History of the United States of America, Volume 4 (of 9) : $b During the second administration of Thomas JeffersonAdams, Henry
History
History of the United States of America, Volume 4 (of 9) : $b During the second administration of Thomas Jefferson
Adams, Henry
United States -- History -- 1801-1809; United States -- History -- 1809-1817
Napoleon’s object was thus gained. Dec. 1, 1807, Junot was in peaceable
possession of Lisbon, and French garrisons held every strategical point
between Lisbon and Bayonne. In regard to Portugal Junot’s orders were
precise:[98]--
“So soon as you have the different fortified places in your hands, you
will put French commandants in them, and will make yourself sure of
these places. I need not tell you that you must not put any fortress
in the power of the Spaniards, especially in the region which is to
remain in my hands.”
November 3, without the knowledge of Spain, the Emperor gave orders[99]
that the army of reserve at Bayonne, under General Dupont, shall be
ready to march by December 1; and November 11 he ordered[100] that the
frontier fortresses on the Spanish border should be armed and supplied
with provisions:--
“All this is to be done with the utmost possible secrecy, especially
the armament of the places on the Spanish frontier on the side of the
eastern Pyrenees. Give secret instructions, and let the corps march in
such a manner that the first ostensible operations be not seen in that
country before November 25.”
At the same time a new army of some twenty thousand men was hurried
across France to take the place, at Bayonne, of Dupont’s army, which
was to enter Spain. November 13, the Emperor ordered Dupont to move his
first division across the frontier to Vittoria; and on the same day
he despatched M. de Tournon, his chamberlain, with a letter to King
Charles at Madrid, and with secret instructions[101] that revealed the
reasons for these movements so carefully concealed from Spanish eyes:--
“You will also inform yourself, without seeming to do so, of the
situation of the places of Pampeluna and of Fontarabia; and if you
perceive armaments making anywhere, you will inform me by courier. You
will be on the watch at Madrid to see well the spirit which animates
that city.”
Napoleon’s orders were in all respects exactly carried out. Dec. 1,
1807, Junot was in possession of Portugal; Dupont was at Vittoria;
twenty-five thousand French troops would, by December 20, hold the
great route from Vittoria to Burgos, and in two days could occupy
Madrid.[102] The Spanish army was partly in Denmark, partly in
Portugal. The Prince of Peace heard what was going on, and asked for
explanations; but the moment for resistance had long passed. He had no
choice but submission or flight, and Don Carlos was too weak to fly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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