Year: 1873

openly, cannot extend maudlin sentimental pity
TO spies and traitors who bctray US, not from fear
but for the enemys gold. despise the coward who
betrays his countrymen from fear; but annihilate
the traitors who sell their blood for gold AZ for
the charges OF disobedience you prefer against me,
have to say that some orders which were sent to
me could not be executed; that others never
reached me, but were intercepted by those very
spies 1t was my unhappy duty to execute, and that
others which l dd receive and did disobey were
issued after had been condemned to death with
out trial and only upon the evidence OF SIAN
derers. Regarding the OF disrespectful Ian
guage against His Majesty and my General, can
only say that have never used any language un-
becoming q faithful servant OF that Church OF
which can never more administer the sacraments
for the stain Of blood is red upon my hands. The
messenger OF peace has become . man OF blood
He has become shedder Of blood in the cause OF
his God, his country and his king; but he is nell
ther assassin nor murderer. have no more
to say"


This speech OF the Cure, delivered In the high
sounding language and with the energetic gesticu-
lation OF the Spaniards. created


PROFOUND IMPRESSION


upon every one present and certainly modified the
views your correspondent had hitherto entertained
OF his character and OF his deeds Still, could see
that the Court, composed Of Dorregaray, Lssaraga,
Marquis OF valdespna and other officers OF the
stan received his declaration coldly and evidently
did not intend to accept the Cures own evidence
as fnal for must mention that the Cure was re-
garded with considerable jealousy by the officers,
who are much averse to have the religious element
represen ted In their forces by ITS actual ministers


under arms. When, however, witness after wit
ness bore out the Cures assertions, it was impos-
sbe for the Court to do otherwise but fully acquit


him OF all the charges brought against him, and the
first to congratulate him was Lissaraga. Thus the
afYair was amicahly and satisfactorily settled; but
very soon saw that the cure is not man born
to obey, but to command. As the chief OF q gue-
ria band he is admirable, but as one of the links
in chain OF subcrdiDates he is continual en-
barrassment, and was not at all surprised TO
hear, a few days afterwards, that ne and his band


were sent back to their old station In the noun
tains between San Sebastian, Vera and TOlosa.
Thus the Saturday passed away and as 1t was
clear that the enemy did not intend attacking us in
our present position, but, more probably hoped to
surprise us on eur march, the order was gwen at
twenty minutes to twelve p. M, to march. In the
darkness and silence OF night the men formed
with incredible rapidity and within one
hours time the last man and the last
mule had left Vera We went along
at swinging pace, and continued our


march until seven O'Clock on Sunday evening, with
only one rest OF two hours, having thus accom-





nine miles between ourselves and the enemy's
troops, who, until eleven O'Clock on Sunday morn.


ing, still iancied we in Vera. do not believe
this march has ever been equaed In any similar


country. for 1t must be remembered that the roads
led entirely among and over some of the most
rugged mountains in Guipazcoa and Alava


and that o column OF over 1000 men,
hampered by baggage and ineficent ami
mails, is not so easily handled as
party of Cooks tourists. On our way, at about
eleven O'Clock one OF the columns on left flank
| made feeble attempt to make MS swerve from
our line of march; but a company OF 100 men was
amply suficent to limit their endeavors to q few
cannon shot. which did no damage whatever. The
next day we proceeded further southwark and in


the evening found ourselves safe In the Amcscuas.
On the whole, this expedition into GuIpaz-


Goa had very unsatisfactory results; we had
not been able to obtain possession OF the


artillery, and had some what disheartened the men,
| who were eager to engage the enemy. added to
which the great number Of troops concentrated on


the frontier enabled the Generan-Chief, Nouvilas,
to detach corps in order to attack the custom
house at Daucharinea. This was done, and the
Carlists temporarily dislodged, although the Re-
publican troops soon discovered that they could
not hold the position they had gained, and aban-
doned II In o few days.


From the oath of April to the 1st OF MAY nothing OF
any importance occurred. Nouvas had been chosen


Minister Of War and was IN Madrld while the Various
columns were left TO act as their respective COM
manders deemed ADVISABLE and that this action
was not OF very energetic nature may be gath
cred from the fact that we remained for i've days
quietly in Abarruza, and then gradually worked
down southward to Bernedo, in the province OF AL
ava which we left AZ twelve O'Clock on May with
the intention OF making raid on Haro or Miranda,


on the other side OF the Ebro. After march Of six


hours we arrived at miserable village, wretched
as any Irish or Arab hamlet, named Pipa0n, where


we waited about the streets while council OF war
was being held. At dusk the order was given to
march. At first the road was pretty fair, but 1t
soon became terribly steep as we mounted
the rugged Sierra de Tolono the difficulties
we had to contend with becoming greater as


the darkness grew deeper Still while mount
ting and on the crest OF the mountains were yet
caught OF the faint light the sun had lett upon
the western horizon; but when we began the de-
scent and plunged into the deep and narrow gorges


below the gloom became intense, and 1t was lite-


rally impossible to see beyond the horses head.
Stumbling over rocks, knocking our heads against
trees and branches, now wading through shallow,
brawllng streams, now sinking up to the
fetlocks in mud, no one could say whether


the next step would lead him. To add to the gen.
eral confusion the guides lost their way, and the
vanguard, marching at much too rapid pace, also


lost the rear guard which in turn lost the cavalry
There we're now, divided into three parties,


each looking for the other in the darkest night and


widest tract Of country 1t is possible to imagine
After infinite trouble and loss OF three hours
valuable time we at last found ourselves reunited
on plateau little to the west OF Abalos and
about two hours march from San vincente. small


town garrisoned by 1fty-six volunteers and STU
ated on sharp bend OF the Ebro, at the extremity
OF low range OF hills which down to the river
at right angles with 1t. Parallel with this range OF
hills lies second about mile of to the east.
Having arrived at the northern extremites of
these two ranges, each about one mile and q half