during which Lieutenant Thruston succeeded in prevailing on the patriots to spare the lives of their foes, and give them up to him as prisoners. Those that were able to move he immediately marched off towards the coast; but as they never arrived on board the Endymion, their ultimate fate is doubtful.
After resting an hour, Lieutenant Thruston set out in quest of Marechal Lapido, and found him with only a few men, the rest of his force having dispersed amongst the neighbouring valleys. By daylight, however, many had come in, and more were flocking to head-quarters. All parties concurred in the measure of gaining the high road in the rear of the French troops, with a view of cutting off their retreat by the same route to Santiago –
And “By dint of hard marching,” says Captain Hall, “Lieutenant Thruston managed to bring the insurgent forces to the top of the high ground which overlooks Corcubion, about the time when the enemy, fatigued with burning, murdering, and plundering, were drawing off from the town. When the French reached the foot of the hill, from the top of which the Spaniards were contemplating the destruction of their homes, the infantry very coolly sat down on the grass to rest from their labours, and the cavalry dismounted quite at their ease, as if iu perfect security, though it was clear they must have seen the ridge of the hill covered with armed patriots.
“Now was the moment, thought Mr. Thruston, to make a rush down upon the wearied invaders, for the position gave the Spaniards every possible advantage over them; and if the former had possessed any degree of firmness or good discipline, their enemies, who were not one quarter so numerous, might certainly have been overthrown, and, possibly, taken prisoners. The zealous Lapido thought so too; and, being heartily seconded by Camaño, the patriots were ordered to advance to the attack, but not to waste their fire till they came quite close to the enemy, and, indeed, rather to trust, to the effect of the rush down hill, and to the vigour of their arms in the use of the bayonet, than to the fire of their musketry.
“There was a great cheering of viva! viva! upon these orders being given, and the Spaniards moved on to the charge in a style worthy of the days of their own Cid Campeador. But this lasted only till they came within about a couple of gun-shots of the French troops, upon which, in spite of all that the officers could do, they halted, and commenced a brisk fire directed towards the enemy, who took no more notice of the circumstance than a great mastiff does of the harmless yelping of a dozen puppy dogs, ready to turn tail the instant they see their antagonist prick up his ears.
“I am sorry to say, this humiliating figure too well describes the pro-
