The New York herald., 1874-12-11

counted. The night was gloomy one. II set IN
PC an s s sn s ans nSs Ss Sss pssp
OF Oyarzun were busy packing up furni-
sSs Sss sDs effects day To- 'ds we're oa
the question, SO wrapping ourselves In our travel
ling cloaks we lay down on the noors Of the aDan-
snatch few hours sleep. The next morning the
Carliss centre had been extended from Oyarzun
curved on to the south In the direction OF the
Arala Noun tatns, distant about mile rom the
road DO not think .has the waoe nao Carss "a oTces ices
already gone TO Andoaln with Cebalos and there
were consequently IN the line between lrun ano
zun, not more than between 5000 and 1000 men,
against Ehle4 Iona could bring nearly 10, 600
troops. Under these circumstances do not think
that Elio really hoped TO defend the position His
only object was to gam time IN order to reinforce
Ceoallos IN case Iona should make movemens
toward T0osa and 30 concentrate his troops
about Vera, consequently the left extreme wing
OF the Cariist army was only composed OF two bat
position immediately south OF the Hermann road,
which here runs through Deep narrow valley,
bluffs The republicans occupied the north OF the
road .and the advanced posts OF the two armies 10
the morning were not more snan 100 yards apart.
; THE ATTACK.
The rain cleared on by eight O'Clock In she morn
ing, and immediately Iona commenced the attack
into the CarIlsls' positions. the Carlists had no
artillery. as the only pieces they had risIed on
Ss sas wn q 'ns eeoo eoa
5 sy y ys{ For qsai ss4ss hours rnss s
artillery played into the Carllst positions at dis.
tance OF not more than 800 400 yards, and right
bravely did the Carlists mold out against the
forces. At iength Iona commenced sending his
men around 6y sunlen roads and under cover
time sending iorce around the right OF their
left nanK, which. climbing up the slde OF the
Arala loot Ltlls with mountain gun. opened nre
threatened to cut or their retreat to Lesaca by
completely enveioping them.
THB RoyALIsT REPLY
The Carlists commenced withdrawing. d!sputtng
the ground inch by inch and carrying on their
wounded. They fought splenddy here and mad
Cebailos defended the heights OF San Marco with
the same bravery that they defended this hopeless
POSITION which was only maintained to gain time.
the whole result OF the campaign might nave been
changed
AS It was, they smpy retired up the valley Of
the OyarZun stream toward Lesaca. The Carlsts
lost in this days fight perhaps 200 in killed and
wounded. The centre Immediately commenced
retreatlng also by the hills to the southeast OF
Oyarzun, which also communicate with the Arala
range.
THE BATTLE.
The battle, as l have already said, was COM
manded by General valdesplna in person, but
the King and General Ello were IN the rear about
mile from the battlefield, on high peak, from
whence they could observe the whole position OF
the contendlng forces. At twelve O'Clock the
the whole or the population that had not already
fled, carrying their movable effects and driving
e pes snd before them an0 OK carts cn
great bundles on their neads; every animal that
was capable OF carrying the least load was heavily
burd ned and the whole went forward up the road
for short distance leading TO Irun, and then took
to the mountains. The retreat was conducted IN
no hurry, and nothing at all ike fear. The SOL
diers did not even seem discouraged, but obeyed
al! the orders gwen the them ~ With the he greatest
had advanced against our CENTRE suddenly ap-
peared upon the top OF little hill not more
OF the rear guard Immediately sounded the re-
call, and q whole battalion rushed back and
There was no no Weeping, v or wringing Of hands or
other signs OF despair on the part OF the women.
few Of them were crying silently, but there were
might have thought tnat they were party Of
Nomads who had simply taken up their movable
effects, as they mighs do any day, to remove to
another station
THE RErREAH
Some OF the women, who had preceded us up tue
mountain side on very steep peak with their
household goods and wearing apparel on their
heads, sat down among them on the rocks and
or utterrtng any cries OF sorrow or despair they
chaed the soldiers good naturedly as they passed,
would never have thought that they had just x
perienced one OF the greatest disasters tnat could
happen TO a people. priest met us on the way
with large cruclnx, which ne presented to the
soldiers to kiss as they passed. They all saluted
me about the res nit OF the affair and while talking
to me the soldiers took the crucfx opt or MS hand
and passed 1t along among themselves.
THE CLERGY.
He was priest had formerly met at Estella.
and had formed o very favorable opinion OF HIM
Nr the reason that he had expressed very high
opinion OF the Importance and power OF the press.
He was very intelligent man, and spoke French
and spanish rapidly, mixing The two languages up
together that could with difficulty understand
him. When ne learned the extent OF the disaster
he turned away and went OF without speaking to
me again with look shall never forget.
SAD RETROSPECT.
From.the top OF the mountain l turned and
the republicans advanced. Tney fired every house
and village right up TO the town itself. And now
huge columns OF smoke rose up like giant pillar s
supporting the sky, and Blended with the
c0uus and mist, beneath which could be seen
everywhere the CLEAN of fires The whole coun.
try between San Sebastian, OyarZun and Hernant
was q mass OF flame. Then the mist settled down
over US. for we were now high up on the noun
tains and were lost in the clouds. The mist was
thick and heavy ana could not see more tnan a
few yards ahead. The people were scat
tered over the mountains and must have passed
many nights to come without shelter. 1t was
with dilticuty that founo my way across
Bidassoa, and | had at last to apply at
O shepherds house Tor a guide.
IN DIFFICULTY AND DANGER.
AZ first could not make myself understood
because the people here spoke only Basque.
But after few minutes a woman ap-
Ing Spanish, sent little girl to show
me the ROAD. An hours descent down precipi.
tous mountain gorges and dells brought me to
a road which already knew, and by seven O'Clock
had crossed the frOntieG and reached Hendaye.
Down the valley Ofthe BidassOa llOnnd the people
already engaged IN packing up their movable ef-
IeCts lor transportation across the river They were
panic stricken, and. although they were not
aware or the full extent OF the misfortune, 1t was
only too evident that after the loss OF san Marco
and Oyarzun The Carlist positions around lrun
must be abandoned. The centre had already re-
tired from OyarZun, and II now only remained to
withdraw the two DatlaliOns that fingered around
the Desetged town and the heights OF San Marclal
SAN. MARCIAL DOOMED.
AS was foreseen, the next morning the repubii-
cans at an cary hour commenced the attack on
San Marclal. They threw a lew shells into where
the battery had been, and sent lew men up the
sides OF the mountain to feel the Carlists who had
probably received orders to withdraw during the
night, as the guns had been already removed.
They only nred a few shots by way OF covering
their retreat and keeping up appearances, then
retreated up the valley OF the Bidassoa toward
Vera, firing occasionally. simultaneously with
the abandonment OF san Marclal two companies
OF republicans marched up the road past Behobie,
systematically burning every house as they ad-
vanced. Not one escaped them. When they