ut trenches; and preparations were making
to carry on the siege in due form, when, on the 14th, the garrison, in a
vigorous sortie, killed the commandant of the Carlist artillery, and
captured a mortar that had been placed in position. The same day Cordova
and his army started from Lerin, which they had reached upon the 13th,
and arrived at nightfall at Larraga, a town also upon the Arga, and
within a few miles of Pueute de la Reyna.

The next day was passed by the two considerable armies, which, it was
easy to foresee, would soon come into hostile collision, in various
movements and manoeuvres, which diminished the distance between them,
already not great. The Carlists, already discouraged by the successful
sortie of the 14th, retired from before Puente de la Reyna, and, moving
southwards, occupied the town and bridge of Mendigorria. On the other
hand, two-thirds of the Christino forces crossed the Arga, and quartered
themselves in and near the town of Artajona. The plain on the left bank
of the river was evidently to be the scene of the approaching conflict.
On few occasions during the war, had actions taken place upon such level
ground as this, the superiority of the Christinos in cavalry and
artillery having induced Zumalacarregui rather to seek battle in the
mountains, where those arms were less available. But since the
commencement of 1835, the Carlist horse had improved in numbers and
discipline; several cavalry officers of rank and skill had joined it,
and assisted in its organization; and although deprived of its gallant
leader, Don Carlos O'Donnel, who had fallen victim to his own imprudent
daring in an insignificant skirmish beneath the walls of Pampeluna,
Eraso, and the other Carlist generals, had now sufficient confidence in
its efficiency to risk a battle in a comparatively level country.
Numerically, the Carlists were superior to their opponents, but in
artillery, and especially in cavalry, the Christinos had the advantage.
From various garrison towns, through which he had passed in his
circuitous route from Bilboa to Larraga, the Christino commander had
collected reinforcements, and an imposing number of squadrons, including
several of lancers and dragoons of the royal guard, formed part of the
force now assembled at Larraga and Artajona.

It was late on the evening of the 15th of July, and on a number of
gently sloping fields, interspersed with vineyards and dotted with
trees, a Christino brigade, incl