Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-30

better STATE, tan II was ten days basl !,
man nature must lament the s;.R.r., Nv
iendlrances of.the brave patriass-.5a'.
recollection is maccompaned bv :. :.
may, asto the result of their exer,nn
!, !, co2s, D.e.-
The arrival Of the dtfieienE Eus';s5 :
and those regularly due to tie ID ip." %7'
of Frenck and Datch papers to H. ., y
and 2Gth ut. and Of Spanish papers AMI
tiers to the a7sssa, supply Us with mas, !
intelligence from varioCs PARIS of F.p,oss
The accounts from Spain are ren5rF,l
peculiarly interesting BY the circnlatn,
former .stateIn-nts Of contradictory j,an,l
and not founded in any positive knowl.5l|
OF. what they represented a, facts. I'll
doubt md suspicion with which nos i
them were received err justified BIZ tbe !,
ture of the communications recen:ly ,r,s'
m;ttcd from Spain, fer they disagree w.
every thing whica had been given /, j,
public, even through the medium Of !,
na;id Baird's army, or By the MeGSisr
The occurrences Of the war in the Nor,b !
Spain, as they gre now Represented, a.
summarily what follows:
1t will be recoliccted, that or The s,., !
October, gen. Blake was attacked by Ian
French force near Durango, and ate,
brave and obstinate resistance compelled 4
tall back upon Bilboa, and sahsequenS
upon Navas BY this success of the eRtnr
two divisions Of his army were sepanl
from the body ne commanded, and he p.
solved tc cadeavor to effect junction VIII
them. With chs intention on thu 81, /.
advanced and attacked a strong column /,
the enemy, which he defeated and dru.
beyond Vailnaseda. On the III he ass,
attacked them, but from some want d
prompt ope-,atic. IN the centre diyisir.
of lis a,@nv was sharply engaged and n,
unsuccessf4lly. On the 10Th the frem
renewed .hciv attack, and with great SUP.
rior:ty IN nunber. This was sanguingy
conflict, and maintained on both SIDES dq.
ing the dav. Il terminated Favorable ir
Blake. The arrival o. reinf)rcem.nts e.,
bed the FRENCH to resume offensive fighting
on the 18th, and tie Spaniards We're
length compelled to give way to tits mes
sancy Of attack VIII. augmented nlmber-
They were broken and thrown into comb.
sion. The occupatioa OF some elsgaa&ii
ground il t',e line Of retreat CAV. tie eaent
such an advantage, as to compel Bake 70
seek his security Ivy the sacrifice Of p9rsd
his cannon and bazgaga. He, howeve,
succeeded ii gaining Reynoaa with Tb',.
ever he could coilecs Of his dispersed Ior-.
ces. His adversary gave nm no respite N
this post, and an immediate attack upG
it forced him TO retreat to Vita Vlcieaz:'
This last movement was Perilous, and ds
PLAYED the consuamate ABILITY Of Ssn'ti
Blake, and the unsubducd bravery OF hi
reduced army.
Perhaps the history Of any tine doe'a;
supply instances or greater intrepIdT and
determination il battle, and Of more tnda-
rance and constancy under every k'0d o.
hardship and priyation than Blakes army
eviecesl during this unr-lsiitting waTia'
The soldiers 81 this very great man. u
spirsd BY his exrAple, and by the cause "
their country, fought T;thout ctotheS, sn''
or stockings, literally almost nake1, ez%
ed 10 al! nc severity o. the weather III ON
condition. The had net 70: several d''
more food tran wou!d inst sustain nature
and before the accumulated prSs5uo "
want, fatigue and povert2! enemy "a!
at last gase way. Since the Frencn fp',
began his career of Tyranny, he fas not a. a.
such aciversaries to contend with as l'1
band of heroes--and if we Judge from "p @
they have performed, such he is llkey y.
to fad in Spain. We are compelled to c.G
those observations By merely s:atlnS' VI u
the part Of gen. Blake's army WHICH 'oa.
not retrea, to ST. Vincent with tie nlaFq"I
4