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HISTORY
OF THE
PENINSULAR WAR.
“Unto thee
“Let thine own times as an old story be.”
“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. V.
LONDON:
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET.
MDCCCXXXVII.
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 OF THE FIFTH VOLUME.
| Page | |
| CHAPTER XXXIII. | |
| Marshal Macdonald succeeds Augereau in Catalonia | 1 |
| Siege of Mequinenza | 2 |
| Mequinenza taken | 4 |
| Lili appointed to the command in Tortosa | 4 |
| Tortosa | 5 |
| Preparations for the siege of that city | 6 |
| The enemy appear before it | 7 |
| O’Donell visits the city | 8 |
| Macdonald enters the plain of Tarragona | 9 |
| Affair near Tarragona | 10 |
| Macdonald retires | 10 |
| O’Donell surprises the enemy at La Bisbal | 11 |
| The enemy’s batteries on the coast destroyed | 15 |
| Captured provisions purchased for the French in Barcelona | 15 |
| Lili’s preparations for defence | 16 |
| Ferdinand’s birthday celebrated in Tortosa | 17 |
| Conduct of the French general concerning Marshal Soult’s decree | 18 |
| Successes of Eroles | 20 |
| Edict against the Junta of Aragon | 22 |
| Molina de Aragon burnt by the French | 23 |
| Bassecourt takes the command in Valencia | 24 |
| Defeat of the Valencians at Ulldecona | 25 |
| Captain Fane taken at Palamos | 26 |
| Trenches opened before Tortosa | 27 |
| O’Donell’s plan for relieving it | 28 |
| Tortosa surrendered | 29 |
| Sentence on the governor for surrendering it | 29 |
| Col de Balaguer surrendered | 30 |
| Commodore Mends destroys the batteries on the north coast of Spain | 31 |
| Expedition under Renovales to Santona | 32 |
| Wreck of the Spanish vessels | 34 |
| Expedition under Lord Blayney | 35 |
| Mountains of Ronda | 35 |
| Ortiz de Zarate | 35 |
| Lord Blayney sails from Gibraltar | 38 |
| He lands near the castle of Frangerola | 38 |
| Failure of the expedition | 39 |
| Lord Blayney and the British troops taken | 41 |
| Defeat of general Blake | 41 |
| Irregular war | 42 |
| State of the guerrilla warfare | 48 |
| Andalusia | 48 |
| Mountains of Ronda | 49 |
| Extremadura | 51 |
| D. Toribio Bustamente | 51 |
| D. Francisco Abad, el Chaleco | 52 |
| Ciria, the Nero of La Mancha | 53 |
| New Castille | 54 |
| D. Ventura Ximenez | 54 |
| Guerrilla banditti | 55 |
| Crimes of Pedrazuela and his wife | 56 |
| Alcalde of Brihuega | 57 |
| Joseph’s escape from the Empecinado | 57 |
| Desertion of the Juramentados | 58 |
| Junta of Guadalaxara | 59 |
| The Medico | 59 |
| Fourscore French burnt in a chapel | 60 |
| Cruelties and retaliations | 60 |
| Old Castille | 61 |
| The Cura | 61 |
| Aragon | 62 |
| The Canterero | 63 |
| Alcalde of Mondragon | 64 |
| Asturias | 64 |
| Porlier | 64 |
| D. José Duran | 65 |
| Xavier Mina | 66 |
| His capture | 67 |
| Espoz y Mina elected to succeed him | 67 |
| CHAPTER XXXIV. | |
| Schemes of the instrusive government | 73 |
| The Cortes | 74 |
| Mode of election | 75 |
| Regulations proposed by the Central Junta | 81 |
| The Regency delays the convocation | 81 |
| Cortes convoked | 83 |
| Commencement of their proceedings | 84 |
| Oath required from the Regents | 86 |
| The Bishop of Orense scruples to take the oath | 87 |
| First measures of the Cortes | 90 |
| The Duke of Orleans offers his services | 91 |
| Second Regency | 92 |
| Marquis of Palacio refuses to take the oath | 93 |
| Tyrannical conduct of the Cortes towards him | 94 |
| Self-denying ordinance | 95 |
| Liberty of the press | 96 |
| State of the press | 100 |
| El Robespierre Español | 102 |
| Debates concerning Ferdinand | 102 |
| Decree concerning him | 104 |
| Character of the Cortes | 106 |
| CHAPTER XXXV. | |
| Expectations of the French | 109 |
| Gardanne enters Portugal, and marches back again | 110 |
| Drouet enters with 10,000 men | 111 |
| Rash operations of Silveira | 113 |
| Conduct of Drouet’s corps | 113 |
| The French army left to subsist upon the country | 114 |
| Conduct of that army towards the inhabitants | 115 |
