Opening the text

History of the war in the Peninsula and in the south of France from the year 1807 to the year 1814, vol. 5Napier, William Francis Patrick

History

History of the war in the Peninsula and in the south of France from the year 1807 to the year 1814, vol. 5

Name: History of the war in the Peninsula and in the south of France from the year 1807 to the year 1814, vol. 5
Author: Napier, William Francis Patrick

Napier, William Francis Patrick

Peninsular War, 1807-1814

When Caffarelli returned from the Duero, Reille took the command
of the army of Portugal, Drouet assumed that of the army of the
centre, and Souham being thus cast off returned to France. The army
of Portugal was then widely spread over the country. Avila was
occupied, Sarrut took possession of Leon, the bands of Marquinez and
Salazar were beaten, and Foy marching to seize Astorga, surprised and
captured ninety men employed to dismantle that fortress; but above
twenty breaches had already been opened and the place ceased to be of
any importance. Meanwhile Caffarelli troubled by the care of a number
of convoys, one of which under general Frimont, although strongly
escorted, and having two pieces of cannon, fell into Longa’s hands
the 30th of November, was unable to commence active operations until
the 29th of December. Then his detachments chased the bands from
Bilbao, while he marched himself to succour and provision Santona
and Gueteria, and to re-establish his other posts along the coasts;
but while he was near Santona the Spaniards attacked St. Domingo in
Navarre, and invested Logroña.

Sir Home Popham had suddenly quitted the Bay of Biscay with his
squadron, leaving a few vessels to continue the littoral warfare,
which enabled Caffarelli to succour Santona; important events
followed but the account of them must be deferred as belonging
to the transactions of 1813. Meanwhile tracing the mere chain of
Guerilla operations from Biscay to the other parts, we find Abbé, who
commanded in Pampeluna, Severoli who guarded the right of the Ebro,
and Paris who had returned from Valencia to Zaragoza, continually and
at times successfully attacked in the latter end of 1812; for after
Chaplangarra’s exploit near Jacca, Mina intercepted all communication
with France, and on the 22d of November surprised and drove back to
Zaragoza with loss a very large convoy. Then he besieged the castle
of Huesca, and when a considerable force, coming from Zaragoza,
forced him to desist, he reappeared at Barbastro. Finally in a
severe action fought on the heights of Señora del Poya, towards the
end of December, his troops were dispersed by Colonel Colbert, yet
the French lost seventy men, and in a few weeks Mina took the field
again, with forces more numerous than he had ever before commanded.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History of the war in the Peninsula and in the south of France from the year 1807 to the year 1814, vol. 5Napier, William Francis Patrick

History

History of the war in the Peninsula and in the south of France from the year 1807 to the year 1814, vol. 5

Napier, William Francis Patrick

Peninsular War, 1807-1814

When Caffarelli returned from the Duero, Reille took the command
of the army of Portugal, Drouet assumed that of the army of the
centre, and Souham being thus cast off returned to France. The army
of Portugal was then widely spread over the country. Avila was
occupied, Sarrut took possession of Leon, the bands of Marquinez and
Salazar were beaten, and Foy marching to seize Astorga, surprised and
captured ninety men employed to dismantle that fortress; but above
twenty breaches had already been opened and the place ceased to be of
any importance. Meanwhile Caffarelli troubled by the care of a number
of convoys, one of which under general Frimont, although strongly
escorted, and having two pieces of cannon, fell into Longa’s hands
the 30th of November, was unable to commence active operations until
the 29th of December. Then his detachments chased the bands from
Bilbao, while he marched himself to succour and provision Santona
and Gueteria, and to re-establish his other posts along the coasts;
but while he was near Santona the Spaniards attacked St. Domingo in
Navarre, and invested Logroña.

Sir Home Popham had suddenly quitted the Bay of Biscay with his
squadron, leaving a few vessels to continue the littoral warfare,
which enabled Caffarelli to succour Santona; important events
followed but the account of them must be deferred as belonging
to the transactions of 1813. Meanwhile tracing the mere chain of
Guerilla operations from Biscay to the other parts, we find Abbé, who
commanded in Pampeluna, Severoli who guarded the right of the Ebro,
and Paris who had returned from Valencia to Zaragoza, continually and
at times successfully attacked in the latter end of 1812; for after
Chaplangarra’s exploit near Jacca, Mina intercepted all communication
with France, and on the 22d of November surprised and drove back to
Zaragoza with loss a very large convoy. Then he besieged the castle
of Huesca, and when a considerable force, coming from Zaragoza,
forced him to desist, he reappeared at Barbastro. Finally in a
severe action fought on the heights of Señora del Poya, towards the
end of December, his troops were dispersed by Colonel Colbert, yet
the French lost seventy men, and in a few weeks Mina took the field
again, with forces more numerous than he had ever before commanded.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

History of the war in the Peninsula and in the south of France from the year 1807 to the year 1814, vol. 5

History of the war in the Peninsula and in the south of France from the year 1807 to the year 1814, vol. 5

No reviews yet