Washington telegraph., 1855-01-24
An Episode in the Peninsuiar
War.
TIE SOLDIERS SON.


1t was fierce and critical period of the
war In the Peninsular, that Morillo, then
commanding tbe fifth division Of the Span
ish army. about 1000 strong in conjunc-
tion with Penne Villemur. passed down the
Portuguese frontier in the Lower q Guadiana
intending to fall on the Seville as soon as
Soult should advance to the succor of Bada-
JOS In the beginning of April while the
French were dishcartened BY the sudden
news of the fall Of the city, Ponne Vile
mur and Morillo. issuing out of Portugal,
crossed the Lower Guadiana and seized San
Lacar de EayOr. This place was ten miles
from Seville, was only garrisoned by Span
ish Swiss battalion in JOseph's service. aid
ed by es0petOr0s. and by sick and GONZALES
cent men The Spaniards soon occupied
the heights in front Of the Triana bridge,
and attacked the French entrenchmentS.
hoping to raise popular commOtion- Bal
lasterOus, on the other side, had advanced
with eleven thousand men. intending to
fall on Seville from the left of the GuadaI-
CULVER
But the hopes entertained by the Span
iards Of being speedily in possession of Sc
vile. were cut of by Il piece of deceit
False information adroitly given by Span
lard in the French interest, led Bala~terous
to believe SOult was close at hand, where
upon he Immediately returned to the Ron
ia: while Penne Villemur. also warned that
the French would soon return, retired 70 Gil
braleon-
This disappointment and failure in the
execution of a favOrite project, cherished
for many months, irritaici bev0nd control
the naturally severe temper OF MOrillO. 1t
was evening. and the division Of the army
under him were eDcamPed some hours
march on their retreat. Preparations might
have been seen for military execution. and
i couple Of prisoners. captured in the last
sklFrnish- were. according to the cruel prac-
tIee of many chiefs in those times to be put
to death The captives were guarded by a
file of soldiers and ;he execuriOners wait
ing the word OF command 10 draw up. were
leaning on their weapons and talking of the
events OF the last two days
just then one of the inferior officers. re-
turning to his tent. after giving ,ome order
to the men, was interrupted by boy appa-
rently ten years Of age. vino, seizine his
hand. and speaking in an accent slightly
foreign. besOught him with piteous entreat-
les, 10 procure him admittauce to the Gen.
eral- The officer found on inquiry that be
was the son OF cne Of the prisoners, a sol
dIer distinguished for his eminent personal
bravery, who had not been taken, even when
overwhelmed by numbers. without giving
and receiving many severl wounds.
This soldier. weaFied and wounded. but
InvIneIble IN courage and spirit, for he scorn-
ed to ask clemency of his conGueror, was
now to suffer death with his companion in
misfortune The terrible order had been
given. for MorillO would not be impcded in
his march by prisoners; and he so hated
his cOuHirys enemies. that the bravest and
most generous among them could have found
no mercy at his hands, The prisoners little
boy. refusing to be separated from his father,
had been suffered by the Spaniards to re-
main with him.
"Icl shall see the General, boy. since
YOU wish il" said the other, in reply to the
ehIlds passionate entreaties: ''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. Mo-
rIllo. by the light Of the lamp burning on
the table. was reading a dispatch he had
just received Two of his officers stood
near him; there was no one else in the fen,
The brow of the chief was Contracted and
his eye flushed. as if what he read dis,leas-
ed him; and he looked up with an impa-
tIent exclamation as the officer entered with
the boy The child, as soon as Murillo was
pointed out to him, rushed forward and knelt
at his feet,
what does this mean ?'' demanded the
General.
Spare him. spare my father. :" sobbed
the youthful applicant
The officer explained his relationship
to one of the prisoners about to be exc
cuted
"Ah. that reminds me- said the chief.
looking at bis watch: "Pero, 9 is the hour.
Let them be punctual and have the business
soon over
Again. with moving entreaties, the child
besought bis fathers Life.