFFAIR OP HER> 
 
 NANI — REMOVAL TO PORTAGALETTB — ATTACK ON LORD JOHN 
 hay's boats — INFAMOUS QUARTERS — AFFAIR OF PORTAOALBTTE — 
 MARCH TO BILBAO — AFFAIR OF THE PUBNTA NUBVO — CARLIST 
 PRISONER — POSITION OP THE ENEMY. 
 
 On the 23rd of July the right wing of the 
 second regiment of the British Auxiliary Legion 
 sailed from Portsmouth for San Sebastian, on 
 board the Royal Tar steamer. The passage, oc- 
 cupying four days, offered no other incident than 
 
 B 
 
MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 a severe squall, which occurred on Sunday, the 
 26th, carrying away what canvass we had set, and 
 otherwise greatly incommoding the men, 400 in 
 number, who were crowded upon her decks ; some 
 thunder and lightning accompanied a deluge of 
 rain, and as we had taken our powder on board 
 at Spithead, there was apprehension that injury 
 might arise from the quantity of iron-work neces- 
 sarily connected with the steam apparatus. The 
 storm however passed off, and on the following 
 morning, at day break, the bold head-la"ds of St. 
 Sebastian and its vicinity were dimly seen in tlie 
 distance. We entered the harbour about mid-day, 
 and as the steamer passed the strait, conducting 
 into the basin, we embraced one of the most mag- 
 nificent coup-d'oeils it is possible to conceive. 
 There was that in the scene altogether that filled 
 the heart with a wonderment, in which delight 
 and awe were singularly blended. On the right, 
 rises a bold and precipitous head-land, crowned 
 by a light-house, that looks like the habitation of 
 some genius of the air; on the left, the lofty 
 battlements of San Sebastian, which convey to the 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 » 
 
 mind of the beholder their utter unassailableness 
 by any thing short of British valour, headed by 
 British resolution. Forming the centre of the 
 arch, of which these points are the extremities, 
 are to be seen a succession of lofty hills, which in 
 England would be termed mountains, not rude 
 and desolate, and barren, as the rocky super- 
 stratum would lead one to believe, but clothed 
 with rich verdure and luxuriant crops, and studded 
 with an infinitude of antique looking houses, har- 
 monizing admirably with the romantic character 
 of the whole. On one of these, and distinctly 
 visible with the telescope, is the outpost of Don 
 Carlos' army. From this point the arrival of the 
 steamer must have been witnessed by the enemy, 
 whose inertness in not seeking to annoy us, (the 
 right shore being in their possession), is truly 
 unaccountable. Beyond this outpost, and in the 
 far distance, spring mountains, along whose side$i 
 roll immense volumes of clouds, that add not a 
 little to the grandeur and sublimity of the scene, 
 contrasting, as they do, with the white smooth sands 
 that stand out in light reUef on the luw foreground 
 
MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 'm 
 
 \i lii 
 
 of the picture. Why was it that I experienced 
 an emotion which I can find no words to render, 
 on approaching this truly glorious scene ? I have 
 been in various parts of the world, have beheld 
 nature clad alternately in smiles, and in frowns, 
 admired all that was soft and lovely — all that was 
 terrific and grand — ^in her several aspects, but 
 never, even in my early youth, did I experience 
 that swelling of the gratified heart which Ifeaves 
 the voice treipulous in its expression of the ad- 
 miration created in the soul. Never did I then, 
 as on this occasion, attempt to convey to others 
 the impression produced on my mind, and find 
 that language was insufficient for the purpose. 
 Why, I ask, was this ? Was it the touching pic- 
 ture of the dense masses of Spaniards, in their 
 various characteristic costumes, who rose in pyra- 
 midical array from its very base to the summit of 
 San Sebastian, waving their caps and giving every 
 other indication of joy, at receiving their new 
 brothers in arms *? Or was it the excitement pro- 
 duced by nature alone in the heart of one who 
 had ever been faithful in his worship of her beauty, 
 
 ■# 
 
 M 
 
 m 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 
 and prized her most when arrayed in the garb that 
 told at once of loveliness and grandeur ? — What- 
 ever it was, I felt as if I could have shed tears, 
 and yet been unable to say to those who questioned 
 me, wherefore ! 
 
 Early in the afternoon the boats were dispatched 
 from the mole for us, and our disembarkation was 
 effected, amid "vivas!" from the Spaniards, and 
 occasional discharges of guns from the highest 
 point of the battlements of San Sebastian. When 
 each boat left the steamer, three cheers were 
 given for the " Royal Tar," and on approaching 
 the mole, three more for the Spaniards. As each 
 company formed on the beach, it was marched off 
 to the barracks of St. Elmo, preceded by a Spanish 
 band. The balconies of the houses were thronged, 
 and over them peered many a dark aiid sparkling 
 eye, that marked any thing but disapprobation of 
 the arrival of the strangers. On the whole, our 
 reception wanted the brilliancy and fervor that 
 had marked the landing of the 1st regiment; but 
 this was to be expected. The nine days wonder 
 had ceased, and the inhabitants satisfied them- 
 
MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 selves with evincing all the kindUness of gratu- 
 lation, without incommoding themselves, or us, by 
 an exhibition of its boisterousness. . 5^,.,^, 
 
 ' The news communicated of the enemy on our 
 arrival, was of a nature to inspire disgust and 
 a desire tor vengeance in our minds. Lord John 
 Hay had come over from Bilbao in a steamer on 
 the preceding day, and reported that two marines 
 belonging to his ship had been taken by the 
 Carlists and shot. A man of the 1st regiment of 
 the Legion, who had wandered a little distance 
 from San Sebastian, had also fallen in with a 
 picquet of the enemy, and was captured ; his 
 fate can scarcely be said to be doubtful. 
 
 July 30th. — A district court martial sat to day 
 on a man, who, on open parade, swore he would 
 knock down any officer or private who should dare 
 to approach him, and otherwise used most mu- 
 tinous language. His sentence will be read to- 
 morrow before the brigade, which is ordered to 
 assemble to witness his punishment, when it is to 
 be hoped such example will be made as will pre 
 vent others from falling into tlie same course. 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 July 31st. This morning the sentence was car- 
 ried into eflfect, and corporal punishment inflicted 
 upon the prisoner in presence of the brigade. He 
 bore it unflinchingly, and at the close, when taken 
 down, cried out in the most mutinous and insolent 
 manner, " Hurra, boys, it's over now, and there's 
 no great harm in that, they've done their worst." 
 This language might and would have been passed 
 over, had not the prisoner flnished by throwing a 
 tin water-can, which had been given him by one 
 of the drummers, with great violence from him, 
 and in the most disorderly manner : certainly had 
 there existed any disposition to mutiny on the part 
 of the great body of the men, nothing could have 
 more tended to call it forth ; but the act brought 
 its merited punishment. By order of Colonel 
 Kirby, who commanded the parade, a drum-head 
 court-martial, consisting of one major and six cap- 
 tains, was instantly assembled in the centre of the 
 square. Then, indeed, was the prisoner com- 
 pletely crest-fallen. He had not anticipated this 
 power to try him so immediately after a first 
 punishment. He threw himself upon his knees. 
 
\ 
 
 8 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 and in the most piteous tones implored for mercy ; 
 declaring that he had acted under the influence of 
 madness — that excited by the punishment, he knew 
 not what he said or did. He promised that, if 
 forgiven, he would ever after prove a good sol- 
 dier ; but his appeal met with no reply. The court 
 proceeded with its deliberations, and when it had 
 closed, the sentence awarded was found to be one 
 hundred and fifty lashes, for the crime of mutinous 
 conduct on parade. A change came over the act- 
 ing of the artful prisoner ; he no longer pleaded 
 for mercy, but affected weakness and inability to 
 stand. He was raised from the earth, borne to 
 the tree where he had orijrinally been tied up, and 
 the drummer flourished his cat. Colonel Kirby 
 addressed the parade, pointed out the flagrant 
 crime of which the man had been guilty, expressed 
 his [determination to show them that mutiny and 
 insubordination should be put down, and concluded 
 by pardoning the offender. This was as it should 
 have been. It proved to the prisoner, and to the 
 men at large, that there was no personal feeling 
 against the individual, but a resolution to uphold 
 
 m 
 
 w 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 9 
 
 the discipline of British soldiers in a foreign land, 
 in the manner most befitting our high military 
 name. What General Evans will say to the 
 punishment, is not so clear, but from his known 
 hostility to flogging, it is doubtful whether he will 
 approve it. Certainly, this offender merited death 
 or the cat. ' - '-:p - 
 
 August 4th. — As officers, we have decidedly no 
 sinecures; perpetual drillings of the men, and 
 constant attendance at the barracks, in order to 
 the well-conduct of our charge. To-day the Lon- 
 don Merchant steamer arrived, and in her about 
 
 250 men of our left wing*. 
 
 The great nuisance of 
 
 these arrivals at different periods, is, that when 
 the fiist party have spent their bounty, and shown 
 symptoms of returning sobriety, the introduction 
 of fresh comers distracts the good order and ar- 
 rangement it has cost the officers so much time 
 and trouble to accomplish. These things, how- 
 ever, are unavoidable. On the whole, the 2nd 
 regiment has been better conducted than the 
 1st, and in my company, consisting of ninety-six 
 men, I know not one essentially bad subject, 
 
 c 
 
10 
 
 MOVEMENTS Of 
 
 Ufi 
 
 August 7th. — This evening there was a heavy 
 firing of musketry, distinct!} audible from our 
 drill-ground near the glacis of the town, which 
 continued for upwards of an hour. We expected 
 to hear of considerable loss, but were informed 
 that only two Carlists had been killed, and one 
 wounded, while the Chapelgorris, a sort of urban 
 militia, so designated from their red caps, had one 
 man wounded. From this it may be interred that 
 Spaniards love to keep themselves at a respect- 
 able distance from their enemies ; a circumstance 
 that speaks volumes for their character as a mili- 
 tary people. But iwus verrons. 
 
 August 9th. — This day we dined with the 
 1st regiment, at their barracks in the convent of 
 San Francisco, outside the town. It was a sight 
 to call up Tory spleen, more especially that of 
 those most honorable gentlemen who were pleased 
 to designate us, in the House of Commons, as a 
 set of " mercenary adventurers ; " quite forgetting 
 that having barred the door of promotion to us in 
 our own service, we were naturally eager to seek 
 it in some other. Had they been present, they 
 
 11 1 
 
 I 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 U 
 
 I heavy 
 om our 
 , which 
 Kpected 
 iformed 
 ind one 
 F urban 
 had one 
 •ed that 
 respect- 
 nstance 
 a mili- 
 
 ith the 
 ivent of 
 a sight 
 that of 
 )leased 
 Sf as a 
 getting 
 o us in 
 to seek 
 t, they 
 
 would have been compelled to admit that British 
 officers, even serving under a foreign power, which 
 appears to be their great crime, are still gentle- 
 men. No British mess ever sat down with greater 
 retenv^ or presented a better appearance. It is 
 true there were wanting many of the elegancies, 
 but there was abundance of the necessaries adapted 
 to such an occasion ; and, what was better, the 
 cheer that was given, came from men anxious to 
 rival us, not only in arms, but in all the more 
 gentlemanly courtesies of life. A Spanish band of 
 the regiment of Ovieda attended during dinner, 
 and played several overtures from the operas of 
 the day. After dinner, the cloth being removed, 
 (no — not removed, for it was left to conceal the 
 rudeness of the table) the health of the king was 
 given, and the walls of the refectory, which in days 
 of yore had doubtless oft responded to the joyous 
 revellings of saintly monks and nuns, were now 
 made to echo back the heartfelt cheers of fifty as 
 gallant hearts as ever beat under a soldier's cors- 
 let. In truth, a finer body of officers were never 
 assembled under the same roof, in the same number 
 
in 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 be that roof where it will — no, not under the 
 roof of a British mess-room. " God save the 
 King " was played by the band in good style, and 
 with much correctness ; after which was given by 
 the President (Colonel Kirby) the health of" the 
 Queen of Spain, our Royal Mistress ; " this toast 
 was drank with the same honor that had been 
 paid to our. own sovereign, and the band struck 
 up ** Riego's hymn." Other toasts succeeded, 
 which drew short but appropriate speeches from 
 Brigadier-General Chichester and the command- 
 ing officers, and at an early hour (we sat down at 
 three) we all retired to the promenade near the 
 convent. Flirting with the dark-eyed Seiioras 
 then commenced in due order. 
 
 August 21st. — A ball was given last night by the 
 officers of the 1st regiment to the inhabitants of 
 San Sebastian, in return for a dinner on their first 
 arrival. To this, of course, the officers of the 2nd 
 were invited. Such of them as could be spared 
 from the convent of San Francisco, (where we had 
 relieved the 1st) went. As unfortunate captain 
 of the day, it was my lot to remain behind, but 
 
 .-!>? 
 
TUV. BRITISH LEOIOX. 
 
 from the nccounts of all parties, I sustained no 
 great loss, except in the supper, which was excel- 
 lent, and the Champagne which, excellent also, 
 was distributed with an unsparing hand. It would 
 appear that the expectations of many were sadly 
 disappointed on a nearer view of, and approach to 
 the ladies of San Sebastian, who boast few of the 
 refinements of manner usually attributed to the 
 daughters of once chivalrous Spain. It is hardly 
 fair, however, to judge altogether from the speci- 
 men afforded by these, inasmuch as with the ex- 
 ception of some few families whom the civil war 
 has driven to take refuge within the walls of the 
 town, the society of the place is composed princi- 
 pally of shopkeepers. However, there was no- 
 thing to excuse the bad taste of the women, in 
 dressing like so many dowdies, (that is the word) 
 considering their vicinity to the land of the Gaul. 
 The mantilla alone constitutes the charm of their 
 dress ; without it they are nothing. 
 
 August 22nd. — No event of any moment has 
 occurred to interrupt the active preparations 
 we arc making in take the field. Drill — morn- 
 
14 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 ^il 
 
 
 ing and evening — until my unfortunate head 
 aches with hearing the same words over and 
 over rei)eated, and my legs are ready to sink 
 under me from positive fatigue. No drill ser- 
 geant in England has harder work than we poor 
 captains of rompanies, on whom every thing is 
 made to devolve ; for in truth, our non-commis- 
 sioned officers are any thing but effective, and 
 we can place but little dependance on them. 
 Three of our. men have deserted to the enemy, 
 induced by the temptation of five-and-twcnty 
 dollars a man, offered by a set of scoundrelly 
 spies, whom we are endeavoring to detect — 
 should we discover any of them, they will be 
 hanged, without even the form of a trial, from 
 the trees of the avenue conducting to our bar- 
 racks. One of the deserters was a Serjeant in 
 my own company, and a man so clean in his 
 habits, and correct in his deportment, that I 
 would as soon have suspected an officer as 
 himself. I find since, however, that it was known 
 among the men he had repeatedly deserted 
 from (ho British service, and had only left one 
 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 15 
 
 I'ejrimcnt two days before we enlisted him at 
 Portsmouth. Tims it is, as we seldom hear of a 
 man's merit until after his death, so nought was 
 said of my sergeant's demerit until after his flight. 
 The old proverb of "appearances" comes in aptly 
 enough here ; — I wish Don Carlos joy of the ac- 
 quisition of the traitor. His name is Prenderville. 
 August 30th. This morning was made the first 
 demonstration of hostilities since our arrival in 
 San Sebastian. The enemy had been sedulously 
 employed, during the last two days, in throwing 
 up breast works upon a lofty hill covering the vil- 
 lage of Hermani, and from this it was determined 
 by Generals Evans, Alava, and Tauregui (the 
 two former of whom had been some days arrived) 
 to dislodge them. Accordingly the Spanish 
 regiments of Fernandos and Africa together with 
 the Chapelgories led the way tbllowed by the 1st, 
 2nd, 3rd, and the right wing of the 7th regiments 
 of the British Legion. The Spaniards soon suc- 
 ceeded in driving the enemy from the hills, but 
 they retired in good order from their outpost to 
 their principal position, Santa Barbara, a height 
 
IG 
 
 MOVKMENTS OF 
 
 f 
 ■i 
 
 13 
 
 !.S' 
 
 f in* 
 
 ( : 
 
 ir^'*! 
 
 «j|'!l 
 
 crowned with bold cra«i;8, and affordinj^ every 
 obstacle to the pursuit of their enemies. The 
 intermediate ground, consisting* of an alternation 
 of corn fields and hedges, was disputed stcj) by 
 step ; a part of the 1st regiment only, with one 
 wing of the 7th of the British troops supported 
 the S})aniards, and were engaged for a consider- 
 able part of the day, and it was merely when 
 compelled, by the advance of evening, to abandon 
 the attempt to carry the height, tliat, hotly fol- 
 lowed by the Carlists in return, the 3rd and part 
 of the 2nd took share in the affair. We were 
 kept as a reserve, when, had we aided the 1st, 
 who gallantly attempted the height, in conjunction 
 with the Spaniar '>, we must in all probability 
 have accomplished the capture of the position. 
 
 But a reconnoissance only was intended in the 
 first instance, nor had any plan been fixed upon 
 beyond attempting the first height. Had General 
 £vans been permitted, he would have attacked, 
 and doubtlessly carried the town of Hernani ; but 
 the desire expressed by him on this subject was 
 overruled by General Alava, who peremptorily 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 
 forbade it. Add to this, that his object in com- 
 ing to San Sebastian, was merely to show and 
 accustom his men to the enemy, and for this 
 reason chiefly was the reconnoissance und^r- 
 laKen* • ., *' «" ^ .•<#-/<:■« s»i '•■ ■ -»> 
 
 As it was, the enemy, encouraged by our failure 
 in carrying Santa Barbara, made rapid movements 
 to attack us in the flank, and turn our rear. Tliey 
 pressed hotly upon us, and as there was reason to 
 fear they might attempt to get completely be- 
 tween us and San Sebastian, and possess them- 
 selves of our convent, the troops were ordered to 
 retire. This we did closely, and in good order. 
 The Spanish and English force engaged on the 
 occasion consisted of about 4,000 men, while that 
 of the Carlists, from intbrmation received, might 
 be computed at 7,000, under General Gomez. „, 
 
 They made u great display of force. The 
 firing lasted from twelve at noon until seven in 
 the evening. The regiments of Fernando and 
 Africa suffered considerably. Two officers of the 
 1st Mere slightly wounded; of the 2nd regiment 
 one man was killed, two wounded; the whole 
 
 D 
 
18 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 i><l 
 
 l!"»ti 
 
 ? '<Mt 
 
 English loss, was thirty-five killed and wounded ; 
 that of the Spaniards, eighty-seven killed and 
 wounded. - 
 
 In the early part of the action, the Carlists had 
 made seven or eight prisoners of the regiment of 
 Fernando, who, in sight of several officers of the 
 1st British, were taken to the rear, and delibe- 
 rately shot. The deaths of these nRen 'vere, how- 
 ever, feartully avenged. When a party of the 
 regiment found itself compelled to retire, they 
 had with them fourteen prisoners. The Carlists 
 were then in close pursuit, and the last round 
 of ammunition was in the muskets of the Fer- 
 nandos. In this emergency, fearing their prison- 
 ers might be re-captured, they consulted together 
 for a few moments, and then levelled at the hearts 
 of their victims ; — a simultaneous discharge, and 
 they felli — ^the bayonet completing what the bullet 
 had left unfinished. This was a sad but a just 
 retribution, for the early massacre by the enemy. 
 But neither the Fernandos nor the Chapelgorris 
 give or receive quarter. 
 
 August 31st. — This morning, while deposing 
 
 ;'?ll 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 19 
 
 from the fatigues of the preceding day, we were 
 summoned at an early hour from our beds by a 
 sudden order for the right wing of our regiment 
 to embark for Portagalette, on board the Spanish 
 vessels of war lying in the harbour. This move- 
 ment is said to be with a view to our subsequent 
 entry into Bilbao, closely besieged by the Carlists 
 who are in great force, and determined to take 
 the place if possible. I am now writing in the 
 cabin of the Guadiana, a Spanish man of war 
 brig. 
 
 September 1st. — We have just arrived too late 
 to participate in the defeat of the Carlists, who 
 made a brisk attack on Portagalette last evening, 
 but were hotly repulsed by the 6th Scotch and 
 7th Irish, already arrived before us. The latter 
 were near enough to use their bayonets, having 
 unexpectedly surprised the Carlists in a corn- 
 field, on a height overlooking the barracks we at 
 this moment occupy. A lad of the 7th, not 
 eighteen years of age, shot one Carlist, and 
 " pinned" another with his bayonet against a 
 stone wall. The same evening the Carlists sent 
 
20 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 'ill 
 
 Pllll: 
 
 ml. 
 
 fi'it,... 
 
 "^li* 
 
 down a challenge, to the effect that 1500 of their 
 men would meet an equal number of ours, neither 
 party receiving assistance while engaged. This 
 message was communicated to Colonel Tupper, 
 of the 6th (Scotch), who replied that he declined 
 meeting an enemy who fought skulkingly from 
 behind rocks, hedges, and all sorts of cover, in 
 the manner proposed ; but if the Carlist General 
 would bring down 1 ,000 of his men into the open 
 ground, adjoining his position, he would engage 
 to meet and beat them with his own regiment, 
 consisting of 600 only, no assistance to be ren- 
 dered to either party. Message, much to the 
 disappointment of Colonel Tupper and the gallant 
 6th, not accepted. j 
 
 September 5th. — Our position, for the last few 
 days, has certainly not been that of feather-bed 
 soldiers. We are quartered outside the walls of 
 the town, and, more than any other portion of the 
 troops, expose 1 to the attack;: of the enemy, who 
 are frequently to be seen crowning some hills 
 immediately in our rear. The consequence has 
 been, the necessity of beating to arms long before 
 
 ■'■«i 
 
 '%, 
 
 "It . 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 21 
 
 • their 
 leither 
 This 
 upper, 
 jclined 
 r from 
 ^er, in 
 reneral 
 e open 
 engage 
 riment, 
 3e ren- 
 to the 
 gallant 
 
 ist few 
 ler-bed 
 [alls of 
 of the 
 \ who 
 hills 
 ;e has 
 Ibeforc 
 
 day, after using every precaution against surprise 
 during the night. The Carlists, and the 6th 
 Scotch, who are also advanced, have had one or 
 two trifling skirmishes, but with little or no loss 
 on either side ; the former never venturing within 
 the utmost range of the musket. 
 
 An event of some interest and importance how- 
 ever occurred the day before yesterday, (the 3rd.) 
 Two boats belonging to the English squadron, 
 and sailing under English colors down the river 
 Narbionne, which conducts from Portagalette to 
 Bilbao, were fired\upon by a party of Carlists from 
 either shore, and within my own view. The boats 
 had been hailed, and desired not to pass, by the 
 officer commanding the Carlists ; one obeyed the 
 the order and went in, when the commander was 
 made prisoner. The other boat continued its 
 course, and the Carlists opened a running fusil- 
 lade, by which nine men out of twelve were killed 
 and wounded. Three of them were buried last 
 night, with the usual ceremonies. Lord John 
 Hay has despatched a vessel home, to announce 
 this second daring attack upo.i the British flag. 
 
SS!" 
 
 2S MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 and it now remains to be seen whether the insult 
 will be tamely submitted to. We are concen- 
 trating all our strength in this r^uarter, with a 
 view to drive the enemy from the position he has 
 taken up between this and Bilbao, and thereby 
 remove the blockade. We have here the 1st, 
 2nd, and 7th of Ihe Legion, from San Sebastian, 
 and the 6th and 9th from Santander, making in 
 all 3,000 British troops. A steamer is also at 
 this moment landing a regiment of Spaniards, 
 more of whom are expected. General Evans is 
 to be here either this evening or to-morrow, so 
 that by Tuesday we may expect to move forward, 
 (supported by four or five gun-boats), upon the 
 Carlists, who are represented at from 9,000 to 
 10,000 strong. There is no doubt we shall have 
 a severe struggle, but our men are animated by 
 I the best spirit, and eager to close with their 
 enemies ; the more especially, as they find great 
 difficulty in procuring what is wanted in Por- 
 tagalette : Indeed, any change must be for the 
 better. The officers of our right wing have fared 
 but indifferently, living almost wholly upon their 
 
 I!;;*!!!; 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 23 
 
 rations of bread, wine, and meat, (which by the 
 way, are not bad, of their several kinds), and 
 occupying rooms in which there is not a table or 
 chair to be seen. Another Captain of my regi- 
 ment is doubled up widi me, and our messing is 
 certainly not after the manner of London exqui- 
 sites — " Chacun pour soi-meme et le bon IHeu 
 pour nous tous," is the prevailing principle ; and 
 " short commons," it must be confessed, is a 
 terrible leveller of the conventional courtesies of 
 life. Could one of those Tories who thought 
 proper to be so severe upon us in the outset, take 
 a sly peep at this moment into our den, and see 
 my brother Captain and myself, and all unto us 
 appertaining, he certainly might, if gifted with a 
 talent for caricature, exercise it with ludicrous 
 effect. We look forward, however, to Bilbao, as 
 the terminating point of our present temporary 
 privations, and, as we have reason to believe, we 
 shall be received by the inhabitants with open 
 arms, it is as much the interest as it is the desire, 
 both of officers and men, to be brought into 
 earliest contact with the enemy that interposes 
 
24 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 iml >••" 
 
 s ■■■■ 
 
 "»..: 
 
 lljflj' 
 
 betwecM us and the goal we covet. If the fellows 
 will but stand, we shall readily enough manage 
 them ; hut their system of warfare is so dastardly 
 — so like that of the American Indians, (never 
 firing a shot but from cover,) that they are likely 
 to annoy us much, even though they may not 
 withstand our onward progress. There is a re- 
 port to-day that the Carlists have retreated six 
 leagues, leaving the passage to Bilbao once more 
 free; but this is scarcely to be credited, for 
 although they have seen a considerable body of 
 troops landed within the last few days, it can 
 scarcely be supposed, that with the men they can 
 bring into the field, they will not make some show, 
 at least, of resistance ; or, it may be, that they 
 will suffer us to pass on to Bilbao, and when they 
 know the greatest part of the force to have gone 
 thither, they will make a final and determined 
 attack upon Portagalette with the whole of their 
 army. Should they succeed in carrying it, Bilbao 
 will be placed precisely in the same position of 
 blockade in which it now stands, as there is no 
 seaward communication with it, save by Porta- 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 25 
 
 J, (never 
 ire likely 
 may not 
 is a re- 
 sated six 
 ice more 
 
 s, it can 
 
 they can 
 
 me show» 
 
 hat they 
 
 len they 
 
 ive gone 
 
 :ermined 
 
 of their 
 
 , Bilbao 
 
 ition of 
 
 re is no 
 
 r Porta- 
 
 i 
 
 tralette. Wc shall see how far my impression is 
 correct. Before another week some of us will 
 have slept with our forefathers. 
 
 September 6th. — After finishing what I had of 
 my journal, yesterday, I was aroused from the 
 rude couch on which I had thrown myself, by a 
 report of musketry close to our barracks, and from 
 a height completely and closely overhanging them. 
 On ascending the hill, I found our piquet were 
 being fired upon by a considerably party of Car- 
 lists, who had approached very near under cover 
 of the hedges, corn-fields, and vineyards. Two 
 companies of our right wing (the Grenadiers and 
 my own), advanced to repulse them, a duty in 
 M'hich we succeeded, driving them in succession 
 from two lofty hills,half a league distant, on which 
 the enemy attempted a rally. We were, however, 
 ordered to retire, and thus missed making many 
 prisoners. As >ve withdrew, the Carlists, accord- 
 ino* to their custom, followed us ; but finding that 
 we kept up a hot fire, maintained a respectful 
 distance. An officer of the Grenadiei's being 
 wounded, and several of the enemy advancing 
 
 E 
 
^ 
 
 26 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 
 i.:.'j 
 
 
 ■*!«!( 
 
 rapidly to secure him, we a^ain, in our turn, be- 
 came the pursuing party, when the Carlists, as 
 before, retired with all the expedition possible. 
 Evening put a close to the skirmish. It is re- 
 markable how excessively ill the Carlists fired. 
 Although our men leisurely traversed the fields 
 and vineyards, as they returned, and a continued 
 and heavy musketry was kept upon them, with 
 the exception of the officer of the Grenadiers, 
 only one map was wounded. The Carlists must 
 have lost several men, as we distinctly saw two 
 or three fall. We assumed that their object in 
 approaching thus nigh, was to fire upon the 
 Lieutenant-General, then landing from San Se- 
 bastian. '?'►;'=»*>•" 
 
 September 7th. — We have had full confirmation 
 of the report of yesterday, that the Carlists had 
 abandoned the siege of Bilbao, and retired some 
 leagues into the interior of the country. We cer- 
 tainly did not expect this, for they were said to 
 be in great strength, and fully resolved to accom- 
 plish the subjection of Bilbao. The height they 
 occupied above the town, and completely com- 
 
 %■ 
 
turn, be- 
 rlists, as 
 possible. 
 It is re- 
 sts fired, 
 the fields 
 ontinued 
 em, with 
 snadiers, 
 ists must 
 saw two 
 object in 
 pon the 
 San Se- 
 
 irmation 
 lists had 
 ed some 
 We cer- 
 said to 
 ) accom- 
 ght they 
 5ly com- 
 

'!i. 
 
 THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 27 
 
 manding the river, moreover oft'ered obstacles to 
 our advance, which it must have cost some hun- 
 dreds of men to surmount, had they manitained 
 their position. However, there is comfort in the 
 thought, thai althougli we shall not make our 
 entry into Bilbao quite as gloriously as we had 
 anticipated, we still shall get there, and that, after 
 the horrid hole in which we are quartered, without 
 chair or table, and in rooms that are flooded after 
 every rain, will indeed be a treat. The 1st and 
 6th are to march to-day. ' i > 
 
 September 9th. — ^This morning we received the 
 order to march to Bilbao, and had hoped to ac- 
 complish the distance in a short space of time ; 
 but greatly to our astonishment, on reaching the 
 ruins of the Puenta Lochana, which tlie Carlists 
 had blown up prior to their departure, found that 
 no preparation of any kind had been made for 
 our transport across tho water. After waiting for 
 upwards of an hour without any boats makino* 
 their appearance, or any steps being taken for our 
 removal, we at length pressed a peasant into our 
 service as a guide, with orders to conduct us to a 
 
 E 2 
 
\ 
 
 m 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 small bridge i\ cunsiderable distance hcyund, and 
 after a march of some twelve miles, over a moun- 
 tainous country, when it should not have been 
 more than eight, over a level road, we came to 
 the walls of Bilbao at a late hour in the evening. 
 The spirits of the men, who had withstood a good 
 deal of privation during the day, were not a little 
 depressed, for just as they expected to enter the 
 place, an order was given for us to retrace our 
 steps, and take post ip the convent of the Capu- 
 chins, close under the strong hold recently pos- 
 sessed by the Carlists. Here, however, there 
 was no asylum, and once more we were compelled 
 to come to the right about, and secure our night's 
 lodging under the piazza surrounding the church, 
 in the small village of Oliveaga. .^*.ii i 
 
 Here, without other food during the day than 
 what their scanty breakfast of chocolate and bis- 
 cuit had afforded, the men passed the night on the 
 sharp, rugged stones, and yet with as little mur- 
 muring as I ever recollect to have witnessed 
 among the most orderly British troops. Of a 
 verity these men are in every sense British, and 
 
I I 
 
 TIIK lUUTISII LEOION. 
 
 2!) 
 
 Iiad any one prejiulicod against the service, wit- 
 nessed their orderly and excellent conduct throu}>h- 
 out the day, he would have been surprised into 
 admiration of their behavior. We have proved 
 that the fellows will willini!,ly and readily fight, and 
 if they improve in their general discipline a little 
 more, they will be able to compete for the palm 
 of glory with any British troops in the service. 
 
 September 1 th. — Yesterday we were suddenly 
 ordered under arms to support an attack, said to 
 have been made en the 7th British, who had been 
 sent out on the road leading to Durango. Our 
 route lay through Bilbao, and as we passed, we 
 were joined severally by the 1st, 3rd, and 6th 
 regiments. As we advanced we met several 
 wounded Spaniards, some v/alking, others borne 
 upon mules, but none of the 7th, who, it turned 
 out, had never been engaged at all, or even seen 
 the enemy. The truth was, that General Espeleta 
 had quitted Bilbao early in the morning, for the 
 purpose of reaching Durango, with the force of 
 Spaniards previously brought up to tlic relief of 
 Bilbao; but so wretched was their intelligence, 
 
'M) 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 SO little knew they of the movements or position 
 of the enemy, that it was not until having t.d- 
 vanced some six miles from the town, that, yud- 
 denly attacked by the Carlists, they found what 
 they seemed not to have anticipated, the whole 
 force of the latter upon them. Pressed in front, 
 and in flank, Espeleta gave the order to retire 
 slowly back upon Bilbao, by echellon of bat- 
 talions, but the officer entrusted with this message 
 to the several commanders, mistook its purport 
 altogether, and issued a general order to retreat. 
 The result was, as in all occasions of the same 
 kind, some panic, and more confiision, ensued, 
 giving the retreat more the character of flight. 
 It was at this crisis that the British regiments were 
 marched out, the 7th having considerably taken 
 the advance; but scarcely had we passed the 
 Puenta Nuevo, beyond Bilbao on the road to 
 Durango, when a countermarch of the reserve 
 was ordered, and we returned to Bilbao, our regi- 
 ment marching back to their barracks at the 
 church of the Capuchins, to eat their dinners, 
 which were then cooking. " ' ' 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 31 
 
 Meanwhile the firing drew nearer to the town, 
 and as we moved to our barracks, I could dis- 
 tinctly see, with the aid of my telescope, both 
 parties hotly engaged on the heights overlooking 
 the town. That part of the Queen's army which 
 retired by the main road were so closely pursued 
 by the Carlists, that on arriving at the bridge, to 
 which I have alluded, many threw themselves into 
 the river, and nearly 200 perished in that manner. 
 It was at this point that the troops of the Queen 
 sought to rally, and recover from the confusion 
 into which the unfortunate order for general and 
 indiscriminate retreat had thrown them. More 
 than once the bridge was taken and retaken, while 
 Esparteia, who had come to the scene, full of shame 
 and indignation at the conduct of his men, was 
 seen to tear his hair, and court the loss of a lite 
 no longer valuable to him. In fact, on being re- 
 monstrated with on the danger to which he un- 
 necessarily exposed himself, he replied, " that he 
 courted danger, and did not wish to survive the 
 day." But though the bullets of the enemy spared 
 him not, (he having received two wounds,) his 
 
\ 
 
 ;v2 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 wish was not realized. Driven acrain, and finally, 
 from the bridge, the Queen's troops once more 
 pursued their retreat, and the Carlists pressed 
 fiercely upon them. At this juncture, the 3rd 
 regiment of the Legion, which had been ordered 
 out to cover the retreat of the Spaniards, came 
 up, and proceeded to carry the bridge. 'From the 
 narrowness of the pass, however, this duty de- 
 volved upon one company alone (the Light), and 
 these acquitted themselves so well, that the enemy 
 were speedily driven back, and kept in check 
 until some degree of order had been restored in 
 the broken ranks of Espeleta's army. It was with 
 difficulty the men of the 3rd could be restrained 
 from following into the heart of the Carlists' 
 battalion, for the bayonet had been used, and the 
 blood of the Englishman w-is up to an extent to 
 render it difficult of control. The officers of the 
 light company conducted themselves so well on 
 this occasion, leading on and animating their men, 
 tliat General Evans paid them the compliment of 
 noticing them in orders. Major King, of the 3rd, 
 a gallant tine young officer, who had received a 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 33 
 
 wound in his left arm at Hcrnani, near San 
 Sebastian, on the 30th, was hit, in this affair, in 
 the Uttle fing-er of his right hand. Of the men, 
 two only were killed, and eight wounded. The 
 loss of the Spaniards throughout the day was 
 considerable. Independently of the 200 drowned 
 in the attempt to cross the river, two companies 
 were completely cut off, and 270 went into hospi- 
 tal, many severely wounded. The number of 
 killed is not precisely known, but the whole loss 
 may be computed at not less than 500 men hors 
 de combat. 
 
