The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-06-13
Select gtorg.
A BLUE-CAP MUTINY.

1t is necessary to glance back some forty
years across the pages of modern history
to recall an incident which-scarcely no.
ticed in the rush of greater events with
which it was in sort connected seems to
add a graphic episode to military story. 1t
was related to me by an eyewitness, gal
liant soldier whom, but few months since,
I followed to his grave.
The circumstance occurred at a period
of the first Carlist war, when the contend
ing parties were so evenly balanced that
one single success, or even a daring move
ment, might have turned the whole tide of
war and changed dynasty.
In more than one province Carlism was
triumphant 1t already possessed its capi-
tal-EsteIla its so-called court, and
a march upon Madrid itself seemed but a
question of time and policy The Carlist
leaders, trained under the eye of the gallant
Zumala- Carreguy, were brave and skilful
soldiers, and at the period We speak of
united as one man in support of the man
they esteemed their rightful sovereign.
The army of the queen-regent, Maria
Christina, was under the command of Gen
eral Espartero, subsequently Duke of Wit
tora, and, after sundry revolutions, Regent
of Spain.
Attached to this latter-the "Chris-
tine e'-force, was a certain corps of picked
men, known as the ''Chapelgorris" or
''blue-caps" This regiment-a thousand
stronghold been recruited principally from
the better classes of Spanish society, and
numbered in its ranks many young men Of
gentle and noble birth, fond of adventure,
and ready for any service, however danger
GUS, on which they might be ordered
Brave as lions, they nevertheless lacked
the discipline without which the best troops
must prove, at times, inefficient. Great
care had consequently been taken to place
them under an officer who might at once
command their attachment, and cause them
to respect his rule Such man had been
found in the person of Colonel Carmina, a
distinguished veteran, known to the whole
army as being as just and as humane as he
was resolute in executing the difficult duty
canfded to him,
More than once the reckless bearing of
these men, and the savage fury with which
they not unfrequently followed up their
successes, had compelled Carmina to resort
to the sternest measures sanctioned by
military custom, in order to check these
excesses, and restore discipline. Notwith-
standing this, the Colonel's popularity had
rovar for on incfant 1yonad
1t CHANGED that the Chapelgorris were
stationed at Zaragoza, when they were
suddenly ordered to join the grand army
under Espartero, about to commence its
march to confront the entire Carlist force
which had invaded the adjacent province.
At that moment the feelings of this excita-
BILE corps had been reused to an unusual
degree by some painful but necessary ex-
amples provoked by certain of the more
turbulent spirits, the irritation being in
creased by long delay in making up ar
rears of pay Murmurs arose, and it was
openly proposed that, previous to obeying
the order to march, protest should be
presented, demanding redress for the allegg-
ed grievance.
Whether the moment was deemed ILL
chosen, or that the tone adopted by the re-
monstrants was too dictatorial perhaps
for both reasons-the request was met by
a brief and stern rejection. The regiment
was ordered to resume its march on the
following day.
This brought matters to a climax. a
disorderly meeting was at once held by the
malcontents-who, indeed, comprised near
ly the whole regiment it was unani-
mously agreed to proceed in body to the
square in front of the town hall, and make
their complaints heard.
Unfortunately, as it happened, the men,
who had been engaged in cleaning their
arms, shouldered their muskets, and at
once hurried to the rendezvous. Here
they were met by one or two of their chief
officers, who endeavored, but in vain, to
induce them to disperse aud so threatening
was the aspect of affairs that the Colonel
at that moment visiting an outquarter
some miles distant-was summoned in
eager haste to the spot. Meanwhile the
disturbance had been augmented by the
ill-iudged interference of the civil guard,
and shots had been EXCHANGED, when Car
nina, with his aid-de-camp, arrived at full
gallop, and joined the group of officers, as
sembled on the steps of the town hall.
His white hair, as he uncovered to return
the salute that greeted him, caught every
eve, and for a moment calmed the tumult
sufficiently to allow of his comprehending
the appeal now addressed to him. But
the firing had reached his ear, and the
veteran commander had but one answer to
return:
'With arms in your hands? Never"
They were the last words he was destin-
ed to utter Whether the shot that fol-
lowed was misinterpreted by those more
distant as an expression of disappointment
and defiance, was never clearly aScertained,
but the conflict with the civil guard re-
commenced, firing began in new directions
and yolley aimed at the town-hall stretch
ed the brave Colonel dead, mortally
wounded two other officers, and inflicted
slighter injuries on several of the rest.
After this exploit, the spirit of the furi
GUS soldiery underwent a sudden change.
As if conscience-stricken by the enormity
of their cowardly crime, they stole away
in every direction, leaving no trace of what
had occurred save the terrible witness of
the blood-stained platform, from which the
victims of this tragedy were being mourn
fully borne away.
Notice of the event described found Es-