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MEMOIRS 


OF 


GENERAL    MILLER, 


IN  THE  8ERVICE  OF 


■-  i- 


THE  REPUBLIC  OF  PERU. 


BY  JOHN  MILLER. 


SECOND  EDITION. 


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LONDON: 
PRINTED  FOR  LONGMAN,  REES,  ORME,  BROWN,  AND  GREEN, 

PATKRNOSTER-ROW. 


1829. 


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PREFACE 


TO  TUE 


SECOND   EDITION. 


The  present  edition  of  these  Memoirs  contains  a 
considerable  quantity  of  new  and  interesting  matter# 
and  the  general  arrangement  of  the  work  has  been 
altogether  improved.  The  portraits  of  San  Martin, 
Bolivar,  and  O'Higgins,  the  three  most  conspicuous 
characters  of  the  South  American  revolution,  en- 
graved from  original  paintings,  have  been  introduced, 

The  Appendix  has  been  enlarged  by  the  insertion 
of  several  documents,  in  order  to  elucidate  the  opera- 
tions in  the  Puertos  Intennedios,  and  some  others 
which  serve  to  illustrate  more  fully  the  character  of 
persons  mentioned  in  the  narrative. 

Having  published  a  Spanish  edition,  I  think  it 
due  to  my  friend,  the  translator,  to  give  that  part  of 
his  preface  which  exhibits  his  own  view  of  the  Spa- 
nish colonial  system,  and  although  I  do  not  concur 
in  the  opinions  he  advances,  I  cannot  express  my 
dissent  from  them  without  at  the  same  time  acknow- 
ledging, that  great  credit  is  due  to  him  for  the  mo- 
deration and  honourable  feeling  with  which  he  has 
advocated  the  cause  of  his  own  country. 


vi  PEEFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 

After  describing  the  contents  of  this  work,  and 
paying  some  compliments,  which  emanate  rather  from 
the  warmth  of  friendship  than  the  impartiality  of 
criticism,  General  Torrijos  sketches,  in  very  hand- 
some terms,  the  character  of  the  subject  of  the  Me- 
moirs, and  proceeds  as  in  the  annexed  translation  *. 

THE  AUTHOR. 

Wmgharri)  1st  March,  1829. 


*  The  translator,  General  Don  Jose  Maria  de  Torrijos,  was  born  at  Madrid 
in  the  year  1791.  When  ten  years  old  he  was  made  a  page  to  King  Charles  the 
Fourth.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  received  a  captaincy  in  the  Ultonia,  a  regi- 
ment of  the  Irish  brigade.  He  prosecuted  his  military  studies  at  the  engineer 
academy  of  Alcala  de  Henares.  In  the  course  of  the  war  he  was  appointed  to 
the  command  of  Doyle's  regiment  of  light  infantry,  which,  in  1812,  formed  part 
of  the  garrison  of  Badajoz,  where  the  friendship  between  General  Torrijos  and 
the  subject  of  these  memoirs  commenced.  He  commanded  a  Spanish  brigade 
at  the  battle  of  Vitoria,  and  continued  attached  to  Lord  Hill's  division  until 
the  peace  of  1814.  The  valour,  talent,  zeal,  activity,  and  services  of  General 
Torrijos,  during  the  Peninsular  war,  are  too  well  known  to  require  detail.  The 
liberality  of  his  political  sentiments  occasioned  him  to  be  thrown  into  the  cells 
of  the  inquisition  at  Murcia,  where  he  remained  in  solitary  confinement  from 
1817  to  1820,  when  his  prison-doors  were  thrown  open,  by  the  re-establishment 
of  the  constitution.  In  1823,  General  Torrijos  commanded  in  Carthagena  and 
Alicant,-and  maintained  those  fortresses  in  behalf  of  the  constitutional  govern- 
ment long  after  the  absolute  king  had  re-entered  the  capital.  When  further 
opposition  had  become  without  an  object,  the  general  obtained  the  most  favour- 
able conditions  for  his  army ;  but,  unable  himself  to  reconcile  his  mind  to  the  idea 
of  living  under  a  despotic  prince,  he  emigrated,  and  is  now  living  in  London,  where 
he  is  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance. 


TRANSLATION 


OF  THE 


PREFACE  TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION. 


"  The  system  of  colonial  policy  by  which  America" 
was  governed  for  three  centuries  has  been  cha- 
racterized as  disastrous  and  unjust.  But  was  this 
system  peculiar  to  Spain?  Did  not  other  nations 
pursue  the  same  conduct  towards  their  colonies  ?  If 
one  nation  adopted  a  more  moderate  system  towards 
a  portion  of  her  colonies,  was  not  this  a  consequence 
of  the  greater  degree  of  liberty  enjoyed  by  that 
nation?  Did  unhappy  Spain  either  enjoy  this  ad- 
vantage, or  have  the  means  of  expressing  her  inclina- 
tions? Would  not  those  who  advance  these  revolting 
accusations  be  better  employed  in  censuring  the 
numerous  acts  of  injustice  committed  by  their  own 
governments  upon  their  present  colonial  possessions? 
Did  the  colonies  established  by  the  republics  of  an- 
tiquity, or  the  nations  they  conquered,  enjoy  greater 
happiness?  Do  the  colonies,  from  the  Indus  to 
Canada,  now  under  the  European  yoke,  enjoy  greater 
happiness?  Why  then  should  Spain  be  exclusively 
attacked — Spain,  which,  ever  since  the  discovery  of 
her  colonies,  has  been,  and  still  is,  as  much  oppressed 
by  her  kings,  as  her  kings  oppressed  America.?    Ite- 


vm  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  PREFACE 

fective  as  may  be  her  colonial  laws  and  regulations, 
are  they  not  adopted  by  all  nations  in  doubtful  cases? 
Have  those  islands  and  Spanish  colonies  which,  in 
consequence  of  the  war,  have  passed  into  the  hands 
of  other  nations,  gained  any  material   advantages 
in  their  government   and   administration?      What 
nation  ever  gave  to  her  colonies  the  same  means  she 
enjoyed  herself,  of  disseminating  knowledge  and  pro- 
moting public  instruction  ?     What  is  the  number  of 
their  universities,  seminaries,  councils,  and  colleges  ? 
Did  not   these   abound  in  the   Spanish   colonies? 
America  was  placed  upon  a  footing  with  Spain,  and 
this  is  all  that  could  be  expected.   To  claim  for  colo- 
nies more  than  the  mother  country  possesses  is  absurd. 
North  America  was  doubtless  more  happy,  prior  to 
emancipation,  than  South  America;   but  was  not 
England  a  much  happier  nation  than  Spain  ?     Did 
not  the  independence  of  these  colonies  cost  rivers  of 
blood?  Did  England  treat  all  her  dependencies  alike? 
Does  she  at  present  so  treat  them?     Are  her  colonies 
upon  a  level  with  the  mother  country  ?     Does  every 
part  of  the  United  Kingdom  enjoy  equally  the  ad- 
vantages of  her  free  institutions?  How  did  republican 
France  treat  her  colonies?     To  secure  these  pos- 
sessions, did  she  scruple  to  immolate  thousands  of 
victims,   even   in   the   days   of  unlimited   and  tu- 
multuous   liberty?     Have    Holland,    Genoa,    and 
Venice,  exhibited  towards  the  countries  they  pos- 
sessed, greater  examples  of  philanthropy  and  modera- 
tion, than  England,  France,  Spain,  and  Portugal? 


TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION.  ix 

All  nations  have  acted  with  injustice  towards  their 
colonies,  and  continue  to  do  so,  by  making  their 
interests  subservient  to  the  commerce  and  advantage 
of  the  mother  country* 

"  Spain  conquered  her  colonies,  by  force  of  arms, 
at  a  period  when  morals  were  far  less  clearly  defined 
than  in  the  present  age ;  when  a  mistaken  piety  sacri- 
ficed its  victims  without  compunction;  and  when 
superstition  had  her  altars  in  all  countries.  The  state 
of  abasement  in  which  the  natives  were  discovered, 
their  manners,  customs,  religion,  sacrifices,  and  mode 
of  making  war,  and  the  doubtful  origin  of  the  first 
settlers,  deprived  these  unhappy  people  of  all  con- 
sideration in  the  eyes  of  their  conquerors,  and  their 
preservation  or  annihilation  was  weighed  rather  in 
the  scales  of  utility  than  of  justice.  To  pass  judg- 
ment on  the  conquerors,  or  on  their  descendants, 
with  reference  to  the  principles  that  liow  govern  the 
world,  would  be  an  act  of  evident  injustice.  Without 
going  back  to  the  origin  of  things,  without  giving  to 
peculiar  times  and  circumstances  the  weight  they  are 
entitled  to,  previous  to  the  formation  of  any  correct 
judgment,  certain  inconsiderate  declaimers  have  ac- 
cused,  and  continue  to  accuse,  Spain  and  the  Spa- 
niards of  acts  of  cruelty  and  barbarity,  which,  under 
the  same  circumstances,  they  would  have  committed 
themselves,  and  which,  in  all  probability,  they  would 
have  exceeded. 

"  No  sooner  was  the  dominion  of  Spain  established 
in  a  fixed  and  permanent  manner  \Yiyow^c>\&  >fc& 
extent  of  the  two  Americas,  than  a  comitate  «xA 


x  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  PREFACE 

well-constructed  code  fixed  the  fate  of*  these  coun- 
tries. Just  and  salutary  laws,  founded  on  natural 
rights,  the  essential  basis  of  all  legislation,  were  com- 
piled or  enacted  expressly  for  the  future  government 
of  America:  but  the  character  of  paternal  solicitude, 
and  kingly  interference,  which  they  subsequently 
assumed,  either  for  the  suppression  of  offences,  or 
the  prevention  of  irregularities,  in  conjunction  with 
the  gold  which  America  produced,  brought  about  an 
entire  change  in  the  fortunes  and  institutions  of  un- 
happy Spain. 

"  From  that  moment  nothing  was  intrusted  to 
individual  interests;  the  hand  of  government  of- 
ficiously interfered  with  the  most  simple  and  private 
acts  of  domestic  life ;  and  such  was  the  indiscretion 
of  legislators,  that  laws  were  published  regulating  the 
texture  and  dimensions  of  the  dress  of  the  people, 
and  the  hour  at  which  they  were  to  return  home  in 
the  evening,  or  leave  home  in  the  morning.  No  one 
was  permitted  to  exercise  his  own  will ;  and  the 
riches  which  America .  furnished,  by  putting  it  into 
the  power  of  government  to  multiply  its  agents, 
brought  about  a  real  and  serious  oppression.  This 
progressive  increase  of  oppression  and  of  oppressors 
furnished  the  kings  of  Spain  with  the  means  of 
destroying  the  moderate  or  representative  mon- 
archical government,  which  had  raised  the  nation 
to  the  summit  of  greatness  and  of  power,  and  which 
had  gained  for  it  the  respect  of  the  whole  world. 
Supported  by  the  clergy,  and  by  a  few  bold  and 
venal  moralists,  and  more  especially  by  t\\e  detestable 


TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION.  XI 

inquisition,  they  assumed  the  direction  of  public  opi- 
nion ;  to  themselves  alone  was  it  permitted  to  appeal 
on  political  subjects;  and  these  false  principles  being 
on  all  occasions  repeated  and  sanctioned  by  the 
church,  we  receive  them  in  our  infancy  with  as  much 
reverence  and  respect  as  the  sacred  doctrines  of  the 
consoling  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  we  happily 
profess. 

"  As  America  continued  to  furnish  ample  supplies 
of  the  precious  metals,  the  only  wealth  at  that  time 
considered  as  such,  our  kings  were  able  to  make 
themselves  independent  of  the  people;  they  ceased 
to  assemble  the  national  representatives  in  order  to 
demand  their  assistance ;  and  succeeding  generations, 
if  by  chance  they  ever  heard  of  the  natural  rights  of 
man,  certainly  knew  nothing  of  the  real  enjoyment 
of  liberty.  Civil  or  criminal  laws,  promulgated  upon 
the  spur  of  the  moment,  either  for  America  or  for 
Spain,  with  an  ostentatious  affectation  of  watchful- 
ness over,  and  regard  for,  the  persons  and  property 
of  their  subjects,  opened  the  road  to  the  patriarchal 
system  of  our  jurisconsults,  which  is  absolute  de- 
spotism dexterously  disguised.  Nevertheless,  as  the 
happiness  of  past  times  was  not  altogether  forgotten, 
and  as  the  municipal  elective  system  had  a  tendency 
to  nourish  these  recollections,  and  to  create  a  lean- 
ing to  civil  liberty,  our  kings  found  it  necessary  to 
strengthen  themselves  by  corporations,  which  might 
give  an  appearance  of  legality  to  their  proceedings. 
The  Council  of  Castile  lent  its  support  to  \tafc  «rav 
that  oppressed  its  country ;  and  tYie  CoxxwcA.  o£  \>a& 


Ml       TRANSLATION  OF  THE  PREFACE 

Indies,  with  similar  powers,  honours,  and  attributes, 
performed  the  same  office  with  respect  to  America. 
They  became  respectively  the  arbitrators  of  the  fate 
of  Spain  and  America,  in  all  cases  when  the  will  or 
caprice  of  the  monarch  left  them  unmolested,  and 
assumed  all  the  power  and  authority  of  the  former 
national  representation.  The  kings  were  willing 
spectators  of  these  usurpations,  and  showed  even  an 
alacrity  in  presiding  over  the  corporations,  as  substi- 
tutes for  the  ancient  Cortes ;  reserving,  however,  to 
themselves  the  absolute  right  of  removing,  deposing, 
banishing,  imprisoning,  or  hanging,  any  individual 
member. 

*'  Many  of  the  early  conquerors,  a  great  proportion 

of  the  official  functionaries,  and  not  a  few  of  those 

• 

who  went  to  seek  their  fortunes  in  America,  be- 
coming  accustomed  to  the  climate,  and  equally  pleased 
with  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  and  probably  indisposed 
to  expose  themselves  a  second  time  to  the  dangers  of 
a  sea  voyage,  at  a  time  when  these  dangers  w£re  more 
formidable  than  they  are  at  present,  settled  in  those 
countries ;  and  as  they  multiplied,  in  the  course  of 
time,  a  generation  sprung  up,  for  whom  it  was  neces- 
sary to  find  establishments  of  public  instruction,  and 
a  liberal  plan  of  education.  The  defective  and  vicious 
establishments  of  Spain  were  acordingly  transplanted 
across  the  Atlantic ;  and  the  colonies,  like  the  mother 
country,  remained,  in  the  seventeenth  century,  sta- 
tionary in  knowledge  and  intelligence.  The  spirit 
of  liberty  which  the  municipal  system  had  preserved 
in  both  hemispheres,  nourished,  \xowevex,  *  oettaaxi 


TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION.  Xin 

germ  of  independence  in  the  public  mind,  which  gave 
the  clergy  more  uneasiness  than  the  government. 
Under  the  pretext  of  public  necessities,  the  kings  of 
Spain  had  sold  the  regiments  and  writerships  in  per- 
petuity,  to  such  purchasers  as  were  willing  to  buy 
them,  making  them  transferable  by  sale  or  inherit- 
ance.    This  measure  was  attended  with  one  result 
peculiarly  unfortunate.     It  produced  a  number  of 
oligarchical  governments,  who   opposed  and  made 
head  against  the  central  government  of  the  nation, 
and  detained  it  in  a  system  of  oppression  and  usurpa- 
tion ;  while  the  clergy,  under  shelter  of  the  immunity 
afforded  by  the  inquisition,    daily  increased  their 
power  and  influence.      This  body  had  already  ac- 
quired the  universal  monopoly  of  public  education, 
and  wete  masters  of  the  fairest  portion  of  the  sdil, 
obtained  as  donations  or  benefactions  from  the  kings 
for  the  purpose  of  expiating  their  offences,  and  by 
the  system  of  mandates,  or  testamentary  distributions 
of  property,  wrung  from  parties  on  the  point  of  death ; 
while  the  missions  with  which  they  enriched  them- 
selves in  America  rendered  them  so  powerful,  that  a 
despotic  government  began  to  tremble  for  its  exist- 
ence. An  absolute  theocracy,  directed  by  the  supreme 
chief  of  the  church,  was  the  scheme  attributed  to  the 
Jesuits,  the  most  powerful  and  the  most  talented  of 
the  priestly  community ;  those  celebrated  champions 
who,  from  their  station  in  the  lists,  proudly  chal- 
lenged whoever  dared  to  attack  them. 

"  The  government  then  appealed  to  t\\fe  ^o^ta 
whom  it  had  so  unadvisedly  degraded,  «a&  ft»Sss\% 


XIV  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  PREFACE 

them  slow  in  discovering  their  real  interests,  and  in 
availing  themselves  of  this  opportunity  of  breaking 
the  chains,  and  terminating  the  disgraceful  thraldom, 
to  which  superstition  and  fanaticism  had  condemned 
them,  it  addressed  itself  to  those  illustrious  men, 
who,  keeping  pace  with  the  progress  of  knowledge, 
deplored,  in  the  seclusion  of  their  cabinets,  the  mis- 
fortunes and  ignorance  of  their  country.  These 
eminent  men  listened  to  the  appeal;  they  wrote  upon 
all  branches  of  the  subject;  and  made  every  effort  in 
their  power  to  enlighten  and  to  direct  public  opinion. 
But  though  indirectly  supported  and  encouraged  by 
the  court,  the  first  who  ventured  on  the  arena  fell 
victims  to  the  power  of  that  atrocious  arm  which 
sacrificed  every  thing  to  its  own  aggrandizement. 
Nevertheless  a  ray  of  light  began  to  inspire  hope 
and  courage;  several  renowned  patriots  redoubled 
their  attacks ;  and  at  last  the  government  became 
a  party  in  the  strife ;  decreed  the  expulsion  of  the 
Jesuits;  facilitated  the  means  of  elemental  instruction 
by  laymen;  and,  as  if  by  enchantment,  the  enormous 
body  of  theocratical  preachers  retired  to  their  cloisters 
and  catacombs. 