 September 18th. — ACarlist prisoner was brought 
 in this morning wounded, and being c<mfined in 
 the guard-house of one of the Spanish regiments, 
 contiguous to our barracks at Bilbao, into which 
 we have recently moved, I took the opportunity 
 to visit him. Several officers entered with me, 
 passed by the commander of the Spanish guard. 
 On seeing us, the prisoner, who was lying on the 
 ground, leaning his head upon his hand, probably 
 pondering on the fate that awaited him, suddenly 
 rose to bis i'vci, l)otb with the air of a man taken 
 
) • 
 
 M 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 by surprise, aiul of one who seems conscious (hat he 
 stands in the presence of those from whom he has 
 Httle favor to expect. His tout ensemble certainly 
 l)ore every characteristic of the o'uerilla brigand. 
 His countenance was fierce, liis brow lowering, his 
 visage excessively dark, his hair l)lack and matted, 
 and his beard for the last day or two, unshaven, 
 — a picture that was not at ail improved by an 
 incrustation of blood of the true Moorish dye 
 upon the right forehead, where he had received 
 the wound, which had trickled upon his face. 
 His dress was a coarse, Irish-blackguard-snufF 
 colored frock coat, with a red collar, and 
 his nether garments told of the muddy passes 
 of the mountains in which he had been in the 
 habit of dwelling : on the whole, the man was 
 of such unprepossessing appearance, that one 
 would not willingly have made his acquaint- 
 ance on a dark night, and in an exposed situ- 
 ation. 
 
 We questioned him as to the force in the 
 neighborhood, and he at once said 15 battalions 
 and 9,000 men. On asking if thero were any 
 
THE BRITISH LKGION. 
 
 :^5 
 
 Eii«»;lish soldiers prisoners with the enemy, he ad- 
 mitted there were six musicos, (tluit numl)er of 
 Ihe band had l)een cut oW while strag'g'ling on the 
 n:arch from Portagalette), none of whom liad 
 been touched. An officer of ours then said to 
 him, " if you were to take us prisoners, of 
 course, we should be shot immediately." This 
 inference however, he had address enough to 
 disclaim with much warmth, meaning to imply 
 that no such fate awaited us. In this he certainly 
 showed tact. 
 
 September 13th. — Late last night the several 
 regiments of the Legion received an order to be 
 under arms this morning at four o'clock. It rained 
 incessantly, and though it was pitch-dark at that 
 hour, the men turned out with an alacrity that 
 rellected the highest credit upon them ; but there 
 was no movement. It had been intended that we 
 should support the Spanish army, in a second at- 
 tem})t to drive back the enemy and make their 
 way to Durango ; but intelligence arrived at an 
 hour later than that at which the order liad been 
 issued, that Don Carlos himself had come up with 
 
36 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 seven more battalions, making his force to consist 
 of somewhere about 16,000 men. This increase 
 of strength seems to have altered the plan of 
 operations on our side — what will now be done 
 remains to be seen. It cannot be too much regretted 
 that the Queen's generals had not better informa- 
 tion as to the position of the enemy before quit- 
 ting Bilbao on the 11th. Had any suspicion of 
 their proximity been entertained, doubtless we 
 should have marched also ; and had the move- 
 ment been crowned with that success we had a 
 right to anticipate, the defeat of the Carlist 
 army, as then composed, would have rendered 
 its subsequent junction with that of Don Carlos 
 a matter of secondary importance. As it is, 
 flushed with partial triumph, and encouraged 
 by a considerable accession of strength, there 
 is no knowing what may be the result. The 
 whole of the enemy's army are within four miles 
 of Bilbao. I wish our remaining regiments, viz., 
 the 4th, 5th, 8th, and 10th, were even partially 
 organized, and with us. At present, we are 
 not more than 3,000 men, yet with these, if 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 m 
 
 properly supported, we mljit do much. England, 
 and England's Tories in particular, have their 
 eyes upon us at this crisis, and we must do our 
 duty—not to the Tories, but to ourselves. 
 
V 
 
 CHAITEU II. 
 
 WrniDHAWAL OF THE CAULIST FOIlCEd DlLIlAON MANNEllS AMt 
 
 AMUSEMENTS — REMOVAL OF MY UEGIMENT TO SAINT MAMIES — 
 HEMAUKS OF THE AUTHOR ON THE UECLINE OF MONASTERIES — 
 
 OETACHEU TO SOHOZA — WRETCIIEUNESS OF QUARTERS RETURN 
 
 TO SAINT MAMES MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT AT SOROZA STATION 
 
 OF THE ENGLISH AND FRENCH MEN-OF-WAR — TOUCHING ANEC- 
 DOTE OF A CARLIST. 
 
 September 20th. — The Carlists, it is now ascer- 
 tained, have completely abandoned the neig'hbor- 
 hood ; but whitlier, no one seems to know. Tliis 
 is to be regretted ; for if we go forth in pursuit 
 of them, the undertaking may be a hopeless one, 
 and it is essential to our credit as soldiers, that 
 we should have one fair fight at least. Now the 
 saints only know when we shall have a chance of 
 the sort. In the meanwhile we amuse ourselves 
 as we may, in Rillnio, (hning Uiose moments (and 
 
THR BRITISH l-F.filON. 
 
 diu 
 
 lliey are few cnou«>;]i, Heaven knows) which we 
 can spare from our professional duties. Tlie 
 hospitality of the people, however, can in no way 
 admit of comparison with that shown to us hy the 
 inhahitants of San Sebastian. In the latter place, 
 each family in which the officers were billeted 
 did every thing in their power to evince their 
 khidliness of feeling, and though, in nr>i a few 
 instances, such testimony proceeded from that 
 class of persons in whom the refinements of life 
 could scarcely be looked for, still the sentiment 
 was profoundly ingrafted. In Bilbao it has been 
 different. What families have been compelled 
 to accord, they have accorded, but nothing more. 
 There have been exceptions to the general re- 
 mark, of course, but not many. The indifference 
 of the Bilbao people may, however, be attributed, 
 in a great degree, to the length of the siege they 
 have sustained, (nearly two years at intervals,) 
 during which privation, and anxiety, and long 
 disappointed hope, may have conduced to merge 
 their more generous impulses in an impure and 
 selfish regard for their own interests alone. 
 
 
40 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 September 22ncl. — In the absence of matter of 
 military interest, it may not be malapropos to 
 introduce a few observations as to Spanish life, 
 such as it has hitherto been unveiled to us. The 
 town of Bilbao itself is essentially mercantile, and 
 the inhabitants, with the exception of the autho- 
 rities and families of the military leaders, wholly 
 of that caste of society. Tertullias, or evening 
 meetings, at their respective houses, during which 
 dancing is occasionally introduced, seem to con- 
 stitute their chief amusement. There is also a 
 rather decent theatre, which appears of recent 
 construction, and is commodiously situated at the 
 extremity of the well-shaded public promenade of 
 the Arenal — the quartier par excellence of Bilbao. 
 At this theatre, (which is about equal in size with 
 the Surrey, and neatly fitted up, the Governor's 
 box, surmounted with the arms of Spain, being 
 placed in the centre, and immediately fronting 
 the stage,) operas are given once, sometimes 
 twice, a week. Of the merit of these I do not 
 feel myself competent to speak, but the acting of 
 the performers may, on the whole, be pronounced 
 
1. 1 
 
 THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 41 
 
 tolerably fair for a provincial town in the north of 
 Spain. The best proof of this is the favorable 
 manner in which the opera is generally received, 
 and the crowded state of the house. Their 
 comedies, however, are poor and spiritless pieces 
 of composition ; too much dialogue, and little or 
 no action, — that little without point. But I beg 
 pardon, I must except one instance at least, in 
 which point enough, and of no common character, 
 was exhibited, a night or two ago. The first 
 piece, as far as it was suffered to proceed, seemed 
 to have no other aim than the development of 
 the felicitously imagined point, at the conclusion 
 of which, it was, much to the surprise of the au- 
 thor, suddenly arrested in progress. The pith 
 of the story was this : — A young lady, desirous 
 of punishing a pert Lothario, calls upon him 
 and requests the loan of his clothes, in order 
 to disguise her for some particular object. The 
 gentleman very politely consents, and after his 
 visitor has inducted herself in his hat, coat, and 
 waistcoat, unceremoniously proceeds to remove 
 that part of his dress, the very name of which, in 
 
 G 
 
4$ 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 En<Tlan(], frives so much shame to " Ladies ears 
 polite," In this plight he is surprised by several 
 friends of the lady, hidden for the purpose. A 
 shout of applause followed this unequivocal action 
 from the Spanish canaille, but in justice to the 
 better portion of the audience, it must be admitted 
 that these latter manifested their disapproval of 
 the wretched taste of such an introduction, in a 
 manner so marked, that the piece was, after one 
 or two ineffectual a<:empts to proceed, wholly 
 withdrawn. What followed was quite as repug- 
 nant, and infinitely more absurd. It was a sort of 
 ballet, the figurans and figurantes in which were 
 inmates of a mad-house, whose deplorable eccen- 
 tricities were sought to be illustrated by a 
 variety of the most grotesque and revolting move- 
 ments, the only tendency of which could be to 
 convey a sense of deep pain and humiliation to 
 the mind of the spectator. The same proper 
 feeling which had prompted the suppression of 
 the former gross piece, came once more to the 
 rescue of the reputation for good taste, of the 
 better portion of the audience, and the mon- 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 43 
 
 strosity was curtailed of its hideous proportion by 
 the loud hissing which stifled it in its birth, and 
 amid which the curtain fell upon it for ever. I 
 never quitted a theatre more disgusted, or dis- 
 satisfied with myself for liaving visited it; so 
 much had this caricature of human infirmity, 
 in its most degraded state, pained and ofliended 
 me. 
 
 September 24th. — Nothing yet contemplated, 
 as to change of position. The Gi ".eral is, no 
 doubt, wisely resolved not to attempt a movement 
 until his force shall be of a number, and of an 
 efficiency, to leave no question of success, when- 
 ever he may deem it prudent to advance upon 
 the route leading to Vitoria, which all concur in 
 believing to be our ultimate destination for the 
 winter. Heaven knows there is little enough of 
 attraction in Bilbao, to induce a desire of con- 
 tinuance within its walls, even putting aside the 
 anxiety one, as a soldier, must entertain, to enter 
 upon the more active duties in which we have all 
 embarked. Previously to our arrival here, we 
 had been taught to look upon it as a sort of 
 

 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 " promised land ;" but we have been vofully dis- 
 appointed. There is, literally speaking, no so- 
 ciety in the place. The men, who are indolent to 
 a proverb, spend their nights and days ( .:ise 
 hours only which are devoted to meals excepted) 
 in the caf(6s, where smoking, chattering, (that is 
 the word) cards, billiards, and dominos, foi'-m their 
 invariable and eternal pastime. As for tlie 
 women, their only care, after marriage, seems to 
 be to " suckle fools and chronicle sour wine" — ^the 
 former, in so open a manner, as to inspire the 
 most profound disgust in an Englishman. I have 
 seen the wife of a principal inhabitant of Bilbao 
 repeatedly send for her squalling brat, and, with- 
 out apology or the slightest concern, expose her 
 breast, without moving from the table, and give the 
 young savage its food. I certainly had already 
 been a little initiated into the " domestic manners 
 of the Biscayans," or I could not have stood this 
 familiar exhibition, without some demonstration 
 of the feeling it excited. But a three mor.ths 
 acqiipintance with Spanish domestic habits, uhich 
 would compel the most fastidious man alive to 
 
TH^ BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 45 
 
 sink many of his nicer feelings in a prudent de- 
 sire to make the best of circumstances, enabled 
 me to endure such infliction, until, in the end, 
 it became matter of course. 
 
 Mrs. Trollope, in her account of America, (by 
 the bye she is much wanted lu Spain) inveighs 
 loudly aud justly against the practice of spitting 
 among the men ; — what would she say were she 
 here, where crachades (to use a significant French 
 word) come not less frequently from the chests of 
 the women, than from those of the men. It is 
 no unusual thing, while passing through tlie 
 streets, mayhap in fiill dress uniform, to find 
 one's chako, or coat, defiled by a descending 
 crachade, and then, on looking up with a curse 
 on the lip and anger in the eye, to discover in the 
 offender some pretty woman (whom we should 
 as soon have suspected of murder, had we not 
 known the habits of her country) glancing down 
 upon us from her balcon, with all the mdifference 
 arising from an unconsciousness of having done 
 any thing in the slightest degree unusual or 
 wrong — a chaque 'pajja ses habitudes. Thank God 
 
m 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 this is not one of ours — Oh, England ! what do 
 thy daughters not gain in the estimation of thy 
 sons, when cliance or inclination, or a desire of 
 change, induces the latter to roam in search of 
 the novelties of other climes. The dark and 
 brightly beaming eye — the long and luxuriant 
 hair — and the voluptuous form, may be tbund, 
 it is true ; but where that which gives transendent 
 lustre to the whole, and without which those 
 attributes are nought ! Delicacy, — fair word, 
 exclusively English in thine origin, however thou 
 may 'si have been adopted in term by the stranger 
 — thou art, indeed, that sublime characteristic, 
 which elevates the Englishwoman so much above 
 the sex of other lands, as to give to the homai^ 
 we yield her, almost the character of deiftea- 
 tion ! 
 
 September 25th. — -This day we march to St. 
 Mames's convent, distant about a mile ai^'^^ a half 
 from Bilbao, and the same from which the Car- 
 lists made their first attack apoft the English 
 flag. The 1st regiment, unde • Colonel Kirby, 
 have occupied it since the arriva. of the Legion 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 47 
 
 here, and, after three weeks service, they are 
 to be relieved by us, who have always had the 
 good luck to be sent upon out-post duty; — no 
 matter, any change from Bilbao is not to be 
 regretted. 
 
 September 30th. — " The devil is not so black 
 as he is painted." There are worse plar'es than 
 St. Mames, notwithstanding all the evil report 
 conveyed to us of it by the officers of the 1st. 
 It is true we have no furniture in our rooms 
 beyond a rude table and chair, (:. some not even 
 these) but we have, at least, the advantage i»f 
 being united ; which, in Bilbao, and dispersed as 
 we were in billets, was utterly out of the ques- 
 tion. Few things tend more to the subversion 
 of military disciphne, than the separation of 
 men and officers in quarters, and this, in a 
 newly raised corps, — where it is necessary that all 
 that has been acquired, should be well retained — 
 ought especially to he avoided. St. Mames 
 has been well fortified. The windows have been 
 walled up, leaving intestices only for musketry, 
 and the whole of the building is defended, in its 
 
49 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 most accessible points, by a strong wall with 
 loop-holes. Being an exposed quarter, we draw 
 in our piquets and sentries at night ; but to any 
 three Carlist battalions, who may venture to 
 disturb us in our den, we may safely shew our 
 teeth. 
 
 While on the subject of convents, one cannot 
 fail to be struck by the extraordinary change which 
 seems to have been effected on the minds of Spa- 
 niards in the north, in all matters appertaining to 
 religion. It is true that the principal churches 
 are held sacred, and the rules of their religion 
 celebrated in them with all the " pomp and cir- 
 cumstance" of the olden time; but even these are 
 attended only by the aged part of the community, 
 on whom the liberal spirit of freedom has failed 
 to take effectual hold ; and by whom the disfran- 
 chisement from monastic tyranny seems to be 
 looked upon less as a blessing than a curse. In 
 nine instances out of ten, however, it will be found 
 that the desecration of the churches becomes a 
 matter of inferior moment, when the urgency of 
 the hour demands it. A vast number have every 
 
THE nniTISH LEGION. 
 
 49 
 
 where, tliroughoiit the revolted provinces, been 
 converted into barracks for the troops, while the 
 numerous convents, with scarcely a single excep- 
 tion, have been turned into fortifications, for 
 which, with trifling aid from the engineer, they 
 are most peculiarly adapted. But were these evi- 
 dences insufficient to testily the indifference of the 
 public on all matters of the sort, a more positive 
 proof might be had in the comparatively utter ab- 
 sence of the monks themselves, most of whom dis- 
 liked, and hated, and feared, have been compelled 
 to flee and link their fates with that of Don Carlos. 
 By the way it appears that this latter has just 
 done the Virgin Mary the honor to appoint her 
 generallissimo of his army ; no doubt the better 
 to accomplish the defeat of the British Auxiliary 
 heretics ! If following, in some degree, the ex- 
 ample of his brother, of blessed memory, he 
 condescends to make a pair of boots for her, I 
 would recommend that the workit? unship be 
 strong, for if she is to head his army through 
 these mountain-passes, she will find it severe 
 work for the feet 1 can promise her ! 
 
50 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 Sorozo, October, 3rd. — No rest for the wicked. 
 Yesterday, after a long and fatiguing march upon 
 the hills, an order arrived to send two companies 
 of ours down to this outpost to support the rifles, 
 recently arrived. This is being detached from 
 the detached with a vengeance ; and that too, just 
 at the moment when we were beginning to make 
 ourselves as comfortable as circumstances would 
 admit at St. Mames's. The furniture of my room, 
 which is cold and bleak as a barn, is not likely to 
 incommode me much. Chairs none ; tables none ; 
 bedsteads none; but plenty of room, thank the 
 stars, to swing the cat witli which I had the fore- 
 sight to provide myself before leaving San 
 Sebastian On the whole, I am better off than 
 my brother Captain, whose only window has two 
 panes of glass broken in it, while mine are 
 fortunately sound. How we are to mess heaven 
 knows. To day we may have some chance for a 
 meal, as we dine with the commanding officer of 
 the rifles, the Baron de Rottenburg, under whose 
 father I served in Canada, during the late war, 
 when he nmst have been quite a child. Such is 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 51 
 
 the lottery of life ; the Baron is a Lieutenant- 
 Colonel, and I a humble Captain. Not, be it 
 understood, that this is said with a shadow of 
 invidiousness, for Colonel de Rottenburg's repu- 
 tation as an excellent officer, and an excellent 
 tellow as well, had already preceded him here. 
 
 St. Mames's, October 15th. — Once more are we 
 here, after an absence of a fortnight, during which 
 we have had marchings and counter-marchings 
 upon the hills without end, yet unfortunately 
 without once encountering a Carlist. There is 
 something very dispiriting and discouraging in 
 going out day after day in the expectation of an 
 affair, and yet as often returning to our respective 
 barracks without even getting sight of an enemy. 
 The men feel the disappointment much ; for, 
 wanting the excitement of action to sustain them, 
 they are necessarily more sensible of fatigue. 
 There is one comfort ; — it cannot always be 
 thus. 
 
 October 18th. — A melancholy circumstance 
 occurred last night at Soroza, the barracks I have 
 so recently quitted. An officer of the Rifles 
 
52 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 rcturninjj; home from Bilbao by the road whicli 
 runs parallel with the river, got into the ferry- 
 boat with his servant, by whom he was accompa- 
 nied, and, while in the act of sculling her across, 
 lost his balance, and fell overboard. It would 
 appear that he made no struggle, uttered no cry 
 for assistance, nor indeed was he seen again to 
 rise to the surface. The alarm was instantly 
 given by his terrified servant, and presently the 
 shore was crowded with officers and soldiers, 
 bearing torches, and hastening to the rescue of 
 their unfortunate comrade. But although the men 
 plunged and dived in every direction, exhibiting 
 the most eager anxiety to possess themselves of 
 tlie body, their exertions proved unavailing, and 
 after a long and fruitless search, they were com- 
 pelled to abandon it as hopeless. This morning 
 the corpse was discovered ; it was that of a young 
 officer, (Robinson by name,) who had already 
 rendered himself a great favorite with the regi- 
 ment, and was held in high esteem by his colonel. 
 He is said to be the son of an old officer in the 
 British service, and one of a hirge I'amily. How 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 53 
 
 deep will be their grief, less at the matter, than 
 the manner of his death. To have lost him in 
 the field of action, fighting gallantly in defence of 
 the cause he had embraced, would have brought 
 with it its proud solace — the consciousness that 
 he had fallen in the path of glory ; but cut ofl' 
 thus prematurely, and before the opportunity of 
 distinguishing himself had arrived, the bitterness 
 of disappointed hope will be upon their hearts ; 
 and time alone can be expected to remove the 
 blight. ■■■) 
 
 Oliveaga, October 20th. — Tliis village being 
 nearly opposite to St. Mames, I have taken lodg- 
 ings here for the present, although Heaven knows 
 how long we shall remain. Oliveaga is a pretty 
 village, situate on the banks of the river Marbi- 
 onne, which all the way from Portagalette, a dis- 
 tance of two Spanish leagues, commands the most 
 lovely views. Its course is sinuous, narrow, but 
 deep, affording navigation, to Bilbao, of ships of 
 considerable dimensions. The Saracen, English 
 man-of-war-brig, is lying at anchor opposite my 
 lodging ; and astern of her, a French man-ot-war. 
 
 fe' 
 
54 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 schooner. The rake and trim of this latter is 
 exceedingly good ; she looks formed for sailing. 
 One would almost imagine her the Yankee vessel 
 that sailed so fast, as to cut a whale in two in her 
 course ! The officers are on the most friendly 
 terms witli ours. 
 
 The patrona of my lodging recounted some 
 interesting anecdotes of the siege of Bilhao, all 
 corroborative of the utter destitution of the 
 Carlists, and the horrors of a civil war. Among 
 others, the following : — During the time the 
 enemy were in possession of Oliveaga, they suf- 
 fered the country people to go into Bilbao with 
 articles of provision for the inhabitants ; the Bil- 
 baoans, on the other hand, admitting of merchan- 
 dize, &c., being taken out, (a curious mode of 
 warfare) to the Carlists. These reciprocal ex- 
 changes took place at an early hour in the morn- 
 ing, before hostilities were renewed. It happened 
 there were two cousins, very fond of each other, 
 but enlisted on opposite sides. The Christino, 
 knowing his relation to be near, and being anxious 
 to see him, availed himself of this permission, and 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 55 
 
 went out one morning to a preconcerted inter- 
 viev/. On approaching each other, they mutually 
 put aside their arms, and the CarHst asked the 
 Christino if he would embrace him. This was 
 not denied, and while the Christino enfolded him 
 in his arms, he perceived that his cousin trembled 
 much. He inquired the cause, when the other, 
 bursting into tears, replied, " that he was very 
 unhappy, being in a state of utter destitution, 
 without shirt, or shoes, as might be perceived. 
 He then solicited a few sous and some cigars; 
 upon which the Christino remonstrated with him 
 on the impolicy of his conduct, in serving the 
 rebels, offering at the same time to take him back 
 with him into Bilbao, where he would be well 
 received, and comfortably treated. But the 
 Carlist rejected every overture of the kind, say- 
 ing, that he had pledged his allegiance to Don 
 Carlos, and suffer what he might, he would not 
 desert his cause. This was a fine trait in the 
 character of the youth : — neither of the cousins 
 were more than sixteen years of age. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 MARCH PROM BILBAO — LEAVE PORTAGALETTE FOR CASTRO — RO- 
 MANTIC CHARACTER OF THE MARCH DESCRIBED LEGION FIRED 
 
 UPON BY BANDITTI ROUTE FROM CASTRO TO LIMPIAS — PLUNDER 
 
 COMMITTED BY PART OP THE LEGION — PUNISHMENT BY THE 
 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL, AND HIS REMARKS THEREON — MARCH 
 TO VILLA 8ANTE OVER LOS T0RN08 — GRANDEUR OF THE COUN- 
 TRY — MARCH TO MEDINA DEL POMAR — COUNTRY BECOMES LESS 
 
 MOUNTAINOUS — REACH ONA ITS PASS DESCRIBED SUPPER OF 
 
 THE STAFF AT THE RICH MONASTERY OF ONA — ARRIVE AT 
 BRIVIESKA — REMARKS OP THE AUTHOR UPON THE NATURE AND 
 CONDUCT OF THE MARCH. 
 
 Portagalette, October 30th. — After many days 
 devoted to long marches on the neighboring 
 hills, the better to inure the men to the important 
 one they were intended definitively to make, the 
 Legion this day commenced its route for Vitoria, 
 by a road, the selection of which, for the reasons 
 which follow, will, more than any thing else, 
 refute the charges, of indiscretion and undue 
 
THE imiTISlI LEOION. 
 
 57 
 
 exposure of his force, so impertinently brought 
 against Lieutenant-Gene ral Evans, by the enemies 
 of the Spanish expedition at home. 
 
 Accurate information having been received at 
 head quarters, that the Cariists had thrown four- 
 teen battaUons into position, with a view to 
 dispute our advance upon Vitoria, tlie original 
 intention of moving by the main road was 
 abandoned, and the narrow and difficult passes 
 bordering on the sea adopted for route as far as 
 Castro , at which point it is purposed to turn off 
 into the main road, and thus leaving the enemy 
 on our left, to defeat the object he has in view — 
 that of preventing our junction with the army of 
 Cordova. 
 
 Preceded by several battalions of Spaniards, 
 among whom we were glad to perceive the gallant 
 regiment of Fe.nando, and the Africans, as well 
 as our old friends the Chapelgorris of San 
 Sebastian, the whole of the eleven regiments of 
 the Legion (including the Rifles) this morning 
 quitted Bilbao, favored by as brilliant a sun, and 
 as beautiful weather, as ever marked the autumn 
 
 I 
 
58 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 of a more southern clime, it was truly a pic- 
 turesque sig'ht to behold the long* line of tro(;ps, 
 English and Spanish, as they wound, accom- 
 panied by a host of baggage mules and horses, 
 along the banks of the river from Bilbao to 
 Soroza, at which point the route took a direction 
 more into the interior, until we finally reached 
 this place, where we are bivouacked for the 
 niffht. 
 
 Castro, November 1st. — Yesterday we moved 
 through a country remarkable only for its wild- 
 ness of aspect, and the rugged nature of its 
 passes. But that part of the road — romantic and 
 picturesque throughout — which principally at- 
 tracted, from a boldness approaching to savage- 
 ness, rose upon the view towards twilight, when, 
 having completed the dull and difficult ascent of 
 a stupendous ridge of rock, each brigade found 
 itself, in succession, suddenly threading a pass 
 bordering on the very verge of a cliff overhang- 
 ing the sea, and recalling to memory some of the 
 strongest outlines of Swiss scenery. One false 
 step of a horse or mule, and both animal and 
 
TIIK liRlTIWH LKtJION. 
 
 59 
 
 rider must, i<n many parts, have beew preci})i- 
 tated down the tearful al)yss ; and when one 
 reflects on tlie long line of heaviiy^^dcn. much- 
 jaded mules and horses that moved H>etween the 
 respective In'igades, it really att'ords matter for 
 surprise, that not one of the numher -should have 
 met with accident of the kind : — nor wa> this point 
 the only one that teemed with danger. For 
 several miles, until we finally reached Castro, (a 
 small seaport town, remarkable only for the 
 imposing appearance of its sea-girt, rock-based 
 castle, at which it was purposed v*^e should halt 
 for the night,) this rocky verge, the pathway along 
 which could only with difficulty be distinguished 
 at that advanced hour, offered the same natural 
 obstacles, with the additional evil of its being an 
 alternation of steep ascent and descent, render- 
 ing each footfall of the hi)rses. a movement preg- 
 nant with danger to their riders. Once, while 
 cautiously leading my tired and timid animal, I 
 lost my own footing, and went tumbling down 
 one of those descents, expecting every moment 
 to feel my horse's hoofs upon my head. But lie. 
 
MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 more fortunate, or more careful than his master, 
 kept his ground, and calmly waited until I 
 rejoined him. 
 
 On the whole, the day's route, while fatiguing 
 and annoying^ to a degree, was not without in- 
 terest, from the romantic character of the 
 scenery. Nor was the line of march jtself by 
 any means a poor feature in that interest. On 
 leaving Portagalette, I had been appointed to 
 the quarter-master-generai's department, and, as 
 in the course of the day I had frequent occasion 
 to drop to the rear, the chapter of accidents 
 peculiar to a long line of march, through a 
 rugged and broken country, and by an army 
 newly organized, and as yet little inured to a 
 service of the sort, was fully revealed to me. 
 Here were to be seen stragglers dragging their 
 wearied and stiflFened legs after them, and cursing 
 the knapsacks which, although containing their 
 all in this world, they would willingly have con- 
 signed in deed, as they did in word, not to her 
 most catholic majesty from whom they had re- 
 ceived them, but to his most satanic majesty, who 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 61 
 
 took more inteiest, perhaps, in themselves, than 
 their kits ; — while others — some with a natural, 
 some with an eiForced wit — jeered at the grum- 
 bierS; thus seeking to sustain their own sinking 
 strength and spirits by an outward mockeiy, 
 which tho inward man denied — until, in the eiid, 
 both the grumbler and the jeerer sat side by side 
 upon the road, and yielded to the imperative 
 necessity of rest, which exhausted nature de- 
 . manded. 
 
 In one place the eye rested upon some unfor- 
 tunate soldier's wife, from whom pain and fatigue 
 amounting almost to exhaustion, had drawn tears 
 of bitterness, as her swollen feet carefully met the 
 ground, and her anxious gaze bent itself on the 
 far distance, as if to discover the haven of rest 
 which was to terminate her sufferings for the day. 
 In another, the same description of character pre- 
 sented itself, but armed with an energy tliat 
 seemed to put bodily pain at defiance. Along the 
 rugged road passed by the army this day, one 
 woman — young, and of interesting appear- 
 ance, walked the whole way, shoeless and with 
 
' 
 
 r>2 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 shrinking- Icet ; and yet, to the close, there was a 
 cheerfuhiess of manner about her that touched one 
 more, efForced, as I saw it was, to encourage her 
 husband, than all the tears that were shed by her 
 less uncomplainincr copartners in sufFerinj;'. 
 
 These, with the blocking up of the narrow lanes 
 by frequent upsettings of bagufrfge, wretchedly 
 packed upon their respective beasts of burden, — 
 the oaths of the servants in consequence, — and 
 their squabbles with the loquacious muleteers, 
 formed the principal features in the ground that 
 separated the brigades — which latter, taken again 
 at a single coup-d'ceil from some prominent point 
 in the line of march — their bright arms glittering 
 in the sun as they wound along the road — lent an 
 invigorating air of action to the scene, which 
 rather added to, than took from, the sublimity of 
 its wildness. The portion of the country we 
 passed through this day, was known to be infested 
 by banditti of desperate character ; and it w as 
 apprehended that if our stragglers fell not l)y the 
 hands of any roving parties of Carlists, their 
 destruction would be ecpialiy certain of acconi- 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 ()3 
 
 plishniciit by these people. As the day drew 
 towards its close, the number of men who fell out, 
 and threw themselves, absolutely worn out with 
 fatigue, along the road side, visibly increased, 
 and 1 could not but feel, and deplore as I passed 
 them by, that they were doomed through their 
 own mere helplessness to the bullet of a Carlist or 
 a bandit — or, if possibly escaping these, to the 
 knives of the very peasants themselves. 
 
 Except in two instancies, however, we are not 
 yet aware that such apprehension has been borne 
 out by results. In the cases of exception, two 
 stragglers were shot by bullets from a distance ; 
 one receiving a wound in his thigh, the other in 
 some other part of his body. How they escaped 
 closer collision with their enemies I am at a loss 
 to understand. But these were not the only 
 evidences of the proximity of a lurking and assassin 
 foe. Mr. Thynne, of the commissariat, having 
 occasion to detach himself in advance of his 
 brigade, suddenly came upon a ruffian who was in 
 the act of stripping a soldier's child, that by some 
 accident had been left quite in rear of the pre- 
 
64 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 ceding brigade. He immediately called to him to 
 desist, when the bandit, deliberately quitting the 
 child, seized and presented his musket. Mr. 
 Thynne had no other alternative than to fly for 
 his life. On his return at the head of the brigade 
 no one was to be seen ; — but more than this, the 
 fellows had the audacity to fire several shots upon 
 the Rifles, who led the advance, which attack, 
 however, ended in the loss of two of their party. 
 
 These banditti are men whose original occu- 
 pation was: that of workmen in the iron mines, 
 which greatly abound in this part of the country. 
 They are alike feared by Carlists and Christines ; 
 plundering and burning wherever they show 
 themselves, and perpetrating every other descrip- 
 tion of outrage. 
 
 Having been detained for some time in the rear 
 of the last brigade that entered Castro, I did not 
 perform the closing league of the march until 
 past eight o'clock, and I was then utterly alone. 
 The road lay along a ridge of rock that rever- 
 berated my horse's footfall in a most alarming 
 manner, while my figure was thrown into bold 
 
THE TIRITISH LF.OTON. 
 
 G5 
 
 relief against the sea that murmured in the dis- 
 tance, so that any one, hostilely disposed, might 
 have picked me off from the dark rocks on my 
 left, with perfect ease and without hazard As 
 this part was said to be one of the principal 
 haunts of the banditti, I confess I did not feel at 
 all comfortable until I had joined the brigade in 
 front, which seemed to be much farther off than 
 it actually was. 
 
