CHAP. their public documents and valuables, and em XIV. 1812. French raise the Cadiz. 24th Aug. ployed strong working parties to add to the defences of the Cartuxa, occupied as a citadel. They also made many precautionary arrangeblockade of ments before Cadiz; but no decisive movement took place till intelligence arrived of the fall of Madrid; the day subsequently an unusual activity amongst the French created a suspicion in the city that the blockaders were preparing to abandon their lines, and in the night many tremendous explosions and fierce conflagrations announced to the garrison their immediate deliverance. At 9 A. M. the Spanish troops made a sortie, and took possession of an enormous quantity of shot, stores, and implements, of which their quick approach prevented the destruction, and of five hundred pieces of cannon, many in a serviceable state, and of thirty gun-boats. 25th. Marshal Soult's first intention, on hearing of the capture of Madrid, was, to concentrate his army in Granada, in readiness to move to the aid of Joseph, if necessary, but continuing to hold Seville in order to oppose Lord Wellington in front, should he march towards the south.— The latter object, however, was defeated by the Spaniards success of a detachment sent from Cadiz against Seville, under General Cruzmorgeon and Colonel Skerrett. The troops landed in the Guadalquiver, and taking the route of St. Lucar, unex recover Se ville. 27th. XIV. 1812. pectedly appeared in the suburb Triana, on the CHAP. right of the river, on the morning of the 27th August. The French garrison, which consisted of eight battalions, attempted to destroy the bridge, and gain time to effect their retreat; the injury however proving trivial, the inhabitants, under the fire of the rear-guard, threw planks across the opening, and the allies crossed in time to make 200 prisoners in the town. The same evening the French troops from the vicinity of Cadiz, about 7,000 in number, approached Seville to take up their quarters; but believing the force in possession to be that of Sir R. Hill, they made a hasty movement to their right on Marsha Carmona, followed by General Balasteros, who from Ronda hung upon their flank, and greatly Granada. annoyed them till they halted at Granada. Sir R. Hill's corps was then ordered to move to the Tagus, and connect its operations with the main body, whilst it should watch the roads from the south, and nearly all the British troops at Cadiz were embarked for Lisbon. The Spaniards were entreated to press the reduction of the posts on the Douro, and unite all their efficient troops to aid the tide of success, and strong applications were repeated to the British Government to forward reinforcements of every arm. Soult concentrates his army at CHAPTER XV. Lord Wellington moves from Madrid against the Army lately Marmont's-drives it beyond Burgos-lays siege to the Castle -The Armies of Marshal Soult, Suchet, and Joseph Buonaparte, unite in Valencia-advance for its Relief-Lord Wellington raises the Siege-retires behind the Douro-Joseph recovers Madrid-marches against Lord Wellington-The hos tile Armies manœuvre on the Tormes-The Allies continue their Retreat into Portugal. CHAP. LORD WELLINGTON at Madrid was in a proud, XV. but not an enviable situation: he had defeated a 1812. powerful army, and had driven the intrusive king from the capital; but the object of his advance was still unattained, as Marshal Soult remained in Granada, and independent of his corps, nearly 100,000 French troops might be brought to act against the 40,000 Portugueze and British under his Lordship's command in the centre of the Peninsula: further, Marshal Massena had been sent into Alava with an army of observation of 10,000 men, and although Napoleon, engaged with the mass of his forces in the heart of Russia, could not as heretofore send reinforcements to an unlimited extent, still there was reason to apprehend that other more considerable bodies would speedily cross the XV. Pyrenees. The Cortes, far from directing all CHAP. their energies to support and follow up the advantage gained over the intruders, seemed to be 1812. chiefly occupied in promulgating their new constitution, and to appreciate the success of the Allies by the opportunity gained for its more extensive circulation: the regency decreed 50,000 men to be added to the Spanish armies; but tied up by respect for their new laws, they ordered them to be raised in fixed proportions throughout the country, and by voluntary enlistment, so that no immediate benefit was obtained. The different Spanish commanders exerted themselves to the extent of their means. General Santocildes with the Galician forces obliged two hundred and fifty men to surrender prisoners in Tordesillas, and after a siege, 1200 in Astorga, 19th Aug. on condition of being exchanged; and the Empecinado captured 700 in Guadalaxara. Many of the principal Guerrilla chiefs hastened with their bands to Madrid, and those on the northern coast, encouraged and assisted by a squadron of men of war, under Sir Home Popham, recovered Bilboa, and displayed more than their wonted activity. These efforts, so highly creditable to the individuals concerned, and to the national character, were however of little weight in the balance of strength. Further, the promised co-operation on the eastern coast had entirely failed; the corps sent XV. 1812. CHAP. from Sicily not having exceeded 6,000 infantry of various nations, without cavalry. The time had passed for the employment of so small a force, the activity of Marshal Suchet having dispossessed the Spaniards of all means of immediate co-operation. After the dispersion of the Catalan regular forces on the heights of Altafalla, the French commanders commenced a similar system of severity to that which had pacified Valencia; but the retaliatory measures of the Catalan chiefs saved their brave countrymen from being reduced to similar quiet;* nevertheless, by entrenching various interior posts, and fortifying Blanes, Mataro, Mongat, with other places on the coast favourable for maritime The Governor of Lerida having put to death, as robbers, some soldiers of Eroles' corps who fell into his power, that resolute chief, on verifying the fact, kept parties on the watch till he made prisoners a small detachment of the garrison, from which he selected one individual by lot, and instantly executed the remainder in his presence. The fortunate prize drawer was then escorted to the gates of Lerida, and accorded life and liberty on condition of making known to his comrades the scene he had witnessed, and of delivering a letter to the Governor which contained the positive determination of Eroles to treat in a similar manner every Frenchman, of whatever rank, he might capture, should a single Catalan be punished for opposing the French dominion. The sincerity of the threat was too clearly evinced by the action that accompanied it, ever to be put to the test.-Fact learnt in conversation with Eroles soon after its occurrence. |