Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-09-26
,ss S P A I NJ.

SEviLf.Ey JtuySi loUS.
OFFICIAL. ACCOUNT OF THE DEFEAT |
OF CEN. BLAKE
Il Iesnatch,f from Don Joaquin Blake to his |
rrceYency Don .dntonio CorneL
I forwarded TO your exccllency under date |
Of the 18th of June, from Calanda, represent |
ta,ion to his majesty OF the unfortunate result
o. the action of Bclchite, acquaintng him at
the same time that in consequence OF de-
nress;on of mind, was unable to give the de- |
tails of that distressing event. Though have
not recovered from the detection of this defeat,
which neither the nation, myself, nor the faith
f,l officers of my army ought to have anticipa-
ted, consider il my duty, no longer to be dis
pensed with, 10 inform your excellencyy and
through you his majesty. not the minute de-.
tails Of a battle which was never fought, bat
rather of those circumstances which must ex-
cite amazemeDt at what has so unnecessarily
happened
In my despatch to your excellency of the day
preceding this sad event, describe our siit-
alton. whichwas such, that confidently trus-
ted, that if the enemy attacked us in the front
VIC should rcpu!se him. Nevertheless, knew
yer could I suspect o. a,prehend, that my
troops would Ry without iightingj that a few
sin, from the enemy's artillery would make
them abandon a-i,osiiion in which they had 80
thing dread either from cavalry, from
81 Sc sldden turns in battle which have some-
Bechite is placed on the deciivity of the
mountains which almost surround it, taking its
beginning from the road OF Zeyla. Bat TO en-
ter the town there IS AIDE scent which begins At
a print called Ca'yario. Said heights continue
along the road which lroes to Fuendetotlos and
passes henca,h-a hiii in advance, where the
hermitage 81 Iiceyo IS situated. The front
and avenues Of zaragosa on a smooth co,lnr
try covered Nyi,h orchards and olive gardens,
without any i1t ERUPTION bat that Of 4 few rid.
ges, which copluctStu the road of Alboton, A.
bout league distant from Belohte.4 The
heights which pass the aforementioned road
OF Fuende odos, begin from Belchite. MT the
hermitage OF sass Barbara, in whose vicinity
are nam straw lofts, aud two great buildings
for cattle These buildings and hermitage
were the right flank OF our position, in conse.
Quencc of wnichthey were mad loop hoed,
In the, front and ieft were the chain OF ridges,
with some spaces, and finally at the back ran
canal, which terminates at the orchard, he
tween the heights Of CalvGrio and Pueblo, The
troops which Mere dejached IN the hcrmitage
and straw lofts, could not be attacked BY the
cavalrv-neither eoutd the centre without be
ing opposed 10 terrible cross firing: those
OF lie left could ALWAYS retire TO the herm 'tage
of Santa Barbara. Cons equentlv The ,Iiern-
tagc, OF pieeyo was occupied, and the tc' of
Calvsrlo, by.two rc9ime;,ts, and the artillery
park was placed behind. The olive gardens
were likewise g@rris0ned.
The cavalry were in the avenues ofthctown
and road of zaragosa to cover them0 and they
were supported by another regiment of infan-
try. The remainder of the troops occupied
the heights from Santa Barbara towards the
road OF Fucnde,o,Ns, but connected withthe
ground Of the position. that IA some parts 8
lines were formed, moreover 5 columns for the
attack were ready, that il in case the enemy
pushed hard on the left we might face them,
and act otensWeiy. Even if theyehad routed
them we couli have retired TO the centre an I
rightfank, hi@ing thennothing 20 fear but from,
the front. and 10 iender.the continuation of the
attack impossible, finally the artillery was SO
placed.as TO protect lhe attack OF said columns
and gould IN c;sc.ef necessity retire To the
same point where the troops were to act These
were. already posted, and fhaTargued by me
They promised faithfully to comply with theil
duty. rhe enemy after having showed them
selves from thetops Of the town of AlbortoI
fled oft upon our left, Il column advap -iug witt
two pieces Of artillery. Their artillery free
five or six Shot atthe same time two or tlr
greuades burst, which wounded or men
Our artillery b gan 10 attack theirs, or rathe
to answer their Ere when all of a sudden,
regiment began TO fy I'm tire greatest disorder
without firing gun. A grenade from the en-
envy is SAID to have fallen among them hno
Their without firing did the same, aud another
and finally in a few minutes the position wa
abandoned, some corps flying not being enable
to sustain tine mpetuosity with which the
rushed upon each other and prevented thei
firing. Thus we the generals and officers re
NAMED alone il the middle of tie field withou
being enabled ,orally a single corps, and ha
the grief to sec an army dispense, abandonin
its effects. throwing away their arms and drcs
from bat a.siugle body of the enemy and "
pieces ofaFtiliery We could not halt until sv
arrived st some strong place, not being en-,
bled TO muster more than 200 men 20 face IN
enemy. It's well known that they we're NJ
IN want Of Examination and provisions and tia
on my side had omitted nothing to ensuI
them victoryj at least to enable them Ga mai
tain tho honor of our arms in the opinion ofil
world 1fhis majesty accedes TO what | r.
quostcd Of him in my representation of Il
18Th Ihope to prove more fully what l aiirn
These dfspersons are unfortunately too con
mon in o,r armies. j DO not think this pr
per platc to point out the cause bat cam
help SAYING that al few individuals, vino set
bad example, can do much to discourage
army without the generals knowing Il,
whose ears the conversation of weak men
rarely communicated IL The love to my cou
tGy did not exceed even that which ny cons,
cnce dictates, should be tranquil when
consider that ths same army conicsses ina
have neglected nothing as q general, or s.