The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-09-09

II, special manner determine both the mode OF
operations and require the utmost skill nothing
can surpass the difficulties unless it is the Swiss
and Rhetian Alps
New CASTLE to the east and Andalusia south
OF the Guadalquiver, present champaign coun-
tries, but they are separated by the cheauered
ridges OF Sierra Morcna, the Sierra CONSTANT
M, and other districts which derive their names
from the mountains which occupy their great
est surface
The next subjects of consideration are the
great roads, which are probably the worst in
Europe; circumstance which must greatly ef.
feet the operations of war--and these we mean
10 consider wholly in military view. All the
roads of Spain lead naturally from the extremes
to the capital, which is in the centre, or $50
miles from the Mediterranean.
$40 from the Atlantic, or 40 from the frontier
of Portugal,
$50 from Malaga III the Mediterranean,
500 from CadiZ,
225 from Bayonne.
There are three main roads which lead from
the capital to the southern, and three to the
| northern extremity from Madrid; three likewise
| TO the west and three to the east.
The entrance to Spain by two of these roads
from Bayonne is by one which proceeds directly
south TO Ostaris 10, Maya z, Berrotea 6, Pam
peluna 90, or from Bayonnc to Pampeluna As
miles, thence to Terracona so, thence to Sig,en-
| ca 90, TO Guadolara Is, Madrid gin all from
i
teen days military march OF the old tactics.
The other great road from Navarro into Spain
rs along the sea coast through St. Jean de Luz
Fontarabia, st. Sebastian, Orio to Tolosa So
to Vitteria IS, Burgos go, Lerma 90, Amanda
on the Duro g., Segovia or by Cevanillas 40
Madrid "a, in all 800 miles the road at Bureos
forks on to the westward by palencia, and runs
parallel with the Burgos road through Vallado-
lid, till 1t meets the Salamanca road which leads
to Portugal, and passes by the Escural to Ma
Ord; the other northern road is that stupendu-
Gus work before referred TO from Roussillon
which enters Catalonia about Is miles from Per-
piSnan on the Mediterranean, and passes through
Hoses Glrona 40, and Vich %, to Carlona 81 g,
distant from Barcelona 41-in all from Perpg.
nan to Barcelona 154 the great road from Bar
celona to Madrid is Through Terrega Ga, Ler-
ola 20, Saragossa 50, and joins the Pampelu-
miles from Madrid.
Inc eastern roads are by Tarancon IS, Cuen-
ca 40, Negordo 49, Crisa 81, Valentia on the
Mediterranean 26, in all from Madrid, 166
The great south East road leads into Murcia
the chief part Of CTthagena separatingit from
the Valenta road ut Tarranc;.n So, thence 10
Belmonte SO, by st. Clement, Minava, IL Gil
meta and the mountain town Albacete 40, Tovar-
ia 30, Nurcia 81, C,,ItheeTia &c, iiuiu vi ,,iI ~,
1873 at Tovarra the road leads Off east to Ali
cant 73 miles, which makes Alicant us from
Madrid.
nc great SOulHSrn ROAD Is t!lat winch leads by
Aranjeux IS, Toledo 10, Calatrava 40, Civda
Real 10, Carracuel II, Almodovar -, Alcon.
dia J5, Conquista 9, Venta del Puerto II, Ada
MAJ 10, Cordova 14-in all from Madrid to Cor
dova 139
At Cordova the road forks off s. w. to Sc
vile by Eciia2S, Carmona %, Seville 21-in all
from Seville to Madrid 253 miles from Seville
to Cadiz IS miles therefore by that route from
Madrid to Cadiz 500 miles.
The road that forks from Cortlova tn Grenada
by Alcala 30, Pinos II, Santa Fee and Grenada
Is; from Grenada to Alharma is 80 miles, and
thence to Malaga so.
The only great road of note beside, is that
which leads from Madrid to Badaios, by Merida
100 miles, thence to Badaios IS, thence TO Lis
bon 104, to that Madrid is distant from Lisbon
by that route 299 miles.
AS to the care of repair or accommodation for
the traveller; they things unknown in Spain.
As 1t must be supposed from experience and
from facts, that plan Of military operations was
established before political movement was
made the occupation of Portugal, appears to
have been Intended for the double end of separa
ting Portugal from the British ard throwing
strong army into that country, to form Mt once n
corps Of observation upon Gallicia, to form the
right wing Of the main army in Spain, and to
cut OIL the communication between the northern
and southern provinces by the occupation of the
interior country from the Douro, at Salamama
by Canura to Miranda IN Portugal, or by Segovia
10 Salainanca the great western high road, and
one of the keys of Portugal; the other being
at Alcantara on the THO or Tagus.
This line of operations would also be good
line of defence, were it previously occupied
but the French appear 70 have pre- -ocupiedit, as
the communication with Madrid from Bayonne
seems not to have been interrupted a cifcum-
stance which bespcaks either Of two facts, that
the Spariartls on that line ofmarch were passive
or that there was force adequate to repress
their Efforts
The French reinforcements must have taken |
large route to reach the left angle OF their base
at Barcelona as well for the accommodation of !
the troops on the march, rs 10 combine and sus- |
tain the general plan Of operations; the Columns
advanced from Catalonia, would therefore pro ,
coed by the Lerida road, and from The commu- /
nlcation with the right on the Callego, north of |
the Ebro-the post of J9ca in the rear, being |
their depot and their head quarters at Balbastro
on the Ciacn, 90 miles north Of the main eastern
road, and so miles north of the Ebro. Their
lettiG .ie;itja would not stand 50 much In nee!
ot force, from the nature the country, its thin
population and the remoteness from foreign aid
and although marshal Money is only once named !
IN all the adyces received, his presence at this ,
point, indicates force at least of 10000 men
to which belongs the advance of general Dupont
on ms route to the Sierra Morena, and proves
that there was great difficulty, nor any great
obstruction on the side Of the Mediterranean ;
and the columns tbat will have been pushed for |
ward in the same direction, must have in view