"  The  trammels  of  superstition  being  broken,  and 
the  inquisition  without  power  and  almost  nominal, 
the  people  enjoyed  their  triumph;  and,  with  the 
powerful  arms  of  sarcasm  and  ridicule,  followed  up 
their  victory  over  their  enemies,  who  were  afraid  to 
show  signs  of  life,  while  the  government  gradually 
stripped'  them  of  their  ill-gotten  wealth.  The  opi- 
pionsiand principles  that  triumphed  m  "Fiance  spread 


TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION.  xv 

rapidly  in  Spain,  usefully  and  judiciously  modified  by 
the  good  sense  of  the  Spanish  people,  who  demanded 
the  re-enactment  of  the  ancient  Spanish  laws,  and  the 
reform  of  the  abuses  which  had  been  introduced  in 
their  place :  but  the  government,  who  were  not  more 
favourable  to  national  liberty  than  to  the  preponde- 
rance of  the  clergy,  hesitated  as  to  the  course  they 
should  adopt;  and  thus,  by  their  weakness,  infused 
spirits  into  both  parties,  and  by  their  immorality  and 
bad  administration  furnished  the  most  plausible  pre- 
texts for  an  attack  from  each.  Detested  by  the 
people,  struggling  with  a  thousand  privations,  which 
the  general  dilapidation  had  occasioned,  and  weak- 
ened by  internal  divisions  and  dissensions,  they  pre- 
sented a  spectacle  of  absolute  impotence.  The  per- 
fidious invasion  of  the  French  caused  it  to  disappear 
in  the  act ;  but  offended  national  pride  called  every 
Spaniard  to  arms,  and  the  early  efforts  of  the  patriots 
were  crowned  with  successes  which  presaged  a  happy 
termination  to  so  many  sacrifices.  The  clergy  then 
began  to  consider  that  the  circumstances  of  the  times 
presented  a  tempting  opportunity  for  regaining  their 
lost  power  and  influence.  They  accordingly  re-echoed 
the  national  cry,  and  invoked  the  names  of  Ferdinand 
and  the  country,  in  the  base  hope  of  oppressing  the 
nation  and  the  government.  It  is  owing  to  this  cir- 
cumstance that  foreigners  frequently  attribute  to 
fanaticism  the  glorious  struggle  undertaken  by  the 
Spaniards  for  the  noblest  of  causes,  which  they  con- 
ducted with  so  much  valour,  and  which  they  con- 
eluded  so  victoriously;  without  consi&eim^  Oaak  &^ 


XVI  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  PREFACE 

people  spontaneously  commenced  this  struggle,  sti- 
mulated by  no  motive  but  offended  honour,  and  that 
they  continued  it  solely  for  the  purpose  of  avenging 
their  wrongs,  of  rescuing  their  monarch,  from  whom, 
after  so  many  solemn  promises,  they  expected  a  very 
different  return  from  that  with  which  he  has  requited 
their  services,  and  of  destroying  for  ever  the  arbitrary 
government  which  had  ruined  the  nation. 

"The  clergy  soon  perceived  the  new  turn  that 
opinions  had  taken,  and,  unable  successfully  to  make 
head  against  it,  they  withdrew,  as  a  body,  their  in- 
fluence and  power;  and  although  they  did  not  dare 
to  co-operate  in  the  views  of  Napoleon,  which  me- 
naced their  interests  with  so  much  danger,  they 
began  to  conspire  against  the  national  government, 
which  must  have  terminated  with  the  undue  in- 
fluence it  had  exercised  in  civil  matters,  and  with 
the  abuses  with  which  it  had  become  enriched.  At 
this  period  many  worthy  and  respectable  ecclesiastics 
separated  themselves  from  the  common  mass,  and, 
devoting  themselves  to  the  cause  of  the  country, 
rendered  the  most  efficient  services  to  the  popular 
party,  and  have  since  distinguished  themselves  by  a 
noble  disinterestedness  in  defence  of  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  the  people.  A  great  many  of  them,  and 
among  the  number  several  bishops,  have  incurred 
persecutions,  and  been  obliged  to  emigrate  from  their 
country ;  and  not  a  few  still  groan  in  the  dungeons 
with  which  Ferdinand  and  his  prevaricating  satellites 
have  recompensed  their  virtues. 
"Spanish  America  naturally  followed  in  the  steps 


TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION.  xvii 

of  the  mother  country,  with  the  sole  difference,  that 
to  the  evils  common  to  both  countries,  was  added 
the  greater  frequency  of  local  abuses  practised  by 
subordinate  agents,  to  whom  distance  from  the  seat  of 
government  gave  encouragement  to  practices  which 
probably  would  not  have  been  ventured  upon  in  Spain. 
Upon  the  whole,  it  may  be  doubted  whether  the  en- 
lightened despotism  exercised  by  the  viceroys  in  Ame- 
rica was  not,  in  many  instances,  of  a  less  oppressive 
and  degrading  character  than  that  exercised  in  Spain 
b,  «Jrf  to  profligate  king*  and  not  unfm.uen.ly 
by  ministers  and  favourites*  ,  Be  this  as  it  may,  one 
could  hardly  expect  to  find  in  the  colonies  of  a  na- 
tion enslaved  and  oppressed  either  by  fanaticism,  or 
by  the  absolute  power  of  her  kings,  either  good  go- 
vernment, or  justice,  or  liberty.     America  was  pro- 
hibited from  cultivating  the  natural  productions  of 
Spain,  and  the  same  barbarous  and  tyrannical  policy 
forbad  Spain  to  naturalize  in  her  soil  the  productions 
of  America.    In  conformity  with  the  colonial  system 
which  has  been  adopted,  and  which  is  still  acted 
upon,  by  all  nations  towards  their  colonies,  America 
could  trade  only  with  Spain ;  but  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment, adhering  to  its  restrictive  and  monopolizing 
system,  confined  the  trade  with  America  to  a  few 
privateers,  at  first  from  Seville,  under  the  control  of 
the  government,  subsequently  from  Cadiz,  and  ulti- 
mately from  a  few  other  ports.    Venal  and  arbitrary 
as  were  many  of  the  government  agents  who  went 
to  America,  had  those  who  were  appointed  at  home 
vol.  i.  \> 


Srin  TMAMSLATKm  Of  THE  PREFACE 

either  more  honesty  or  more  moderation?  What 
could  be  expected  from  a  government  so  demoralized 
and  corrupt?  America  and  Spain,  at  one  and  die 
tame  period,  were  exposed  to  the  same  calamities; 
and  one  caused  the  ruin  of  the  other.  The  former, 
by  supplying  the  precious  metals,  furnished  the  arms 
which  despotism  needed  for  oppressing  the  latter,  by 
means  of  innumerable  agents  paid  with  this  wealth, 
and  deprived  herself  of  her  youth,  who  rarely  re- 
turned to  their  native  country,  for  the  purpose  of 
maintaining  slavery  in  her  colonies. 

"  America,  however,  has  gained  during  this  period 
the  knowledge  of  the  Christian  religion,  which,  in- 
dependently of  its  holiness  and  truth,  has  full  reason 
to  be  considered  as  an  inestimable  benefit,  for  the 
precepts  of  pure  morality  which  it  inculcates.  Her 
real  and  relative  progress  in  civilization  has  been  in- 
finitely  more  rapid;  and  her  population,  if  we  include 
the  Indians  still  in  a  state  of  freedom,  cannot  be 
much,  if  at  all,  diminished.  Her  agricultural  wealth, 
the  only  real  wealth,  has  been  very  considerably  in- 
creased; her  sons,  notwithstanding  the  recent  date 
of  their  emancipation,  have  gained  the  respect  of  the 
people  of  all  countries ;  and  illustrious  men  in  all  de- 
partments, and  eminent  writers  in  verse  and  prose, 
have  conferred  honour  on  America  by  their  works. 
Spain,  in  the  meanwhile,  has  fallen  from  her  station 
among  the  nations;  she  has  lost  her  liberal  institu- 
tions ;  she  has  groaned  for  the  space  of  three  cen- 
turies, and  she  still  groans,  under  the  weight  of  a 


TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION.  xix 

cruel  and  vindictive  despotism.  Her  population  has 
been  reduced  one  half;  her  agricultural  wealth,  her 
commerce,  and  industry,  are  almost  nothing,  com- 
pared to  what  they  were  when  she  conquered  Ame- 
rica; and  her  progress  in  civilization,  compared  to 
that  of  other  nations  of  Europe,  has  been  such  that, 
instead  of  being  ranked  among  the  foremost,  she 
must  at  present  be  numbered  with  those  most  in 
arrear*  America  did  not  discover  that  the  fault  was 
attributable  to  these  misfortunes  of  Spain:  nor  did 
Spain  discover  that  they  resulted  from  those  which 
America  suffered.  Both  were  the  victims  of  the 
Spanish  government  which  oppressed  them,  and  both 
sought  an  opportunity  of  breaking  their  chains. 

"  The  invasion  of  the  Peninsula  exhibited  the  force 
of  the  national  character  in  both  hemispheres;  all 
unanimously  cVied  out  for  liberty;  the  sacred  names 
of  country,  independence,  civil  and  political  liberty, 
resounded  on  all  sides ;  and  the  freedom  of  the  press 
was  a  common  privilege.  The  rulers  of  the  nation, 
accustomed  to  passive  obedience  from  the  people, 
conceived  they  would  submit  with  perfect  indiffer- 
ence to  a  change  pf  dynasty ;  and,  obliged  to  decide 
immediately  on  the  line  of  conduct  to  be  pursued, 
they  yielded  to  what  they  considered  the  force  of 
circumstances :  but  a  new  change  of  affairs  occurring 
with  the  general  rising  of  the  people  against  the  fo- 
reign yoke,  they  found  them  selves  compromised,  many 
of  them  in  spite  of  themselves.  This  circumstance 
will  explain  the  equivocal  or  treacherous  conduct 


xk  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  PREFACE 

pursued  by  many  of  the  authorities  both  in  America 
and  Spain,  and  which  has  given  rise  to  many  erro- 
neous conclusions,  drawn,  as  this  has  been,  from  false 
and  incorrect  premises.  The  people  trampled  upon 
every  thing;  they  created  provincial  juntas  which 
governed  them,  and,  without  knowing  it,  dissolved 
the  monarchy.  To  create  it  afresh,  they  established, 
a  central  government,  composed  of  two  members  of 
each  particular  junta;  and  this  assembly,  uniting  the 
parties  into  which  the  state  was  divided v  assumed 
the  direction  of  affairs ;  and  thus  the  progress  of 
dissolution,  if  not  completely  arrested,  was  at  least 
rendered  imperceptible.  In  Airterfca,  juntas  were 
formed  on  the  same  footing,  and  from  the  same 
causes  as  in  Spain,  and  the  division  of  these  states 
was  also  carried  into  effect;  but,  as  it  was  not  pos- 
sible that  these  juntas  should  be  united  among  them- 
selves, as  was  the  case  in  the  mother  country,  and  as 
the  central  government  there  thought  only  of  the 
best  means  of  obtaining  resources  from  those  vast 
and  rich  countries,  in  order  to  meet  the  expenses  of 
the  war,  which,  for  want  of  systematic,  management, 
amounted  to  immense  sums,  the  original  germ  always 
existed;  it  was  even  acquiring  growth  and  vigour; 
and  men  of  intelligence  and  zeal  for  their  country's 
welfare  beheld  the  opportunity  they  had  so  long 
anxiously  desired,  and  began  to  labour  for  its  eman- 
cipation. The  disasters  of  the  campaigns  of  1809 
and  1810,  which  endangered  the  very  existence  of 

*  *      • 

Spanish  independence,  brought  great  odium  upon 


TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION.  xxi 

the  central  or  federated  government  that  directed 
them.  They  finally  resigned  their  functions,  and 
appointed  a  regency  as  their  substitute,  with  an  ex- 
press  injunction  to  convoke  the  Cortes  of  the  king- 
dom, fixing  the  bases  of  the  election  of  deputies  on 
the  grounds  that  the  ancient  forms  were  defective 
and  impracticable.  America  saw  the  possibility  that 
Spain  would  succumb ;  and  public  enthusiasm  pro- 
vided the  means  of  avoiding  a  similar  fate,  and  of 
prolonging  resistance  in  those  countries,  without  con- 
sidering that  this  resistance  would  lead  to  a  separa- 
tion from  the  mother  country.  The  public  func- 
tionaries in  America  perceived  it,  and,  mistaking 
causes  and  names,  they  characterized  as  the  spirit 
of  faction  what  was,  in  fact,  dignity ;  they  alarmed 
the  Spanish  government,  which  unadvisedly  per- 
mitted itself  to  be  drawn  aside;  and  a  spirit  of 
division  and  animosity,  which  had  never  before 
existed,  began  to  exhibit  itself  very  plainly.  The 
government,  which,  on  its  part,  had  made  every 
exertion  in  its  power  to  repel  the  French  invasion,  if 
sometimes  it  took  into  its  calculations  the  possibility 
of  being  defeated,  adopted  measures  for  subjecting 
America  to  the  same  fate  as  it  had  done  before  to 
the  Canaries,  Cuba,  &c.  &c. ;  so  that,  although  Spain 
should  undergo  a  change  of  dynasty,  she  should  not 
lose  any  of  her  possessions.  To  measures  projected 
by  men  without  popularity,  who  formed  a  weak  go- 
vernment, measures  which  apparently  were  calculated 
to  injure  the  cause  they  sought  to  defend,  it  vra& 
tasy  For  the  American  patriots  to  offex  tiafc  «taow%sa&, 


xxii  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  PREFACE 

opposition j  to  win  oyer  the  multitude  to  favour  their 
designs;  and,  invoking  the  name  of  Ferdinand,  to 
make  themselves  independent. 

"The  Spanish  people,  on  their  part,  who,  after 
so  many  sacrifices,  saw  the  inquisition,  though  in- 
active, still  in  existence,  and  found  that  former  go* 
vernments,  after  pronouncing  anathemas  against  the 
arbitrary  character  of  the  ancient  administration,  had 
not  broken  the  chain  of  abuses  on  which  it  was 
founded,  but,  on  many  occasions,  had  availed  them- 
selves of  it,  petitioned  publicly  and  unanimously  for 
fixed,  written,  and  permanent  laws,  which  might 
afford  them  protection  against  the  persecutions  of  a 
capricious  monarch,  or  of  a  profligate  minister,  and 
against  the  avarice  and  rapacity  of  the  agents  of  de- 
spotism. The  deputies  elected  for  the  Cortes  listened 
to  the  voice  of  the  public,  declared  themselves  con- 
stituent assemblies,  and,  compiling  the  sacred  laws, 
which  for  three  centuries  had  been  neglected,  they 
united  in  one  code  the  rights  and  privileges  inherent 
in  man,  as  they  had  been  enjoyed  by  our  ancestors 
in  the  past  times  of  our  national  prosperity. 

"This  code  contained  the  virtual  independence 
of  America,  since  taking  the  general  population  for 
its  basis,  and  allowing  one  deputy  to  Cortes  for  every 
seventy  thousand  souls;  while  the  population  of  Ame- 
rica exceeded  that  of  Spain  by  about  one  half,  it  i* 
clear  that  the  measures  discussed  must  always  have 
had  a  favourable  leaning  towards  America.  To  avoi4 
this  inconvenience,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the 
plan  resorted  to  would  have  been  the  formation  of 


TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION.  jariii 

Cortes,  or  national  assemblies,  in  various  central  parts 
of  America,  which  might  thus  have  governed  itself, 
as  did  North  America  previous  to  its  emancipation, 
and  would  have  learned  to  sustain  and  direct  itself, 
and  would  have  consolidated  its  liberty,  prior  to  de- 
claring itself  independent,  with  the  same  facility 
that  the  latter  did  so,  without  passing  through  the 
turbulent  and  bloody  scenes  which  it  has  finally  been 
doomed  to  undergo.  But  America  could  not  con- 
fide to  the  chance  of  the  continuation,  of  the  consti- 
tutional system  the  great  work  she  had  undertaken, 
nor  leave  it  in  the  power  of  government,  on  the  ter- 
mination of  the  war,  to  direct  against  her  all  its  power 
and  all  its  influence,  increased  by  a  presentiment  of 
the  restoration,  and  sufferings,  of  Ferdinand.  Buenos 
Ayres,  who  had  openly  manifested  her  intentions, 
proceeded  fearlessly  in  her  career ;  declared  the  re- 
gency and  the  Cortes  void,  and,  consequently,  the 
constitution ;  and  never  ceased  to  implore  the  pro- 
vinces to  follow  her  example,  offering  them  the  aid 
of  her  military  force,  together  with  her  immediate 
and  effective  co-operation. 

"  Ferdinand  returned ;  but  instead  of  consolidating 
the  national  happiness,  in  return  for  the  costly  sacri- 
fices that  had  been  made  for  him;  instead  of  de- 
claring himself  the  father  of  his  people,  and  com- 
plying with  the  solemn  promises  he  had  made  to 
the  nation  when  he  gained  possession  of  the  throne 
by  the  revolt  of  Aranjuez,  he  annulled  the  code 
which  secured  the  liberties  of  the  people ;  but  in 
order  not  to  outrage  pufrlic  opinion,  \ie  <&&£&.  to 


I 


xxiv  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  PREFACE 

assemble  cortes,  to  study  the  national  happiness,  and 
promised  not  to  be  absolute.  Instead  of  complying 
with  these  solemn  promises,  he  broke  his  word  as  a 
prince,  his  faith  as  a  man  of  honour,  and  threw  him- 
self  into  the  hands  of  the  priests,  who  up  to  that 
period  had  been  lying  in  wait,  secretly  conspiring 
against  the  government  and  national  institutions; 
becoming  the  agent  of  his  own  vindictive  passions, 
he  persecuted  those  who  had  best  served  their  coun- 
try in  his  absence,  and  who  had  most  efficaciously 
exerted  themselves  to  restore  him  to  his  throne. 

