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AFTER the Emperor's
marriage he appointed me Commander-in-chief of the Army of Catalonia and
Governor-General of the Principality. I had a very strong objection to
the manner in which war was carried on in Spain; my objection had its
root in the dishonesty—or what in high places is called policy—which
caused the invasion of the country; however, the noble and courageous
resistance of its inhabitants triumphed over our efforts and our arms. I
obeyed, nevertheless, and started. I led a very active life, that was as
odious as it was exhausting. The enemy were ubiquitous, and yet I could
find them nowhere, though I travelled through the length and breadth of
the province. The only important result of the campaign was the siege
and capture of Tortosa by General Suchet, whose operations I covered.
The next campaign, that
of 1811, commenced with a fresh series of marches and provisioning of
fortresses. I received orders to lay siege to Tarragona, but I had
neither means nor sufficient force; the Army of Arragon had all. I
therefore proposed to the Government that a portion of my troops should
be provisionally handed over to General Suchet, so that he should
experience no embarrassment, and that there should he unity of command.
My plan was approved, and I returned to Barcelona to keep an eye upon
everything. I had scarcely arrived there, when I heard that the -
Spaniards had surprised and taken the castle of Figueras, a place almost
impregnable. It was my arsenal; my artillery, ammunition, provisions,
regimental baggage, everything was stored there. Want of supervision
lost us the place. But the Spaniards had not time to remove as prisoners
the garrison they had so strangely surprised. We collected hastily all
our scattered detachments, and invested the fortress. I wrote most
pressing letters to General Suchet to restore to me the troops I had
placed at his disposal, but only one messenger reached him, either at
Lerida or Saragossa, although the distance from Barcelona was but
slight.
This event caused a great
sensation, and increased excitement in the Peninsula, especially in
Catalonia, while it also stimulated the activity of our opponents, their
efforts and their courage. The Spaniards tried to throw reinforcements
into the castle and to secure the prisoners, but they were repulsed.
The Emperor ordered that
I should he summoned from Barcelona. It was necessary to detach 5,000 or
6,000 men from the investing force to cross the country. At the first
receipt of the news I had formed the plan of going to Figueras with an
escort of fifty cavalry; but so much pressure was brought to bear upon
me, and so much was said to dissuade me from so rash and dangerous an
enterprise, that I yielded and waited for the detachment.
On arriving I found
orders to push on the siege vigorously, but my guns and ammunition were
all inside. I asked for others, but they could not be supplied. I had
therefore to Content myself with investing and surrounding the fortress
with lines, armed with field-guns; not to attack it, but to prevent
sorties or assistance. I remembered the famous siege of Alesia, and I
caused analogous works, allowing for the difference of locality, to be
made. Each corps was ordered to cover itself, and I had excited their
emulation by my constant presence and my encouragements. I spared myself
neither labour nor fatigue. We had already spent two months and a half
round the place, which seemed quite decided not to surrender as long as
the provisions held out, and there was any hope of succour.
We had now reached July i;
the date is well imprinted Oil my memory, as I then had my first attack
of gout. It lasted a long time, but although horribly severe, my moral
nature suffered more than my physical from this paralysis.
I had succeeded in
surrounding the place so closely that nothing, not even a cat, could
have passed. General Guillot, a prisoner in the place, although he was
closely watched, found means to send me information by some Spaniards,
whom he had seduced by promises of large rewards. I thus knew the
strength of the garrison, the amount of provisions, and could calculate
almost to a day when the surrender would be made.
Our troops kept a very
sharp look-out, as we expected almost daily to he attacked from outside.
The Spaniards made demonstrations, and announced the landing of English
troops. More than once, in fact, we had observed a large number of
transports at sea. The Spanish Commandant, discovering General Guillot's
communications, had his messenger shot, and tried and condemned to death
the General and several other officers, but he dared not execute them. I
was informed of what was going on, and threatened the Spanish General
with reprisals.
Notwithstanding the
limitation of the rations, the end was near. Out of regard for such of
our prisoners as were sick, but who could be moved, he caused them all
to be brought out and laid on the glacis. According to my information,
the place could not hold out beyond August 15 or 20. I felt certain that
the garrison would try to make a way for themselves through my lines;
all my dispositions were made accordingly. It was the more necessary to
redouble our vigilance, as we were already weakened by sickness.
I thought that the
Spaniards would select August 1, the Emperor's birthday, for their
sortie. We kept the day with great rejoicing, having prepared some grand
fireworks, of which the crowning-piece was to be a general fusillade
directed against the town, with shells and grapeshot.
Nothing stirred during
the night, but next morning the fire from the fortress slackened. We
observed considerable movement on the ramparts, which was continued the
following day. As no messenger appeared, it remained evident that a
vigorous sortie was contemplated, and we got ready to give it a warm
reception.
It did take place
eventually on a dark night, and in the profoundest silence; but the
unevenness of the ground caused the head of the columns to waver, and
made their weapons jingle, and this attracted the attention of our
advanced outposts. They hastily fell back upon our lines, and, moreover,
without lighting some little piles of sticks, as they had been told to
do, in order to throw light upon the scene. It was to be presumed, and
it eventually proved, that the Spaniards would attack with swords, as a
single discharge, showing where they were, would have sufficed to
attract all our forces to them. We awaited their approach, and as soon
as they opened the attack we threw some hand- grenades amongst them; but
the powder was damaged, and only gave out a thick, colourless smoke. [I
had ordered some Bengal fire from Toulouse, but it only arrived after
the place had surrendered. —Marshall MacDonald.]
This attempted sortie was
brave, and did honour to the General and his garrison ; it was repulsed
after several attempts on their part. They did not expect to meet so
many obstacles; even the abattis stopped them. From the summit of the
ramparts it was easy to misjudge them, they looked like so many little
bushes. The Spaniards lost a large number of killed, wounded, and taken
prisoners; on our side no one had a scratch.
Next day the enemy ran up
the white flag, and sent a j5arlementaire to treat for the surrender. I
accorded them the honours of war. The garrison laid down their arms and
remained prisoners; out of respect for their bravery, the officers
retained their swords.
I transferred my quarters
to the town, where shortly afterwards my attack of gout was followed by
one of fever. Being unable to continue to exercise my command, I asked
for a successor, who was granted me. I returned to Paris, only just able
to walk on crutches. |
