The signal was given, and the small band of disciplined men fell
upon the camp. Lorenzo Bezan with some fifty picked followers sought
the head quarters of the camp, and having fought their way thither,
possessed themselves of the standards, and made prisoner of the
leader of the body of insurgents, and ere the morning sun had risen,
the camp was deserted, the enemy, totally defeated, had fled, or
been taken prisoners and bound, and the victorious little band of
the queen's troops were again housed within the walls of the
fortress.
But their fighting was not to end here; a second body of the enemy,
incensed as much by the loss of their comrades as elated by various
victories over other detachments of the army, fell upon them; but
they were met with such determined spirit and bravery, and so
completely did Lorenzo Bezan infuse his own manly and resolved
spirit into the hearts of his followers, that the second comers were
routed, their banners taken, and themselves dispersed. These two
victories, however, had cost him dear; half his little gallant band
had lost their lives, and there were treble their number of
prisoners securely confined within the fortress.
Fresh troops were despatched, in reply to his courier, to escort
these to the capital, and an order for himself and the rest of his
command to return to Madrid, forthwith.
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