I knew that my coadjutor, though a brave old man, possessed no one other quality to fit him for the leader of a band of guerrillas, who should be decisive as well as courageous, full of resources as well as cautious, and whose eye should be quick to turn ground to the best advantage, as well as to acknowledge it as an old acquaintance. In order, therefore, to let the band see his incompetency, and that he might become convinced of it himself, I gave in to all his plans, without offering an objection, and so effectually succeeded in my own, that, after experiencing several severe checks, and reducing our military chest to a very small box, it became the general wish to change the scene of operations, and proceed to a less devastated, and, consequently, less protected country.
It was accordingly determined to make an experimental excursion into the kingdom of Valencia, with which, whilst following the contraband life, I had become well acquainted.
Our debût was most successful, for so unprepared was the enemy for our sudden irruption that we captured a rich convoy under the very walls[186] of the capital city, without the loss of a man. But a large force being immediately despatched in pursuit, I (happening to be in command for the day) directed the retreat upon Murcia, thereby enabling the enemy to prevent our return to Catalonia.
This was a hazardous step, for the country to the north was not of a nature to afford us either shelter or resources; whilst, to the south, all the towns between us and the sea were occupied by French garrisons, which, if we were not quick in our movements, or happened to meet with any check, might easily cut short our further advance, and oblige us to disperse.
To hesitate under these circumstances was to be lost; so, pushing on à cierra ojos, we hardly drew rein until we had passed Guadix, when the vicinity of the impracticable Alpujarra mountains secured us from attack on the left, and, at the same time, assured us a safe retreat in the event of being hard pressed. The enemy, however, seeing that further pursuit would be unavailing, stopped short at Guadix; and, embracing the opportunity of giving our wearied horses a few days’ rest, we established ourselves at the Fuente de la Gitana, the principal sources of the little river Fardes, which, winding through a sequestered dell, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, is bordered with the richest pasturage. The spot thus selected for our bivouac held out also the advantage of enabling us to watch the high road from Guadix to Granada, one of the principal lines of communication of the French army.
Whilst refreshing our horses in this secluded spot, numerous opportunities of attacking the enemy presented themselves. But without a certain prospect of obtaining booty, we were not to be tempted to give the alarm by showing ourselves. Allowing, therefore, various parties to pass to and fro without molestation, we succeeded in leading the enemy to believe that we had crossed the sierra, and thrown ourselves upon the stores of arms and gunpowder in the mining district of Adra.
No sooner were their fears allayed, and confidence restored, than we seized the favourable occasion to pounce upon them. This was afforded us by the march of a convoy, with provisions and money, from Guadix to Granada. As soon as we had received certain advice of its having left the first named city, and reached Diezma (its first day’s march), we broke up our camp, and, riding all night, took post in the Sierra Jarana, where we commanded both the roads which, from Diezma, are directed on Granada.
The enemy, wishing to keep as far as possible from the Sierra Nevada, chose the upper or northern road, which was by far the most favourable for our project, there being a difficult pass to get through, which must unavoidably oblige a convoy to lengthen out and straggle. We accordingly permitted the greater portion of the loaded animals to pass unmolested, and then, falling suddenly upon the rear division, succeeded in capturing and carrying off no less than thirty mules.
We did not, however, escape without loss; for Rodriguez was left dead upon the field, and several of the band were severely wounded. I drew the party off by a rugged pathway that leads round the sources of the Darro; crossed the Genil below Guejar; and, by a rapid march, gained Huelma that same night, ere the news of our exploit had well reached Granada.
We had now got upon the high road from Granada to Alhama, and, proceeding along it for some miles, struck off to the left, and established our bivouac in a wooded sierra, above the village of Agron, from whence we commanded both the great road we had left, and that from Granada to Almuñecar and Motril.