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HISTORY
OF THE
PENINSULAR WAR.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS.

“Unto thee
“Let thine own times as an old story be.”

Donne.

BY ROBERT SOUTHEY, ESQ. LL.D.
POET LAUREATE,

HONORARY MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY, OF THE
ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY OF HISTORY, OF THE ROYAL
INSTITUTE OF THE NETHERLANDS, OF THE
CYMMRODORION, OF THE MASSACHUSETTS
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ETC.

A NEW EDITION.

IN SIX VOLUMES.

VOL. III.

LONDON:
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET.
MDCCCXXVIII.

Ἱστορίας γὰρ ἐὰν ἀφέλῃ τις τὸ διὰ τί, καὶ πῶς, καὶ τίνος χάριν ἐπράχθη, καὶ τὸ πραχθὲν πότερα εὔλογον ἔσχε τὸ τέλος, τὸ καταλειπόμενον αὐτῆς ἀγώνισμα μὲν, μάθημα δὲ οὐ γίγνεται· καὶ παραυτίκα μὲν τέρπει, πρὸς δὲ τὸ μέλλον οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖ τὸ παράπαν.

Polybius, lib. iii. sect. 31.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVI.
	PAGE
Treaty between Great Britain and Spain	1
Surrender of Coruña	3
Situation and strength of Ferrol	5
Surrender of Ferrol	6
Exultation of the French	8
Pursuit of Romana’s army	10
Dismay in Galicia	11
Romana retreats toward Monterrey	12
Blake leaves the army	13
The French cease the pursuit	14
Buonaparte is advised that Austria is arming	15
Change in his views concerning Spain	16
He returns to France	18
His professions to the Spaniards at Madrid	19
Registers opened	24
The people of Madrid take the oath of allegiance to Joseph	25
Addresses to the Intruder	26
Edicts of the Intruder before his return to Madrid	27
His entrance into Madrid	29
Edicts against the patriots	31
Circular epistle to the clergy	32
Condition of Madrid	34
False intelligence published by the intrusive government	36
Unwillingness of the Spaniards to believe that Morla was a traitor	37
Proofs of his prior treachery	38
Morla’s letter to the Central Junta	39
His letter to the governor of Cadiz	41
Arrest and cruel imprisonment of the French at Cadiz	42
Death of Florida Blanca	43
Marques de Astorga chosen president of the Central Junta	44
Catalonia	45
Siege of Barcelona	46
St. Cyr appointed to command the French	48
He determines upon besieging Rosas	50
Dilapidated state of that fortress	52
Preparations for the siege	52
British squadron in the Bay of Rosas	54
Disposition of the Italian troops to desert	56
Attack upon Fort Trinidad repulsed	57
The French establish themselves in the town	59
Lord Cochrane arrives, and throws himself into Fort Trinidad	59
Gallant defence of the fort	60
The citadel captured, and the fort evacuated	62
St. Cyr marches to relieve Barcelona	63
He discovers a mountain path near Hostalrich	64
Indecision of General Vives	67
He marches against the French	68
Rout of the Spaniards at Llinas	68
Retreat of the Spaniards from Barcelona to the Llobregat	71
St. Cyr marches against them	72
Indecision of the Spaniards	73
The Spaniards routed and pursued to Tarragona	76
CHAPTER XVII.
The Spaniards not discouraged by their reverses	80
Condition of Infantado’s army at Cuenca	81
Dreams of offensive operations	83
Movement against the French at Tarancon	84
Venegas falls back from Tarancon to Ucles	84
Rout of the Spaniards at Ucles	86
Cruelties committed there by the French	88
Infantado collects the fugitives	89
Retreat from Cuenca	91
Loss of the artillery	92
Infantado frustrates a movement of the enemy against the Carolina army	94
He is superseded by Cartaojal	95
Calumnies against Castaños	96
His memorial to the Central Junta	99
Conde de Montijo’s intrigues	100
Progress of the French in Castille and Leon	101
New levies raised by the Spaniards	102
Temporizing conduct of certain magistrates	103
Sir Robert Wilson	103
He raises a Portugueze legion at Porto	104
Sir Robert goes to Ciudad Rodrigo	106
He refuses to return to Porto	107
Effect of his movements	108
Part of the legion detained at Porto	109
Displeasure of the authorities there	110