"  Not  content  with  carrying  on  these  persecutions 
in  Spain,  and  instead  of  sending  emissaries  to  the  dif- 
ferent provinces  of  America,  for  the  paternal  purpose 
of  terminating  the  dissensions  there,  he  was  hurried 
away  by  the  persuasions  of  the  barbarous  and  sangui- 
nary fanatics  who  surrounded  him,  and  immediately 
despatched  an  expedition,  dragging  from  the  bosom 
of  their  families  thousands  of  individuals  who  had 
voluntarily  taken  up  arms  to  serve  during  the  war 
with  France,  and  who,  on  the  restoration  of  peace, 
obtained  by  their  blood,  hoped,  at  least,  to  be  per- 
mitted to  remain  in  the  enjoyment  of  those  domestic 
pleasures  which  they  had  so  patriotically  given  up 
on  the  national  summons,  and,  by  the  advice  of  the 
sanguinary  Eguia,  and  of  the  profligate  Ostolaza, 
intrusted  the  command  to  the  atrocious  Morillo. 

"  About  six  years  succeeded  of  despotism,  of  vic- 
tims, and  of  persecutions  in  Spain ;  and  of  despotism, 
victims,  persecutions,  and  a  desolating  war  in  Ame- 
rica.    The  dawn  of  liberty  beamed  again  in  Spain 


TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION.  xxr 

on  the  proclamation  of  the  constitution,  on  the  1st 
of  January,  1820,  the  seasonable  fruit  of  so  many 
unsuccessful  attempts ;  and  hereupon  the  liberal  go- 
vernment renounced  the  expeditions  proposed  by  the 
absolute  government,  then  ready  to  set  sail,  and  a 
general  armistice  followed,  in  America,  the  news  of 
the  liberty  of  Spain.     Her  representatives  agreed  to 
send  special  commissioners  'to  proceed  to  the  dif- 
ferent governments  established  in  the  two  Spanish 
Americas,  to  hear  and  receive  all  proposals  that 
might  be  made  for  transmission  to  the  mother  coun- 
try, with  the  exception  of  such  as  might  go  to  de- 
prive the  European  and  American  Spaniards  residing 
in  any  part  of  the  provinces  beyond  sea  of  the  ab- 
solute liberty  of  transferring  and  disposing  of  their 
persons,  families,  and  property,  in  the  manner  that 
may  seem  best  to  them,  without  being  exposed  to 
any  impediment  or  any  measure  that  may  be  in- 
jurious to  their  fortunes.     2.  The  commissioners 
shall  remain  there  till  replies  are  furnished,  &c.  &c.' 
If  a  delicacy,  perhaps  excessive,  in  saving  the  honour 
of  the  Spanish  name  made  them  more  tardy  than 
might  have  been  desirable  and  just,  for  the  purpose 
of  immediately  suspending  the  effects  of  that  disas- 
trous war,  at  all  events  this  step  displayed,  in  some 
degree,  the  sentiments  of  the  Spanish  nation.     The 
first  national   representation   pronounced  that  the 
Americans  possessed  equal  rights  with  the  natives 
of  Spain.      The   second,   finding  those  countries 
struggling  for  their  independence,  offered  to  treat 
with  them,  admitting  that  independence  as  the  basis 


TXrt  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  PREFACE 

of  the  negotiation;  and  the  third  made  manifest  to 
a  powerful  nation  their  desire  of  mediation  as  to  the 
form  and  manner  of  the  recognition  of  the  independ- 
ence for  which  they  were  straggling.  Can  Spain, 
as  a  nation,  be  accused  of  cruelty  and  oppression  to- 
wards her  colonies?  Can  it  justly  be  imputed  to  the 
liberal  party  that  they  opposed  American  independ- 
ence, sacrificing  to  ignorant  prejudices  the  most  valu- 
able interests  of  America  and  of  Spain?  How  much 
time  was  sacrificed,  and  how  much  blood  wasted, 
before  nations,  more  advanced  in  civilization,  and 
better  governed,  would  renounce  possession  of  their 
colonies,  which  had  not  merely  proclaimed  them- 
selves independent,  but  which,  in  fact,  were  so !  The 
only  three  Spanish  legislatures  who  were  enabled  to 
express  the  national  opinion,  did  they  not  differ  from 
the  tyrants  who  had  oppressed  Spain  and  America? 
What  has  been  the  past  and  present  conduct  of  Fer- 
dinand? Repeated  expeditions  have  occasioned  an 
accumulation  of  force  in  the  islands  of  Cuba  and  the 
Canaries,  which  continually  threatening  to  disem- 
bark, keeps  the  new  states  in  continual  alarm,  nou- 
rishing that  discontent  which,  in  sudden  changes  of 
government,  is  the  natural  consequence  of  the  change 
of  fortune  of  individuals  who  live  by  abuses ;  and  it 
is  more  than  probable,  that  ultimately  the  troops  will 
disembark,  and  light  up  the  flames  of  civil  war  in 
those  republics,  sacrificing  to  its  senseless  fury  more 
victims  of  both  hemispheres. 

11  What  would  have  happened  if  liberty  had  con- 
tinued  to  exert  her  beneficial  effects  in  Spain  ?   What 


TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION.  XXrii 

would  happen  if  she  should  be  again  restored  to  her 
after  so  many  misfortunes  ?  The  recognition  of  Ame- 
rican independence  is  inseparable  from  the  second  hy- 
pothesis upon  a  basis  liberal,  just,  and  mutually  agreed 
upon ;  the  relations  of  friendship  and  consanguinity 
would  assume  their  ancient  force;  we  should  unite 
with  the  cordiality  to  be  expected  from  the  natural 
ties  that  subsist  between  us — identity  of  language, 
manners,  customs,  tastes,  and  even  vices;  and  a  free 
communication  and  profitable  exchange  of  our  mutual 
superfluities,  would  raise  from  insignificance  our 
eommerce  and  mercantile  marine  to  the  rank  and 
importance  which  nature  has  so  benignantly  assigned 
it.  If  this  be  as  certain  as  facts  themselves  prove  it ; 
if  absolutism  in  Spain  is  the  obstacle  to  the  happiness 
and  tranquillity  of  America,  and  the  prosperity  and 
felicity  of  Spain,  why  do  they  not  unite  to  destroy 
this  edifice,  ensanguined  with  the  blood  of  so  many 
victims,  and  so  inconsistent  with  the  light  and  in- 
telligence of  the  age  in  which  we  live?  Can  nothing 
better  be  done  than  to  bestow  names  and  titles  which 
are  not  more  suitable  to  one  country  than  the  other? 
What  greater  right  has  a  Fernandez,  a  Cordova,  a 
Rodriguez,  an  Alvarado,  &c.  &c.  born  in  Spain,  to 
the  descent  by  right  or  indirect  line,  from  Atalfo, 
Witiza,  or  Rodrigo,  than  a  Fernandez,  a  Cordova,  a 
Rodriguez,  an  Alvarado,  &c.  &c.  bora  in  America? 

"  It  may  have  been  politic,  and  even  just,  during 
the  sanguinary  contest  which  the  Americans  have 
conducted  with  so  much  glory,  that  the  storehouses 
of  memory  should  have  been  opened,  an&  \JaaX.  ta  Va? 


\ 


ixviii  TRANSLATION  OF  THE  PREFACE 

flame  the  ignorant  vulgar,  who  always  require  the 
stimulus  of  great  excitement,  a  tissue  of  horrible 
accusations  should  have  been  brought  forward,  the 
repetition  of  which  might  make  them  fly  indignantly 
to  arms.  But  when  the  war  is  concluded;  when 
reason,  justice,  and  sound  policy,  demand  a  contrary 
proceeding,  why  perpetuate  animosities  which  cannot 
fail  of  disturbing  the  good  understanding,  and  cooling 
the  sympathy  which  ought  to  reign  between  the  two 
countries?  Should  not  the  Americans  recollect  that 
their  fathers,  grandfathers,  or  ancestors,  were  Spa- 
niards, and  that  these  accusations  reflect  upon  the 
memory  of  those  whom  they  ought  to  regard  with 
respect  and  veneration?  Who  were  the  perpetrators 
of  the  crimes  which  with  so  little  forbearance  they 
descant  upon— -if  really  these  crimes  were  committed 
at  all  ?  If,  indeed,  very  few  Americans  have  occupied 
the  first  places  in  the  civil  magistracy  in  America, 
and  very  few  American  officers  have  been  commanders 
there,  how  many  ministers  of  state,  presidents  of  col- 
leges, captains  general  of  the  provinces  and  depart- 
ments of  marine,  inspectors,  viceroys,  governors,  &c. 
have  there  not  been  in  Spain,  and  still  are  to  be  found 
there,  who  were  Americans?  The  circumstance  of 
being  an  American,  does  it  unfortunately  act  as  a  bar 
to  distinction  in  Spain?  No; — quite  the  contrary ;  the 
natural  vivacity  and  gentleness  of  character  and  man- 
ners of  the  American  gain  him  a  ready  admission 
into  society,  and  open  the  road  to  success  in  whatever 
pursuit  he  may  embark. 
"  The  American  most  fanatically  prejudiced  against 


9  * 


TO  THE  SPANISH  EDITION.  xxix 


Spain  will  be  unable  to  deny  these  truths,  but  must 
acknowledge  the  justice  of  ix*y;  observations.  Let 
him  call  to  mind  the  hospitality  and  cordial  welcome 
which  the  Spaniards  gave  him  in  Spain ;  and  following 
the  impulse  of  the  heart,  and  not  that  of  a  mistaken 
policy,  let  him  fix  his  eye  upon  the  fate  of  the  country 
of  his  descent,  of  his  parents  and  friends;  let  him 
extend  to  it  a  protecting  hand;  let  him  calculate  well 
his  own  interest  in  doing  so ;  and  let  him  add  to  the 
glory  of  having  won  with  his  sword  his  own  freedom 
and  independence,  that  of  having  aided  his  brothers 
in  making  themselves  free  and  independent. 

"  It  is  my  hope,  that  the  rancorous  spirit  which 
civil  war  has  always  and  everywhere  excited,  may  not 
be  of  long  duration  between  Spain  and  America ;  and 
that  although  previous  habits  and  prejudices  may 
preserve  for  some  time  a  tendency  towards  vehement 
and  unfounded  accusations,  reason  will  triumph  in 
the  end,  and  both  countries  will  do  each  other  justice. 
In  the  mean  time,  it  is  most  desirable  that  those 
Spaniards  who  do  not  consider  the  Americans  as  re- 
bellious children,  but  as  patriots  who  have  done  that 
which,  under  similar  circumstances,  they  themselves 
would  have  done ;  and  those  Americans  who  do  not 
look  upon  the  Spaniards  as  their  oppressors,  but  as 
victims  of  the  same  abuses  and  of  the  same  govern- 
ment; should  give  all  their  attention  to  the  best 
means  of  establishing  among  themselves,  upon  the 
most  solid  foundation,  and  with  as  little  delay  as 
possible,  that  good  understanding,  which  is  so  con- 
sistent with  good  policy,  and  so  essential  for  pre- 


XXX  TRANSLATION  OF  SPANISH  PREFACE. 

paring  the  public  mind  for  the  oblivion  of  past  mis- 
fortunes and  ancient  disagreements.  In  family  dis- 
sensions there  should  be  a  generous  forbearance  of 
offence,  and  honour  and  glory  should  be  given  to  him 
who  first  extends  the  hand  and  proffers  a  sincere  re- 
conciliation. The  practical  example  furnished  by  the 
United  States  of  the  greater  advantage  they  afford 
the  mother  country  now,  than  they  did  as  colonies, 
should  sufficiently  convince  every  Spaniard  of  the 
expediency  of  co-operating  in  the  establishment  of 
peace  and  harmony  between  Spaniards  and  Ame- 
ricans; and  the  Americans  should  consider  the  be- 
nefits resulting  under  the  same  circumstances  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  substantial  power  and 
happiness  produced  within  a  few  years,  by  the  wise 
policy  which  England  ultimately  adopted  towards 
them.  While  all  true  statesmen,  on  each  side  of 
the  Atlantic,  rejoice  in  the  mutual  advantages  they 
shall  have  obtained,  the  philosophic  observer  will  be 
cheered  with  the  thought,  that  the  New  World,  by 
means  of  peace,  will  acquire,  in  a  short  time,  that 
stability  and  intelligence  which  constitute  power, 
and  perpetuate  the  honour  of  nations  and  of  the 
human  race/' 


End  of  the  Spanish  translator's  preface. 


INTRODUCTION. 


I  have  compiled  the  following  work  chiefly 
from  the  private  letters,  journals,  and  recol- 
lections of  my  brother,  General  Miller,  who 
has  been  upwards  of  ten  years  in  the  service 
of  South  America.  These  furnish  ample  ma- 
terials for  an  account  of  the  war  of  independ- 
ence in  the  provinces  of  the  Rio  de  la  Plata, 
Chile,  and  Peru;  and  contain  numerous  re- 
marks and  observations  on  those  extensive 
countries,  with  incidents  and  anecdotes  illus- 
trative of  the  character,  manners,  and  customs 
of  the  people. 

As  the  geography,  and  recent  political  di- 
visions, of  the  new  American  states  are  far 
from  being  familiar  to  the  generality  of  Eu- 
ropean readers,  I  have  given  a  concise  outline 
of  them,  together  with  an  estimate  of  the 
population.     A  glance  at  the  general  map, 


XXX11  INTRODUCTION. 

and  a  reference  to  the  statistical  tables,  will 
give  a  tolerably  correct  idea  of  the  boundaries 
and  population  of  the  countries  treated  of. 
An  outline  of  the  map  of  Spain  and  Portugal, 
upon  precisely  the  same  scale  as  the  general 
map,  is  given,  in  order  to  show  the  insigni- 
ficance, in  territorial  extent,  of  those  king- 
doms, as  compared  with  the  vast  regions  over 
which  they  so  long  exercised  a  most  baneful 
dominion.  The  maps  and  plans  have  been 
executed  by  Mr.  Arrowsmith,  who  has  taken 
the  utmost  pains  to  give  them  the  greatest 
possible  accuracy. 

The  first  chapter  contains  a  brief  summary 
of  the  Spanish  colonial  system,  drawn  from 
sources  of  unquestionable  authenticity,  and 
corroborated  by  personal  observation.  To 
this  succeeds  a  rapid  survey  of  the  effects 
of  such  a  system,  exhibiting  the  proximate 
causes  of  the  great  political  changes  that  have 
elevated  those  former  colonies  of  Spain  to  the 
rank  of  independent  nations. 

One  of  the  principal  objects  of  the  work  is 
to  paint  in  true  colours  the  merit,  the  valour, 


INTRODUCTION.  XXX111 

the  constancy,  and  the  natural  benevolence, 
of  the  Peruvian,  Chileno,  and  Argentine  pea- 
santry and  soldiery,  who  possess  these  good 
qualities  in  spite  of  the  many  vices  resulting 
from  Spanish  contagion  and  misrule. 

To  award  praise  or  attach  blame  justly  is 
a  delicate  and  invidious,  if  not  a  dangerous, 
task.  Most  of  the  distinguished  actors  in 
the  scenes  described  in  the  following  pages 
are  now  living,  and  some  of  them  in  the 
enjoyment  of  high  civil  offices,  or  important 
military  commands.  When  any  such  have 
received  commendation,  it  is  probable  they 
will  consider  it  to  have  been  bestowed  much 
too  sparingly.  When,  on  the  contrary,  any 
of  their  actions  have  been  censured,  feelings 
of  no  friendly  nature  will,  no  doubt,  be  abun- 
dantly stirred  up.  General  Miller  has  no 
disappointment  to  complain  of:  he  has  re- 
ceived every  step  of  promotion,  and  every 
honour  that  has  been  conferred  upon  him, 
without  solicitation,  either  direct  or  indirect ; 
'and,  therefore,  there  can  be  no  motive  for 
misrepresentation. 

VOL.  i.  c 


XXXIV  INTRODUCTION. 

It  is  a  source  of  unfeigned  regret,  that  it 
has  been  found  impossible  to  record  the  ser* 
vices,  or  even  the  names,  of  hundreds  of  in- 
dividuals, to  whose  important  aid,  in  very 
critical  circumstances,  General  Miller  was 
deeply  indebted.  Arequipa  alone  would  fur- 
nish a  long  list  of  names  that  would  do  honour 
to  this  work. 

In  the  construction  of  the  first  four  chap- 
ters, the  "  Noticias  Secretas,"  of  Ulloa, 
edited  by  Mr.  Barry;  "The  Life  of  Dr, 
Moreno,"  by  his  brother ;  and  "  The  Out-* 

LINE  OF  THE  REVOLUTION  IN  SPANISH  AME- 
RICA, by  a  South  American"  (Dr.  Palacios), 
have  been  consulted.  The  long  list  of  patriots 
murdered  without  trial,  and  in  violation  of 
solemn  capitulations;  or  amnesties,  by  order  of 
General  Morillo,  is  token  from  an  interesting 
pamphlet,  entitled  "  An  Appeal  to  the. 
British  Nation  on  the  Affairs  of  South 
America,"  by  Colonel  Maceroni.  The  list 
was  extracted  from  officii  documents  at 
Madrid. 

I  am  indebted  to  Senor  Daft  Jos6  Miguel 


INTRODUCTION.  XXXV 

de  la  Barra,  consul-general  for  Chile,  residing 
in  London,  for  some  interesting  data  relative 
to  the  revolution  in  his  own  country.  My 
acknowledgments  are  equally  due  to  other 
friends,  particularly  to  Mr.  Thomas  Williams, 
formerly  secretary  of  legation  to  the  Colom- 
bian embassy,  and  to  Senor  Don  Vicente  Pazos 
Kanki,  a  lineal  descendant  of  one  of  the  an- 
cient Peruvian  caciques.  From  this  gentle- 
man many  curious  and  interesting  particulars, 
which  could  not  be  gleaned  in  an  active 
military  career,  have  been  obtained.  I,  my- 
self, have  travelled  in  Peru  from  Payta  to 
Arequipa ;  crossed  the  isthmus  of  Panama ; 
ascended  the  Orinoco  to  Angostura;  traversed 
the  continent,  from  Valparaiso  to  Buenos 
Ayres;  and  spent  some  time  at  Rio  Janeiro 
and  other  parts  of  the  Brazils*  Having  tra- 
velled in  a  neutral  capacity,  unconnected  with 
military  or  mercantile  pursuits,  my  account 
may  be  thought  to  have  some  claim  to  the 
merit  of  impartiality. 

