The New York herald., 1873-08-14
LOYAL DEVo?IOH OF TIE BASOUES.
Carlos Septimo at the Head Of His
Forces in the Mountain Paths.
Mirthful Bearing Of Tired and
Hungry Soldiers.
ROYAL CARE FOR SICK AND WOUNDED.
CUARTEL REAL (RoYAL HEADQUARTERs,)l
LEcudRENRI iNaYarrel. IIllY %. 12I3. [

Since Don Carlos crossed the frontier, on the 10th
instant have not had single hour available
Tor writing. Marching, reviews, popular demon
Btrations and hunting for quarters and food have
taken certainly more than eighteen hours daily,
leaving barely five or six hours for rest and refresh
ment. After the review OF some three thousand
four hundred men passed near Zugarranuridey,
where, as you know from my telegram, Don carlos
bad entered Spain, the Pretender to the Spanish
throne with the whole OF his star and with body
of some two thousand five hundred men. with two
eannons moved towards thehigh road from Bayonne
TO Pampcuna, one Of the most picturesque roads
In Northern Spain, passing through considerable
portion OF the celebrated Baztan valley. The re-
main1er OF the reviewed troops under Marquis Las
Eormazas, were LETT 30 guard the frontier line from
Vera to Urdax, and more especially places like
Arachuegui Lesaca and Echalar, those old fields
pf Santa Cruz's exploits. AS every one
expected that Don Carlos would be anxious
30 begin his new campaign by some brilliant
engagement, and as we knew that Ezondo, the
FIRST large place Oh the road had been fortified by
the republicans and was guarded by q garrison Of
some six hundred men under Colonel Tejada we
Ri hoped to have nice little fight in couple Of
days. The village OF Arizcun was the place at
which we were to pass the night Of the 18TH, and
whence, as we supposed, we were to move on the
next morning for an attack. But it turned out
lhat, except some manGuvres upon the surround
Ing heights we ha to witness no military eXhibi-
bon of any sort. The troops commanded by Gene
raj Lissaraga manGuvred very well, satisfied
thoroughly Don Carlos and showed the column of
Ceada that the Carllsts were already in sufficient
numbers to protect their master That was appa-
fenty all the Carst generals wanted for the mo-
ment. They did not care about attacking EliZondo,
Tor though pretty certain OF being able to take it,
they were sure to lose great number of men and
In no m hol fhn la chou hn forrnu of
Pampeluna attempt to take it back again. Besides
tEe place was too near to the frontier. Holding it
would not have permitted the junction between
the main body OF the forces under Eio with those
under Don Carlos. Elio's troops were then far
AWAY on the Biscaya frontier, but the old General
himself, leaving his command to Dorregaray, came
to salute his King he heard Of his inten-
zion to enter Spain, and rode on horseback, with
two aides-ie-camp and small escort, through
nearly the whole OF Navarro to Join us at Arizcun
THREADING THE MOUNTAIN PATHS OF NAVARRO.
II was probably owing to his advice that we had
no fight at EliZondo and marched next morning
oil the htgh road among those abominable rocky
paths to which am still unable TO get accus
tOmed. Narvarte, Labaen, Erasun ana Leisa were
the little mountain villages which had successvely
TO provide with food and night shelter some two
thousand five hundred soldiers King, his brilliant
stan Of marquses and counts and two three
one would be puzzled to say, but everybody had q
shelter and every stomach some sort OF nour-
lshment. That they were far from being
comfortable can be easily imagined, but
In nearly all cases the bad quality Of
the supply was fully compensated by the heartiness
with which 1t was offered. Except the usual ratlons
collected in the formal way through the acaldes
mayors OF the village everything could he easily
refused by the inhabitants, as the Carlist authorl
etAon
exaction than is generally believed. But the peas
ants give to both officers and men everything they
can possibly spare, and it is often matter OF dif
Guilty 10 make them accept money.
DEVOTION TO THE RoYALIsT CAUSE.
Or the manner in which Don Carlos himself is
received no one can form an idea without know
ing the temperament and notions OF the Basquese
people. 1t is not only that houses decorated
every village he passes through that cries Of "Vird
el Regr "Vtpd Doao Mdrgaritar' and "vird "a
Reltgtoni' give everybody headache. and that
every man. woman and child gets perfectly mad
In attempting to kiss any thing belonging to Carlo
Septimo, from his hand down to the tail OF his
HORSE The real degree OF devotion Is TO be seen In
the manner In which every man in any way
whatever representing Carlism Is respected and
welcomed. II there is the slightest reason for be-
heving that you are Carlist you can travel quite
alone through the whole OF the four northern
provinces without the slightest danger. Every
door Is open to you; everywhere you find guide
and all information you may want and in this
consists the chief force OF Carllsm. The country
is SO thoroughly Carlist that where republican
column must have q whole days work a Carlist
band will get through In few hours. When the
republicans pass all that still exists in the way Of
horses cattle, sheep and pigs are high up in the
mountains and no rations can be got by any hu-
man force under several hours time. When the
Carlists pass everything is at hand. When the re-
publicans pass the men are all away from the VII
lages, SO are the acalde and the priest too, and
the democratic commander must get his infor-
nation about the enemy from old women aud chill.
dren, while the smallest royalist band Is informed
In every possible way by the priest and acalde,
VINO are the first to welcome IL, and every man OF
the village is quite ready to risk his life for the
sake OF getting the band out oil danger Don
Carlos had already been four days In Spain before
che commander OF the Pampeluna troop slearned It
and was enabled 10 make move, while we learned
at Narvarte OF this commanders intention to
move within about three OF four hours after his
trumpet had called out the regiments.
AN UNEQUAL BATTLE DECLINED.
Don Carlos was quietly taking an afternoon
walk through the village when a conJtdente or spy
came with the news that 1900 men with SIX can.
oons were leaving Pampeuna, some six hours
march distant from Narvarte, where we then
were. council OF war was at once called con-
sisting OF the Generals Eo, Lissaraga and Marquis
Vade- -Espinas and the question whether battle
was to be accepted or not was brought before
them. Don Carlos appears TO have been In favor
OF 6ght but the Carlist forces were considera-
BILE smaller than those Of their enemy namely,
800 men and two cannons), the generals insisted
upon not accepting battle, and continuing the
march for junction with Dorregaray. Conse.
quently, In o couple Of hours, OF we marched In
the direction OF the place whence write. This
march took US from Sunday, the goth, to Tuesday,
the 22d, and may he considered very fair sEeci-
men OF Carlist marches
To begin with, we left Narrvarte about six p. NJ,
and mad 10 march good deal at night and the road