The battles of the world

by J. Douglas Borthwick

On the 19th he transferred his authority to a junta, of which Don Pedro Ric was appointed president. A council was immediately assembled, to deliberate on the condition of the city, and the measures most proper to be adopted. At this meeting it was stated, by the general of cavalry, that only 62 horses remained, the rest having died of hunger. Of the infantry it appeared there were little more than 2800 men fit for service. Ammunition was nearly exhausted; and should a shell penetrate the Inquisition, their only manufactory of powder would be destroyed. The fortifications were stated, by the chief engineer, to have been almost utterly demolished. There were neither men nor materials necessary for repairing them; and bags of earth could no longer be formed from want of cloth.

With regard to the measures to be adopted, the junta were divided in opinion. Twenty-six voted for capitulation; eight against it. The latter were averse to surrender, while even a possibility of succour remained. With proud gallantry of spirit, the opinion of the minority was adopted by the junta. A flag of truce was sent to the enemy, proposing a suspension of hostilities, with the view of ascertaining the situation of the Spanish armies; it being understood, that should no immediate succour be at hand, the junta would then treat for a surrender. This proposal was peremptorily declined by Marshal Lannes; and the bombardment recommenced.

On the 20th, the garrison made a last and unsuccessful effort to recover two guns which the enemy had captured on the preceding day. Affairs were now desperate. The fifty guns which had been employed in the attack of the suburb, now opened fire on the city; and the streets of the quay were laid in ruins.

Thus situated the junta ordered measures to be taken to ascertain the sentiments of the people with regard to the situation of their city. Two-thirds of it were in ruins. Fire, famine, and slaughter, had done their work; and from 300 to 400 persons were daily dying of the pestilence. Under such circumstances, the junta declared that they had fulfilled their oath of fidelity—and that Zaragoza was destroyed. A flag of truce was dispatched to the French head-quarters, followed by a deputation of the junta, to arrange the terms of capitulation. Marshal Lannes was at first disposed to insist on unconditional surrender. The proposal was indignantly rejected by the deputies; and Ric declared, that rather than submit to it the Zaragozans would die beneath the ruins of their city. “I, and my companions,” said this noble patriot, “will return there, and defend what remains to us as best we may. We have yet arms and ammunition, and if these fail we have daggers. Should the Zaragozans be driven to despair, it yet remains to be proved who are to be victorious.”

In this temper of the garrison, Lannes did not think it prudent to refuse granting terms. It was accordingly conceded that the troops should march out with the honours of war: that the heroic Palafox should be suffered to retire to any place where he might think proper to fix his residence, and that all persons, not included in the garrison, should be suffered to quit the city, to avoid the contagion.

On the 21st of February, 1809, the city was delivered up to the French; and thus terminated one of the most strenuous and extraordinary struggles of which history bears record. The resistance continued for 52 days with open trenches; 29 of these were consumed by the enemy in effecting an entrance—23 in the war subsequently carried on in the streets and houses. By their own account, the French threw above 17,000 bombs into the city, and expended above 160,000 pounds weight of powder. More than 30,000 men and 500 officers perished in the defence, exclusive of a vast number of women and children. The amount of loss sustained by the besiegers was studiously concealed—that it was very great, cannot be doubted; and the contemplated operations on Lerida and Valencia, for which the army was destined, were in consequence given up.

When the garrison quitted the city, only 2400 men were capable of bearing arms; the rest were in the hospitals.

Among the prisoners, was Augustina Zaragoza, who had distinguished herself in the former siege. At the commencement, she had resumed her station at the Portillo gate. When Palafox visited the battery, she pointed to the gun she had formerly served with so much effect, and exclaimed, “See, general, I am again with my old friend.” Once, when her wounded husband lay bleeding at her feet, she discharged the cannon at the enemy, in order to avenge his fall. She frequently led the assaulting parties, and with sword in hand mingled in the daily conflicts which took place in the streets. Though exposed, during the whole siege to the most imminent danger, Augustina escaped without a wound. On the surrender of the city, she was too well known to escape notice, and was made prisoner. But she had already caught the contagion; and being taken to the hospital, she subsequently succeeded in effecting her escape.

The terms of capitulation were shamefully violated by Lannes. Palafox was sent a prisoner into France; and the city became a scene of pillage and atrocity. Nothing was to be heard but the drunken shouts and cries of the French soldiery. Even the convents were not spared; their gates were beaten in, the costly plate seized, and the decorations torn down; while the monk, with uplifted hand and scowling brow, listened to the drunken revelry and obscene jests of the heavy mailed cuirassier.”