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
to Gibraltar, leaving General Valdenebro to command a people who were
now no longer unanimous in any thing except their unabated hatred of
the invaders. A deputation followed him there, accompanied by three
hundred persons, and the Commandant of St. Roque’s prevailed upon him
to return; but he would only go in the capacity of secretary to a
military officer. Finding then that things were going ill, and that
half the force which he had raised and organized was dispersed, he
repaired to Cadiz, to inform the Government of the state of affairs,
and require the repayment of what he had expended in the service,
which was the whole of his own means, and some allowance for the
prizes which he had taken from the enemy. His personal enemies had
been embarked with him, and no sooner had he entered that city than he
was arrested, put in irons, and thrown into a dungeon. The Spaniards
had so long been accustomed, not to an absolute merely, but to an
arbitrary Government, that even those authorities whose intentions
were truly equitable were continually committing unjust and arbitrary
acts. After twelve months’ imprisonment, Ortiz de Zarate, who had thus
been treated as a criminal, was acquitted of all the charges which had
been preferred against him; his honour, loyalty, and patriotism, were
fully acknowledged, and he received payment of his claims in part.
It was of importance to encourage the mountaineers whom he had put
in action, and a plan therefore was formed for getting possession of
Frangerola, a castle on the coast, between Marbella and Malaga, about
twenty miles from the latter place. The castle was understood to be a
place which might easily be taken by a coup-de-main; its capture would
open a communication with the inhabitants of the Sierra, and hopes
were entertained that it might lead also to the expulsion of the enemy
from Malaga, where they were represented as being in no strength:
the guns on the mole there were said to have been removed, and the
citadel to be in a ♦LD. BLAYNEY SAILS FROM GIBRALTAR.♦ defenceless
state. In consequence of these representations, an expedition sailed
from Gibraltar, under the command of Major-General Lord Blayney: it
consisted of four British companies (amounting to 300 men), and 500
German, Polish, and Italian deserters. They proceeded to Ceuta, and
there took on board the Spanish regiment of Toledo. This regiment
was said to be perfectly equipped; but upon examination it was found
that there was a deficiency of 148 firelocks, and that they had been
embarked without a single ♦OCT. 14.♦ round of ammunition. These
deficiencies were supplied; the squadron soon anchored in a small bay,
called Cala de Moral, and there the troops landed on a sandy beach,
without any to oppose them.
♦HE LANDS NEAR THE CASTLE OF FRANGEROLA.♦
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