Comparison between the Military state of the Ger- Entry into Burgos-Lerma-Aranda-Quarters in a deserted Spanish town-Almazan-Agrida-Ig- Journey to Toledo-English armies-Retreat of Sir John Moore, and the Battle of Corunna-Defeat of The Serranos-Retreat from Ronda to Campillos- Fight with the Mountaineers-Return to Ronda- MEMOIRS OF THE WAR IN SPAIN. CHAPTER I. THE year after the close of that campaign which terminated with the battle of Friedland and the peace of Tilsit, the 2d regiment of hussars, formerly named Chamboran, in which I had the honour to serve, received orders to leave Prussia and march for Spain. I had thus an opportunity afforded me of comparing two very different kinds of military service, the war of regular troops, who seldom concern themselves about the matter of dispute, and the resistance of a nation, fighting for existence against a disciplined conquering force. We were leaving the sandy plains of the north of Germany. We had been engaged with a peóple almost universally subject to military despotism. The several princes of the Germanic empire, for more than a century, had turned all their attention to the perfection of the military system, in order to establish their authority, and promote their personal ambition. But, in training their vas sals to a punctual and minute obedience, they had enervated the national character,—the only rampart against foreign invasion, the only invincible bulwark of a nation's strength. When a province of Germany had been conquered by the French, and could no longer obey its sovereign's commands, the lower classes, strangers to freedom of choice, dared not move a step without the impulse of their lords or their governments. These governments became by conquest subject to their conqueror's influence; and their lords, accustomed to witness the constant vexations which the people experienced from the soldiery, resigned themselves the more tamely to the evils which war introduces. In Prussia, the clergy held little ascendency over the people. Among the Protestants, the Reformation had destroyed that dominion which the priests still maintain in some Catholic countries, and above all in Spain. Men of letters, who might have influenced public opinion, and made their genius subservient to the prosperity of their country, were rarely called on to intermeddle with public affairs. The sole aim of their ambition was literary renown; and they did not apply themselves to those pursuits and studies which were adapted to the circumstances of the times. The real authority of many of the States in Germany was hinged upon their military systems; and their political existence necessarily depended on the energy or imbecility of their governments. In the plains of Germany, the nature of the country did not afford such facilities of escape from the yoke of the conquerors, as in other countries of a more barren, marshy, or mountainous nature. Small bodies of troops were sufficient to hold a great extent of conquered country in subjection, and to insure our armies of their necessary supplies. The citizens could have found no secure places of retreat, had they been disposed to any partial revolts; besides, the Germans being habituated to a quiet and uniform life, are only stimulated to desperate exertions by the complete derangement of their habits. The war in Germany was wholly carried on between troops of the line, among whom there exists rather rivalry than hatred. From the inha bitants of the conquered countries we had nothing to fear. The success of a campaign depended on the unity of military operations, the ability and perseverance of the chiefs, their sagacity to foresee and anticipate, and in bringing forward, opportunely and promptly, to decisive points of attack, overpowering masses of troops. We were not exposed to those petty skirmishes, which in regular warfare only increase particular suffering, without contributing to general advantage; and the capacity of generals was never defeated by individual interference, or popular spontaneous movements. In Germany we had only to conquer governments and armies: in the Spanish Peninsula, where we were now carrying our arms, there no longer existed either the one or the other. The Emperor Napoleon had invaded Portugal and Spain-had put to flight or taken captive the sovereigns of these two countries-and had dispersed their military forces. We had not now to contend with regular troops, every where nearly alike, but with a people who, in their manners, their prejudices, and the very nature of their country, were isolated |