Rank given him by the Spanish government	110
Proposal that British troops should be admitted into Cadiz	111
Objections of the Spanish government	112
Troops arrive in the bay	114
Mr. Frere’s representations to the Central Junta	114
Reply of the Spanish government	116
Their proposal for employing the troops	117
Conference with Mr. Frere	117
Mr. Frere requests Cuesta’s opinion	120
Cuesta’s reply	122
Close of the discussion	123
Insurrection at Cadiz	127
Confidence of the people in the English	129
Proclamation of the governor	130
Murder of D. Juan de Heredia	131
The tumult subsides	131
Proclamation of the Central Junta	132
CHAPTER XVIII.
Castaños accused at Zaragoza as a traitor	135
State of public feeling in that city	136
Measures of precaution	137
None of the inhabitants leave the city	139
Supposed miracles	140
Works of defence	141
The city crowded with soldiers	144
Preparations within the city	145
Marshal Moncey reconnoitres the Torrero	145
The French appear before the city	146
They take the Torrero	146
Unsuccessful attack upon the suburbs	148
Moncey summons Palafox to surrender	149
The investment of the city completed	150
Proclamation of Palafox to the people of Madrid	152
Junot takes the command of the French	153
St. Joseph’s and the Redoubt of the Pillar taken	153
Rumours of success, and rejoicings in the city	154
An infectious disease appears in the city	155
Attempts of Lazan and Francisco Palafox to succour the city	157
Condition of the army in Catalonia	158
Reding takes the command	159
The army re-formed at Tarragona	160
Conduct of the French under St. Cyr	162
Orders to attempt the relief of Zaragoza	164
Tardiness in obeying them	166
Defeat of the peasantry	166
Alcañiz occupied by the French	166
Movements in Navarre and Aragon	167
Marshal Lasnes takes the command	167
He summons Palafox to surrender	168
The French enter the city, but with great loss	168
They establish themselves in the Trinidad Convent	171
Convents of S. Augustin and S. Monica won	171
The enemy proceed by mining	173
Progress of the pestilence	174
First talk of surrender in the city	176
The contest carried on by fire	177
Convent of Jesus in the suburb taken	179
St. Francisco taken	180
The French begin to murmur	182
Not even an attempt is made to relieve the city	183
The suburbs taken	185
The university taken	186
Palafox transfers his authority to a Junta	186
Condition of the besieged	187
Flag of truce sent to the French	189
Last efforts of the besieged	190
D. Pedro Maria Ric goes out to treat with Marshal Lasnes	192
Capitulation	194
Farther conditions asked, and refused	196
Conduct of the French	198
Treatment of the prisoners	198
Palafox compelled by threats of death to sign orders for delivering up four fortresses	201
He is sent into France	202
Demands of the French	203
Lasnes makes his entrance	204
Baseness of the suffragan bishop	204
Language of the French upon their triumph	206
Decree of the Central Junta	206
Address to the nation	208
Honours decreed to the inhabitants of Zaragoza	211
Falsehoods of the French government	212
CHAPTER XIX.
Portugal threatened by the French	214
Preparations of the English for evacuating Lisbon	214
Address of the Portugueze Regency to the nation	215
State of public feeling at Lisbon	216
Marshal Soult ordered to enter Portugal from Galicia	218
Difficulty of providing for the French army	219
His confidence of success	220
Combined plans of the French	220
Vigo and Tuy occupied by the French	221
Preparations for crossing the Minho below Tuy	221
Failure of the attempt	223
Soult marches by way of Orense	223
Romana rouses the Galicians	224
Opinion of his strength	225
Villages burnt by the French	226
Intended plan of co-operation between Romana and Silveira	226
Difference between Marshals Soult and Ney	227
Rout of Romana’s army	228
The French remove their sick and wounded to Monterrey	229
Situation of Chaves	230
Silveira retires from Chaves	231
Some mutinous officers resolve to defend it	232
Surrender of Chaves	232
The French establish their hospital there	234