THE  AUTHOR. 

4,  Grove  End  Place,  St.  John's  Wood. 
1st  September,  1838. 

c  2 


XXXVI 


TERRITORIAL  DIVISIONS 


THE  NEW  GOVERNMENTS  OF  AMERICA  ARE, 


1.  The  republic  of  the  united  provinces  of 

Rfo  de  la  Plata 

2.  Republic  of  Ch£le 

3.  Republic  of  Peru 

4.  Dictatorship  of  Paraguay 

5.  Republic  of  BolIvia  . 

6.  Republic  of  Colombia 

7.  Republic  of  Mexico    . 

8.  Republic  of  Central  America 

9.  Empire  of  BrazI l 


Population. 

600,000 
1,200,000 
1,736,923 

500,000 
1,200,000 
2,711,296 
8,000,000 
1,700,000 
4,000,000 


21,648,219 


territorial  divisions. 


ARGENTINE  REPUBLIC 

or 
UNITED  PROVINCES  OF 
THE  RIO  DE  LA  PLATA 


Provinces. 
~Bu6nos  Ay  res 

C6rdova 

Corrientes 

Catamarca 

Mend6za,  or  Cuyo 

Misiones 

Montevideo,  orBanda  Oriental 

Rioja 

Salta 

Santiago  del  Estero 

Santa  Pe 

San  Juan 

San  Luis 

Tucum&n 
LTarija 


Capital,  Buenos  Atres. 
Inhabitants,  100,000. 


OF  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


xxxvii 


CHILE 


Provinces. 
Coquimbo 
Aconcagua 
Santiago 
Colchagua 
M&ule 
Concepcion 
Valdivia 
Chiloe  ' 
Capital,  Santiago. 
Inhabitants,  40,000. 
Arauco   (the  finest  part   of  Chile,   occupied  by   unsubdued 
Indians)  is  not  included  in  this  calculation. 


Departments. 

Provinces. 

*» 

"Cercddo 
Canta 
Canete 

LIma  .        .        .    < 

Chancay 

lea 

Santa 

Huarochirl 
•Yauyos 
"Cajamirca 

• 

Chachapoyas 
Ch6ta 

PERU     .        .     < 

TruxIllo  .        .    h 

Huamachuco 
J&en 

Lambayeque 
Maynas 

Patas 

.Piura 

"  Huanuco 

. 

Huaylas 

Jun£n  .               •    -< 

X&uxa 
Pasco 

Huamalies 

\ 

L                                   1 

..Conchucos 

xxxvui 

TERRITORIAL  DIVISIONS 

Departments.              Provinces. 

r  Huari 
JuNf  n    .                  .  <  Cajatambo 

v.Tarma 
fLampa 
Azangaro 
PtfNO     .                  .<  Caravaya 

Chucuito 

' 

^Ouancani 

"  Cercado 

Moquegua 

Arica 

AllEQUfPA       . 

Tarapaca 
Condesuyos 
Cayll6ma 
Camand 

Anco 

Andagiiailas 

Cangallo 

1 

Guamanga 

PERU    . 

,          H 

AYACtJCHO        .            < 

i 

Huancavellca 
Quanta 
Lucanas 
Tayacaja 
Castrovireyna 
.Parinac6chas 

Cercado 

Abancay 

Aymaraes 

Calca 

1 

Chumbivilcas 

Ctfzco          .           < 

Cotabambas 

Paruro 
Paucartambo 

• 

Quispicanchi 
Tinta 

m 

Urubamba 

OF  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


"White* 

-      240,819 

Indians 

-      998,846 

Meztizos    - 

-      383,782 

POPULATION   .    < 

Free  Mulatos     - 

69,848 

Slaves 

43,628 

>. 

Total      1,736,923 

Capital,  Lima. 

Inhabitants,  70,000 

• 

Departments. 

Provinces, 

■ 

fEinti 

Yamparaes 

ChArcas             •  < 

'  Tomina 
Paria 

Oruro 
Carangas 

Atacama 
Lipes 

P0T08f                             ^ 

P6rco 

Chayanta 
Chichas 

UPPER  PERU 

"Pacajes 
Sica-Sica 

or               < 
BOLIVIA 

La  Paz              .      < 

Chulumani 
Omasuyos 

i 

Larecaja 

i 

Apolobamba 

Sacaba 

Tapacari 

Cochabamba           h 

Arque 

Palca 

1 

Clissa 

LMizque 
rM6jos 

Chiquitos 

Santa  Cruz            -< 

!  Valle  Grande 

. 

tot  la  Sierra,  . 

Pampas 
^Baures 

i. 

"Capital,  Chuquisacu 

i. 

Inhabitants,  18,000. 

xl 


TERRITORIAL  DIVISIONS 


PARAGUAY. 

Capital,  Asumpcion. 


Departments. 


Orin6co 


Venezuela 


Apure 


Zulia 


COLOMBIA    .    < 


BOYACA 


Provinces. 
fCumand 
j  Barcelona 

I  Mars*rite 

LGuayana 

J  Caracas 
|  Carab6bo 

JVarinas 
I^Apure 

fMaracaibo 
J  C6ro 
1  Merida 

LTruxillo 


(Tunja 
Pampl6na 
Soc6rro 
Casandre 


Cundinamarca 


Magdalen  a 


Cauca 


Istmo 


f  Bogota 
I  Antioquia 
]  Mariquita 
^  Nei  va 

£  Cartagena 
/  Santa  Marta 
/  Rio  de  la  Hdcha 

Popayan 
Choco 
Pdsto 
.Buena  Ventura 

f  Panama* 
I  Veragua 


OF  SEANISH  AMERICA. 


xli 


Departments. 


MEXICO 


£quad6r 


• 


COLOMBIA    .  < 


ASSUAY   . 


GuAYAQufL  . 


Provinces. 
Pinchincha 
Imbubura 
Chimborazo 

Cuenca 
L6ja 
Jden 
-Maynas 

Guayaquil 
Manali 


Capital,  Bogota. 
Inhabitants,  60,000. 

Federal  States. 
[Chiapa 
Chihuahua 
Coahuila  and  Tejas 
Durango 
Guanajuato 
Mexico 

Michoacan,  or  Valladolid 
Nuevo-Leon 
Oajaca 

Puebla  de  los  Angeles 
Queretaro 
San  Luis  de  Potosi 
Son6ra  and  Sinaloa 
Tabasco 
Tamaulipas 
Vera-Cruz 

Xalisco  (formerly  Guadalajara) 
Yucatan 
Zacatecas 
Territories  of  Upper  and  Lower 

California 
Tlascala 
Colima 
■  Santa  Pe  de  Nuevo  Mexico 

Capital,  Mexico. 
Inhabitants,  170,000. 


xlii  TERRITORIAL  DIVISIONS  OF  SPANISH  AMERICA. 


CENTRAL  AMERICA 


BRAZIL 


Federal  States. 
("Guatemala 
J  Safe  Salrad6r 

1  Honduras 
Nicaragua 
Costa  Rica 
Capital,  Guatemala. 
Inhabitants,  36  or  40,000. 

Provinces. 
rSanP6dro 
Santa  Catalina 
San  Pablo 
Rio  Janeiro 
Espiritu  Santo 
Bahia 
Sergype 
Alag6a8 
Pernambuco 
Minas  Geraes 
Goy£z 

Mata-Gr6sso 
Paraiba 
Rio  Grande 
Ceara 
Riaiihy 
Maranham 
I  Para 
Capital,  Rio  Janeiro. 
Inhabitants,  200,000. 


GLOSSARY. 


Alddde,  mayor  or  municipal  Cacique,  Indian  chief. 

officer.  Cal6ta,  a  creek,  or  cove,  or  inlet. 

Anden,  a  terrace.  Cam6tes,  a  tropical  vegetable, 

Andenes,  plural  of  Anden.  a  sort  of  sweet  potato. 

Arequipenas,  feminine  of  Are-  Cavallddas,  drove,  or  stock  of 

quipenos.  horses,  mules,  &c. 

Arequipenos,     inhabitants    of  Cazad6res  &  caballo,  light  dra- 

Arequipa.  goons. 

Argentine,  appertaining  to  the  Cazad6res,  light  infantry. 

river  Plata,  or  its  provinces.  Cercado,  environs. 

Argentinos,  inhabitants  of  the  Chdsqui,  a  messenger. 

provinces  of  El  Rio  de  la  Chilena,  feminine  of  Chileno. 

Plata.  Chileno,  Chilian. 

Arroyo,  a  rivulet.  Ch61a,  feminine  of  Cholo. 

Asiento,  station.  Cholo,  a  Chileno  or  Peruvian 

Asogueros,  mine  proprietors.  peasant  of  mixed  blood* 

Audiencia,  court  of  justice.  Contrabandista,  smuggler. 

Cordillera,  the  great  ridges  of 

Balsas,  a  raft,  or  float.  the  Andes. 

B61as,  a  sort  of  sling  with  three  Corral,  cattle-pen. 

balls.  Cuesta,  a  mountain  side. 

Boliviano,  belonging  to  Bolivia.  Cura,  the  priest  of  a  parish. 

Bombilla,  a  little  tube  to  suck  Cust6dia,  a  casket  for  the  con- 

m&te.  secrated  wafer. 

Cuyanos,    inhabitants    of  the 

Cabildo,  corporation,  or  muni-  province  of  Cuyo. 

cipalbody.  Cuzquena,    feminine   of  Cuz- 

Cacica,  wife  or  daughter  of  a  que&o. 

cacique.  Cuzquenos,inhabitantsofCuzco. 


xliv 


GLOSSARY. 


Desaguadero,  outlet  of  lake  Ti- 
tic&ca,  forming  a  large  river, 
which  loses  itself  in  the  de- 
sert. 

Desploblado,  unpeopled  tract. 

Doct6r,  a  collegial  title  in  theo- 
logy, jurisprudence,  medi- 
cine, &c.  sometimes  satiri- 
cally applied  to  those  learned 
quacks  who  veer  about  with 
every  political  breeze. 

Estancia,  grazing  farm. 
Estanciero,  grazier. 

Fiscal,  legal  adviser,  or  attor- 
ney-general. 

Garua,  heavy  mists  prevalent 
on  the  coast  of  Peru. 

Gauchos,  peasantry  of  the  Pam- 
pas. 

Granaderos  a  caballo,  heavy 
dragoons. 

Gremio,  a  trading  company. 

Guaca,  Indian  burial-place. 

Guanaco,  animal  peculiar  to 
the  Andes. 

Guapo,  brave,  daring. 

Guasos,  peasantry  of  Chile. 

Hacendddo,  a  landed  proprietor. 
Hacienda,  an  estate. 

Iquehos,  inhabitants  of  lea. 

Junta  Gubernativa,  governing 
council. 


Limena,  feminine  of  Limeno. 
Limeno,  native  of  Lima. 
Llaneros,    inhabitants    of   the 

plains  of  Colombia. 
L6mas,  downs,  or  hills. 

Matador,  bull-killer. 

Mate,    infusion    of   Paraguay 

herb. 
Mendocino,  a  native  of  Men- 

doza. 
Meztizos,  mixed  casts. 
Ministro,  a  board  officer. 
Mita,  conscription  of  Indians. 
Mitayo,  conscript  for  the  mines. 
Montoneros,  guerrillas  of  South 

America. 

Obrage,   bridewell,    or  public 

workhouse. 
Oid6r,  a  judge. 
Ojotas,  sandals. 
Oriental,  an  inhabitant  of  the 

Banda  Oriental. 

Pampero,  south-west  wind,  or 
hurricane  of  the  Pampas. 

Pe6n,  out-of-door  workman,  or 
attendant. 

Pina,  pure  silver  ore. 

P16za,  the  square  which  forms 
the  centre  of  every  city, 
town,  and  village  of  Spanish 
America. 

Plazuela,  small  square. 

Presidente  Vitalicio,  president 
chosen  for  life. 

Puna,  difficulty  of  respiration. 


GLOSSARY.  xlv 

Quebrdda,  a  ravine.  U'sares,  hussars. 

Quichua,  language  of  the  an- 
cient Peruvians.  Vara,     a    measure    somewhat 

shorter    than  •  the    English 

Real,  a  Spanish  coin  of  the         yard, 
value  of  sixpence.  Veta,  lode. 

Regidor,  a  municipal  officer.  Vitalicio,  for  life. 

Requa,  drove,  or  string  of  mules. 

Xeringa,  a  surgical  instrument. 

Sierra,'  the  hills  or  mountainous 

districts.  Yaravi,  a  plaintive  air. 

Socab6n,  adit. 


■I 


DIRECTIONS  TO  THE  BINDER. 

VOL.  I. 

Portrait  of  General  Miller  to  face  the  title-page. 

Map  of  South  America  to  face  the  Introduction. 

Plan  of  the  Battle  of  Chacabuco  to  face  page  -  132 

■  Battle  of  Maypo,  and  affair  of  San  Lorenzo    -  185 

Plan  of  the  port  of  Valdivia  -        -        -        -        -  252 

Portrait  of  General  San  Martin      -----  423 

VOL.  II. 

Portrait  of  General  O'Higgins  to  face  the  title-page. 

Map  of  the  Coast  of  the  Puertos  Intermedios  to  face  page  48 

Sketch  of  the  environs  of  Junin,  and  plan  of  the  affair  of  -  164 

Map  of  the  country  between  Guanta  and  Cuzco       -        -  169 

Plan  of  the  Battle  of  Ayacucho 200 

Portrait  of  General  Bolivar  ------  315 


CONTENTS 

OF 

VOL.  I. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Spanish  colonial  system. — Tyranny  of  Spaniards  over  the  abori- 
gines.— Despotism  of  Spaniards  over  their  own  descendants.— 
Mita.«~Repartimiento.~Obrages.^Tribtt^ 
avarice.— -Tupac  Amaru;  his  barbarous  execution. — Council 
of  the  Indies.— Prohibitory  laws.~Traits  of  character  ho- 
nourable to  Spaniards        ,.-«••        Page  1 

CHAPTER  II. 

Loyalty  of  Spanish  Americans  contrasted  with  the  conduct  of 
Spaniards. — H.  M.  S.  Acasta.— Agents  of  King  Joseph  ex- 
pelled.— Conduct  of  Iturrigaray. — Liniers. — Central  junta.— 
Regency. — Cortes. — People  of  Caracas  in  1808. — Marquess 
Wellesley. — Constitutional  measures  of  the  Americans. — In- 
justice of  the  Spanish  government.— Exterminating  character 
of  the  war.^-TruxiUa-^Caileja,-— Montevei^.-^Bove«^ — 
Morillo,— Horrid  execu*3oiiSvr~&tates  of  Spanish  America  de- 
clare their  independence    -  ••  •        -        31 

CHAPTER  III. 

Buenos  Ayres. — Banda  Q^eB^.r^o«tiaband^t^ — 
Beresford.— Whitelock. — Princess  Carlota. — Cisneros. — Junta 
Gubernativa. — Moreno. — Elio. — Obes.  ~Oeampo.~B*tareei 
— Cotagaita.  -^  Tupiza.  —  Castelli.  —  Paraguay. —  Praacia. — 


xlviii  CONTENTS. 

Goyeneche. — Huaqui. — Saavedra. — Monte  Video. — Rondeau. 
— Tucuman. — Gobierno  Superior. — San  Lorenzo. — San  Mar- 
tin. — Salta. — Tristan. — Belgrano.  — Vilcapugio. — Ayoma.—" 
Supreme  Director. — Arenales. — Warnes. — Alvear . — Monte 
Video.  —  Sipe-Sipe.  — Viluma. — Congress.  -. —  Pueyrredon,  — 
Pumacagua. — Pezuela. — La  Serna. — Gauchos       -       Page  52 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Army  of  the  Andes. — Royalist  forces  in  Chile. — Palaver  with 

the  Pehuenche  Indians. — Ninconyancu. — Millyagin. — Father 

\  Julian. — Savage  life. — Passage  of  the  Andes  -  90 

CHAPTER  V. 

Chile  in  1810. — Figueroa. — Carreras. — Pareja. — Yerbas-Bu- 
enas. — Chilian. — Sanchez.  — O'Higgins. — Mackenna. — Mem- 
brillar. — Gainza. — Talca. — Dissensions. — Breach  of  faith  of 
the  royalists. — Desperate  defence  of  Rancagua. — Patriots 
emigrate. — Sambruno. — Osorio. — Exiles  of  Juan  Fernandez. 
— Rodriguez. — Freyre. — Army  of  the  Andes. — Soler. — Mar- 
tinez. — Necochea. — Chacabuco.  —  Supreme  director. — San 
Martin.  —  Talcahuano.  —  Las  Heras.  —  Quintana.  —  Patriot 
army.— -Commodore  Bowles    -----        109 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Miller — enters  the  service  of  Buenos  Ayres. — Tour  towards  Pa- 
tagonia.— -Pampas.— -Republican  encroachments. — Chascomus. 
— Los  dos  Talos. — Spanish  prisoners  of  war. — Las  Bruscas. — 
Tigers. — Lions. — Emigration. — Gauchos. — Ostriches. — Visca- 
chas. — Zorrinos. — Deer. — Indians. — Horsemanship. — Horses. 
— Return  to  Buenos  Ayres        -----     137 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Journey  to  Mendoza. — Andes. — Chile. — Santiago. — Roads.— 
Army  at  Las  Tablas.— Mess. — Artillery. — Appointments. — 


CONTENTS.  xlix 

Rapidity  of  movement. — March. — Lasso  bridge. — Quechere- 
guas. — Cancharayada. — Consternation  in  the  capital.— 'Rodri- 
guez.— Maypo. — The  Lautaro.— Blockade  of  Valparaiso. — The 
Esmeralda -        -     Page  163 

CHAPTER  VIII, 

Chileno  squadron  sails. — How  equipped. — Cholos.— Capture  of 
the  Spanish  frigate,  Reyna  Maria  Isabel. — Harsh  treatment 
of  Major  Miller,  the  bearer  of  a  flag  of  truce. — General 
Sanchez. — Difficulties  of  getting  off  the  prize. — New  danger. 
—Spanish  transports  captured. — Chileno  squadron  returns. 
—Rejoicings. — Chileno  manners        -        -        -        .      191 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Lord  Cochrane. — Amusements  at  Valparaiso. — Lady  Cochrane. 
— Mrs.  Blanco. — Chilenas. — H,  M.  S.  Andromache. — Chileno 
squadron  sails. — Mutiny  in  the  Chacabuco.— Attack  upon 
Callao.— Captain  Guise. — Island  of  San  Lorenzo.— Accident. 
— Explosion  vessel. — Gun-boats. — Huacho.  — Guainbacho.  — 

.  Pillage  of  Payta. — Conventillo.— Guacas. — Squadron  returns 
to  Valparaiso.— -Admiral  Blanco. — Prisoners  of  war  released. 
—Captain  Esmonde 207 

CHAPTER  X. 