| Skill of the marauders | 118 |
| Massena perseveres in remaining against Ney’s advice | 121 |
| State of the people within the lines | 122 |
| False statements in France | 124 |
| Opinions of the opposition in England | 125 |
| Schemes of co-operation with Soult | 126 |
| Olivença taken by the French | 127 |
| Badajoz invested | 128 |
| Death of Romana | 128 |
| Destruction of his army | 130 |
| Governor of Badajoz killed | 131 |
| Imaz appointed to succeed him | 131 |
| Massena begins his retreat | 134 |
| Badajoz surrendered | 135 |
| Skill and barbarity of the French in their retreat | 140 |
| Havoc at Alcobaça | 142 |
| And at Batalha | 144 |
| Direction of the enemy’s retreat | 144 |
| Affair before Pombal | 145 |
| Before Redinha | 146 |
| They appear before Coimbra | 147 |
| Montbrun fears to enter it | 147 |
| Distress of the enemy | 149 |
| Affair on the Ceyra | 152 |
| Resistance made by the peasantry | 154 |
| Guarda | 156 |
| The Coa | 157 |
| Sabugal | 157 |
| Action before Sabugal | 158 |
| The French repass the frontier | 161 |
| Opinions of the Whigs at this time | 162 |
| Mr. Ponsonby | 162 |
| Mr. Freemantle | 162 |
| General Tarleton | 163 |
| Lord Grenville | 164 |
| CHAPTER XXXVI. | |
| Expedition from Cadiz | 165 |
| Lieutenant-General Graham | 165 |
| Apprehensions of the enemy | 166 |
| The troops land at Algeciras | 167 |
| They pass the Puerto de Facinas | 167 |
| Lapeña’s proclamation | 168 |
| Advance against Veger | 169 |
| Junction of the troops from St. Roques | 170 |
| The French attack Zayas, and are repulsed | 171 |
| Passage of the Lake of Janda | 172 |
| Position of the enemy | 173 |
| Communication with the Isle of Leon opened | 174 |
| Heights of Barrosa | 175 |
| General Graham marches back to the heights | 176 |
| Battle of Barrosa | 177 |
| Diversion on the coast | 179 |
| The Cortes demand an enquiry | 180 |
| Outcry in England against Lapeña | 180 |
| Mr. Ward’s speech | 181 |
| Mr. Perceval | 182 |
| Mr. Whitbread | 182 |
| Remarks on the failure of the expedition | 184 |
| Death of Alburquerque | 187 |
| His epitaph by Mr. Frere | 189 |
| CHAPTER XXXVII. | |
| Opinions of the opposition writers at this time | 190 |
| Address of the Portugueze government to the people | 193 |
| Lord Wellington asks relief for the suffering Portugueze | 195 |
| Parliamentary grant for the relief of the Portugueze | 196 |
| Earl Grosvenor demurs at it | 196 |
| Marquis of Lansdowne | 197 |
| Mr. Ponsonby | 197 |
| Public subscription | 198 |
| Honourable acknowledgement of this relief by the Prince of Brazil | 198 |
| Distribution of the grant | 198 |
| Children famished at Santarem | 199 |
| State in which the French left the country they had occupied | 199 |
| Pombal | 200 |
| Santarem | 200 |
| Leyria | 201 |
| Political effect of this distribution | 203 |
| Marshal Beresford goes to Alentejo | 205 |
| Valencia de Alcantara, Alburquerque, and Campo Mayor taken by the French | 206 |
| Beresford arrives on the frontier | 206 |
| Affair near Campo Mayor | 207 |
| Measures concerted with the Spaniards | 209 |
| Bridge constructed at Jurumenha | 210 |
| Passage of the Guadiana | 211 |
| Olivença retaken | 212 |
| Claim of the Portugueze to that place | 213 |
| The French retire from Extremadura | 215 |
| Siege of Badajoz undertaken | 216 |
| Bridge at Jurumenha swept away | 217 |
| Lord Wellington recalled to Beira | 218 |
| Inactivity of the Spanish commander in Galicia | 218 |
| Country between the Agueda and Coa | 219 |
| Massena’s address to his army | 220 |
| Battle of Fuentes d’Onoro | 220 |
| The French retire | 227 |
| Escape of the garrison from Almeida | 228 |
| Marmont succeeds Massena in the command | 230 |
| Lord Wellington recalled to Alentejo | 231 |
| Badajoz besieged | 231 |
| Interruption of the siege | 232 |
| Arrangement between Lord Wellington and Castaños concerning the command | 233 |
| Reasons for giving battle | 234 |
| The allies assemble at Albuhera | 234 |
| Battle of Albuhera | 236 |
| Siege of Badajoz resumed | 244 |
| Unsuccessful attempts upon Fort Christoval | 245 |
