Blaquierés Spain and Spanish Revolution. 
poe at Portazgo, and occupied the 
tidge of Suazo. Setting out with the 
regiment stationed at Alcala, Quiroga 
was joined on his way through Medina 
by the other battalion, and after march- 
. Ing ali night over a road in which the 
soldiers were often knee deep, did not 
reach the bridge of Suazo till nine o'clock 
on the next morning, above six hours 
later than he had calculated upon. It 
was not amongst the least of those 
inconveniences attending this delay, that 
several detachments, which had come up 
from different points, not finding the 
General-in-chief at the place appointed 
thought the plan must have failed, an 
therefore returned to their quarters. For- 
tunately for Quiroga and his friends, 
none of the civil or military authorities 
were on the alert, so that San Fernando 
was occupied without opposition. The 
first measure of the patriot general after 
proclaiming the constitution, was to 
secure the person of old Cisneros, and 
all others who were likely to impede the 
success of the enterprize. 
As the exhausted condition of the 
troops would not admit of pushing with 
the main body, Don Jose Rodriguez ad- 
vanced at the head of four companies to 
surprize the first lines of La Cortadura, 
Received with a volley of musquetry, by 
which three of his men fell, instead of 
returning the fire he withdrew. This un- 
toward event, at once convinced Quiroga 
that the golden opportunity had been 
lost, and Cadiz put into a state of de- 
fence; his conjectures were but too well 
founded. Campana, the governor, had 
been secretly informed of the projected 
attack, and lost no time in taking the 
steps necessary to counteract its success, 
Amongst other precautions, the pay of 
the garrison was more than trebled, 
while the Bishop and priesthood were 
directed to represent the patriots as being 
only intent on massacre and plunder. 
he hero of Arcos and Las Cabezas 
was not idle, having directed the escort 
in charge of Calderon and. his staff to 
bring up the rear, he proceeded towards 
Xerez, which place the division entered 
early on the 5th, and was received with 
the utmost enthusiasm by the people, 
from whom a knowledge of the recent 
occurrences had been carefully concealed, 
After those mutual congratulations, so 
natural on such an occasion, Riego, who 
had ascended the telegraph communi- 
cating with La Isla, and announced his 
arriyal, repaired to the town hall, where 
the principal inhabitants were already as- 
sembled to hail him as their deliverer. 
591 
This interview was followed by a request 
from the general, that the populace might 
be summoned to attend the election of 
Municipal Authorities; these being 
named: and sworn to maintain the poli- 
tical code, it was proclaimed in due form. 
The interchange of signals amongst the 
patriot forces produced an electric effect 
on both sides; when Quiroga drew out 
his men, and stated the approach of their 
companions, they rent the air with fre- 
quent vivas, and no longer remembered 
the failure at Cortadura. Anxious to 
reach San Fernando, Riego pushed on to 
Port St. Mary’s the same night, and was 
welcomed by great numbers of the peo- 
ple, who vied with each other in pro- 
viding quarters and refreshment for the 
troops. An important acquisition was 
made soon after the patriots arrived 
here, by the sudden appearance of Arco 
Aguero, O'Daly, and some other distin- 
guished officers, who had just escaped 
from the castle of San Sebastian. 
It was intended that the battalions should 
sleep at San Fernando on the 6th, but, 
owing to the heavy rains, it became ne- 
cessary to halt at Puerto Real, whence 
Riego conducted the prisoners, and was 
followed next day by the main body. 
When mustered, it was found that the 
utmost strength of the national army, in 
rank and file, did not exceed five thou- 
sand men, consisting of seven battalions; 
those of Asturias, Seville, Aragon, Spain, 
Guides, the crown, and a regiment of 
invalids, but unsupported by either artil- 
lery or cavalry. The officers having as- 
sembled at night to organize a staff, and 
fix on some plan of future operations, 
Quiroga was again recognized as general- 
in-chief, Riego appointed second in com- 
mand, Arco Aguero placed at the head of 
the staff, with Evaristo San Miguel, as his 
principal assistant. Colonel Miranda, 
the personal friend of Riego, was also 
confirmed in the post he had filled so 
ably, since, the rising at Las Cabezas. 
The officers who had escaped being re- 
placed at the head of their regiments, the 
whole force was formed into two divi- 
sions, of which one remained under the 
direction of Quiroga, and the other that 
of Riego, 
The apprehensions entertained, by some 
of the leaders, that their exclusion from 
Cadiz would deter others from joinin 
the patriotic ranks, were happily remoy 
on the morning of the 10th, by the arri- 
val of the Canary regiment, and a bri- 
gade of artillery, led by Colonel Bermuda, 
and Lopez Banos, Riego being detached 
with a column of twelve hundred men, 
‘ to 