Balcarce.— Concepcion.— Benavides. — His  barbarities.— -Arauca- 
nian  Indians.— -Chileno  squadron  sails. — Unsuccessful  against 
Callao. — Sails  to  Pisco. — Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  killed.— 
His  character. — Major  Miller  wounded. — Squadron  sails  to 
Guayaquil. — Returns        ------     225 

CHAPTER  XL 

The  O'Higgins  makes  Valdivia.— Captures  the  brig  of  war 

Potrillo. — Interesting  meeting. — Conception. — Reinforcement . 

— The  O'Higgins  strikes  on  a  rock. — Dismay  on  board. — Lord 

Cochrane's  sang  froid. — Valdivia  taken        ...    239 

VOL,  I.  d 


1  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Benavides. — His  marvellous  escape. — Unsuccessful  attack  upon 
Chiloe.  — r-  Gallantry  of  the  patriot  soldiers. — Major  Miller 
wounded.  —  Fanaticism.  —  Major   Beauchef.  —  Royalists  in 

.  Osorno  annihilated.— Santalla. — Captain  Bobadilla. — Squa- 
dron arrives  at  Valparaiso. — Humane  character  of  the  Chi- 
lenos.  —  Misunderstanding  between  San  Martin  and  the 
Buenos  Ayrean  government. — La  Logia,  or  club. — Colonel 
Martinez. — Battalion  No.  8. — Preparations  to  liberate  Peru; — 
Obstacles. — Royalist  forces  in  Peru  -        -         Page  256 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Liberating  army. —Sails  from  Valparaiso. — Disembarks  at  Pisco. 
— Arenales. — Affair  at  Nasca. — Army  re-embarks. — Ancon. 
-—Guayaquil. — Esmeralda. — Army  disembarks  at  Huacho. — 
Chancay. — Colonel  Campino. — Exchange  of  prisoners  of  war. 
— Battalion  of  Numancia. — Action  of  Cerro  de  Pasco. — 
Dissensions  of  the  royalists. — Pezuela  deposed. — La  Serna 
made  viceroy. — Lady  Cochrane. — The  admiral  sails  to  Callao. 
—Returns  to  Huacho.— Proceeds  to  Pisco. — Armistice'  of 
Punchauca       .-_.--..    276 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Operations  of  a  patriot  detachment  in  the  vicinity  of  Pisco. — It 
re-embarks. — Proceeds  to  Arica. — Unsuccessful  attempts  to 
land. — Morro  de&ama. — Arica  taken. — Property  captured. — 
Affair  of  Mirabe. — Moquegua. — Calera. — Armistice. — Patriot 
prisoners  released  from  slavery. — Character  of  La  Tapia. — 
Mrs.  Gago. — The  patriots  re-embark  at  Arica. — Sail  to  the 
northward -        -     304 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Pisco  re-occupied — Ildefonso. — A  Peruvian  Meg  Merrilies. — Co- 
pari. — Caguachi. — Character  of  Santalla.— General  San  Martin 
enters  Lima.— Atrocities  of  the  royalists. — Independence  pro- 


CONTENTS.  li 

claimed. — San  Martin  becomes  protector. — Decrees. — Canterac 
returns  to  Callao — retreats  again — is  pursued. — Puruchuco.— • 
Quiros.— Montoneros        *----.     Page  351 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Description  of  Lima. — Markets. — Vicinity. — Banditti. — Pan- 
theon.— Bridge. — Baths. — Cath  edral. — Palace. — Fountain.— 
Theatre. — Bull  circus. — Bull  fights. — Climate.— Routs.— 
Balls. — Uninvited  spectators. — Tapadas. — Gaming. — Inhabit- 
ants.—  Palanganas. — Ladies  of  Lima. — Costume. — Peruvian 
legion. — Patriot  and  royalist  forces. — Supreme  delegate. — Dis- 
tress at  sea. — Spanish  ships  capitulate. — Lord  Cochrane  re- 
turns to  Chile. — Quits  the  service. — The  surprise  at  lea.— 
Battle  of  Pinchincha. — Interview  between  Bolivar  and  the 
protector. — Monteagudo  banished. — Congress  installed— San 
Martin  retires  from  public  life— Sketch  of  his  character.    382 


APPENDIX. 

(A).  Letter  from  Captain  Beaver  to  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane  427 
(B).  Declaration  of  the  independence  of  the  United  Provinces  of 

South  America,  and  manifesto  ...  429 
(C).  Letter  from  General  Ramirez  to  the  Subdelegate  of  Tara- 

paca    --------        447 

(D).  Letter   from   Colonel  La   Hera  to   the   Municipality  of 

Tacna      ------         --ib. 

(E).  Letter  from  La  Hera  to  Don  Bias  Mendoza,  and  counterfeit 

answer         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        449 

(F).  Translation  of  a  vote  of  thanks  of  the  Peruvian  congress  to 

Lord  Cochrane,  and  his  proclamation  to  the  Chilenos.  451 


ERRATA. 

Page    59,  line  27,  dele  General  Elia 
63,  —    1,  —  Elio. 
320,  —  15, /or  being  at,  read  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
ib.    —  16,  —  from  the  spot,  read  distant 
326,  —  11,  —  eastern,  read  southern. 
416,  head  line, /or  Pinchincha,  read  lea. 


•••,• 


.••  : 


MEMOIRS, 

&c. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Spanish  colonial  system. — Tyranny  of  Spaniards  over  the  abori- 
gines.— Despotism  of  Spaniards  over  their  own  descendants. — 
Mita. — Repartimiento. — Obrages. — Tribute. — Ecclesiastical 
avarice.— Tupac  Amaru;  his  barbarous  execution.— -Council 
of  the  Indies. — Prohibitory  laws. — Traits  of  character  ho- 
nourable to  Spaniards. 

The  unjust  and  desolating  line  ^f  ^policy  adopted 
by  Spain,  during  three  centuries  of  domination  over 
her  American  possessions,  may  be  comprehended 
under  two  heads. 

1  st.  The  tyranny  exercised  over  the  aborigines. 

2nd.  The  despotism  of  Spaniards  over  their  own 
descendants. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  assert  in  this  place,  be- 
cause the  fact  will  be  admitted  by  those  who  take  the 
trouble  to  investigate  the  subject,  that  not  only  the 
riches  derived  from  Spanish  America,  but  the  very 
means  of  subsistence  enjoyed  by  its  inhabitants,  have 
all  along  been  procured  by  the  personal  toils  of 
the  aborigines,  assisted",  it  is  true,  in  some  of  their 
laborious  tasks,  by  slaves  imported  from  Africa.  But 
the  latter  were  too  valuable  to  be  expended  in  the 
mines. 

VOL.  i.  b 


4  TYRANNY  OF  SPANIARDS  CHAP.  I. 

as  a  virtual  sentence  of  death.  He  carried  with  him 
to  that  dreary  abode  his  wife  and  children,  and  made 
the  necessary  disposition  to  provide  for  the  contin- 
gency of  never  again  returning.  Nor  were  these  fore- 
bodings groundless,  for,  under  the  most  favourable 
circumstances,  scarcely  one  out  of  five  of  these  devoted 
victims  survived  this  odious  and  most  oppressive  con- 
scription. 

The  mitayOy  or  labourer  in  the  mines,  received 
nominally  four  reales,  or  about  two  shillings,  a  day, 
which  was  one  half  of  the  wages  of  the  ordinary  day- 
labourer  in  the  fields.  Out  of  this  sum,  two  third* 
were  supposed  to  be  paid  to  him ;  but  as  this  amount 
did  not  suffice  to  meet  the  expenses  of  his  miserable 
diet  and  lodging,  which  were  furnished  by  the  mine 
proprietor  at  a  most  extravagant  rate,  together  with 
the  eight  dollars  of  tribute  for  which  his  master  was 
responsible,  he  found  himself,  if  he  outlived  the  year, 
still  indebted  to  his  employer :  in  this  case  he  was 
not  allowed  to  discontinue  from  work  until  all  arrears 
were  paid.  Thus  each  succeeding  year  found  him 
more  and  more  deeply  involved,  and  thus  was  an- 
other link  added  to  the  galling  chain  by  which  he 
was  fettered  to  his  destiny.  It  generally  happened, 
however,  that,  before  the  expiration  of  the  first  year* 
he  was  released  by  a  welcome  death.  Languishing 
under  the  baneful  effects  of  the  transition  from  the 
genial  air  and  exercise  of  his  native  mountains,  to 
noxious  exhalations  and  exhausting  labours;  worn 
out  with  fatigue,  grief,  and  disease,  the  wretched 
mitayo  in  a  few  months  yielded  to  his  fate,  and  found 
a  refuge  in  the  grave. 


CHAP.  I.  OVER  THE  ABORIGINES.  5 

The  third  part  of  his  wages,  which  had  been  re- 
served to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  return  of  his 
family  to  their  native  home,  was  appropriated  to  that 
purpose.  More  than  twelve  thousand  Indians  were 
annually  subject  to  the  mita  conscription  in  Potosi 
alone.  It  is  computed  that  eight  millions  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty-five  thousand  Indians  thus  perished 
in  the  mines  of  Peru  #. 

*  The  extermination  of  the  aborigines  in  other  parts  of  America  colonized 
by  Spaniards  or  Portuguese  was  even  more  effectually  accomplished.  It  is 
computed  that  the  Brazilians  destroyed  in  the  hostile  excursions  against  the 
Spanish  possessions  of  Paraguay  and  the  provinces  of  the  river  Plata  upwards 
of  four  hundred  towns  and  villages.  These  marauders,  born  of  Portuguese, 
Dutch,  French,  and  Italians,  by  Brazilian  women,  were  called  Mamelucos. 
The  object  of  their  incursions  was  to  carry  off  the  Guarany  and  other  Indians, 
whom  the  Jesuits  had  succeeded  in  converting.  The  captives  were  led  to 
Brazil,  chained  or  corded  in  herds  like  cattle,  and  there  condemned  to  perpetual 
labour.  Infants  were  torn  from  the  bosoms  of  their  mothers,  ana  m  cruelly 
dashed  upon  the  ground  on  the  way.  Those  whom  disease  or  age  had  rendered 
imbecile  were  either  cut  down  or  shot,  as  being  unequal  to  the  daily  march. 
Many  perished  from  hunger  and  thirst.  It  is  asserted  (Lettre*  Curicuscs  ct 
Edifiantes)  that,  in  the  space  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  years,  two  millions  of 
Indians  were  slain  or  carried  into  captivity  by  the  Mamelucos  of  Brazil,  and 
that  more  than  one  thousand  leagues  of  country,  as  far  as  the  river  Amazon, 
was  stripped  of  inhabitants.  It  appears  from  authentic  letters  (sent  by  the 
catholic  king  in  the  year  1609,  September  16)  that,  in  five  years,  three  hundred 
thousand  Indians  of  Paraguay  were  carried  into  Brazil.  Pc-dro  de  Avila,  go- 
vernor  of  Buenos  Ayres,  declared  that  Indians  were  openly  sold  in  his  sight  at 
Rio  Janeiro  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  St  Paul;  and  that  six  hundred 
thousand  were  so  sold  at  Rio  Janeiro  alone,  from  the  year  1628  to  the  year 
1630. 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  acts  of  the  Mamelucos  were  authorized.  His 
most  faithful  majesty,  Joseph  I.,  confesses,  in  a  decree  issued  on  the  6th  of 
July,  1755,  and  inserted  in  the  new  code  of  Portuguese  laws,  that  many  mil- 
lions of  Indians  were  destroyed,  and  that  very  few  Indian  towns  remained,  and 
equally  few  inhabitants.  He  adds,  that  this  was  occasioned  by  the  enemies  of 
their  liberty,  contrary  to  the  laws  of  Portugal.  He  declares  the  Indians  free, 
and  orders  captives  to  be  set  at  liberty ;  and  likewise  other  pious  kings  of  Spain 
and  Portugal,  his  predecessors,  prohibited  all  robbery,  sale,  oppression,  and 
persecution  of  the  Indians  whatsoever,  under  the  same  penalties,  by  repeated 
laws.  But  these  decrees  were  seldom  or  never  observed,  and  governors  and 
other  persons  who  profited  from  the  captivity  and  sale  of  the  Indians  had  be- 
come  too  hard-hearted  to  listen  to  the  feelings  of  humanity.  The  barbarity  of 
those  men  towards  the  Indians  was  pourtrayed  in  lively  and  faithful  colours  by 
the  Jesuit  father  Antonio  Vieyra,  who  preached  on  the  subject  at  the  court  of 
Lisbon  in  1662.  For  attempting  to  protect  the  poor  Indians  in  the  province 
of  Maranham,  he  had  been  banished  from  Brazil.  The  royal  laws  and  decrees 
in  favour  of  the  Indians  being  disregarded  in  Brazil,  the  king  found  it  neces- 
sary to  have  recourse  to  the  threats  and  penalties  of  the  pope.  Paul  III., 
Urban  VIII.,  and  Benedict  XIV.,  in  consequence  threatened  to  excommunicate 
all  who  should  presume,  in  the  words  of  the  Roman  court,  to  reduce  the  In- 
dians to  servitude ;  to  sell,  buy,  exchange,  or  give  them  a  way.  But  the  rapa- 
city and  cruelty  of  the  Mamelucos  did  not  always  remain  unpunished.     They 


6  THE  REPARTIMIENTO.  CHAP.  I. 

The  Indians  were  in  like  manner  pressed  into  the 
service  of  the  40&%gidgres9  or  governors  of  provinces; 
of  the  caciques;  and  of  the  curates,  to  serve  aspongos, 
or  menial  servants,  who  were  relieved  periodically! 
but  were  not  allowed  to  return  to  their  homes  until 
they  had  procured  a  certificate  stating  the  due  dis- 
charge of  their  services.  They  received  no  remu- 
neration except  food  and  miserable  clothing.  It  is 
computed  that  upwards  of  sixty  thousand  Indians 
were  employed,  in  Peru  alone,  in  this  domestic} 
servitude  ** 

For  a  description  of  the  sufferings  to  which  the 
Indians  were  exposed  on  other  properties  where  the 
mita  prevailed,  viz.  the  cultivated  estates,  the  estan- 
cias,  or  grazing  farms,  and  the  obrages,  or  public 
manufactories,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  secret 
report  of  Don  Jorge  Juan  and  Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa, 
perhaps  the  most  authentic  work  upon  this  subject 
that  has  ever  appeared  in  print.  For  the  repro- 
duction of  this  work,  which  slept  in  the  archives  of 
Madrid  for  eighty  years,  the  literary  world  is  now  in- 
debted to  the  indefatigable  exertions  of  Mr.  Barry. 

2dly.  The  repartimientoi  was  a  privilege,  ori- 
ginally granted  with  the  best  intentions,  and  most 
politic  views,  to  the  corregidors  or  governors  of  pro- 

were  occasionally  attacked  and  overcome  by  the  Guarany  Indians,  who  at  length 
haying  been  permitted  by  the  Spaniards  to  carry  arms  for  their  defence,  almost 
entirety  put  a  stop  to  the  incursions  of  the  Brazilian  marauders.-— Dobrizho- 
fer'b  Abipoves. 

*  It  has  been  impossible  to  do  away  entirely  with  this  abuse,  and  at  the 
present  time  it  exists  in  many  of  the  villages  and  towns,  notwithstanding  that 
it  is  prohibited  by  recent  laws. 

-f*  Tracts  of  the  country,  or  whole  districts  of  Indians,  granted  to  the  early 
conquerors,  were  called  encomiendas,  and  sometimes  repartimientos.  Although 
the  feudal  privileges  of  these  grants  had  been  abolished  by  some  decrees  of  the 
sovereign,  yet  they  continued  to  be  exercised  on  a  few  remaining  encomiendas 
until  the  final  expulsion  of  the  Spaniards* 


CHAP.  I.  THE  REPARTIMIENTO.  7 

vinces,  to  furnish  at  a  fair  price  articles  of  necessary 
consumption  to  the  Indians.  At  the  period  of  the 
conquest,  and  for  a  long  time  afterwards,  few  if  any 
merchants  penetrated  into  the  interior  of  the  con- 
quered countries.  Such  governors  were  therefore 
necessarily  almost  the  only  persons  who  bartered 
with  subdued  or  unsubdued  Indians,  supplied  their 
wants,  and  received  in  exchange  gold  and  silver. 

This  privilege,  although  regulated  by  law,  was 
abused,  and  in  the  course  of  a  short  time  converted 
into  a  compulsory  and  disgraceful  traffic,  as  new  in 
the  annals  of  commerce  as  it  was  detestable  in  the 
eyes  of  justice  and  humanity.  Not  only  were  dying 
mules,  damaged  goods,  and  other  worthless  articles, 
forced  upon  the  Indians  at  double  or  triple  the  value 
of  the  best  commodities  of  the  same  kind,  but  razors 
to  men  who  have  no  beards ;  silk  stockings,  velvets, 
and  other  luxuries,  of  which  the  barefooted  Indian 
did  tiot  even  know  the  use,  constituted  an  important 
part  of  the  supplies  for  which  the  Indians  were  com- 
pelled to  pay. 

