The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-05-08
INCIDENT OF THE PENINSU.
LA WAR.
BY MRS. Z. F. ELETT.

In ClDENT OF THE PENINSU.
LA WAR.
BY MRS. Z. F. ELETT.
1t was bloody and critical period
OF the war in the Peninsula, that
Morrillo, then commanding the fifth
Spanish army, about four thousand
strong, in conjunction with Pcnne
Vilcmur, passed down the Portuguese
frontier to the Lower Guadina, inten-
ding to fall on Seville as soon as
Soult should advance to the succor
of Badajos. In the beginning of
April, while the French were dis
hcartencd by the sudden news of tho
fall Of the city, Pcnnc Villcmur and
Morillo, issuing out of Portugal, cross.
cd the Lower Guadina and seized San
Lucar dc Eayor. This place was
ten miles from Seville, which was on
ly garrisoncd by Spanish Swiss bat
tallion in Joseph's service, aided by
",Escopetors,' and by sick and con-
valescent men. The Spaniards soon
occupied the heights in front of the
Triana bridge and attacked the
French cutrcnchmcnts, hoping to
raiao n nenl,lnr eaH'n,entinn. Ballas.
tcros, Gil the other side, Hal adssn
cod with olOven thousand men, intend.
ine to fall on Seville frnm tho Iest of
the ,Gau1o!a uirey. -
But the hopes entertained by the E
Spaniards of being speedily in posses
sion of Seville, were cut off by piece
of deceit. False information adroitly
given by Spaniard in the French
interest, led Ballasteros to believe
Soult was close at hand whcrcupon
he Immediately returned to the Ron
da; while Pcnne Vil.cmur, also warn
cd that the French would soon re-
turn, retired to Gilbralcon.
This disappointment and failure in
the execution of a fayoritc project,
cherished for many months, irritatcd
beyond control the natural severe
temper of NIorillo.
1t was evening, and the division
of the army under him, was cncamp-
ed some hours march on their re.
treat. Preparations might have been
seen for military execution, and a
couple"of prisoners captured in their
last skirmish, were according to the
cruel practice Of some chiefs in those
times, to be put to death. The cap
tivcs were guarded by file of sol
dicrs, and the cxccutioncrs, waiting
the word Of command to draw up,
were leaning on their weapons and
talking of the events Of the last two
days.
Just then, one of the inferior Off
GERS returning to his tent, after Civ.
ing some order to the men, was in
tcrluptcd by boy apparently ten
years of age, who, scizing his hand,
and speaking in an accent slightly
foreign, bcsonght him with piteous
cntrca,ics, to procure him admittancc
to the general. The officer found,
on inquiry, that he was the son of one
of the prisoners, soldier iistinguish-
cd for his eminent personal bravery,
who had not been taken, even when
ovcrpowered by numbers, without
giving and receiving many severe
wounds This soldier, weary and
wounded, but invincibe in courage
and spirit, for he scorned to ask elem
cmcy Of his conquercr, was now to
suffer death with his companion in
misfortune. The terrible order had
been given, for Morrillo would not
be impcdcd in his march by prisoners;
and he so hated his country's enc.
mics, that the bravcst and most gen
crous among them could have found
no mercy at his haads. The prison
cr's lit,lo boy refusing to be separa-
ted from his father, had been suffered
by the Spaniards to follow him.
"Iou shall see tho general, boy,
since yon wish it," said the officer,
in reply to the child's passionate en-.
treaties; 'but he will not grant your
fathers life. San Lucas but these
French dogs have given us TOO much
trouble already
They entered the generals tent;
Morillo, by the light of q lamp burn
ing on n table was reading despatch
he had just received, Two of his