Since our last week's general notice of the storming of
Iron by the troops under EVANS, detailed particulars have been re- ceived. The despatch of General Evarss, though rather long for the room at our disposal, is subjoined, on account of its present interest. It will be seen that Fontarnbia capitulated the day. after Irun was entered; and that the French csmmander on the Pyrenean frontier, when the battle was over, took care of the wounded. The despatch is addressed to the Count LTICHAN A, the Spanish General-in-Chief.
" Iron. May 10. " Moiit Excellent Sir—I have now the honour to report to your Excellency the final result of the operations of the last few days of the corps Warmer! in. trusted to my command. On the morning of the pith instant, the two Lutz- lions of the rebels which occupied Oyarzunabatidoned it on our approach to that town. The inhabitants, thus liberated, threw open their gates. I left there a garrison of 700 men. "The columns continued their march. to thee eftertiden we invested and commenced the attack on the Fort del Marque and the fortified t. nit of Irue. The enemy's works proved strong : they defended them firmly. The artillery of the Legion were admirably served, hut were a too light a calibre. The bravery of the troops, however, fought its through all difficulties, Loot particu- larly of the Rifles, Royal Irish, and First British Regiments, under the gallant Colonels Forteacue, Carman, and Shaw. Every street was doubly or trehli de- fended by lofty and massive barricades : ulurost every house n as a fos tificat ion. For about twenty hours tl:c contest continued with almost undith-d ardour. At ten o'clock on the morning of the 17th, the town was eve/Ito:illy shuttled and carried. Nearly at the saute time, the Fort del Pariple sun end. red at dis- cretion to my Aides-de-camp Lieutenant-Colonek Shelley and C'ottoner, at
the head of some companies of the brilliant Pt Mersa Reg' int.
"At noon yesterday, the 16th, the fortress of Foutarabia capitolated. Co- lonel Shelley and Li,.utenaut Gurrea nigotiated the capitulation with much address ; and which was very convenient, as it 'DWI' have cie.t us touch time and many lives to reduce the place. I have placed pill-min ill the.e t •na and have appointed Colonel Parieira, of the lufante Regiment, eotninandarat of Oyarzun my Aide de-camp Colonel Ltizaina, and Colonel hurl izs, Go- vernors of Fontarabia and Irun, till your Excellency's plea-nre shall be known. " To Brigadiers Chichester awl Fitzgerald, n Ito carte ptilicip.L y etign.ed, have to of Joy w arniest thanks. I also ttwu my hest ackulorkliglitelitil to Brigadier Central !tendon, comminding the vanguard division, a: al to the dis- tinguished Brigadiers O'Donnell and Santa Cruz. ColoriSI de Is Sasumaye seas particularly forward and judicious in his exertions; an mils Major flutilphtey, of the Engineer.. No one thriplaytd more intelligence and intrepidity tl an Colonel Alexander Arbuthnot, in directing the forlorn hope which first pene- trated into the town, and which consisted of the light tii:niriby of the first British Regiment, under Lieutenant Pearce. This party was aim, Ird in • brilliant tnanner by my Aide-de-vamp Lieutenant .C.Ionel Would, idge t by Major M'Intosb, QuartermastersGeneral's department, and Captain.' Horn- brook and Read, of the Eng.wers, and Atkins of the Rifles. I regret that Colonel Arbuthnot received a sssere injury fserea a muskst.ball. "General Seoane, though sulking from this wounds, =Me upon the field, and afforded me the benefit of his . counsel sad good judgment. It is with a peculiar pleasure I convey to your, Excelletwermy expretrion of gratitude to General Count Harispe, Commander-in-chiel of the French forces on his frontier, for the cordial and judicious assistance he is always _prompt to render her Majesty's army in this province. To General Nogues, the French second in command, I am also greatly indebted.
" The Sous-Prefect and other civil authorities were equally obliging in every respect. Our cannon and musket ammunition were nearly expended. The French ordnance magazines were thrown open to us ;. hospitals were provided for us on the French territory by anticipation, and civil and military surgeons appointed to assist in attending the wounded.
It was most gratifying to witness amid the great French people this sympathy of feeling in our sacred cause. But how could it be otherwise? Let the policy of Governments be what they may, that which has with it the wishes of the enlightened of all nations will surely triumph. The good-will and zeal of Colonel de Senhilles, the Commissioner of the King of the French, were on this as on all other occasions conspicuous, and his assistance to the ope- rations always readily afforded.
" To Colonel Wylde, his Britannic Majesty's Commissioner with the Spanish army, I need scarcely tell your Excellency that I have been on this as on many occasions deeply beholden. From this distinguished officer her Majesty's cause has constantly received, as your Excellency well knows, the most valuable and important assistance. " I should not omit to mention the Deputy of Cortes, Don — Lujan, who was kind enough to accompany me on this service ; and Lieutenant Bengon, commanding a battery placed on the road, within 150 yards of one of the prin- cipal gates, having been disabled by a cannon-shot. Senor Lugan im:dediately volunteered to take charge of the battery, under a very heavy fire. The science and bravery displayed in conducting it attracted general observation. " The obstinacy of the rebels, and the number and strength of the obstacles, could only be subdued by a variety of personal and devoted exertions ; and this is my apology fur thus trespassing on your Excellency with so many personal details.