Preparations for defence at Porto	235
Advance of the French from Chaves	237
Tumults at Braga	238
General Freire murdered	240
The Portugueze routed before Braga	242
The French enter Braga	243
They appear before Porto	245
Oliveira murdered	246
The Bishop leaves the city	247
Porto taken	247
Massacre there	248
Soult remains in Porto	250
Disposition of the inhabitants	251
Marshal Soult’s views respecting the Liberals and the Jews	252
His hopes of becoming King of Northern Lusitania	254
He visits the Church of N. Senhor de Bouças	256
Chaves retaken by Silveira	260
Proceedings at Coimbra	262
Colonel Trant takes a position upon the Vouga	265
Cruelties of the French	268
Positions of the French and Portugueze	269
Romana captures the garrison at Villa Franca	270
Efforts of the Galicians	273
Barrios sent into Galicia	275
The Portugueze and Galicians blockade Tuy	276
Vigo	277
The Spaniards appear before Vigo	278
Recapture of that place	279
Blockade of Tuy	283
The Portugueze recross the Minho	284
The French in Tuy relieved and withdrawn	284
CHAPTER XX.
Plans of the intrusive government	286
Effect of the war upon the French soldiery	287
Temper of the Spanish generals in La Mancha and Extremadura	290
Reforms in the Spanish army	291
The Duque del Alburquerque	291
He proposes offensive operations	292
They are undertaken when too late	293
The Duke sent to join Cuesta	294
Cartaojal advances against the French	294
Rout of the Carolina army at Ciudad Real	295
Operations of Marshal Victor	295
The French cross the Puente del Arzobispo	296
Cuesta retreats from the Puerto de Miravete	297
Skirmishes at Truxillo and Miajadas	298
Junction with Alburquerque’s division	301
Cuesta offers battle at Medellin	301
Battle of Medellin	303
Misconduct of the Spanish cavalry	304
Cuesta thrown and wounded	304
Dispersion of the Spanish army	305
No quarter given	306
Escape of Alburquerque	307
The remnant of the Spanish army collect	308
Cuesta disgraces those who had behaved ill	309
The Junta act wisely and generously upon these defeats	310
Their appeal to the people	311
Tribunal of public safety	312
Correspondence on the Intruder’s part with the Junta	313
Measures for securing Badajoz	317
A crusade proclaimed there	318
Regulations concerning the ejected religioners	319
Plans of the intrusive government	320
Sir Robert Wilson’s conduct at Ciudad Rodrigo	321
Attempt to surprise that fortress	323
The French summon it	324
March of Lapisse to unite with Victor	325
The French enter Alcantara	325
Junction of Lapisse and Victor	327
CHAPTER XXI.
Conduct of the opposition in England	328
Return of the troops from Coruña	332
The King’s speech	333
Proceedings in Parliament	334
Lord Sidmouth	334
Earl St. Vincent	335
Lord Grenville	335
Earl of Liverpool	336
Mr. Ponsonby	338
Mr. Whitbread	339
Debates on the overture from Erfurth	341
Lord Grenville	341
Lord Auckland	341
Mr. Canning	341
Lord Henry Petty	343
Mr. Whitbread	343
Mr. Croker	346
Mr. Whitbread’s speech circulated by the French government	347
Debates on the campaign in Portugal	348
Both parties agree in extolling Sir John Moore	348
Inquiry into the campaign in Spain called for	349
Lord Grenville	349
Lord Erskine	349
Mr. Ponsonby	350
Lord Castlereagh	354
Mr. Tierney	354
Mr. Canning	357
Mr. Windham	361
Sir John Moore’s dispatches	367
Mr. Frere’s correspondence with Sir John Moore	372
Earl Grey	373
Earl of Liverpool	374
Mr. Canning	377
Earl Grey	381
Expedition to the Scheldt	382
Troops sent to Portugal	384
Earl of Buckinghamshire	384
CHAPTER XXII.
Feelings of the Portugueze toward the English	387
Sir Arthur Wellesley’s instructions	388
General Beresford appointed commander-in-chief of the Portugueze army	389
He begins to reform the army	390
Intercepted letter from General Kellermann to Soult	392
Laborde sent to attack Silveira at Amarante	393
State of Penafiel when the French entered	394
The Bridge of Amarante	395
Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick killed in defending it	397
