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
their arms upon each other at Villaconejos: after an affray in which
some were killed and many wounded, the rest dispersed, were overtaken
by the French, and suffered great loss; and ♦M. DEL PALACIO, TRASLADO A
LA NACION ESPANOLO, P. 19.♦ Cuenca was in consequence again entered by
the enemy, who committed their usual enormities there. The Empecinado,
however, was soon heard of again: he formed a junction with Duran, and
their collected force was computed at about ♦HIS SUBSEQUENT SUCCESSES
IN CONJUNCTION WITH DURAN.♦ 4000 men. With the greater part of this
force they appeared before the city of Calatayud, where the enemy had
a garrison of between 800 ♦SEPT. 26.♦ and 900 men. Not expecting so
bold a measure on the part of the guerrillas, the French upon sight
of them sent out a detachment, who took post upon an eminence before
the city, where there was a ruined castle. Of that detachment about
fifty were killed, and as many made prisoners, not a man escaping. The
garrison then, and all the persons connected with them, took shelter
in the convent of the Mercenarios. This edifice had been fortified,
and was one of those posts which gave them military possession of the
country. The Spaniards had no artillery, and having in vain attempted
to burn it, began to mine. This was a branch of warfare in which they
had little skill and less experience: ... on the third day the mine
was ready; it was exploded, and produced no effect; two others were
immediately commenced. Meantime a reinforcement of 200 foot and fifty
horse, the precursors of a larger force from Zaragoza, came to relieve
the besieged; ... the Empecinado hastened to meet them, routed them,
and chased them as far as Almunia, taking the colonel who commanded,
and more than 200 of their muskets and knapsacks, which they threw away
to disencumber ♦OCT. 3.♦ themselves in flight. On the sixth day of the
siege, the match was laid to the second mine, which produced little
more effect than the first: the third, however, was more successful;
it brought down part of the wall of the church, and the French then
capitulated, on condition that the officers should be sent to France
on their parole. Five hundred men were made prisoners, and about
150 killed and wounded were found in the convent. There were found
here provisions and money which had been collected by the intrusive
government: the grain was sold at a fair price to the inhabitants of
the district for seed: this Duran and the Empecinado thought necessary,
that they might lessen as much as possible the evils arising from
the state of waste to which that part of the country was abandoned.
Soon afterwards more than 3000 French arrived, hoping to recover the
plunder; but the Guerrilla chiefs gave them no opportunity of effecting
this, and the next day the enemy returned into Navarre, whither they
were recalled to resist Espoz y Mina.
♦A PRICE SET UPON THE HEADS OF MINA AND HIS OFFICERS.♦
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