Book - The Spanish Ulcer

[Bear]

Hello,

I just finished this book and it's a keeper. If anyone is looking for a good read on the Peninsular War I'd go with this one.

It also has a fantastic appendix on all armies involved.

thanks,

barry

Edited June 29, 2008 by Bear

[Bear]

I only have a few items that involve the Penisular War but I'm always looking for them.

This is a document by Marshal Louis-Alexandre Berthier(1753-1815) to the Minister of War and dated the 7th of November 1808. The document was written in Vittoria while Jean Lannes was recovering from his fall.

Vittoria the 7th November 1808

To his Excellency the Minister of War, Comte d?Hunebourg

I have the honour of sending your Excellency a letter extracted from my Correspondence, the object of which comes with in your responsibilities. I renew your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.

The Prince of Neuchatel

Major General

(Signed)

ALEXANDRE

[Bear]

This is a document by Marshal Louis-Alexander Berthier while in Spain and dated the 26th of November 1808. The document is to Marshal Claude Victor Perrin(1764-1841) and concerns the arrest of officers for disobeying orders.

Aranda the 26th November 1808

Monsieur the Marshal VICTOR

You will order the immediate arrest of Messrs. Casin and Gentil, battalion commanders and Bagnac Lieutenant, all three from the corps of Engineers, for not having executed the order which I gave them to present themselves to General Lery Commander in Chief of the Corps of Engineers. You will give them the enclosed orders, the Emperor bids you to ensure they are executed promptly, which is to say that these three officers will leave in one hour after you have given them the orders that they present themselves to General Lery. Even if these gentlemen had not received my order, they received that of General Lery which they should have obeyed.

(Signed)

ALEXANDRE

[joe campbell]

the book was GREAT!

the second correspondence you've posted

sticks in the throat a bit....

it speaks well of how harsh military life could be.

joe

[Bear]

Hello Joe,

I think it means execute their orders. However, Victor might have thought execute the soldiers as well.

I think this was written during the 3rd siege of Gerona.

This is a document by Jean-Antoine Verdier(1767-1839) while in Spain and dated the 7th of July 1809. The document concerns the storming of an enemy fortification with the use of ladders.

The 7th July 1809

Monsieur General, we?.., given the instruction attached to the dispositions I have sent you that the half moon must also be attacked at the same time as the breach. As a consequence you will compose your attack column with nine companies of Grenadiers and nine of Voltigeurs chosen among the regiments that you are commanding and Colonel M?.., whom you?ll have arriving through the same ground at the same time as the column commanded by my Aide-de-Camp Maisonneuve to get to the breach that was done to the half moon climbing up the ditch through the left of your troops. As the breach might not be very negotiable, it will have to be climbed using ladders that will be carried by a company of Sappers which is expressly ordered to that aim?..

(Signed)

VERDIER

[Bear]

One of the most brutal battles/sieges of the Napoleonic Period was the siege of Saragossa in Spain. This is the French Thirty Third Bulletin of the Army of Spain.

THE THIRTY THIRD BULLETIN OF THE ARMY OF SPAIN

Paris, March 9, 1809

The circumstances of Saragossa was not yet resolved upon; that was considered as inexpedient; and a free communication was still left open, in order that the Insurgents might be informed of the defeat of the English, and their infamous flight out of Spain. It was on the 16th of January that the English were driven into the sea at Corunna and it was on the 26th that the operations before Saragossa were seriously begun. The Duke of MONTEBELLO arrived there on the 20th, in order to assume the command of the siege. As soon as he was assured that the intelligence which was brought into the town had no effect, and that a few monks governed the minds of the people, he resolved to put an end to these indulgences: 50,000 peasants were collected on the left bank of the Ebro: at Pardiguera the Duke of TREVISO attacked them with three regiments; and, notwithstanding the fine position they possessed, the 64th regiment routed them, and threw them into disorder. The 10th regiment of hussars was on the plain to receive them, and a great number remained upon the field of battle. Nine pieces of Cannon and several standards were the trophies of this victory.

This is a document by Marshal Edouard-Aldolphe-Casimir-Joseph Mortier(1768-1835) and it is undated. The document concerns the disciplining of an officer.

[Bear]

At the same time, the Duke of MONTEBELLO had sent the Adjutant Commandant GUSQUET to Zuera, in order to disperse an assemblage of insurgents; this office attacked 4000 of them with three battalions, overthrew them, and took four pieces of cannon, with their carriages and horses. General VATTIER was at the same time sent with 300 infantry, and 200 cavalry, towards Valencia. He met 5000 insurgents at Alcanitz, compelled them, even in the town, to throw down their arms in their flight; he killed 600 men, and seized magazine, provisions, and arms; among the last were 100 English muskets. The Adjutant Commandant, CARRION NIZOS, conducted himself gloriously at the head of a column of infantry.

This is a miniature portrait/autograph of Marshal Jean Lannes the Duke of Montebello(1769-1809).

[Bear]

Colonel BURTHE, of the 4th regiment of Hussars, and the Chief of Battalion, CAMUS, of the 28th regiment of Light Infantry, distinguished themselves. These operations took place between the 20th and 26th of January. On the 26th the town was seriously attacked, and the batteries were unmasked, and at noon on the 27th the breach was practicable in several places; the troops were lodged in the monastery of San-in-Gracia. The division of GRANDJEAN entered some thirty houses. The Colonel CALOISEKI and the soldiers of the Weixel, distinguished themselves.

This is a document by General Charles-Louis-Dieudonne Grandjean(1768-1828) while with the 10e of cavalry.

