History of the Peninsular War, Volume 5 (of 6)Southey, Robert
History
History of the Peninsular War, Volume 5 (of 6)
Southey, Robert
Peninsular War, 1807-1814
The Junta of Tarragona were now so indignant at the conduct of
Campoverde, whose futile movements at this crisis were as injurious as
his inactivity, that they enclosed to him his own proclamation, issued
at the time of his departure, wherein he had promised to relieve them
in the course of a few days. Three weeks had now elapsed; he had been
reinforced with 4000 Valencian troops on whom he had not counted when
that promise was made; and there was a general outcry against his
unfitness for the command. Eroles alone acted with the spirit which the
exigence required, and succeeded in capturing a convoy of 500 laden
mules between Mora and Falset, and cutting off part of their escort.
Wherever his services were most needed there he was always to be found,
... seeking as little to aggrandize as to spare himself, his single
object being the deliverance of his country. The magazines at Reus were
not so well provided but that the loss of these supplies would have
been felt by the besiegers, if the city had been defended after the
manner of Gerona. But the Geronans were commanded by a man of the old
heroic stamp, and they had no base examples to discourage them: whereas
the garrison and the people of Tarragona saw nothing in the conduct of
their leaders and their countrymen but what was disheartening. While
the gun-boats and launches of the British squadron were employed every
night, and all night long, in annoying the enemy’s working parties,
there were two Spanish frigates which remained quiet spectators. While
the English were removing women, children, and wounded, in their
transports to Villa ♦ILL BEHAVIOUR OF THE SPANISH FRIGATES.♦ Nueva,
those frigates would not receive on board their wounded countrymen
who were sent off to them; and these poor creatures were left to lie
without assistance of any kind in the boats which brought them off till
relief was sent them from the British ships. This heartless disregard
of all duty called forth strong remonstrances from General Doyle,
as well as from Captain Codrington; and it was not till above 2000
people had been removed in our transports that the positive orders of
Contreras, and the threat of General Doyle, that the captain of one of
their frigates should be put under arrest if he refused to receive the
wounded, compelled them to act as if they had some sense of honour and
humanity. Had the Spaniards in the fortress and in the field displayed
as much spirit and alacrity as was manifested by the British ships in
their aid, Contreras has declared that Tarragona could not have been
taken.
♦COL. SKERRET ARRIVES WITH BRITISH TROOPS.♦
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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