Daily National Intelligencer

FROM BUENOS AYRES, &c.

By the Buenos Ayres Gazettes, dated in June, it appears that the Royal army had occupied the town of Salta, capital of an important province of that name, and which has for a long time been the seat of war, but that they were compelled to evacuate it with a very heavy loss, as appears by the following letters from the Commander of the Buenos Ayrean armies in that quarter.

Despatch from gen. Belgrano, to his Excellency the Supreme Director of State.

MOST EXCELLENT SIR:

The shameful retreat of the enemy, whose pride was flattered by the occupation of the town of Salta, is a convincing proof of the insufficiency of their attempts against a nation who, in a united mass, has sworn to maintain their liberties against whosoever may attack it.

Nothing can be more natural and patriotic than the picture drawn by the governor of Salta of the Spanish ferocity, in the despatch which I have the honor to send to your excellency, marked No. 1. I cannot perceive in it any thing but the most perfect sincerity and truth. The savages have, by their conduct, added another crime to the black catalogue already commenced, and which will not be finished while one of them is permitted to tread the soil of America.

No. 2 indicates their speedy evacuation of Jujui. Our advantages will, no doubt, be great, particularly from the reinforcements which the governor has requested from me, and which were ordered to march without delay. I flatter myself this intelligence will meet the approbation of your excellency, whom may God guard many years.

Tucuman, May 18, 1817.

Despatch from Don Martin Guemes, Governor General of Salta, to General Belgrano, dated Salta, May 9, 1817.

MOST EXCELLENT SIR:

I informed your excellency, under date of the 5th instant, that the enemy had evacuated this place, availing themselves of the night to effect their precipitate retreat, or, more properly speaking, their shameful flight. I beg leave to repeat to your excellency, with the sincerity with which I hope I have always been characterised, that, from the moment when they commenced their march, the pursuit has been incessant on the part of various detachments which were in their neighborhood, even as far as Jujui, which the enemy entered the day before yesterday, in the utmost confusion and terror.

In their retreat they suffered much in killed and wounded, according to the information received from the commander of our right wing, Don Apolinan Saravia, together with 31 deserters, and an European officer of bad character, prisoners. The enemy has lost all his horses, mules, together with some equipage. Indeed, so deplorable was his situation, that scarcely a single man entered the town of Jujui mounted, and they had scarcely got possession of the town, when they found themselves surrounded by the numerous parties which I had ordered into their rear, as well as those which pursued them from this place. I am ignorant of the precise result of the various actions which have taken place in the pursuit, but I have sufficient evidence to convince me, that during the retreat of the enemy, they had scarcely time to eat or to sleep for a moment. Their present situation is really deplorable. Unable to advance, to subsist where they are, or to retreat. Should they adopt the last measure, it must be attended with imminent danger, because the parties commanded by Quintana, from their advantageous position, will attack them on their left wing, while the respectable division commanded by lieut. col. Edward Arce will annoy their vanguard and right wing, and Savaria and others, who will proceed from this place, will do their duty in the rear of the enemy, so that I hope he will be completely destroyed. To effect this we are waiting for horses.

And should they arrive in a situation to act with activity, your excellency may be assured that even the enemy's commander, general Serman, will not arrive at his point of destination, or return to Tucuman over Peru. The twenty loads of munitions which I informed your excellency had been taken by capt. Don Francisco Pastor, prove to be balls for artillery, so that it is absolutely necessary that your excellency should assist me with the articles which I have required, that I may operate with activity, which is particularly necessary to do at this moment, that these tyrants may be pursued to total extinction.

It is impossible to conceive the ravages committed by these wretches on the unarmed inhabitants. Their conduct is without a parallel, even amongst the most savage nations. It is sufficient to say, that without respecting our sacred religion, they have directed their fury and madness against women and children, and every species of property, without distinction. To plunder and to rob has been their favorite occupation. It is impossible for the tongue or pen to describe the excesses which they have committed. It is necessary to see, in order to believe. The reverse has been the conduct of my brave officers and men; obedient to their chiefs, they have been examples of correct conduct, without any other object but the destruction of the enemy, against whom they have directed all their exertions. Indeed the irreproachable behavior of these merit the approbation of the Supreme Congress and your Excellency.
MARTIN GUEMES.

To his excellency brigadier captain general of the Provinces, and commander of the auxiliary army of Peru, Don Manuel Belgrano.

True copy

YEAZATE, Secretary.

No. 2.

EXCELLENT SIR—Commandant Don Joze Gavins de Quintana, under yesterday's date, from the River of Kings, advises me that he had taken from the enemy one hundred animals (although they are in a very bad situation) which were at pasture in the plain of Tablada of Jujui, without the slightest opposition, as the guard which had charge of them most shamefully fled. And that immediately afterwards he encountered a small party, routing them, taking six prisoners, and killing some, without the slightest loss on his part. He also informs me, that the desertion continues, and extends over to the Europeans, and that it would be much greater were he fully supplied with ammunition and horses to pursue them in the retreat, which their present movements indicate; and, lastly, he advises me that he has complied with all my orders and instructions relative to the necessary operations in the event of the enemy's adopting this measure.

I beg leave to recommend Don Joze Gavino de Quintana to your Excellency's notice, and further to inform your Excellency, that notwithstanding numerous difficulties with which I am surrounded, I am marching upon Jujui, desirous of conquering the enemy, and pursuing him to the utmost extremity.

God protect you many years.—Salta, 12th May.

MARTIN GUEMES.

To his Excellency D. Manuel Belgrano, &c.