Battle of Tudela - Other Data

Other Data

Fighting on opposite sides agreed on the battle of Tudela two men who years later would become famous generals. He was the one a soldier of 19 years, pale, somewhat stooped, looking hard and speak Basque, lisping. The sergeants at the time of listing, stumbled upon reading his name. There were vented gunpowder in the first siege of Saragossa and fought hard in Tudela, probably in the area of Santa Barbara with the rest of the Aragonese and the 5th Division, went the next day in Zaragoza suffering like the rest of whistles that from the walls, dedicated to the brave Zaragoza defeated, as a reproach to his cowardice. One soldier named Thomas Zumalacárregui.

The other was then a captain of the guard surnamed Lannes Marbot. Marbot recounts in the book of his memoirs, referring to the battle, how in him a bullet pierced his portfolio, and the incident that, when starting the fight, he had with Lieutenant Labedoyère. This officer, brusque man of genius, rode a young horse and untamed that, frightened by the noise of the guns, dug his feet on the ground refusing to move. His rider, spurring fed up, angry jumped from his chair and pulling sable, two broadswords hamstrung the poor brute fell, crawled bleeding where their hind legs.

Marbot so harshly rebuked the evil deed of his comrade, who both had reached the hands of not being to the enemy. Event soon came to the ears of Lannes, who was angry with his official and publicly declared that he no longer would include among his escort. Labedoyère, desperate, drew his gun, determined to lift her head off, when Lieutenant De Viry stopped him saying, "More honorable than killing yourself would be to seek death in the Spanish ranks."

Moments later, De Viry Marshal received the order to lead a regiment of cavalry against a Spanish battery, and joins Labedoyère advancing at a run and dives, one of the first, against the battery, which was caught . A helmet of shrapnel had pierced his cap of hair within an inch of the skull. When he saw Lannes De Viry and Labedoyère back together driving the enemy's gun and warns that the latter is about to embark again on the Spanish bayonets, called him near him and forgave him his fault, he returned his post at the General Staff. The two brave lieutenants had the honor of being named in the hand and ascended days later.

The same author who relates this anecdote was received on 24 of his Marshal commissioned to bring the Emperor the Bulletin of the battle. Napoleon was accustomed to rise to every officer who announced a victory, seeing which, the Marshals entrusted these tasks to those of his staff who wished to see promoted soon. Bonaparte did not want to post who could not give explanations and Field Assistants required. Over 200 of these died or were taken prisoner during the campaign because of imperial whim. Just someone who was with Lannes when saying goodbye to Marbot, made him see the danger that the messenger could run at night across the mountains of Soria. Quarterback calmed him: Bah, bah! Do not you see he has to meet ahead of Ney whose troops are staggered to the Imperial Headquarters Aranda? The first evening, followed by a platoon of cavalry, and became Marbot Tarazona left without incident.

From there, protected by a regular guard, continued his march toward the Moncayo. It was a clear moonlit night. At two or three leagues, the first shock: a shot in the shade. The escort explores the vicinity, but fails to discover the perpetrators. Shortly after the bodies were found naked with two soldiers of the troops of Ney, apparently, had been killed recently. Later (horrible to describe, says the author-) was presented to his view a picture creepy.

The body of a young officer hung, hands and feet nailed to the door of a farmhouse. The blood still flowed from his wounds, denoted the recent ordeal. The murderers could not be far away. That was, indeed. Not much time had passed when a treacherous download disrupted the procession. The shots came from a group of eight Spanish who scattered them over the mountain. Exeunt the hussars in pursuit, and get caught two of them. One was a fellow on the back of a mule that was (just) the clothes of dead soldiers. The other (could not fail) was a Capuchin (the hated Capucin of all French authors) riding, oh coincidence! the horse of Lieutenant crucified. The riflemen immediately went on their way at night. Two leagues from Agreda looming as a bivouac fires. Would Ney's troops or the Spanish? Marbot orders to halt, waiting for dawn and barely scratched the day, with one soldier for every escort dared to penetrate the population.

The streets were totally deserted and the floor covered with wet leaves, according to the author, later used as manure. Thanks to this advanced forest carpeted quietly, when after they came across the High Street with four Royals police on horseback. They were in the lion's den. The two French began rapid flight pursued by the Spanish cavalry. The chief of these, still closely Marbot, hit him in the head with a saber blow. Bloody and only (as the soldier slipped on the other hand) could win a lane uphill, the scope faring the brigade.

So, our heroic captain faced his pursuer: he measured with his sword, and after receiving several saber, get hurt and runs away ... When he reached Tudela, Lannes received him by lamenting his misfortunes and praise for his courage. The Bulletin of the battle, which managed to preserve through his struggles and adventures, I was so stained with blood, someone suggested copying the Marshal on again and redo the red. Lannes objected: "No way. Better is the Emperor see how Captain Marbot has defended the offices. "

See, then, how the Bulletin of the battle came at the hands Tudela del Corso, red in the blood of the first messenger, who can forgive their fantasies in favor of this exciting story, worthy of an adventure novel.