| The siege raised | 246 |
| Junction of Soult and Marmont | 247 |
| The allies take a position within the Portugueze frontier | 248 |
| Soult boasts of his success | 249 |
| Blake’s movements | 250 |
| He fails at Niebla and returns to Cadiz | 251 |
| The French armies separate | 252 |
| CHAPTER XXXVIII. | |
| Plans of the French in Catalonia | 253 |
| The Pyrenean provinces administered in Buonaparte’s name | 254 |
| State of Aragon | 255 |
| System of the French commander | 255 |
| Good effect of paying the troops regularly | 257 |
| British goods burnt at Zaragoza | 257 |
| Preparations for besieging Zaragoza | 258 |
| Manresa burnt by Macdonald | 260 |
| Scheme for the recovery of Barcelona frustrated | 262 |
| Figueras | 263 |
| Attempt upon that place | 264 |
| It is taken by surprise | 265 |
| Rovira rewarded with preferment in the church | 267 |
| Suchet refuses to send the troops which Macdonald required from him | 269 |
| Eroles introduces troops into Figueras | 270 |
| The French blockade it | 270 |
| Attempts to destroy Mina | 272 |
| Tarragona | 291 |
| Siege of that city | 295 |
| Campoverde enters it after a defeat | 296 |
| Fort Olivo betrayed | 297 |
| Contreras appointed to command in the city | 298 |
| Campoverde goes out to act in the field | 298 |
| Fort Francoli abandoned | 300 |
| Troops sent to reinforce the garrison, and landed elsewhere | 301 |
| The lower town taken | 303 |
| Suchet’s threat | 303 |
| The mole at Tarragona | 303 |
| Campoverde’s inactivity | 304 |
| Ill behaviour of the Spanish frigates | 305 |
| Colonel Skerrett arrives with British troops from Cadiz | 305 |
| Tarragona taken by assault | 306 |
| Massacre there | 308 |
| Campoverde resolves to abandon Catalonia | 310 |
| Eroles refuses to leave it | 311 |
| General Lacy arrives to take the command | 311 |
| Montserrate taken by the French | 312 |
| Fall of Figueras | 313 |
| Base usage of the prisoners taken there | 314 |
| Manso | 314 |
| Conduct of the Junta of Catalonia | 316 |
| Lacy’s proclamation | 316 |
| Retreat of the cavalry from Catalonia to Murcia | 317 |
| State of the enemy in Catalonia | 319 |
| Las Medas recovered by the Spaniards | 320 |
| Successful enterprises of Lacy and Eroles | 322 |
| Corregidor of Cervera taken and punished | 324 |
| Eroles enters France and levies contributions | 324 |
| CHAPTER XXXIX. | |
| State of Portugal | 327 |
| Expectation of peace | 328 |
| Disposition of the continental powers to resist Buonaparte | 329 |
| Plans of Soult and Marmont | 330 |
| Dorsenne enters Galicia | 331 |
| Abadia retreats | 331 |
| Lord Wellington observes Ciudad Rodrigo | 332 |
| Dorsenne recalled from Galicia | 333 |
| Movements of the French to throw supplies into Ciudad Rodrigo | 333 |
| The allies fall back | 335 |
| The French retire | 338 |
| Marmont boasts of his success | 338 |
| Girard in Extremadura | 339 |
| General Hill moves against him | 340 |
| Arroyo Molinos | 341 |
| The French surprised and routed there | 342 |
| Marques del Palacio appointed to the command in Valencia | 345 |
| His proclamation | 345 |
| He is superseded by Blake | 347 |
| Murviedro | 349 |
| Suchet takes possession of the town | 350 |
| The French repulsed in an assault | 351 |
| Oropesa taken by the enemy | 352 |
| A second assault repelled | 353 |
| Guerrilla movements in aid of Murviedro | 353 |
| Dispersion of the Empecinado’s troops | 355 |
| His subsequent successes in conjunction with Duran | 355 |
| A price set upon the heads of Mina and his officers | 356 |
| Mina’s success at Ayerbe | 357 |
| Cruchaga carries off the enemy’s stores from Tafalla | 359 |
| Mina’s object in soliciting for military rank | 360 |
| His decree for reprisals | 361 |
| Duran and the Empecinado separate | 363 |
| Battle of Murviedro | 364 |
| Murviedro surrendered | 367 |
| Valencia | 369 |
| Suchet summons the city | 371 |
| He establishes himself in the suburb and in the port | 371 |
| The army endeavours to escape | 374 |
| Xativa surrendered | 374 |
| Blake abandons the lines and retires into the city | 375 |
