The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-31

night; so, after sending regiment to Castahon's
aid and battalion OF engineers to secure q pass,
we quartered for the night at IrurZun, where,
though greatly fatigued, wrote my last letter.
This morning at six O'Clock the column OF
Nouvflas was on the move. breastng lofty noun
tam. the summit OF which was gained three hours
later, while the column OF Elio marched along the
highway to Lecumberri, the place where this letter
is written.
After short breathing pause Nouvilas' column
began to descend the mountain above Irurzun on
the opposite side, and after experiencing q dreary
four hours march arrived at the village OF Ychaso,
near the battle field, where we received the news
we were all hungerlng for, and where the disheart-
ening news OF yesterday was dispelled as chair be-
fore the wind.
General Castahon, ambitious to distinguish him
self and burning to rival the feat OF Portila at o.
logoyon, hurried after the Carlist army soon as
he heard OF their presence at Irurzun and, In his
haste to Overtake them. made
FORCED MARCH,
and near the village OF Ychaso he came up with
them.
THE BATrLE
The nrst view Castafon got Of the Carlists was OF
three battarons, c0nspicuously DISPLAYED on the
summit OF hill spur, the slope OF which was as
smooth as the glacs OF fort. Leaving the shelter
Of the village Of Ychaso, the column breasted q
steep hillside and came upon Q level terrace,
clothed with low thorn bushes and fern, IN full
view OF the Carst Dattalons. Posting his ARTILLERY
at the distance OF 900 yards from the smooth slope
Of the hill on which the Carlists were posted and
spreading his column before them, he opened IRE.
No sooner had he begun to engage the enemy than
he found, to his dismay, that the Carlists were
posted along an arc Of two miles IN length, on
commanding positions, whence every man of his
column was distinctly visible and at the mercy OF
the enemy II he held his position long enough.
From i've thousand to six Thousand C0rlists were
IN hts front and thanking him. while q more ex-
posed position than he occupied could hardly have
been devised.
THE SAD MISTAKE.
While he was thus rapidly learning the difncul-
ties OF HIS position the three battaions which had
lured him to such fatal trap began to move down
the smooth slope with fixed bayonets, while in
front he perceived q similar movement Of the
enemy. Hating but few minutes to punish the
Carltsts descending the smooth hillside, with
smartly piled Remingtons and artillery, he was
about to order Q retreat to the village, when he
was met Unexpectedly by Q body OF the enemy,
who pushed on resistlessy at the bayonet point to
capture the artillery. nervous effort on his part
saved one Of his guns, but the other was taken be-
yond hope Of recapture, AZ the Princess battalion
OF his column became panic-stricken and fed, an
example which was soon followed by the remain
der Of the column. But with the exception OF
the Princess battalion what was left OF the column
took refuge in the village Of Ychaso, whence they
opened q smart fire upon their bold enemy and
succeeded in repelDg the attack which was In
tended. Had OllO and Dorregaray been as wise as
they are prudent general and bold attack upon
the village must have been followed by an imme
date surrender of Castafion and the remainder OF
the column. Fortunately, however, Tor the good
name Of the Spanish Republic, the Carlists de-
sisted from further attack to convey their wounded
away and bury some OF their dead
On riding over the battle field to-day with sore
ofthe officers Of the star was surprised at the
strange results Of what the Carlists must natu-
rally consider q victory. Out OF the thirty-two dead
bodies left on the field twenty-five were those OF
soldiers and ten Carsts. Thirty eight CarfsLs
were buried yesterday by their comrades, thus
making the number forty eight dead on their side
As we advanced towards this town we passed
Arruiz, where lay two dead Oarlist CAPTAINS, and
in the house OF the Cure OF Lecumberri. with whom
l am lodged, Don Carlos Caro-. Count OF Atabura,
nephew OF Elio the Carlist Commando Chief IL
at this moment dying, and in a house near by the
son OF General willamette is also dying IRON shot
wound near the heart. Fourteen Carlists have
died in the hospital Of Lecumberri to-day, and
from the nature Of the wounds OF others presume
several more must die tonight. The sum total OF
THE CARLIsr DEAD,
thus far, numbers &C., while the wounded whom we
have at this hospital number CO. The loss Of the
troops amounts to "a killed, 90 wounded-7 on
cers-and several soldiers prisoners.
A vICToRyfp).
a raat NJ two hOurs at the villa e nj Ychaeo
the column OF NOuvilas accompanied by the col
umn Of Castahon, now reorganized, marched to
Lecumberri, where we found the column OF Elio y
Rey. The Carlists we hear, left this town this
morning for LeiZa whittier expect we shall go
tomorrow. 1t is said they have boosted they have
obtained great victory. Having satisfied myself
OF the truth OF the above facts can only add that
the victory has been dearly bought, and that no
sane general would care to obtain many more sucn
victories
The Three Carlist Battles-The Herald
Correspondent ON the Hix way-.Mar CHI
ing and Counte rmarching.
LECUhBERRI (Navarre), June q, 1873
Though my instructions implied that shonld
send in more less regularly, my reports OF whay
Is going on in the unhappy Basque Provinces,
must confess l do not see yet how shall be able to
40 SO. MOI only are Cnere Se!UOm means I0r SEND
ing letters from the heart OF Navarro or Biscaya to
any place where they could be posted with any
thing ike safety, but no human being here could
find strength or time TO write even short notes
every day while things 60 the way they are goiDg
now Five or six hours IL all that Is given TO in
the way Of rest or stoppaRe from
CONTINUAL MARCHING
ussder burning sun through mountain paths
scarcely practicable even Tor goats and sheep. For
these last twelve days had never more than three
consecutive hours Sleep for though actual march.
ing ceases often tbut by no means always) with
nightfall two or three hours are always lost in
search Of some 0od and night shelter both for man
and horse or mule, II one il lucky enough
to have either. And on the next morning before
DAY has quite appeared, all must be OF again, with
limbs as sJif as timber and with no more substan-
tial means Tor keeping body and soul together than
can be got out Of mere prospect Of having
at midday some bread and wine and at
nlphtall some intolerabe oil soup. To write under