[Gutenberg 60387] • History of the Peninsular War, Volume 2 (of 6)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1828 edition. Excerpt: ... General Hospital. Both were stormed and set Chap, on fire; the sick and the wounded threw themselves from the windows to escape the flames, J1* *, and the horror of the scene was aggravated by the maniacs, whose voices raving or singing in paroxysms of wilder madness, or crying in vain to be set free, were heard amid the confusion of dreadful sounds. Many fell victims to the fire, and some to the indiscriminating fury of the assailants. Those who escaped were conducted as prisoners to the Torrero; but when their condition had been discovered, they were sent back on the morrow, to take their chance in the siege. After a severe contest and dreadful carnage, the French forced their way into the Cozo, in the very centre of the city, and, before the day closed, were in possession of one half of Zaragoza. Lefebvre now believed that he had effected his purpose, and required Palafox to surrender, in a note containing only these words: "Headquarters, St. Engracia. Capitulation*!" The heroic Spaniard immediately returned this reply: "Head-quarters, Zaragoza. War at the knife's point t!" The contest which was now carried on is un- war;the exampled in history. One side of the Cozo, a street about as wide as Pall-mall, was possessed by the French; and, in the centre of it, their general, Verdier, gave his orders from the Franciscan convent. The opposite side was main * Quartet-general, Santa En- t Quartet-general, Zaragoza. gracia. La capitulation. Guerra al cuchilla. Chap. tained by the Aragonese, who threw up batteries .at the openings of the cross streets, within a few l8os, paces of those which the French erected against August. r - them. The intervening space was presently heaped with dead, either slain upon the spot, or...