First Battle of Arquijas The First Battle of Arquijas ( December 15 , 1834 ) was a battle of the First Carlist War . Opening shots . The battle began when Liberal forces found Carlist general Tomás de Zumalacárregui waiting at the bridge of Arquijas over the Ega River in Navarre ; about the middle of the day , some gunshots were exchanged between the several advanced posts . Battle at the bridge . The Liberals under Luis Fernández de Córdova attempted to force this bridge . The division of Cordova formed itself in order of battle near the hermitage of Arquijas ( Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Arquijas ) , which commanded the rapids near the bridge . Artillery was stationed by the Liberals near this spot to protect the passage of the Liberal forces . A column of picked men , composed of carabiniers and " peseteros " , attempted to cross the bridge . The Carlist Fourth Battalion of Navarre , reinforced by the " tercios " of Guipuzcoa , protecting the bridge , threw the Liberals back . " A few of the most adventurous [ Liberal soldiers ] succeeded , with great trouble , in gaining the opposite bank ; but soon the bridge was covered with carcasses , and , despite all their efforts , they could not advance a step further . " Oraá ' s Feign . Córdova decided to attempt passage at another point , and gave orders to Marcelino de Oraá Lecumberri to get , by a concealed march , into the rear of the Carlists , and to General Lopez , to feign a similar movement , thereby distracting the Carlists . There were about 2 , 000 troops under Liberal general Oraá that had been detached by Córdova and sent to attack the Carlist rear . The Liberals ' leading column , led by Oraá , advanced against the Carlist center , leaving another division to oppose the Carlist right wing . Sources disagree on what happened next . One source states that Zumalacárregui sent Ituralde ' s advanced guard , which had not yet seen action , to counter this rearguard action . Another states that Ituralde , " urged by an inconsiderate ardour which overcame his judgment , brought forward into sight his four battalions . " These battalions , forming the left wing , had been concealed from view by the hill beneath which they were stationed . Oraá instantly saw the snare into which he was about to fall , and changed his line of advance from north to west , moving directly upon Ituralde ’ s division , throwing out at the same time two battalions so as to outflank him . The Carlist left wing , thus enveloped and outnumbered , was driven back in confusion . Zumalacárregui ' s intervention . Zumalacárregui then supported Ituralde , leaving only 2 or 3 battalions in observation ; Zumalacárregui hastily marched to support his left wing under Ituralde . The Liberals had already compelled Ituralde to retreat . However , Zumalacárregui ’ s unexpected reinforcement threw the Liberals into disorder . The Liberals gave way , falling back on their second line . One source states that " it is said that , at this juncture , Cordova , believing the day to be lost , gave Oraa orders to retreat ; the latter , however , more experienced in such affairs , took upon himself the responsibility of disregarding the order . " Córdova did in fact retreat in disorder , abandoning the division . The division , under Oraá , found itself opposed to Ituralde in the valley of Lana . A 5 - hour long combat followed . The sources again disagree on what happened next . One source states that Oraá attacked but his detachment of over 2 , 000 men was dispersed in the Lana valley and fled , the nighttime covering their retreat . However , another source states that “ the superiority of position and numbers had given the [ Liberals ] an advantage against which the Carlists found it impossible to contend . ” " One has to recognize that in the battle at Arquijas , " Vicente Blasco Ibáñez has written , " the victory would have been the Carlists ' had it not been for the skill and daring of Oráa , who knew how to extricate himself from a dire situation , as General Córdova had shown lamentable irresolution retreating from the battlefield before hostilities had ceased . " Aftermath . Córdova was replaced by Manuel Lorenzo as a result of this defeat . Córdova had withdrawn to Los Arcos , where he got orders from Espoz y Mina to quit his command and go to Madrid . On February 5 , 1835 , the Liberals attacked the same spot at the Second Battle of Arquijas but were repulsed . Scheme of the battle . ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ( 1 ) ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ( 11 ) ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ( 12 ) ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ( 13 ) ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ( 14 ) ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ( 15 ) ( 16 ) ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ( 17 ) ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ( 18 ) ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ( 1 ) Sierra de Andía . ( 2 ) Valle de Aralar . ( 3 ) Valle de Amescoa Alta . ( 4 ) Sierra de Lóquiz . ( 5 ) Orbiso . ( 6 ) Zúñiga . ( 7 ) Cerro Eternidad . ( 8 ) Valle de Barabia . ( 9 ) Valle de Lana . ( 10 ) Peña La Gallina . ( 11 ) Río Ega . ( 12 ) Puente Santa Cruz Campezu . ( 13 ) Puente de Arquijas . ( 14 ) Puente de Lana . ( 15 ) Santa Cruz de Campezu . ( 16 ) Acedo . ( 17 ) Puerto de Aguilar . ( 18 ) Sierra de Codés . ( 19 ) Valle de La Berrueza . ( 20 ) Los Arcos