 Limpias, November 2nd. — Yesterday we re- 
 sumed oar march along the high road leading 
 from Castro to Balmaceda ; but a heavy rain 
 coming on, and the General being apprehensive 
 in consequence of a long line of stragglers, in- 
 dication of which had already been given, a 
 retrogade movement was ordered after the first 
 brigade had acconiplished about a league and a 
 lialf of the route. It moreover appearing to the 
 General that a direct advance alons: the hio-h 
 road leading to Balmaceda, would in a great de- 
 gree cut off his communication with Espartero, 
 who led the Spanish troops, and greatly expo**; 
 his flanks, he at once resolved on Hi)andcning 
 
 nil 
 
 
 ■^1 
 
 it' 
 
MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 the road to Balmaceda, and pursuing' the difficult 
 passes leadinfj^ to Ona, on the Ebro, in the direc- 
 tion of Burpfos. Two of the brigades were 
 pushed forward on the same day to Viesca ; 
 while the remainder of the Legion occupied their 
 respective quarters of the preceding evening 
 iit Castro. From Castro they moved this day, 
 and across a district so mountainous that, per- 
 haps there is no instance on record of English 
 troops having ever accomplished an equally 
 arduous march. Having been sent to Lerida 
 by water, on particular duty, I was at once spared 
 the fatigue, and deprived of the beauty of the 
 ascent of one of the most elevated mountahis of 
 Spain ; but the reports of all concur in ascribing 
 to the view, a sublimity and grandeur without 
 parallel, even as the difficulties surmounted were 
 of ihe most trying character : — yet was I not 
 altogether without my gratification — even par- 
 ticipation in the scene. From the sea — as the 
 small boat in which I was embarked, moved 
 slowly on — I could distinctly command a view of 
 the whole ascent, and imposing in truth was the 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 67 
 
 si^ht. The eye embraced the continuous line of 
 troops, followed and preceded by their ba^•gag•e- 
 rnules, winding- up an extent of little less than a 
 league, until they finally and successively reached 
 the highest point of elevation, where their forms 
 and glittering arms, thrown into bold relief 
 against a cloudless sky, formed a picture in it- 
 self as instinct with hiterest as with life. At 
 length the scene faded like a closing panorama 
 from my view, and I beheld no more than a con- 
 fused mass of moving atoms, resembling rather 
 the serpentine march of an army of ants, than 
 one of human beings. Many a poor fellow was 
 knocked up on this occasion, and even at the 
 late hour at which I make this note, numbers are 
 coming in to head quarters, jaded and harrassed, 
 and unable to gain their respective regiments. 
 
 Limpias, November 3rd. — This day has been 
 devoted to a rest which the long march of yester- 
 day had rendered absolutely indispensable. Yet 
 has it not been an unimportant one — a good deal 
 of tlisorganization had, as in most situations of 
 the sort, crept in among the soldiery, who seemed 
 
68 
 
 MOVEMENTS OK 
 
 to fancy that a relaxation from discipline was, 
 in some degree, their claim in compensation for 
 the toils of the march. In this however, they 
 have been undeceived. Several men of two re- 
 giments, billeted at some distance from head 
 quarters, having been guilty of plunder, com- 
 plaint was made to the Lieutenant-Gencral, who, 
 on riding up to the cantonment with a view to 
 institute inquiry into the case, caught a party in 
 the very act of plundering a house, the inmates of 
 which were screaming loudly for assistance. A 
 drum-head court martial was instantly assembled, 
 and while the General rode on to the other offend- 
 ing regiment, the culprits were severally flogged. 
 Returning to this corps, he addressed them in a 
 speech not more remarkable for its fluency than 
 its point. He said that he had never been an 
 advocate for corporal punishment ; but as the 
 service in which we were embarked, rendered it 
 imperative that the strictest order and discipline 
 should be preserved, to prevent those we were 
 come to aid as friends, from looking upon us as 
 enemies, he was determined to have recourse to 
 
THE imrrisii legion. 
 
 69 
 
 it. He reminded them, that in the Peninsular 
 war, when the Spaniards were equally our friends 
 and allies, similar acts of aggression had been 
 punished by the Duke of Wellington, by instant 
 hanging at the first tree ; but as he himself did 
 not wish to adopt so severe and sumnjary a mea- 
 sure, he would, for the present, content himself 
 with the minor punishment they had just wit- 
 nessed, until a perseverance in such (;ross mis- 
 conduct should render it indispensable for him to 
 award the higher. 
 
 Next addressing the officers, to whom he seemed 
 to attach some blame, — the outrage having taken 
 place "Hhin the limit of the cantonment — he said 
 it was P-. sible that some had come out with a 
 sincere desire to make themselves acquainted with 
 the service, and the duties required by it ; while 
 the object of others might have been to spend a 
 year or two agreeably in the capacity of military 
 tourists. With the private views of these latter 
 he had nothing to do, neither would he inquire 
 into them. But he had every thing to do with 
 their conduct as officers, while in the service, and 
 
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 IMAGE EVALUATION 
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 ^ IIIIIM 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
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 (716) 872-4503 
 
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70 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 the strictest attention to their respective duties. 
 If, he hinted, there were those who thought that 
 service too fatiguing, and too little in accordance 
 with the ideas they had originally entertained of 
 it, nothing could be more simple than to disem- 
 barrass themselves of their charge. After expres- 
 sing* a hope that the examples of that day would 
 prove a suitable warning to the men, and that he 
 should not again have occasion to find fault with 
 a corps which had previously ranked high in his 
 esteem, he concluded with an argwmentum ad 
 hominem, which, with many of the soldiers, no 
 doubt, vyas the most forcible part of his address; 
 and which could not have failed to leave a lasting 
 impression on their minds -^namely, that the 
 amount of spoliation should be charged against 
 the respective companies of those implicated. ^ 
 J^ Villa Sante, November 4th. — This is surely an 
 extraordinary country. Each day seems to bring 
 with it fresh matter for wonder and interest. I 
 had fancied the march to Castro, and that from 
 Castro to Limpias to have been such as to ex- 
 haust all one's stock of admiration of the scenes 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 71 
 
 traversed, but both sink into comparative no- 
 thingness, after that which the army has accom- 
 plished this day. It would be difficult to create to 
 the imagination of whomsoever has not beheld it, 
 a true mirror of the realities of the wild scenery 
 through which we moved, and which in itself was 
 sufficient to repay us for all our fatigue. Now 
 the army wound its way through the fertile bosom 
 of some rich valley, whose treasures were enclosed, 
 as with a gigantic wall, by immense masses of 
 mountain crag, the barren white and precipitous 
 sides of which presented a bold and striking con- 
 trast with the verdant meadows at their feet: — now 
 it issued from the heart of that valley, winding 
 its course up the steep sides of some tall moun- 
 tain, from the summit of which the eye looked 
 achingly down upon the pigmy world below — and 
 the wearied and panting soldier asked wonder- 
 ingly of himself, how he had accomplished the 
 ascent? 
 
 It was along this line of road alone that inter- 
 ruption from the Carlists was to be apprehended, 
 for it abounds in passes of defence which an army, 
 
72 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 worn down by incessant toil, would have found 
 difficulty in carrying. Once, and for nearly half 
 a league, our route lay through one of these 
 passes, bounded on the right by a precipice of 
 many hundred feet of perpendicular descent, and 
 on the left by a tall crag, nearly musket-shot in 
 height, the bold yet regular sides of which assimi- 
 lated it rather to some tower of strength, the 
 work of human hands, than the sport of caprici- 
 ous Nature, who has scattered her grandeur over 
 these remarkable provinces with so unsparing a 
 hand. Fifty Carlists, placed upon the summit of 
 that crag, might have annihilated our whole 
 Legion, had the latter persisted in the advance ; and 
 that without resorting to other means of destruc- 
 tion than fragments of the rock itself, while every 
 attempt of their enemies to reach ai^d punish 
 them, must have been met with unconcern, and 
 baffled with scorn. , , - > . - , 
 
 But even this spot, fearftil as it was, fell into 
 insignificance, and was thought of no more, 
 when, towards the close of the day, we found 
 ourselves on the extreme summit of Los Tomos, 
 
THR BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 n 
 
 a mountain which it took me nearly an hour to 
 ascend on horseback, although on a perfectly good 
 and open road. Here, indeed, was a concen- 
 tration of the sublime and beautiful. Far before 
 and around rose a succession of mountains, some 
 of which we had previously passed ; and which, 
 then apparently of great elevation, now seemed 
 scarcely worthy the designation. A rich and 
 extensive valley, which, from the i^reat height at 
 which it was viewed,, seemed one large patch of 
 alternate corn-field and pasture, spr«?ad itself like 
 a carpet of many colors at the base ; and as the 
 eye wandered to the long interminable chain of 
 mountains beyond, rising amphitheatrically each 
 above the other, it rested on the favorite and 
 familiar haunts of those we had by skilful com- 
 bination and good generalship so successfully 
 avoided. 
 
 On reaching the top of Los Tornos, I lingered 
 for a few minutes to gratify both heart and eye 
 with an uninterrupted view of the vast world of 
 mountains and vallies from which I had just been 
 emancipated, and into a region so cold that I was 
 
V 
 
 74 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 r 
 
 glad to draw the folds of my cloak more closely 
 around me. At this point I found Jauregui, ac- 
 companied by his staff, leaning over a parapet 
 that overlooked the abyss. Even in him, to 
 whom such scenes of grandeur could not be new, 
 the imposing prospect had evidently called up 
 feelings of wonderment and admiration, for he 
 seemed as intent on the contemplation, and as 
 much interested in the view, as I was myself. 
 More than once here, ^nd at the pass first des- 
 cribed, did the difficulty and boldness of the 
 ascent remind me of the passage of the Alps by 
 Napoleon ; and indeed I much question if that far- 
 iamed movement was executed over ground more 
 wild or precipitous than that we have this day, 
 thank Heaven, left completely behind us. The 
 only features of similitude wanting were ihe ice 
 and snow, the latter of which we beheld, on arriv- 
 ing at the summit of Los Tornos, on some low 
 mountains in the distance. - 
 
 The apex of this stupendous mountain gained, 
 we were free from all danger from a lurking and 
 insidious foe, for we entered upon a totally dis- 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 T5 
 
 similar class of ccimtry, and could defy all the 
 efforts of the Carlists to withstand our onward 
 progress. So impressed did the General appear 
 to be of this fact, and of the necessity of attain- 
 ing this object, that he lingered in the rear of the 
 closing brigade, until the last man had come up. 
 Then only, and at a late hour, did he hasten to 
 this village, selected as head-quarters for the 
 night ; where the satisfaction he could not fail to 
 entertain at the successful transit of his army over 
 the most exposed and dangerous part of the 
 march, must have amply compensated for the 
 absence of all comfort that awaited him in the 
 rudest billet into which he or any other general- 
 in-chief had ever yet, perhaps, the ill fortune to 
 be thrust. As for mine — n*en parlons pas — mats 
 a la guerre c&rmne a la guerre. Two brigades 
 are bivouacked in the open air, and their appear- 
 ance is truly picturesque, the light of their 
 cheerful fires casting that of a very brilliant full 
 moon, completely into the shade. To listen to 
 their sounds of merriment, one would scarcely 
 imagine they were the same men who had 
 
I • 
 
 ^ 
 
 76 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 accomplished the toilsome march which they have 
 done this day. " > 
 
 Medina del Pomar, November 5th. — A visible 
 change in the aspect of the country during this 
 day's route — the mountains are seen only in the 
 far distance, and the intermediate space is dotted 
 with rich fields and pastures, with flocks of sheep 
 and goats, and with droves of mules and homed 
 cattle ; in short, with every thing that tells of 
 industry in a land not immediately laboring under 
 the afflictions arising from a state of civil feud. 
 We reached this place — a rude old Moorish town, 
 equidistant from Santander, Bilbao, and Vitoria, 
 at an early hour. : 
 
 Oiia, November 7th. — Were it a fact, as the 
 General hinted the other day, that certain officers 
 of the Legion had come out simply with a view 
 to a party of pleasure, and rather in the character 
 of tourists than soldiers, their excuse might have 
 been found in the scene witnessed yesterday. After 
 two leagues of march through an open country, the 
 army came suddenly upon the banks of tl e Ebro, 
 associated with which arc so many interesting 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 77 
 
 recollections connected with military history. It 
 would be vain to attempt to convey a just idea 
 of the majestic-savage grandeur of its principal 
 gorges. When I entered them, I was alone, 
 totally detached from the thousands who yet 
 lingered in my rear, and the better enabled, per- 
 haps, from that circumstance, to absorb myself in 
 the scene. There was a solemnity about the aspect 
 of the whole sufficient to inspire awe, even at the 
 most peaceful epoch; and now, when the possi- 
 bility, tliat behind some projecting rock lurked a 
 Carlist guerilla, or one of Merino's bandit party, 
 whom we had reason to suppose at no great dis- 
 tance from us, suggested itself to the imagination, 
 a feeling, — not of fear, since fear would not have 
 encountered the hazard, — but of interest, was 
 created, commensurate with the gloom and loneli- 
 ness of the spot. But though lonely, it was not 
 noiseless. Here and there the otherwise placid 
 river, choked in its progress by masses of rock 
 detached iirom the mountain, which had formed 
 their bed within its bosom, forced its way angrily 
 over the intruders, and sent the hollow echo of its 
 
 ■\ 
 
I ■ 
 
 78 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 fall startliiigly upon the ear. But even this sound 
 was full of gloom, and came rather as the dis- 
 turbed spirit of the wild, than the enlivening 
 murmur of the merry waterfall. The most im- 
 posing of these passes, (and indeed what part of 
 the whole route along the Ebro is not imposing,) 
 is that which takes its name from Ona, and is 
 celebrated for the extinction of a French column, 
 by the guerillas, during the peninsular war ; — and 
 later, for its defence, by a handftil of Carlists, 
 against a considerable body of the Queen's army. 
 So much for our passage of the Ebro, which, I 
 believe, it had been prophesied by our enemies at 
 home, we should never reach. 
 
 Mid-day brought us to Ofia, where we, for the 
 first time, saw our cavalry ; a division having a 
 few hours previously arrived from Santander. 
 Here it was that we had an opportunity of wit- 
 nessing, and in no mean scale, the exemplification 
 of that grinding system of the church in Spain, 
 and that rich endowment of her revenues, at the 
 expense of an ahruti and bigotted peasantry, 
 so universally, and, it would seem, so truly 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 Til 
 
 ascribed to her. The village of Ona is perhaps 
 nowhere to be surpassed in meanness and poverty ; 
 and yet within its heart stands imbedded, and has 
 stood imbedded for centuries, a monastery that 
 might form a palace for an eastern emperor, — a 
 tower of strength in its external appearance ; it 
 covers an extent of nearly two acres of ground, 
 and throughout its vast interminable cells or 
 rather rooms, and corridors, and courts, might 
 have afforded accommodation for the whole 
 Legion, artillery and cavalry not excepted. To 
 this convent moreover are appended fourteen 
 leagues of territory, the property of the monks. 
 " Oh, religion ! thou art in truth a comfortable 
 sort of occupation. 
 
 In justice to the government, it must be ad- 
 mitted that we found the monies, some forty or 
 fifty in number, exclusively of the lay brethren, 
 on the eve of a general deroute, — their term of 
 occupation having expired this very day. It 
 might have been this circumstance, or a desire to 
 conceal all evidence of their real personal wealth, 
 and luxurious mode of living, tliat caused them to 
 
MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 afford the scanty fare they did last night to the 
 officers of the staff; but certainly there was little 
 to bear out the highly colored accounts given by 
 our romance writers and tourists as to their pam- 
 pered habits. None of the monks (the abbot, by 
 the way, was said to be a prisoner), made their 
 appearance in the refectory, and the lay brethren, 
 with but indifferent good will, served us with a 
 fare not much to be exceeded in frugality in any 
 age or clime. The fiirst course was a sort of sopa 
 or potdge^ in which bread a la Frangaise was a 
 principal ingredient. This was eaten with wooden 
 spoons ; — ^next succeeded a description of hoville^ 
 served in a rude tin platter, and most comfortably 
 ensconced within a circular ridge of beans ; — after 
 this came small portions of boiled mutton, which, 
 in their turn, gave way to a dry insipid sort of 
 fish, eaten by those who could endure the nauseous 
 stuff, with very bad oil. Some excellent bread — 
 the best we had tasted in the country, lent a gusto 
 to the whole. Wine, of a poor description, was 
 poured from a skin, in one corner of the room, 
 into our rude goblets, and for dessert we had 
 
THK BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 81 
 
 apples and walnuts, M'hich two lay brethren took 
 from large baskets, and placed in as much pro- 
 fusion before each guest, as if they had been 
 fettening so many pigs for their autumnal market. 
 And this — ^the whole served up in utensils, the 
 uncleanliness of which might have fairly called 
 for animadversion from an habitue of St. Giles's, 
 constituted the evening repast of a set of half 
 famished men, much too eager for the matter to 
 feel disposed to quarrel with the manner : — and 
 the cheer did restore us, for when we had 
 emptied each dish of its contents, and filled our 
 last goblet with sour wine, la cigare en bouche^ 
 we made the walls of the old refectory resound 
 with many a hearty laugh and spirited jest, at the 
 expense of the holy fathers. 
 
 One of the most amusing passages, connected 
 with the supper, was that of a whole troop of 
 Chapelgorris acting in the capacity of waiters ; 
 one who knew them not would have wondered at 
 their unsolicited, yet active, service on officers 
 not their own, and yet it required no very nice 
 discrimination to perceive that their attendance 
 
 M 
 
82 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 was not altogether of the most disinterested kind. 
 They certainly brought us all that the kitchen 
 afforded, but so in proportion was their gain. 
 Not a scrap of meat or bread ever found its way 
 out of the refectory. What was left on the plates 
 or dishes was at once consigned to their ample 
 pockets, whither the contents of one or two 
 platters, designed for us, had already preceded 
 these fragments, without arriving farther than thr 
 small window connecting the refectory with the 
 kitchen. '•■' '■■■ ^i^ ' '■■ ' 
 
 Nor was their talent in the wine department 
 less actively displayed. Several officiated as 
 butlers, and every time that a tankard was sent to 
 be replenished for the officers, those who kept the 
 skin contrived to convey an equal quantity into 
 the canteens of their comrades. And yet this 
 pilfering was done so openly — so barefacedly, 
 that, instead of calling forth anger or displeasure, 
 it but created amusement. Such are the Chapel- 
 gorris wherever they go, and a Spanish peasant, I 
 do believe, would quite as soon see the devil 
 enter his village, as a party of these light-fingered 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 8S 
 
 gentry. At Bilbao, where they were for a short 
 period, the inhabitants had an absolute horror of 
 them ; and yet they are the most cheertiil, perhaps 
 the bravest, and certainly the best countenanced 
 men 1 have seen, of the whole Spanish army. 
 
 Such was our repast in the refectory of the 
 monastery of Ofia, which from its endless corri- 
 dors, and cells, and court-yards, and subterranean 
 passages, could not fail to call up to the recol- 
 lection of several, Mrs. Ratcliffe's well known 
 Mysteries of Udolpho, — an assimilation which 
 acquired greater force and truth from the ro- 
 mantic and banditti-favoring country we had 
 passed through that day along the banks of the 
 Ebro. ,.:; - ,-- . : ■ ••■•.?:.■ ".-. .,/,,«••,..• ,■■ •:- .. 
 
 After an execrable night's lodging on the 
 naked floor of one of the principal rooms of the 
 convent, I took advantage of a temporary delay 
 in the march to visit the chapel and sacristic. 
 The former is of a gorgeousness commensurate 
 with the vast extent and general richness of the 
 whole building; and the latter, handsomely 
 decorated, is filled with scriptural subjects and 
 
84 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 portraits by the best masters. I could have coveted 
 a peep into the holy fathers' best wine cellar (aiid 
 I had heard there was such) after this visit to 
 the chapel, but access to the one I found to be 
 more easy of attainment than to the other. — 
 Breakfast was equally denied me, so that 1 was 
 even driven to that fountain of all good things — 
 the kitchen — where another hungry subject 
 joined me in an appeal to the cook — a squint-eyed 
 sinner — who after vainly endeavoring to palm 
 off some horridly gross stuff he had the audacity 
 to call a soup, — was even compelled to allow us 
 a portion of boiled mutton and beans, the only 
 demerit of which, in the then state of 
 our stomachs, we admitted to be its extreme 
 scantiness. 
 
 Brivieska, November 10th. — Before leaving 
 Ofia, a report reached the Lieutenant-General, 
 that Moreno was lingering in the neighborhood 
 with one hundred and fifty of his cavalry, for the 
 purpose of cutting off our baggage. Every 
 due precaution was, of course, taken to guard 
 against such a disaster, and a wing of a regiment 
 

 
 i i i ■ 
 
 i 
 
 THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 85 
 
 immediately attached to the baggage of each 
 brigade. The day, however, passed over without 
 incident; and, in fact, from intelligence had 
 from several of the peasantry, the information 
 proved to be false; — Moreno not having been 
 seen in the neighborhood for three weeks pre- 
 viously. Once indeed, there seemed a chance 
 of an affair, and I was rather sorry than not that 
 we were disapp<. ited. The country we were pass- 
 ing through was so level — not a mountain to be 
 seen above the horizon in front — so unlike that to 
 which we had latterly been accustomed, that we 
 could scarcely persuade ourselves we were in 
 the same region. I was riding in front of the 
 baggage guard with the quarter-master-general, 
 the brigade being at some distance in our rear, 
 Mhen on gaining that part of the plain which 
 seemed most favorable to the operations of 
 cavalry, and chancing to glance my eye upon the 
 left, I beheld a dark column of men movins: 
 down parallel with our flank, whom, at the mo- 
 ment, not being able to distinguish whether they 
 were cavalry or infantry, by reason of their great 
 
So 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 distance, I took tor the enemy, by whom we were 
 said to be threatened. I immediately called the 
 attention of the Quarter-Master-General to 
 them, and with the aid of our glasses we soon 
 made them out for a battalion of the queen's 
 infantry, taking the route to Ona. The same 
 impression, meanwhile, had been entertained in 
 the rear, and the troops were formed to receive 
 cavalry some minutes before the error was dis- 
 covered. The brigades, it will be observed, 
 moved separately, and at long intervals from 
 each other. " ' 
 
 On the morning of the 8th, the head quarters 
 reached this place, the terminating point, for the 
 present at least, of our long and laborious march ; 
 having accomplished thirty-three Spanish leagues 
 over a country such as no army of Englishmen 
 ever previously attempted to set foot upon. 
 
 And here, although the object of this com- 
 pilation is simply a journal of occurrences, and 
 not a formal History of the Campaign, a few 
 observations may not be ill placed, or inapplicable 
 to the subject. 
 
'j: 
 
 THE BRITISH LEGION, 
 
 87 
 
 Whether, following the mandate of the Spanish 
 government, or acting from his own judgment, 
 it is evident that the object of Lieutenant-Gcneral 
 Evans, throughout, has been to avoid collision with 
 the enemy, until his men had attained that state 
 of discipline, and the country could afford those 
 advantages of position, which might justify him 
 in looking for success. The imbecile venom of a 
 faction at home — ^the sworn enemies of all liberty, 
 save the liberty of planting their own feet upon 
 the necks of others — ^had induced them to revile 
 him, and in no measured terms, for an unnecessary 
 exposure and sacrifice of life at the affair of 
 Hernani ; whereas, as I have already shown in the 
 early part of my notes, nothing more than a re- 
 connoissance, which unlooked for circumstances 
 turned into a sort of engagement, was originally 
 intended. In this, to borrow a vulgarism, they 
 had " their fling" — but what will those gentlemen 
 say now, when they learn that by the mere effort 
 of well combined plans, added to a knowledge as 
 admirable as just of what an army may be made 
 to accomplish in a case of pressing need — that 
 
88 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 same General, whose rashness they affected io 
 contemn — has, by the exercise of great prudence, 
 completely baffled the projects of his enemy, 
 throwing himself, with a loss of little more than 
 fifty men, by casualties in the rear, and effecting 
 a junction with Cordova. 
 
 To have remained inactive at Bilbao would 
 have been to have nullified the very object of our 
 coming out ; while to have advanced upon Vitoria, 
 through the mountains of Biscay, would have 
 been to have risked the destruction of the whole 
 Legion, by an invisible foe : — one defeat in these 
 passes, after a third day's march, when fatigue 
 and consequent disorganization had crept into 
 our ranks, and we must, at once, have been 
 annihilated and disgraced. v ...vn// 
 
 What in this crisis did the General ? Tamely 
 bow before the adverse circumstances which op- 
 posed themselves to his plans *? No. He resolved 
 to overcome them, and although fully aware of 
 the difficulty and toil he must necessarily encounter, 
 formed his resolution to conduct the army, by a 
 circuitous route, into a country at once favorable 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 i • ^ t> ■ 
 
 to his operations, and demandint^ his presence. 
 How that object was eiFected, has already been 
 seen. In proportion as his success has been 
 complete; so will be the annoyance of the Carlists, 
 and the virulence of attack of their partisans in 
 England. The former have been essentially 
 foiled ; they had planted themselves across the 
 Biscayan mountains, certain that no other route 
 into the interior would have been attempted ; nor 
 once dreaming that a measure so bold — a march 
 so tedious, — as that actually taken would ever have 
 been resorted to by the British General; and 
 that they continued in ignorance of this, until it 
 was too late to prevent it if they could, is, there 
 is reason to believe, to be ascribed to the wisdom 
 of that General, in concealing his plans from all 
 until the very moment of execution. Had the 
 Carlist chiefs been apprised in due time of our 
 niovcm-jnts, there can be no doubt that they 
 would have made forced marches, and endeavored 
 to gain the passes already alluded to, as being so 
 capable of defence, before we could possibly reach 
 them. But even here, the foresight of the General 
 
 N 
 
90 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 rendered itself conspicuous, nor was anything left 
 to chance. Wheresoever there was danger to be 
 apprehended, he had his ally in Jauregui, who 
 threw his light-footed, light-fingered Chapelgorris 
 ever in advance upon our flanks. At LosTornos, 
 that truly formidable defile, where, as an Irish 
 oflficer of the Legion remarked, theCarlists might 
 have " rahicd rocks" upon us, all his caution was 
 called forth ; and on the summit of this moun- 
 tain, a body of the Queen's cavalry remained 
 stationed tor four and twenty hours prior to our 
 gaining it. ^^ *' - 
 
 For the execution of this detail, he was indebted 
 to the efficient heads of the quarter -master-general 
 and military secretary's departr.ients ; who, from 
 their long standing and experience in the British 
 army, were enabled to bring with them a zeal 
 and intelligence into the service, without which 
 thfe confidence of the commander must have been 
 shaken, and the interests of the troops in no wise 
 benefited. ^ s 
 
 Another observation intrudes itself—unimpor- 
 tant as the circumstance may appear, p.nd little as 
 
THi!: Burnsii legion. 
 
 m 
 
 it seems to have met if ith attention from military 
 men, that part of th6 movement most worthy of 
 remark, is, next to tl^e adoption of the original 
 Hne of route, the alteration ^' the plan of advance 
 from Castrc upon Balmaceda. Had the General 
 considered it expedient to risk an encounter with 
 the Carlists, with his raw forces, and having higher 
 objects in view, it is obvious he would have done 
 so, by a direct march from Bilbao, across the 
 mountains, without causing his army to be put to 
 the inconvenience and fatigue of a long and cir- 
 cuitous route. But as it was his object to avoid 
 his enemy in position in the first instance, so it 
 must have been in the last. What was essential 
 at Bilbao, could be no less so at Balmaceda. 
 The advance by the high road to this place must 
 necessarily, from its direction, have brought us 
 more immediately in the neighborhood it was our 
 object to avoid, than the advance upon Ona ; and 
 there is every reason to assume that, when intelli- 
 gence did reach the Carlist camp (as it would 
 from their numerous friends in Bilbao) of our 
 
\ 
 
 92 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 actual course, their chiefs would have taken it for 
 granted, we conceived our views to be fully at- 
 tained on reaching Castro, and that we should 
 then have continued our march along the high 
 road to Balmaceda in fancied security : — sufficient 
 time would, in that case, have been afforded them 
 to abandon their original position, and throw 
 themselves across our route, where, if they could 
 not succee<l in opposing our progress, they might 
 at least annoy our flanks* and cut off our stragglers 
 and baggage. By suddenly moving his columns 
 in a different direction, it is fair io suppose that 
 the British General completely, and for a second 
 time, foiled them in their purpose ; and that, while 
 they awaited our passage by the road to Balma- 
 ceda, our troops were enabled to obtain a day, at 
 least, in advaitce. ' ' " "< • > 
 
 This, however well grounded it may be, is but 
 an assumption, the correctness of which time 
 only can elucidate. Whether the fact be so or 
 not, one point is self-evident, and that is, that 
 the march from Bilbao to Brivieska, by the 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 93 
 
 route actually taken, has been one of the best 
 conducted of any ever yet undertaken by men 
 wearing the British uniform, and as such, deserves 
 a page in future history. , . 
 
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 111 
 
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 4^ 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ARRIVAL OP CORDOVA TU MEET THE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL — MI8ER- 
 AHLE APPEARANCE OP URIV1E8KA — WRBTCIIEUNEB8 OF THE IN- 
 HABITANTS CONTRASTED WITH THE FINE APPEARANCE OF THE 
 BISCAYANS AND OUIPISCOANS-^SEVERE FALL OF SNOW AND EX- 
 TREME COLD IN THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER — REPORTED OANOEU 
 OF THE lieutenant-general's BAGGAGE — A DESCRIPTION OF THE 
 CURE MERINO — PURSUIT OF HIM BY A SPANISH DETACHMENT OF 
 CAVALRY — VISIT TO BURGOS — RUOE RECEPTION BY THE GOVERNOR 
 — VISIT THE CATHSDRAL — GORGEOUS BEAUTY OF ITS SCULPTURE — 
 RETURN TOBRIVIESKA — VICTORY GAINED BY CORDOVA AT BSTELLA 
 — author's LAMENTS UPON THE MODE OF CONDUCT OF THE WAR — 
 PRIEST SHOT AT BURGOS FOR HOLDING CORRESPONDENCE WITH 
 
 THB ENEMY MODE OF BURIAL — REPORTED DANGER OF THE LIEU- 
 
 TBNANT-QENERAL'S BAGGAGE FROM ATTACK BY MERINO RE- 
 FUTED. 
 
 Brivieska, November 11th. — I had omitted to 
 mention, in its proper place, that General Evans 
 was received on his arrival here by Cordova, who, 
 leaving his army echelloned along the road from 
 Vitoria to Logrono, had come over tor tho express 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. Ml 
 
 purpose ol* congratulatinij; liis ally on the masterly 
 and efficient manner in which his junction with 
 him had been eflFected. The meeting of these 
 officers was one of interest, and could not fail to 
 he full of gratification to themselves. On the 
 morning of the 9th they went out on a tour of 
 reconnoissance, escorted by the troop of dragoons 
 Cordova had brought with him, and the 1st di- 
 vision of lancers, under Major Rait. Nothing 
 resulted from the movement, and at a late hour 
 of the same day Cordova returned to his army. 
 
 November 12th. — Brivieska is one of the most 
 wretched places under the sun — the houses are 
 miserable — ^the people are miserable — all they 
 possess seems to be of the most miserable 
 description. Of the comforts of lite they have 
 no more idea than a Hottentot, and there is an 
 apathy of manner about them, in the midst of 
 all their filth and meanness, which provokes and 
 vexes even more than their poverty. The fact 
 is, however, that a strange anomaly presents 
 itself in all of Spain we have yet traversed. 
 Amid the rude .mountains of Biscay, where the 
 
96 
 
 MOVEMKNTS OP 
 
 cultivation of the soil is limited to the occasional 
 patches of valley that spread themselves, at in- 
 tervals, few and far between, at their base, the 
 peasantry are of sturdy, cleanly, and healthy, 
 even characteristic, appearance; while on the 
 other hand, in proportion as our advance has 
 been extended into districts teeming with every 
 evidence of fertility and richness, not only the 
 peasantry, but the inhabitants of the towns, have 
 universally presented the most pitiable pictures 
 of squalid misery : — and this the more despicable, 
 inasmuch as it springs less from want of means 
 to remedy the evil, than from a natural indolence 
 and inaptitude for all improvement. 
 
 November 13th. — This morning I arose be- 
 numbed with cold, which had kept me awake the 
 greater part of the night ; and on looking out of 
 my window upon the Plaza, was for some time 
 at a loss to conceive to what quarter of the globe 
 I had been, as if by enchantment, conveyed during 
 the last twelve hours. First Russia, and next 
 Switzerland, suggested themselves to my imagi- 
 nation ; and finally, the snows of America, amid 
 
TllK BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 m 
 
 which I had passed a couple of campaigns in my 
 early youth. But there was wanting the inspirit- 
 ing air of liveliness, and vigorous action pecuiiar 
 to the inhabitants of these climes, as well as the 
 internal comfort to be met with in their homes. 
 The Plaza was covered with a deep snow — the 
 mountains in the tar distance, and the tops of 
 the houses were clothed in the same cheerless 
 garb ; and when I looked around my wretched 
 room, and beheld nothing but a brick floor, without 
 carpet of any description — ^the naked square of 
 its walls unbroken by a fire-place — I confess I 
 shuddered at the prospect that awaited me. 
 
 Had it been the close of December, one would 
 not have cared so much, as each succeeding day 
 would have brought with it the certainty of a 
 proximate and enlivening spring. But the 13th 
 of November only, and in Spain, to find one's 
 self regularly imbedded in snow, and half con- 
 gealed with cold, with the probability of something 
 worse, was more than the anticipation had been 
 prepared for. From the melancholy contempla- 
 tion of my apartment, I turned my gaze again 
 
 o 
 
98 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 upon the Plaza, and had already begun to derive 
 some shadow of comfort and hope from the snug 
 appearance of our soldiers, as they issued forth 
 to parade in their warm great coats, apparently 
 regardless of the weather, when that trifling con- 
 solation was taken from me, by the picture pre- 
 sented by the natives themselves, il •fji'f:. 
 Shrinking, trembling, with cliattering teeth, 
 and in a half torpid state, these latter moved 
 through the Plaza, to their several avocations, 
 either in their shops or in the market place, with 
 an air of inertness that gave to the scene around 
 an aspect even more dreary than it was. Nay, 
 what heightened the misery still more, were the 
 very cloaks in which all — inhabitants and peasants 
 without exception — were inducted, to preserve 
 them from the effects of that cold — old, tattered, 
 threadbare — and mostly resembling in color, the 
 " sere and yellow leaf," which tells, in language 
 not to be misunderstood, of the unpromising 
 advent of blear-eyed winter ; these were drawn 
 around the taces of the drooping crowd, in a 
 manner to conceal every thing but the eyes; while, 
 
THE BRITIGH LEGION. 
 
 99 
 
 as an additional protection, across their mouths 
 and noses were tied handkerchiefs, remarkable for 
 any thing but their purity of color : — the very 
 sight of these was suiRcient to petrify one. 
 
 With such a prospect before me, it is not likely 
 that I should fail to look with some degree of 
 despair upon my return to my miserable billet at 
 night, after performing the duties required of me 
 during the day. Nor was that apprehension ill- 
 founded. After finishing a sad apology for a 
 dinner, I am now warming both my toes and my 
 nose over a braziero^ which I have managed to 
 procure, yet in which there are infinitely more 
 ashes than coals. The window of my room is 
 hermetically closed, to keep out as much of the 
 cold air as possible, and a horse-cloth is placed 
 under my chair to receive my heels — the toes 
 resting upon the braziero; — my servant's regi- 
 mental great coat is on my back, and yet despite 
 all this luxury, all this comfort, I can scarcely 
 hold the pencil that traces my note. We are 
 allowed wood, it is true ; but, alas ! where are the 
 chimnies in which to consume it V And yet these 
 
■LI 
 
 100 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 Spaniards talk of liberty. Ye Gods ! who would 
 accord liberty to men so far besotted — so tar 
 behind all the rest of mankind, as not to know the 
 comfort of a cheerful fire ? 
 
