Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-11-27
NJ rs c E l. LA N Y.
PRESC0TTS NEW VOLUME: STORM
ING OF GALERA.

We present, from the advance sheets of vol
ume III of Prescott's Phillip II, the following
fine extract describing, in the elegant and char
acteristic narrative of the aathor, the storming
of Galera. The volume will be published on
the Sth of December by Phillips, Sampson &
Co..
On the 9th of February, the engineers who
had charge of the mines gave notice that their
work was completed. Tn, following morning
was named for the assault. The orders of the
day prescribed that general cannonade should
open on the town at six in tie morning. 1t was
to continue an hour, when the mines were to be
sprung. The artillery would then play for an
other hour after which the signal for the at
tack would be given. The signal was to be the
firing of one gun from eacl of the batteries, to
be followed by simultaneous discharge from
all. The orders directed the troops to show no
quarter to man, woman, or child.
On the 7th of February, the last dav of the
Carnival, the besegers were under arms with
the earliest dawn. Their young commander at
tractcd every eye by the splendor of his person
and appointments. He was armed cap-a-pie
and wore suit of FURNISHED steel richly inlaid
with gold His casque, overshadowed by bril-
liant plumes, was ornamented with medallion
displaying the image Of the Virgin. In his
hand he carried the baton of command and as
he rode along the lines, addressing few words
of encouragement to the soldiers, his perfect
horsemanship, his princely bearing, and the
courtesy Of his manners, reminded the veterans
of the happier days of his father, the emperor.
The cavaliers by whom he was surrounded en-
ulated their chief in the richness of their ap-
pointments; and the Murcian chronicler, pres
ent on that day, dwells with complacency on the
beautiful array of Southern chivalry gathered
together for the final assault upon Galera.
From six o'clock till seven, furious cannon
ade was kept up from the whole circle of bate
ries on the devoted town. Then came the or
der to fire the mines. The deafening roar of
ordnance was at once hushed into a silence pro-
found as that of death, while every soldier in
the trenches waited, with nervous suspense, for
the explosion. At length it came, oyerturning
houses, shaking down a fragment of the castle,
rending wider the breach in the perpendicular
side of the rock and throwing off the fragments
with the force of a volcano. Only one mine,
however, exploded. 1t was soon followed by
the other, which, though it did less damage,
spread such CONSERVATION among the garrison,
that, fearing there might still be third in re-
serve, the men abandoned their works, and took
refuge in the town.
When the smoke and dust had cleared away,
an officer with a few soldiers was sent to recon
noitre the breach They soon returned with
the tidings that the garrison had fled, and left
the works wholly unprotected. On hearing this,
the troops, with furious shouts, called out to be
led at once to the assault. 1t was in vain that
the officers demonstrated, enforcing their re-
monstrances, in some instances, by blows with
the flat of their sabres. The blood of the sol
diery was up and, like an ill-disciplined rabble,
they sprang from their trenches in wild disorder
as before and, hurrying their officers along with
them, soon scaled the perilous ascent, and crown
ed the nights without opposition from the enc
my, Hurrying over the debris that strewed the
ground, they speedily made themselves masters
of the deserted fortress and its outworks,-fll-
ing the air with shouts of victory.
The fugitives saw their mistake, as they be-
held the enemy occupying the position they had
abandoned There was no more apprehension
of mines Eager to retrieve their error, they
rushed back, as by common impulse, to dis
pute the possession of the ground with the
Spaniards. 1t was too late. The guns were
turned on them from their own battery. The
arquebusiers who lined the ravelin showered
down on their heads missiles more formidable
than stones and arrows. But though their pow
der was nearly gone, the Morscoes could still
make fight with sword and dagger, and they
boldly closed, in a hand to- hand contest with
their enemy. 1t was deadly struggle, calling
out-as close personal contest is sure to do
the fercest passions of the combatants. Nc
quarter was given; none was asked. The Span
lard was nerved by the confidence of victory
the Morisco by the energy of despair. Botf
fought like men who knew that on the issue o
this conflict depended the fate of Galera. Agair
the war-cries of the two religions rose above
the din of battle; as the one party invoked
their military apostle, and the other called oI
Mahomet. 1t was the same war-cry which TO
more than eight centuries had sounded over hil
and valley in unhappy Spain. These were it
dying notes, soon to expire, with the exile o
determination of the conquered race.
The conflict was at length terminated by tn
arrival of fresh body of troops on the fiel
with Padilla. The chief had attacked the tow
by the same avenue as before everywhere h
had met with the same spirit of resistance. Blu
the means of successful resistance were gone
Many of the houses. on the streets had bee
laid In ruins by the fire of the artillery Suc