Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-10-17
The aiern nf e.rare.sa.

excellent friend to whom l vas 50 fortunata as
to be bearer Of 4 lattsr of introduction. This
gentleman had, when young man, taken
very active part in the determined dsisnss Of as
nstive city, Of which he had at = later period,
bssn the Aleslde or chief magistrate, al othea
which be filed with the highest credit to hina-
self and great sdTantsge-to his fellOW-cit1z 'ns
The dreadful evils to which Spain was exDosed
by the unprOvo6ed inVssisn of thst afflicted
country by the French. ard ths patriotism ana
bravery Of the inhabitants Of SsTsgosSs5 viii De
forcibly eviuced by this narrative.
On tie l6 OF June, 1903, the French field
marshal, Lslebvre Dasnousg gtss, at the head Of
FIVE thousand infantry and eight hundred cav
slry, appeared before Saragosss, having BY
means Of bis superior force, both IS TO numbers
and organization, delsAted the strenuous Efforts
OF Don joss BovslledO de PAlafox, (who vas
the yeRngsst OF three brothers belonging TO one
Of thS most distinguished families Of ArsgOn,)
70 check the approach Of the hostile fgTces to
ths capital Of the province. Paiss5L, who had
Only some thousands Of raw recruits, and a fsW
pieces Of badly organized artillery, after sus-
tanning as long as possible sharp attack from
LsfsbvTe, wben defending the bridge over the
rapid stream HusrbA, close to Slragossa, hsd
bsen driven from his ground with grea slaugb-
ter, and the loss of some of his cannon, aud had
retrestsd 70 the city, where every preparation for
its defense was Immediately set on foot.
Palafox then took Ep a position in the suT-
rounding gardens and slive grounds, sod GlOng
the bsoks Of the osBal; and having planted his
cannon to defend the gates Of the city, awaited
the approach of the enemy. The conflict which
ensusd was severe The Spsuiards fought with
out order, but with a resolution worthy Of the
eause-lhat of eoUntry-Whieh they were de-
feading. A body Of the French army forced its
way iutO the city, bat WAS driven back With
heavy loss By the inhabitants, who ssssiled them
from the roofs and windows Of the houses the
esrnsge was great on both sides and the French
General LsfebYre, having probably H!tls eI-
peeted so determined a resistance, withdrew his
army, after having dislodged Palafox from his
positions, and awaited the arrival of rsiaforce-
nants.
Ssrssessa was walled but not fortified city
1t stsads in "a extensive plain, covered with
vineyards aad olive plantations, and is com
manded on the southwest and within reach Of
cannon-sh0t By hill called Monte Torsro, at
whose base the canal of Aragon runs in 3 direc.
ton las befors stately nearly parallel TO the rVsT
E6Ts. The walls, though old, were massive,
generally about ten feet in hight, and built of
bricks and rough stones. They were, apparent
ly, not meant for the purpose Of defense, but
merely TO enable The civic authorities to levy
taxes on evssy article brought into he city for
sale. TIE gstes, nine in number, were Of the
most simple construction. The houses are gen
orally three stories higa; and, as before men
toned, the site Of she present handsome public
tpromenades was s crowded spot, consisting Of
narrow, crooked streets, churches and convsats.
| This was the fail extent of the defensive means
Of Sarsgossa.
Marshal Lafebyre, having collected force Of
| about twelve thousand msn, and having caused
heavy bBttering train TO be brought 40 frOm
PamFeluns, made an attempt on the 9th OF
| June to carry Monte TOrero by assault; but be
Sas Tepulssd, with severe loss, leaving SIX gURS
and five ammunition wagons ia the hands Of
the Spsnard5; but on the following day the
/ position was taken by the French, together
with ne ghboring battery aud thus all com
muuicatisn was Gu. of between the city sad
| the south.