 November 16th. — ^The weather still continues 
 fearfully cold, and its effects are the more sen- 
 sibly felt, inasmuch as there are no means of 
 escaping from it. Yesterday I rode out to the 
 villages of Camino and Quintinillia Bon, occupied 
 by the 2nd brigade. Nothing could exceed the 
 wretchedness of these hamlets ; even the billets of 
 the officers were of a description not to be sur- 
 ])assed in misery by the worst hovels in Ireland. 
 On entering that of General Chichester, at Ca- 
 mino, I found him just returned from a visit to the 
 regiment of his brigade at Quintinillia Bon, and 
 bent nearly double over a braziero^ shivering with 
 the cold air that rushed in from a window which 
 had never known the luxury of glass, yet which 
 when closed, left tha room in utter darkness. As I 
 brought with me the change of route to San 
 Domingo, a large town situate about seven 
 leagues to the south-east of Brivieska, it may be 
 
THE BUITISH LEGION. 
 
 101 
 
 prosumcc 1 I was a welcome visitor. This morning 
 that change was effected, leaving the distribution 
 of the Legion as follows: — 1st and Light Brigades 
 (Evans' and Reid's) Brivieska; 2nd and 4th 
 (Chichester's and Mac Dougall's) San Domingo ; 
 3rd (Shaw's) Villania; Cavalry — Pradanos, one 
 league from Brivieska, with orders to move in a 
 day or two to Burgos. , 
 
 November 20th. — ^This evening a portion of the 
 Lieutenant-General's baggage came in from San- 
 tander, not, however, without a reported narrow 
 escape from capture. Guarded by a small escort, 
 it had gained a defile through which, owing to the 
 extreme depth of the snow, it was laboring slowly, 
 when Merino's cavalry suddenly appeared on 
 some distant heights, ready to pounce down, like 
 so many hungry vultures, upon their prey. The 
 party had given themselves up for lost, when most 
 opportunely, two squadrons of the Queen's Hussars 
 from Santander also, came up at the very moment 
 >vhen they were meditating the abandonment of 
 the baggage. These latter immediately charged 
 over the hills at full speed, and drove Merino 
 
 I 
 
V 
 
 102 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 and his party completely out of sight ; after which 
 they returned to the escort, with whom they con- 
 tinued until their arrival here. What a prize for 
 the old ruffian and his gang*, had they succeeded 
 in getting hold of the gay dresses and equipments 
 of the Lieutenant-General and his staff ! It would 
 literally have proved an exchange of " old lamps 
 for new ;" for report says they are in rags. ' ' 
 By the way this same Merino is as cunning as 
 an old fox, and, although a price is set upon his 
 head, no one has had the address to spread his 
 toils well enough to catch him. Sometimes he 
 conceals himself under a peasant's frock, but 
 oftener under the cowl of a monk ; and in this 
 disguise he passes, until he has succeeded in 
 gaining all sorts of intelligence suitable to his 
 purpose ; then issuing forth, in his veritable 
 character of a bandit, he collects together his 
 associates, and watching his opportunity, dashes 
 into a village, and levies contributions upon the 
 inhabitants, sparing or taking away life, as his 
 humor, at the moment, may incline him. A 
 Captain's company of Dragoons has been for two 
 
THE BRITISH LEQION. 
 
 103 
 
 years incessantly on the watch for him in this 
 neighborhood, but without success. He eludes 
 them with ease, and when they fancy they are 
 close upon his trail in one quarter, he is com- 
 mitting devastation in one entirely opposite. 
 The party of dragoons have been once or twice 
 here in the course of their pursuit. The men are 
 fine — their horses strong — the Captain a bold de- 
 termined looking fellow, whom one would suppose 
 neither odds nor numbers could daunt, especially 
 when influenced by the consideration of the high 
 price set upon the bandit's head. 
 
 November 21st. — Escorted by a party of 
 Lancers from Pradanos, I yesterday accompanied 
 Captain Clarke, of the quarter-master-general's 
 department, to that celebrated scene of our al- 
 most only disp.ster in Spain, during the war of the 
 Peninsular — the city of Burgos. ^ 
 
 As we approached the place, we found the air 
 become more and more rarified ; and although 
 the country we passed through was little inter- 
 sected by mountain, so continuous was the almost 
 imperceptible ascent, that after traversing what 
 
104 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 might have been termed a plain throughout, we dis 
 covered on a slight rise, on the left of the road, a 
 pillar, indicating the spot to be the most elevated 
 of all Spain. This however would seem to be 
 incorrect, inasmuch as, on some mountains at no 
 great distance, we beheld snow crowning their 
 summits, which apparently had in nowise been 
 affected by the rays of the sun ; whereas the point 
 on which the pillar stood, and which is stated to 
 be many hundred feet above the level of the sea, 
 was entirely free. From this it may be inferred 
 that the pillar is meant rather to mark the highest 
 point of the plains of Spain, and not the moun- 
 tains. It is remarkable however, that from tb^ 
 moment of our reaching the apex of Los Tomos, 
 there was little or no descent perceptible. For 
 about a league before entering Burgos on the 
 Brivieska side, there is an immense extent of 
 perfectly level plain, covered, the first half of the 
 league, with beautifiil turf, and admirably adapted 
 tor cavalry evolutions : — The other half is inter- 
 spersed with heathe** and brushwood, and shrubs, 
 chiefly the brown nut — affording cover to the 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 105 
 
 game, which is he^-e to be met with in great 
 abundance. In our route to and from the p^ace, 
 we started several hares. 
 
 On our arrival at Burgos, we immediately 
 hastened to the quarters of the Governor, a man 
 strongly suspected of Carlism, to whom, however. 
 Captain Clarke had a communication from the 
 General, requiring accommodation for the 1st 
 Lancers, who were to follow from Pradanos on the 
 following day. The servant who carried in Cap- 
 tain Clarke's demand for an audience, returned 
 with an intimation that the Great Man was at his 
 dinner, and we must wait where we were until he 
 had finished. All this time we were standing in a 
 sort of servants' hall, on the cold bricks, and 
 without the accommodation even of a chair. A 
 quarter of an hour of this completely exhausted 
 our patience, and a second message was sent in, 
 intimating that we were officers of the Legion, 
 come on pressing duty connected with the service, 
 and must be seen immediately. This, although it 
 brought us not into the presence of the impolite 
 Spaniard, procured for us admission into the body 
 
106 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 of his apartments, where, after cooling our heels 
 some time longer, we were ushered into the 
 presence of the Don, whom we found smoking a 
 pipe or hooka, and conversing on some apparently 
 indifferent subject, with a man who had all the 
 appearance of a peasant. m • ? j. < , ^ *;. ..i 
 
 Fully determined not to suffer this supercilious 
 conduct to pass unnoticed. Captain Clarke, before 
 entering on the subject of his mission, proceeded 
 to remonstrate on the want of courtesy of which 
 the governor had been guilty, in causing officers 
 to stand, for such a length of time, like so many 
 lacquies, in a cold hall. The answer to this was, 
 " Suppose I had kept you an hour ;" and the con- 
 sequential gentleman seemed amazingly surprised 
 when informed it was not the custom in England 
 for an officer, even much higher in rank than him- 
 self, to keep the youngest in the service waiting 
 in a servant's lobby, until he had decided on the 
 moment when he conceived he had gorged his 
 full. But the most curious part of the affair was, 
 that when Captain Clarke placed before him the 
 order from the General for the accommodation of 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 lOT 
 
 the troops, he coolly, and in the most nonchalant 
 manner, put it aside with his hand, as if to show 
 that his own importance and self-dignity super- 
 seded the necessity of an immediate examination 
 of its contents. ,••... ^ >., . --..i 
 
 Such was our reception by the governor of Bur- 
 gos, who, however, in all probability, will not long 
 have the opportunity of repeating his arrogant 
 conduct. On a very recent previous occasion 
 he had conducted himself with the same hauteur 
 towards some of the Legion, when a report of the 
 circumstances having been made to Cordova, that 
 General caused it to be intimated to his satrap 
 that a similar proceeding would cost him his 
 governorship. Captain Clarke has made an official 
 report of our reception, and we shall shortly see 
 the result. • ' • 
 
 It being late when we reached Burgos, and our 
 return to Brivieska being fixed for an early hour 
 this morning, I had not an opportunity of visiting 
 the castle, a circumstance that vexed me not a 
 little. While our horses were being saddled, we, 
 however, took occasion to see the cathedral, yet 
 
108 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 even here we were doomed to meet with disap- 
 pointment, for it chanced to be a day when the 
 interiors of the several chapels are closed to the 
 visitor. Through the massive and richly wrought 
 bars of the gates conducting to each, we saw 
 sufficient, it is true, as we paced the tesselated 
 corridors, to satisfy us of the gorgeous splendor 
 of the several altar pieces, all of which are of 
 solid bronze, richly gilt ; but a close inspection 
 of cabinet pictures, among which were some 
 Murillos*, all gems of their cast, was denied us. 
 And yet we found no slight gratification from what 
 we did see. 
 
 On either hand, as we moved throufli the 
 aisles, rose a succession of massive >?olumns of 
 variegated marble ; and as the eye turned upward 
 in admiration of the lofty dome, it rested on 
 some of the noblest efibrts of the sculptor's art. 
 What principally arrested our attention in the 
 only part of the cathedral not shut out from mi- 
 nute inspection, M'as a series of subjects, nine in 
 number, in alto-relievo, haying reference to the 
 trial, death, and ascension of Christ. The first in 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 109 
 
 excellence of these, and they were all of first-rate 
 execution, was that of the crucifixion itself. The 
 quiet air of placid suffering that pervaded the 
 features of the Savior, — the powerful yet impotent 
 writhings of Barrabbas, — the subdued agony of the 
 penitent thief, supported in his hour of trial by 
 the after-hope that partially disarmed torture of 
 its sting, — all were given with startling and fearful 
 fidelity. The hour of suffering seemed that in 
 which you gazed upon them; and you might 
 almost imagine you beheld the agonies of dying 
 men. Nor were the figures in the foreground, at 
 the foot of the cross, out of keeping with the 
 principal. All were instinct with life, and an ex- 
 pression of feature and attitude, delineative to 
 the uttermost, of the character and feelings of 
 each : — the strong antipathies of some, — and the 
 overweening sympathies of others. In short, 
 there was a fascination about the picture, the 
 result only of its own transcendant excellence, 
 that suffered not the eye to quit it until every 
 speaking line had been conned, and the impress 
 of the whole conveyed deep into the memory and 
 
110 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 the heart. Thrice I returned to it, and left it 
 unwillingly at the last. What was principally 
 worthy of admiration after these, was the roof of 
 the chapel, beautifully painted in fresco, and one 
 or two windows of stained glass, the most splendid 
 specimens perhaps, extant, of that now neglected 
 and nearly forgotten art. 
 
 Brivieska, November 22nd. — On our return to 
 this place, we received intelligence of a victory 
 gained by Cordova over Don Carlos at Estella. 
 Here it was that Cordova had ample opportunity, 
 by burning Estella, of depriving the Carlists of 
 one of their principal holds, and thereby greatly 
 paralyzing their exertions during the present cam- 
 paign. Estella is one of the very few towns in 
 possession of Don Carlos, and deprived of it as 
 a principal means of affording shelter to his troops 
 during the inclemency of the season, they must 
 have been driven to extremity. But although 
 the Spanish Commander was sufficiently aware, 
 not only of this tact, but of the advantage which 
 must have accrued to him in the destruction of 
 so vital an accessary to his enemy's power of 
 
 
 /■ 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 HI 
 
 resistance, considerations — said to be — of hu- 
 manity, prompted a different course,.and the town 
 was spared. ' 
 
 It may be remarked par parenthese, that the 
 system of mercy — decidedly and taken in one 
 sense, — however amiable it may be in others — so 
 invariably followed up, even in the heart of the 
 disturbed provinces, has been productive of the 
 worst consequences to the queen's cause. Had 
 the several commanders of the Spanish army been 
 empowered to carry fire and sword into the 
 country of their enemies, the secession from the 
 ranks of Don Carlos would long* since have been 
 such as to have rendered his army a mere skeleton. 
 It is notorious that our men in their various ex- 
 cursions into the mountains from Bilbao, were 
 oftener fired upon by the peasantry, than what 
 may be termed the regular Carlists themselves. 
 Even while at work in the fields, their arms were 
 secreted at no great distance from them, and when 
 the rear of a detachment, or brigade, as the force 
 might be composed, had passed, their muskets 
 were seized and levelled at the unfortunate 
 
112 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 II 
 
 " forlorn hope," who, although they perished not 
 in the breach, were as certain to find death while 
 inadvertently straggling in the rear. 
 
 Whence resulted this ? They knew that their 
 property and persons were, and would be, 
 respected so long as they were not detected 
 flagrante delicto ; hating us from the bottom of 
 their hearts, they secretly laughed at, and pun- 
 ished us tor our weakness. But a principal 
 motive for the adoption of summary proceedings 
 in regard to propeiiy especially, was to be found 
 in the very devotedness of the country from 
 which the sinews of war were principally fur- 
 nished. Men, who with impunity left their 
 homes, and joined Don Carlos' ranks, under the ful- 
 lest consciousness that their property would be re- 
 spected during absence, would have returned and 
 adhered to that property, the moment the fire- 
 brand had been affixed to the roof of the first 
 dwelling house. However eager they might have 
 been to support the cause of the artful man, who 
 afiects to identify their interests with his own, 
 they would have found those interests better 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 113 
 
 consulted by keeping the much they already pos- 
 sessed, than by grasping at the little more pro- 
 mised them, and of consequence their secession 
 would have been gradual, if not utterly complete. 
 
 Tlie Spaniards themselves, — that is to say, those 
 who are really and truly attached to the Queen's 
 cause, — not merely question the policy of this 
 mistaken lenity on the part of the Government 
 chiefe, but even loudly condemn it. They say, 
 and truly, that beat the Carlists as we may — drive 
 them where we may-^so long as we leave them 
 the means of returning to an unmolested home, 
 when temporarily tired of the fatigues and pri- 
 vations of their mountainous warfare, we shall 
 never succeed in extirpating them as a faction. 
 Although beaten and crushed, they will never be 
 effc^'ially subdued ; and although, like the wily 
 serpent, they may fly the wood which no longer 
 offers concealment to their tortuous trail, and 
 continue in a state of torpor during the winter, 
 each succeeding spring will see them issue forth 
 armed with fresh stings, and scattering the venom 
 of rebellion whithersoever they go. 
 
114 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 pii 
 
 ii'i 
 
 The arguments used by the Queen's GenertJ 
 against the employment of fire and sword are plau- 
 sible. They say they are averse to carrying spolia- 
 tion into places where the innocent, equally with 
 the guilty, must be the sufferers. In most of the 
 towns of northern Spain there is necessarily an 
 intermixture of Carlists and Queenites , — in some 
 the one, in some the other party, predominate ; and 
 as the destruction of towns and property might lead 
 to retaliation, although on a more limited scale, 
 they have deemed it prudent to eschew the spoli- 
 atory system altogether. All this is perhaps as it 
 should be; but the question is, whether in an 
 extreme case, as in the sparing of Estella for 
 instance, private considerations should not yield 
 before the public good. If the faction could be 
 put down by the destruction of ten towns, its 
 extinction would be cheaply purchased ; and if, on 
 the other hand, the existence of such towns, 
 which are the only places of refuge for Don 
 Carlos's army during the winter, are the means of 
 continuing that faction, surely their immunity 
 from harm must be considered as purchased at a 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 115 
 
 fearful price, both to the Government and the- 
 cause of the Queen. This much appears certain,, 
 that if the army of circumvallation about to be 
 raised, of 100,000 men, do not take the field with 
 us, as promised, we shall never of ourselves — ^that 
 is to say, Cordova's army of 30,000 men, and 
 our Legion united, — succeed in so dispersing the 
 Carlists as to put them down, unless we bum and 
 destroy wherever we go. No man can coolly 
 advocate a war of extermination, under ordinary 
 circumstances ; but what mercy have these people 
 a right to expect from us, to whom they will show 
 no other than the bullet or the cord? But after 
 all, there is not so much severity in this, as at 
 first view of the question appears ; inasmuch as 
 before we had burned half a dozen villages, our 
 object would be fully attained, in the secession of 
 more than one half his force from the ranks of 
 Don Carlos. 
 
 Brivieska, November 23rd. — On the day fol- 
 lowing that of my return from Burgos, a priest, 
 convicted of holding correspondence with Don 
 Carlos, and of attempting to enlist recruits for his 
 
116 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 li 
 
 cause, was publicly shot to death without the walls 
 of that city. 
 
 Colonel Dickson, of the 7th, who brought the 
 account, was a witness of the scene, which he 
 describes as one of a very touching nature. The 
 whole of the troops in garrison were marched out 
 into the plain, and having formed a square of 
 three sides facing inwards, the priest, accompanied 
 by his confessor, and holding a crucifix in his 
 hands, was led into the open space. A sort of shell 
 or coffin had been placed at a certain distance, 
 and towards this the unhappy man moved, with 
 his back turned towards the party on whom the 
 task of execution had devolved. He was collected 
 and unwavering ; and though his countenance was 
 pale, it gave no indication of unmanly fear. He 
 carried a white handkerchief to his face, cover- 
 ing his eyes. This, after remaining stationary 
 for a moment or two when arrived near the 
 coffin, he removed, and looked inquiringly round 
 as if to know why the fatal volley had been de- 
 ferred so long, — just at that instant the discharge 
 was made, and he fell forward on the shell, writhing 
 
I , 
 
 THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 117 
 
 in agony. An officer then advanced, accom- 
 panied by a soldier, and the bullet of the latter, 
 directed against the brain of the dying man, put 
 an end to his sufferings. At the moment of his 
 falling the confessor rushed forward, and snatched 
 the crucifix from his hands. The assumption 
 was, that the act was meant to rescue the symbol 
 from a supposed pollution. Without ceremony, 
 the body of the priest was then thrust into the 
 shell, and the bones broken according to usage. 
 By the way, the manner of disposing of the dead 
 in this part of the country, is at once barbarous 
 and repugnant to the feelings. A flag is removed 
 from the pavement of the church, a hole dug, and 
 the body thrown into it, without coffin, or any 
 thing of the sort. Quick lime is next strewed 
 over it, then sufficient earth to hide the body ; after 
 which, men, with large mallets, commence pound- 
 ing away upon the corpse until every bone is 
 broken up ; — it is then left to be decomposed by 
 the quick lime. A few months later they re- 
 move the same pavement to receive another 
 corpse, the first having wholly crumbled into 
 
118 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 I 
 
 dust, and this to the end of the ohapter. One 
 would imagine, that in a country so essentially 
 Catholic, greater respect would be shown to the 
 dead ; but the custom is decidedly Moorish. 
 
 Brivieska, November 27th. — The reported 
 danger of the General's baggage falling into the 
 hands of Merino's cavalry, discovered to be fudge. 
 The route from Santander perfectly safe. 
 
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 CHAPTER V. 
 
 •> 'viiffD 
 
 ■r. ;■'?•' >ii r*i"'f1"f;-»l''» !«> ':\(*'->t-"ir-}.j' 
 
 0I8MIBBAL OF OFFICBBS FBOM THB LBOION — MARCH TO VITOBIA — 
 ORDBBBD TO BAN OOXINSO — PAUL CARfiANADA MY FRBNCH 
 SBR\ANT — HIS BRAVBRY IN A SBVBRB AFFAIR AGAINST VILLA 
 RBAL — ROUTB FROM SAN DOHINOO TO MIRANDA, THROUSH THB 
 ROMANTIC PASS OF PANCORBO — PAUL'S DOWNFALL — COUNCIL OF 
 TITORIA>— INDIFFBRBNT RBCBPTION BY THB INHABITANTS — RB- 
 VIBW OF THB LBOION BY CORDOVA — BALL OIVBN BY THB 
 AUTHORITIBS — DBSCRIPTION OF CORDOVA — GOVERNOR OF BURGOS 
 DI8MI88BD FOR HIS RUDB CONDUCT — CORDOVA AND THB LIBV* 
 TENANT-OBNBRAL 00 TO BURGOS — MASSACRB OF THB CHAPBL- 
 OORRIS BY BSPARTBRO. 
 
 Brivieska, November 25th. — Since our removal 
 here, we have had several officers struck off the Ust 
 of the Legion, in consequence of continued absence 
 without leave — among others, Master-.4.8sistant- 
 Commissary-General Thynne — ^whose name I par- 
 ticularly mention for the reasons that follow : — 
 In that part of my Journal which bears on the 
 
, 
 
 
 
 --^ 
 
 \ 
 
 
 120 
 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 march from Bilbao to this place, I have noted the 
 fact of his encounter with a certain bandit, who 
 was in the act of stripping a child on the road to 
 Castro, and who, on his (Mr. Thynne's) calling 
 out to him, most uncourteously replied, by level- 
 ing his musket. Now, whatever the cause, it is 
 quite certain that the Commissary never moved 
 over a mile of terra-firma in Spain, after that 
 eventful day. It appears that at Castro he found 
 a pretext for embarking to Santander, and from 
 Santander he took passage to England. He has 
 consequently been struck off the strength of the 
 Legion. While on the subject of dismissals from 
 the service, it may not be at all malapropos to 
 state, that from the moment of General Evans 
 joining the Legion in Spain, these have been 
 of very frequent occurrence — and not more fre- 
 quent than necessary. At the first formation of 
 the Legion, as might be fairly assumed, time was 
 not afforded for that strict scrutiny into character 
 and capability, which a few months of pro- 
 bation taught officers it was indispensable to 
 possess. While at Bilbao, what was essentially 
 
THE BRITISH LEOION. 
 
 121 
 
 bad, failed not to develope itself, and found its 
 merited recompence. Courts of Inquiry and 
 Courts Martial weeded the Legion of its worst 
 subjects ; and numbers were sent home — some for 
 misconduct, and others for incapacity. Several 
 of these had the impudence to state, on their 
 return to England, that they had quitted the army 
 in disgust, as not being what they had anticipated 
 in joining it — and each, a Lilliputian General in 
 himself! commented freely on the plans and move- 
 ments of him who had dispensed with their very 
 subordinate assistance. God knows, the army 
 was well rid of a set of men, whose continuance 
 in it could but have injured the cause; and some 
 of whom, to an incompetency without parallel, in 
 their relative positions united a spirit of rapacity, 
 and mercenary thirst of gain, unexampled in any 
 service in the world. 
 
 Such is the description of men, who, returning 
 to England with disappointed interests, and gan- 
 grene in their hearts, basely seek to raise them- 
 selves from the mire into which their own mis- 
 conduct has sunk them, by inveighing against 
 
 R 
 
122 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 the expedition, and affecting to call into question 
 the competency of its head. Party may lend 
 a willing ear to their statements ; but impartiality 
 and discernment — never. ' 
 
 San Domingo, November 30th. — The recovery 
 of General Evans from an indisposition, the 
 result of fatigue and anxiety of mind, under 
 which he had been laboring almost ever since our 
 arrival at Brivieska, has been the signal for a 
 final move upon Vitoria. Yesterday I received 
 an order to hasten to this place from Brivieska, 
 for the purpose of giving the route to the 2nd and 
 4th brigades stationed here under Brigadier- 
 General M'Dougall. Last night I slept at Pan- 
 corbo, a singular and romantic-looking village, 
 situated in the very heart of a pass, formed by 
 immense masses of bold rock, literally overhang- 
 ing the place. This village, distant from Brivi- 
 eska three leagues, is on the high road to Vitoria, 
 and forms the mouth of a gorge in ;vhich con- 
 siderable obstacle might be offered to the advance 
 of an army. My ride to-.day was over a country 
 remarkable for the number, and seeming neatness 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 123 
 
 of its villages. I use the term seeming^ for al- 
 though most of the hamlets in Spain wear a cha- 
 racter of neatness, when seen from a distance, a 
 closer approach to them sadly disappoints the 
 expectation. The Camino-real, or high road was 
 remarkably good, scarcely to be surpassed in any 
 part of England ; and I was not without interest- 
 ing companionship in my trot over it. Shortly 
 after my arrival at Bri' ieska, I had engaged as a 
 private servant, a sharp, intelligent, and vigorous 
 Frenchman, Paul Carganada by name, who had 
 formerly served in the urbanos of Bilbao, but was 
 now discharged, his term of service having ex- 
 pired. This man, highly useful to me in my de- 
 partment, from his knowledge of the language, 
 and the country we are in, I employ as much as 
 an interpreter and guide, as a servant ; and he 
 usually accompanies me upon a small mule which 
 I have procured for his especial accommodation. 
 As we moved along to-day, he pointed out, among 
 the mountains beyond the Ebro on our left, several 
 spots which were familiar to him, as scenes of 
 spirited contest with the enemy, about eighteen 
 
2i' 'ii 
 
 li 
 III 
 
 HilHll 
 
 1 
 
 „,JI 
 
 in 
 
 i!i 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 months previously. The principal of these wa» 
 an enormous mountain, covering seven leagues of 
 ground, lying on the route to Logrono, and called 
 the Montagna de Pefia Serrada. On the occasion 
 alluded to by him, seven companies of his regi- 
 ment had gone out from Maestro, under the com- 
 mand of Colonel Tourlas, a Frenchman also ; and 
 although the mountain was occupied by three 
 battalions of Carlists, under Villa Real, it was 
 resolved to carry it. They advanced, under a 
 spirited fire from the enemy, but with such steadi- 
 ness and perseverance, that two of the Carlist 
 battalions were glad to make good their retreat. 
 The third, under Villa Real, however, stood their 
 ground, until, in the end, the contest was carried 
 on at less than pistol-shot. Annoyed and enraged 
 at the obstinacy of the defence made by the 
 enemy, Paiil, according to his own account, was 
 the first to suggest the charge, a hint that was 
 instantly acted upon by the Colonel, and with such 
 success, that the assailants speedily carried the 
 summit of the mountain : — still the Carlists were 
 not vanquished. Retiring a few feet down the 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 125 
 
 opposite face of the mountain, they threw them- 
 selves behind rocks, and broken surfaces of earth, 
 whence they continued to maintain a galling fire. 
 The impetuosity of my friend Paul, (and certainly 
 it is of no common order,) here again came to 
 the aid of his party. Once more he called out — 
 a la bayonelte, and, leaping down the rocks, pre- 
 ceded his comrades in the effort to dislodge their 
 covered foe. Scarcely, however, had he gained 
 their first line, when a barrel of ammunition was 
 blown up designedly by a Carlist soldier, and poor 
 Paul was so severely burnt as to be compelled to 
 keep his bed for weeks afterwards. His party, 
 however, afterwards carried the day ; an affair of 
 three hours duration. 
 
 Whoever accuses Paul of fanfaronade ^ I re- 
 ligiously believe to be wrong. He showed me 
 the scar on his right arm, which had principally 
 suffered, and certainly it had every appearance 
 of having been produced by an explosion of gun- 
 powder. I had, however, had previous testimony 
 as to his spirit. — When first seen in my service, 
 he vas immediately recognised as one who had 
 
*x 
 
 I Mii: 
 
 i. 
 
 |i 
 
 Bh ;iii ,i< 
 
 «1 
 
 126 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 been foremost in following the banditti, on the 
 day of our march from Portagalette to Castro, 
 and had even exchanged several shots with them, 
 although totally uncalled for, he being with the 
 baggage of an officer of General M'Dougall's 
 staff. • " ' : 
 
 It was long after I first came in sight of this place, 
 that I actually reached it. It lies in a vast flat 
 plain of stony soil, with no other object to relieve 
 the dull monotony of its appearance, than what is 
 afforded by some very beautiful milk-white goats, 
 in the habit of browzing on the leaves of the 
 brown nut-tree, continuous clusters of which line 
 the principal approach for about a mile to the 
 town ; — the attitudes of these animals, as they 
 rested on their hind, and upraised their fore-feet 
 to the slight branches of the tree, nibbling the 
 while, was at once elegant and picturesque. Game 
 is said greatly to abound in this neighborhood, 
 but I do not learn from any of the officers, that 
 they have met with much success. 
 
 Miranda, Decern l)er 2nd. — Yesterday the bri- 
 gades from San Domingo, following those from 
 
 ^< 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 127 
 
 Brivieska, moved forward to Pancorbo, where 
 they halted for the night, pursuing the route to 
 Miranda this morning. On my arrival here, pre- 
 ceding the former, I repaired to the head-quarters 
 of the General, from whom I received an order to 
 change the direction of the 2nd and 4th brigades 
 to the villages of Odun and Sosanna, their original 
 route having been to other positidns. Although 
 the mule of my aid-de-camp Paul had been not a 
 little jaded with the rather smart ride we had already 
 performed, the services of himself and rider were 
 again put in requisition, and we retraced our steps. 
 More than once I was compelled to call out to my 
 attendant to quicken his pace, in order that I 
 might be in time to halt the brigades before they 
 passed the points at which they were to turn ofiF 
 to their respective destinations — the order was 
 complied with, but not without incident. While 
 giving the necessary instructions to Brigadier- 
 General Chichester, my friend Paul came up, but 
 in a state that rendered him scarcely recognizable 
 and with a flushed cheek, and disturbed manner, 
 that told how much his usually irascible tempt* 
 
I • 
 
 V 
 
 128 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 i !.i., 
 
 I r4 
 
 :fi (11 
 
 -: W 
 
 had been ruffled. I queried as to the cause, when 
 he repUed with his customary vivacity, " Que 
 diable voulez vous, mon Capitaine, vous desirez 
 que mon mulet aille an grand galop ^ tandis qu'il 
 ne salt f aire la route qu' au petit trot. II vient 
 de me renverser dans la boue^ et je ne sais quand 
 je me debarrasserai de toutcela." The fact was, 
 that in his eagerness to get forward, Paul, who is 
 of no mean weight, had overbalanced himself, and 
 brought his mule to the ground, in a part of the 
 road by no means the most free from mud. Both 
 animal and rider rolled over each other, until 
 they became a perfect incrustation of filth, and in 
 ' proportion as the disaster was complete, the in- 
 dignation of Paul increased. What added to his 
 choleric mood, was the circumstance of a nearly 
 new pair of rifle trowsers, which I had given him 
 that morning, to match with his smart chasseur 
 jacket, having shared the same fate with his other 
 habiliments, and for these he seemed to entertain 
 much more concern than tor his master's cloak, 
 which he was carrying across the mule, and which, 
 by his unfortimate 7'oularde, had been totally 
 
 i »■ 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 129 
 
 spoiled. It would have been cruel, under these 
 circumstances, to have taken him to the brigade 
 in the rear, and I accordingly moved on alone. i 
 
 On my return I found my assistiente in the 
 same spot — restored in temper, but looking un- 
 usually serious. As we moved on towards the 
 town, I told him he must be prepared to go in 
 advance with me in the morning to Vitoria, to 
 procure billets for the brigades ; but he shook his 
 head, and with one of his sarcastic smiles, re- 
 marked, that hitherto it had been all very well 
 moving in advance, as we were in a friendly dis- 
 trict, but that on the morrow we should be in the 
 heart of the country of the factieua^y when such 
 an experiment might be attended by no incon- 
 siderable danger. When, however, I told him 
 that it must be, he shrugged his shoulders and 
 said, with the utmost sang-froid — '* Eh bien^ mon 
 Capitaine, au diahle^ si vous voules." 
 
 On reaching this place finally, every street of 
 the town evinced the utmost degree of confusion. 
 In every direction were to be seen masses of the 
 Legion, whom the difficulty of quartering kept in 
 
 8 
 
Ill 
 
 \ 
 
 130 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 III 
 
 the street for hours, rendering these latter almost 
 impassahle even by the foot passenger ; nor was 
 it until a very late hour this evening, that any 
 thing approaching to quiet was obtained. Even 
 that will be of short duration, as the several 
 brigades are to be under arms at five o'clock. 
 
 Vitoria, December 4th. — Yesterday we made 
 our long anticipated — ^long desired entry into this 
 place. We moved early from Miranda — but the 
 known proximity of the enemy rendered fre- 
 quent baitings necessary ; and it was not until 
 dark that the General and his statF preceded the 
 brigade into the town. It was half expected that 
 we should have had an encounter with the Car- 
 lists, and, as we moved over ground rendered 
 interesting to each, from former achievements 
 by the British arms, there were few, who would 
 not gladly have grasped at the opportunity of 
 following in the path of their more fortunate 
 and victorious countrymen. But this was not 
 doomed to be. 
 
 A strong body of the Queen's troops were sta- 
 tioned to cover our passage of the Sidona, a river 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 i3r 
 
 situate near the village of Puebla. As we ad- 
 vanced, we found the heights commanding the 
 wood, right and left, similarly occupied, while a 
 strong piquet defended a bridge across the same 
 arm of the Ebro, about half a mile to the left of 
 the road, immediately beyond which the Carlist 
 position lay. Strong bodies of troops — detach- 
 ments from the army of Espartero, which had 
 preceded us from Bilbao — moreover hovered on 
 our flanks, so that the Legion ran little risk of 
 being taken by surprise, encumbered, even as it 
 was, by an immense train of baggage. 
 
 Arrived at the avenue conducting into the 
 town, the drums and the bugles of the Legion 
 struck up — ^the light brigade under General Reid 
 being in advance. Over the gate of the town 
 was placed a globe, crowned with the several 
 flags of England, France, Spain, and Portugal ; 
 and the following inscription in large black letters 
 on white canvass : — " The generous English who 
 fight for the freedom of nations." They might 
 have added, by the bye, " who also fight without 
 pay;" for at Brivieska, the officers generously 
 
132 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 III 
 
 enough consented to forego all claims for the next 
 three months ; an example set them by the prin- 
 cipal officers. The broad street of Santa Clara, 
 was lined on either hand, with troops of Cor- 
 dova's army, and a number of the inhabitants 
 were collected in the streets, while numerous 
 others appeared at the various windows. As 
 General Evans made his entrance, the bands of 
 the several Spanish regiments played Riego's 
 Hymn, and the troops presented arms. A few 
 " vivas los Inglesas" burst from the crowd, but 
 they were neither so universal nor so enthusiastic 
 as we had been prepared to expect. Indeed, 
 irom what little I have been enabled to remark 
 since our arrival, the inhabitants of Vitoria are 
 infinitely more Carlists than Queenites. From 
 the vast number of officers, English and Spanish, 
 now here, the difficulty of billeting is great, and 
 there seems no disposition on the part of the 
 people to do more than what is absolutely and 
 imperatively required of them. ' 
 
 Vitoria, December 6th. — Yesterday the Legion 
 was reviewed by Cordova, who had arrived from 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 133 
 
 Ldgrono, on the preceding day, for that especial 
 purpo. . At an early hour the Lieutenant- 
 General, with his staff, was on the ground, ready 
 to receive him, and as the morning was fine, the 
 troops were seen to advantage. When Cordova 
 made his appearance, his staff, which was very 
 brilliant and numerous, united with that of the 
 British General — the whole forming a splendid 
 cortege well mounted, and richly costumed. On 
 this occasion, a new system of salute was ob- 
 served • by the Legion, which, lu my humble 
 opinion, is no improvement. As the reviewing 
 General passed along the line, arms were not 
 presented by the men, but each officer dropped 
 his sword separately and independently, as the 
 staff arrived within a few paces of his front. 
 This mode of saluting is Spanish, and produces 
 any thing but a good effect, for it gives the line 
 an unsteady appearance. Several evolutions were 
 afterwards performed by the troops, highly to 
 the gratification of Cordova, and the whole was 
 concluded by a volley, and the charge — the lat- 
 ter of which was given with so much spirit. 
 
