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


its passage. AS soon as we made our appearance
on the summit OF the left spur, nearly q level
with the rocks, the Carlists, to the number OF
TWO HUNDRED GuERnLAs,
under chief called Rosas, began firing from all
sides at q rate which would have been murderous
had not the prudent old General swerved from the
turnpike. The nankers soon dislodged those on
the left spur, but the Carsts on the right spur
kept up their 1rlng necessarily as long as the
column was In sight, the bullets flying close
enough to us; but only two members OF the column
were wounded. while the Carlists had three killed.
This
CHIEF ROsAs
Is a noted guerilla, who Is always posted in the
neighborhood Of the Salinas on the road between
Estella and Pampeluna, to annoy columns who are
pressing on after the main body Of the Carsts,
but Is too insignificant to detain column from
the main object in view.
At night, about nine O'Clock, we arrived at Irur-
zun, but found 1t occupied by column under
Brigadier General Castahon, and consequently
moved on again to Vnanueva; but this place was
occupied also, and, though tired and hungry alter
o aIch OF two leagues, we had to 60 another
league to lava.
BY what have written above your readers
may obtain glimpse into the real life Of
A FIGHTING COLUMN,
and may know that It is bent on earnest war II It
should fortunately meet the Carlists, but that its
main occupation consists In marching and counter
marching. In brief, without detailing the incl
dents Of daily marches, you must know that the
force under ollo ana Dorregaray manages to
evade the hve columns which pursue It by
EXTRAORDINARY MARCHES
from thirty to nifty miles q day. and, being warned
OF the approach Of the columns by volunteer spies,
It is not 20 very easy, after ALL to overtake it. The
country Is SIMPLY tumble Of mountains, small
plateaus, blunted cones. rugged ranges divided,
subdlvided and separated one from the other BY
deep and narrow ravlnes, to enter one Of which in
pursuit Of the Carhsts would be almost certain de.
struction to a column numbering but one third of
the enemy. SO that unless the Carlists wish to
fight and make q stand, or unless they are at last
finally run down, or accdently met by a column,
there is not much chance OF my being able to
describe battle, though there Is great POSSIBLE
ity that, some OF these days,
YOUR CORRESPONDENT MAY GET WINGED
from behind some rock by q more than usually
skilled marksman or chance bullet.
While we were resting the next morning after
our eleven league march N0uvilas was studying
with Castahon Portilla aud Ellie how to meet the
Carlists. The result Of the council was that Por-
tila was ordered to the Amescuas to take up
position above the villages Of Onogoyen and Ca
Alsasua to prevent the enemy from going to Gut
puzcoa; that Castafon. with his 1, 700 men, pro-
coed to the gate OF the Amescuas. near Bakedano,
while Nouvllas was to hurry forward after the
rapid going Carlists and endeavor to drive them
between TWO fires or where they should be eligible
to attack.
During the following three days we experienced
very hard work. It was not so much from the ra-
pidity at which we travelled but from the duration
OF the march, that it became wearyng. The buge
woke all up at half-past five A. H. and by the
time some Of us could dress the vanguard was on
the march. At eleven A. M. we halted for break.
fast at village, or under the trees on mountain
slope; at two P. NJ the march commenced again
and lasted until seven p NJ, when, OF course, we
were all SO fatigued that nothing was thought Of
much but sleep.
On the third day we arrived at Estella the Car.
lists but few hours in our front, marching toward
ravine that led by Portina's position. Long be-
fore the Carlists' approach the pickets saw them
advancing. and. in obedience to ORDERS retreated
hastily to the main body Of the government column
which was at once
SILENTLY PREPARED FOR ACTION.
Portilla had placed his troops admirably on two
commanding hills, which guarded the entrance to
the pass The Carlists were permitted to pass on
undisturbed until three-f0urths Of their number
had entered the gaping ravine, when suddenly, at
the sound OF Q bugie two pieces OF artillery and
1000 Remingtons opened upon them to their utter
confusion and disrnay. They were rallied from the
shock, and endeavOred to stand their ground, but
the position OF the troops and the GOODNESS with
which they piled their Remingtons proved too
much for them, and. to escape utter annihiation
the retreat of the Carists ordered. Their loss
stated officially by Portla, were sixty killed and
300 wounded, almost all OF whom were
as might have been expected; but four were killed
and sixty to seventy wounded, many Of which were
too slight to be considered as wounds.
We arrived tonight at lrurzun, where we have
received very grave news, indeed, but this will
form the subject of another letter.
Still After the Carltsts-Our Corresponds
emit Investigates the Carlist Victories
Castanon's Surprise and Defeat.
LECuMBERRI, Province OF Navarro Spain,
June q, 1878. !
We returned from Estela almost by the same
way we had entered it, but animated by the blow
Portila had given the Carlists at Ollogogen, our
vanguard was exceedingly busy this time in
making prisoners OF Carst scouts, who could not
escape in time to avoid a small cavalry detach-
ment that was constantly on the alert. When we
arrived In the neighborhoOd Of the i-omened rocks
of Salinas de ORC we struck across lofty mountain
and, descending, visited the valleys OF Conf and
Ollo. Az the village Of Ollo we heard bad news,
which was that the railway station at Irurzun had
been attacked by Ollos Cartlist army, and seventy
soldiers who guarded it had surrendered after
very ineffective nring
Nv one of those incredible marches OF the Carl.
lists 1t seems that after being so sadly defeated at
Onogoyen by Portilla they had made retrograde
movement. and hastened back to Irurzun to ind it
utterly unprotected.
When the General-in-Chi heard this news, In
stead Of proceeding to Pampeluna, as he had In
tended to do, he ordered move upon Irurzun
where we arrived last night. not only to verify
with our own eyes what we had heard at Olo but
to hear the sound Of excessive firing and to see
psle-faced fugitves from battle fought yesterday
afternoon.