Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-05-23
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The United States frigatc Constella-
ton, Commodore Morris, came into the
Capes on Saturday morning about .
O'Clock, and anchored in Lynhaven Bay.
The Constellation sailed from this
port in November last, in company with
the corvette John Adams, captain Wads-
worth, and arrived at Monte Video after
passage of IS days thence commodore
Morris proceeded in the John Adams to
Buenos Ayres, from which he sailed on
the Goth February, for Monte Video !;
arrived there on the 22d, and sailed on
the 9th from that port in the Constella-
ton; touched at St. Picrres, Martinique,
on the 10th instant; left there the next
day for St. Thomas, where she arrived
on the 10th, and sailed on the 18th
instant, for the United States Iaforma-
ton was obtained at St. Thomas, that
the United States ship Cyane, captain
Trenchard, had been spoken the latter
end Of March, off Sierra Leone, at
which time her officers and ships
company continued we'll.
The polite attention Of friend has
put US in possession of a variety Of
Buenos Ayres papers, from 5th January
to 9th February, inclusive, which our
translator reports to contain little else
than manifestos, proclamations, DEGREES,
and orders of the military chieftains !;
some ofthem approaching the conduct Of
the officers and men in battle fought
on the LIST February, within about so
leagues of Buenos Ayres, between the
Buenos Ayrean troops, headed by Gen.
Rondo, (the Supreme Director, and the
Monteneros, under the command of
Gen. Ramirez--but they merely allude
incidentally to the battle, without giving
any particulars of its commencement,
progress, the relative force of the com
batants, or any circumstances from
which an estimate its character might
be formed, save that they concur in de-
claring it day of disaster to the arms of
Buenos Ayres.
We learn, however, from another
source, that the battle was fought on or
about the lst February-that the force
of the Buenos Ayrcan army under Ron
do, was about 1900, while that of the
Monteneros, under Ramirez, was about
3,0oo-that the Buenos Ayrean cavalry
fled with precipitation at the first onset--
that, on the 10Th February, the Montene-
ros were within so miles Of the city,
where the Congress had been dissolved,
and all the functions Of regular govern
ment suspended.
A temporary government had been
formed, at the head of which was Gen.
Miguel Estanislao Soler, on behalf of the
military, and Gen. Saltier, on the part
of the people. Puerrydon, ex-suprrme
director, and member of the Congress,
with view of escaping the threatened
vengeance of Ramirez, who had offered
a reward for his head, had, on his ap-
proach to Buenos Ayres, fed to Monte
Video. An embargo had also been laid
at Monte Video, on the expectation Of
provisions.
An officer Of the Constellation, who
was despatched to the Portuguese camp
to obtain the releass of two American
vessels at Monte Video, from the opera
ton of the embargo, which was effected,
brought the information that Artigas had
been completely defeated in battle with
the Portuguese, a short time previous.
When the Constellation sailed, Monte
Video and Maldonado were in quiet
possession of the Portuguese. The
power of Artigas was completely pros
trate, his principal generals, among
whom was General Fluter, having been
gained over by the Portuguese; his
army thinned by desertion; and, in
battle which took place in Banda Oriental,
on or about the 18th February, he was
SO completely routed, that he had not
thereafter the show of force. San Martin
having manifested strong desire to re-
tire from the command of the army, had
even made plea of ill health to go to
Chill, where he was when the Constella-
ton sailed. The government and peo-
pie were SO much opposed to his quit
ting the army, that his wishes could not
DC gratiGed.
The United States ship, John Adams,
captain Wadsworth, was left at St.
Thomas by the Constellation, which
parted company with the United States
schooner Nonsuch, lieutenant Turner,
in the river La Plata.
The Constellation left in the river Sir
Thomas Hardy's squadron, consisting of
two 74's, one frigate, and sloop of war.
Our TransLator's Note.
From the papers received from