134 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 
 accompanied by such startling shouts, as to cause 
 the Spaniards to look on with astonishment. The 
 Carlists must have heard it. 
 
 In the evening, a ball was given at the The- 
 atre, to the officers of the Legion ; but a sad 
 apology for an entertainment it proved, being 
 spiritless and stupid to a degree. Unlike at San 
 Sebastian and Bilbao, there was no supper, and 
 whoever wanted refreshments had to repair to the 
 ca.f6 of the Theatre, where he paid his sous for 
 value received. Cordova, Espartero, and General 
 Evans were present for an hour or two, but they 
 retired early. The former mingled much with 
 the crowd, and showed much gallantry of manner 
 towards his countrywomen, with most of whom 
 he exchanged compliments. 
 
 Cordova is not by any means a fine man. His 
 figure is thin and spare — his shoulders are 
 narrow, and altogether, his appearance is not so 
 much that of the robust soldier, as I had been 
 led to expect; — yet notwithstanding this, there is 
 an elasticity, and lightness about his action — a 
 quickness of intelligence in his eye — and an 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 135 
 
 ardor of expression in his countenance — all which 
 united, convey at once, to a reader of character, 
 the certainty of a man prompt to conceive, and 
 no less ready to act. Although extremely youth- 
 ful both in figure and feature, there is an expres- 
 sion of determination about the man, which 
 redeems his want of the severer personal attri- 
 butes of the mere soldier : — and one cannot be- 
 hold him without being sensible that a mind of 
 no common order inhabits his delicate frame. 
 About the middle height, and apparently not 
 more than thirty-five years of age, he forms a 
 striking contrast to Espartero, whose dark un- 
 bending brow, and immoveable features, half 
 buried in whisker and moustache, convey the im- 
 pression of the warrior of many battle fields. 
 While Cordova, on the other hand, with shaven 
 cheek and beardless chin, reminds you rather of 
 the gay frequenter of the drawing-room. 
 
 The conduct of the Governor of Burgos, to 
 Captain Clarke and myself, I have already re- 
 corded. Yesterday the report was laid before 
 Cordova, and, without a moment's hesitation, he 
 
136 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 ■ftt 
 
 f fl|! 
 
 !'.»■■■ 
 
 m 
 
 !'! 
 
 
 caused the name of the delinquent to be struck 
 out of the Governorship, and that of the Baron 
 de Sola to be substituted in its stead. Tliis is as 
 it should be. 
 
 This morning, accompanied by General Evans, 
 and the personal staff of the latter, Cordova left 
 Vitoria for Burgos, for the purpose of meeting 
 General Alava, arrived from Madrid on his route 
 to France, for the express purpose of remon- 
 strating with the Government of Louis-Phillippe 
 on the subject of supplies conveved directly, or 
 indirectly, to the Carlists, from that country. 
 What the result of that remonstrance will be, 
 heaven only knows. 
 
 Vitoria, December 12th. — ^This day (Sunday), 
 has been remarkable for a cruel tragedy, — one 
 which will long live in the memory of the brave, 
 although it must be admitted, lawless Chapel- 
 gorris. The facts connected with it are as 
 follows : — 
 
 Some time ago a party of these latter attacked 
 a Carlist village called La Bastide, in Alava, and 
 succeeded in driving the enemy out. A priest, 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 137 
 
 \vlio was amonp^ the number of the fupjitives, was 
 shot in the act of flyinjr with the Carlists ; and the 
 Chapelgorris, on their return to the village, plun- 
 dered the church, and drank wine out of the 
 chahce. A representation of this fact was made 
 to the Government of Madrid, with this impor- 
 tant alteration in the true version of the story, — 
 that the priest had been murdered in the church, — 
 and simply with a view to subsequent -spoliation. 
 Espartero, the commander of the division here, 
 was accordingly written to, and strongly censure ^ 
 for having suffered the commission of such an 
 outrage. The measure he immediately took to 
 justify himself, and punish the offenders, was 
 fearfully summary. The whole of the Chapel- 
 gorris were this morning marched a few miles 
 on the Miranda road, and, without being in the 
 slightest degree aware of what was in prepa- 
 ration, were ordered to ascend a rising ground, — 
 the same where the French batteries were planted 
 which did so much execution during the advance 
 upon Vitoria by Lord Wellington's army. Here 
 they found a body of 6,000 infantry, the horse 
 
life' 
 
 138 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 im\ 
 
 111! 
 
 % 
 
 ! i^'lii" 
 
 ! m 
 
 W 
 
 I I 
 
 artillery which had preceded them from Vitoria, 
 and a considerable number of cavalry, already 
 drawn !ip. Having completed the ascent, they 
 were halted, and ordered to pile their arms, from 
 which they were commanded to move some distance. 
 The cavalry now rode up between the Chapel- 
 gorris and their muskets, forming a guard to 
 these latter. Then, for the first time, the poor 
 fellows began to form a suspicion of what was 
 intended against them, and several moved as if to 
 repossess themselves of their arms ; but the 
 cavalry drove them back, and they were left 
 helpless. Espartero, who commanded in person 
 at this scene, now ordered that lots should be 
 cast for decimation. The command was obeyed, 
 and the unfortunates stood apart from their 
 astonished and indignant comrades. The first 
 ten of this devoted number were again selected, 
 and these were inevitably to die. Among them 
 was a fine young man, a Frenchman, and, as his 
 comrades assert, a nephew of Lafitte. This 
 youth, scarcely nineteen, was an object of general 
 interest, both from his appearance, and the 
 
 h' 
 
THE BRITISH LEGIoN. 
 
 139 
 
 earnest manner in which he avowed his innocence 
 of all crime that could possibly lead to such an 
 end. But his judge was inexorable, and he was 
 compelled to share the lot of his companions. 
 His fate once decided, he thought only of dying as 
 best became a brave soldier ; and when told to 
 turn his back to the firing party, he reflised, 
 saying that he was no traitor, and that he had 
 too often faced the bullets of his enemies, to fear 
 those of his comrades now. Then, waving his cap, 
 he tossed it in the air, and told them he was ready 
 to die like a Frenchman. 
 
 Thus have perished ten of our old San Sebastian 
 friends. It happens, unfortunately for them, that 
 General Evans is absent, or his intercession with 
 Espartero might have obtained them their lives. 
 
 December 16th. — The affair of the poor 
 Chapelgorris has been the subject of general 
 conversation ui the Legion, for the last few days, 
 and the conduct of Espartero designated as any 
 thing but merciful. Even Jauregui himself 
 is deeply chagrined and pained, it is said, so 
 much so, as to be obliged to keep his bed. It 
 
if* 
 
 t'C 
 
 140 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 iSli»,. 
 
 f j'!"^"' 
 
 im 
 
 5 r. 
 
 is a singular circmnstaiice that a nephew of his 
 own, in the ranks of tlie Chapelgorris, stood 
 eleventh, originally, on the list for decimation ; 
 l)ut a yet more remarkable fact may be recorded. 
 Among the ten who received the iatal fire, was a 
 young man to whom Jauregui was particularly 
 partial ; — the only ball by which he was hit 
 slightly grazed his car or neck, sufficiently to 
 draw blood, and he had the presence of mind to 
 throw himself down, and continue perfectly still, 
 3S if struck by a mortal wound. Here he re- 
 mained until the tioops had all withdrawn, when 
 he was removed to the quarters of Jauregui, 
 where he is at this moment ; and where the gallant 
 El Pastor declares he shall continue unharme*^ 
 and untouched. 
 
 A visible change has been oti&jcted in the man- 
 ner of the Chapelgorris generally. To the 
 sprightliness and enjouement of character, which 
 distinguished these men from all other Spanish 
 sol<liers, has succeeded a reserve and dispirite<JM3S«, 
 that pr'.H'laim how much, and how deeply, tl»»y 
 have felt the tragic occurrences of Suiidax last. 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 141 
 
 This force has hitherto been composed of a mix- 
 ture of Spaniards and foreigners; but, within the 
 last two days, the whole of the latter, chiefly 
 French and Italian, have been taken from the 
 corps, and moved off, with the intention of being 
 sent to their respective countries. This may be 
 politic, but it will sadly lessen the efficiency of the 
 corps, on whom great reliance has hitherto been 
 placed : — not the less, for having these same 
 Frenchmen and Italians of their number. Many 
 of the Spaniards are dissatisfied with the arrange- 
 ment, and, as all are volunteers who may quit the 
 service at their pleasure, it is supposed not a few 
 will disband themselves, and return to San Sebas- 
 tian, at the first favorable opportunity. To day 
 I conversed with one of them, and he declared, 
 with tears in his eyes, he would no longer remain 
 after wliat had occurred. He was at the affair of 
 La Bastide himself, and although he admits that 
 he and his companions plundered the church, and 
 drank wine out of the chalice, he swears positively 
 that the priest was killed in fair fight, and while 
 fleeing m'*\i the Carlists, — both parties having 
 
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 ' 
 
 III)! 
 
 m 
 
 I • 
 
 \ 
 
 142 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 sustained some loss in killed. He more ver asserted, 
 and repeated his assertion, that so tar from Espar- 
 tero being dissatisfied with their conduct on that 
 day, he was the first to encourage them, by 
 exclaiming, " Good, Chapelgorris, good ; you have 
 behaved well." But, added he, with strong emo- 
 tion, produced by the recollection of the recent 
 fate of his comrades, — " it is only to shield 
 himself, and court tavor with the Government, 
 that he has done this deed." 
 
 !">» I . 
 
 
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 hKBi'' 
 
 HI 
 
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 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 »i '! V. 
 
 'I 
 
 Ml 
 
 TLAG OF TRUCB FROM THE ENEMY — CHRISTMAS DAY — A TURKEY 
 ANECDOTE — REPORT OF THE STATE OF SAN SEBASTIAN — ANEC- 
 DOTES OF ZUMALACARREGVI ARRIVAL OF COUNT ALMADOVAH, 
 
 THE MINISTER AT WAR — DESCRIPTION OF VITORIA — PROMISE OF 
 THE QUEEN REGENT TO VISIT THE LEGION IN SUMMER — ADVANCE 
 OP THE LEGION FROM VITORIA — SPIRITED CONDUCT OF THE 
 
 STAFF UNHEALTHY STATE OF VITORIA — ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH 
 
 LEGION — CRITICAL POSITION OF THE CARLISTS — AFFAIR OF AR- 
 
 LABAN — MURDER OF MR. STREET, OF THE COMMISSARIAT 
 
 INCREASING SICKNESS AT VITORIA BURIAL OF ONE OF CORDOVA's 
 
 AIDS-DE-CAMP — FORWARD MOVliMENi OF THE COMBINED TROOPS 
 UPON THE CASTLE OF 6UABARRA — FAILS TO DRAW THE ENEMY 
 INTO ACTION — A CARLIST COLONEL KILLED BY THE QUEEN's 
 CAVALRY, IN REVENGE FOR THE MURDER OF MR. STREET — TRUE 
 
 POSITION OF THE BRITISH LEGION IN THE AFFAIR OF THE 17tH 
 
 LEGION LEFT UNPROTECTED AGAINST THE WHOLE CARLIST FORCE 
 ON THE HEIGHTS OF ZOAZO — GENERAL EVANS's WITHDRAWAL OP 
 HIS FORCES ACROSS THE ZADORA, WHERE A FINAL POSITION IS 
 TAKEN UP ANECDOTE. 
 
 December 20th. — Nothing important during the 
 week. This morning a flag of truce came in 
 from the enemy, the announcement of the arrival 
 of which, occasioned some little excitement in the 
 
iM^ 
 
 If 
 
 
 144 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 Legion, anxious to see in what manner its bearers 
 were equipped. As the parties were not suffered to 
 enter the gates of the tower, we were compelled to 
 go forth to them ; and pleasant indeed was the 
 appearance the poor devils exhibited. I longed for 
 the presence of the correspondent of the Morning 
 Postj who, in his letter of the 27th of November, 
 describes the perfect and soldier-like bearing of 
 his parties proteges. The officer was a very 
 young man indeed ; and, although he had evi- 
 dently done all his forlorn condition in the moun- 
 tains would admit of, to render lamself fine, the 
 effect was utterly lost upon us all. The men 
 were as meanly attired as their officer ; and the 
 horses bore marks of the privation from which 
 their masters had suffered. The only decent 
 looking fellow among the party was the trum- 
 peter, who, in his dark eyebrow, lustrous eye, and 
 ruddy cheek, formed a singular exception to his 
 comrades. We, of course, expected the flag had 
 arrived with some communication of consequence ; 
 either a summons to the garrison to surrender, 
 or an offer of submission on the part of the rebels. 
 
 C"'i 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 145 
 
 Not so ; the officer was the bearer of an account 
 for items incurred in the maintenance of certain 
 prisoners of the Queen's army, recently exchanged 
 and sent into Vitoria. Having acquitted himself 
 of his mission, and taken a glass of wine with the 
 officer commanding the cavalry piquet who re- 
 ceived him, he soon afterwards departed, — ^not a 
 little to the amusement of the usually grave 
 Spaniards, who could not conceal their mirth at 
 the ludicrous gait of the miserable horses, as their 
 riders, anxious to show them off to the utmost, 
 spurred, or endeavored to spur, them to their speed. 
 December 25th. — This is the day the Tories 
 prophesied that what few of us should be left, 
 would be in London half-starved and crippled, 
 and gaping eagerly into the plum-pudding shops. 
 They were wrong. — ^The day has been kept by 
 us with all the festivity peculiar to our ancestors ; 
 and we have wine and charity in abundance, thank 
 Heaven, to drink to a better feeling on the part of 
 the Tories themselves. To crown these festivi- 
 ties, we have had the pleasure of witnessing the 
 arrival of a number of deserters, who came in 
 
 u 
 
^ 
 
 146 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 ffi'i 
 
 ' IP 
 Mi 
 
 early in the evening — some of those same persons 
 whom the correspondent of tht Post describes as 
 so enthusiastically devoted to their lawful sove- 
 reign, Charles the Fifth ; but who, in effect, it 
 would appear, are fonder of their comfort, and 
 their lives. En passant, I cannot omit a good 
 joke on the part of these same Carlists : — Aware 
 of the English mania for turkeys at Christmas, 
 many of the peasants had fattened numbers, for 
 the purpose of bringing them into the Vitoria 
 market. The Carlists watched the preparation, 
 and saw the turkeys fatten, with no inconsider- 
 able satisfaction. Two days before Christmas, they 
 were collected together in flocks, and already on 
 the move, when the facetious Carlists interposed : 
 — '* No," said they, " thesv» turkeys stop with us ; 
 the English may be fond of them, but we no less 
 so : with your permission we will make our 
 dinner off them instead." — And thus we lost our 
 turkeys. 
 
 This evening, the Lieutenant-General, who had 
 been absent on a tour throughout Cordova's lines, 
 almost ever since our arrival here, returned to 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 147 
 
 head-quarters. As the Carlists are said to be 
 twenty-two battalions strong at Salvatierra, within 
 two leagues of us, (whence indeed parties of them 
 frequently ride up to the gates of the town, when 
 they see the '* coast clear") — an attack on their 
 position may be daily expected. 
 
 December 27th. — The Deputy-Adjutant-General 
 de Lancy arrived this day from Santander. He 
 had left us at Ona, on the march from Bilbao, and 
 performed the whole of the journey singly and on 
 horseback. From Santander he proceeded, under 
 the command of Colonel Arbuthnott, with a part 
 of the garrison, and some artillery, to San Se- 
 bastian, then closely besieged by the Carlists, the 
 same party we had encountered at Hemani. The 
 account Colonel de Lancy gives of San Sebastian 
 is truly deplorable ; and I confess, as one of those 
 who had experienced the hospitality and kindness 
 of the inhabitants, I was touched by it. He des- 
 cribes the place as painfully altered; — all the 
 principal families we had known, had abandoned 
 it, and repaired to Bayonne. The pavement of 
 the streets had been taken up, and bomb-proofs 
 
\ 
 
 148 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 constructed in every part of the town. Alto£?ether, 
 San Sebastian had lost the air of liveliness and 
 gaiety it wore at our landing, for the first time, in 
 Spain ; and the few inhabitants left, bitterly re- 
 gretted the absence of the two regiments (the 1st 
 and 2nd) towards whom they had testified so much 
 amity, and on whom they had placed so much 
 reliance. Our poor old convent of St. Francisco 
 was filled with Carlist troops, and the refectory 
 had exchanged its offerings of claret and cigars 
 for the fumes of Aguardiente and tobacco-pipes. 
 The whole bay was covered with Carlist canton- 
 ments, and on the elevated point, where the light- 
 house stands, batteries had been erected. And 
 yet with all this hostile array of the enemy, Se- 
 bastian was safe, as long as its inmates could be 
 faithful to themselves. It is true, they were 
 sheltered beneath bomb-proofs, but only as a 
 measure of precaution. The execution done by 
 the enemy was trifling, scarcely worthy of remark ; 
 and when Colonel de Lancy left, it was under the 
 impression that the town (the citadel could never 
 be taken,) was in no danger whatever of falling. 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 149 
 
 On the (lay of Colonel Arbuthnott's departure, 
 the Carlists saluted him with several discharges 
 from their artillery ; but this was so wretchedly 
 served, that every ball fell at least three hundred 
 yards short of the boat in which he was embarked. 
 
 December 28th. — A rather interesting anecdote 
 Mas recounted to me this morning by Captain 
 Clarke, who returned from a tour of examination 
 along the Logrono lines the day previous to the 
 arrival of the General. On his return from Pam- 
 peluna he stopped at a small village, the principal 
 posada of which was remarkable for the beauty of 
 its hostess. Nor was the style of that beauty 
 Spanish, (Spanish beauty few of us have had the 
 bad taste to admire, however our romantic cock- 
 ney touiists may dest ant on it,) but essentially 
 and touchingly English. The husband was ex 
 ceedingly fond of her, and indeed testified so 
 nmch attachment, as to render it a matter of re- 
 mark to his guest, who, in the course of subsequent 
 conversation, elicited the following fact : — 
 
 While Zumalacarregui was traversing this 
 part of the province, struck by the beauty of 
 

 Tl{l|!|, <| 
 
 
 if 
 
 
 150 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 the woman, he carried her off to the mountains, 
 where she remained for some time. Filled Mith 
 grief and despair, the unfortunate hushand sent 
 to the General, entreating the restoration of his 
 wife. Moved hy the appeal, Zumalacarregui 
 at length consented to do so, provided within a 
 certain time, 1200 sheep and 700 dollars were 
 sent to him as the price of ransom. The poor 
 fellow had great difficulty in raising the amount ; 
 which, indeed, was more than he was worth. But 
 affection will conquer much in favor of its object ! 
 The money was obtained — paid into the hand of 
 Zumalacarregui, and the delighted Spaniard once 
 more strained his beautiful wife to his heart. 
 " Ah," said he, with a look full of love, as, on 
 concluding his little history to Captain Clarke, 
 he patted her cheek, "you know you were not 
 worth half tlie money I paid for your restoration." 
 But her expressive eye and malicious smile, di- 
 rected to her guest, at onco said, — " Don't you 
 believe him." 
 
 While on the subject of Zumalacarregui, I 
 must not omit the following instance of his gal- 
 
 % 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 151 
 
 lantry at Bilbao. The day previous to his bom- 
 bardment of that city, he sent into the town, inti- 
 mating that if there were any English ladies who 
 wished to quit it, he would allow them until eight 
 o'clock on the following morning ; but that after 
 that hour, no one would be allowed to leave, under 
 any pretence whatsoever. Emboldened by this 
 act of courtesy on the part of the Carlist chief, one 
 or two of the residents inquired if similar permis- 
 sion would be accorded to a certain number of 
 Spanish ladies as well. Zumalacarregui demanded 
 to know how manv, and on being told twenty, 
 gave his consent, stipulating only that these ladies 
 should place themselves under the protection of the 
 British flag. The terms were complied with, and 
 the parties quitted the town, thus escaping all the 
 inconveniencies of the siege. It must not be for- 
 gotten, that Zumalacarregui added, on giving his 
 assent, that, in the event of his being fired upon 
 by the Queen's troops from the town, he would 
 not return that fire, until the ladies were em- 
 barked, and out of danger. 
 
 January 1st, 1836. — Yesterday Cordova arrived 
 

 ff«l 
 
 it 
 
 152 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 here, accompanied by the Minister of War, 
 from Madrid, bringing with them intelLgence of 
 the utter extinction of the faction, recently raised 
 and armed in Arrogan. Fifteen hundred were 
 taken prisoners, and fifteen hundred more laid 
 down their arms immediately afterwards. This 
 is a fatal blow to the hopes of Carlism. What 
 will the Tories say to this, who so recently ex- 
 ulted in the staunch devotedness of these poor 
 people :.'j the assassin Charles ? At a late hour 
 last evening, two hundred came in here as pri- 
 soners, among them many who had been severely 
 wounded. A slight description of this much- 
 spoken of city may not be uninteresting. 
 
 Vitoria is very indifferently fortified, parti- 
 cularly on the Miranda side. There are but few 
 guns mounted, and these could offer but little 
 resistance against a determined enemy. Ten 
 battalions of English troops would walk over its 
 walls in as many minutes, however numerous 
 their opponents. Indeed, the only barrier that 
 separates my lodging from the open country, is 
 an undefended wall of about twelve feet, which 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 153 
 
 init>ht be scaled with tho utmost case at a.iA hour 
 of the night, ; nor can the Carlists be iitt<:'r!v 
 ignorant of the weak points <>f a fortress (so it 
 is called) they are so anxious to obtain. 
 
 The town itself is a curious compound, !.c»n2^ 
 partly Moorish, partly modern, in construction, — 
 the entrance from the Miranda road, by the 
 Calle vSaiita Clara, is good. Tins street is broad, 
 and on either side, are to be seen some tolerable 
 houses, but the most modern are in the Calle in 
 which T have my lodgings — the San Antonia. 
 Billets were difficult to be procured when ^ve first 
 arrived, owing to the vast influx of strangers. 
 Even general officers could with difficulty secure 
 rooms to themselvt^s. That which was shown me 
 as mine, was miserable to a degree, insomuch 
 that I was obliged to hire apartments. The 
 moderate prices of these may, however, be 
 judged of, when I admit that I pay for a whole 
 suite of rooms, ten in number, seven closets, 
 separate beds tor two servants, and stabling for 
 two horses, scarcely two pescUas a day, which 
 is little more than one shilling and six-pence 
 
l-ilii: 
 
 154 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 English. There is this to be said, that several 
 of the rooms are unfurnished ; but I have some 
 counterbalancing advantages, having the whole 
 floor to myself, and hear it, oh ye gods ! a fire 
 place in my sitting room. Yes, a fire place 
 in Spain ! while hundreds of other officers in 
 their comfortless billets, know no other protec- 
 tion from the cold, than what their hrazdro^ or 
 their blankets, aiFord them. I would not give 
 up my fire place alone, for double what I pay, — 
 yet, I believe, there are not a dozen men in the 
 Legion possessed of this luxury. But to return 
 to Vitoria. 
 
 At the extremity of the Call^ Santa Clara 
 is an open space, adorned with a fountain, which 
 leads on the left through as many archways to 
 the Calles Herrereia, Zapateria, Correria, Cu- 
 chilleria, &c. These, dull, narrow, and gloomy, 
 contain some odd looking houses, and some good 
 ones : — among the latter, that of the Lieutenant- 
 General, who is in the Call^ Herrereia. Cordova, 
 when here, occupies an equally commodious 
 billet in the Zapateria : — the Correria is only 
 
THE PRITISH LEGION. 
 
 15& 
 
 remarkable for its filth, having in it the principal 
 slaughter-houses. ; 
 
 Proceeding on the right of this open space 
 alluded to, and immediately opposite to the Call^ 
 Herrereia, you anter the grand plaza of Vitoria, 
 in which there are many good and uniform build- 
 ings. I cannot better convey an idea of a Span- 
 ish plaza to the iminitiated, than by stating that 
 it is precisely similar to the Palais Royal. It has 
 nearly the same appearance, although on a more 
 limited icale. A corridor surrounds this building, 
 or rather continuous chain of buildings, and be- 
 neath it there are shops for the sale of all things. 
 The elegance of the Palais Royal, however, it has 
 not. It wants the fountains, and trees, and gar- 
 dens, which render the former so delectable a 
 lounge for the grey boards of the olden day, who 
 think there is no greater happiness than basking 
 in the sun's rays, seated comfortably in their 
 chairs, and their favorite journal, upholding the 
 " Ancien Regime " in hand. There is this differ- 
 ence also, that the plazas of Spain are a des- 
 cription of market place. Here are to be seen 
 
V 
 
 ^i! ^' 
 
 156 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 t * 
 
 venders of bread, fowls, and every thing in the 
 fruit line ; and the passenger is often obstructed 
 by the intermixture of these people with the 
 buyers, principally soldiery. The plazas are also 
 the great theatres for reviews of troops, inspec- 
 tions, &c. Unlike the Palais Royal, too, where 
 the ladies of easy virtue are the principal pro- 
 menaders, bon-ton of Spanish society are to be 
 seen assembled here in the colder, or more 
 heavy weather, and walking as though it were 
 "the devil take the hindmost." In fine wea- 
 ther they patronize the Florida, which is not 
 a hundred vards out of the Calle Santa Clara. 
 In the dark mantilla, they look well ; but when 
 thev ape foreign fashionables, they are unendur- 
 able. A hat on a Spanish woman is a])ominable, 
 and this from the. horrid association of colors. 
 They remind one of the female sweeps on May- 
 day in England. The beauty of the better order 
 of females in Vitoria is not striking : — the lower 
 class, among which are some very pretty girls, 
 have decidedly the advantage. ^'any of these 
 are classically beautiiul, both in iace and figure. 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 157 
 
 Beyond the plaza of Vitoria, and terminated by 
 the horse-artillery barracks, is a sort of square, in 
 which the j^uns of that corps are kept. Nothing- 
 can be in better order than this park of artillery ; 
 the men are chiefly young, good-looking, and well- 
 dressed. Their horses, moreover, are, like most 
 Spanish horses, of glossy coat, and in good con- 
 dition. It is really a source of gratification to see 
 them turn out ; the only thing to be complained 
 of is, that they make no use of them. There is 
 a decent post-office at the entrance of the Calle 
 Cuchilleria, which is rather wider than its brethren 
 already described, but is approached through the 
 same sort of archway. There is also a theatre, 
 but I \vas too sick of the Bilbao representations, 
 to venture upon those of Vitoria. Except at 
 the ball given on our arrival, I have never been 
 in it. 
 
 The country around Vitoria is beautiful, and 
 some of the views commanded of the place superb. 
 Vitoria is situated in a plain, and numerous vil- 
 lages dot the space between it and the mountains 
 on the Carlist side. It is approached, as has 
 
I ^ 
 
 
 158 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 !; '', 
 
 M' ■#< 
 
 already been shown, on the Miranda road, by a 
 rather broad avenue of trees, of about half a league 
 in extent ; from the farther extremity of which a 
 very excellent and distinct view of the town is 
 commanded. At the end of the valley rise ex- 
 cessively lofty mountains, which, in winter, are 
 covered with snow. 
 
 January 2nd. — To-day the Minister of War, the 
 Count Almadovar, held a grand levee for the 
 officers of the Legion. SnflPering severely from 
 rheumatism in the head, I had not an opportunity 
 of attending, but, from all I can learn, his recep- 
 tion was very gracious. In addition to other 
 matter, he stated that it had originally been the 
 intention of the Queen mother to have seen us 
 here, but that the severity of the weather had 
 prevented her carrying such intention into effect. 
 He promised, however, in her name, that later, 
 and as the weather became milder, the journey 
 from Madrid would be undertaken, when we 
 should have the satisfaction of making our 
 obeisance, and kissing her hand. He concluded 
 by saynig, that much reliance was placed upon the 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 159 
 
 efforts of the Legion ; and he himself would remain 
 with us, to witness the result of an attack it was 
 intended to make on the enemy's position at 
 Salvaliek-ra, in the course of a few days, when he 
 doubted not his English allies would cover them- 
 sclve-s with their wonted glory. 
 
 January 3rd. — This day, the light brigade, 
 under General Reid, and the 2nd under Colonel 
 Shaw, moved forward upon the Salvatierra road, 
 to occupy the villages that lie between this, 
 and that supposed strong hold of the enemy. 
 They were preceded by the Chapelgorris recently 
 attached to the Legion, — between whom, and the 
 advanced post of the enemy, some unimportant 
 skirmishing took place. The Carlists were in 
 force near the Castle of Guabara, about three 
 leagues from this, which they have been for some 
 time busily occupied, in fortifying. As soon as the 
 advance of the English was perceived, they drew 
 up under cover of their entrenchments, pnd with 
 an evident determination to make a stand. But 
 an attack was not contemplated; — ^the Chapel- 
 gorris having been pushed forward, merely with 
 
 ■m 
 
« 
 
 160 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 "■I 
 
 ill 
 
 
 a view to cover the rcconnoissancc which Cordova 
 and Evans liad in view. The position occupied 
 by the staff', commanded a highly pictnres([ue 
 view ot" the enemy, and as they were within 
 musket range, the fire of the hitter was in no 
 slight degree directed against them ; but their aim 
 was so infamous, that not a ball took effect, 
 either falling short, or going over the heads of 
 the officers. One or two challenges to single 
 combat were offered from the Queen's side, — but 
 these were not accepted. Among others, a Cap- 
 tain Potier, a Belgian, — who had deserted from 
 the Carlists the preceding week, and come into 
 Vitoria, was principally forward in this defiance. 
 He went considerably in advance with his drawn 
 sword, but no other weapon, — and called re- 
 peatedly on a Carlist officer to come down and 
 meet him, — but the offer was not met. Several 
 Lancers, however, came, and on their appear- 
 ance, the mounted orderlies of the staff* moved 
 forward to support the brave Beige. They pur- 
 sued the horsemen to an adjoining wood, where 
 in all probability they would have fallen a sacri- 
 
THK BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 IGl 
 
 fice to a stronj^er party of Carlist Cavalry, who 
 were coming to the aid of their comrades, ha*! it 
 not been for a spirited movement made by the 
 staff, who suddenly formed into two squadrons, 
 and presented a front which had the effect of 
 checking the advance of the enemy's leinforce- 
 ment, and enabling our own party to get off. 
 
 January 8th. — Vitoria is decidedly, to us, a 
 most unhealthy place, and its air promises more 
 destruction to the Legion, than the bullets of the 
 Carlists. The climate, in every sense, appears 
 like that of England, clear, cold, and bracing ; 
 and yet there are few of us who have not our 
 health materially affected, since our arrival. We 
 are, and have been, burying from six to eight men 
 a day for the last fortnight, and five officers have 
 fallen victims to the epidemic. The general com- 
 plaint is the unhealthy and uncomfortable state 
 of the hospitals, and the Spanish authorities are 
 unwilling to afford any assistance to render them 
 better, or in any way ameliorate the sufferings 
 of the poor English soldier. The diftcrence is 
 striking in the hospitals, — each Spaniard has a 
 
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102 
 
 TlIE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 iiffiM 
 
 m't 
 
 comfortable bed, wbile, in many cases, the English 
 have none whatever. Things are said to have 
 been bettor managed in Portugal under Mr. Al- 
 cock, who is second in rank of the Medical De- 
 partment here. 
 
 Instances hfive occurred of the men creeping 
 into corners of the cold convent, where they were 
 quartered, and having actually been drawn out 
 dea<l. In one of these churches where my regi- 
 ment is quartered, no less than I'rom thirty to 
 forty men a day have been scut into hospital ; 
 these poor fellows had one bed, al)out the width 
 of a sofa, to every five men. 
 
 Jainiary 10th. — No rencontre yet with the 
 enemy, nor does it seem likely. The Carlists 
 appear to be in no way inclined to provoke us 
 to an engagement, nor is it our object to go in 
 search of them. As it is, we shall work our way 
 quietly, and gradually, to Pampeluna, occupying 
 in succession, the thickly scattered villages that lie 
 in the vallies between it and Vitoria. The French 
 Legion is expected in a day or two, when our 
 two remaining brigades will, in all probability. 
 
 ifcl ti 
 
 '4 
 
TUB BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 163 
 
 wholly evacuate the place, to make room for 
 them, and push our advance to Pampcluna, with- 
 out troubling ourselves with Salvatierra at all. 
 
 January 12th. — To-day, a part of the Legion 
 from Africa, tliree thousand five hundred strong, 
 marched into Vitoria. They are, in general, a fine 
 lx)dy of men — principally Poles, Germans, and 
 Belgians — but I confess I looked in vain for the 
 martial air of the French soldier. Of tliese, ac- 
 tually, there did not appear to be one hundred, 
 all of whom were easily distinguishable, by their 
 dark features and moustache, from the fair com- 
 plexioned and light haired northerns. The 
 dress of these men is precisely that of the 
 Chapelgorris — re' caps, red trousers, and a 
 bluish-grey great ^.^at, with this difference only, 
 that, instead of the black pouch-belt around the 
 waist, they wear the white cross-belts of regular 
 troops. Several of them had evidently seen hard 
 service, and the faces of more than one presented 
 undeniable evidence of having been in close con- 
 tact with the Arab sabre. On the whole, they 
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 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 force ; and what the mere soldier may have prin- 
 cipally to regret is, that the war will, in conse- 
 quence of their arrival, be finished too soon. In 
 truth, the game is now nearly up with Don Carlos. 
 From Pampeluna to Medina del Pomar, the cordon 
 has been established, which shuts him completely 
 into the mountains ; and, as we shall move gra- 
 dually and slowly on, driving them before us, 
 Estella, Durango, and what few other places of 
 any strength they at present hold, must, of neces- 
 sity, fall into our hands ; until, in the end, they 
 will not have a single roof under which to shelter 
 themselves, or a depot whence to draw their sup- 
 plies. 
 
