Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-07-12

into ditch. When day broke, however, il
was discovered that the wrong direction
had been taken. The column went to the
right about, and reached just as the sun
rose, beaten track leading direct to Ses.
ma, village occupied by Carlist troops.
Bright blazsd the bayonets in the sunbeams,
betraying our presence to the foe we were
to have surprised. Whilst we gave the Car.
lists employment in the adjacent woods and
fields, our general made dash into the vii.
fiage, caught the alcade, and, by threats ol
q shor. shrift and sharp voIley, made him
pay down small portion of the long ar
rears due to the legion.
Upon our orderly retreat to Lerin, ,effect.
ed in squares Of battallions, on whose skirts
hosts Of Carlists impotently hovered, we
were surprised to see our present guide led
along with bound hands When the sight
of the forts artillery made the enemy
cease the pursuit and return to Sesma, the
column was formed into one large square,
drum.head court.martial was held upon
the peasant, and preparation made for his
instant execution. Although we'll acquaint-
ed with the country he had led the troops
astray, exposing them to great danger, and
partly frustrating the object Of the expedi-
tion. Further proof Of his guilt was found
upon him, in the shape Of letter from the
Carlist village of Hostiz. With bowed
head, and in sullen silence, he listened to
his sentence, announced with threefold
rattle of drums. For the first time the un-
pleasant duty devolved upon me of FORM
ing one Of the firing party. Heavens! how
how | started as | drew near the victim,
and recognised old Jose from Garcia. Poor
Manuela! trembled as looked round, ex.
pecting her to appear. just then came
pouring out ofthe town, with woman at
their head, crowd Of peasants, in Sun
day garb, hat IN hand, and approached the
general, slacksning their pace respectful
ly as they drew near. But Manuela's s
mother (she i, was who accompanied them)
sprang forward like fury, menacing the
general with her fist and mad Cassandra-
like countenance, and heaping upon him
curses such as only an angry Spaniard can
lay tongue to- Her shrill imprecations
contrasted oddly with the humble and dep
recating entreaties of tho men, and with
the muttered prayers Of Jose, who awaited
his minute upon his knees before the firing
party.
Permission given, one Of the men step
ped forward as spokesman.
"May it please pour Excellency," sale
he to the general, "to spare this man s life.
lie is unacquainted with the country. He
first came hither only a month ago, after
his health had been ravaged, his family
scattered, his house burned. Be merciful,
Senior. We will all be sureties for his
good behaviour. Let him return to his wife:
and so shall the blessed Mary and the an
gels comfort your Excellency in the hoar
ofagony!p
"No, no!'' yelled the woman, sputter-
ing with fury, her long grizzled hair
streaming round her distorted face. ''No!
they shall not comfor. him, the vile here
tic! Jose Lopez! husband! die bravely,
curse the hereto dogs with thy last breath,
and the angels will hear thee! Curse upon
ye, strangers, come to destroy our dwell.
lings, TO siay our men, to slight our faith!
Death and agony to your souls,pest in your
veins, ravens on your carcase, ashes to
your threshold! Die, Jose, for the King and
the holy faith! Viua la Santa Maria!
Vira Carlos Quinton
Four men led away the peasants and the
furious woman. The wo.d of command
was given, and had to aim at the breast
to which, only month previously, poor
Manuela had been pressed in the cottage
at Garcia. Once more Jose exclaimed, in
loud voice, "Mary, pray for me!' Then
there was the rattle of a volley, the peas
ant sprang into the air, and fell down upon
his face, his jacket smoking with the burnt
wadding
The band struck up, and we marched
back to Lerin.
THE wINE-sKIN..
Three days afterwards, on the 14th OF
August, the legion made an unexpected in
cursien into the valley of the Bastan, a
district full of strong positions, and former
ly, for some time, the abiding place Of the
President, of whose cause its inhabitants
were enthusiastic partisans.
Moving with extreme rapidly, we swept,
with small resistance, one village after an'
other. On our approach, soldiers, peas
ants, women and children, packed their
beds upon jackasses, and fled with bag and
baggage to concealment in the mountains.
Towards noon every sign of a foe having
disappeared, we retired rapidly through the
valley towards the Arga, and on this re.
treat some plundering occurred in the vii
lagos.
Arrived at Hostiz, entered what ap.
peared the best house in the village. The
streets were s,rewn with clothes, linen,
and other objects, dropped or thrown away
by the fugitives. | me: two soldiers carry.
ing large red curtains Of heavy rich silk;
others had laden themselves with cheeses,
others with honey or wine; one man had
got large crucifx. Halfnaked women
ran screaming through the streets. Eager
for draugh, of wine, for | was exhausted
to faintness by the extreme heat an by the
fatigue of long rapid march, hurried up
the stairs. The house bore witness 10 Ut
ter wantonness of destruction. Everything
was broken and smashed; and hence | wa.
not little surprised to observe the good.
humored air with which handsome young
woman standing in the roomy vestibule,
distributed wine to large party of our
soldiers, who drank in greedy haste, laugh.
ing, singing, and extolling the charms OF
their Hnhe