One  instance  will  illustrate  the  system.  Some 
foolish  speculator  in  Europe  had  sent  out,  amongst 
other  things,  a  consignment  of  spectacles,  which  lay 
for  a  long  time  useless  in  the  stores  of  a  merchant  in 
Lima.  After  every  hope  of  disposing  of  them  had 
failed,  for  in  that  country  people  retain  their  eyesight 
unimpaired  to  a  very  late  period  of  life,  a  corregidor 
was  applied  to,  who,  upon  issuing  an  order  that  no 
Indian  in  his  district  should  attend  divine  service, 
upon  certain  festivals,  unless  ornamented  with  spec- 


8  THE  KEPART1MIENTO.  CHAP.  I. 

tacles,  found  means  to  dispose  of  the  whole  of  them 
at  an  enormous  profit. 

These  abuses  originated  from  the  source  which 
produced  all  the  other  grievances  of  Spanish  America, 
namely,  that  the  interests  of  those  vast  countries 
should  be  made  subservient  to  those  of  Spain.  Needy 
Spaniards,  who  could  muster  enough  money  to  make 
a  well-timed  present,  might,  according  to  the  system 
so  admirably  pourtrayed  in  Gil  Bias,  ensure  an  ap- 
pointment in  the  Americas,  from  whence  they  relied 
upon  being  enabled,  to  return  in  a  very  few  years  with 
a  competent  fortune.  Every  new  viceroy  brought 
out  a  shoal  of  hungry  dependents  of  this  class,  and 
fresh  adventurers  arrived  with  every  civil,  military, 
or  ecclesiastical  appointment,  to  be  applied  in  suc- 
cession, so  soon  as  the  leeches  already  in  operation 
should  be  gorged  and  drop  off. 

Amongst  the  appointments  which  were  generally 
disposed  of  in  this  manner  was  the  office  of  cor- 
regidor. 

The  new  dignitary  found  no  difficulty  in  obtaining, 
at  a  long  credit,  and  at  a  proportionally  high  price, 
unsaleable  or  damaged  goods,  and  with  these  he  pro- 
ceeded to  take  possession  of  his  district. 

The  collection  of  the  royal  tribute,  which  was,  in 
reality,  the  principal  object  of  the  appointment  of  the 
corregidor,  afforded  him  ample  means  of  increasing 
and  enforcing  his  exactions.  The  tribute  was  an 
annual  capitation  ta*  of  eight  dollars,  paid  by  every 
Indian  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  fifty-five. 
For  the  amount  of  this  the  corregidor  was  responsible 


CHAP.  I.  THE  OBRAGE.  9 

• 

to  the  royal  treasury.  For  the  correctness  of  his  con- 
duct, so  far  as  the  royal  claims  were  concerned,  there 
was  no  deficiency  of  safeguards ;  but,  the  moment  that 
was  secured,  there  was  no  further  check.  If  he  could 
force  the  Indians  to  commence  the  payment  of  the 
tribute  at  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  continue  it  until 
seventy,  which  was  often  practised,  the  eighteen  years 
of  surplus  became  his  own.  If  an  unfortunate  Indian 
was  unable  to  pay,  which,  owing  to  innumerable  other 
exactions  to  which  he  was  liable,  was  but  too  often 
the  case,  he  was  sent  to  the  obrage,  or  public  manu- 
factory, or  bridewell.  The  nature  of  this  punishment 
will  be  best  described  in  the  words  of  the  report  above 
referred  to : 

"  The  Indian  in  the  obrage  earns  by  his  labour  there 
a  real  (about  sixpence)  a  day.  Half  of  this  is  stopped 
to  pay  his  arrears  to  the  corregidor,  and  the  other  half 
is  allotted  for  his  maintenance.  But  that  is  not  suf- 
ficient for  one  who  is  obliged  to  work  unceasingly  for 
the  whole  day.  Indeed,  how  can  half  a  real  in  that 
country  purchase  sufficient  food  for  a  man,  when  it 
will  barely  suffice  to  pay  for  his  chicha*,  without 
which  an  Indian  can  hardly  exist,  and  which,  from 
its  nourishing  and  invigorating  qualities,  he  prizes 
more  than  food  ?  Besides,  as  the  Indian  is  not  allowed 
to  move  out,  he  is  obliged  to  take  whatever  the  keeper 
of  the  obrage  chooses  to  give  him  for  his  half  real.  The 
latter,  in  order  to  prevent  loss  to  himself,  furnishes 
him  with  maize  or  barley  that  has  been  damaged  in 
the  granaries ;  the  carcasses  of  cattle  that  have  died  of 

*  A  fermented  liquor  (in  flavour  something  like  sweet  wort),  made  from 
Indian  corn,  from  barley,  and,  in  the  sierra  (mountainous  parts  of  the  country), 
from  quinoa  (millet). 


10  ECCLESIASTICAL  AVARICE.  CHAP.  I, 

disease,  and  have  already  begun  to  taint  the  air ;  and 
with  other  food  of  a  similar  nature.  The  view  of  the 
bodies  of  those  persons,  when  they  are  brought  out 
dead  from  such  houses,  would  move  the  most  flinty 
heart  to  compassion.  They  are  mere  skeletons,  fully 
betraying  the  cause  and  manner  of  their  death,  and 
they  often  expire  in  the  performance  of  the  tasks 
allotted  to  them,  with  the  very  instruments  of  labour 
in  their  hands}  for,  notwithstanding  the  symptoms  of 
their  dreadful  malady  manifested  in  their  looks,  the 
barbarous  task-masters  do  not  consider  it  a  sufficient 
reason  to  exempt  them  from  labour,  or  to  be  at  the 
expense  of  medical  aid  *" 

It  is  a  lamentable  fact,  that  the  general  desolation 
of  this  hapless  race  was  increased  by  the  very  class 
of  men  whose  duty  it  was  to  have  mitigated  their 
sufferings,  and  who  were  originally  placed  amongst 
them  as  protectors.  The  priests,  to  whose  spiritual 
guidance  the  Indians  were  assigned,  were  commonly 

*  The  tribute  was  collected  in  the  departments  of  Upper  Peru  until  the  end 
of  1825,  a  year  after  they  were  liberated  by  the  patriots. 

The  governor  of  each  province  was  obliged  to  pay  into  the  departmental  trea- 
sury a  certain  sum  every  quarter,  according  to  the  number  of  tributary  Indians 
his  province  was  computed  to  contain,  by  a  census  made  every  seven  years.  It 
often  happened  that  the  population  was  considerably  underrated,  in  which  cases 
the  governors  were  great  gainers.  The  governor  of  the  province  of  Porco,  in 
the  department  of  Potosi,  was  supposed  to  collect  a  surplus  of  10,000  dollars 
per  annum,  owing  to  this  circumstance. 

When  General  Bolivar  arrived  at  Potosi,  at  the  latter  end  of  1825,  the  tribute 
was  abolished  de  facto.  Until  then,  pretty  much  the  same  abuses  described  by 
Ulloa  existed;  and  were  we  at  liberty  to  state  the  result  of  some  official  exa- 
minations as  to  the  then  actual  state  of  the  Indians  in  those  mining  districts,  it 
would  appear  that  the  unfortunate  aborigines  were  as  ill  treated  by  men  pro- 
fessing liberal  and  constitutional  principles,  as  they  had  been  previously  by 
European  rulerSi  The  Indians  now  enjoy  by  law  the  same  rights  and  protection 
as  other  citizens.  Many  acts  of  cruelty  and  injustice  will  perhaps  continue  for 
*  time  to  be  exercised,  owing  to  the  undue  influence  and  power  of  a  few  of  the 
clergy  and  unprincipled  employes.  But  the  laws  of  the  new  governments  are 
just  and  wise  on  this  head,  and  there  is  little  doubt  but  that  in  the  course  of 
time  they  will  be  observed.  Many  of  the  patriot  clergy  are  liberal,  enlightened, 
and  enthusiastic  in  protecting  their  parishioners.  Dr.  Calera,  one  of  the  curates 
of  Potosi,  affords  a  brilliant  example  of  philanthropic  solicitude  for  the  welfare 
of  the  Indians. 


CHAP.  I.    LICENTIOUSNESS  OF  ECCLESIASTICS.  11 

chosen  from  amongst  the  most  useless  and  worthless 
of  their  respective  orders,  and,  instead  of  enlightening 
and  protecting  the  poor,  ignorant,  and  inoffensive 
beings  committed  to  their  charge,  they  plundered 
them,  without  mercy,  of  the  little  which  escaped  the 
rapacity  of  the  corregidors. 

The  curate  of  a  moderate  living,  in  the  province  of 
Quito,  informed  the  intelligent  travellers  before  men- 
tioned, that,  exclusively  of  his  dues  and  regular  fees, 
he  received  during  the  year,  as  presents  which  he 
exacted  at  certain  festivals,  200  sheep,  6,000  head  of 
poultry,  4,000  guinea  pigs,  and  50,000  eggs.  Mass 
was  not  said  on  those  days  until  a  due  proportion  of 
the  exacted  presents  were  delivered.  Mr.  Barry  re- 
lates that  he  himself  saw  a  priest's  bill  for  the  fees 
of  interring  a  person  who  died  in  easy  circumstances, 
which  amounted  to  134  dollars;  by  these  and  other 
means,  livings  of  7  and  800  dollars  a  year  were  made 
to  produce  5  or  6,000.  Many  of  the  livings  of  Peru 
are  worth  from  10  to  15,000  dollars  per  annum. 

The  scandalous  example  afforded  by  their  licen- 
tiousness was  still  more  pernicious  than  their  insa- 
tiable avarice.  Religion  administered  by  such  men 
was  calculated  rather  to  do  harm  than  good,  because 
the  Christianity  of  their  precepts  was  neutralized  by 
the  barbarity  of  their  practices. 

The  atrocities  committed  by  these  wolves  in  sheep's 
clothing  would  almost  surpass  belief,  were  they  not 
given  on  the  authority  of  such  men  as  the  Ulloas*, 

*  Had  the  suggestions  of  the  inestimable  and  enlightened  Ulloas  been  at. 
tended  to  by  the  court  of  Spain,  and  had  the  whole  of  these  missions  been 
transferred,  as  they  recommended,  to  the  Jesuits,  to  whose  character  and  con- 
duct they  bear  the  highest  testimony,  as  the  only  agents  qualified  for  the  con- 


12  ECCLESIASTICAL  AVARICE.  CHAP.  I. 

and  had  we  not  before  us  recent  facts  which  confirm 
their  statement.  All  that  the  Indians  have  been 
taught  of  religion  is  to  repeat  the  Pater  noster,  the 
Belief,  the  Ave  Maria,  and  a  few  prayers  relative  to 
confession  and  communion  *.  A  short  time  before  the 
performance  of  mass  on  every  Sunday  morning  was 
the  only  time  set  apart  for  this  sort  of  superficial  in- 
struction. This  weekly  attendance  on  the  part  of  the 
Indians  was  to  enable  the  parish  priest  to  fulfil  an 
ordinance  which  at  the  same  time  gave  him  an  oppor- 
tunity of  collecting  his  own  fees  for  the  administering 
of  the  sacraments  of  the  Romish  church.  The  cate- 
chism, or  the  summary  mentioned,  was  taught  by  the 
parish  priest,  when  he  understood  the  language  of 
the  Indians,  which  was  not  always  the  case.  These 
priests  received  a  salary  from  government,  but  they 
extorted  casual  profits,  in  the  shape  of  baptismal, 
matrimonial,  burial,  and  other  fees,  which  they  called 
obvenciones. 

When  the  Indians  were  unable  to  repeat  from 
memory  prayers  they  did  not  understand,  they  were 
often  publicly  whipped  at  the  church  porch.    Hence 

version  and  civilization  of  the  Indians,  it  is  but  fair  to  conclude,  judging  from 
what  they  so  quickly,  and  under  the  greatest  disadvantages,  effected  in  Paraguay, 
that  the  Indians  would  have  been  at  this  moment  a  numerous,  a  civilized,  and 
a  happy  people,  as  well  as  an  assured  source  of  wealth  and  strength  to  Spain. 

Independently  of  the  many  valuable  articles  of  commerce  and  manufactures 
which  were  produced  in  the  missions  of  Paraguay,  the  Jesuits  paid  annually 
into  the  royal  treasury  240,000  dollars,  .as  the  tribute  of  30,000  men  between 
the  ages  of  eighteen  and  fifty-live,  at  the  rate  of  eight  dollars  each. 

But  the  court  of  Madrid  had  not  the  inclination,  nor  perhaps  the  ability,  to 
effect  the  improvements  so  judiciously  pointed  out  Such  changes  would  have 
too  materially  affected  the  interest  of  those  who  were  fattening  on  the  abuses 
thus  denounced.  The  Jesuits  were  expelled,  their  missions  placed  on  nearly  the 
same  footing  as  those  of  other  monastic  orders,  and  the  same  system  of  general 
tyranny  and  rapacity  pursued.     The  results  are  now  evident. 

*  Pope  Paul  the  Third  issued  a  bull,  dated  2d  June,  1537,  pronouncing 
the  Indians  to  be  really  men,  and  capable  of  understanding  the  catholic  faith; 
their  cause  being  pleaded  by  Bartolomeo  Las  Casas,  afterwards  bishop  of 
Chiapa. 


CHAP   I.  ECCLESIASTICAL  AVA1UCE.  18 

their  aversion  to  a  religion,  the  benefits  of  which  were 
to  them  unintelligible,  but  which  they  felt  practically 
to  be  a  scourge. 

When  an  Indian  lost  his  wife  or  his  child,  he  un- 
derwent a  rigorous  examination  as  to  his  means  of 
defraying  the  fees  of  interment,  which  were  graduated 
at  the  discretion  of  the  priest.  If  the  Indian  refused 
to  pay,  then  his  mule,  his  cow,  his  llama,  his  sheep, 
or  other  property,  was  sequestered  and  publicly  sold. 
If  it  were  found  out  that  he  had  concealed  any  thing 
valuable,  he  was  thrown  into  prison.  In  all  these 
cases,  the  civil  authority  lent  its  aid.  The  following 
fact  is  related  by  an  eye-witness  now  in  England : 
A  poor  widow,  with  a  heart  full  of  grief  for  the  loss 
of  her  husband  and  only  support,  was  summoned  to 
the  presence  of  the  priest,  to  make  a  declaration  of 
the  property  left  by  her  deceased  husband,  in  order 
that  the  reverend  father  might  fix  the  scale  of  his 
fees.  In  vain  the  unfortunate  woman  implored  the 
priest  to  forego  his  demands  in  favour  of  her  children. 
He  was  inexorable,  and  would  relinquish  his  claim 
only  upon  condition  that  she  would  deliver  over  her 
eldest  son,  in  order  that  he  might  reimburse  himself 
by  selling  the  boy  as  a  slave,  or  making  a  present  of 
him,  although  the  practice  was  contrary  to  law.  To 
avoid  starvation,  the  afflicted  widow  gave  up  her  son, 
who  was  eight  years  old.  The  Indian  children  thus 
obtained  are  highly  prized,  on  account  of  their  value 
and  fidelity  as  domestic  servants.  This  practice  was 
continued  until  very  lately.  When  General  Miller 
was  governor  of  Potosi,  some  cases  of  the  same  kind 
were  laid  before  him. 


14  ECCLESIASTICAL  AVAKICE.  CHAP.  I. 

In  1817f  the  cura>  or  parish  priest,  of  La  Punta 
de  Santa  Elena,  in  the  province  of  Guayaquil,  named 
Ludena,  a  native  of  Cuenca,  having  occasion  to  go  a 
long  journey,  deputed  a  young  priest  to  officiate  in 
his  absence.  The  first  question  on  his  return  home 
was,  "  Well,  what  news?  who  have  died?"  In  giving 
the  list  of  deaths,  the  acting  cura  mentioned  the 
name  of  a  rich  cacique.  Ludena  rubbed  his  hands, 
and  exclaimed,  "  Well,  and  what  did  you  get  for  the 
funeral  masses  ?  a  thousand  dollars,  eh  ?" — "  No,"  re- 
plied the  other,  "  the  family  expressed  a  wish  for  the 
cacique  to  be  buried  as  a  poor  Indian,  which  I  per- 
mitted, and  received  the  customary  fee  of  six  dollars 
and  six  reales"  (twenty-seven  shillings).  Having  se- 
verely reprimanded  the  novice,  Ludena  sent  for  the 
sons  of  the  deceased  Indian.  He  told  them  that  they 
were  degenerate  children  of  the  best  man  in  the 
country,  and  every  way  unworthy  of  enjoying  the 
property  they  inherited ;  that  burying  him  as  a  poor 
man  was  not  only  indelicate,  undutiful,  and  unfeeling, 
but  the  certain  means  of  prolonging  the  torments  of 
their  good  father's  soul  in  the  flames  of  purgatory. 
The  sons  expressed  the  deepest  sorrow,  but  said  there 
was  now  no  remedy.  "  Yes,"  says  he,  "  there  is:  I 
will  compromise  the  matter :  I  will  have  the  statue 
of  your  late  excellent  and  pious  father  made  in  wax : 
the  funeral  service  shall  be  read  over  his  effigy,  and 
masses  shall  be  said  for  the  repose  of  his  soul."  The 
sons  were  glad  to  pay  five  or  six  hundred  dollars  for 
the  mock  funeral,  in  order  to  escape  from  further 
eensures  of  the  enraged  and  crafty  ecclesiastic. 