 A report has been some days in circulation 
 here, that the valley of Rongal, and two or three 
 others in Navarre, have declared in favor of the 
 Queen. If this be a fact, there is no doubt the 
 example will be followed; — in which case Don 
 Carlos may recommend his cause to his General- 
 in-chief, the Virgin Mary, for, without the inter- 
 ])osition of a miracle, his case will be a hopeless 
 one. There is also another report in circulation, 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 165 
 
 namely, that the head of Espartero had been de- 
 manded in the chamber of Madrid, for his massacre 
 of the Chapelgorris. This report, however, re- 
 quires confirmation. 
 
 January, 16th. — Yesterday there was a grand 
 movement of the troops; the English marching 
 forward from the villages they occupied, in the 
 direction of Salvatierra ; — ^the French Legion and 
 Cordova, on the road to France; — and the division 
 of Espartero, on that of Bilbao. At an early 
 hour, Cordova found himself engaged, and the 
 action lasted until midnight. It terminated, how- 
 ever, without any decided advantage to either 
 party, each occupying its own ground at the 
 close. To-day, a good number of wounded have 
 come in, (about 150), and a few of the French 
 Legion. The English, on the right, had but little 
 work, the principal force of the Carlists having 
 been collected in the centre of those three roads 
 already named. One or two only were killed, 
 and two officers, and three privates, wounded. A 
 gallant charge was made on this occasion by the 
 Grenadier company of the 3rd, who drove half a 
 
166 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 battalion of Carlists, at the point of the bayonet, 
 from a wood of which they had taken possession, 
 and which they at first showed symptoms of 
 determination to hold. At the close of this 
 charge, the officer commanding it, Captain Fitz- 
 gerald, was wounded in the leg, and borne off the 
 field. Of nine officers of the Queen's army 
 wounded, there were two of Cordova's personal 
 staff, — one a Captain Santrago Y'Hopp^. 
 
 January 19th. — This day the Spanish and 
 English head-quarters returned to Vitoria, the 
 several divisions of the combined army having 
 fallen back upon the villages they had previously 
 occupied. An attempt at advance was indeed 
 impracticable, by reason of the dense fog and 
 frost, that has continued to prevail for several 
 days. The only casualties that have omirred, 
 since the 16th, have been the deaths of a Sergeant 
 of the 2nd regiment, and a young man in the 
 Commissariat, (a Mr. Street), both of whom were 
 shot in advance of the troops, while entering a 
 village they supposed to be perfectly safe. The 
 bodies arc said to have been immediately stripped, 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 167 
 
 and shockingly mangled. The servant of Mr. 
 Street, a man of the 7th, who was with his master 
 at the time, had a most narrow escape, having 
 received at least a dozen lance wounds in various 
 parts of his body. So closely was his contest Avith 
 the man who attacked him carried on, that he 
 repeatedly grappled with the lance, in a vain 
 endeavor to wrest it from his enemy, whose horse 
 he twice threw down by passing under him. He 
 is now in the hospital for the wounded here, and 
 with every fair chance of recovering. ' v . . 
 January 22nd. — Vitona may, in truth, be said 
 nt this moment to be the city of death. Day 
 after day, the poor fellows of our Legion are 
 carried, in bullock carts, to their graves, and all 
 they have to cover them is a sheet ; — the officers, 
 long unpaid by the Spanish Government, being 
 utterly unable to afford their men the customary 
 means of interment. The prevailing fever has 
 at length been pronounced by the faculty, to be 
 typhus of the worst kind. Whatever it be, it is 
 making fearful ravages in the Legion ; — and as I 
 have, for my sins, been appointed to the office of 
 
I ■ 
 
 J 68 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 Commandant of Vitoria, pro-temp — I have, unfor- 
 tunately, too many opportunities of seeing into 
 its extent : — ^nor do the officers suiFer less in pro- 
 portion. We have already buried eight, in- 
 cluding one major and four captains, while many 
 more are expected to follow. 
 
 Captain Santrago Y'Hopp^, Cordova's Aid- 
 de-camp, who had died of his wounds, received 
 on the 16th, was buried yesterday, and the manner 
 gf interment pleased me much. Instead of the 
 lid of the coffin being screwed down, as with us, 
 it was carried separately by four bearers. The 
 body itself, partly visible above the edge of its 
 last tenement, was habited in full uniform, — the 
 arms were folded across the chest, and the fea- 
 tures, placid to a "degree, seemed rather to wear 
 the repose of slumber, than of death. The 
 cocked hat placed on the top of the head, more- 
 over, lent to the whole an ensemble as touching 
 as it was military in effect, and, as a soldier, I 
 felt that thus I should wish to be borne to my 
 grave, after falling in the field of glory. 
 
 January 24th. — To-day I rode out with Colonel 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 169 
 
 Wylde, (mHo has been almrst constantly with the 
 Legion, and who, by his sound advice, based on 
 his intimate and accurate knowledge of the 
 country, and of the contending parties, has, on 
 more occasions than one, considerably advantaged 
 our cause,) to see the combined force of Spaniards, 
 French, and English, who were making a demon- 
 stration in front of the castle of Guabara; but all 
 their efforts to draw the enemy out proved in- 
 effectual. With the black flag flying at the top 
 of the building, they prudently kept themselves 
 under cover of its walls, content, as usual, with 
 exchanging a few long shots. Two parties of 
 cavalry, however, met, and in a successful charge 
 by that of the Queen, a Carlist Lieutenant-Colonel 
 was made prisoner. Ke was immediately run 
 through the body by a dozen lances, in revenge, 
 as the Spaniards said, for the brutal murder of 
 Mr. Street. The movement towards Guabara 
 was intended, principally, to cover an advance of 
 Espartero. The day was exceedingly fine, and the 
 coup d'ceil offered by the various divisions and bri- 
 gades in position, highly picturesque : — nor was the 
 
170 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 'lilf 
 
 effect less striking, as they moved oil', in succession, 
 to occupy the various bivouacks of the morning. 
 
 By the way, I cannot understand how it is that 
 this same Castle of Guabarra is suffered to con- 
 tinue a monument of our inertness ! It is true 
 the Carlists nave so barricaded the approaches, 
 that but one man can enter at a time, and that, 
 I believe, sidev/ays, whence it might result it 
 could not be stormed without immense sacrifice 
 of life ; but what, in the name of heaven, is the 
 use of our artillery ? We have some of the most 
 splendid battering pieces (Spanish 24's) I ever 
 beheld ; and, albeit, no engineer, I would engage 
 to bring the walls of Guabarra about the ears of 
 the Carlists in less than a week. At present 
 there are too many flags of truce coming in 
 from the enemy, under pretence of an exchange 
 of prisoners, to please me ; and, contrary to all 
 usage, the bearers are suffered to enter the place 
 without being blindfolded: — of course with full 
 power to ascertain its defences. I would there 
 were fewer flags of truce admitted into Vitoria, 
 aud more hard blows without its walls! 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 171 
 
 January 26th. — The true position of the 
 Legion, which I have cursorily touched upon, 
 some few days since, on the 16th, 17th, and 18th, 
 was as follows : — On the 15th, Evans received 
 Cordova's order to march on the Salvatierra road, 
 and engage the attention of the enemy at a small 
 village then occupied by them, called Mendigar, 
 while he moved by the centre. Four Carlist bat- 
 talions made their appearance, one of which only 
 had possession of the village, from which they 
 were driven several times in the course of the 
 day. True to his instructions, which were to act 
 chiefly on the defensive, the Lieutenant-General 
 caused the regiment then engaged, to retire upon 
 the main body. This emboldened the enemy, 
 who threw half a battalion in advance, into a wood 
 at the foot of the village, from whence they kept 
 up a smart fire. It was at this crisis that a com- 
 pany of the 3rd were thrown forward, who, with 
 the usual war cry, dashed into the wood at the 
 point of the bayonet, and cleared it, although op- 
 posed by double their number. Par parenthese, we 
 may as well remark, that the 3rd, or Westminster 
 
172 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 Grenadiers, are part of the" Isle of Dogians," whose 
 original appearance excited so much mirth among 
 the Tories, and whom I had the honor to com- 
 mand at their first formation. Night put an end 
 to the partial contest, and the General retired, as 
 commanded, into cantonments. 
 
 On the following day, having heard a continual 
 firing on the left, in the direction Cordova had 
 taken, he moved the Legion to the heights of 
 Zoazo and Marietta, about a league and a half 
 from Cordova's position, there to await any order 
 that might arrive from that General. But, although 
 there was an incessant fire kept up throughout 
 the day, no -directions were sent to General Evans, 
 as to what course he was to pursue ; here, there- 
 fore, they bivouacked. On the close of the 18th 
 the Lieutenant-General, still uncertain as to the 
 actual position of Cordova, determined on taking 
 a party of dragoons, and, with his staff, repair 
 across the enemy's country to ascertain the true 
 state of affairs. 
 
 The ride, as described to me, must have been 
 most ludicrously performed, it being at the 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 173 
 
 utmost speed, and across an uneven country. Two 
 or three were thrown from their horses, and the 
 alarm depicted on their countenances, as each 
 imagined himself left behind, was most felicitously 
 portrayed, and did justice to the narrator. 
 
 On their arrival at the heights of Arlaban, to 
 their surprise, they fell in with the rear of Cor- 
 dova's army, in full retreat towards Vitoria, the 
 General at their head. Thus left to act for him- 
 self, General Evans returned instantly to the 
 Legion, laboring under the very natural appre- 
 hension, that the whole of the Carlist force would 
 be directed upon them in the absence of Cordova. 
 Fortunately, the weather was foggy, and particu- 
 larly so on that evening. At twelve at night the 
 brigades were ordered to descend the heights with 
 as little noise as possible, and cross the Zadora 
 river, which they had traversed the day before. 
 This movement was executed under the superin- 
 tendence of the General in person, who telt all the 
 importance of getting out of sight of the Carlist 
 battalions before day-light. In a few hours the 
 whole of the Legion had passed the Zadora, and 
 
174 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 
 taken up a position in its rear. Cordova says that 
 he had dispatched two or three of his aids-de- 
 camp successively to the General, all of whom, 
 however, reported that they had lost their way. 
 
 January 30th. — ^This morning an officer of my 
 regiment recounted to me an anecdote, which 
 might have formed an excellent subject for the 
 pencil of the painter. It appears that he was 
 sent with some particular order from the com- 
 manding officer to the junior Major, stationed at 
 the time with the right wing, in the rear, off the 
 high road. Soon after his arrival, the sounds of 
 three or four shots were heard, and the whole 
 Grenadier company were marched silently, and 
 cautiously, in the direction of the road, from 
 which the reports were heard. The cause was 
 soon ascertained. From a particular angle in the 
 advance, open only to the view of the leading 
 officers, three Carlist Lancers were seen cutting 
 down a few unarmed men of the Legion, in 
 charge of mules, laden with provisions. The 
 position at which the officer of Grenadiers had 
 halted, conmianded a singularly picturesijue view. 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 175 
 
 m 
 
 One Carlist soldier had already possessed himself 
 of the string of mules, and was riding off with 
 them, while his companions engaged in an un- 
 equal struggle with the English, who defended 
 themselves as well as they could. At this crisis 
 Captain De Koven, commanding the Grenadiers, 
 ordered a few files to the front, and pointing out 
 the scene that was acting below, bade them fire. 
 The discharge was made just at the moment 
 when the Carlist officer's lance was thrust into the 
 body of a man of the 4th regiment, who had the 
 instant before fallen from one of their Carbines, 
 and, as a retribution, strange to say, the officer 
 was the only individual who tell. The remainder 
 of the party instantly fled, and when the Grena- 
 diers entered the road, they found him lying dead 
 close to the body of his victim, who was dead 
 also. As for the poor devils of men thus provi- 
 dentially rescued, they were so surprised by the 
 sound of the shots, and the sudden flight of their 
 opponents, when they had given themselves up 
 for lost, that they scarcely knew whether they 
 stood on their heads or their heels. The Carlist 
 
176 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 I |i"' 
 
 1^ -4 
 
 officer was a fine young man, and my informant 
 was standing' ruminating over the body, when 
 the Major, a gallant fellow, who had seen service 
 throughout the whole of the war in Spain, and 
 who wore the Waterloo medal at his breast, said, 
 while composedly taking snuff — " why what the 
 devil are you looking at — feel him man — feel him 
 — (at the same time pointing to his sash). The 
 hint was instantly obeyed, but no doubloons were 
 forthcoming ; and, indeed, all the riches of the 
 Carlist (his horse having fled with the others) 
 seemed to consist in his sword and a small brass 
 trumpet, of which the young officer immediately 
 possessed himself. The cool and matter-of-course 
 manner, in which the Major proffered his rebuke, 
 was so characteristic of the old soldier, accus- 
 tpmed to these sort of things, that it forms, in 
 my opinion, the best part of the affair. The Car- 
 list who had taken the mules off, was so terrified, 
 at the discharge, that he let go the string, and, 
 the others not stopping to secure them, they 
 were all retaken. 
 
 «n 
 
\ 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A LONO HIATVS IN THE JOURNAL OCCASIONBQ BY TYPHUS — RAVAGES 
 OF THIS DISEASE AMONG THE TROOPS — 'INHUMANITY OF TUB 
 INHABITANTS OF VITORIA — BILLETING — THE EMPEROR JAHAN- 
 OUEIAR's laws THEREUPON — INSUFFICIENCY OF SUPPLIES TO THE 
 
 SICK BY THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES — CHANGES IN THE LEGION 
 
 BREAKING UP OF THE 2N0 AND 5TH REGIMENTS FROM EXCESSIVE 
 WEAKNESS OF NUMBERS — CHANGES IN THE STAFF THE LONDON- 
 DERRY HOAX — REMARKS THEREUPON — SIR JOHN ELLEY's AND 
 
 COLONEL Thompson's speech in the house of commons — 
 
 BITTERNESS OF THE MORNING HERALD AGAINST THE QUEEN's 
 
 cause ITS CORRESPONDENT SUPPOSED TO BE A HIRED AGENT OF 
 
 DON CARLOS THE CHARACTER OF THE ISLE O'DOGIANS VIN- 
 DICATED — RETURN OF GENERAL m'oOUGALL FROM MADRID — 
 OBJECT OF HIS MISSION. 
 
 February 30th. — A long hiatus in my journal: 
 thank God, it is not an eternal one. I am just 
 recovering from typhus fever, which has con- 
 tinued to rage through Vitoria with increased 
 violence. We have lost upwards of 700 men and 
 forty officers, exclusive of those who have died 
 elsewhere, since Christmas. 
 
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 178 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 Death has ceased to be looked upon as an extra- 
 ordinary visitor, and the common question amon^ 
 officers, is, — " who is dead to-day V alluding to 
 themselves. Among those attacked is Colonel 
 Kinlock, of the Lancers, on whom the command 
 of the brigade of cavalry has recently devolved ; — 
 An officer of some standing in the British service, 
 and a great tavorite here. I attribute my attack to 
 mixing much with the convalescents, in my unen- 
 viable capacity of Commandant of Vitoria, as- 
 signed me prior to my illness. The officer who 
 succeeded me, died a few days afterwards, although 
 I [had left him in perfect health. Two other cap- 
 tains, who, like myself, had been much with the con- 
 valescents, died also. As for the men, the mortality 
 amongst them is truly awful. Nearly half of my 
 company of the 2nd are dead ; and officers and 
 men are, by general order, buried without military 
 honors of any kind. For nine days I was totally 
 insensible, and attribute my eventual recovery to 
 the unremitting care and attention o-f Mr. Duplex, 
 surgeon of the Rifles, whose assiduity to me, 
 while his patient, I feel great pleasure in acknow- 
 ledging. He, poor fellow, had scarcely pro- 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 179 
 
 iiounced mc out of danger, when he was attacked 
 most seriously by the same malady hhnself, and 
 is, at this moment, confined to his bed, although 
 recovering-. It is remarkable that twelve medical 
 officers have fallen victims to this cruel disease. 
 
 The natives of Vitoria, long exempt, have 
 caught the epidemic at last ; and, it must be con- 
 fessed, few of us have the humanity to grieve at 
 it, for they have been uniformly disobliging. 
 When Mr. Duplex was first attacked, he was with 
 his regiment, some i. 'les out of town ; and when 
 brought in, in a litter, suffering much, he was 
 kept for tour hours in the streets, opposite the 
 entrance of the casa^ on which a billet had already 
 been obtained, before he could gain admission ; 
 and even then a party of Spanish soldiers were 
 compelled to force the door. 
 
 But this is no solitary instance. Before I was^ 
 taken ill, a servant came to me one evening, 
 stating that his master, an assistant surgeon of 
 cavalry, on outpost duty, was dying in the street, 
 the people of his former billet refusing to take 
 him in. I hastened to the spot, and found the 
 
180 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 I'M 
 
 ;1; 
 
 M 
 
 officer insensible, as represented ; but vain were 
 my attempts to gain an entrance. The woman 
 of the casa, who was even a greater vociferator 
 than her husband, said he had no right to come 
 back to them, having once left his billet. To cut 
 the matter short, and fully resolved not to concede 
 my point, I went to the alcalde's, at no great 
 distance, and procured a billet upon the same 
 house. Even with this I could not succeed in 
 getting the poor officer in, without exposing him 
 to great inconvenience, from the incivility of the 
 inmates ; and I was obliged to exchange his billet 
 to another quarter of the town. But repeated 
 instances have occurred of the sort, all showing 
 the disinclination of the inhabitants to accommo- 
 date us in the slightest degree. 
 
 There is this to be said on the other hand, that 
 billeting must be a great annoyance to the person 
 billeted upon, and, although highly convenient 
 for an army, a principle by no means founded on 
 justice. As an illustration of this, I cannot do 
 better than quote one of the laws of the Eastern 
 Emperor, Jaha'igueiar. " No person was per- 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 181 
 
 mitted to take up his abode, obtr;isively, in the 
 dwelling of any subject of the realm ; on the con- 
 trary, when individuals serving in the armies of 
 the state, came into any town, and could, without 
 compulsion, secure an abode by rent, it were com- 
 mendable ; otherwise, they were to pitch their 
 tents without the place, and prepare habitations 
 tor themselves. For what grievance could be 
 more irksome to the subject, than to see a perfect 
 stranger obtrude into the bosom of his family, 
 and take possession, probably, of the most con- 
 venient part of his dwelling, leaving to his wife 
 and children, peradventure, not space enough to 
 stretch out an arm." — A lesson to us modems ! 
 
 But God knows, the people of Vitoria have not 
 so much reason to complain. Billeting is con- 
 fined solely to the officers of the Legion. Unlike 
 the Spanish troops, who are completely housed, 
 the men, while here, were put into convents, damp, 
 impure, and unhealthy; and two regiments (the 
 2nd and 5th, since broken up for their weakness,) 
 had no other place whereon to lay their wearied 
 bones, than the damp cold stones of a church, 
 
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 182 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 which has literally destroyed them. The effects 
 were not immediately felt, but they failed not to 
 develope themselves at the proper season. The 
 hospitals were filled with these unfortunate fellows, 
 and the other day, the 2nd regiment, admittedly 
 the finest in the service while at Bilbao, could not 
 muster 150 men on parade. The Spanish authori- 
 ties, moreover, instead of seeking to ameliorate 
 the condition of these men, by furnishing beds 
 and blankets, threw every obstacle in the way ; — 
 and through them principally, I have no hesi- 
 tation in stating, the Legion is not what it might 
 have been expected. To crown all, there has 
 been no pay for months, and even the rations have 
 been very irregularly issued. 
 
 March 5th. — Sad changes in the Lcgfion during; 
 my illness ; the 2nd and 5th regiments have been 
 broken up, and the officers and men transferred to 
 other corps ; — all in consequence of their having 
 been infamously billeted in a cold church, in the 
 midst of winter. These regiments formed one 
 brigade, and were the only unfortunates so quar- 
 tered. Two brigades have also been broken up, 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 183 
 
 General M'Dougall, havinj^ accepter the situation 
 of quarter-master-gencral, and Brigadier Evans 
 being on the Lieutenant-General's staff; — there are 
 consequently now but three brigades, thus distri- 
 buted, Shaw's 7th, 9th, and 10th (Irish) Chiches- 
 ter's 1st, 4th, and 8th, and Reid's (very ill with 
 typhus) ^the light brigade, 3rd, 6th, and rifles. 
 Great changes have, moreover, been effected in 
 the staff; all the old British officers being required 
 for regimental duty, and their places being sup- 
 plied by foreigners, who of course understand little 
 of British military tactics. The loss of officers, 
 by death, resignations, and dismissal, may be com- 
 puted great, since it is notorious, that General 
 Evans found no other difficulty in appointing those 
 of the 2nd and 5th to other regiments, than what 
 originated in the dates of commissions. Lord 
 William Paget is almost the only English officer 
 on thft Lieutenant-General's personal staff, exclu- 
 sively of Colonel Considine, the military secretary, 
 whose services have, throughout, been to him of 
 the most active and invalucble nature. 
 
 March 10th. — ^We have l)een greatly amused 
 
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 liil 
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 184 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 latterly, by the hoax played oflFoii Lord London- 
 derry, who, it appears, went into the house preg- 
 nant with charges of the severest kind, both 
 against Lord Melbourne and the " English merce- 
 naries:" — certainly, if we are to believe the papers, 
 he staggered the former, at least, by insisting so 
 pertinaciously, that the information supplied him, 
 of the murder, in cold blood, of 130 prisoners by 
 British soldiers, was correct. His Lordship must 
 have supposed our natures changed with our ser- 
 vice, to have given credence, for one moment, to 
 such a report. Had he said it was our determi- 
 nation to take no 'prisoners^ he would have been 
 nearer the mark. The best of the thing is, that 
 we have had no opportunity of takiug prisoners ; 
 while, as for the men going, drunk, into action, 
 the Legion is, on the contrary, remarkable for 
 its sobriety. The men have endured much pri- 
 vation and illness — with heroic firmness, and are 
 well worthy the name of soldiers. But since his 
 Lordship of Londonderry is so extremely horri- 
 fied at the bare supposition of Carlist blood being 
 shed by us, in the manner he describes, what will 
 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 185 
 
 he say to the following letter M'ritten by the com- 
 mander-in-chief of Don Carlos's Army, and dated 
 Somoza, Feb. 3rd : 
 
 ti 
 
 Excellent Sir, 
 " I have received the following dispatch from 
 General Don Bruno Villa Real, dated yesterday : — 
 ** This morning I sent out a detachment of cavalry 
 on a reconnoitring party, in the direction of the 
 fields of Salvatierra, and the environs of Vitoria. 
 Two soldiers, belonging to the lancers of Biscay, 
 whose names are Juan Bautista Arostoguira, and 
 Juan de Moya, actually advanced to the gates of 
 Vitoria, and although only armed with their 
 swords^ made four English lancers prisoners^ 
 who will this day he shot. You will be pleased 
 to make this extraordinary brave conduct known 
 to his Majesty, and to entreat that, the two soldiers 
 may receive the bounty of one real per day, for 
 the rest of their lives. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 Count de Casa Eguiea.' 
 
 Now, if this be not shooting men in cold blood, 
 I am sure I know not what is ; but that which is 
 
 2b 
 
186 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 venial in a Carlist, is, in Lord Londonderry's eyes, 
 criminal and revolting to a degree, with us. And 
 yet, if common justice were our guide, why should 
 we hesitate in putting to death men who would 
 infallibly shoot us if taken prisoners, the next 
 hour ? But the fact is, it was hoped that in com- 
 bating thus, we should fight under a two-fold dis- 
 advantage, to ourselves. Not so. The men, as 
 well as officers, knowing what awaits them, are 
 determined to fight to the last drop of their blood, 
 rather than be taken ; and if ever we encounter 
 the Carlists in an open country, woe be unto 
 them, for the exterminating bayonet will know no 
 destination in its course. The Tories talk of its 
 being a cruel war ; — it is a cruel war — a war un- 
 heard of, even among savages ; but there are those 
 among us who seriously believe — who all along 
 have believed, that Don Carlos would not have 
 dared to issue his decree, had it not been for certain 
 of the Tories themselves. Foiled in their attempt 
 to cast odium upon the cause of the Queen, in 
 both Houses, their last resource was to terrify the 
 men who had embarked in it, by suggesting to Don 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 187 
 
 Carlos their instant immolation, it' taken. But 
 they have defeated their own object ; and we 
 despise their intrigues not less than we laugh to 
 scorn the impotent threats of their cowardly tool 
 in the support of Toryism. He take us prison* 
 ers ! He may get hold of a few stragglers, but 
 he will never conquer us as a body- By the way, 
 I may as well observe that the two English lancers 
 said to be taken by two Carlists, were men who 
 had gone out in tlie usual dress of troopers, exer- 
 cising their horses, consequently without arms of 
 any description. " What a story," as the Sun 
 justly observes, " to write a dispatch about, from 
 the commander-in-chief of an army." However, 
 ^ only proves how much they make of capturing 
 All English soldier at all, armed or unarmed ! 
 
 While on this subject two remarks may not be 
 inappropriate. When the topic was discussed in 
 the House of Commons, on Mr. Maclean's motion. 
 Sir John EUey, — whose advice during the last ses- 
 sion, to have our Treasury well filled, I perfectly 
 recollect, and have often, while moneyless for 
 months, thought of since, — when he assured the 
 
188 
 
 MOVKMKNTS OF 
 
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 ill 
 
 m 
 
 It: 
 
 1 
 
 •^i 
 
 house that 1400 of the Legion had perished in 
 their attempt to cross the Durango, in Espartero's 
 unfortunate affair before Bilbao, was totally and 
 essentially incorrect. Not a man of the Legion 
 suffered in the manner described by him, but two 
 companies of Spaniards did ; the total loss of the 
 British was, in short, what I have shown it to be 
 in a former notice. 
 
 In another part of the same debate, Colonel 
 Thompson, who announced that he was in cor- 
 respondence with General Evans, alluded to the 
 " misadventure" at Hernani, which he based on 
 the ground of the men not being two-months-old 
 soldiers; I do not think General Evans admits a 
 defeat at Hernani, if such is meant, by the term 
 " misadventure ;" I certainly do not, nor ever will, 
 seeing that we fully accomplished our original 
 object, in dislodging tlie enemy from the fi-st hill. 
 The attack upon Santa Barbara was, to use a 
 vulgarism, an " after clap," and by no means in- 
 tended by the General at the outset. In fact, the 
 whole affair was more matter of amusement than 
 anything else. The day was beautiful, and the 
 
TUK BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 189 
 
 scene lovely, (even amidst fire,) beyond anything I 
 had ever witnessed. So little had an attack upon 
 the enemy been contemplated, that the officers of 
 my regiment appeared in full uniform (it being 
 Sunday) on the glacis; and our jackets and forage 
 caps were brought afterwards to the ground 
 from the convent of San Francisco, when we 
 heard it was likely we should see the enemy. It 
 is true, that when we found one regiment of 
 English, and two of Spaniards, insufficient to carry 
 the almost perpendicular crags of Santa Barbara, 
 offering cover in every part to the assailed, we 
 drew off our men and retired ; while at the same 
 time, the enemy, true to his system, came down 
 from his position, and smartly attacked us in 
 flank. But what did this prove ? It was seven 
 o'clock before we thought of retiring, and it not 
 being our intention to bivouack on the ground, it 
 was high time, at that hour, to return to San Se- 
 bastian, and our nearly unprotected convent. We 
 did so ; and I can safely say, that my company 
 never exceeded an ordinary march, that is, the 
 usual quick march, during any one part of the 
 
190 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 time. When we reached San Sebastian it was 
 quite dark. 
 
 Retiring thus, as of necessity we must, and 
 after having accomplished our original intention, 
 I cannot admit the affair of Hernani to have been 
 any thing approaching to a defeat on our part. 
 The enemy, on the contrary, sustained defeat, 
 being driven from his original position. I have 
 been thus diffuse in my second allusion to this 
 affair, because the various accounts that have been 
 published of it in England, are all at issue with 
 the truth. As for the Carlists claiming any sort 
 of victory there, the idea is absurd ! 
 
 The true cause of the judicious retreat from 
 the heights of Arlaban, under cover of the fog, 
 alluded to in the same debate, will be found in my 
 notes of the 26th of January. 
 
 March 14th. — The Morning Herald^ — whose 
 vainly disguised acharnement leads it into a thousand 
 ridiculous reports of our Legion, and whose hos- 
 tility to the Queen's cause is only to be exceeded 
 by that of the Marquess of Londonderry, in the 
 House of Lords, — after exulting over the capture 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 191 
 
 was 
 
 of two insignificant fortresses, Balmaceda and 
 Mercandillo, (the latter of which we never heard 
 named before,) aska, with much naivete^ " where 
 was the British Legion, which ought to have 
 guarded these passes ? Where was Espartero ? 
 Where was Cordova "? " We can tell this organ 
 of Carlism : — Cordova was on the French frontier ; 
 The British Legion were fortifying the impor- 
 tant pass of Trevifio ; — and Espartero was com- 
 pletely defeating a battalion of Carlists, who were 
 on their march, with the intention of crossing the 
 Ebro ; but who met with a fate similar to that of 
 the more daring Batanero, who had the impudence 
 to advance upon Madrid with 1,500 men, but who 
 deemed himself fortunate in recrossing with one 
 tenth of the number. 
 
 The copy of the Herald, in which these queries 
 are so exultingly put, was lying by my side on 
 my convalescent bed, even at the moment when 
 Espartero arrived, conducting 200 prisoners, of 
 the battalion destroyed by him, into the plaza, by 
 beat of drum. They are all, I learn from those 
 who have seen them, young men, and well dressed, 
 
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 til 
 
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 192 
 
 MOVEMENTS OK 
 
 in order to cheat the simple Quintas into the be- 
 lief, that Don Carlos's army is wholly so equipped, 
 and thus induce them to join him. 
 
 Apropos des hottes. — Is the man who writes in 
 the Morning Herald from Ofiate generally, bona 
 fide^ the correspondent of that paper *? Or, what 
 appears more probable, is he the hired agent of 
 Don Carlos, paid for puffing off his resources, and 
 the prosperous state of his cause ? No one could 
 assume that an Englishman, much less a person 
 who, it may be presumed, would be very much 
 offended were he not called an English Gentleman^ 
 would write thus of his own countrymen. There 
 is an old and vnlgar proverb, which, in this in- 
 stance, seems highly applicable : — " It is a dirty 
 bird that fouls its own nest." 
 
 It is in order to give the most direct contradic- 
 tion to these statements — statements as false as 
 they are injurious i;o our reputation in England, — 
 that I hasten to publish this first volume of notes, 
 which, perhaps, had never else been given to the 
 world, certainly not in their present rude state. I 
 have obtained sick leave for a few weeks, and I 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 193 
 
 shall avail myself of the opportunity of pub- 
 lishing, not hearsay reports given by hireling 
 scribes of the enemy, but the impartial account of 
 an officer, who has been present with the Legion 
 from its first formation, and to whom its suffer- 
 ings, its privations, its good conduct, and its 
 courage are equally familiar. That a wrong im- 
 pression of the Legion has gone abroad, we are 
 aware, — yet why *? Are not the men Englishmen, 
 though enlisted in a foreign service ? Or, is it sup- 
 posed, that because some of them were in rags at 
 home, they should not make as good soldiers as 
 the stupid awkward looking dolt of a peasant, who 
 repairs comfortably dressed in his smock-frock, to 
 be enlisted in a regiment in England"? For in- 
 stance, no men could be in a greater state of 
 destitution than those enlisted in London, and 
 sent to the Isle of Dogs; — and where are there 
 better soldiers than these have turned out '? The 
 regiments into which they were enlisted, were the 
 1st and 3rd, the corps that have principally dis- 
 tinguished themselves hitherto ; while as a proof 
 of their good conduct, I may remark, that the 
 
 2c 
 
194 
 
 MOVRMENTS OF 
 
 Lieutenant-General distributed orders, sent from 
 Madrid for the express purpose, to nearly a dozen 
 men of each of these corps, the other day in the 
 Plaza. No others than these got them — so much 
 more for the " Isle o' Dogians." We are ready to 
 admit that the men have endured great privalions, 
 still they have been ever willing to do their duty 
 in the field. That they have accomplished but 
 little hitherto, is no fault of theirs, but of their 
 enemies. But this defence of the Legion is prin- 
 cipally intended as a contradiction, not only to 
 what almost daily emanates from the Herald, but 
 to the statements of officers, who, dismissed the 
 service, have found no greater gratification than 
 in reporting unfavorably of it at home. 
 
 By the way, a most wanton outrage connected 
 with the capture of these men, has just been 
 communicated to me by Colonel Boyd : — A fine 
 fellow, an officer of dragoons of Espartero's 
 division, who was billeted in the same house with 
 the Colonel, and for whom he had conceived a 
 strong prepossession, was of the party attacking. 
 The prisoners were disarmed, as usual, with the 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 195 
 
 exception of one man, who, by some accident, 
 retained his musket. The officer of Dragoons 
 (Captain Elio) was immediately in front, when 
 this scoundrel, instigated by God knows what 
 motive, levelled his piece and fired. The ball 
 entered the back of the unfortunate Elio's head, 
 and he fell dead from his horse five minutes 
 afterwards, and the Carlist was cut into as many 
 hundred pieces. The corpse of poor Elio was 
 brought into Vitoria, and buried with military 
 honors. 
 
 March 14th.— -Trevifio, to which, allusion has 
 so often been made, is remarkable principally as 
 a military position, and commands the main road. 
 It was taken at the outset of the war by Zuma- 
 lacarregui, and retaken by the Queen's troops. 
 It is situated at tlie foot of a lofty mountain, on 
 which is a castle capable of strong defence, and, 
 although a deep snow lay upon the ground, it 
 was othervi^ise put in a complete state of resist- 
 ance by the British Legion, about a month 
 absent on that duty. They now re-occupy the 
 village in the neighborhood of Vitoria, leaving 
 

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 i 
 
 ifli 
 
 Hi 
 
 i 
 
 1.1 u\-\ 
 
 196 
 
 MOVEMENTS OK 
 
 the sate custody of Treviiio to a detachment of 
 Spaniards, A singular custom prevails here — 
 Trevino is a district in itself, and gives its name 
 to several of the adjacent villages ; the Alcaldes 
 of which are compelled to send me!), when re- 
 quired, to the capital. In the present instance, 
 it chanced that all the young paysans were absent, 
 having entered into the service, either of Don 
 Carlos, or of the Queen. As substitutes for 
 these, the young women were sent to work, and 
 I understand it was pitiable to see them ascend 
 to the walls, with baskets full of rubbish on their 
 heads, at six o'clock in the morning, and in the 
 severest cold know in Spain for years. Some of 
 these young women were exceedingly good 
 looking. 
 
