On the one hand, if he did not return to the defense of Catalonia, the king might be exposed to imminent danger; and, on the other, if he repassed the Ebro he might be accused of having left Valencia and its loyal inhabitants to their fate, and would have forfeited all the advantages that his audacity and skill had already gained.
His difficulties in any case were enormous.

His infantry were marching almost barefooted; they were clothed in rags.

The season was inclement, the country mountainous and rough, and the horses of the dragoons so exhausted that they could scarcely carry their riders.

In obedience to his instructions, here, as at Tortosa, he assembled his officers in a council of war and asked their opinion.

They were unanimous in saying that, with the small and exhausted force under his orders, no further operation could be undertaken for the conquest of Valencia, but that the little army should post itself in such a position as might afford the greatest facility for protecting the king.
Peterborough had thus on one side not only the difficulty of the position, but the opinion of the council of war against a further advance; but on the other hand he knew the anxiety of the king that help should be given to the Valencians.