It  may  be  urged  by  the  advocates  of  the  Spanish 


CHAP.  I.        PERSECUTION  OF  THE  INDIANS.  15 

government,  that  the  Indians  had  the  power  of  ap- 
pealing from  such  horrible  abuses  to  the  viceroys,  as 
representatives  of  their  king.    The  answer  is  simple: 

A  long  course  of  slavery  will  bend  the  spirit  of  the 
boldest  and  most  independent  race ;  but  the  Indians 
were,  even  in  their  golden  age,  under  the  paternal 
sway  of  their  splendid  Incas,  a  meek  and  inoffensive 
people.  The  cruelty  and  tyranny  of  the  first  invaders 
had  reduced  them,  in  every  moral  and  philosophical 
capacity,  from  the  rank  of  men  to  a  condition  little 
superior  to  that  of  the  brute  creation.  The  Spaniard 
despised  the  Creole,  the  Creole  hated  and  envied  the 
Spaniard,  but  both  united  in  maltreating  and  op- 
pressing the  poor  Indian.  Even  the  blacks  were 
encouraged  to  trample  upon  the  aborigines.  Up 
to  the  present  time,  the  blacks  express  their  con- 
tempt for  them.  Besides,  how  could  the  unfortunate 
being  who  was  shut  up  for  life  in  a  mine,  or  in  a 
bridewell,  escape  in  order  to  tell  his  tale  of  woe  ?  or 
how,  if  he  did  escape,  was  he  to  make  his  case  known 
to  the  higher  authorities,  whom  he  could  rarely  ap- 
proach, or,  when  this  was  permitted,  could  address 
them  only  in  a  language  which  they  did  not  under- 
stand ?  And  even  if,  from  being  in  a  state  of  mo- 
mentary freedom,  and  from  the  advantage  of  an  ac- 
cidental proximity  to  the  capital,  he  did  succeed  in 
obtaining  an  audience,  what  was  the  result  ?  Let  the 
answer  be  given  by  the  two  conscientious  and  virtuous 
Spaniards  already  quoted : 

A  repartimiento  had  taken  place  in  the  year  1743, 
about  forty  leagues  from  Lima.  The  corregidor 
had  purchased  goods  for  70,000  dollars ;  for  these 


16  TUPAC  AMARU.  CHAP.  I. 

goods  lie  exacted  from  the  wretched  Indians  300,000 
dollars. 

"  The  Indians  of  this  corregimiento,"  continue  our 
authors,  "  finding  themselves  tyrannized  over  with 
greater  cruelty  than  they  had  experienced  from  the 
predecessors  of  the  corregidor,  determined  to  com* 
plain  to  the  viceroy,  and  produced  before  him  the 
goods,  together  with  the  proofs  of  the  exorbitant  prices 
which  they  had  been  obliged  to  pay  for  them.  We  do 
not  state  this  fact  from  report,  as  we  happened  to  be 
present  when  the  Indians  came  to  make  known  their 
grievances.  The  viceroy  heard  them,  and  referred 
them  to  the  audiencia ;  and  the  result  was,  that  the 
Indians  were  seized  and  punished  as  insurgents." 

But  the  bow,  however  elastic,  may  be  bent  until  it 
breaks.  The  Indians,  after  enduring  the  most  cruel 
oppressions  for  ages,  in  the  hopeless  apathy  of  despair, 
were  roused  to  vengeance  in  1780,  by  the  avarice  of 
the  corregidors  of  Chayanta  and  Tinta,  who,  in  that 
single  year,  ventured  to  impose  three  repartimientos, 
each  of  which  produced  about  150,000  dollars. 

Don  Jos6  Gabriel  Condorcanqui,  cacique  of  Tun- 
gasuca,  in  whom  education  had  awakened  the  dor- 
mant feelings  of  human  nature,  placed  himself  at  the 
head  of  his  countrymen.  He  was  a  descendant  of 
the  inca  Tupac  Amaru,  who  in  the  year  1562  was 
most  unjustly  beheaded  by  order  of  the  viceroy  Don 
Francisco  de  Toledo. 

The  cacique  of  Tungasuca  was  educated  at  the 
college  of  San  Borja  at  Cuzco,  and  possessed  virtues 
which  in  private  life  render  a  man  amiable  and  re- 
spected ;  but  lie  wanted  those  essential  qualifications 


CHAP.  I.     HIS  BARBAROUS  EXECUTION.         17 

which  are  requisite  to  constitute  the  restorer  of  an 
empire.  His  countenance  was  noble,  his  manners 
prepossessing,  his  stature  lofty,  and  frame  robust ;  his 
disposition  intrepid  and  enterprising ;  but  his  passions 
were  violent,  and  his  knowledge  and  views  in  every 
respect  too  confined  to  realize  the  grand  idea  of  re* 
covering  the  lost  happiness  of  his  country.  Instead 
of  uniting  and  making  common  cause  with  the  Spa- 

* 

nish  Americans,  who,  born  on  the  same  soil,  and  held 
in  perhaps  more  galling  fetters,  were  entitled  to  the 
same  rights  with  himself,  he  directed  his  hostilities 
equally  against  them  as  against  the  Spaniards,  the  real 
tyrants  of  both ;  and  he  met  the  fate  which  a  policy 
so  isolated  and  so  unjust  could  not  but  ensure. 

The  popularity  of  his  cause,  however,  amongst  his 
own  people,  soon  attracted  to  his  standard  a  multitude 
of  undisciplined  Indians,  whom  he  had  not  either 
the  talent  to  train  in  military  tactics,  or  the  means 
to  arm.  He  assumed  not  only  the  name  of  his  an- 
cestor Tupac  Amaru,  which  means,  in  the  Quechua 
language,  the  highly  endowed,  but  the  attributes  and 
the  pomp  of  the  incas. 

Some  partial  successes  attended  his  career.  The 
desperate  valour  of  his  unarmed  followers,  in  which 
even  their  females  partook,  seemed  to  counterbalance 
the  discipline,  the  arms,  and  skill  of  their  opponents ; 
but,  in  the  end,  Tupac  Amaru  was  taken  prisoner. 
The  details  x>f  his  execution  warrant  a  strong  pre- 
sumption that  civilization  which,  in  every  country  of 
Europe,  has  alleviated  the  horrors  of  war,  and  miti- 
gated the  rage  of  the  victor,  had  not  reached,  or  at 
least  not  softened,  the  Spaniard  in  America.     The 

vol.  i.  c 


18  SIEGE  OF   SOllATA.  CHAF.  U 

§ 

punishment  of  Tupac  Amaru  was  dictated  by  the 
same  ruthless  barbarity  that  had  formerly  condemned 
the  young  and  heroic  Guatemozin,  the  last  of  the 
emperors  of  Mexico,  to  expire  upon  burning  coals. 
Tupac  Amaru  beheld  from  the  scaffold  the  execution 
of  his  wife,  of  his  children,  and  of  many  of  his  faithful 
followers ;  after  which  his  tongue  was  cut  out,  and 
wild  horses,  harnessed  to  his  legs  and  arms,  tore  his 
limbs  asunder*. 

But  this  horrible  butchery,  so  far  from  being  of 
service  to  the  cause  for  which  it  was  perpetrated, 
may  be  fairly  estimated  to  have  cost  the  Spaniards 
five  hundred  additional  lives  for  every  victim  im* 
molated  upon  this  occasion.  The  Indians,  barbarous 
and  ferocious  when  their  passions  are  strongly  ex- 
cited, as  all  degraded  and  debased  people  become 
when  once  roused  against  their  oppressors,  were  so 
horror-struck  at  the  recital  of  these  enormities,  that 
many  who  had  until  then  remained  passive  joined 
in  the  insurrection.  Headed  by  the  Indian  chiefs, 
among  whom  was  Catari,  they  kept  up  a  desultory 
but  destructive  warfare,  and  cut  to  pieces  several 
detachments  of  Spaniards. 

Andres,  the  nephew  of  Tupac  Amaru,  laid  siege 
to  Sorata,  a  town  near  La  Paz,  where  the  Spaniards 
of  the  neighbouring  districts  had  taken  refuge  with 
their  families  and  wealth.  The  unarmed  Indians 
were  unequal  to  the  storming  of  fortifications  which, 
although  constructed  only  of  earth,  were  lined  with 

*  The  brother  of  Tupac  Amaru  reached  Buenos  Ayres  in  1822,  after  having 
been  confined  thirty  years  in  Ceuta.  The  independent  government  granted  him 
a  house  ana  a  pension  of  thirty  dollars  per  month.  An  exposition  of  his  suf- 
ferings was  written  by  his  own  hand,  and  placed  in  the  archives  of  the  state. 


CHAP.  I.  COUNCIL  OF   THE  INDIES.  19 

artillery.  But  their  leader  surmounted  this  difficulty 
by  the  adoption  of  a  measure  that  would  have  done 
credit  to  any  commander.  By  the  construction  of 
a  lengthened  mound  he  collected  the  waters  which 
flow  from  the  neighbouring  snowy  heights  of  An* 
coma;  and  turning  them  against  the  earthen  ram- 
parts, washed  them  away.  The  immediate  result 
was  the  storming  of  the  town,  and  the  massacre  of  its 
inhabitants  *,  with  circumstances  of  horror  exceeding 
the  death  of  Tupac  Amaru.  Unhappily  the  vanity 
of  these  rude  chieftains  trifled  away,  in  ridiculous 
assumptions  of  royalty,  that  time  which  ought  to  have 
been  spent  in  warlike  operations. 

The  Spaniards  finally  succeeded  in  obtaining  by 
treachery  what  their  cruelty  had  failed  in  effecting. 
The  two  principal  Indian  chiefs,  in  consequence  of 
bribes  artfully  applied,  were  delivered  up  by  the 
treachery  of  confidential  servants;  and  thus,  for  a 
few  years  longer,  was  the  reign  of  tyranny  upheld 
by  its  accustomed  associates,  fraud  and  cruelty.  This 
rebellion,  however,  produced  the  abolition  of  the 
repartimiento*  In  other  respects  the  Indians  con- 
tinued to  be  as  much  oppressed  as  before. 

The  second  head,  under  which  the  tyranny  of  Spain 
towards  her  colonies  has  been  classed,  relates  to  the 
despotism  exercised  by  the  Spaniards  over  their  own 
descendants  in  America.  In  order  to  trace  to  their 
proper  source  the  grievances  of  the  Creole  descend- 
ants of  the  Spaniards,  it  will  be  necessary  to  take  a 
view  of  the  basis  of  their  colonial  legislation,  a  well 

*  Twenty  thousand.    Excepting  the  clergy,  not  a  single  male  was  left  alive. 

C  2 


20  COUNCIL  OF  THE  INDIES.  CHAP.  5 

intended  code,  but  the  abuses  of  which  spread  in- 
discriminate tyranny  over  whites  as  well  as  Indians. 
The  spirit  of  a  paternal  government  breathed 
through  every  page  of  the  RecopUacum  de  las  Leyes 
de  las  Indias.  Amongst  other  precautions,  the  kings 
of  Spain  had,  with  a  benignant  and  sage  policy, 
rendered  America,  as  it  regarded  both  its  aboriginal 
inhabitants  and  the  descendants  of  the  Spaniards,  a 
separate  empire,  dependent  upon  the  crown  of  Spain, 
but  independent  of  the  kingdom  of  Spain,  and  con- 
nected with  it  only  through  the  medium  of  the  sove- 
reign who  ruled  both  *.  But  unfortunately  the  kings 
of  Spain  delegated  their  power  over  America  to  a  set 
of  men  composing  what  is  called  the  Council  of  the 
Indies,  of  which  the  sovereign  was  president.  It  was 
placed,  as  to  rank  and  privileges,  upon  a  footing  with 
the  council  of  Castile.  The  council  of  the  Indies 
exercised  the  patronage  of  the  higher  appointments 
in  America,  and  the  members  were  consequently  in- 
terested rather  in  the  perpetuation  than  in  the  ex- 
tinction of  abuses.  Reform  would  have  narrowed  the 
usual  sources  of  wealth  to  their  relations,  depend- 
ants, or  proteges,  upon  whom  these  appointments 
were  lavished,  and  from  whom  imperative  custom 
demanded  the  most  expressive  tokens  of  gratitude  to 
their  patrons. 

The  inevitable  result  of  such  a  |jr#tem  is  readily 
conceived.  The  government  of  America  was  vir- 
tually vested  in  the  people  of  Spain,  and  her  interests 

*  Ley.  1,  tit.  8.  lib.  4.    See  also  the  most  eminent  Spanish  commentators, 
Soto,  Suaies,  and  Zolorzano. 


CHAP.  I.  LAWS  OF  THE  INDIES.  £l 

and  her  happiness  were  sacrificed  to  the  unjust  and 
short-sighted  view  of  enriching  and  aggrandizing  in- 
dividuals of  the  mother  country.  The  beneficent 
laws  of  the  Indies  became  a  dead  letter;  regulations, 
however  imperative,  were  disregarded;  and  America 
remained  a  vast  field  in  which  the  avarice  and  cruelty 
of  the  Spanish  nation  might  luxuriate  with  impunity. 
Some  proofs  of  the  accuracy  of  this  conclusion  have 
been  brought  to  light  in  reviewing  the  condition  of 
the  Indians*  A  short  sketch  of  the  government  of 
the  Indies  as  applied  to  the  descendants  of  the 
Spaniards  themselves  will  furnish  the  remainder* 

We  have  seen  a  despotic  king  framing  paternal 
and  wise  laws  for  his  subjects,  but  unable  to  enforce 
their  due  observance.  Let  us  now  contemplate  a 
nation  legislating  for  the  government  of  its  own 
children,  when  transplanted  to  another  soil,  and  we 
shall  find  its  laws  selfish,  despotic,  unjust,  and  con- 
sequently impolitic  in  every  principle,  but  "enforced 
with  the  most  jealous  exactitude.  The  monopolising 
and  sordid  spirit  in  which  they  were  framed  could  be 
equalled  only  by  the  unrelenting  severity  with  which 
they  were  carried  into  effect ;  and  the  degrading  and 
demoralising  influence  of  .such  a  government  becomes 
immediately  apparent. 

By  the  fundamental  laws  of  the  Indies,  the  natives 
of  Spanish  America  had  been  declared  to  be  eligible 
to  its  ecclesiastical  benefices,  and  to  the  offices  of 
trust,  importance,  and  honour  in  its  government*. 
These,  together  with  the  law  enacting  its  total  in- 
dependence of  Spain,  would,  if  observed,  have  been 

*  Leyes  3.  5.  13.  14.  22.  24  28. 


22  PROHIBITORY  LAWS.  CHAP.  I* 

sufficient  to  ensure  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of 
Spanish  America;  but  these  laws  were  either  super- 
seded or  disregarded  from  the  moment  that  the 
kings  of  Spain,  by  the  appointment  of  a  council  of 
the  Indies,  virtually  delegated  their  authority  to  the 
Spanish  nation.  The  spirit  of  the  laws  thenceforward 
enacted,  as  well  as  the  observance  of  the  fundamental 
laws,  were  regulated  upon  principles  subversive  of 
the  rights  and  welfare  of  America. 

These  violations  of  the  fundamental  laws  or  Magna 
Charta  of  the  Indies  may  be  classed  under  three  heads* 

1.  Agricultural  and  commercial. 

2.  Political  and  honorary. 

3.  Intellectual  and  moral. 

In  all  of  these,  brevity  will  confine  us  to  a  few 
leading  points. 

1.  Agricultural  and  commercial. 

The  natives  of  the  different  governments  were  pro- 
hibited from  cultivating,  on  their  own  lands,  many 
valuable  fruits  and  productions  to  which  the  soil  and 
climate  were  peculiarly  adapted.  The  whole  of  the 
staple  commodities  of  Spain  itself  were  placed  under 
this  edict,  in  order  to  secure  to  the  mother  country 
a  certain  vent  for  her  own  produce*.  They  were 
forbidden  to  have  manufactories  of  any  other  kinds 
of  cloth  than  those  used  by  the  Indians ;  they  were 
deprived  of  every  species  of-  traffic,  not  only  with 

*  Quedando  expresamente  prohibido  pa  la  Nueva  Espaiia,  Tierra  Firme,  y 
Santa  Fe,  los  vinos,  aguardientes,  vinagre  y  azeite  de  oil?  as,  pasas,  y  almendras 
del  Peru  y  Chile,  y  privados  rigurodamente  en  todas  partes  los  plantios  de  oli- 
vares  y  vifias.     Gazeta  de  Mexico,  Octubre  6,  1804. 

Translation, — Being  expressly  prohibited  in  New  Spain,  Tierra  Firme,  and 
Santa  Fe,  the  wines,  brandies,  vinegar,  oil  of  olives,  raisins,  almonds  of  Peru 
and  Chile ;  and  the  planting  of  olive-trees  and  vineyards  being  every  where 
strictly  forbidden — Gazette  of  Mexico,  6  October,  1804. 


CHAP,  I.  PROHIBITORY  LAWS.  23 

foreign  nations,  but  even  with  the  other  Spanish 
American  states ;  and  orders  were  transmitted  to  the 
different  viceroys  to  prevent,  by  all  possible  ways  and 
means,  commerce  between  their  respective  kingdoms. 
We  give  one  by  way  of  specimen. 

"  According  to  the  final  resolution  of  the  count  of 
Chinchon,  and  by  the  advice  of  the  board  of  finance, 
we  order  and  command  the  viceroys  of  Peru  and 
New  Spain,  that  they  absolutely  prohibit  and  impede 
all  commerce  and  traffic,  between  both  kingdoms,  by 
all  the  ways  and  means  in  their  power*." 

Even  when  foreigners  were  allowed  to  prosecute 
the  cod  and  whale  fisheries  on  the  coast  of  America, 
the  natives  were  restrained  j  and  they  were  punished 
with  death  if  it  was  proved  that  they  sold  an  article 
of  commerce  to  those  strangers.  They  were  forbidden 
to  work  their  mines  of  quicksilver  and  iront.  The 
order  to  tear  up  by  the  roots  every  forbidden  article 
that  had  been  planted,  and  to  burn  and  destroy  ob- 
noxious implements  of  agriculture  and  manufactures, 
were  most  rigorously  executed. 

2nd.  Political  and  honorary. 

In  violation  of  the  fundamental  laws,  Americans 
were  generally  excluded  from  offices  from  which 
either  honour  or  profit  could  be  derived.  When  a 
deviation  from  this  system  did  occur,  it  was  in  favour 
of  such  as  could  afford  to  give  enormous  bribes,  or  of 
those  who  were  most  forward  in  depreciating  their 

*  Por  ultima  resolution  del  conde  de  Chinchon,  y  acuerdo  de  hacienda,  or- 
denamos  y  mamdamos  a  los  virreyes  del  Peru  y  Nueva  Espana  que  infalible- 
mente  prohiban  y  estorben  el  comercio  y  trafico  entre  ambos  reynos  por  todos  los 
caminos  y  medio*,  que  les  fuera  poslbles.     L.  79.  tit  45.  lib.  9. 

