The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-12-29

fHtc'iSu W Donhpaftc, ~ Jhe y une OF thaG
year. to reduce Saragossa, where the royal
standard Of the Bourbons had been I'M
furled This city was not fortified, It
was surrounded with an ill-conatructed wall
twelve feet high by three broad, intersect-
ed by houses; these houses, the neighboF-
ing churches and converts, were 10 50
dilapidated a state chat, from the roof to
the foundation, we're to be seen, il each
immense breaches, apertures begun BY
time and increased by neglect. a large
hill, called II Torero, commanded the town
at distance Of mile, and offered strong
situation rthe most destructive lombard
ment. Among the sixty thousand inhabi-
tants there were but two hundred and
twenty regular troops, and the artillery
consisted Of ten old cannon.
The French began the siege in rather
slothful style; they deemed much exertion
unnecessary; Saragossa, they said, was only
inhabited by monks and towards. But
their opinion and their efforts we're destin-
ed to an entire revolution. Very seldom
in the annals Of war has greater heroism,
greater bravery, greater horror and misery
been concentrated than during the two
months that these desperate patriots re-
pelled their invaders. No sacrifices were
too great to be offered, no extremities too
oppressive to be endured by the besieged;
but, as it often occurs among the noblest
bodies Of men, that one sordid soul may be
found open to the far.reaching hand Of
corruption, such wretch happened to be
entrusted with powder magazine at Sar-
agossa. Under the influence of French
gold, he fred the magazine on the nightof
the I'd of June. To describe the horrors
that ensued would be impossible.
The French, to whom the noise Of the
explosion had been signal, advanced their
troops to the gates. The population,
shocked, amazed, hardly knowing what had
occurred, entirely ignorant Of the cause,
bewildered by conhagration, ruins, and the
noise of the enemy's artillery unexpected
laundering in their ears, we're paralyzed,
powerless; the overthrow, the slaughter Of
those who stood at the ramparts, seemed
more like massacre than a battle; in a
short time the trenches presented nothing
but heap Of dead bodies There was no
longer a combatant to be seen; nobody felt
the courage to stand to the defense.
At this desperate moment an unknown
maiden issued from the Church Of Nostra
Donna del Prilas, habited in white raj
ment cross supended from her neck, her
dark hair disheveled, and her eyes spark
ling with supernatural lustre. She trav-
ersed the city with firm and bold step;
she passed ta the ramparts, to the very
spot where the enemy was pouring on to
the assault; she mounted to the breach,
seized lighted match from the hand Of
dying engineer, and fired the pieces of
artillery he had failed to manage; then
kissing her cross, she cried, with the accent
of inspiration, death or victory r and
reloaded her cannon.
Such cry, such vision could not fail
of calling up enthusiasm; it seemed that
heaven had brought aid to the just cause;
her cry was answered, Long live Agos-
tina I"
"Forward, forward, we will conquer r
resounded on every side. Neryed by such
emotions, the force Of every man was
doubled, and the French we're repulsed on
all sides.
Gen. Eefeyre, mortified at the unexpect-
ed result, determed to reduce the place by
famine, as well as to distress it by bonn
bardment from II Torero. The horrors
that followed his measures would be too
painful to detail, but they afforded Agostina
an opportunity Of displaying her intrepi-
dity. She threw herself in the most peri
lous positions to rescue the unhappy beings
wounded by the bombs or by the falling
of timbers. She went from house to house,
visiting the wounded, binding up their
hurts, or supplying aid to the sick and
starving. The French, by their indOmit-
able perseverance, from step TO step, rend-
cred themselves masters Of nearly half the
city. Lefevre thought his hour Of triumph
had now certainly arrived--he sent to the
commandant, General Palafox, TO demand
a capitalization. Palafox received this in
public. He turned to Agostina, who
stood near him, completely armed
aWhat shall answer2''
The girl indignantly replied;
''War to the knife r
Her exclamation was echoed BY the
populace, and Palafox made her words his
reply to Lefeyro.
Nothing in the history Of war has ever
been recorded to resemble the consequence
Of this refusal to capitulate. One row Of
houses in street would be occupied by
the Spanish, the opposite BY the French
A continual tempest balls passed through
the air; the town was volcano; the most
revolving slaughter was carried on for
eleven days and eleven nights. Every
street, every tsyse, was disputed with
rnusket and poignard. Agosliua ran from
rank 70 rank, everywhere taking the most
active part. The French wars gradually
driven back. and the dawn Of the 17th Of
August saw them relipquisb the long-dis-
puted prey, and take The road % Pampe-
luna. The triumph Of the patriots their
Joy was unspeakablei Palafox rendered
duo honcss to tho brave men who Aad per.
ished, and endeaycred % remunetate The