The French had assaulted with great vigor the fortified positions of the Torrero. Ten thousand men defended them, commanded by Don Philip Saint March and by O’Neill, both generals of great merit. The volunteers of Bourbon, Castile, Campo Segorbino, of Alicante, and of Soria, the sharpshooters of Fernando VII , the Murcia regiment, and other bodies that I do not remember, answered the fire. From the redoubt of Los Mártires we saw the beginning of the action, and the French columns which extended the length of the canal and flanked the Torrero. The fire of the fusileers continued for some time, but the struggle could not be prolonged very long, for that point could not be held without the occupation and fortification of others close by, like Buena Vista, Casa Blanca, and the reservoir of the canal. But none the less our troops did not retire except slowly and in the best order, retreating by the Puente de América, and carrying with them all the pieces of artillery except one, which had been dismantled by the enemy’s fire. Amidst it all we heard a great noise which resounded at a great distance, and as the fire had almost ceased, we supposed that there was another battle outside the town.
“There is the Brigadier Don José Manso,” said Augustine to me, “with the Swiss regiment of Aragón, which Don Mariano Walker commands, the volunteers of Huesca, of whom Don Pedro Villacampa is leader, the volunteers of Catalonia, and other valiant corps. And here are we, hand in hand! Along this side it appears to be about finished. The French will content themselves today with the conquest of Torrero.”
“Either I am greatly deceived,” I replied, “or they are now going to attack San José.”