 March 16th. — Brigadier-General M'Dougall, 
 who had accompanied Colonel Wylde to Madrid, 
 for the purpose of conferring with Mendizabel, 
 and expostulating on the neglected state of the 
 Legion, has just returned, with the assurance 
 that money will be had immediately, and men 
 and officers paid all their arrears up to March. 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 197 
 
 This will place us on an entirely new footing, and 
 we shall enter the ensuing campaign under the 
 most favorable auspices ; — ensuing, I have said, 
 but the whole of our past winter has been a cam- 
 paign, for the Legion have been for months 
 moving in the midst of winter, and occupying 
 the most miserable villages, although it is true 
 there has been little or no fighting. Hence one 
 of the great causes of our disease, which, instead 
 of exciting the sympathy of our enemies at 
 home, seems to have pleased them much. Let 
 them exult as they may, over the deaths of some 
 sixty officers and 700 men, and although we are 
 thus much reduced, they may send their Carlists 
 trom the mountains, in which they are hidden, as 
 soon as they will ! 
 
CHAPTER Vlir. 
 
 PITIABLE CONDITION OF THE CONVALESCENTS — REMOVAL OF HEAD 
 QUARTERS TO ARANJUES — DISTRIBUTION OF THE LEGION — DE- 
 FEAT OF THE CARLISTS BY ESPARTERO's DIVISION AT ORDUNA 
 
 HIS REAL FORCE — PARTICULARS OF ESPARTERO's ACTION — GAL- 
 LANT CONDUCT OF A SPANISH CORPORAL — ITS REWARD IM- 
 PORTANT DISCOVERY OF TRAITORS IN VITORIA — THEIR TRIAL 
 AND EXECUTION BY THE GARROTTE IN THE PLAZA — ATTEMPT OF 
 VILLA REAL TO SAVE THEM. 
 
 March 17th. — This Morning, after six weeks 
 confinement, I, for the first time, left my bed, 
 but found the effect of the fever so debiUtating, 
 that I could scarcely stand. However, a pure 
 air and a genial clime will soon restore me. 
 While inhaling the air at ths front halcon of my 
 lodgings, I saw a painful exhibition. It was 
 that of the convalescents, 518 in number, march- 
 ing out from the convent of Santa Clara to a 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 199 
 
 distant building without the walls. They were 
 pitiable objects like myself, scarcely able to 
 move, from the effects of Typhus. , . 
 
 March 20th. — This day the head-quarters of 
 General Evans moved from Vitoria, in front of 
 the enemy's position at Guabarra. The ravages 
 of Typhus are beginning somewhat to diminish, 
 and, as abundance of clothing of all kinds has 
 arrived from England for the men, we may be 
 certain of opening the campaign under the most 
 favorable auspices. The following is the dis- 
 tribution of the Legion : — Head quarters, 6th 
 and 8th, Aranjues ; 9th and 10th regiments, one 
 troop of Lancers, Ferondis; 7th regiment, Men- 
 diguron ; two troops of 1st Lancers, one company 
 9th regiment, Venta de Mendiguron; three 
 troops of 1st Lancers, Antezana; 1st regiment 
 Brigadier Chichester, and Rocket Troop, Abe- 
 chuco ; 2nd Lancers, Arriaga and Abechuco ; 
 3rd regiment, Arriaga ; 4th and Rifles, Bitonia ; 
 ..\rtillery — Provisional Battalion Dep6t of Ca- 
 valry, Vitoria. 
 
 March 21st. — To-day Espartero, who had again 
 
200 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 
 left Vitoria for Orduna, with his division re- 
 turned from the latter place, having had another 
 severe jeugagement with the Carlists, of whom he 
 killed 500, putting as many more hors de com- 
 bat. His own loss, in killed, I could not learn 
 exactly, but I believe it is trifling. He has 
 brought in 207 wounded, chiefly slightly. Hearing 
 considerable cheering in the Calle Santa Clara, 
 adjoining my lodgings, I went out for the first time, 
 and saw Espartero's division, covered with dust, 
 and bearing every other evidence of fatigue. 
 The cheering I found to be occasioned by the 
 distribu i of orders of merit to the officers and 
 men who most distinguished themselves, by Cor- 
 dova himself, who is here, and empowered as 
 Commander-in-Chief thus to act. 
 
 From the prisoners we learn that the force of 
 the enemy has been much exaggerated. Don 
 Carlos has, in all, forty battalions, of from 600 to 
 800 men, and these are variously distributed 
 throughout the provinces, under diff'erent leaders ; 
 the men have not received pay for six montlis, 
 and altogether they begin to tire of this protracted 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION, 
 
 20 1 
 
 service. A Mr. Wilkinson, who was dismissed 
 from our service, went over to them from Tre- 
 vifio. They have, in all, two companies of 
 Englishmen, principally .composed of deserters 
 from us. The manner in which they endeavor to 
 recruit from our ranks, is worthy of themselves. 
 When a deserter arrives, they compel him, under 
 pain of death, to write to his comrades that the 
 service is excellent ; that they receive double 
 rations ; that their pay is regularly issued ; and 
 that forty dollars are given to each on his arrival. 
 They are thus, from dread, made to write the 
 most gross falsehoods, while literally starving 
 themselves ; and the letters are forwarded by post, 
 or peasants hired for the purpose, to their com- 
 rades. Several scoundrels have nibbled at the 
 false bait, until fairly hooked ; but they are few in 
 number. The sooner they were got rid of from 
 the Legion the better. 
 
 The above information has been obtained, not 
 from the prisoners by the way, but from a non- 
 commissioned officer of the ranks, who has been 
 with them from the first, and who came over, with 
 
 2d 
 
202 
 
 MOVEMENTS OK 
 
 his whole picquet, to Espartero, the evening be- 
 fore the action. Forty pieces of cannon compose 
 the whole train of the Carlists, of which, he de- 
 clares, only four are mounted in the castle of Gua- 
 barra. The rest, like the battalions, are distri- 
 buted about in different positions. No bounty 
 whatever is given. By the bye, this man states a 
 curious circumstance : — He was at the affair of 
 Hernani, and declares that an English serjeant^ 
 who had gone over a tew days previously, was 
 killed on the side of Santa Barbara, and rolled 
 down a part of the hill. This could be no other 
 than Serjeant Prendeville, of my company, named 
 in the early part of my notes. Indeed, I remem- 
 ber a man of (hat description was conspicuous 
 in the affair of that day, and that he was repeat- 
 edly fired at by an officer of the 7th regiment. 
 Whether he killed him or not, remains unknown ; — 
 a just retribution. 
 
 March 22nd. — As it is probable that, according; 
 to custom, the Carlists may claim a victory over 
 Espartero, in the Tory papers, the following may 
 be relied upon as correct: — General Espeleta, 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 203 
 
 with his division, was fortifyinnj Balmaceda, 
 from which the Carlists had been expelled, and 
 strengthening a castle near it. Finding himself 
 much annoyed by the enemy, he sent to Cordova 
 for a reinforcement. Two battalions of the guard 
 were accordingly dispatched from this, under the 
 safe escort of Espartero's division. The object 
 being effected, and the guards being left with 
 Espeleta, Espartero made the best of his way 
 towards Vitoria, accompanied, for a short distance, 
 by two battalions under General Rivero. He had 
 entered Ordufia, where his men halted to refresh 
 themselves, uhen it was reported that the enemy, 
 in great force, were coming down upon him. He 
 immediately collected his scattered men, and took 
 up a position outside the town. The army of 
 Egueia halted on the opposite height, and the 
 action became general. Espartero waited until, 
 as had been previously arranged. General Rivero, 
 with his two battalions, took the enemy in flank, 
 when he charged them with the bayonet. The 
 routed battalions of Egueia fled in great disorder, 
 and the result was, what has already been given. 
 
204 
 
 MOVEMENTS OK 
 
 
 1 
 
 The Carlists had eighteen hattaUons ; Espartero, 
 eleven. 
 
 A corporal of Espartero 's division distinguished 
 himself on the occasion, and was particularly pre- 
 sented to Cordova by his general, on the arrival 
 of the corps in Vitoria. Espartero also proposed 
 to Cordova that the man should receive the order 
 of Christino, with a pension. Cordova then asked 
 the corporal which he would prefer ; the order of 
 Fernando, which was merely honorary, or that of 
 Christino, with the pension*? The corporal unhesi- 
 tatingly chose the former; on which Cordova, 
 pleased with his spirit and high feeling, told him 
 to come to his apartments, on the dismissal of his 
 company from parade, and he would give him one 
 year's pension out of his own purse, — an example 
 which was instantly followed by Espartero. 
 
 The cross of Fernando was formerly very 
 select, and, in Ferdinand's time, was accorded only 
 for very distinguished services, and to military 
 officers of high rank. 
 
 March 22nd. — A serious and important dis- 
 covery has just been made. Desertions have latterly 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 205 
 
 been numerous; and the men deserting have, as I 
 before remarked, been compelled by the enemy 
 to put letters in the post office through the 
 medium of peasantry, or have them personally con- 
 veyed through these latter. A Serjeant Richard- 
 son, who had deserted, sent in a letter to his 
 nephew, who was then sick in hospital, urging 
 him to join the Carlist ranks. This man, whose 
 name was Nangles, immediately communicated 
 the contents of the letter to Captain Byrne, Pay- 
 master of the 7th, who at once acted on the 
 information. As the letter stated, that a certain 
 baker o^' the place (Jose d'Elozegui) would afford 
 the necessary assistance, to him the soldier was 
 enjoined to go. The baker at first hesitated, but 
 when he saw the post mark, and the writing of 
 the Serjeant, whom he had known, he at once 
 avowed himself an agent of Don Carlos, and offered 
 his services. The man, as previously instructed, 
 said that a Serjeant and several soldiers of his 
 regiment were anxious to desert also, and a night 
 was fixed for their departure. On the night in 
 question, Captain Byrne, who had previously 
 
206 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 communicated with Colonel Considine, repaired 
 to Don Jose's house, disguised as a serjeant, and 
 accompanied by several men. A 'jpy had been 
 previously provided, who was to act as guide, 
 and conduct the party to the head quarters of 
 the enemy — Don Jose promising to give a letter 
 of introduction to Villa Real. The letter, how- 
 ever, he contrived to withhold, from some motive 
 — perhaps of prudence — and Captain Byrne set 
 out, with his party, from Don Jose's house, 
 without it. At the gate leading out of the town, 
 Captahi Byrne and his Companions seized the spy, 
 and handed him over to the guard ; then hastening 
 to Colonel Considine, and acquainting him with 
 what he had done, they both repaired to the 
 house of the traitor Elozegui, and instantly se- 
 cured and confined him. He is this day to be 
 tried before a Spanish tribunal, when it is hoped 
 he will suffer death. My servant Paul shrugs his 
 shoulders and says not^ and for this reason, that 
 he is wealthy, and has plenty of ounces ! 
 
 Don Jose, it must be remarked, (for all are 
 Dons here) was principal baker, and a contractor 
 
 till 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 207 
 
 for the supply of provisions — consequently pos- 
 sessed great facilities of communication with the 
 men. It is now supposed that the illness which 
 has so long prevailed in Vitoria, is mainly at- 
 tributed tc his having mixed something deleterious 
 with the flour. But in this opinion, although 
 assured of its truth by the Lieutenant-General 
 himself, I do not join. Our fever was, I tancy, 
 (indeed it has been pronounced) honest downright 
 Typhus. 
 
 March 25th. — Last night there was great ring- 
 ing of bells, and other rejoicings among the loyal 
 Spaniards of this place, in consequence of the 
 reported intervention of England in their cause. 
 The news was communicated to the Lieutenant- 
 General, who had received a dispatch from Lord 
 John Hay, on the subject. By the way no officer 
 could have manifested a better feeling towards 
 the Legion than Lord Hay, who has been uni- 
 formly kind, and has evinced a zeal and intel- 
 ligence in the cause, commensurate with the 
 intentions of the British government in keeping 
 him so long on the station. In Lord John Hay, 
 
iili 
 
 208 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 and the officers of the Castor generally, the 
 Legion have universally tbund not only personal 
 friends, but warm supporters to the cause in 
 which they were embarked. 
 
 March 26th. — Yesterday, a man, an assistant 
 of the baker, who had been implicated with his 
 master, was flogged with large rods, something in 
 the shape of the fasces of the ancient lictors of 
 Rome. The punishment was inflicted in the 
 Plaza, and on the bare back . He was, moreover, 
 nearly stoned to death by the Chapelgorris, who 
 are in here at present, and who with difficulty 
 could suppress their indignation. The same 
 punishment is, I understand, to be repeated 
 to-day and to-morrow. 
 
 March 27th. — Yesterday the tribunal flnished 
 its proceedings on Don Jose d' Elozegui, and, 
 contrary to our expectations, he is sentenced to 
 be garrotte or strangled — but when or where, the 
 finding, — which I saw at the General's immediately 
 after it came out, — did not specify ; the accused 
 had nothing to offer in defence, but threw himself 
 on the mercy of the court. I< has now been 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 209 
 
 3lf 
 
 ascertained beyond question, for an analyzation 
 has taken place, that the bread, issued by the 
 scoundrel, has been adulterated with prickly rye 
 — which accidentally occasioned the deaths of so 
 many families in France a few years back — and 
 that the aguardiente had in it a mixture of 
 white lead. My leave having been obtained for 
 England, I had thought of setting oiF to-morrow ; 
 but, though no advocate for these things, I would 
 willingly seethe fellow suiFer. 
 
 March 28th. This day the baker, Don Jose, 
 and the spy, suffered the extreme penalty of the 
 law, by death from the gaiToU This mode of 
 punishment, at once singular and curious to us, 
 is common throughout Spain. A platform is 
 erected some three feet in height, and a strong 
 pole is driven through its centre — a seat is also 
 added, and on this the criminal is placed with his 
 hands tied, and resting on his knees. The 
 garrot is then affixed to the pole at the proper 
 height, and the circular iron, (attached at one ex- 
 tremity by a rivet, on which it moves,) placed 
 around the throat. A central piece of iron, with 
 
 2e 
 
210 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 grooves, passes through the other — resembling 
 in appearance a patent corkscrew. The handle 
 is a transverse piece of iron, and when this is 
 turned by the executioner, the screw advances, 
 closing the opposite extremity of the circular 
 piece, or neck band, in the same proportion. 
 One half turn is sufficient to produce instant 
 death — and the head inclines forward, over the 
 chest, supported only by the iron which encircles 
 the neck. ; - > i 
 
 I have ever avoided scenes of capital punish- 
 ment, such as they are practised in England and 
 France. I have never seen a man hung or 
 guillotened, and yet I was in London when all 
 the world went to see the execution of Thistle- 
 wood and the rest of his party ; but, from the 
 description given me, I have no hesitation in pro- 
 nouncing death by the garrot, at once the most 
 manly, and the least offensive to the eye. One 
 is spared the blood of the one, and the humiliation 
 of the other ; for certainly, it must be confessed 
 humiliating to ourselves, to see a fellow-being 
 dancing in air after death, in the manner practised 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 2H 
 
 ill England. Death by the fi^arrot is divested 
 of this objection : — ^The criminal takes his seat, 
 attended by his confessor, and he is bound in 
 that position to the pole ; at a given signal, the 
 executioner, having placed the collar round the 
 sufferer's neck, gives a half turn of his screw, — 
 and all is over. Then the white handkerchief, 
 previously thrown over the face in a loose manner, 
 is removed, and to the gaze of the multitude, are 
 exhibited features, — not distorted by the agonies 
 of death, — but as they were before the fatal screw 
 was turned. 
 
 The execution of the traitors took place in the 
 open space of Vitoria, which adjoins the Plaza. 
 The platform was constructed a few yards from 
 the public fountain, and the flank companies of 
 the Legion were drawn up to witness the punish- 
 ment. The ground was kept by a regiment of our 
 lancers. I had intended to break through a rule, 
 and be present, but was detained at General Es- 
 partero's, whither I had gone to get my passport 
 signed, until it was too late. When I returned to 
 the Plaza, the men were dead, seated, as before 
 
212 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 m 
 
 
 described, but their countenances wore no other 
 indication of death, than what was aflForded by 
 their paleness. They looked more like men suf- 
 fering punishment in the pillowry; their bodies 
 remained an hour in that position, for the crowd 
 to gaze at, and were then taken down by the exe- 
 cutioner (a smart little fellow, dressed in black), 
 and placed in shells. 
 
 From all I can learn, the criminals met their 
 fate sullenly, but without fear. The baker died 
 first ; once, as the spy ascended, he cast his eye 
 towards the dead body of his companion, and it 
 assumed an expression of savage wildness, — but, 
 the confessor interposed himself quickly before 
 the trying sight, and it again disappeared. There 
 was a good deal of cheering from the Spanish 
 soldiers, and the assembled multitude, as each 
 traitor ascended the platform. The men of the 
 Legion cheered also, but not so much. Both suf- 
 ferers were ill-looking fellows— dressed like com- 
 mon pay sans — the spy extremely so. 
 
 Villa Real made an effort to save his chief 
 agent, the baker, and wrote to an old friend of his 
 
THE BRITISH LEQION. 
 
 213 
 
 at Vitoria, the Marquess de Arabaca, the Alcade 
 of the place, entreating him to spa.e his life ; but 
 the Marquess fortunately possessed not the power, 
 even if he had the inclination. 
 
 I-':. ,\. 
 
 :,:, viJ' 
 
 m 
 
 ■/^,,i 
 

 .»' • nil 
 
 ,1. 
 
 i,» '• 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 BEPARTUBE FUOM VITORIA — CURIOUS MODE OF CONVEYANCE — HREAK 
 
 DOWN OF OUR VEHICLE BETWEEN MIRANDA AND ONA PERFORM 
 
 THE REMAINDER OF THE JOURNEY ON FOOT — MR. WILKINSON's 
 
 LETTER IN THE MORNING HERALD BRIEF COMMENTS THEREON 
 
 REACH SANCILIO THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL PASS OF BALMA-DE- 
 
 CEDA RECEPTION BY THE PADRONA OF THE POSADA DESCENT OF 
 
 A VERY HIGH AND RAGGED MOUNTAIN ON THREE WHEELS — REACH 
 
 THE PRETTY VILLAGE OF ONTENADA MEET MY EX-SERVANT, PAUL 
 
 CAR9ANADA, UNDER VERY SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES — HIS GREAT 
 
 FAMILIARITY WITH A SPANISH COLONEL REACH SANTANDER EX- • 
 
 PEDITION TO SAN SEBASTIAN FULLY DETAILED REMARKS OF THE 
 
 AUTHOR — DISAGREEABLE BILLETING AT SANTANDER RECEPTION 
 
 BY COMMODORE HENRY ON BOARD THE ISABELLA-8ECUNDA CON- 
 DUCT OF LORD JOHN HAY — ARRIVAL OF THE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 
 IN ADVANCE OF THE LEGION ORDERED TO THE COAST — AUTHOR's 
 REMARKS — DINNER GIVEN BY THE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL AT SAN- 
 TANDER — DEPARTURE OF THE AUTHOR FOR SAN SEBASTIAN — BAT- 
 TLE OF AYETTA. 
 
 Miranda, March 30th. — This morning I left 
 Vitoria, in what is considered a great novelty in 
 this part of Spain, a close carriage. The party 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 215 
 
 f ' 
 
 consists of five, and we are to pay 150 dollars on 
 arriving at Santander; — rather dear travelling- com- 
 pared with that in England, especially as, although 
 drawn by seven mules, we seldom exceed a walk. 
 The manner of driving is also good. The wheelers 
 alone are honored with reins, the two pairs in 
 front, preceded by their leader, having no other 
 guidance than what originates in the verbal 
 directions o^ our driver, to Leona, Ramona, Pla- 
 tera, Cocina, and Christina, who obey him most 
 faithfully. Our wheelers are Senora and Capi- 
 tana. As the whip is none of the longest, the 
 driver and his assistieiite frequently descend from 
 the vehicle, and fill their pockets with stones, 
 which are afterwards employed in propelling the 
 animals, and it is remarkable with what precision 
 they throw them. They hit which ever mule they 
 like — ^the result, of course, of much practice. 
 
 Ona, March 31st. — ^This evening we met with 
 a sLd misadventure. When within about a good 
 league of this place, the hind-wheel of our coach 
 came oiF, and we tell to the ground. On alight- 
 ing, we found that the axle-tree was completely 
 
210) 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 brokcil off, about an inch from the lyncli-pin. — 
 What to do in this extremity, it was difficult to 
 say ; however, the padron, atiter viewing the dis- 
 aster for some time steadily, decided, with a heavy 
 sigh, that he must go h&ck to Miranda, a distance 
 of neirly nine leagues, for another carriage, while 
 we remained at Ona until his return. Mean- 
 while, the old assistientey whom we had designated 
 by the name of" Setenta cinqua^" from his years, 
 appeared with a huge pole upon his shoulders, 
 which he had cut from off a neighboring moun- 
 tain, and aid having been procured from some 
 paysans who were passing, we raised the carriage, 
 and replaced the wheel. The pole was then 
 placed across the centre, and tightly bound with 
 strong cord, so as to prevent it coming off, yet 
 without impeding its rotatory motion. In this 
 manner we reached Ona, the passengers per- 
 forming the remainder of the day's journey on 
 foot. 
 
 At Oiia I chanced to see the Morning Herald 
 of the 1 1th, containing a letter from Mr. Wilkin- 
 son, alluded to in a former note, as having gone 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 217 
 
 over to the enemy. Of this long tissue of farrago 
 I shall briefly notice one passage, uhich is that 
 wh^irein he says, *' I had left all my kit behind me, 
 and only brought my baggage." Now, as it 
 appears from his letter, that he only took Mrs. 
 Wilkinson with him, we may fairly presume that 
 she is the *' baggage" alluded to. How far she 
 deserves that character, may be learnt from the 
 following petite histoire of the lady, about whose 
 honor so much fuss is made. The 7iow Mrs. Wil- 
 kinson came out from Scotland, the mistress of an 
 assistant-surgeon of one of the Scotch regiments, 
 who, when we marched from Bilbao, supplied her 
 liberally with money, to take her back to Scot- 
 land. Instead of going to Scotland, however, she 
 went round to Santander, in the Mazeppa 
 steamer, where, between her present husband, (or 
 somebody else, for I am not quite sure,) and ano- 
 ther officer, who had been dismissed the service, 
 a regular battle took place, as to who should claim 
 priority in the lady's favor. The ex-lance corporal 
 of the Portuguese service, however, bore the palm 
 from his adversary, and married his prize, who 
 
 2f 
 
218 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 tramped it with the soldiers, and soldiers' wives, 
 (occasionally dressed in the habit of a man,) as 
 far as Brivieska, where Mr. Wilkinson was left in 
 dep6t, and where, it appears, he was dismissed the 
 service, — not for " building churches !" It would 
 hardly be fair, under any other circumstances, to 
 enter upon the vie pHvee of the lady, but when 
 her husband states that he was dismissed for up- 
 holding- the honor of his wife, and attacks, in such 
 bitter terms, both the Legion and its Chief, it 
 cannot be too distinctly known how nine must 
 have been his sens^e of that honor ! His wife, by 
 this time, we are assured, forms one of the bright- 
 est ornaments of Don Carlos's choice little court 
 at Onat^. I heartily wish the soi-dieant king joy 
 of such an acquisition. 
 
 Soncillio, April 1st. — ^To-day, instead of wait- 
 ing for a new carriage, our Padron intimated his 
 intention of proceeding with the wheel, fastened 
 in the manner above described, without lynch-pin, 
 or the means of inserting one. To this, though 
 attended with some danger, we readily assented, 
 as a stay of twenty-four hours, in the miserable 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 219 
 
 village of Ofia, was any thing but desirable. We 
 had arrived so late at night, that we found it 
 impossible to see the monastery. Moreover, 
 from its being Good Friday, the priests were 
 much engaged, so that we had no time to revisit 
 the old refrectory : — Our supper at the posada 
 was execrable. 
 
 At an early hour this morning, we came to 
 the pass of Ofia, which I found to be not the 
 same, described in a former part of this work. 
 The pass of Ona is bold to a degree, and offers 
 every evidence of the most gigantic proportions ; 
 but it was admitted by an officer who was of our 
 party, and one of the half dozen of the Legion 
 who had ever seen the former, that it had none 
 of the touching — romantic — ^beauty of the Medina. 
 So remarkable is the difference in the beauty of 
 the passes, that it appears I had gone througt? 
 that of Ona, on the day of our advance, but after 
 threading that of Medina, it had failed to excite 
 any wonderment in my mind. Later, we came to 
 the pass of Balma-de-Ceda, even much bolder 
 than that of Ofia,' (it consists chiefly of white, 
 
220 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 solid, and gigantic rocks, that give you the idea 
 of petrified castles, and ranges of battlements;) — 
 making, in all, four important passes I have visited 
 since my arrival in Spain — namely, Medina, 
 Pancorbo, Ona, and Balma-de-Ceda. At Son- 
 cillio we arrived at a late hour, and were gruffly 
 received by the Padrona of the only Posada in the 
 place, who said she had neither bed nor supper 
 to give us. I went immediately to the Com- 
 mandant, whom I subsequently found to be a very 
 nice fellow, and, showing him my passport, re- 
 quested his good offices. The officer soon pro- 
 cured me a billet in the Posada in which I had 
 been so rudely received, and I found myself in 
 possession of a bed, gratis, which had been 
 refused to me for money. One of my com- 
 panions is lodged at the Commandant's, the others 
 are billeted in one room at the Cure's. We are 
 at last as comfortably seated as circumstances will 
 permit, while a good dinner, procured by the 
 Commandant, is being prepared for us. 
 
 Ontanada, April 2nd. — We reached this place, 
 after passinjj, through Ihc pretty village of Ageita, 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 221 
 
 about five o'clock, having traversed one of the 
 loftiest mountains in Spain, and over the most 
 wretched of roads. Our descent of the mountain 
 was nearly a league and a half, and, during* that 
 time, we experienced no slight nervousness, 
 owing to the state of the carriage. The road 
 was ankle deep with mud, and in the deep ruts 
 were placed large loose stones, which shook and 
 jolted us unmercifully, as the vehicle passed over 
 them. Eacii moment we expected our unfortunate 
 wheel to come off, in which case our situation 
 would have been truly pitiable — as there were no 
 means of repairing the disaster. The Padron 
 turned his eye frequently to the wheel, and it 
 was evident that he was as nervous as some of 
 the pari,y. After upwards of an hour's duration 
 of this penance, however, we once more got upon 
 a better ground. We had a heavy snow storm, 
 while on the top of the mountain, and it was 
 bitterly cold. 
 
 Santander, April 3rd. — ^To-day we reached this 
 garrison, in the appearance of which, I have been 
 agreeably disappointed. I had always been led to 
 
222 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 imagine it the most miserable of places. I have 
 seen no town Uke it in northern Spain. Vitoria 
 is not to be compared with it ; and I like it better 
 than Bilbao. Its quay is extensive, regular, and 
 composed of fine edifices ; and it possesses this 
 decidedly superior advantage to Bilbao, that men- 
 of-war and merchantmen of the largest size, sail 
 immediately into its harbor. This gives it a 
 greater air of liveliness, especially in summer. 
 We alighted at the Hotel of the Quatro Naciones 
 in the Calle Artilleria, kept by a Frenchman. 
 
 A curious circumstance occurred on our route 
 of to-day. At the close of my illness, my French 
 servant, Paul Carganada had left me with some 
 abruptness, giving out that he was going through 
 Pampeluna, to his native country. I presumed 
 he Mas gone by that route, though I all along 
 suspected he did not intend returning to his wife, 
 a little credulous Spanish woman, my hostess, 
 whom he had married during my illness. At the 
 posada at which we stopped, at Ontanada, there 
 is a billiard-room, into which, having nothing 
 better to do, I sauntered, while dinner was being 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 223 
 
 prepared. A Spanish colonel, whom we knew to 
 have been at Vitoria, and who had that day kept 
 pace with us over the mountain, looking fre- 
 quently most intently into the carriage windows, 
 was playing at the time with a person of whom I 
 took no other notice, than that he appeared to be 
 a servant. The colonel seemed desirous of enter- 
 ing into conversation, but as I had no ambition to 
 enter upon one with a man who appeared on such 
 familiar terms with his fellow bUliard-player, I 
 immediately quitted the room, remarking at 
 dinner what I had seen above. To-day, on stop- 
 ping at a posada half-way to Santander, I saw the 
 same colonel standing in its doorway, and convers- 
 ing laughingly with some person, who was hidden 
 behind a projecting wall. Not the slightest sus- 
 picion had entered my mind, but, having occasion 
 to alight from the carriage, I passed through the 
 doorway, close to the colonel. My sudden ap- 
 proach had not permitted his companion to retire, 
 and, as I crossed the vestibule, who should I be- 
 hold, but my ex-servant. Monsieur Paul Carga- 
 nada! I looked at him some time, and fully. 
 
224 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 before I could positively satisfy myself as to his 
 identity. His face bore the marks of a recent 
 scuffle, and a handkerchief, drawn over his oil- 
 skin hat, completely overshadowed what was left 
 uncovered of the former — he was evidently dis- 
 guised. After some few moments, I said to him, 
 " What, you here !" He answered, " Yes ;" that 
 he had changed his mind, and was going to San- 
 tander, to embark for France. I turned' to the 
 colonel, who was an attentive listener, and spoke 
 good French, and said — •' This man, Senor Colo- 
 nel, whom you make your companion, was my 
 private servant, and left me under peculiar circum- 
 stances the other day. I wish merely to put you 
 upon your guard against him." Paul then said 
 — '* Have I ever robbed you, Sir ? " As I had 
 some occasion, after his departure, to know he had, 
 I replied in the affirmative. But this seemed to 
 have no greater effect upon the Spanish colonel, 
 than the former part of my communication. He 
 merely shrugged his shoulders, as if it was no 
 affair of his, and continued the same air of friend- 
 liness. Soon after, his horse being baited, he 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 225 
 
 he 
 
 departed, saluting me as he moved from the 
 door. Paul followed on a horse he had contrived 
 to purchase out of his crihbings from me, in 
 company with the regimental servant of the 
 colonel. My opinion is, that as I was expected 
 to travel alone in a cahriolet to Santander, there 
 was more in the appearance of my ex-servant on 
 the road, and so singularly selected as a com- 
 panion, than at first appears. But we were four 
 in number, and all well armed with pistols and 
 sabres. 
 
 Santander, April 8th. — On our arrival here, we 
 found that the Royal Tar, in which we had pro- 
 posed taking our passage, had been some days 
 sailed, so that we have decided to await her re- 
 turn. Meanwhile, I have taken the opportunity 
 of visiting the barracks and hospitals, which are 
 in a most efficient state, reminding me strongly of 
 the good beds, and clean rooms provided for the 
 reception of the men, at their first entry into San 
 Sebastian. The men are kept wholly out of the 
 town, at the convent of Corbon, and one seldom 
 sees even an officer, except of the staffs It 
 
 2g 
 
22G 
 
 MOV FOMENTS OF 
 
 must be admitted, that Colonel Arbuthnott's 
 management of his command is excellent. 
 
 Of the expedition to San Sebastian in Decem- 
 ber last, alluded to by Colonel de Lancy, I have 
 obtained, and from an authentic source, the fol- 
 lowing particulars, which may be confidently re- 
 lied upon, and which I the more readily insert, 
 because they tend to prove, to its revilers, what 
 may be expected from the British Legion, when 
 left to the guidance of its own chiefs, and acting 
 wholly independently of a controlling Spanish 
 power. 
 
 On the 11th of December, Captain Henderson, 
 of the British Steamer Phcenix, arrived at San- 
 tander, with an urgent entreaty from the Governor 
 of San Sebastian, th^. ' Iriat^, the Governor of the 
 Province, would send immediate aid to that for- 
 tress, botli in guns, ammunition, and men. The 
 communication, moreover, stated that upwards of 
 3000 of the inhabitants had left the town, while 
 the remainder were sheltered under bomb-proofs, 
 hastily constructed, to resist the fire of the enemy. 
 Captain Henderson, after communicating with 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 227 
 
 Lord John Hay, waited on Colonel Arbuthnott, 
 and repeated the deplorable state of San Sebastian 
 — beset by enemies without, and traitors within — 
 when Colonel Arbuthnott ordered a force of 600 men 
 of the Legion to be got in instant ^readiness, yet 
 without promulgating the object. Colonel A. 
 then waited on Iriat^, to ascertain his intentions ; 
 when the latter said he was sorry he could not do 
 anything for San Sebastian, as he had not a soldier, 
 particularly artillerymen, to spare. The Colonel 
 then told him he had ordered 600 men to be in 
 readiness, whereof a hundred and fifty were 
 artillerymen, and that, if it met his approbation, 
 he would embark them, with the necessary ma- 
 teriel immediately. Ir'mih expressed himself much 
 delighted with the measure, and, in three hours 
 from the arrival of the Phcenix, Colonel Arbuth- 
 nott was steaming out of the bay, in the same 
 vessel, having on board her, and the Isabella- 
 Secunda, 600 men, in addition to 150 artillerymen, 
 and sixty dismounted Lancers of the 1st regiment. 
 The Isabella had in tow a Chasse-Mar6e, on board 
 of which were embarked two thirty-two pounders^ 
 
228 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 from the Castor frigate, with 500 rounds of ammu- 
 nition, Congreve rockets, &c. In passing San- 
 tona, the PhcBnix took from thence, in tow, another 
 Chasse-Maree, laden ^with two twenty-four pound- 
 ers, and their necessary materiel. In consequence 
 of the bad state of the weather, 200 dismounted 
 men of the 2nd Lancers, under the command 
 of Colonel Jacks, were compelled to reland, 
 and the remainder of the force proceeded on to 
 San Sebastian, into which they threw themselves 
 under cover of midnight. 
 
 The defenceless state of the town may be in- 
 ferred from the fact of there being only 240 of 
 the militia, and 250 Urbanos to defend it. More- 
 over, traitors, more formidable than any other 
 enemy, were within its walls. A certain number 
 of the inhabitants, suspected of Carlism, were 
 refused admission into the ranks of the Urbanos, 
 and these persons, annoyed at the exclusion, and 
 secretly devoted to the adverse cause, had found 
 means of communicating with General Sagas- 
 tibelza, between whom and themselves it was 
 agreed, that a petard should be exploded new** 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 229 
 
 one of the gates at night, so as to admit of the 
 entrance of the Carlists. This scheme was 
 happily detected in time, and the delinquent 
 incarcerated ; but confidence was far from being 
 restored — since, in addition to the weakness of 
 the garrison, the Governor, who should have been 
 the first to set an example of bravery, slept 
 nightly in the bomb-proofs, with the women and 
 children. 
 
 Such was the condition of things when Colonel 
 Arbuthnott arrived. His appearance gave a new 
 aspect to affairs; and the despondency of all 
 ranks, within San Sebastian,' was succeeded by the 
 utmost confidence. Early in the following day, 
 the artillerymen mounted the walls of the town, 
 where the Carlists were in the daily habit of ex- 
 pelling the besieged with musketry, and, by their 
 cool and skilful fire, succeeded in driving them to 
 a distance. 
 
