The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-02-23
Miscellaneous,
laeidenl of the Peninsula War
~ ARsE. F,ELErT.

BYhHa aE,FtE ELETT,
llwas nt y bloody and critical period ofihe
,,,f in tho Peninsula, that Morilln than com
rusnding tho hhh Spanish army, nhohf four
,bousand strong, IN o0nIunoiion with fenne
Illemur, passed down lhe Portuguese from
her 10 ,lle Lower Guardina, intending 10 fall
an Seville ~ soon 40 houli should advance 10
lIe suecor 0i badnj0s. in the beginning Of
Aprl Whiln lhe French were dIsheauened
h, the sudden news of lls foil Of that city,
peuus vlllemur aud Morlllo, issuing 0ui 0f
Portugal, crossed ihe Lower Gunrdiana aud
.egfi san LueHf de Eay0r. This place Waa
lsOsHiea from Servile, which was only gnr.
s,oned by Spanish Swiss battalion IN Jo-
Fph's service, aided ly "Esoopei0TOs," ard by
ffl aud oonFhleHcrn inen, Tie spHpiardR
oon occupied lhn heights ~ lSoni Of tho
Iaana bridge, aud attacked ihn Frunch en-
Henehmouia, hoping 10 nise n popular cofN
notion. Ballasioror, un tho other Hde, had
idyhueed with aleyeD thousand men, intend
ag 10 TALL on Seville from the len of The
GuAdnlquiver.
Hut the hopes entertained 10y the Span
irds Of being speedily in possession Of Se-
.I!e, Mere oui oil by piece of deceit, False
niormnlon ndroity given 10y n Spaniurd Ia
10 French Interest, led Ballaslaroa Ia be-
Ge,o Snull was close AZ hand, wheroupon lie
immediately returned 10 tho Rondn; while
Peupe Nhlemur,nlso warned that the French
would soon return, rclired to Gibrnleon
This disappointment aud failure ~ the
execution Of u iayofiie proiecl, cherished for
many months, irriinicd beyond control the
evening, aud the division Of tie army under
hIli, were cncAupGd some hours march nu
.as.l.G
sen Tor a military execution mud n couple
gfpdsoncrs cnplured in their last skifmlsh,
we're, according to tho cruel practice Of ma
ny chiefs Ia those times, TO be pul TO death.
Tie cAplryes were guarded 10y n file Of sold.
ers, and the execuIioner, Whiting tie word
Of command Ia dnw up, were leaning ou
ilrir weapons aud talking Of the events Of
.he last two days.
Just then one OC the infgrior officers ro-
grung 10 his tent after giving some order to
lr men, wac interrupted hy boy apparent
b ven years Of age, who, EcIzing his hnnd,
tul speaking iu m accent slightly foreign,
irftr with ptieo6- etttteattseT TteFt''-
cure hiin nduil1nee to the general. The
uMccJ iound on enquiry, tliai lac was the son
ol oue Of tho prisoners, u soldier Distinguish
81 iof hls eminent personal bravery, who
t1duol been taken, even when ovcrwhclm-
many severe wounds.
This soldier, .wenry aud wounded, but ia.
,uclhle Ia courage aud spirit, for lac scorncd
Dmk clrmoncy of his conqu0ror, wns now
~ suffer death with his companion in mis-
fU1e. The icrtblc order had been given,
Et MGrilo wonld not bo impeded in his
march hy prisoners; and lac so hated his
country y enemies, TINT tho hrnyest aud most
geuorous nnong them could hnyc found no
pcuy Mt his hands. The prisoners lille
hoy refusing 10 bc separated from his father,
lad been suffered hy the Spnniards to follow
Mm.
"You silall see the general, boy, siuce you.
a,.h it," enid the officer ia reply 10 the
shAd's passionate cntrchlies; "hut lIe will not
graui your fuhers life. san Lucas but
these French dogs have given us too much
trouble already 81.
They entered the generals tent; Morilo,
by the light Of the lamp burning on the tnble,
was rcndng n despatch ho had just received.
Two of his officers stood pear him; there was
no one else in the tent. The brow Of the
chief was contracted, aud his eye flashed ms
fwhut he read displensed him; and he look
cd mp with an impatient exclamation ns the
officer entered with the boy. Tho child, ns
soon Os Morillo was pointed out TO him,rush-
ed !afward and kHHlt at his feet.-s
What does this mean ?' demanded the
general
spare him spare my father" sobbed
'r youtilfut suppticHur
utfiirur uxUtUtuudt ms ruiuriUrstriir 10
oac of tho prisoners who was about to be
executed.
AAhl that reminds me-" snid the chief,
looking Mt hIs watch; "Pedro, nine is the
hour Let them be punctunL and have the
business soon over"
Again, with moving cntrcntiesi the child
iesougllt his fathers life.
"Dd thy fhther send thee hiher?" asked
the general.
SNo, senior, he did not"
Aud bow dhrest thou then-"
MY Cather has done noihing to deserve
death" answered the lad. ale is prisoner
Of war; ---------------- ------
"lia who taught thee to question my JUS
ice? answer nlew
"No one, senior; but brave generals do not
always kin their prisoners"
y kiii whuftri choose ~ Numbered Mori-
oi and hate the French. Boy, thy fifth
g shall die. hive snid it, begonew
The officer made silent sign 10 the petit
oner, to intimate there was no hope, and
~ he must be gone. But the boys coun-
tance suddenly changed. lie walked up
y The general, who had turned away, and
Paced himself directly before him, with
yoN ofcalm' resolution worthy ofa mar
Hear me, senor," said he; "my fhlher is
"ay'headed; he is wounded; his strength is,
,aulig even now, though he stands up TO re-
eve The fire ofyour men. nm young and
Nong, and we'll NJ fheno stnaf me in mis-