| The city a second time summoned | 376 |
| Suchet expects a desperate resistance | 377 |
| He bombards the city | 378 |
| Blake surrenders the city to the army | 379 |
| CHAPTER XL. | |
| Attempt on Alicante | 381 |
| Dénia surrendered | 382 |
| Peniscola betrayed by Garcia Navarro | 382 |
| Carrera killed in Murcia | 382 |
| New constitution | 383 |
| Change of Regency | 383 |
| Ballasteros retreats to the lines of St. Roque | 384 |
| Tarifa attempted by the French | 385 |
| Tarifa | 387 |
| Tarifa re-garrisoned by the English | 388 |
| Colonel Skerrett and Copons arrive there | 389 |
| The French invest the town | 390 |
| Doubts whether it could be defended | 391 |
| The garrison summoned | 393 |
| The French repulsed in an assault | 394 |
| Effects of a storm on both parties | 395 |
| Siege raised | 396 |
| General Hill occupies Merida | 398 |
| Attempt to carry off Soult | 398 |
| Colonel Grant rescued by the Guerrillas | 399 |
| State of feeling at Madrid | 399 |
| State of the country | 401 |
| The Intruder goes to France | 403 |
| Distress both of the Intrusive and Legitimate Governments | 404 |
| Schemes for strengthening the Spanish government | 406 |
| Cardinal Bourbon | 407 |
| The Infante Don Carlos | 407 |
| Princess of Brazil | 407 |
| State of the Portugueze government | 408 |
| Marquis Wellesley’s views | 410 |
| Lord Wellington prepares for the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo | 411 |
| Ciudad Rodrigo | 415 |
| A redoubt carried | 416 |
| Convent of Santa Cruz taken | 418 |
| Captain Ross killed | 418 |
| St. Francisco’s and the suburbs taken | 419 |
| The place taken by assault | 421 |
| Craufurd mortally wounded | 422 |
| Mackinnon killed | 423 |
| General Craufurd | 424 |
| General Mackinnon | 425 |
| Marmont’s movements during the siege | 427 |
| Lord Wellington made Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo | 428 |
| Speeches of Sir Francis Burdett and Mr. Whitbread | 428 |
| Lord Wellington created an Earl | 429 |
| Preparations for the siege of Badajoz | 429 |
| Preparations for its defence | 431 |
| Siege and capture of that city | 433 |
| Soult advances to relieve the place, and retreats | 448 |
| Marmont enters Beira | 449 |
| Arrangement for the defence of that frontier | 449 |
| Marmont deterred by a feint from assaulting Almeida | 450 |
| Advance of the French to Castello Branco, and their retreat | 452 |
| Marmont attempts to surprise the Portugueze at Guarda | 452 |
| Flight of the Portugueze militia by the Mondego | 453 |
| Marmont retreats | 454 |
| Lord Wellington retires to Beira | 455 |
| CHAPTER XLI. | |
| Marquis Wellesley resigns office | 457 |
| Restrictions on the Regency expire | 457 |
| Communication from the Prince Regent to the leaders of opposition | 458 |
| Reply of Lords Grey and Grenville | 459 |
| Lord Boringdon’s motion | 460 |
| Speech of Earl Grey | 461 |
| Overture from the French government | 462 |
| Lord Castlereagh’s reply | 465 |
| Mr. Perceval murdered | 466 |
| Conduct of the populace | 467 |
| Overtures from the Ministers to Marquis Wellesley and Mr. Canning | 468 |
| Marquis Wellesley’s reasons for declining them | 470 |
| Mr. Canning’s | 471 |
| Marquis Wellesley’s statement | 472 |
| Mr. Stuart Wortley’s motion | 473 |
| Marquis Wellesley charged to form an administration | 473 |
| The ministers refuse to act with him | 474 |
| Lords Grey and Grenville also decline | 474 |
| Marquis Wellesley receives fuller powers | 476 |
| The two lords persist in their reply | 477 |
| Earl Moira’s letter to Earl Grey | 478 |
| Marquis Wellesley resigns his commission | 480 |
| Negotiation with Earl Moira | 480 |
| The old Ministry is re-established | 483 |
| Marquis Wellesley’s explanation | 483 |
| Earl Grey’s | 485 |
| Earl Moira’s reply | 485 |
| Mr. Stuart Wortley’s second motion | 487 |
| Lord Yarmouth’s statement | 487 |
| Lord Castlereagh’s speech | 488 |
| Pecuniary assistance to the Spaniards | 492 |
| Proposal concerning Spanish troops | 493 |
| Plan of a diversion from Sicily | 493 |