Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-01-25


to the garrison, which were received
with frequent shouts by the undIs-
ciplined congregation. The various
sounds thus produced & which might
have been heard alta great distance
through the stiffness of the night,
seemed like the mingled cries of ma
MACS, :& men possessed WITH devils.'
This might perhaps have been con-
venient opportunity to attack ami
annoy them. but more decisive mea-
sures were in preparations, and, as
the account remarks, with tolera-
bic pun in the Spanish, ".uina was
mining" and had no time to spare.
Romasusa. Mirales, and Eroles.
were at this time in the neighborhood.
with large army, and continually
threatening to march to the assls-
lance Of the garrison, SO that a bod.
of the constitutional cavalry were
stationed in AN important pass anu
completed the investment ofthe place.
IL was ascertained that the enemy
were consuming their provisions with
prodigaIity, aud thence conclusion
was drawn that they intended to "a
bandon the fortress, and Nina or
dered the utmost Watchlulncss thro-
out the camp.
At midnight there arose most vi
client storm; the rain fell irheavy
torrents, and the darkness was so eX-
treme, that objects could not be dis
tinguished at all. The doors of the
fortress were opened without noise.
and the garrison silently marched
out and began to descend from the
rock by narrow ravine. Here they
had to encounter in succession three
of Mina's sentinels, the two first Of
which they dispatched before their
approach had been discovered for
the darkness of the night completely
concealed them from sight. and the
roaring ofthe tempest entirely drown
ed all the noise they made. The
third sentinel fired his mu,ket, which
alarmed the besiegers, and put them
into confusion. Orders were given
by the officers to abstain from fight
ing. lest in the obscurity they should
DIES roy each other; and while they
remained in a state of uncertainty, a
large body of insurgents effected
their escape. Nina did not long de
lay to storm the fortress, which was
easily carried, together with several
forts, still in possession ofthe enemy;
for there were scarce sixty men found
remaining, with few supersnnua-
ted persons, women, children anu
preachers. The men capable OF
bearing arms were executed. but the
lives of all the others were spared
Nine pieces of cannon fell into the
hands of the conquerors, besides a
great quantity of all sorts of amdni-
ton aud provisions, which We're i'm :
mcdiately ordered TO be transported
to Calaf and Cervera.
The great body of the faction were
now encamped in the neighborhood
of flora, with the intention Of attack
ing the little column of Gurrea. which
occupied that point and commanded
the passage of Castelltollit. 1t was
the design of the factious leaders, E.
roles, Romagosa. Mirales and Jep
del Estanys, either to regain Castell
follit, OF if that were impossible, to
make themselves. masters at least of
the artillery and stores. which they
had lately lost. Nina was acquant-
ed with their intentions, and on the
Goth marched ont to give them battle.
The enemy madean attack with their
whole force, which consisted Of 5000
men upon the battalion of Corona,
which obliged the commander in
chief to attack the main body in the
very ad, ambiguous position which
they occupied. The action was sus-
tanned with great bravery on both
sides for two hours, and merits the
name (says the account) of the great
est pitched battle ever fought in Cat.
alomia. A little after midday, Nina
made an attempt tofiank them OH the
left and to charge them with the
bayonct, and this produced a general
aud most sanguinary engagement
In short time, however, the fac
tious troops began to give way, and
were at length thrown into the Ut
most disorder and took to flight
The cavalry of the thanking compa-
! NY IN dc a terrih LIE SLAUGHTER. nrInci-