History of the Peninsular War, Volume 2 (of 6) — John Shaqi
History of the Peninsular War, Volume 2 (of 6)Southey, Robert
History
History of the Peninsular War, Volume 2 (of 6)
Southey, Robert
Peninsular War, 1807-1814
On the 4th of August, the French opened batteries within pistol-shot
of this church and convent. The mud walls were levelled at the first
discharge; and the besiegers rushing through the opening, took the
batteries before the adjacent gates in reverse. Here General Mori, who
had distinguished himself on many former occasions, was made prisoner.
The street of St. Engracia, which they had thus entered, leads into
the Cozo, and the corner buildings where it thus terminated, were
on the one hand the convent of St. Francisco, and on the other the
General Hospital. Both were stormed and set on fire; the sick and the
wounded threw themselves from the windows to escape the flames, and
the horror of the scene was aggravated by the maniacs, whose voices
raving or singing in paroxysms of wilder madness, or crying in vain
to be set free, were heard amid the confusion of dreadful sounds.
Many fell victims to the fire, and some to the indiscriminating fury
of the assailants. Those who escaped were conducted as prisoners to
the Torrero; but when their condition had been discovered, they were
sent back on the morrow, to take their chance in the siege. After a
severe contest and dreadful carnage, the French forced their way into
the Cozo, in the very centre of the city, and, before the day closed,
were in possession of one half of Zaragoza. Lefebvre now believed
that he had effected his purpose, and required Palafox to surrender,
in a note containing only these words: “Head-quarters, St. Engracia.
Capitulation[10]!” The heroic Spaniard immediately returned this reply:
“Head-quarters, Zaragoza. War at the knife’s point[11]!”
♦WAR IN THE STREETS.♦
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account