" I must not forget to mention also, for your Excellency's approval, the gal- lant conduct of Colonel O'Connell, the Deputy Adjutant-General of the Le- gion ; of Colonel Ross, commanding the first brigade ; of Colonels Herman and Mead, of my personal staff; 01 Lieutenant•Colonels Hogg, Clarke, and Ebsworth, commanding the Eighth, Sixth, and Fourth Regiments • and of Lieutenant-Colonel Freestan, and Major Baron Peoguld ; also of the ability and skill of Dr. Alcock, the Deputy-Inspector, and the officers, Spanish and English, of the Medical department; and of Colonel Arbuthnot, commanding the second battalion of Light Infantry; of the brave Lieutenant-Colonel Bas- reran and Lieutenant-Colonel Pintail°, of the same regiment. " Of Colonel Shaw, Captain How, Captain Wade, and the officers and men of the Artillery, I cannot too strongly express to your Excellency my high ap- proval. There is no cor as in her Majesty's army more efficient than this • and I can truly speak in equal terms of Colonel Wakefield and the gallant and ex- cellent officers of the First Lancers.
" I cannot conclude without recommending to your Excellency's particular consideration Colonel Jochmus, the acting chief of staff of this corps d'armee, and Deputy-Quartermaster-General of the Legion, as an officer of very high and remarkable professional talent and qualifications. " I have the honour to transmit this despatch by my Aide-de-camp Lieute- nant•Colonel Escudern, of Alava; whose good behaviour in this and various actions emboldens me to recommend him to your Excellency's protection.
" I have now only to express my hope that the execution of this duty which your Excellency has been kiud enough to intrust to me .may meet with your approbation.
" God preserve your Excellency many years, &c.
"Drs La c v Ey.% NS, Lieut.-General."
No mention is made of the numbers of killed and wounded on either side in the above despatch, but the following list of killed
and wounded officers is given : Colonel WAKEFIELD, who was
said to have been severely hurt, is not among them.
Captain de Burgh, Rifles, leg amputated. Captain Demo, Tenth Regiment, dead of wounds.
Captain Durie, First Regiment, dead of wounds. Lieutenant Phelan, Rifles, both legs amputated. Lieutenant Wheating, Rifles, killed. Captain Hornsly, First Regiment, amputated shoulder-joint. Major M•Duff, attached to Rifles, killed. Lieutenant Dupont, First Regiment, right leg amputated, left wounded. Captain Linton, First Regiment, severely wounded. Major Atkin, Rifles, slightly wounded in the head.
The statement that the men of the Legion gave no quarter after Iron was entered, is partially contradicted, in the following letter from Colonel WYLDE, published in the Morning Chronicle- .. !run was taken by assault by the British Legion about three hours since, after an obstinate resistance ; the detached redoubt having surrendered at dis- cretion about half an hour before, on perceiving that our troops had already pe- netrated into the town. I have great pleasure in bearing testimony on this occasion, not only to the bravery of the Legion, but to the manner in which they sustained the national character fur humanity, in sparing tke lives of the gar- rison, nearly 400 of whom have been made prisoners and placed in security in short, none were bayoneted except in the first rush into the town, between the first two barricades, notwithstanding the many and recent provocations the men of the Legion have received."
The expression " placed in security," implies, however, that the prisoners had been in danger, and must be taken as a confirmation of what we stated last week, that the officers protected them from the fury of the men. The Phare de Bayonne says- " The town was delivered 00 to a frightful pillage; the English rushed poll- melt through all the streets of which they were masters, and destroyed and killed without pity all that came under their hoods : more than 150 men were bayoneted in this manner. General Evans, General Chichester, and all the officers of the English Staff, made strenuous efforts to stop the effusion of blood, and, at the risk of their own lives, succeeded in saving 300 prisoners, whom the officers nobly protected sword in hand."
At Fontarabia, 270 men and 13 officers wore made prisoners, and seven pieces of cannon fell into the hands of the victors. It appears that Fontarabia was strongly fortified, and might have been defended ; but it is said that the garrison were disgusted at the desertion of them by Don SEBASTIAN. Considerable uncer- tainty still prevails as to the movements and intentions of the Dan. According to a telegraphic despatch from Bayonne, he crossed the river Arragon, at a place called Galiscienzo. lie is
pursued by IRRIBARREN; but such is the disorganized state of Spain, that there is reason to apprehend the Carlists have only changed the seat of war, and that the insurrection may be kept up in Arragon or Catalonia. One reason for the abandonment of Navarre and the Basque provinces, is the difficulty of getting supplies of provisions and ammunition ; for it seems that recently the French Commanders have been instructed to execute the Quadruple Treaty with fidelity. The last accounts from EVANS mention that he had joined ESPARTERO at Hernani.
