Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-05-14
SATURDAY., MAY IL, 1914.

ternoon of the 31st August, after tho allie.
entered it. The 31st day. at length, arriv-
ed-a day, which, il was thought, would
terminate our misfortnnes, consequently de-
sired as that of their salvation, by the inhaD'
itants of ST. Sebastian. The firing Of the
musketry augmented--the exasperated. en-
emy was seen running to the breach--every
thing indicated an assault (: for the happy
success of which, our most fervcnt prayers
were addressed TO the Almighty. These
prayers wese favorably heard: the allied
arms Conquer. and already is heard The fir
ing in the very streets. The affrighted
French, driven from the breach, hy, scarce
lymaking any resistance. through the streets;
they run TO the castle in the greatest disor
der, and the good cause triumphs-the al
lies being masters of TO whole city about
half an hour past two. The patriotism OF
the royal inhabitants Of ST. Sebastian. re,
pressed a long time by the severity OF the
enemy, broke forth into huzzas, shouts, and
acclamations, which could hot be restrained.
Handkerchiets waved in the windows and
balconies, the people voluntarily coming for.
ward to solemnize the triumph, afforded foil
proof of the affection with which the allies
were rcceived-but they. insensiole to such
tender and unequivocal demonstrations, an :
swered them by firing uhon the very min :
do4ps and 6aiconies from zyhence they yvere
.ueleomed where many persisted, the vic
tins Of the effusion of their love to their
country terrible presage of what was to
follow
From IL o'clock in the morning, at which
hour the assault was made, the magistrates
and most distinguished Inhabitants were as
sembed in the City Hall, for the purpose of
going to meet the allies Hardly had CO
lumn of theirs appeared in the new square,
when the aicaldes Mastered down to embrace
the commander, and offer him whatever
succours were at their disposal They ia
auired for the general, and went immedi,
ately for the breach. walking ever dead BIO,
dies; but, before they could reach it, and
ascertain where the general was, one of the
alcaldes was insulted and threatened with
the sabre by the English captain of tile guard
at the gate. AT length they passed the
breach, and met mai gen. Hay, by whom
they were well received, and who even gave
them respectable guard for the City Hall,
for which they felt much gratitude: but thi.
was of little avail, for it did not prevent the
troops from giving themselves up to the most
unbounded plumber, and to the most horrid
atrocities, at the very time that the French,
taken with arms in their hands were not
only spared, but even received with tokens
of Kindness The remaining French had al
ready retired to the castle contiguous to the
city: they did not offcrto pursue or IRE upon
them any longer, and the enSorlunaie inhabi-
tants seemed to be the exclusive objects of
the fury of the soldiery.
We have already mentioned the barbara
ty of answering the reclamation Of the in
habitants by the fire Of the musketry, and to
this introduction ensued many other deeds
of horror, the mere recollection of which
makes one shudder. Oh! ill fated day |!
Oh cruel night ike that in which Troy
was reduced to ashes Even the precau>
ton that prudence and military art requir-
ed, in place at the extremity of which the
enemies found themselves at the foot of the
castle, were neglected, ia order to deliver
themselves up to the most unheard of exces
SEES. at the bare recital of which the pen re.
coils with horror.-The plumber, murders,
and violations, arrived at an incredible
height, and the fire, which, for the first time,
was discovered towards night. loag after the
French had retired to the castle, served to
crown these scenes of horror In every di-
rection resounded the dolefu lament atoms,
the piercing shrieks of women of all ages,
that were violated, without excepting the
most tender or the most respectable age
Wives were forced in the sight of their dis
tracted husbands; the daughters in sight of
their unfortunate fathers and mothers some
there were, who might have thought them.
selves exempted from this outrage by their
age, who were, notwithstanding, the sport
of the licentious soldiery. An unfortunate
young maid beholds her mother lifeless by
violence, and upon that beloved relic, suffers
incredible excess the lewd insults of Zero
cious beast in human form. Another unfor
tunate girl, whose pitiable shrieks were
heard towards the morn of the first day of
September, in the street of St GenoDimo.
was seen at break Of day, surrounded by sol.
dicrs, murdered, tied to a cask, entirely ma
ked, covered with blood, and with bayo
net fxe d through certain part of the body.
which decency forbid us to name! In short,
nothing that imagination can suggest of the
most fendlike nature, was omitted. Let us
draw a veil over this awful picture bu, an,
other, not less dreadful, presents itself 10 US.
We shall see part of the citizens. rot ON
iy innocent. but every way respectable, VIC.
lently murdered by these very hands which
not only spared, but even embraced the
coEIn.on enemy, taken with arms in their
bands. Don Domingo de Goycoechea,
venerable ecclesiastic, Don Xuvier de Arto-
la, Don lose Miguel de Magra, and several
other persons. who, for brevity's sake, are
not mentioned. were assassinated. The un-
fortunate Jose de Larranaga, who, after be-
ing robbed, wished to save bis life, and that
of his youthful son, which he had carried in
his arms, was murdered, while holding his
unhappy child in them and in consequence
oil blows, wounds and terror, All Infinite mum &.
Der OF persons daily expire, among whom
may be named the presbyter Don lose MAYO