 It was at this period that Colonel Arbuthnott, 
 having received some intelligence that the Du- 
 rango decree had been rescinded, sent a flag of 
 truce to Sagastibelza, with an intention to be 
 
230 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 satisfied if such was actually the case. The inter- 
 view demanded was complicMl with, and the parties 
 met about midway on the causeway, leading from 
 San Sebastian to the enemy's principal entrench- 
 ments. Sagastibelza, a short, stout man, of no 
 remarkable appearance, was attended by his staff, 
 among whom was Montenegro, commanding the 
 artillery, and dressed in a Zamara, or black sheep- 
 skin jacket. The interview was short and pithy. 
 The tollowing question was put by Colonel Ar- 
 buthnott through his interpreter : — " Having been 
 informed that Don Carlos has rescinded the decree 
 of Dumngo, I wish to know if that information be 
 correct?" Sagastibelza instantly replied, and 
 through the same medium : — " I have received no 
 orders to give quarter to the Auxiliary Legion ; 
 we do not look upon you as regular soldiers, but 
 troops recruited to serve Christina, and not to 
 assist Spain ; " — laying great emphasis on the 
 words Christina and Spain. An officer of Ur- 
 banos, who bore the flag, then asked how they 
 (the Urbanos) were to be treated *? — the answer 
 was, " The Urbanos and Chapelgorris are to be 
 
TIIK BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 231 
 
 treated the same as the Auxiliary troops ; " — and 
 thus ended the interview. One of Sagastihelza's 
 aids-de-camp who accompanied Colonel Arbuth- 
 nott part of the way back, remarking, '* You 
 have been extremely fortunate in the weather ; — 
 we had no idea San Sebastian could have been 
 relieved in less than ten days." 
 
 Although Colonel Arbuthnott had acted for 
 himself, in succoring San Sebastian, it was, of 
 course, not his intention to continue in it longer 
 than a reinforcement of Spaniards could be re- 
 ceived. He accordingly pressed the authorities, 
 whose answers urged him in the strongest manner 
 to remain. Troops, however, came on the 18th 
 from Santona, to the number of 600 ; and Colonel 
 Arbuthnott quitted San Sebastian on the following 
 day, leaving behind him the whole of his artillery- 
 men to work the guns. I have seen the original 
 documents, and no one can doubt, after their 
 perusal, that the most important service was ren- 
 dered by the Legion, and at a most critical mo- 
 ment, to San Sebastian. Of its desperate con- 
 dition some idea may be formed from the note 
 
232 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 given in the appendix, and addressed to Colonel 
 Arbuthnott, from the French Consul ; for not only 
 M'as danger apprehended from without, but also 
 from its numerous traitors within. 
 
 Apropos of San Sebastian traitors. On one 
 occasion, while I was quartered in the convent of 
 San Francisco, a highly gentlemanly-looking man 
 ■was identified, near the barracks, by some of the 
 soldiers, as having offered them money to desert 
 to Don Carlos. He was instantly seized, and 
 notwithstanding all his protestations to the con- 
 trary, conveyed to my room, where I had orders 
 from the Colonel, who held me responsible for his 
 safety, to keep him a prisoner. He requested 
 permission to send to General Chichester, who 
 then commanded the English garrison, and who, 
 he said, knew him well, as one of the first men in 
 the town. His demand having been complied 
 with, the General arrived in about an hour — came 
 into my room, where I was seated conversing 
 with my prisoner, — recognized an individual with 
 whom he was personally acquainted, — apologized, 
 in the gentlemanly manner habitual to him, for 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 his detention, and liberated him on the instant. 
 Notwithstanding, the men still persisted that he 
 was the same man who had sought to entice 
 them to desert ; and I at the time believed, and 
 still do believe their assertion ; for so many men 
 could not all be in error as to the person. The 
 baker, who suffered at Vitoria, was also one who 
 had been turned out of San Sebastian tor sus- 
 pected treason. 
 
 As an officer in the service of the Queen, it is 
 not permitted to me further than to remark on the 
 extraordinary fact of San Sebastian — the key of 
 Northern Spain, and the fortress which, most of 
 all others, the Carlists had coveted, and still covet 
 — having been left in the destitute condition which 
 has just been shown. What could 500 men be 
 expected to effect against such a besieging army 
 as the enemy brought close under its walls ? And 
 wherefore was it that the recommendations to 
 some mark of favor from the Queen, expressive 
 of the important service rendered by the Legion 
 in their timely succoring San Sebastian, have not 
 
 2h 
 
234 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 to this hour met with the slightest notice from the 
 Government '? 
 
 As an officer in the Spanish service, I repeat, 
 I do not now feel myself authorized to give my 
 opinion, but a time will come when I may be en- 
 abled to assure my countrymen, that if the British 
 Legion have not hitherto had greater opportuni- 
 ties of acquitting themselves valiantly in the f.f^ld 
 of honor, it has been \vholly owing to considera- 
 tions of a nature but indifferently understood at 
 home. I have confined mvself to facts connet ted 
 with the Legion, in this volume — in a second I 
 shall claim the privilege of otfe ring opinions. 
 
 Santander, April 12th. — Nothing can be more 
 odious or uncomfortable than the manner of billet- 
 ing here. Billets are given only for three days, 
 and it is optional with the person billeted on, 
 to receive you, or pay your lodging-t:>ill at a 
 posada. Not only this, but the billet-master i« a 
 disagreeable, ugly little fellow, who compels you 
 to get a new order from the Governor, and also 
 from the English commandant, every three days. 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 235 
 
 This might easily be dispensed with, were the 
 man of office willing ; but he is one, who, I should 
 say, hates every thing English, from the bottom 
 of his heart. Wherefore is it, that some linguist 
 is not appointed to the duty ? The presen* man 
 speaks Spanish only, to the great inconvenience 
 of the majority of her Catholic Majesty's liege 
 auxiliaries. 
 
 April 13th. — Last night Brigadier-General 
 Evans arrived from Vitoria on his way to Eng- 
 land ; and the Royal Tar, reported lost in the late 
 gales, not having come in, it was arranged he 
 should go by the Reina Gobemadora. Colonel 
 Arbuthnott, whose attention to officers of all ranks, 
 and whose desire to facilitate their views, is pro- 
 verbial, sought to obtain a passage for those who 
 were on leave at Santander, waiting for a convey- 
 ance home. This, however, Commodore Henry, 
 the senior officer here, positively refused, — de- 
 claring that none but field officers should be em- 
 barked in the ship. This intelligence was com- 
 municated to me by Colonel Arbuthnott, with a 
 sincere expressior: of regret at the failure of his 
 
236 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 application, but he suggested a personal one from 
 myself, — offering at the same time his boat and 
 orderly, to convey me on board the Isabella Se- 
 cunda. This offer 1 accepted ; — the vessel was 
 at the time moving slowly through the water, with 
 no other apparent object than a trial of her steam. 
 On approaching her. Commodore Henry was 
 standing on the paddle-box ; but, although the 
 foolish boat's crew of Spaniards, were so afraid 
 of coming too nigh the wheel, as to be driven 
 astern, not a rope was thrown out to us from the 
 Isabella, — yet it was clear there was an officer in 
 the boat, who wished to go on board. This un- 
 English man-of-war-like piece of discourtesy, I 
 confess, at first piqued me to such an extent, that 
 my first impression was to order the boatmen to 
 row for the shore ; but an after consideration in- 
 duced me to proceed with my original design. — 
 The steamer had, by this time, dropped her anchor, 
 and the Commodore was still standing on the 
 paddle-box ; — I ascended to the quarter-deck, and 
 thence to the paddle-box. Commodore Henry, 
 to whom I had been introduced only a few days 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 237 
 
 before, by Col. Arbuthnott, kept his back turned 
 towards me, which, at the moment, I nttributed to 
 the fact of his giving some orders. I said aloud, 
 ** Commodore Henry, I believe." He turned 
 round and replied, " yes." I then said, that I was 
 particularly anxious to get to England, and should 
 feel obliged to him, if he would give me a passage 
 home." His reply was briefly, " I am not going 
 to England." This I knew as well as himself; — 
 but said, I understood he was going, or about to 
 send. He again repeated, " I am not going to 
 England." After this there was no more to be 
 said, and knowing the absolutism of a captain on 
 board his own ship, I descended the steps without 
 another word. It will be understood, that as the 
 officer commanding the station, he could have 
 ordered me a passage on board the Goberna- 
 dora, — but even, although he might have con- 
 sidered this not expedient, or suiting his pleasure, 
 there was a gentlemanly tone and manner to be 
 used in his refusal, which every officer and gentle- 
 man had a right to expect, and directly the reverse 
 of that practised by Commodore Henry. In a 
 
238 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 word, — never in the course of my life, did I meet 
 with a less courteous reception. 
 
 Whether the present Commodore Henry would 
 have adopted the same mode of conduct towards 
 an officer of some standing in His Britannic 
 Majesty's army, while Lieutenant Peake of His 
 Majesty's navy himself, is not so easily demon- 
 strable. 
 
 An after arrangement sent Brigadier Evans 
 home by the English steamer Phcenix, instead of 
 the Gobemadora. Application was made to Lord 
 John Hay for a passage for me at the same time, 
 by Colonel Arbuthnott, though without my know- 
 ledge. Lord John said, he could not in confor- 
 mity with instructions of the most imperative 
 nature from England, on the subject, comply with 
 the request, and he was con_pelled to refuse it. 
 To-day he met mc on the quay, and expressed 
 much regret that his orders were such as to pre- 
 clude his giving me a passage home, in the 
 manner required. I told his Lordship, that I was 
 perfectly aware he would have granted me one if 
 in his power ; and, that the difficulty having been 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 239 
 
 explained to me by Colonel Arbuthnott, I could 
 not in the slightest degree feel hurt at his refusal. 
 — This circumstance I mention, merely as being 
 in striking contrast with the foregoing. 
 
 April 17th. — ^This morning, at an early hour, the 
 Lieutenant-General, accompanied by his staff, and 
 escorted by a detachment of Lancers, arrived 
 at Santander from Vitoria, whence it had been 
 some time in contemplation to remove the Legion 
 towards the sea. This is a happy arrangement, 
 and one that promises fair for the honor of our 
 name at last. Removed from the immediate 
 control of Cordova, the Lieutenant-General 
 will now be enabled to act for himself; and, as 
 Bilbao and San Sebastian are to be the principal 
 destinations of the Legion, we may hope for a 
 diflFerent warfare from the past — certainly one 
 that will more redound to our credit. No longer 
 engaged in a mountainous struggle, and against 
 an enemy whose chief aim is concealment, we 
 shall retake, and, perhaps, utterly destroy the in- 
 significant and unimportant towns of Plencia, 
 and La Quieta, and secure and garrison those 
 
240 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 fortresses which communicate more immediately 
 with France — as, for instance, Fortarabia and 
 Passages. ' 
 
 It is probable that on our approach, the Car- 
 lists will destroy these minor places, while from 
 those of the major, — San Sebastian for instance — 
 they will immediately withdraw their guns and 
 men, to prevent their falling into our hands. 
 Whatever the alternative, the result must be 
 equally discouraging to the enemy, who have 
 taken so much pains to bring their battering 
 materiel into the neighborhood of Bilbao and 
 San Sebastian ; — one of which places it is all-im- 
 portant to them to secure. The consequence of 
 this failure, and non-advance of their first object, 
 will dishearten and weaken the ranks of Don 
 Carlos ; and if Ct rdova does his duty in Vitoria, 
 there can be no doubt that the Legion will do 
 theirs. 
 
 I heard it said this evening, at the Lieutenant- 
 Genenal's table, that there were 5000 as fine men, 
 well accoutred and well dressed, on their march 
 to Santander, as could be found, taken at hazard, 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 241 
 
 lo 
 
 in his Majesty's army ; and I believe it to be the 
 fact. Death has carried off the sickly men, 
 leaving behind it only the robust and active. 
 
 The mode of discipline has much contributed 
 to this. The Lieutenant-General's aversion to 
 corporal punishment is well known, and expe- 
 rience has proved that, although in the first in- 
 stance, some inflictions of the cat were given, at 
 the instance of Commanding Officers, and with- 
 out the privity of the Lieutenant-General, pro- 
 vosting is far more efficient. It is, and has been 
 for some length of time, the practice to punish 
 delinquents on the spot, when caught flagrante 
 delicto — a system that spares the trouble of 
 assembling a court-martial, and which, from its 
 immediately succeeding the offence, brings the 
 enormity of that offence more directly under the 
 eyes of the offender. Men found to be incor- 
 rigible, have first been provosted, then marched 
 forth disgracefully by beat of drum from their 
 regiments, whithersoever chance or inclination 
 might direct them. 
 
 April 18th. — This day the Chapelgorris, who 
 
 2 I 
 
242 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 are now attached to the Legion, and are dressed 
 in red, arrived here, and were instantly embarked 
 in the James Watt Steamer, for San Sebastian, 
 their native home. The Light division under 
 Colonel Tupper of the 6th, acting Brigadier, are 
 expected in a day or two, and will proceed to the 
 same destination. 
 
 April 20th. — Yesterday there was a grand Re- 
 view of the Urbanos of Santander, of wliich 
 General Evans had, in compliance with their long- 
 urged request, at length assumed the command. 
 The men presented a fine appearance, and the 
 battalion might l3e computed about a thousand 
 strong. There was a squadron of Cavalry at- 
 tached, excessively well mounted and equipped. 
 The General, dressed in the uniform of the corps, 
 went through the ranks, accompanied by Iriatfe 
 and his own staif, in due form. The regiment 
 then broke into open column of snb-divisions, and 
 marched past ; — not badly for a national guard. 
 In the evening the Colonel (General Evans) gave 
 a dinner to his officers, at which were present 
 Iriat^, the Spanish Admiral, Lord John Hay, the 
 
\ 
 
 THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 243 
 
 Commanders of the French and Spanish Men-of- 
 War, &c. in all ahout sixty. The dinner given 
 in a poiada^ was, unavoidably, in posada style, 
 but there was excellent champagne, and in great 
 abundance. This wps a treat to those, at least, 
 who had just come from Vitoria. Lord John 
 Hay's band attended, and after dinner, were given, 
 successively, Isabella Secunda and the King of 
 England, accompanied each by its respective 
 national air. After these followed the Queen of 
 Portugal, and the King of the French ; the more 
 general toast of " the Quadruple Alliance" suc- 
 ceeded. General Evans and the British Legion 
 were then given, after which followed those of a 
 more personal nature, to the newly appointed 
 Colonel, by his officers. In fact, these last were 
 in such rapid succession, that some of us doubted 
 whether it would not be better to keep on our 
 legs altogether for the evening. These toasts, 
 which " harped npon the same strmg," were, of 
 course, given by Spaniards alone. We remained 
 until a late hour, and the dinner was a highly 
 social one. 
 
244 
 
 MOVEMENTS OK 
 
 In the evening, and before dinner, Colonel 
 Tiipper arrived, announcing dmt the light brigade 
 under his command, were outside the town. They 
 had marched no less a distance than thirty-six 
 miles, which, considering it to Ixj the ninth day of 
 their route from Vitoria, aflFords no bad specimen 
 of the state of the Legion. There were no 
 stragglers. 
 
 To-day the 6th embarked for San Sebastian 
 on board the Isabella-Secunda, and the Reyna 
 Gobernadora. General Evans went also, accom- 
 panied by part of his staff. 
 
 April 21st. — Yesterday the James Watt 
 Steamer arrived, which had carried the Chapel- 
 go rris to San Sebastian. Captain Jamieson re- 
 ports that no attempt was made by the Carlists 
 to interrupt the landing: not a gun was fired, 
 although they must have distinctly commanded 
 the harbor. My opinion is, that they have already, 
 in anticipation of our arrival, withdrawn their 
 artillery. As Passages is an important key to 
 the frontier, likely to be first attacked by us, and 
 is romantically situate between two bold and 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 245 
 
 abrupt mountains, a view may not be un- 
 interesting. ' ./t^y.'i <^. 
 
 San Sebastian, April 27th. — Yesterday, after a 
 very severe passage, I landed here on my route 
 to Bayonne through France, intending to proceed 
 by a small French Steamer to Socoa — but as 
 there is something to be done against the Carlist 
 lines, in a few days, I have resolved to waive my 
 leave of absence for the present, and remain 
 until we have had an affair. . * s , , 
 
 May 3rd. — Since my arrival here, the rains 
 have been incessant, and the weather so cold, 
 that fires are every where in demand, and the 
 snow has fallen thickly upon the mountains. Our 
 attack would have taken place before this, had 
 the Legion been all here ; but many are still at 
 Santander; — sufficient means of transport not 
 having been found. Little co-operation seems to. 
 be aflbrded by the Commanding Officer of the 
 squadron. On the evening of ^ur departure 
 from Santander, he had sailed also, having nine 
 hundred men on board, but scarcely had he pro- 
 ceeded to sea, when he put back again, nor came 
 
246 
 
 MOVEMENTS OP 
 
 until tlie James Watt, on board of which I had 
 embarked, made her second trip. Surely if rne 
 vessel could weather the storm, the other might, 
 especially as it was a cas^; of pressing emergency 
 — but the Commodore, it is to be feared, does not 
 enter de hon ccsur^ into the success of the 
 Legion. 
 
 May 4th — Our sole amusement, since our ar- 
 rival, has been to mount the ramparts, and watch 
 the effect of our fire upon the Carlist lines. There 
 has been iiothing to return to this, hitherto, but 
 musketry, the enemy having apparently with- 
 drawn (as I had predicted) all their battering train 
 farther into the interior. 
 
 To-day it was supposed the Brigade, to which I 
 an. attached, (the Light) were to have crossed 
 the river, at the point at which the breach was 
 effected by the Duke cf Wellington in the Pen- 
 insular War ; but the tide not admitting of our 
 fording, and the bridge of boats not being in 
 readiness, the attack was delayed until to-morrow, 
 when, at day -light, we move to attack the enemy's 
 lines. The General this afternoon, held a council 
 
THE URITISH LEGION. 
 
 247 
 
 with the Commanders of Brigades on the Citadel, 
 whence a full view oi the posts of the enemy could 
 be commanded. 
 
 It is now arranged, that without crossin?^ the 
 water to San Francisco, to which the enemy have 
 set fire during the night, auvi whicli still continu*'^ 
 burning, we shall move along the high road to the 
 convent of San Bartholomo, at present occupied 
 by our Chapelgorris, and thence to the various 
 points of attack allotted to us. My brigade at- 
 tacks the left of their position, the 2nd (or Irish) 
 the centre, and the 1st, the right. The Carlists 
 may make an excellent defence if they will, for 
 the ground is highly favorable to such a purpose, 
 being thickly covered with hedges, houses, &c. 
 independently of their intrenchments. 
 
 To-morrow will br the anniversary of a despe- 
 rate attack, in which I bore a part, on the enemy 's 
 batteries, during the la'jt American war, which 
 batteries were carried, singular to say, by the 
 father of an officer of the company to which I am 
 nominally attached, (I say nominally, for I am 
 in orders to command a wing of my regiment to- 
 
 '.'li 
 
r 
 
 248 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 morrow.) My only hope is, that the men will 
 do their duty now, as they did on that occasion. 
 
 May 7th. — In pursuance of the plan arranged 
 for vhe 5th, we marched forth before day to the 
 convent of San Bartolomo, immediately in front of 
 us. To prevent the enemy from ascertaining our 
 movements^ the Lieu tenant-General had taken the 
 precaution to order that the men should be assem- 
 bled soon after midnight, and without sound of 
 drum or bugle. 
 
 The first part of this movement was executed 
 with the necessary precision, and, at early dawn, 
 the whole moved off in their allotted directions, 
 simultaneously, and with a view to final co-ope- 
 ration. The enemy's lines were three in number, 
 most formidably built, and otherwise defended by 
 some heavy artillery, discovered only the day 
 before. In a few minutes they were apprized of 
 our advance, and showers of giape and cannister 
 were vomited upon the main road leading to the 
 position. Soon after this, the guns of the castle 
 began to open, but these were fired so slowly and 
 badly, as to afford us very little assistance. In a 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 249 
 
 quarter of an hour the Light brigade came into 
 view of the strongest part of the enemy's lines, 
 whence an annihilating fire of musketry, supported 
 in the centre by a formidable battery of cannon, 
 was directed upon us. But this did not stay the 
 onward progress of the men. Although exposed 
 to a most galling fusillade, the bullets flying lite- 
 rally like hail, they drew not a trigger, but ad- 
 vanced determinedly with tixed bayonets across 
 the plain, uttering loud cries as they doubled 
 through it. Five hundred yards brought us to 
 some houses occupied by the enemy, from which 
 they were speedily driven, our men instantly pos- 
 sessing themselves of them. 
 
 From these houses the fire of the enemy was 
 returned by some Chapclgorris, while the 3rd and 
 6th advanced to storm the line; but no sooner 
 had these latter emerged from the cover of the 
 houses, forming in column of attack, than a 
 shower of musketry and grape was poured in 
 upon them. In defiance of this they moved on, 
 the men falling in every direction. But human 
 courage could not withstand the galling fire of 
 
 2 k 
 
 ■I 
 
250 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 our invisible foe, especially as there was no breach 
 through which we could enter, and as not a shot 
 was returned. The men theretbre retired under 
 cover of the houses we had taken. 
 
 Close to these houses was a parapet, intersect- 
 ing the road, and partially broken down to admit 
 of the passage of the column. On this parapet, 
 the Lieutenant-General, who had come to us from 
 the 2nd division, which had likewise failed in its 
 attempt at an impression, immediately ascended, 
 and exposing himself to the hail-storm of the 
 enemy, called upon the men to advance, and, if 
 necessary, die like Englishmen. But although 
 he set the example of the contempt of danger he 
 sought to inspire, the troops had no sooner un- 
 covered themselves to the deadly fire of the 
 enemy, than they again experienced a check. 
 
 Meanwhile, the Phoenix and Salamander, Eng- 
 lish steamers, had arrived in the harbor from 
 Santander, the latter bringing with her the re- 
 serve, consisting of the majority of the 4th and 
 8th regiments. These were instantly landed, and 
 marched up the heights, and a heavy cannonade 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 251 
 
 of mortars opened from the Phoenix upon the 
 enemy's battery, on the left of their position, which 
 the 1st brigade, consisting chiefly of the 1st regi- 
 ment, had attempted, ineffectually, to carry. 
 Beautiful, indeed, was the direction of this ar- 
 tillery. The shells were fired with such precision, 
 that they passed successively over the heads of 
 our troops, and fell into the enemy's trenches. 
 By their instrumentality a breach was effected, 
 and the 4th and 8th (reserve) coming up, the left 
 of the position was stormed and gained. 
 
 The Carlists, thunder-struck, saw that the day 
 was lost, and soug'it safety in flight ; but no mercy 
 was shown them, for they had savagely bayoneted 
 several wounded officers and men in the early 
 repulses. Numbers fell beneath the steel of the 
 enraged assailants, burning f jr revenge ; and not a 
 Carlist who could be reached, lived to recount to 
 his comrades, that the English Auxiliaries, in imi- 
 tation of the example set by themselves, give no 
 quarter. 
 
 The position once gained, the success of the 
 day was no longer doiibtful, and the other brigades, 
 
252 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF 
 
 cheered by the example of their comrades, 
 who had come fresh into action, once more moved 
 to the assault. The Iri^h, like the 1st brigade, 
 bayoneted all that came near them, and the Light 
 brigade, formed in column of attack by the General 
 himself, rushed with deafening cheers upon the 
 right of the enemy's position. The 6th M'as 
 headed by Colonel Tupper, who was in the act of 
 rhfj Cling them on, when he received a ball in his 
 head, and fell, dangerously wounded. The whole 
 brigade then rushed forward, and in less than ten 
 minutes, the battery, which had galled us so much, 
 was carried by the 6th, who planted the Queen's 
 colors upon it. This centre of the principal line 
 thus won, the others necessarily followed, although 
 under a still continued fire, and by twelve o'clock 
 the whole of their truly formidable position, in- 
 cluding their guns, together with ammunition, 
 and provisions in abundance, had exchanged 
 masters. 
 
 But the most gratifying part of the affair was 
 at the close, when the General came up to the 
 battery. Here officers and men promiscuously 
 
THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 253 
 
 blended themselves together, and saluted him with 
 the most vehement cheering, — intimating, that to 
 their gallant leader, was their success mainly 
 attributable. Such a moment could not fail to be 
 one of pride to the Lieutenant-General, who, 
 much touched by this enthusiastic reception by 
 his gallant soldiers, replied, that the victory had 
 been gained by them, not him. 
 
 The day, under such an unexampled fire, and 
 against so formidable a position, was, of course, 
 not obtained without great loss on our side. We 
 have seventy-eight officers and nearly 800 men 
 killed and wounded — a great majority of these, 
 wounded. But the loss is trifling, in comparison 
 with the glory. Cordova's whole army, the people 
 of San Sebastian say, would never have carried 
 the position we did ; and the men conducted 
 themselves like heroes. The most veteran troops 
 of England would have been repulsed, hotly ex- 
 posed, as our fellows found themselves, in the first 
 assault upon a concealed enemy — and veterans 
 could not have accomplished more in the end, op- 
 posed as we A\ ere to the elite of Don Cailos's army. 
 
254 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF THE BRITISH LEGION. 
 
 Among the enemy's killed, arc General Sagas- 
 tibelza, the second in command, and Anolo, 
 colonel of the Chapelchuris, or white-caps. We 
 do not know the extent of their numerical loss, 
 but it must be less than ours, although the country 
 people who have come in, state it to be from 600 
 to 700 killed and wounded. But the greater 
 glory is ours, — if, after the heavy loss we sustained 
 in the early charges, while their strength continued 
 unimpaired, we could still carry their position ! 
 
 I have alluded to the Light Brigade particu- 
 larly, because, as one of its number, its opera- 
 tions, with those of the staiF, were more imme- 
 diately under my own eye ; — but all were equally 
 forward. At a later period, I may give some 
 interesting personal anecdotes of the action, — not 
 less piquant than true, — anecdotes from which the 
 public will be better enabled to decide upon the 
 real palmam, qui meruit ferat. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 (Copy.) 
 
 San Sebastian, December 16, 1835. 
 Colonel, 
 
 Faites veiller scrupuleusement cette 
 nuit au port. Attention aussi aux remparts du 
 cote de la riviere. Du mondc partoM. La maree 
 sera basse a 10 heures ce soir. 
 
 Attention, apr^s ce que les Carlistes 
 viennent de faire.* lis sont capables de tenter 
 un coup-de-main cette nuit. JVe vous fiez qu'a 
 vous. 
 
 Adieu Estimc a devouement, 
 (Signe) Baron Vigent, 
 
 Consul de France. 
 
 ^ Monsieur Le Colonel Arbuthnott, 
 Gentilhomme de la Cfiamhre privie 
 du Hoi d'Angleter re— Commandant, 
 tl San Sebastian. 
 
 I 
 
 * Alluding to the plot. 
 
 2m 
 
BRITISH AUXILIARY LEGION. 
 
 List of Deaths of Officers from Typhvs, from the 14th 
 of January to the 20th of April, 1836. 
 
 \ 
 
 REGIMENTS. RANK AND NAME. 
 
 1st Lancers Vet. Surg. Pedro de Campo. 
 
 2nd Lancers Major G. Younghusband. 
 
 Cornet Lynch. 
 
 1st Regiment of Infantry . . Capt. Cadogan. 
 
 Capt. Montgomery. 
 Lieut. Codd. 
 Ensign Hogg. 
 
 2nd Regiment of Infantry . . Capt. Leake. 
 
 Ensign Nash. 
 
 3rd Regiment of Infantry . . Lieut. Coi. Renwick (Santan- 
 
 der). 
 Major Edwards. 
 Major King, 
 2nd Lieut. Sparrow. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 257 
 
 RRGIMRNTS. 
 
 3rd Regimmt of Infantry 
 
 4th Regiment of Infantry 
 5th Regiment of Infantry 
 
 Gth Regiment of Infantry 
 
 1th Regiment of Infantry . 
 Sth Regiment of Infantry . 
 
 i)th Regiment of Infantry 
 
 RANK AND NAME. 
 
 . 2nd Lieut. Blackwater. 
 Lieut. Rawstorne. 
 Quarter-Master Rogers. 
 
 (None). 
 
 . Capt. Havelock. 
 Capt. Pilford. 
 
 . Lieut. Gordon. 
 2nd Lieut. Widowsou. 
 Qr.-Master Swanson. 
 
 loth Regiment of Infantry. 
 
 Rifle Corm 
 Artillery . . 
 
 (None). 
 
 . Capt. Oakley. 
 
 Ensign Leake. 
 Ensign Brown. 
 
 . Capt. Bluett. 
 Li It. Cooper. 
 Sur^. m Newall. 
 Surgeon Williams. ' 
 
 . Capt. Francks. 
 Adjt. Burrows. 
 Surgeon Grove. 
 Pay-Master Dunne. 
 
 .Capt. Cotter. 
 Capt. White. 
 
 • Lieut. & Adjt. Whitehead. 
 Assist. Surg. Salmon. 
 
,%.^%'V* 
 
 
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 i 
 
 Site ■ 
 
 I.I 1 1^ i^ 
 
 IL25 iu 
 
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 6" 
 
 ^J ^./ 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y 14580 
 
 (716) 873-4503 
 
 J 
 
 ■4 
 

 ^^ 
 
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 y 
 
258 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 REGIMENTS. . ; RANK AND NAME. 
 
 Medical Staff .Dep. Purveyor Lathey. 
 
 Dep. Purveyor Thome. 
 Assist. Surgeon Plank 
 Assist. Surgeon Skurry. 
 Assist. Surgeon Lewis, 
 f Assist. Surgeon Grundy. •^,, 
 
 Commissariat Dep. As. Com. Gen. Pococke, 
 
 Dep. As. Com. Gen. Archer. 
 
 Deputy Provost Marshall . . Ensign O'Connell. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 Wm. ConsidinEj 
 Colonel, — Military Secretary. 
 
 N.B. Major Dundas, of the 7th regiment, died Dec. 
 24th, 1835.— W. C. 
 
vH:Ut 
 
 n 
 
 LIST OP OFFICERS, 
 
 Killed, wounded, and since dead of their wounds, in the 
 of air of the 5th of May. 
 
 KILLED 
 
 Capt. O'ReiUy. 
 
 c. 
 
 LIGHT BRIGADE. . 
 
 Rifles, 
 
 WOUNDED. 
 
 Major Fortescue, slightly. 
 Capt. Costello, severely. 
 Capt. Aitkins, ditto. 
 Capt. Durie, slightly. 
 Lieut. JefFeries, severely. 
 Lieut. Durie, ditto. 
 2nd Lieut. Barker, ditto. 
 2nd Lieut. Hanbury, ditto. 
 
 ^rd RegimerU, 
 
 Major Campbell, slightly. 
 Capt. & Adjt. Keevil, ditto. 
 Lieut. Chadwicke^ severely. 
 Lieut. Corfe, slightly. 
 Lieut. Jackson, ditto. 
 2nd Lieut. Chadwicke, severely, 
 [since dead. 
 
260 
 
 APPENDDi. 
 
 ^^^^^^' WOUNDED. 
 
 2nd Lieut. Brockwell, slightly. 
 „ 2nd Lieut. Mackintosh, ditto. 
 
 Volunteer O'Brien, severely. 
 
 ^th Regiment. 
 Capt. M*Neil, (returned 
 
 [wounded.) 
 Lieut. Balfour, (missing, 
 
 [supposed to be killed.) 
 
 Col. Tupper, dangerously, (since 
 
 [dead.) 
 Capt. Richardson, severely, (re- 
 ^ [turned slightly.) 
 
 Capt. Wood, ditto. 
 
 Lieut. Carnaby, severely. 
 Lieut. Macdonnell, ditto 
 Lieut. Mackellar, ditto. 
 Lieut. Storey, ditto. 
 
 FIRST BRIGADE. 
 
 Ist Regiment. 
 
 Major Hicks, sevpr*>ly. 
 Capt. Talbot, slightly. 
 Capt. Be Koven, ditto. 
 Capt. Noble, ditto. 
 Capt. Townley, severely. 
 
 Capt. Scarman. 
 Lieut. Cooper. 
 
 Capt. & Adjt. Allez. 
 
 ith Regiment. 
 
 Captain Ramsay, slightly. 
 Lieut. Kemp, ditto. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 261: 
 
 Lieut. Hamilton. 
 Qr.-Master Warner. 
 
 ^^^^^O' WOUNDED. J ,y 
 
 Sth Regiment. 
 
 Maj. Mitchell, dangerously, (re- 
 [turned severely, since dead.) 
 Brevet-Major Hogg, slightly. 
 Capt. Shields, severely. 
 Capt. Larkham, slightly. 
 
 SECOND BRIGADE. 
 
 7th Regiment. 
 
 Lieut.-Col. Swan, severely. 
 Major Beckham, slightly. 
 Major M'Cabe. severely. 
 Capt. Wilson. ditto. 
 - Lieut. Haggert), ditto. 
 
 Lieut. Gray, slightly. 
 Lieut. Phelan, severely. 
 Ensign Armstrong, ditto. 
 Ensign Mahon, ditto. 
 
 9th Regiment. 
 Qr.-Master Wright. Major Cannon, severely. 
 
 Capt. Mackie, dangerously, (re- 
 [tumed severely.) 
 Capt. Thompson, severely. 
 Lieut. Holmes, ditto. 
 Lieut. Stack, slightly. 
 Ensign Sparrow, severely. 
 Ensign Woods, slightly. 
 Ensign Bezant, severely. 
 Ensign Byrne, dangerously. 
 

 262 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ♦ 
 
 KILLED. 
 
 WOUNDED. 
 
 10th Regiment. 
 
 
 Capt. Mould. 
 
 M 
 
 Major Shaw, slightly. 
 
 
 1. 
 
 Capt. Fitzgerald, severely. 
 
 
 ■ . ^ ■ ; h'0' 
 
 V Capt. Count de Railing, ditto. 
 
 
 
 Capt. Park, ditto. 
 Lieut. & Adjt. Wright, slightly. 
 Lieut, Wm. Price, dangerously, 
 (since dead.) 
 Lieut. Joyce, slightly. 
 
 STAFF. 
 
 Capt. Knight, A. D. C. 
 
 Brig.-Gen. Reid, slightly. 
 
 Brig.-Gen. Shaw, ditto. 
 
 Col. Considine, severely. 
 
 Col. Lord Wm. Paget, A. D. C. 
 [to the Lieut.-Gen., slightly. 
 
 Lieut.-Col. Don Fernando Co- 
 toner, A. D. C. to the Lieut.- 
 [Gen., severely. 
 
 Captain Woolridge, slightly. 
 
 Assist.-Insp.-Gen. of Hospitals 
 [Alcock, slightly. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 / 
 
 LEWIS AND CO., PniNlJinSi, 16, miTH-STHEtT, SOHO. 
 
.#■# 
 
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 *