The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-10-09

II
1 hcroick which the war prese nts, and TO which
| few men know how TO make, up their minds.
| " In reality knew that had still 5000 o
/! the best and most warlike troops of SPAIN
| who had immor,alized themselves in the de-
| Encc- OF Tarralsona, and TO whom only this
last effort was wanting for tbc completion OF
| their works. ~ ft
"Resolyed, then, TO resist the assault of
/, the enemy, placed in tic face of the breach,
two baltalions OK provincial grenadicrs and
,thc regiment Of AImcida, with order not to
! fire single muskct, and to throw themselves
upon the breach as soon as the French should
appear there, in order to drive back their
column at the point Of the bayonet (for it
was thus that the terrible operation was 10 be
executed y and on compelling them to re-
tire, such terrible carnage. was 10 be made
among them, that they should no, dare to re-
turn second time.
:" distributed among the soldiers, wine,
brady and tobacco spoke to them myself
so asto infame their courage anil took all
the precautions W hich were proper to be ta-
ken under such circumstances. The result
did not answer my expectations. Our troops
received the French with hrmncss worthy
of admiration !; but they did not altogether
the assaiing column in its advance and the
regiment Of 'Almeida soon yielded the ground
which 1t occupied for tho purpose of sup
porting the grenadicrs, and acting as a rein
iorccmcnt and a reserve. $500,
g At last ! 500 of the cnemv's grcuadiers,
supported by or 5000 men, withou, reckon
ing the bulk of the army of Suchet which
surrounded the place on all sides, entered
the breach. Our troops began to retire in
disorder from the wall /; and although all the
officers and myself made eiortto stop them,
and prevail upon them 10 charge the enemy
anew, and defend themselves in the streets,
this was impossible the soldiers thinking to
find safety infiight, threw themselves down
on the side towards the sea, leaped ever the
walls and palisades, aud attempted to escape ;
but they were takcn by the enemy's troops,
who invested US en- the Barcelona side Of the
place. A--l
I" In proportion as our troops gave way,
the enemy occupied the ramparts Of the old
and new town, and entered the streets where |
all were killed or wounded without distinction |
of class, age or sex. Thiy' tragedy was on |
~ less cruel, because the French officers, |
full OF generosity, saved all they could and |
eycn exposed themselves to become the VIC |
Tins OF their own soldiers, who, burning |
With the thirst of carnage, though, only of |
slauShtering g s-.e>4
g At this moment, running myself to the |
gate OF San Magin, " collect there, if uossi- |
bio se'nc soldiers, in orslov -harge the en- |
emy, to save them during the night, or to al |
10 break through, l was wounded in |
the belly by stroke of bayorct, and made |
prisoner by an encmy's detachment, The |
report then spread that was killed and |
the general disorder Increased to such de- |
gree, that. the soldiers mig hte sbe seen throw
ing away their arms, taking TO flight, and |
thus falling into the hants OF their enemies, |
who made them all prisoners. a5
" Tarragona, in tinc, after one of the mos.
obstinate sieges, during whichel left uniried |
none Of those measures which are dictated |
by the art Of defence, and which the small
ness of my force and means permitted. Tar. |
rag ona fell, ap,idst the horrours drawn on by |
the hcroism Of a garrison which shut it ears |
to all proposals for capilulation, on the 2sth
Of June, day that will be memorable in fu-
turc times for the tragical end of this ancient |
capital Of Spain, which has been condemned /
TO sec its temples and edihces destroyed dur /
iug tho siege, by more than 1000 bombs or
grcnadcs, and an innumcrablc quantity of |
bullets and balls, which filled with terror the
isles Of Majorca and Minorca, the coasts OF
the Mediterranean, the hospitals which arc 4
filed with It's wounded defenders which in
short has seen ., tbs last moment of its exis-
tsnce SO many victims slaughtered.
fs On the following day, Gen. Count Such
ct, caused me 10 be con, eyed on litter to
his H. q. at Constant, where | found Gen
erals Colrtens, Cabrer, Brigader Mcsma,
and other chiefs, who had been made prison
crs, with 1900 men, of whom 400 were off,
GERS, who have been conducted TO France.
The General sent for me, and in presence of
he principal officers of the army, openly
old me that was the Cause of all the hor-
rours his troops had committed in Tarrago-
ma, because I had defended myself beyond
,hc limits prescribed by the laws Of war
md that these laws authorized him tn punisn