The Military Adventures of Charles O'Neil: Who was a Soldier in the Army of Lord Wellington during the Memorable Peninsular War and the Continental Campaigns from 1811 to 1815O'Neil, Charles
History
The Military Adventures of Charles O'Neil: Who was a Soldier in the Army of Lord Wellington during the Memorable Peninsular War and the Continental Campaigns from 1811 to 1815
O'Neil, Charles
Barrosa, Battle of, Spain, 1811 -- Personal narratives, British; Europe -- History -- 1789-1815; O'Neil, Charles, 1793-; Peninsular War, 1807-1814 -- Personal narratives, British; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815 -- Personal narratives, British
Bonaparte, King of Naples. He was already on his way to Bayonne. On the
20th of July he entered Madrid; and, on the 24th, he was proclaimed
King of Spain and the Indies.
[Sidenote: SIEGE OF SARAGOSSA.]
But, if the rulers of Spain, and a few of her pusillanimous nobles,
had agreed to accept a king of Napoleon’s choice, not so decided the
great body of the people. They everywhere flew to arms. To acknowledge
the authority of the self-constituted government, was to declare one’s
self an enemy to the nation. Assassinations at Cadiz and Seville were
imitated in every part of Spain. Grenada had its murders; Carthagena
rivalled Cadiz in ruthless cruelty; and Valencia reeked with blood. In
Gallicia, the people assembled and endeavored to oblige their governor
to declare war against France. Prompted by prudence, he advised them
to delay. Enraged at this, the ferocious soldiers seized him, and,
planting their weapons in the earth, tossed him on their points, and
left him to die. In Asturias, two noblemen were selected, and sent to
implore the assistance of England. In England, the greatest enthusiasm
prevailed. The universal rising of the Spanish nation was regarded as
a pledge of their patriotism, and aid and assistance was immediately
promised and given. Napoleon, with his usual promptness, poured his
troops into Spain. They were successful in many places; but the enemy,
always forming in small numbers, if easily defeated, soon appeared in
another place. The first permanent stand was made at Saragossa. Palafox
had, with some hastily gathered followers, disputed the passage of
the Ebro, and, routed by superior force, had fallen back upon this
city, whose heroic defence presents acts of daring courage of which
the world’s history scarcely furnishes a parallel. It was regularly
invested by the French, under Lefebre Desnouttes. The city had no
regular defences, but the houses were very strong, being vaulted so as
to be nearly fire-proof, and the massy walls of the convents afforded
security to the riflemen who filled them. The French troops had at
one time nearly gained possession of the town, but, for some unknown
reasons, they fell back. This gave confidence to the besieged. They
redoubled their exertions. All shared the labor,--women, children,
priests and friars, labored for the common cause,--and in twenty-four
hours the defences were so strengthened that the place was prepared to
stand a siege. But the next morning Palafox imprudently left the city,
and offered battle to the French. He was, of course, quickly beaten;
but succeeded in escaping, with a few of his troops, into the city. A
small hill rises close to the convent of St. Joseph’s, called Monte
Torrero. Some stone houses on this hill were strongly fortified, and
occupied by twelve hundred men. This place was attacked by Lefebre,
and taken by assault, on the 27th of June, 1808. The convents of St.
Joseph’s and the Capuchins were next attacked by the French, and,
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