[Bear]

At the same moment the General of Division MORLOT, in an attack upon the left wing, made himself master of the whole fore ground of the enemy?s defence. Captain GUETTEMAR, at the head of the pioneers, and thirty six grenadiers of the Forty Fourth regiment, had, with a rare intrepidity, ascended the breach. M. BABIESKI, an Officer of the Voltigeurs of the Weixel, a young man 17 years of age, and covered with seven wounds, was the first who appeared upon the breach.

This is a document by General Antoine Morlot(1766-1809) while the commandant of the 10e division. He would die of illness soon after the siege.

[Bear]

The Chief of Battalion, LEJUNE, Aide-de-Camp to Prince of NEUFCHATEL, distinguished himself, and received two slight wounds. The Chief of Battalion, HAXO, is also slightly wounded, and likewise distinguished himself. On the 30th, the monasteries of the Monique and the Greek Augustines were occupied. Sixty houses were possessed by undermining. The miners on the 14th regiment distinguished themselves. On the 1st of February, General LACOSTE received a ball, and died in the field of Honour. He was a brave and distinguished officer. He has been lamented by the whole army, but more especially by the EMPEROR. Colonel REGNIAT succeeded him in the command of the engineers, and in the management of the siege.

Antique Print of Saragossa

[Bear]

The enemy defended every house; three attacks were made by the mines, and every day several houses were blown up, and afforded the troops an opportunity of stationing themselves in other houses. Thus we proceeded to the Cosso (a great street in Saragossa) where we made ourselves masters of the buildings of the Public School and University. The enemy endeavoured to oppose miners to miners; but less used to this sort of operation, their miners were every day discovered and suffocated. This mode of besieging rendered its progress slow, but sure, and less destructive to the army. While three companies of miners and eight companies of sappers carried on this subterranous war, the consequences of which were so dreadful, the fire on the town was kept up by mortars. Ten days after the attack had begun, the surrender of the town was anticipated. The army had possessed itself of one third of the houses, and fortified itself in them.

Antique Print of Saragossa

[Bear]

The Church which contained the image of Our Lady of Pillar, which by so many miracles had promised to defend the town, was battered down by bombs, and no longer inhabitable. The Duke of MONTEBELLO deemed it necessary to take possession of the left bank of the river, in order that his fire might reach the middle of the town. The General of Division, GAZAN, made himself master of the bridge by a sudden and impetuous attack, on the morning of the 17th February. A battery of fifty pieces was played off at three o?clock in the afternoon. A battalion of the 28th regiment attacked and took possession of a very large monastery, the walls of which were of brick, and from three to four feet thick. General GAZAN then repaired with rapidity to the bridge, over which the insurgents made their retreat to the town; he killed a vast number, made 4000 thousand prisoners, amongst whom were 2 Generals, 12 Colonels, 19 Lieut. Cols. and 230 Officers. He took 30 pieces of artillery. Nearly all the troops of the line in the town had beset this important part, which had been threatened since the 10th. At the same moment the Duke of ABRANTES entered the Casso through several covered ways, and by means of two small mines, blew up the extensive buildings of the Schaals. After these events, terror was spread throughout the town. The Junta, in order to procure delay, and obtain tome to abate the terror of the inhabitants, sought a parley; but their bad faith was known, and this artifice was useless. Thirty other house were possessed by undermining or by miners. At length, on the 21st of February, the whole town was possessed by our troops; 15,000 infantry and 2000 cavalry laid down their arms at the gate of Portilla, and 40 flags and 150 pieces of cannon were delivered up. The insurgents lost 20,000 men during the siege; 13,000 were found in the hospitals; 500 died daily.

Antique print of Our Lady of Pillar

[Bear]

The Duke of MONTEBELLO would allow no capitulation to the town of Saragossa. He only published the following provisions? - ?The garrison shall at noon, on the 21st, lay down their arms at the gate of Portilla, where they shall remain prisoners of war. Those of the troops of the line who are willing to take the oath to King JOSEPH, may be allowed to enter into his service. In case this entrance shall not be permitted by the Minister of War to the King of Spain, they shall be prisoners of war and sent to France. The worship of God shall be reverenced. All the artillery and ammunition of every kind shall be delivered up. All the arms shall be deposited at the doors of the different houses, and collected by the respective Alcaldes.? The magazines of corn, rice and fruit, which have been found in the town are very considerable. The Duke of MONTEBELLO has nominated General LAVAL Governor of Saragossa. A Deputation of the Priesthood and different inhabitants has set out from Madrid. PALAFOX is dangerously ill. He was the object of contempt of the whole hostile army, who accused him of arrogance and meanness. He was never seen where their was any danger. The Count de FUENTES, Grandee of Spain, who had been arrested by the insurgents two months ago on his estate, was found in a dungeon of eight feet square, and released: no idea can be formed of the miseries he had undergone.

Antique print of King Joseph Bonaparte

[Bear]

This just arrived today. I'm not sure how old it is but it does have some age. Nice little item on Saragossa.

Saragossa, Spain "Our Lady of the Pillar"

40A.D. After Christ's death, ressurection, and ascension, the holy Apostles began to spread the message throughout the land: and eventually into the Roman Empire. St. James the Apostle travelled as far west as to a small village called Saragossa, in Spain. While there, James became disheartened because of the failure of his mission. While James was in deep prayer, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him and gave him a small wooden statue of herself, and a colum of jasper wood. She said:

"This place is to be my house, and this image and column shall be the title and altar of the temple that you shall build. "

About a year later, James arranged for a small chapel to be built in honor of the Virgin Mary. This would be the first church in the entire world to be dedicated to Mary. The jasper column and the wooden statue can still be seen on special occasions at the church that houses them.

[Bear]

Hello Boris,

Thanks for the pictures and additional information on the pendant. The pendant I have doesn't have any markings.

thanks,

barry

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