The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-08-24
THEHoLoCAUsT.
An Episode Of the PeninsnInr War.
49,, pi,.I,,rooJ,. M,,nyIro

III lIS NuIluuS liAhb nav 1890
written OF the Peninsular War, compara'
lively little mention is made Of the differ
ent guerilla corps which, under the En-
pecinado, Marguinez, NerinO, and othor
leaders of more or less note, hung upon
the skirts of the French armies, attacked
their rcar.guards, cut oi'their conveys and
dispatches, and contributed in various
ways and in no small degree to the annoy
ance and final expulsion OF the enemy that
had overrun Spain. The occasional mis-
conduct OF the Spanish troops OF the line,
frequently provoked by the cowardicc or
inefEiciency OF their officers, rendered them
little to BIO depended upon in their coop
Grafton with the British forces; but it is
not tho less certain that the services rem
dcrcd by some of the guerilla Chicftains,
were highly important and worthy oil
more notice than has been accorded them
by the historians of that period.
The knowledge possessed by those dar-
ing partisans OF every by-rOad and sheep
track, every mountain pass and deflc in
the district or provinces in which they OPP
Grated, frequently enabled them to keep
employed in their pursuit large bodies OF
the enemy, and finally TO escape at the
very moment when they appeared newt
ably entrappcd. Who does not remember
the famous exploit of the EnpecinadO,
when. at dozen leagues from Madrid, he
allowed himself to be surrounded by up
wards OF twenty thousand French troops,
who hemmCd him in, IN they thought
COMPLETELY, and lit their bivOuac fires in
the full expectation OF brcNkiasting the
NEXT morning on the terrible guerilla chief
and his band? Nothing indeed appeared
more probable. The Spaniards were about
three thousand foot, aud twelve or fifteen
hundred horse. The French ut least five
times the number. But before midnight
the infantry were scnt-eKby o roaC uh-
known to, and unguaried by the enemy;
whilst the Empecinado and his cavalry.
passing unobserved through the midst OF
| the French, made forced march on Mad
rid, and surprised the palace OF the Pardo.
The confusion was terrible. Joseph 80
naparte escaped in his shirt; and the En-,
pecinado, entering La Mancha, proceeded
10 Join his infantry, who were waiting for
him in the provinces of Cuenca. me INST
intelligence received by the French Cen
eral of the whereabouts of his slippery foe,
was BY IN express from Madrid, desiring
his presence to defend tho capitol against
the EmpecinadO! In this night affair, an
officer OF the EmpccinadO, a German, rode
through Madrid with only thirty men, go
ing IN Mt the PardO gate, and coming out
ut that Of Toledo, and sabring all whom he
encountered on his passage.
Spainis, OF all the countries Of Europe,
perhaps the best adapted toa war OF que
rillas. The tincness OF the climate renders
bivouac rather luxury than hardship
during the greater part oflhe year. Stra%S
and barley, or maiz, are to be found
in every paltry village and secluded
hamlet; and it is rare that skins or
twine, and loavcs Of that fine white
bread peculiar to Spain, arc not
forthcoming at the same time, il those who
demand them belong 10 the party which
finds favor in the eyes OF the peaSantry'
Add TO this, the mountainous character
Of the country-the vast, and, to u strang-
er's eve, seemingly inaccessible sierras-
and we have at once Il sufficient expIana-
zion of the success obtained In the PENN
sulgr war By the guerilla bands, which
RAPIDLY formed themselves around the
banners OF Il few adventurous and popular
leaders. These bands, ut first OF dozen or
twenty men, increased prodigiOusiy fast:
and towards the end OF the war many OF
them rather resembled small corps ddrnlrt,
or Mt least brigades, than mere guerilla
GompSnies. Nina in Navarro was at the
head of fifteen or eighteen thousand men,
tho E,npecinado and Merino had from four
TO six thousand, Marguincz before his
death headed two thousand excellent cav.
airy. Nor were the discipline and drill OF
these troops unattended to. Mcrino es-
peciallv. himself passionate lover OF h0r-
sea, took great pains to bring his cavalry TO
perfcctiOn, In his stronghOlds In the
mountainous districts OF Burg0s and SOrIh,
he had, besides IL manufaCtory OF musketS
md other arms, vast numbers OF talloH,
shoemakers, and saddlers, continually at
work. Here he caused TO be prepared
complete hussar uniforms, ample cloaks,
and every other necessary and comfort lor
his men. II Obliged to absent himself, and
to leave his stores and arsenals unproteCt'
ed. he had immense caverns and hiding.
places in which he caused every thing OF
value to be deposited, and the entrances to
which were carefully concealed. Aware
OF the necessity of having good officers IN
order to make good troops, he spared no
pains in the instruction OF the former.
The brigadicr Blanc0, and few superior
officers we're sent to him from the regular
army, and these employed themselves in
forming the captains and Subalterns select
ed BY MerinO himself-yOung men OF tut
cnt, application, and courage, animated by
A sincre and patriotic desire to free their
lcountry from the invader. They were
nearly all men Of education; many OF
them Young law students. Santillan, the
late minister OF finance, was In his young
or ,IOys one OF MGrinO's officers. lie join
, ed ms il volunteer, but soon conquered sew
eral grades, and at that period was reckon
cd one OF the best cavalry officers in Spain.
On the march, when the troops halted
for the night, and The rationS and billetS
had been distributed, the trumpet would
sound the call for instruction OF officers
and sergcants, mud u certain time was de-
voted TO this important branch Of Meri-
nos system. By these and other judCi0us
arrangements, the Cura's band was rem
dcred so efficient, that latterly he did not
hesitate to attack large bodies of the
French, and not unfrequently came oil the
victor.
The greater part Of this cavalry were
doubly mounted; that is, with two horses
TO every manIlalf OF these were usually
left in stables which he had in the sierra,
in order that, on coming off long march,
he might be able to start again Immediate
lv; for OF iron franc himself, he took lit
lie account OF the WEAKNESS Of his men, or
rather he forgot the possibility ftheir be-
ing iatigucd. Sometimes for u forced
march he would cause his cavalry to lead
with them their spare horses and in this
manner would accomplish expeditions Of
upwards OF twenty Spanish leagues t70 or
SO miles, without halting, to the aStonish-
ment and CONSERVATION Of the French, TO
whom the rapidity OF his movements was
understandable. --1
A correct history OF the exploits and I'd.
, rnn tA,rna Of Mnrinn Mnnln fnrm work inr