Memoirs of the War of the French in SpainWells and Lilly. Sold by them, at No. 97, Court-Street, Boston; by Van Winkle and Wiley, New-York; and by M. Carey, Philadelphia., 1816 - 262 páginas |
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advanced-guard afterwards alcade Almarez Andalusia arms arrived artillery attack bank battle body bridge Burgos cavalry centre colonel columns commanded comrades conquered corps corregidor crossed deserted detachment dispersed division Ebro Emperor Napoleon enemy enemy's entered Estremadura fatigue fear fight fire fled foot forced France French army Galicia garrison Guadiana heard heights horse houses hussars infantry inhabitants join King Joseph La Mancha leagues Lisbon Lord Wellington Madrid Mancha Marquis Marshal Massena Marshal Ney Marshal Soult Marshal Victor Medellin ment military militia Mondego Moore moun mountains mules neighbouring night occupied passed peasants Peninsula plains Portugal Portuguese position posts priest prisoners province quarters rear rear-guard received reconnoitre regiment remained repulsed retired retreat returned river road rocks Ronda seized sent shouts soldiers soon Spain Spaniards Spanish army Tagus tains Talavera tion took Torres Vedras town troops victory village whole wounded
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Página 15 - ... the inaccessible retreats of the inland mountains ; the sea, which washes such extensive shores ; all the great circumstances arising from the national character, the climate, and local situation, could not fail of procuring for the Spaniards numberless facilities for escaping from the oppression of their conquerors, and for multiplying their own forces, whether by transporting them rapidly to those points on which the French were weak, or in securing their escape from pursuit.
Página 14 - The Spanish priests hated the French from patriotism and from interest; for they well knew that the intention was to abolish their privileges, and to deprive them of their riches and temporal power. Their opinion swayed that of the greatest part of the nation.
Página 49 - One of the insurgent peasants of Arragon, among others, was seized by our skirmishers ; he was only armed with a gun, and was driving before him an ass, laden with some months' provisions. The officer who commanded the advanced guard took pity on him, and ordered him to be set at liberty, making signs to him to escape. The peasant at once appeared to comprehend ; but, left to himself, he loaded his gun, and came back immediately to our ranks to fire at his deliverer. Happily the ball missed. This...
Página 354 - ... only deserted towns and villages ; the mills were destroyed, the wine casks stove in the streets, the corn burned, and even the furniture AA broken. broken. They had seen neither horse, nor mule, nor ass, nor cow, nor goat."* They fed upon the beasts of burthen which carried their baggage and biscuit with which they had been served for a limited number of days before they entered Portugal, for they had relied on obtaining by victory the immense resources of one of the most commercial capitals...
Página 185 - By extend^ ing themselves towards the south of Spain they gave the English time to fortify Portugal, and to form the military forces of that kingdom. The French became weak because they dispersed their troops, in order to occupy and organize a great extent of country ; and the Spaniards seized the opportunity of carrying on that sort of national warfare, from which the French had suffered so much in the Asturias, Galicia, and the north of Portugal. END OF THE FIRST PART. SECOND PART. As the Spanish...
Página 159 - Padre d nuestro señor, lest they might draw down a benediction on Joseph, by naming the saint who was his supposed patron in Heaven. The good nature of Joseph came afterwards to be considered as weakness, even by the French themselves. After battles had been won over the Spaniards, he would go himself to the prisoners sent from the army to the Retiro, and receive their oaths of fidelity, telling them that they had been deceived by traitors, and that he, as their king, wished only for their happiness...
Página 8 - ... wisdom subservient to the cause of their country, were but rarely called to take an active part in public affairs. Literary reputation was the only end of their ambition, and they rarely addicted themselves to occupations or studies applicable to existing circumstances. The real power of several states in Germany rested on their military systems, and their political existence could not but depend entirely on the strength or weakness of their governments. " In the plains of Germany, the local...
Página 78 - ... been for some minutes transformed into one vast temple. Our regiment remained almost a month in the capital of Spain. I was quartered on an old man of illustrious name, who lived alone with his daughter. He went regularly twice a day to mass, and once to the place Del Sol, to learn the news. He sat down as soon as he came in, in a parlour where he passed his days doing nothing. Sometimes he lighted his segar, and dissipated his cares and his thoughts by smoking: he rarely spoke, and I never saw...
Página 93 - ... progress of the enemy. He took up a position at Cabezon, a village two leagues in advance of Valladolid, where, yielding to the impatience of the people, he offered battle, much against his own inclination. At that time, indeed, the Spanish generals, like their government, had authority only so long as they acted in unison with the feelings of those whom they commanded. Whether successful or unfortunate, they were equally obliged to submit to the will of their troops, or rather armed peasants....
Página 164 - Soult had been forced to abandon Oporto and to evacuate Portugal, the English army had re-crossed the Douro and occupied the towns of Thomar and Abrantes, near the Tagus, preparing to fall upon Spanish Estremadura by Coria and Placentia. Marshal Victor, whose corps occupied the neighbourhood of Truxillo and Caceres, fearing lest the English should get behind him, along the right bank of the Tagus, crossed that river in the beginning of June, and retired to Calzada, and afterwards on the 26th to Talavera...