The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-26

any material advantage having been gained by
either; but the enemy had in the meantime been
getting his artillery up the mountain and presently
opened with four pieces. shell burst close to the
cavalry and another right over the head of the
Prince. Then IL was that Cucala announced to his
men that he was going to take the enemy's artil-
lery. He ordered them to advance without firing
and charge when they got close to the guns. The
cavalry was sent forward at the same time to sup
port the attack and charge when possible. It win
be remembered that many OF the cavalry were old
soldiers and knew their business; nevertheless the
idea OF cavalry charge on the top OF q mountain,
over rocks gullies fallen trees and other serious
tmpediments, had something in IL between the
sublime and ridiculous d1icult to reconcile with
our notions OF scientific war. One thing, however,
was very certain-Jhe guns must be captured or
the battle lost This Cucala saw, and therefore
determined to lead his hardy mountaineers OF the
Maestrazzo where lay the point OF danger.
THE CHARGE.
For short distance the ground was tolerably
practicable for the cavalry, who rushed forward
fearlessy, passing Cucala's men. This was too
much for that Justly renowned chief. Leaving his
men, he joined the cavalry. riding full in front and
dasning, may almost say, alone upon the enemys
ranks The men followed him in the most heroic
manner, hewing down all before them and passing
the guns. which they did not stop to take, but
pressed on, pursuing the enemy, who broke and
ned on every side in the utmost CONSERVATION and
confusion. There never was madden or more
magnificent and decisive charge of cavalry and its
success was against all calculation and in the
teeth OF all probability. Before Cucala's men ar
rived the enemy had time to save one gun, q Sec
ond was rolled down the mountain into the ravine,
and the remaining two were captured-one with
equipment complete, the other without any.
CUCALA.
Picture man about five feet seven, and at least
four feet between the shoulders. He may be fifty
I'VE or sixty-nve years old; it Is impossible to de-
termine from his appearance They say he has but
one eye; but this also can not be determined by
looking IN his face, which is almost as brown as
the rough Jacket OF homespun upon his back.
Upon his head is white bona and by his side
trails sabre. which Is more properly o falchton
possibly weapon carried by an ancestor who
went to Jerusalem with CGur de Lion or Godfrey
de BouillOn But other such is to be In the
Carlist army and that as 1t should be- is carried
by his chief OF stafY an unpretending countryman,
wearing the same coarse homespun, with the addi-
tional luxury OF Q blue blouse. There are no
Drawer men living than these two. Our re-
markable chief rides huge black horse,
altogether UNFIT one would suppose,
for traversing the mountains; but then his opera
nat territory Of Lerida In the charge at Orista he
received ball through the left arm and another
which cut his shoulder. He did not stop an instant
but, with the blood streaming from his wounds.
dashed on furiously. waving his gigantic sabre,
which, wherever 1t mashed and descended, left q
victim.
FRESH ENEMY.
Five minutes after the capture of the enemy's
guns the head Of another column appeared on the
crest OF the mountain, Immediately south of the
battle field. This was the column OF Brigadier
General Camps, who arrived just in time to wit
ness the rout OF his friend, Colonel Alvarez. At the
same time scouts reported the advance Of another
column OF the enemy, east OF Orisd. This last was
aportlon OF Alvarez's CORPS which that officer de-
tached from san Feliu in order to reconnoitre the
the country around Orista.
1t now become necessary for the victorious Car
lists to the pursuit OF their flying enemy and
abandon the field Of battle. Camps made no at
tempt to renew the fight, and, when he followed,
was in no hurry 70 Overtake his triumphant ad-
versaries. f
AFTER THE BATTLE,
the CarIists, seeing that the enemy was afraid to
renew the fight although vastly superior In point Of
numbers, collected all the wounded they could find
and marched past the town OF Prats de Llusanes IN
anorthery direction. portion passing through the
geant Of the enemy's artillery and three or four
men OF his battery all wounded. These were left
in a neighboring village with express orders from
the Prince that they should be cared for at his ex
pense until their own political friends should be
able to attend to them.
RELATIVE STRENGTH AND LOSSES.
In my humble judgment the Carlist force that
went into action will not reach 1900 men, The
enemy, on the other hand, including the force
under Camps-which, however, took no part In
the fght-must have been very close upon 5000.
The column which did the fighting was composed
in greater part Of regular troops, chiefly belonging
to the regiment OF Savoy, OF which Alvarez was
Colonel, two companies only of volunteers, or
cipagos being on the field. This column was pos
siby inferior in numbers to the Carlists, Alvarez
having sent strong force, as has been explained,
to pass round Orsta. Nevertheless, it was at least
1000 strong, and had four pieces OF artillery-an
advantage which more than compensates for the
numerical dispr0portion.
When the losses come to be considered it will be
attributed to prejudice my part If state, in
gard to the losses of the troops what both sides de-
clared to be the truth-namely, that Alvarez left
over two hundred Killed and wounded on the field,
the majority being killed. 1t has been set down at
three hundred but state at the safer figure.
The Carllst loss, so far as could be ascertained
was eight killed and twenty-six wounded, accord
ing to the official report made to the Prince.
The difference is enormous, but the enemy was
routed and every one knows that route is most
disastrous to an army. That wild, laundering
charge of cavalry did all the mischief, and If
Camps had not appeared just in the nick OF time
the losses OF the enemy would have footed up five
hundred If not more.
ALVAREZ ARRESTED.
That Colonel Alvarez entered Prats dc Llusanes
prisoner In the hands Of Camps Is positively GER
tain but it is more than probable he was placed
under arrest in order to his life, the soldiers
having cried out that he was a Carlist and inten-
tionav led them where they might be Slaughtered
Then the troops OF the various columns commenced
oUARRELING AMONG THEMSELVES
IN the town of Prats de Lusanes where few more
broken heads were added to the already long list T
re nuhIcan casualties According To the accannta