The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-23
in The CARLIST CAMP.
Graphic Description Of the CarIist
Base Of Operations at Urdax.
The French Body Guards
of Carlos VII.
COUNT D'ALCANTARAS PARIS CAVALRY.
The Grand Marshal Marquis de
Valde Espinas.
The Art Of Making. War With
out Gunpowder.
The Cure Of Santa Cruz
Means Business.
Butchery at the Bridge Of En-
Darlaza.
The Belligerent Cure Rising to
tho pncifior of on yudo
The Cure of Santa Cruz
Means Business.
Butchery at the Bridge Of En-
Darlaza.
The Belligerent Cure Rising to
the Position Of an Inde-
pendent Chieftain.
The Herald Correspondent OFF for the
Cures Headquarters.
CARLIsT FORT PENA DE PLATA, |

CARLIsr FORT PENA DE PLATA,l
June g. 1873.
On the high road from Bayonne to Pampeluna,
within half an hours walk OF the frontier Custom
House OF Doucharinea, is situated. in a kind of
peep-hole. the village of Urdax. 1t is surrounded
on all sides by mountains, so as to be almost hid
den from the eyes OF the travellers who. IN more
peaceful times undertake a carriage journey
TO Pampeluna through the picturesque valley of
Bastan. From purely military point Of view
URDAx
is quite an impossible place, for no force of any
kind could defend itself there from the attack of
nm enemy holding the surrounding mountains. But
the Carlists, always relying upon their good legs
and sharp eyes, have from the outset selected that
little village OF the starting points OF their
operations. II is within an easy reach Of the con-
trabandists carrying arms and ammunition across
the frontier, and this alone quite sufficient to
render the otherwise quite unsuitable village one
OF the most important starting points Of
CARLIsT OPERATIONS.
It Is here that guns and ammunition are stored
volunteers assembled and drilled, cartridges manu-
featured and wounded attended to. Whenever the
enemy approaches the Carist force stationed at
the village climbs the surrounding mountains and
takes position ON them, if it feels strong enough,
or else runs away along the French frontier to
cessible mountain refugees situated between Urdax
and Vera.
Within these last five six days the little village
has been particularly animated and particularly
interesting Some OF the best known representa-
tves OF both the Spanish and French legitimist
parties were assembled here, under the protection
Of some five hundred new Carlist volunteers, OF
whom scarcely any one was more than twenty years
old, while many were lads Of twelve and thirteen,
the whole force possessing
MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED CARTRIDGES
to defend itself from the attack of an enemy's
column over a thousand men strong, and marching
with two cannons from St. Estaban, apparently
straight on Urdax On the I'd of June. when |
reached the village, having been commissioned to
go for the HERALD once more among the Carlists,
there was not only an air Of quietness, but even
one Of festivty, about Urdax. On the previous
day the fort Of
F., PENA DE LA PLATA WAS coNsEcRATED,
and the nag hoisted the first Carlist fortress.
Speeches were delivered on the occasion, mass
celebrated, and banquet given. for which wines
and provisions were Drought over from Bayonne
and st. Jean de Suy, and OF which traces were to
be still seen in the faces OF the officers who had
had
, DROP TOO MUCH.
But on the Sd every trace OF the festivity was
over and heavy gloom TO be seen on all
faces. Some bad news reached Urdax that
day. In the first place, several thousand English
made cartridges were seized by the French gend-
armes, on the frontier, during the night; in the
second there were no copper cartridge cases in
stock for making cartridges, and in the third the
republican Colonel Teada, after having fortified
st. Estaban, seemed to indicate an intention OF
marching on Urdax, had already reached Elizondo,
and could easily begin to shell Urdax in two or
yUbo olaI 40 q,.
question to be read every ones face Colo
mel Marquis de Las Hermazas, nephew OF the
CoNmandern-Chief Ello, was at the head of
the 500 lads and the 800 cartridges. No
one could question his personal courage, since
the gentleman had no less than thirty-seven
Wounds on ana about his body, and attempted last
year to take the citadel OF Pampeluna all by him.
self; but the position was too critical admit OF
any solution by means OF mere courage. Right
down fight was evidently the only escape left. al
do not';ear for my men, said the Marquis to me,
"they will all find room on the top of the noun
tains and within the walls OF our fortress; but
what am afraid OF is the safety OF this brilliant
stan have with and OF their beautiful horses.
They will all go to grief climbing the mountains or
break down for want Of food in Peha de 10 Plata"
THE "BRILLIANT STAFF"
the Marquis was SO much preoccupied with re-
quires just here some consideration on my part.
month or so since the French legitmists got up
party OF some twelve young nobemen, all OF
whom had already served in the French army. to
form the body guard OF Don Carlos They were to
form only the nucleus Of cavalry squadron, to be
completed By and by on the spot, and to be placed
under the orders OF Count d'Alcantara, armed and
equipped at an outlay Of over fifty thousand francs.
The gentlemen could not remain long at Bayonnc,
AS their brilliant uniforms and splendid Paris
horses, however carefully concealed would easily
betray their plans. consequently they were as
quickly possible despatched, with arms and bag
gage, over the frontier, and awaited, like myself at
Urdax, the chance Of getting to the head
quarters OF Elio, where their squadron was to be
formed, and remain till the arrival Of Don Carlos.
Their dark green hussar uniform, richly trimmed
with gold lace; their white Bedouin bournouses,
their breasts covered with crosses and medals OF
nearly all countries were all very pleasant to look
Mt amid the wilderness Of the Basque Mountains
and the rags OF Basque volunteers, and would have
been, no doubt, very imposing at the headquarters
Of some well organized and victorious army. But
In the circumstances Of the case they had some
thing very incongruous about them, and suggested,
Idon't know why. the idea Of Paris or Boulevard
cavalry lost In the wild mountains.
COUNT D'ALcANTARA,
the commanding ofiicer, is O very able and brave
man, well known for his military exploits SO are
she Marquis de Canisy, late equerry to Napoleon,
and Baron de Barber, a dragoon officer, who
fought in Mexico and China. But all these, as well
- their youngsters, Baron Amiot, Marquis de
eantes, Baron d'Herpent, Chevalier d'Arband and
she rest had very long faces when the niRht was