The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-10-08

ed ones of the grand crosses of St. Her.
mengildo and Isabella Catolica.
General Valdez, the Captain General
OF Cuba' to which post he was appointed,
TO great extent through the influence of
Lopez, who had urged it strongly as a
means Of aiiording to himself an opportu-
nifty of returning to Cuba, solicited per-
mission that Lopez should accompany him,
but without success and it was not till
several months afterwards that he finally
effected his object, partly through his
threat of resigning his commission, and
partly by the Regents personal attach
ment, as we shall presently explain.
Even Carlist historians speak with high
praise Of their most own formidable enemy
Lopez; relating among other acts, the
manner in which he saved the army, and
the honor of General Carondelet, who was
almost beaten, by surprise, allowed Lo-
pei, though only colonel, to rally the
flying troops, assume the entire command,
virtually supersede the general, and to a
great extent retrieve the disaster of the
day.
In Navarro, he saved the General VAL
dez, and a division of his army, under the
following circumstances Valdez had al
lowed himself to be surprised with only
a small part of his army, in a village nam
ed Durango, where he had established his
head quarters the rest of the army being
scattered in various directions, on different
services. Suddenly, through one of those
rapid movements Of concentration which
marked the system of warfare at Zumala-
cariegai, the celebrated Carlist command
er-in-chief, he found himself surrounded
in every direction with greatly superior
forces. Durango was situated in valley,
encompassed with hills of moderate eleva-
ton, of which the enemy suddenly took
possession. Escape seemed impossible !;
bird alone, as it seemed, could carry the
intelligence to the nearest Christina di-
vision situated Ermoa, ten or twelve miles
distant, so as to summon it to the rescue
Colonel Lopez, however, volunteered to
do it, claiming it as his duty and right, as
first aid-de-camp, and pledged himself to
bring up the division at Ermoa. The COM
mander-in-chief, though regarding the at
tempt as desperate, yet yielding to his de-
mand, told him he might take what force
he required for the purpose. 81 could not
do it with the half of the DIVISION" was
the answer; 'but let me have your piebald
horse, which you bought on my advice"
1t was brought, and Lopez mounted it, ta-
king with him only his orderly, Ga fellow
on whom he could trust to follow him over
and through anything } the latter being
mounted on Lopez's own favorite charger.
Directing him to keep close to him and to
regulate his pace by his own; and since
it was not likely that both would escape,
instructing him as to the order to be car
ried to Ermoa, he set out at full speed from
Durango, along a road which passed be-
tween 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 companion
presented the appearance of deserters !;
and two squadrons which had at first de-
tached themselves from the enemy on both
sides to intercept them, slackencd the pace
at which they moved down the road for
that purpose. He then, with fine calcu-
lation of the distance at which he might
venture it, suddenly clapped spurs to 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 Of VAL
dez's certifcation, 'to the astonishment
of the enemy, and of the army, both of
whom were watching the operation, he
traversed the line," and the army was
saved.
Between himself and Valdez (afterward
Captain General Of Cuba,) a devoted
friendship arose, which never sustained
any diminution. Valdez was always re-
garded by Lopez as the most virtuous man
breathing.
In all the acts ofheroic daring, on the part
of Lopez, which are familiarly current a.
mong the Spanish soldiers, and which, to-
gethcr with his humanity, kindness and
freedom from the arrogant pride habitual
to the Spanish officers, made him so pop
ular with them, it is to be remarked that
the boldness is never recklessness but is
always elected by worthy occasion, and
combined with that quick and acute cal
culation of the possibility, which is the es-
sence of military genius.
We are unwilling to omit another incl
dent in the military life of General Lopez,
in which our readers will not fail to rec
ognize the "high Roman fashion," To-
gether with large number of others, he
was at one time prisoner in the hands of
the Carlists, at place named Contavieia,
fortified place in the depths of the
mountains of Arragon, which was suppos-
ed safe place of custody. There were
about seven hundred prisoners collected
there. Lopez was the highest in rank
among the prisoners and was confined in a
small room apart from the rest, with four
other superior officers. The governor Of
the place was brutal and bloody wretch,
who lost no opportunity of outraging his
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