Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-04-03
Battles with the carlisss--Defsat Of the
Government Troors.

baIGles Wlt1 the CaralSuS--Defeat Of the
Government Ecoorse
BARcELosa, March 25-vIA LoNDoN,
March PA special to the New York
Herald says: A sharp battle was fought
near Vich, in the province Of Catalonia,
fifty miles north Of Barcelona, Sunday,
the 23d instant, in which the Govern
ment troops were severely handled and
beaten by combined attack Of several
bands Of Carlists undor Sayalls. Twelve
hundred infantry, sixty cavalry and
four cannon, under command OF Colonel
Vega, left Vich Saturday to support
the convey Of supplies for Conaugbell,
in the mountains, on the way to Ripoll.
Conaugbell is fifteen miles north of
Vich on the high road. All the coun-
try is mountainous, but the first half Of
| the distance is not difficult, there being
enough open country near the road to
give the troops a chance to defend
themselves.
The road for many miles in the valley
is often crossed by small tributaries Of
the Ter, and is overlooked by jutting
rocks of the heights of San Hippolite
and San Lucia. The troops rested Sat
urday night in the neighborhood of
these heights i'll the more open colln-
try. Intelligence of their movements
was conveyed to Savalls, the Carlist
commander, at Catalonia, who was at
Manelien, on the riveH Ter, five miles
east of the heights Of San Hippolite,
and who sent word during the night to
Galceran, Miret and GUN, commanding
forces Of Carlists. Altogether, 1900
troops occupied the heights of San
Hippolite. To dispute the passage,
Miret was in position at daylight, while
the others, slower in their movements,
followed. The Government troops on
Sunday resumed their march, and when
under the heights, N[irets men opened
on the cavalry and advance of infantry,
General Vega, supposing that 1t was
but a small party, and would be scat
tered by few shots, pushed on, but
soon found a fire from all sides, in
creasing in severity. The Carlists,
alb anGoning the protection of the
natural defences, assailed the troops,
but being taught caution by previous
losses, the fighting became desultory
for time, when the troops seemed to
have their way clear. At that juncture
the Caflists under Galcefon and Gum
came up and attacked impetuously, :.nd
after a hard fight, Galceran fell mortally
wounded. The tide turned against the
troops, who gave way, and being pus h
ed hard, retired somewhat precip itately
The Carlists followed up the adran-
tage, checked occasionally, however, at
open places by the Government artille-
ry, but as the Carlists could follow be
hind the hills to points where they
commanded the highway, and might
thus cut off retreat, and isolate the col
umn of Spanish troops, the commander
of the latter did not venture to rely on
his advantages, but continued to retire
until supported by reinforcements from
the garrison Of Vich, when the Carlists
i'll turn retired.
The losses can only be guessed at,
but they are much heavier than at any
previous collision during this war.
Galceran was killed. Ripoll, for which
place the supplies were intended, has
since surrendered to the Carlists. From
Ripoll the Carlists are now marching
on Berga, an important stronghold, fill
ed with military stores. Berga, is
the key to Catalonia, and was an i'm
portant point during the thirty years
war. In view of the force advancing,
the garrison will probably abandon the
place.
Since the appointment of Maldenado
to command in Navarro, Da1regary has
cut the railroad between Pampaluna
and Vittoria, blowing up three bridges.
Pampaluna is thus likely to become un
tenable, and fall into the hands Of the
Cariists, who have already seized stores
in the suburbs The aim of the Car
lists is to move by Arragon and the
Legre river, and occupy the line of the
Ebro. Vich and Gerrona will be flank
ed by the capture Of Berga.