The New York herald., 1850-05-22


has been aforementioned, at the head Of picked
squadron, reserved for decisive moments, with
which il was point of honor never to turn their
back. He had lost half OF II in a severe engage
ment that morning, and with the rest, thirty eight
in number, was marching on the extreme flank of
the army, when he received an order from the
general TO gallop forward and harrass the rear of
Paez's retreating army. Morillo had not recog-
nsed, at the distance, the fragment which remained
Of Lopez's squadron; which he would never other
wise have sent on such service, especially after
the mornings work. Rash the order was, il
was of course obcyed On the perfectly level
prairie, which was the scene of the operation, what
ensued was in view OF both armies. PaeZ, pro-
voked the insolence of the little squadron halted
end put himself, in person. at the head of splen-
did corps OF about 800 men, his guard, the we'll
known flower Of his army in scarlet uniforms
and every man superbly mounted and this corps
was seen 10 detach itself from the main body and
rapidly approach the little band, whose destruction
seemed inevitable, before the swoop of that force
Lopez asked his men if they would stand or turn.
The reply was that they would do as he should. His
answer was TO fling himself from his horse, and COM
mand them te do the thus burning his shps and
then to form his men in line, to stand their ground
as long as they could, with the lances and carbines
which were their arms. He thus repulsed the
charge Of Paez and his guard refusing to surrender
maintaining himself till Morilo could hasten up ali
his cavalry 10 their support, and till the able Paez,
with whom his retreat was OF much more impor-
tance than the annbiation of this handful of gal
liant fellows, whom none admired more than him.
self, withdrew his guard, and left Lopez with what
remained OF his dismounted squadron, to receive
the cordial embraces of his general and the plar-
dts of the whole army, who had witnessed the
scene.
On another occasion, in the Carlist war, in Ma
varTe he saved the commander-in-chief, General
Valdez, TO whom he was at the time aide-de- camp,
and division OF his army, under the following cir
cumstances Valdez had allowed himself to be
surprised with only small part of his army, in
village named Durango, where he had established
his headquarters; the rest of the army being scat
tered in various directions, on different services.
Suddenly, through one of those rapid movements
Of concentration which marked the system Of war
fare OF Iumalacarregai, the celebrated Carst
commander-in-chief, he found himself surrounded
in every direction with greatly superior forces.
Durango was situated in a valley, encompassed
with hills OF moderate elevation, of which the
enemy suddenly took possession. Escape seemed
impossible bird alone, as it seemed, could carry
the intelligence TO the nearest Cristno division,
situated al Ermoa, ten or twelve miles dis
tan, so as TO summon II TO the rescue. Colonel
Lopez, however, volunteered to do il, claim
ing ii as his duty and right as first aide
de'camp, and pedgingu himself to bring up
the division at Ermoa The commander-in chief,
though regarding the attempt desperate, yet
yielding to his demand, told him he might then
take what force he required for the purpose. "I
could not do il with the half of the DIVISION" was
which you bought on my advice" II was brought
and Lopez mounted it, taking with him only his
orderly, "a fellow whom he could trust to follow
him over and through anything,) the latter being
ing him to keep close TO him and TO regulate his
pace by his own, and since il was not likely that
both would escape, instructing him as to the order
to % be = carried TO & &LImoa, ne SET out at full speed
two eminences, both occupied by the enemy
Slackening then his speed, as he got well clear of
the former place, and approached the enemy, but
riding with entire confidence, he and his compa-
Mon presented the appearance Of deserers; and two
squadrons which had at first detached themselves
from the enemy on both sides to intercept them,
slackened the pace At which they moved down the
road for that purpose. He then, with nice cal
culation of the distance at which he might venture
II, suddenly clspped spurs 10 his horse, and rushed
through the shower Of balls which Immediately
poured down from both sides, and, in the pursuit,
cleared the gauntlet before they could cut him off
and the thing was done. In the words Valdez's
certihcation, to the astonishment of the enemy,
and OF the army, both Of whom were watching the
operation, he trayersed the line," and the army
was saved
In all the acts of heroic daring, on the part of Lo-
pez, which are familiarly current among the Span
sh M soldiers, and which together with his human
habitual TO the Spanish officers have made him so
popular with them, IL is to be remarked that the
ed by worthy occasion, and combined with that
quick and acute calculation Of the possibility,
which is the essence Of military genius.
We are unwilling to omit an incident in the mill
tary lille OF General Lopez, in which our readers
will not fail 10 recognise the "high Roman fash
ion" Together with large number of others, he
was at one time prisoner in the hands of the Car
lists, at place named Contaveja, a fortified place
in the depths Of the mountains of Aragon, which
was supposed a safe place Of custody. There were
about seven hundred prisoners collected there
Lopez was the highest in rank among the prison.
ers, and was confined in small room apart from
the rest, with four other superior officers. The Co.
vernon Of the place was brutal and bloody wretch,
who lost no opportunity OF ouiraging his prisoners.
lie was greatly enrsged when a Christine army.
under Gen. San Miguel, now one of the most re-
spectacle officers in Spain, began to approach the
place to besege II, overcoming, by extreme exer-
uons, the difficulties which had been supposed to
make IL Inaccessible. The Governor thereupon de-
clared that the first gun fired against the place
should be the signal for death OF all the prisoners in
II, from Gen Lopez down, Gan act perfectly in ac-
cordance with the system ofwar OF Cabrera who
commanded for Don Carlos in that quarterly and Of
fered Lopez permission 10 write 10 San Miguel 10
that efiec-in the belief, OF course, that he would
dlssuade him from the enterprise. Lopez accord.
inRy. wrote, indeed, simply mentioning the fact
which he had been requested by the Governor 10
communicate; but adding, that Gen. San Miguel
would. OF course, carry out his own plans. without
regard TO TINS circumstance, winch was, moreover,
proof that the Governor was afraid that he would
not be able 10 maintain the place against the appre-
hendcd siege. San Miguel. at length, made his
appearance before Canayiejo, and began TO throw
up his siege works. The Governor then went 10
the room in which Lopez was confined and told
him that he deeply dcplored the necessity under
which he was now placed, Of ordering the execu-
ton of the prisoners, but offered them another
10 san Micucfs camp, 20 explain, in person, the
state OF things so az TO induce the latter TO with
draw-giyng his word Of honor that he would re-
turn immediately. Lopez accepted the offer; and
presenting himself TO san Miguel and his officers.
who welcomed him as n favoriie friend sat down
TO cheerful breakfast, AT which he explained the
erand on which he had been sent lie executed
II, however, in his own way, by advising San Mi
Ruel Of the best mode Of attacking the town by
stoIm, giving him the benefit of the observations
he had been able TO make OF is defences inside;
and Il was agreed that the attack should be made
the nextday.
The prisoners had contrivcd TO obtain the pro-
mise Of some forty muskets from some of the
Navsrrese soldiers in the place, with which they
would make at least some resistance 10 the amable
purpose OF the liovcrnor-a resistance which might
thus afford useful diversion during the attack.
This being all discussed, together with the break
fast. Lopez rose TO depart, which he not suffer
ed 10 do TIL he had ovcrpowered the chorus of
opposition he encountered, by the declaration Of
his infexible resolution. The Governor confessed
himself very much astonished TO sec him back.