outside a place called
Murviedro he harangued 2,000 officers and soldiers, then camped there, on
December 24, 1874. The officers were already known to him as favourable
to Alfonso. They applauded him enthusiastically, the men followed, and
they there and then swore "to defend with the last drop of their blood
the flag raised in face of the misfortunes of their country as a happy
omen of redemption, peace and happiness." (December 24, 1874.) The fat
was in the fire. Those who were delaying the Pronunciamento had to give
it their support, however much they considered it inexpedient. The
Commander-in-Chief of the Army in the Field, Jovellar, and his Chief of
the Staff, Arcaguarra, were also Royalists at heart. Jovellar hastened to
instruct his generals openly to acknowledge Alfonso as their King, as
King of Spain.

One general, the Marquis del Castillo, was then commanding the Government
troops in Valencia. He was a loyalist too, but he did not think it right
to assist with the troops under his command in effecting a change of
Government, practically to take part in a rebellion while facing the
common enemy. Castillo prepared to resist the Pronunciamento and march
against the troops at Murviedro. Jovellar frustrated his intentions and
marched at the head of his troops against him. Castillo's officers and
soldiers fraternized with Jovellar's troops, and Castillo was ordered
back to Madrid.

Alfonso XII reached Barcelona January 9, 1875. Official functions, his
entry into Madrid, the issuing of Proclamations, fully engaged his time.
But he was most anxious to proceed north and place himself at the head of
his troops to whom he owed so much. Amongst the Proclamations was one
practically offering the Carlists complete amnesty and the confirmation
of the local privileges of the Provinces where the Carlist cause was most
in favour. Don Carlos rejected the offer with disdain. Alfonso then,
early in February, 1875, proceeded north to the River Ebro, reviewed some
40,000 of his best troops and joined General Morriones.

Such was the political situation. The military situation was as follows:
Don Carlos's Army numbered some 30,000 men. The provinces from which they
had been fed were becoming exhausted. On the other hand, Alfonso's troops
numbered about twice their strength, and their moral had been improved by
the success of their Pronunciamento and the return of some of the best
leaders to the command of groups of the Army. The C