The French endeavour to throw a bridge over the river	398
Repeated attempts to effect the passage	399
Plan for demolishing the Portugueze entrenchments	400
The French win the bridge	401
Situation of the enemy	402
Sir Arthur Wellesley lands at Lisbon	404
He communicates his plans to Cuesta	404
Views of the Philadelphes in Marshal Soult’s army	406
The Sieur D’Argenton goes to Sir Arthur Wellesley to explain their views	409
Advance of the British army towards Porto	410
D’Argenton is arrested	411
Soult prepares to retreat from Portugal	412
The French driven from Albergaria	413
They are driven from their position at Grijo	414
Measures of Soult to prevent the passage of the Douro	415
Passage of that river	416
Deliverance of Porto	418
Soult and Loison effect a junction on their retreat	421
Sir Arthur pursues the French	422
Sufferings of the enemy in their flight	423
Loss of the French at Puente de Misarella	425
The pursuit given over at Montalegre	425
Movement of troops from Aragon	426
Reasons for not continuing the pursuit	427
Victor enters Portugal by way of Alcantara, and speedily retreats	428
Soult reaches Orense	429
Romana enters Asturias, and displaces the Junta	429
Combined movements of the French against Romana	430
Romana escapes by sea	431
Ney returns into Galicia	432
The French in Lugo relieved by Soult	433
Mahy returns to Mondoñedo	434
The French driven from Compostella	435
Combined operations of Marshals Ney and Soult in Galicia	436
Romana rejoins his army	437
Proceedings of Soult	437
Cruelties exercised by the French	439
Defeat of the French at the Bridge of S. Payo	440
The Spaniards retaliate upon the invaders	443
Soult retreats out of Galicia	443
Ferrol and Coruña evacuated by the French	444
Soult complains of certain officers	446
He recommends a plan for securing Galicia	447
Romana summoned to take his place in the Central Junta	448
He orders a monument to be erected to Sir John Moore	449
His farewell to the army	450
Address of the Central Junta to the Galicians	451
CHAPTER XXIII.
Proceedings of the French after the fall of Zaragoza	456
State of the Catalan army	457
Reding determines to act on the offensive	460
The Spaniards driven from Igualada	461
Failure of the French against the Abbey of the S. Creus	462
Reding takes the field, and collects his scattered troops	465
He is advised to retreat	466
Battle of Valls	469
The French received at Reus	472
Arrangement concerning the wounded	473
Alarm at Tortosa	474
Lazan separates his army from Reding’s command	475
Mortality in Tarragona	476
St. Cyr removes to the plain of Vicq	477
Vicq deserted by its inhabitants	480
Arrest of the persons in office at Barcelona for refusing the oath	481
Prisoners sent into France	483
Barcelona relieved by sea	484
Reding dies of his wounds	484
Peasants of the Vallés	486
Blake appointed to the command	488
Movements of the Aragonese	488
Monzon recovered by the Spaniards	490
Capture of a French detachment	491
Blake moves upon Alcañiz	492
The French withdraw	495
Suchet comes against him	496
Defeat of the French before Alcañiz	497
Anniversary of the insurrection at Valencia	499
Celebration of S. Ferdinand’s day	500
Executions in Barcelona	502
Blake advances toward Zaragoza	504
Suchet attacks the Spaniards	505
Blake retreats to Belchite	506
Flight of the Spaniards	507
Blake’s resignation not accepted	509
Commencement of the Guerillas	511
Porlier	511
The Empecinado	511
Renovales in the valleys of Roncal	512
He defeats a French detachment	512
A second party defeated	513
Proclamation of the Duque de Mahon	514
Executions and reprisals	516
Attempts to win over Renovales	517
Troops sent from Zaragoza against him	520
He capitulates for the valleys	522
Xavier Mina	523
Siege of Gerona commenced	526

History of the Peninsular War, Volume 3 (of 6)

About This Book

HISTORY
OF THE
PENINSULAR WAR.

CONTENTS.

History of the Peninsular War, Volume 3 (of 6)

About This Book

HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR.

CONTENTS.

HISTORY
OF THE
PENINSULAR WAR.