l for the
cause had induced to draw his sword in behalf of Charles V., published a
narrative of twelve months' service with Zumalacarregui. There is much
in his book to amuse and interest, and Captain Henningsen, as we have
reason to know from other sources than the internal evidence of his
writings, is a gallant and accomplished officer. His descriptions are
graceful and agreeable, the sketches and anecdotes he gives are the very
romance of civil warfare--not that, as we believe, he either did or had
any occasion to embellish his account of a campaign which abounded in
the picturesque and the dramatic. He was only with Zumalacarregui,
however, during the latter half of his career, when the forces of the
Carlists had already assumed a certain numerical importance, and their
resources were on the increase. Of its earlier portion he could speak
but from hearsay; and it was during that earlier period that
Zumalacarregui had the greatest difficulties to contend
with--difficulties in overcoming which he displayed extraordinary talent
and perseverance. Besides this, we have always looked upon Captain
Henningsen's book rather as a slight, though interesting and truthful,
narrative of personal adventure, than as a record of Zumalacarregui's
career; nor does he claim for it a higher character than the one we are
disposed to concede to it. "I have merely," he says, "drawn a rough
sketch with charcoal on a guard-house wall--neither memoir, travels, nor
history--but which may have the merit of being a sketch from the life."
This is a correct definition. But the character and exploits of
Zumalacarregui were worthy of a chronicler who should treat the subject
more seriously--and such a one has lately been found. A personal friend,
who followed him from the first day that he took up arms for Don Carlos,
a native of the province in which the war was chiefly carried on, fully
acquainted with its state and the feelings of its inhabitants, as well
as with the incalculable disadvantages under which Zumalacarregui
laboured and the few advantages he enjoyed, has undertaken the task. Ten
years after Zumalacarregui's death, the Carlist general, Don Juan
Antonio Zaratiegui, has written, from the country of his exile, the
memoirs of his former leader.
Although the arrival of Zumalacarregui was hailed with the most lively
joy by the insurgents, and notwithstanding that he was senior in rank to
any officer then with the Navarrese Carlists, there
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