592 
to cover their entry into La Isla, suc- 
ceeded in driving back several piquets of 
cavalry, and returned without interrup- 
tion from the royal army, which had, by 
this time, approached much nearer to the 
bridge of Suazo, The second in com- 
mand was next sent to oppose the march 
of O'Donnel, who had advanced to Me- 
dina, as also for the purpose of gaining 
over the troops at Vejer and other points. 
This well-timed movement had the effect 
of checking the servile general, and 
would have ended by adding the hat- 
talion of America to his division; but 
Campana having contrived to send emis- 
saries- into San Fernando, Quiroga 
thought it prudent to urge his imme- 
diate return. As some time would elapse 
before Riego could reach head-quarters, 
the roads being still in a wretched state, 
the military junta, formed for directing 
the operations, decided: that an attack 
should be made in the meanwhile on the 
naval arsenal of La Caraca, which, be- 
sides the many other advantages to be 
derived from its’ possession, would open 
a communication with Puerto Real and 
Port St. Mary’s. While Captain Guiral, 
of the navy, undertook to convey the 
troops destined for this service, Don 
Lorenzo Garcia, colonel of the Aragon 
regiment, was entrusted with their com- 
mand. This party, consisting of four 
‘undred picked men, having embarked 
in some gun boats about midnight on the 
12th, were discovered: by a sentinel, who 
gave the alarm; but before any effectual 
preparation could be made for defence, 
the fort was carried by escalade, without 
the loss of a man. The national army 
was considerably strengthened by this 
coup-de-main, as all those who com- 
posed the garrison, nearly five hundred 
men, immediately joined their fellow- 
soldiers. Guiral also took possession of a 
ship of the line, and numerous flotilla, 
Nothing could be more perplexing than 
the state of affairs at this moment: all 
the efforts of servilism were at work here, 
and in other places, to counteract the 
events at San Fernando and defeat their 
effects; several regiments had joined 
Freyre, who advanced, with 6000 men 
from Seville, occupying all the roads 
leading to La Isla. To remain inactive 
might be still more injurious to the cause 
than continuing on the defensive; and 
although the royalist general had at- 
tempted to seduce the patriots into sub- 
mission by his letter of the 15th, addressed 
to Quiroga, from Seville, there was every 
appearance of a wish on his part to pro 
ceed hostilely, and co-operate with Cam- 
Blaquiere’s Spain and Spanish Revolution. 
pana. The. insurrection had, in fact, 
reached that point, when the smallest 
symptom of fear or weakness might have 
been fatal to the patriots, and prolong 
the reign of terror to an indefinite period. 
There are moments in the history of na- 
tions, as well as of individuals, in which 
the calculations of prudence lose all their 
efficacy, and if indulged, or made the rule 
of action, may be productive of that ruin 
which they are intended to avert: such was 
the state of the patriot army on the 25th 
of January, when Riego, prompted by one 
of those inspirations which occur only to 
great minds, suggested the idea of march= 
ing at. the head of a flying column, to 
spread the seeds of liberty in the pro- 
vinces, and keep the servile faction in 
check, while the remainder of the army 
should maintain its position at San Fer- 
nando, Many as were the objections 
that might have been made to this pro- 
posal, it was received with unequivocal 
approbation by the military junta, and 
when communicated to the troops, they 
are said to have crowded round the Gene- 
ral-in-Chief, earnestly soliciting permis- 
sion to form a part of the intended legion. 
Having selected fifteen hundred men 
for the above important service, and’ 
made such hasty arrangements as_ the 
shortness of the notice permitted, Riego, 
and his corps, upon which the destinies 
of millions were suspended, left the Isla 
at day-break on the 27th, passing over 
Chiclana amidst the cries of Viva éa 
Constitucion ! repeated on every side by 
the people, they slept at Conil, and_ pro-- 
ceeded to Vejernext day ; after proclaim- 
ing the constitution, and electing muni- 
cipal officers here, the column resumed 
its march, crossed the heights of Ojen on 
the 30th, and arrived at Algeciras on the 
following evening. 
Having re-crossed the range of Oden 
without interruption, the troops had 
scarcely set out on their march towards 
Vejer next morning, before a large body 
of cavalry was observed in front, formed 
evidently to oppose the march. Riego 
immediately prepared to attack the 
enemy, and when ready, advanced at a 
quick pace, some crying, Long live the 
Constitution, and Viva la Patria! while 
others commenced the war song, which 
had now become familiar to every ear. 
The coolness and intrepidity with which 
the column advanced astonished and 
awed the cavalry to such a degree that: 
they defiled on each side the road, open- 
ing a passage, through which the patriots 
were suffered to pass, without a single’ 
effort being made to annoy them. - 
n 
