Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-31
WAR IN PERU.

Inc readers of accounts of war events it
Peru, between the Colombian, army under Boz T.
VAR, and the Spanish forces under CAS.rER .c
must nave noticed how contradictory and ya~nc
thcy nave uniformly appeared: what little cal.
cuiations could be made on even those dennni
mated cgScial; how often the same events have
been repeated with the embellishments, which
nave made them appear as ones; and will
how much pomposity very trilling events have
been rnaGuiIcd into glorious victories Some
part of The fault may be in the translators, who
do not always consider how fertile, the Snauie,,
language Is III hypo. hole: and no little IN The
eaScrness with which nowsmongcrs and news
collectors readily believe and circulate what
they wish to be true. By these means the public.
who wish to be informed Of events as they are,
are frequently misinformed; and have common
~ no means by which they can reconcile con-
Trajectory accounts
IL IS known, that President Bolivar invaded
Peru last year; and that the Patriots made them
selves masters Of Lima, Callao sc. That soon
after, both of these places fell into the hands of
the Spanards; that Bolivar took n pos,tion at
Truxillo, the city of Pizarro, (about $50 miles
n. of Lina;) and that Cantcrac advanced into
that vicinity. Since then the reports from that
quarter have been unusually crude and without
dates 1t has frequently been reported that the
Spanish army had been annihilated; was divided
INTO fugitive factions; and that Lima, &C. had
been retalscn-whiie on the other hand that
BOLIVAR was triumphant, and that large rein
'orccments had been sent TO him from th, Co
loinbian republic. The latter reports are cor
roboratcd. 4 short time since, we had what
were called official accounts of a victory gained
over the anniHiatcd Spanish army at Junin.
(a0o"t 700 mates from. Lima by BoIUAP, on
the 9Th. August The dispatches were from
his Secretary, dated at Reyes, the 7th. and re-
ceived at Truxillo On she 18th; and announced
glorious victory, in which more than a thou
sand veteran Spanish cavalry had been beaten
by only 400 raw patriot horse; that CaNTEe,c
was fiying before the irresistible power of the
l-Ioeratof, and would not be able again TO face
han; aud that the Colombian Chief had eiFac
tualiy liberated the land of the fncas, after il
had been in the possession of the royalists for
fourteen years. Those who perused the des-
patches carefully, readily saw that Ibis glorious
victory was no more than an affair between the
reaI guard of Canterac, which was rctrcating
to take position TO give battle, and which was
attacked by the cavalry of the Colombian army:
and after sharp defence, continued 10 follow
the army. The Colombian accounts admitted
that success during the action, was carried: and
the disparity of the killed and wounded on the
two sides, was not great. when it is considered
how common a thing it is in all arm les to ex-
aggerate and eXtenuate lusses.-'fhe affair was
unques'ionably bloody one. and the place
where it was fought SHOWS that Bolivar had add
yanced a large distance from Truxillo.
Recently, adviccs have been received from
.heE.co TO the I'd November, where a despatch
had been received from the Intendant General
OF G,tayGqua, dated Sept. %, which mentioned,
that brig hal arrived there from Guaachaco,
the Captain of which reported, that the toloin-
bian army had gained second triumph, by ics-
troying several corps of the Spanish army be-
You'd GuanangG: but it was doubtful whether
this wasa defeat of Cantcrac's army, or some
detachments marching 10 his assistance.
On the above subject have just received
the following communication from a CORES
pondent IN South Amcrica:-
"PASAMA, Goth October, 1924.
"Dear Sir-No doubt you have heard ere
tins or the dreadful battle which has been fought
between the Spaniards and Colombian army,
near Truxillo, on the | 9Th. of last month; but
am happy to inform you that the result has not
been hear so diSaStyous 10 The Coioaahia,,s as has
been at first represented. The schooner Libcr-
tadora arrived Yesterday from Guanchaco, by
which we hare received 4 few further de-
lails,--lt appears that certainly the acIon was
most sangninary; both Bolivar and Canterac
commanded in person, and the Colombians no
doubt would have gained the day, but for the
treachcry of one of their hataIlions which in the
hottest of the line shdmefuUy passed oue7 to the
enemy. The space thus left open, was taken
advantage OF by the Spanish cavalry, who imme-
diately charged, and made a dreadful havoc
amongst the olombians. But Bolivcr instant
ly rallied them and made good his retreat, keep
ing constantly the enemy in check. Never did
the Liberator display more firnness and hero
s'D, nor did he ever expose himself so much.
lie bad three horses killed under him, and was
wounded by two balls, without losing his sang
iroid. fic had only with him COCO men, and If
the late rcinforCcments had Joined him IN time,
the victory would have been his. The Span
Iards had double the force and superior caval-
ry. they say Canterac is severely wounded; his
loss must have been tremendous, for Bolivar
had the command ofthe heights, from whence
he poured destructive fire of artillery on the
5Paniards, as they advanced. BY the last ac-
counts Bolivar had gone 20 G1tnynQlsil, to or
garize his reinforcenents; Canterac had entered
Colom6ia, but his victory will be of little profit
10 him, as the Colombians are every where in
possession of the passes, and he cannot make
use OF his cavaly in the mountains. As soon as
The troops lately sent from here arrive, Bolivar
will be able to take the field again, and no doubt
give good account of the Spaniards.--I am,
Sricved to say both Generals Cordovo and Mil
cT are dead. they fell gloriously in the cause of
liberty. Here we entertain no appreheDsions.
Yours, r.. R.n
1t will be seen By the above, that Bolivar hal
10 Guayaquil, about $50 miles north
of TTuxillo; and that the Spanish army had
entered Colombia. 1t appears extraordinary,
hat Boliyar's force in the battle should not have
6OOO, as all our former accounts
it, at the lowest, at 1000; and none
made the Spanish army more than 5000, strong.
The General Miller mentioned, was a very
gallant English officer, who had recently Joined
Inc Colombian army.
r