475
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAl\lAR
for his march, and then pushed with all possible speed for La Bihia. His numbers being considered too small to risk a general engagement, it was an important object to gain this post before the enemy should reinforce it. This he was enabled to do in consequence of the Royal- ists having stationed themselves at the crossing of the St. Mark on what is called the upper road, under the expectation that the invaders were making for Sanantonio, and would take that route. Fortunately, how- ever, instead of doing this they dashed directly for La Bihia, which they reached before the enemy discovered their movements. Tihey arrived on the first of November, about four hundred strong, and took possession of the fort without opposition. In a few days, Herrere, the commander of the spanish forces, made his appearance. He was re- garded as a skilfull officer, and marshalled about two thousand men well disciplined & equipped. A skirmish ensµed immediately upon his arrival, in which, however, neither party sustained much damage. The Royalists retired from the field; and the next morning invested the fort with three divisions, placed in a triangular form, the first being commanded, by Herrere himself, the second by Colonel Ignecia Peris and the third by Colonel M.ontara. In this situation they remained inactive more ·than a week, waiting the arrival of their heavy artillery. As soon as it was received, they attempted ·to take the fort by storm. The assault was commenced on the morning of the fifteenth, by the opening of three eighteen pounders, whose voices were feebly responded to by an equal number of small cannon which the patriots had acquired by the capture of the place. These noisy salutations continued for some time until the americans discovered a movement among the enemy which seemed to be new in military affairs, and is not laid down in either Scott or Stuben. Herrere had ordered a detachment to assault the fort and scale the walls, but instead of their coming to work with a bold and vigerous charge, each man advanced with a large round bale of hay before him, rolling it forward pretty much as a certain undignified insect tumbles its treasures along. They had hoped by this means to approach the fort in safety, and form with the bales a ' species of Bulwark which would enable them to carry on_ a more equal war with the soldiers on the rampire. But in this they were dis- appointed; for when they had advanced within a suitable distance for the American rifle, its sharp and unerring shot hit them between the hip and the hay, and caused them to fly back to their lines with an almost supernatural velosity. Herrere now put his whole force in motion, apparently for the purpose of making a furious charge on the fort; but the recent exhibition of pusillanimity determined the Amer- icans to meet him on the plain and give him fair and open battle. They accordingly sallied forth sword in hand, and formed for action. The spanish General consolidated his advancing divisions, and in a few minutes the conflict began. And never was a battle better fought than this on the part of patriots, except some affair ones, by the same set of heroes. It lasted three hours, and terminated by a complete dis- comfiture of the Royal forces, who were met and repulsed at every point, and finally thrown into irrecoverable confusion and forced to fly the town. · Herrere though defeated was not subdued. Rallying his disconcerted forces, on the succeeding day he resumed the same position which he
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