A tremendous FIRE was nov opened from the
French bstteTing train, but this served only to
| Increase the enthusiasm OF the Inhabitants, who
| gave memorable proof Of the efficacy of united
| aud patriotic resistance under every dissdgsn-
I tsgo 70 the bsst disciplined foreign troops, led
/ on by celebrated and experienced generals
/ The heroic people nobly seconded Pslafox and
/ his soldiers They planted cannon on every
| poia' broke lOepholes for musketry IN The walls
/ and houses, and cut up tho awnings of their
! Windows into bags, which, being filed wi b
sand, we're used 70. making batteries Every
]
! shelter 10 the enemy was destroyed; the gardens
and olive plantations were rooted up by their
| owners wherever they were likely TO Obstruci
! the defense; all private interests were disrs-
gaTded.
This women, from the highest 70 the lowest
CLASSES, distinguished themselves IN the mobiles;
manner. In addition 10 the most indefstigsbe
! cXertions in assisting the wounded, and in con
| 7eying refreshments and ammunition to the sol
I = Al = IL 4
! nuskets, and joined their fathers. husbands sud
/ brothers in fn8g on the bastard eaemy Tee
| young and oesudful Countess Bsrita was at
/ thair head Mothers even sent forth their little
/ children TO render such assistance as thciI
strength would permit the priests and monks
took up arms and mingled IN the Tsnss and
| the nuns diligently occupied themselves in
making up cartridges
| The gate of she Portillo wss TIE object Of the
nost obstinate sad repeated attacks Of the be-
! siegeTsi but it was most gallsntly defended Th,
/ battery was repeatedly cleared by the enemy.
| FIRE; but others were always ready to replacs
! their companions, whose mu Inflated bodies ehoak
| ed up the battery. All the sTtillsrymsn however
excepting one, had been killed and as he w2,
| about to apply the match TO = fsur aud twenty
poundeT, be was struck by a cannon shot snC
! fell dead with the lighted match ia his hand
A panic seized the soldiers and all arOuud; nc
one burst approach the csnn0H-and the battery
must have been carried by the enemy, but for tht
heroism OF beautiful young woman of thr
humber class named August na Aregon. Sh,
bad arrived at the battery with refreshments JUS
IS the last artillerymEn fell Terror WAS De
picted in every couatensnee: the peril was i'm
minent-Augustins threw down her provision
basket-leap1d upon the heap Of dead bodies
snstched the lighted match from the dead artil
lsTyman's hand, feed Of the gun with sll tn
caimne5s of q pgacsised csnn0neer aud then
mounting 0n the osTTisZs with the match RAISED
in the air, vowed never 10 quit the battery alive
This female ntTePidly revived the coursgs o
the people; all rushed again into the bztleSy
! and the guns were reloaded and fred with sucl
effect that the sssailAhts we're repused wit
great slaughter.
. AugUstina-who was then but twenty-twl
years Of AGES still living; she was rewarde,
, BY medal Of honor.
a But tae tremendous fOrcs and yyarliks mean
of every kind which the French had at thei
command, enabled them to invest the city con
plessly, and TO deprive it Of all supplies The
! destroyed the corn mills in the neighboFhOod
which were worked by water wheels; and ais
gained possession, alter a severe contest, of th
D0wder mills sf Villa Feleo, whence the Be
I sieged obtained tkeir gunpowder Gen. Pals
fox, however, displayed under these trying Gil
E cumstsnoes, thst fertility Of resource By whic
. he was distinguished. Corn mills worked b.
horses were erected; all the suphar in the cir
, was collected; inter was extracted from the so
= Of the streets, and charcoal was made fsol
hemp stalks, which are OF immense size in Are
gon. From these materials tbs MONKS maau
e factured large quantities Of gUnRowder.
Frequent sOrtiss were made with view @
reopenlDg the communication with toe country
but without success. The walls were bresche
a a. various points BY the shot of the eusmy
batteries. The French troops advanced 70 ID
assault. One column made good its entrsHe
S near the convent Of Santa EasrGcia, the Oihe
8 by the Carmen gste, which wss carried by q,
1 ssHlt The French then turned the Quas ths
q were ia the Spanish batteries, from those poinl
on the city. A scene Of indesenaabie hAvo
' and horror ensued. The French rushed slon