The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, and His Man, Mark Antony O'TooleMaxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
General
The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, and His Man, Mark Antony O'Toole
Maxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
only on the banks of the Garonne, he may raise his head with military
pride, and exclaim, “Pars fui!”
Of two hundred thousand men under the direct command of Lord Wellington,
the Anglo-Portuguese, amounting nearly to seventy-five thousand bayonets
and sabres, were the flower. From the first moment of the Peninsular
contest, the British infantry had established its superiority; and now
the cwalry and artillery were superb. Every thing required for field
service had been skilfully provided. A fine pontoon train accompanied
the army, and ambulances were provided for the accommodation of the sick
and wounded. Other means to increase his comforts were also afforded to
the soldier; and, for the first time, tents were supplied for shelter
in the field, while the cumbrous camp-kettle was replaced with others
of smaller size, and lighter material, as better adapted for all the
purposes of campaigning.
During the suspension of active operations on both sides, and while the
French and Allied armies were quiet in their respective cantonments,
that restless enemy, the Partida bands, were busily employed. Longa, in
the vicinity of Burgos, was actively engaged in harassing the marauding
parties of the enemy, interrupting their communications, and surprising
their detached posts; while Hina, in Arragon and Navarre, carried on a
desultory warfare with equal success. Another less celebrated but not
less active leader was “the Friar,” (El Frayle,) who, with a numerous
band admirably organized, kept Valencia in confusion. Indeed, the
Guerillas had now become as formidable in numbers as they had ever been
audacious in their mode of warfare. No longer confining their operations
to the cutting off of foraging parties and the interception of convoys,
they fell upon strong detachments, and almost invariably with success;
until at last no courier could pass the roads, nor even a battalion
of seven hundred men move from one garrison to another, without the
protection of an escort. Such was the military attitude of Spain when I
joined the fourth division.
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