The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-07
President Figueras Undertakes to Throw
oil Upon the Troubled Waters.
A PLEA FOR ORDER.
American Naval Courtesy to the Head
Of the New Republic.
Captain Bryson, the Press Correspondents, and
the Cabin Windows Of the Brook
lyman Officers Mistake.

PAMPELuNA, March II, 1873.
There have been two conflicts In the country
near here scarcely worthy the name Of battles, and
yet OF 80 much more consequence than the ordi-
nary pop-gun skirmishes Of months past as to give
significant indication that Carlist war is taking
on a new character.
FIRST BATTLE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
The first was at Montreal, some eight miles to the
southeast OF this city, the high road. General
Nouvilas was the commander OF the government
force. He is the successor of General Pavia. and
promised the government that in two months
there would not be an armed CariHt left IN the
north. But the promise was made in Madrid and
must be kept III the mountains; so perhaps
people VIII not be hard on NOuvilas
II his performance does not quite come
within the allotted time. He left Pampeluna
on the 9th with a force OF 1900 men, battery OF
artillery and three sguadrons OF cavalry, hnssars
ana lancers. His object was to cut of, capture or
dispense parties of Carists operating in the valley
OF the Aragon.River as far down the line OF the
Ebro or these predatory heroes thus lying around
loose one considerable body was reported as Nov
Ing by Noain, south OF Montreal, nortnward towards
the mountains by the line OF little tributary OF the
Aragon, which rises in place no less known in
romantic story than Roncesvalles--the scene of
ROlands defeat and DEATH and WHERE 1t will be
remembered, the said Roland filled his horn with
wonderful blast, which, II we may believe Boyardo,
was heard by Charlemagne far away in the plains
OF France, and which burst the horn. II you study
the Spanish papers you will ind that the "bl0w-
ing' in the neighborhood is not less wonderful In
these days, though the horns are better, for they
do not BURST but are used again.
In moving described the Carlists would take
Montreal on their line OF march, and to Intercept
them at that village was the expectation Of Nou-
ell In ~ ich he xUa nof "A lea inta
haps. 1t Is something for his capacity as o solder
TO have caught q body or them and to nave got
something In the way Of fight out OF them, even
though 1t was defeat. His column was moved
nom Pampcluna with such precautions as the
character OF the country would permit for 1t was
wet, and there was very heavy ground to either
side Of the highway, which made Il impossible to
tprow out fankers Thus the troops were In the
road entirely; but the cavalry wen in advance,
guarded against . destructive SURPRISE princl-
pally by drawing the IRE Of the hidden foe and thus
developing their whereabouts. This dropping, but
harmless, fire began a good ways this side OF Mon
real and by the falling back OF his stragglers thus
driven up, the enemy was OF course, fully in
formed Of the approach OF the column, It's numbers,
dispositions and spirit
AS to the enemy at Montreal, there was a good
force, but nothing like that OF the troops From
accounts gathered in the village there may have
been Eve or six hundred Dorregary, who seems
likely TO become the Zumalacarregui Of the strug.
gle, was apparently not on the spot. He was at
the time operating a bold game elsewhere; but he
had posted the men, it seems, under a subordinate
named Rada. Dorrcgary is an old soldier, for
merly In the Spanish army. He had disposed his
men well; for the place was on high ground, could
only be approached by the road, and on the ROAD
The Cariists, hidden behind the walls OF the houses,
ftv hnf Hra xr-btI
troops had steadiness to carry the place their op
ponents might individually escape to the neighbor-
ing hills by ways in which the troops could not
follow.
This place was reached by the cavalry, half a
mile or more In advance, near nine O'Clock, and
the lancers and subsequently the hussars found
themselves the objects oil pretty lively IRE, which
did them no Rttle harm. Several saddles were
empty IN % little while, and the cavalry, CON-
manded with some "discretion,' seeing the enemy
was in place where cavalry could not well get at
him. Kept their temper and did not rush upon the
foe with tue fury that might have been expected OF
the Spanish character. On the contrary they kept
ajudicious distance ana amused the fellows behind
the houses, iooing away the time thl the Infantry
might come up. There ives not long TO wait, and
when the infantry dad come there fairly began
what may IN future histories be made memorable
Ms the first really bloody COLLISION between the forces
oi the Carlist war Of 1873. While the troops were
yet moving up the road, and before they had
formed TO attack the position FIRE was opened
npon them from every point on the hill that could
afiord cover for a man, ana this threw them into
some confusion. for many Of lhese shots were not
thrown away. Although the casualties are con.
siderable IN number the fact that they are not far
greater Is due only TO the miserable arms OF the
Had these men 4. such position
been armed with good rifles especially breech.
leaders. this would nave been something or
slaughter.
While this was going on the battery (mounta.n
howitzers) succeeded IN getting into position, and
played away on the hiding place OF the Carlists,
making toerable noise and doing some execution,
nd furnishing respite 70 the infantry, which might
have been employed In carrying Tue position if
the men had been well handled or had been at all
In the humor. But the truth s, they were not in
the humor. They had tumbled on hornets nest,
ana did not ike It. Moreover IL was getting dark,
ana this did not improve their nerves. And so the
Dnly opportunity was wasted IN target practice
against the walls 81 the houses, shot hitting here
and there. When this had continued some time,
he cavalry meanwhile securing about TO the right
ma Ien and the little battery Keeping the Carlists
D wholeseme restraint by It's unaccustJmed noise,
halfhearted attempt was made 90 carry the
,lace which was partially successful but was
,r0ught To an end, and, in fact repu.sed, by o
harge from fIe Fellows hitherto hidden, who, with
more impulse than the troops, really dld make q !!
10 0rli