Blaquiere’s Spain and Spanish Revolution. 
On reaching Vejer, Riego found that 
owing to all the approaches to the Isla 
being occupied by detachments from the 
army of Freyre, it would be hazardous 
to proceed. Thus surrounded by hostile 
chiefs, who still continued to stifle pub- 
lic opinion and impose on the credu- 
lity of the soldiery, the position of the 
column would have filled many a leader 
with alarm: whereas, Riego resolved to 
profit by the difficulty of returning to 
San Fernando, and carry his original de- 
sien into effect. Some additional sup- 
plies of money and horses being pro- 
cured, relizion was again called in to the 
aid of liberty; a military banquet, at 
which the officers and privates mingled, 
was given by the inhabitants, and closed 
with a public ball, where all the beauty 
of Vejer appeared, encouraging the de- 
fenders of freedom to persevere in the 
blorious struggle. It was on the 12th, 
after three days passed in festivity and 
warlike preparation, that the patriot gene- 
ral moved forward with a determination 
to reach Malaga, where the column ar- 
rived on the 18th, closely pursued and 
often attacked by the vanguard of 
© Dennel. 
Perceiving that the fears of the people 
got the better of their patriotism, for 
they had witnessed those impetuous 
charges of cavalry repelled by a portion 
of the column which had taken posses- 
sion of the great square, without showing 
a disposition to co-operate, Riego had no 
alternative between suffering all the fruits 
of his gallantry to be lost at Malaga, and 
pushing on to another point. The latter 
was chosen, and having effected their re- 
treat in excellent order, the column en- 
tered Antequera on the 22d, still harassed 
by the enemy’s cavalry. Though reduced 
by the causes, moral and physical, natu- 
rally attendant on such an enterprize, the 
General set out on the following day for 
Ronda; here the troops were encountered 
by a force double their number, but, 
having charged and driven them through 
the town, some rations were levied; upon 
which Riego halted for the night in the 
vicinity. Resuming their march on the 
24th, the patriots successively visited 
Grazadema, Puerto, Serrano and Montel- 
lano, where another attack of cavalry was 
sustained, and as courageously repelled. 
During the time which elapsed between 
the column’s march from Montellano till 
its arrival at Montilla, on the 8th of 
March, it had scarcely an hour’s repose, 
and besides having to resist the frequent 
charges of the enemy, their march lay 
over almost inaccessible mountains with- 
Montity Maa, No, 377. 
593 
out regular roads. From Montilla, where 
the column remained for some hours, 
Riego determined to gain the Sierra 
Morena; but there being no direct road 
to it, without passing though Cordova, he 
marched towards that city at all hazards. 
This was, perhaps, the boldest step 
hitherto taken. There was a regiment of 
dismounted cavalry at Cordoya: a consi+ 
derable portion of this corps was posted 
on the left bank of the Guadalquivir, ap- 
parently to oppose their passage. The 
column having baffled the efforts of ene- 
mies so much more numerous, its present 
adversaries were treated with perfect in- 
difference. The other troops stationed 
at Cordova remained in their quarters, 
unwilling to interfere in what was pass- 
ing: when within a few yards of the 
bridge which separated them from the 
city, the column, now reduced to three 
hundred men, began the favourite hymn, 
which resounded through the ranks, as if 
by one common impulse, and thus 
marched through the main street to a 
convent in the opposite suburb, followed 
by an immense concourse of the people. 
The column pursued its way towards 
the Sierra on the 8th, and passing through 
Espier, Azuaga, Berlanga and Villagarcia, 
reached Bienvenida at four o’cloek in the 
afternoon of the 11th, 
Diminished to a still smaller number, 
wor out with fatigue, and surrounded 
by various detachments, whose leaders 
sought their destruction, the situation of 
the patriots was too critical to admit of 
any doubt as to the only alternative 
which now remained. 
When the shattered remains of the 
flying column separated at Bienvenida, 
directing their steps, melancholy and 
broken-hearted. towards the wilds of 
the Sierra Morena, they little imagined 
that the cause of freedom had already pre- 
vailed, or that its triumph was, in a great 
measure, due to their own heroism! It is 
impossible to forget the deep and anxious 
interest excited by Riego and his follow- 
ers, from the moment of their departure 
till their labours terminated. ‘his feel- 
ing was no less intense all over Europe, 
than in the Peninsula: a proof of the 
importance attached to a corps, destined 
to be, as it were, the barometer of public 
opinion: and though so reduced previous 
to its dispersion, there is no doubt that 
the fact of Riego’s thus keeping the 
field, not only served to maintain the 
sacred fire, but had the effect of commu- 
nicating it to the whole nation. 
In returning to the transactions at San 
Fernando, additional motives for ap- 
4G plause 
