The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-30
Severe Defeat of the Republican Army, with
Heavy Losses on Both Sides.
GENERALS KILLED AND WOUNDED
The Line Of the EbrO Open ia
the BOurbOnists.
Depots of Provisions and Railway Centres
Seized by the Insurgents.
1eLEGsAms 10 THE NEW YORK HERALD.


The following special despatch to the
HERALD has been received from our corespon-
dent in Barcelona by way of London
LONDON, March 80, 1873.
A special telegram addressed to the HERALD
from Barcelona, under date of the 25th inst,
reports that sharp battle had just been
fought between the government troops and
the Carlist forces near vich, a provincial city
of Catalonia, situated thirty miles north-north-
east of Barcelona, and famous for it's manufac-
ture of linen, hemp, cotton and coarse woollen
fabrics
THE BATTLE OF vICH, ITS INCEPTION, CONDUCT
AND RESULTS.
The engagement took place on Sunday. the
23d inst The government troops we're Sc
verely handled and beaten by the combined
action of several bands of Carlist insurgents,
under command of General Sabalis, called
indiscriminately, Savalls-a very active and
efficient Bourbonist. The conflict occurred
thus: Twelve hundred infantry, sixty caval-
rymen and four pieces of cannon were de-
spatched by the government officers from Vich
en- Saturday morning, the 22d inst, under
command of Colonel Vega, by the northern
highway, to support convoy of supplies des-
tined for Conangbell in the mountains, on the
way to Ripoll, in the province of Corona, and
distant thirty-two miles west-northwest from
Corona.
TOPOGRAPHY OF THE FIELD
Conangbell lies fifteen miles north of Vich,
by the highway. All the surrounding country
is mountainous, but the first half of the dis
enough of open space near to the road to give
troops chance for defence Beyond this
open ground the country is broken and be-
comes worse for field operations The high
way approaches the river Ter-which has its
rise in the Pyrenees-running south and east,
past Corona to the Mediterranean. This
mountain stream fows through deep valley.
The road for many miles of its course through
the valley is frequently crossed by small
riparian tributaries of the Ter, and is over
looked by jutting rocks, portions of the
heights of ST. Hipolito and st. Lucia
ROB ROY TACTICS OF THE BoYAIisrs.
The Spanish troops halted for rest on
Saturday night, the 22d instant. in the
neighborhood of these heights, camping in
the more open part of the country. Mean
time intelligence of the republican military
movement was conveyed to the Carlist COM
mander in Catalonia, General Sabalis. Sabalis,
who was at the moment at Maullen, on the
river Ter, five miles east of the heights of St.
Hipolito, sent out during the night Gen.
erals Galceran, Miret and Guin in command
of Carlist forces, numbering in the aggregate
1000 men, with orders to occupy the heights
of st. Hpolito and dispute the passage of the
hrIny Vi Tile hepupuC.
General Miret was in position by daylight
and the others, although slower in move
ment, soon after
The government troops continued their
march.
'opEN FIRE FROM ABOVE, IN THE REAR AND
ALL AROUND.
On Sunday morning, 23d instant, when they
we're directly under the heights, General
Miret's men opened fire on the cavalry and adj
vanced infantry. Vegas soldiers suffered, but
he thought that the attacking party was small
in number and would be scattered after the
exchange Of few shots. He consequently
pushed on. Soon there was fire all around
him, with the discharge of musketry increas-
ing in severity.
AN INFECTIOUS CHARGE
The Carlists then, abandoning the position
of their natural defences. assailed the govern
ment troops, who opened ranks immediately,
being taught lesson of caution by their sud-
den losses The fighting became desultory
for time, and was continued until the rerub-
licans seemed to have the way clea-.
At that juncturc the other Carlist detach-
mania ,,oJor e. 81 r..:-