The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-08-24

through the whole OF his fortunes. twas
By one OF these men, an officer who serv-
cd under Merino during part OF the pc.
ninsular war, aud who for some time acted
~ his aid-de-camp, that the incident which
which forms the subject OF the following
sketch, was narrated TO the writer. :,
In the year 49,, division OF French
troops occupied the town Of Amanda del
DuerO and It's neighborhood. Mcrino was
observing them from his Businesses in the
sierras OF San Lorenzo, San MILAN, and
Piuuera, the latter OF which mountain
chains rises u little to the north OF Amanda.
The French General, aware OF the vicinity
of the Cura, was anxious to surprise him,
and, II possible, to obtain possession Of
his person; and with this object he had
spies out in all directions, to whom he
promised great rewards should their intor'
nation enable him to accomplish the coup
de min he meditated. For some days,
however, nothing could be ascortained
and he might almost have doubted that
Merino was still in neighborhood, had not
the troops OF the latter daily taken pris..
oners his pickets and patrols, intercepted
his dispatches, and harassed his outposts.
No quarter was given by the Spaniards to
the prisoners they took. Mercy was but
little the order OF the day; nor had the
French thought proper to set the example.
Merino was especially noted for his vindic'
tive and cruel disposition; and at this mo:
ment he was raging like tigress robbed
of her young; for the junta which he had
formed for conducting the affairs OF the
province OF Burgos, and drawing the best
advantages from its resources, had been
surprised by the French, and It's members
shot. Amongst them were some OF his
personal friends; and, on receiving the in
telligence, he swore fearful oath, that for
every hair Of their heads he would have
the blood OF q Frenchman.
At length, after one or two fruitless night
excursions and ambuscades on the part OF
the French troops, thor General received
information from spy on whom he could
depend, that Merino would pass the follow
ing night at q village about four leagues
from Amanda; and that, having sent the
greater part OF his forces in another dircc-
ton, no would have with him only very
small escort. The moment was propltlouH
for the French commander to accomplish
his long-cherished plan, and he according,
" gaye the necessary orders to that effect.
About an hour before nightfall, on q
Sunday evening, the peasantry OF small
village situated at the foot OF the Sierra
PiGuera, were dancing to the music OF q
couple OF guitars Onthe open plaza which Is
to be found in nearly every Spanish village,
however small, and which serves on the
week DAYS NJ market place-on Sundays
and frtes as q ballroom. The GaStanets
were rafting, and the dancers throwing
themselves into the various graceful atti-
tudes OF tho bolerc, when sudden stop
was nut to their amusement by the arri-
val OF q small party OF horSemen, to the
formost OF whom the peasants Immediately
uncovered, saluting him with the deepest
respect.
He was a man Of thirty.eight or forty
years Of age, Of grave and stern counten'
ancc, and OF spare and sincwy frame.
His dress was long frock coat and waist
coat OF rusty black, blue trousers, and a
round hat. A pair OF black cavalry spurs
were screwed to his boot-heels, sabre
hung at his side, and long light carbine,
OF exquisite workmanship, was strapped
10 his saddle.bow. His whole appearance
was not calculated TO attract much atten'
ton, which was more likely 10 DO paid to
the horse which do bestrode. The animal
was from one Of the finest studs in An
dalusia: the lustrous black Of his skin was
free from the smallest speok OF any other
colour; and Us he stood paving the ground,
arching his proud neck, and champing his
bit, the specks of gnow-whlte foam Rdhor-
ing like stars to his broad chest and flow
ing name, he presented perfect model OF
equine beauty. A few PAGES TO the rear,
another equally fine charger was led, ready
saddled and bridled, by M orderly.
The new conner, In whom the reader
will probably have already recognised the
Cura Merino, cnquired for the alcalde OF the
village; and on the appt q ance Of that fun
ctionary, began conversation with him,
which he had not yet terminated whom tho
head OF column OF troops appeared, The
first that arrived were cavalry, well mount
ed and equipped-hussarS, whose blue
peIisses, richly braided with white, well
FURNISHED arms, and fne horses, would
have done no diScredit to tho more regular
French troops which were opposed to
them. Each squadron was mounted on
horses of IN assorted colour-One SQUADRON
black, ono bay, one gray, and so on. Near
" thousand horses having passed, the
infantry appeared; their plain gray uni
forms, with red facings, having a cleanly
and scrvice-like appearance. On the front
of their black leather shakos were the
arms of Bureos, painted in white, and sur
rounded by the words "Regimiento de Ar
lanza," . name taken from a small river
which runs little to the south OF the
above named city, Four battalions march
cd through the
plaza, and the rear was brought up by an:
other squadron OF hussars. The whole Of
the troops, on leaving the village, followed
a lane turning to the loft, which, after q
march OF about half league, led TO an
open heath of small extent, bounded on
tie north BY the mountains, on the west
by thick pinc wood, and on the south by
some pasture lands, In one corner OF which
had been erected an extensive c0rdI, or sta
BILE, for cattle and sheep; sort OF shed
constructed Of wood, and with u large door
way or opening ut one end. Here the cav
airy who first arrived put up their horses
whilst tho infantry and about three hum
bred hussars, who formed tho rear guard
OF the column, disposed themselves for hI-
vouac. 4 better spot could hardly have
been selected. To the south OF the pas.
lures, and in the direction Of Aranda del
Duero, was small risingground, TELESCOPES
Of which were covered with lofty trees.
Under the shelter Of these the infantry es-
tablished Themselves: tho cavalry piCketed
their horses in the fiat; wood was collect
ed, and fires lighted in perfect security
the unoven and mountainous nature OF the
country precluding the possibility Of their
being seen by the French. Every thing
was done with tho greatest order and reg
ularity. The horses in the corral were al
lowed to be unsaddled; but the squadron
which was to bivouAc merely unhridled,
in order to DO sooner ready in case OF a
surprise. When the horses had had their
corn, and the men hNd refreshed them.
selves, the latter lay down In IN good order
MS II they were expecting to DO immediate.
IL reused and called into action; the in
flntry by companies in rear OF their piled
arms; the cavalry in front Of their horses,
which were picketod in line. The fires that