were still
difficulties in the way of his taking the command. The whole force in
Navarre consisted but of nine hundred men--peasants for the most part,
many without arms, others with old and unserviceable ones; yet was the
colonelcy of this ragged and badly equipped regiment an object of
competition. Iturralde, who held it, refused to give it up,
although--with the exception of Juan Echevarria, the priest of Los
Arcos, who afterwards made his name infamous for his crimes and
excesses--all the officers and influential persons there assembled were
desirous he should resign it in favour of Zumalacarregui. Captain
Henningsen relates that Iturralde sent two companies of infantry to
arrest his rival, who, "reversing the game, sternly commanded them to
arrest Iturralde, and was obeyed." Of this we see no mention in the book
before us, where we are told, on the contrary, that Zumalacarregui,
finding Iturralde obstinate in retaining the command, was mounting his
horse with the intention of departing and offering his services to the
Alavese Carlists, when he was prevented on so doing by the mass of
officers and persons of distinction in the camp, who compelled him to
return to his quarters, promising that they would find means of
arranging matters satisfactorily. The captains formed up their
companies, and marched them to the parade-ground. When all were
assembled, Major Juan Sarasa, who was looked upon by the soldiers as
second in command, drew his sword, and exclaimed in a loud voice,
"Volunteers! In the name of King Charles the Fifth, Colonel Don Tomas
Zumalacarregui is recognised as Commandant-General of Navarre!" It is
certain that as Don Carlos was then far away from Navarre, and ignorant
even of what was going on there, he could not make this nomination; but
neither had he appointed Iturralde nor any of the other chiefs who
commanded in the various provinces. Under such circumstances this was
perhaps the most proper and solemn way of conferring the command,
especially when the choice fell upon the officer of the highest rank
there present. Before sheathing his sword, Sarasa ordered the guard of
honour at Iturralde's quarters to be relieved, and that Iturralde
himself should be kept under arrest until further orders from the new
chief. All this having taken place without opposition or disturbance,
Zumalacarregui made his appearance upon the parade, passed the troops in
review, and then causing them to form a circle round him