History of the Peninsular War, Volume 6 (of 6)Southey, Robert
History
History of the Peninsular War, Volume 6 (of 6)
Southey, Robert
Peninsular War, 1807-1814
♦1813.♦
♦THE REMAINS OF ROMANA’S ARMY RETURN FROM THE NORTH.♦
During the siege of S. Sebastian’s, some few hundred men, the remains
of Romana’s army, who had not been able to effect their escape from
the North, when their magnanimous general and their comrades went to
take part in their country’s struggle, and most of them to perish in
it, returned to Spain. The resistance to Buonaparte’s tyranny, which
the Spaniards and Portugueze had begun, had prepared the way for the
deliverance of the continent, and thus eventually restored them to
their native land.
♦LORD W. BENTINCK INVESTS TARRAGONA.♦
The Anglo-Sicilian army had no sooner returned to Alicante from its
ill-conducted expedition against Tarragona, than every exertion was
used for enabling it to take the field, and profit by the retreat of
the enemy from Valencia. Lord William Bentinck entered that capital
on the 9th of July, and leaving General Elio to observe Murviedro,
proceeded with his own troops, and such of the Spaniards as he could
♦AUGUST.♦ find means of providing with subsistence, for in this
essential point there was the greatest difficulty. Having arrived at
Vinaroz, he detached a corps under Lieutenant-General Sir William
Clinton by sea to Tarragona, in the hope of preventing the enemy from
dismantling that fortress, if such should be their intention. When
the fleet arrived off Tarragona, a French force was discovered in
its vicinity; but there were no indications of any such purpose. The
detachment, therefore, landed at the Col de Balaguer; and there, Lord
William, having crossed the Ebro at Amposta on flying bridges, joined
him with the advance of the army, some cavalry, and artillery; the
whole then moved forward to the village of Cambrils, and on the first
of August they invested Tarragona: that operation was well performed,
and cover was obtained three hundred yards nearer than the most
advanced point which had been occupied during the previous attack.
Preparations were now observable in the place for its destruction; but
it was evident that the ♦COL. JONES’S ACCOUNT, V. 2. 201.♦ garrison
could not effect this in the presence of the allied army, unless
Marshal Suchet came in force to cover the operation. That general
was at Barcelona; his troops were at Villafranca and at Villanova de
Sitges, being thus divided to lessen the difficulty of subsisting
them; and his advance was at Arbos and at Vendrell: sometimes he
seemed to be menacing a movement against the allies, and sometimes
preparing for a farther retreat. Lord William, with such an enemy in
such force so near, would not expose himself to a failure like that
of Sir John Murray; and he deferred beginning the siege and landing
his heavy artillery, till the Duque del Parque’s army should come up,
and Sarsfield with his Catalan troops. The Duque joined on the third;
the Catalans were actively employed upon the right flank of Suchet’s
divisions, cutting off his supplies; and on the 7th they surprised a
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account