Natchitoches union. [volume] ([Natchitoches, La.]) 1859-1864, 1862-08-28
Guerilla Warf;sre.

aey, tho more we learn 10 appreciate
it's Importance towards the achieve
ment of our Independence and tht
speedy termination OF this disastrous
contest. We can give no better illus
tration Of the formidable power o
guerilla warfare III the defense Of an
| invaded country, than to refer to the
| campaigns of the French in the Pen
insula When Napoleon's armies en-
tered Spain, many mobiles, theweathies,
and the most enlightened Of the middle
classes were rather favorable tc
| French occupation and Il foreign sever.
eign. than opposed 10 it at the cost ot
war against the hitherto invincible
Emperor Of France. The lower orders
Of the clergy, the monks and the peas.
| ants, on the contrary steepod in ig.
norance it is true, but inaamed with
the noble pride and love of, their coun-
try which ever characterized the Spun
iards, raised up throughout tho whole
land. To enulnctate the exploits of
those heroic patriots would require vol
umes suffice 1t to say that vainquisb- +
ed wherever they dared TO meet tho We.
terans Of France in open field, with all
their principal towns in the hands of
the invader, including Madrid where q
French king had established his court,
they never lost courage. In proper.
ton to their disasters, they became the
more formidable to tlleir enelny, by
resorting to that mode Of guerilla
warfare which finally tlitnphed Of the
otherwise unconquerable hosts Of tho
Emperor, led by such men as Soult,
Ney, JuAot Lannes, Sc.
Scattered III small bands all over
the country, lying ia arnbush ID every
forost and mountain pass through
which convoy, o detachment or .
courier had 70 go, they cut of the
provisions and arnmunitions Of the
armies, destroyed thousanda of soldiers
in skirnishes and captured bearers Of
dispatches thereby often infioting i'm
monse disasters on the french armies
Such has been the course followed by
tho Spaniagds, when attacked by an
enemy greatly their superior in the art
Of war, headed by tic greatest com.
manders Of The ago. History is there
10 show the result Ct that eyentful
The invader achieved a se-
ries Of brilliant victories, sacked many
cities, apillei dehlge Of blood. but
he never could conquer the 'bulwark
opposed to his power by the patriot
ism and nnconquerable hate OF foreign
domination burning in the heart of
the Spaniard, The thousands Of french
soldiers who persisted in that war
will ever be sad monument Of the fol-
of those who would impose for
eign yoke on the liberties Of conr.
geous people, They should also in.
stil energy and enthusiasm into the
bosom of our people in these days Of
strife, when they, too, have TO defend
their all against on enemy far loss1or.
midablc than were the armies that in.
vaded Spain.
Shall we be less inlomitable than
the Spaniardg; is the love Of our coun.
try and the late Of foreign domination
be less intense among us than among,
them lie do not hesitate to say
No. We venture do say that the re-
suit Of this war will prove, once more,
that "a people cannot be conquered
who possesses patriotism and a firm
viii to be free.
If guerrilla warfare has been thss
successful III Spain, if it is again,
even at this hour, etriumphing over
French courage and superior tactics
at our neighbors of tho Mexican Re-
public, why should it not also be at.
tended with the same good result
among us? Our situation is in every
respcct better than that Of Spain or
Of Mexico. We have already proved
our superiority ia the field, on several