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
Junot was now disturbed from his dreams of royalty; yet his head lay as
uneasily as if it had worn a crown. Like the other French commanders,
when the insurrectionary movement became general throughout Spain,
he thought it impossible that any continued or formidable resistance
could be opposed to the power of France: but his own situation was
exposed to peculiar danger; he was farther removed from assistance than
any of the other commanders in the Peninsula; there was an English
squadron in sight, watching the course of events, and in defiance
of all his vigilance, well informed of whatever was going on; and
it was not to be doubted, that if a favourable opportunity offered,
Great Britain would make an effort for the deliverance of Portugal.
Pursuant to his instructions from Madrid, he had sent into Galicia the
remains of Taranco’s division, so that Carraffa’s was now the only one
which remained; some 4000 of these were at Porto, the rest were in
detachments at Lisbon, Mafra, Santarem, and on the other side the Tagus
at Setubal, Cezimbra, and ♦NEVES, III. 66.♦ other places. In the hope
of exciting a national feeling against them, and thereby counteracting
that sympathy which their common language, manners, and religion, and
now a sense of their common interest, were producing between them
and the Portugueze, rumours were spread, that by an arrangement made
with Buonaparte, Portugal was to be governed by Spain till its fate
should be determined at a general peace. But this artifice failed.
The Spaniards were not to be deceived; from the time when they knew
that Ferdinand had been inveigled to Bayonne, there was an end of all
good understanding between them and the French; and they were so ready
to engage in personal quarrels, from the national indignation which
possessed them, that it was found necessary to confine them to their
quarters at an early hour in the evening. Care was taken to divide them
into small detachments, and station every where with them a superior
number of French. Many deserted, especially of those who were quartered
beyond the Tagus. Some made their way to the Spanish frontiers in
strong parties. The regiment of Murcia marched for Spain in a body,
in defiance of its colonel; a detachment of 600 French was sent from
Lisbon to intercept them; they met at ♦NEVES, III. 67.♦ Os Pegoens;
this was a case in which individual ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 287.♦
strength and determination were of more avail than military discipline;
the Spaniards were victorious, and proceeded on their way, receiving
the utmost kindness from the people, and nearly two hundred wounded
French were landed at Lisbon.
♦KELLERMANN TAKES THE COMMAND IN ALEM-TEJO.♦
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