+  The  quicksilver  mine  at  Guancabelica,  in  Peru,  was  allowed  to  be  worked 
under  certain  restrictions  during  the  war  between  England  and  Spain. 


24  PROHIBITORY  LAWS.  CHAr.  1. 

own  countrymen,  and  in  tyrannizing  over  them  with 
the  malignant  feelings  of  renegadoes ;  and  these  were 
certain  of  being  liberally  employed  and  amply  re- 
warded. But,  carefully  as  honourable  Americans 
were  excluded  de  facto,  still  it  was,  in  the  last  cen- 
tury, seriously  debated  in  the  great  council  of  the 
Indies,  whether  they  should  not  be  excluded  de 
jure,  and  declared  incapable  of  filling  any  honourable 
office.  But  this  idea  was  never  carried  into  effect. 
It  was  felt  to  be  superfluous,  and  was  perhaps  con- 
ceived to  be  too  wanton  and  flagrant  a  declaration 
of  the  purpose,  to  violate  those  fundamental  laws  of 
the  Indies,  which  enacted,  "  that  in  all  cases  of  go* 
vernment,  justice,  administration  of  finance,  employ- 
ments, encomiendas  of  Indians,  &c.  the  first  dis- 
coverers, then  the  pacificadores,  and  lastly  the  set- 
tlers, and  those  born  in  the  provinces  of  America, 
are  to  be  preferred." 

Another  objection  to  such  a  measure  would  have 
been  the  cutting  off  the  most  efficient  means  for  pro- 
curing the  service  of  recreant  natives,  who  were  often 
found  the  fittest  tools  to  be  employed  in  acts  of  vio- 
lence and  atrocity;  The  same  motives  and  ideas  in- 
fluenced the  consulado,  or  board  of  trade,  of  Mexico, 
composed  of  Spaniards,  to  represent  to  the  Cortes  of 
Cadiz,  in  1811,  "that  the  Spanish  Americans  were 
a  race  of  monkeys,  full  of  vice  and  ignorance,  and 
automata  unworthy  of  representing  or  being  repre- 
sented*." 

The  Cortes,  which  had  received  their  authority 

*  See  debates  of  Cortes,  Sept.  1811.    Count  Agreda,  one  of  those  who  signed 
the  document,  has  lately  been  obliged  to  quit  Mexico. 


CHAP.  I.  CONDUCT  OF  THE  CORTES.  26 

from  the  Regency,  entertained  the  same  animosity 
against  the  Americans;  and  although  there  were  in 
the  Cortes  some  members  chosen  from  those  Ame- 
ricans who  happened  to  be  at  that  time  in  the  Isla  de 
Leon,  they  were  scarcely  allowed  to  speak  of  their 
country.  "  If  the  Americans,"  said  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Cortes,  "  complain  of  having  been  tyran- 
nized over  for  three  hundred  years,  they  shall  now 
experience  a  similar  treatment  for  three  thousand.'1 
"  I  am  rejoiced/'  said  another  (Count  Toreno),  after 
the  battle  of  Albuera,  "  at  the  advantage  we  have 
gained,  because  we  can  now  send  troops  to  reduce 
the  insurgents."  "  I  do  not  know  to  what  class  of 
beasts  the  Americans  belong,"  said  another*  (Va-» 
liente). 

.  The  mode  in  which  the  fundamental  laws  were 
observed  are  evinced  by  the  following  facts. 

Out  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  viceroys  who  have 
governed  in  America,  only  four  have  been  natives, 
and  out  of  six  hundred  and  two  captains-general  and 
governors,  all  except  fourteen  were  Spaniards. 

The  laws  of  the  Indies  also  provided  that  the 
Creoles,  or  descendants  of  the  conquerors  and  set- 
tlers, should  have  the  right  of  holding  the  chief 
ecclesiastical  dignities,  and  that  no  foreigners,  viz. 
natives  of  Aragon,  Catalonia,  Valencia,  &c.  although 
they  were  to  be  allowed  to  reside  and  to  traffic  in 
Spanish  America,  were  eligible  to  any  ecclesiastical 
benefice  even  if  named  by  the  king  himself  t.     And 


*  See  Manifesto  of  Alvarez  Toledo,  Deputy  of  Cortes, 
f  Ley.  31,  tit.  6,  lib.  1  ;  ley.  32,  tit.  2,  lib.  2;  ley.  29,  tit  6,  lib.  I. 
Sotorzano,  Polit.  In.  lib.  3,  cap.  14. 


26  DESPOTISM  OF  SPANIARDS.  CHAP.  I. 

yet,  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  ecclesiastics  who  have 
been  advanced  to  the  episcopal  dignity  in  America, 
only  fifty-five  were  natives. 

3rd.  Intellectual  and  moral. 

A  few  extracts  from  the  mass  of  evidence  before  us 
will  fully  illustrate  and  prove  the  moral  debasement 
to  which  the  Spaniards  endeavoured  to  reduce  their 
descendants  in  America.  No  science  was  allowed  to 
be  studied^  the  acquirements  permitted  being  the 
Latin  grammar,  ancient  philosophy,  theology,  civil 
and  canonical  jurisprudence,  and  the  jargon  of  the 
schools,  which,  of  whatever  equivocal  advantage  they 
might  be  to  ecclesiastics,  could  be  of  no  possible 
utility  to  the  youth  of  the  laity.  Even  a  nautical 
school  formed  at  Buenos-  Ayres,  at  the  expense  of 
the  board  of  trade,  was  suppressed  by  the  viceroy, 
D.  Joaquin  del  Pino,  in  compliance  with  orders  from 
Spain.  The  few  schools  established  for  the  study  of 
mathematics  were  ordered  to  be  closed.  •  .J. 

Don  Juan  Francisco,  an  Opata  chief,  travelled  to 
Mexico  on  foot,  a  distance  of  five  hundred  leagues, 
and  then  crossed  the  ocean  to  Madrid,  to  solicit  a 
grant  for  the  sole  purpose  of  teaching  his  fellow  In- 
dians the  first  rudiments  of  learning ;  but  his  request 
was  refused  by  the  council  of  the  Indies  in  1798. 
The  cacique,  Cirilo  de  Castella,  after  soliciting  the 
same  favour  at  Madrid  for  twenty  years,  died  there 
without  attaining  his  object. 

But  the  system  at  last  was  avowed  in  all  its  naked 
deformity.  The  city  of  Merida,  in  Venezuela,  so- 
licited of  Charles  the  Fourth  permission  to  found 
an  university,  and  his  majesty  having  consulted  the 


CHAPr  I.   CONDUCT  OF  THE  SPANISH  GOVERNMENT.  27 

council  of  the  Indies,  answered  in  a  royal  cedula,  or 
decree,  that  he  did  not  conceive  it  proper  for  learning 
to  become  general  in  America. 

Of  all  the  modes  by  which  Spain  so  studiously  and 
so  effectually  contrived  to  depress  and  degrade  the 
people  of  Spanish  America,  none  was  so  truly  dis- 
graceful to  itself  and  galling  to  its  victims,  as  the  state 
of  intellectual  and  moral  abasement,  to  which  it  la- 
boured to  reduce  them.  That  a  short-sighted  govern- 
ment, acting  upon  the  base  policy  that  an  ignorant 
people  is  most  easily  retained  in  slavery,  should  strive 
to  prevent  the  acquisition  of  useful  knowledge,  may 
be  accounted  for ;  but  that  a  government  professing 
Christianity,  and  knowing  that  the  natural  and  in- 
evitable results  of  such  a  system  must  be  to  produce 
immorality  and  vice,  should  for  this  very  reason  the 
more  strenuously  enforce  it,  evinces  the  most  un- 
paralleled perverseness  and  malignity. 

That  such  were  the  objects  of  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment in  its  colonial  legislation,  of  which  some  speci- 
mens have  been  produced,  it  would  perhaps  be  harsh 
to  assert ;  but  that  such  were  the  melancholy  conse- 
quences cannot  be  concealed.  Nothing  but  the  native 
goodness  of  disposition,  acuteness  of  intellect,  and 
courage  of  the  natives  of  Spanish  America  generally, 
and  the  insolent,  uncompromising,  and  infatuated 
conduct  of  the  Spaniards,  could  have  broken  the  toils 
which  were  wound  around  them. 

A  regard  for  historical  truth  having  drawn  forth 
details  discreditable  to  the  Spanish  character,  can- 
dour and  justice  call  for  the  more  agreeable  task  of 


38  TEAITS  OF  CHARACTER  CHAP.  I. 

giving  some  bright  exceptions  amidst  the  corruption 
and  injustice  which  enveloped  Spanish  America. 

The  viceroy  Manso  retired  from  the  viceregal  go* 
vernment  of  Peru  in  honourable  poverty,  and  after- 
wards gained  a  subsistence  in  Spain  by  becoming  a 
schoolmaster. 

S  ant  el  ices,  born  in  Spain  and  educated  at  Sala- 
manca, was.  governor  of  Potosi  in  the  reign  of  Charles 
the  Third.  He  soon  perceived  the  abuse  of  power, 
the  prostitution  of  justice,  and  the  general  abandon- 
ment of  duty  which  pervaded  every  department.  His 
upright  and  strenuous  endeavours  to  correct  some  of 
these  evils  served  only  to  create  enemies  in  every  per- 
son interested  in  perpetuating  abuses.  Remonstrances 
and  appeals  against  his  unpalatable  reforms  were  made 
to  the  real  audiencia  of  Ch areas ;  which  tribunal,  sym- 
pathising but  too  feelingly  with  the  complainants,  is- 
sued repeated  royal  ordinances  against  the  innovations 
of  the  governor.  Finding  all  endeavours  to  force  him 
to  swerve  from  the  path  of  rectitude  ineffectual,  these 
powerful  and  artful  enemies  tried  the  temptation  of 
wealth  and  the  allurements  of  beauty  to  induce  him 
to  commit  some  act  that  would  compromise  or  form 
a  colourable  pretext  for  deposing  him.  He  dexter- 
ously avoided  the  snare,  by  inviolably  adhering  to  a 
resolution  never  to  grant  a  private  audience  to  any 
individual.  Worn  out,  however,  at  length,  by  this 
unequal  struggle,  he  determined  to  visit  Madrid,  and 
to  expose  in  person  the  maladministration  of  Peru ; 
but  he  died  on  his  passage  home,  and  it  has  been 
strongly  suspected  that  he  was  poisoned. 


CHAP.  I.     HONOURABLE  TO  THE  SPANIARDS.  29 

The  history  of  Gonzalez  Montoya,  governor  of 
Puno  in  1800,  and  now  living,  would  be  merely  a 
repetition  of  the  same  story,  with  the  exception  that 
the  result  was  less  tragical.  He  not  only  contrived 
to  return  in  safety  to  Spain,  but  had  the  firmness  to 
present  himself  at  the  bar  of  the  Cortes  at  Cadiz,  and 
to  expose,  with  energetic  eloquence,  the  whole  system ; 
declaring  that  the  acts  of  the  governors  in  Spanish 
America  were  one  tissue  of  harbaridades. 

Don  Antonio  Raya,  bishop  of  Cuzco,  gave  in  alms 
370,000  dollars  in  eight  years.  Don  Gaspar  Villa- 
roel,  archbishop  of  Charcas,  was  a  wise  and  virtuous 
prelate,  whose  memory  is  held  in  the  highest  respect. 
The  bishops  in  Peru  were  generally  virtuous  and  cha- 
ritable. It  was  seldom  that  the  episcopal  bench  was 
disgraced  by  a  character  like  that  of  Santa  y  Ortega, 
bishop  of  La  Paz,  since  promoted  by  Ferdinand  to 
a  richer  bishopric  in  Spain. 

Amongst  the  oidores  were  not  wanting  judges  of 
incorruptible  probity,  as,  for  instance,  Don  Jose  Por- 
tilla  Galves,  president  of  the  real  audiencia  of  Cuzco, 
and  his  contemporary  judge  Moscoso.  The  oidor 
Villota,  who  quitted  the  real  audiencia  of  Lima  so 
lately  as  182 1,  was  a  shining  example  of  integrity  and 
love  of  justice.  The  patriots  made  many  unavailing 
efforts  to  induce  this  ornament  of  the  law  to  remain 
in  Lima. 

To  the  honour  of  the  Spaniard,  also,  be  it  remem- 
bered, that  he  is  the  mildest  slave-master  in  the  world ; 
and  this  redeeming  trait  has  descended  to  his  trans- 
atlantic progeny.  In  the  extensive  provinces  of  the 
river  Plata,  and  in  Chile,  few  proprietors  possess  more 


30  HONOURABLE  TRAITS.        CHAP.  I. 

than  a  small  number  of  slaves,  who,  in  most  cases,  in 
ordinary  and  peaceful  times,  were  born,  lived,  and 
died,  without  having  been  transferred  to  another 
owner.  As  children,  they  were  the  playmates  of  the 
juvenile  part  of  their  master's  family ;  and,  as  adults, 
placed  nearer  upon  a  footing  of  equality  than  exists 
between  master  and  servant  in  many  European  coun« 
.  tries.  The  moderate  importation  of  negroes  only 
made  this  difference,  that  the  Creole  negro  considered 
himself  far  superior  to  his  sable  brother  from  Africa. 


CHAP.  II.    LOYALTY  OF  SPANISH  AMERICANS.  81 


/chapter  II. 

Loyalty  of  Spanish  Americans  contrasted  with  the  conduct  of 
Spaniards. — H.  M.  S.  Acasta. — Agents  of  King  Joseph  ex- 
pelled.— Conduct  of  Iturrigaray. — Liniers. — Central  junta. — 
Regency,  —f  Cortes. — People  of  Caracas  in  1808.—  Marquess 
Wellesley,: — Constitutional  measures  of  the  Americans. — In- 
justice of  the  Spanish  government. — Exterminating  character 
of  the  war. — Truxillo. — Calleja. — Monteverde. — Boves. — 
Morillo. — Horrid  executions. — States  of  Spanish  America  de- 
clare Iheir  independence. 
/ 

HAving  in  the  preceding  chapter  presented  some 
instances  of  the  system  of  oppression  pursued  by  the 
Spaniards  in  America,  it  becomes  necessary  to  trace 
the  natural  and  intimate  connexion  between  the  ob- 
stinate perseverance  in  such  a  system,  and  its  results, 
as  shown  in  the  sequel  of  this  work.  Such  an  ex- 
planation is  rendered  the  more  necessary,  from  the 
partial  view  that  appears  to  have  been  generally  taken 
of  the  origin  and  motives  of  the  contest,  which  has 
terminated  in  the  emancipation  of  Spanish  America. 

The  Spanish  Americans  are  accused  by  the  king 
and  people  of  Spain,  not  only  of  rebellion,  but  of  an 
ungrateful  and  base  desertion  of  the  mother  country 
at  the  moment  when  she  was  a  prey  to  foreign  in- 
vasion. But  it  will  appear  upon  due  investigation 
that  the  reverse  was  the  case,  and  that  the  charge  of 
disloyalty  both  to  their  king  and  country  can,  with 
more  truth,  be  retorted  upon  the  Spaniards  them- 
selves.    It  was  in  fact  the  attempts  of  Spaniards  to 


82  LOYALTY  OF  SPANISH  AMERICANS    CHAP.  II. 

betray  Spanish  America  to  the  Buonapartean  dynasty 
that  first  aroused  the  enthusiastic  loyalty  of  the  na- 
tives towards  their,  then  in  reality,  beloved  Ferdi- 
nand, and  it  was  the  cruelty  exercised  by  Spaniards, 
which  was  with  unaccountable  weakness  sanctioned 
by  Ferdinand  himself  after  his  restoration,  that  con- 
verted their  loyalty  into  contempt,  and  their  love  into 
disgust. 

With  regard  to  the  mother  country  and  France; 
the  national  antipathy  which  existed  between  them ; 
the  insidious  means  employed  by  Buonaparte  to  ac- 
complish his  views  upon  the  Peninsula;  and,  above 
all,  the  fears  entertained  by  the  clergy  of  the  intro- 
duction of  French  principles ;  all  concurred  in  ex- 
citing, among  the  peasantry  of  Spain,  a  determined, 
simultaneous,  and  heroic  opposition  to  their  invaders, 
Many  nobles,  distinguished  officers,  men  of  letters, 
and  indeed  persons  of  every  class,  made  common 
cause  with  the  mass  of  the  people,  and  displayed  a 
devotedness,  a  perseverance,  and  love  of  their  king, 
that  reflect  the  highest  honour  upon  the  Spanish 
character ;  but  many,  very  many  exceptions  must  be 
made  amongst  the  higher  orders  of  society,  who,  with 
the  majority  of  the  public  functionaries,  joined,  or 
were  evidently  disposed  to  join  in  betraying  their 
country,  and,  with  it,  the  colonies,  to  the  French 
dynasty.  It  would  appear  that  those  men  considered 
themselves  as  the  hereditary  proprietors  of  seventeen 
millions  of  slaves  in  America;  and  viewing  the  power 
which  the  French  empire  had  then  attained,  as  per- 
haps the  only  means  of  ensuring  the  continued  sub* 


CHAP.  II.  CONTRASTED  WITH  THE  SPANIARDS.  83 

jection  of  these  slaves,  they  were  content  to  purchase 
the  assistance  of  Buonaparte  in  retaining  them,  by 
placing  their  king  and  country  at  his  feet. 

Alcedo,  the  governor  of  Corunna,  and  Morla,  the 
governor  of  Cadiz,  both  highly  distinguished  for 
talent  and  influence,  made  great  efforts  to  oppose 
the  French  when  hostilities  commenced;  but  they 
deserted  the  cause,  and  went  over  to  king  Joseph. 
The   Spanish  authorities,  whether  of  the  French 
party,   or  whether   faithful  to  their  captive  sove- 
reign, were  alike  determined  that  the  Americans 
should  remain  in  bondage.      But  the  latter,  like 
the  peasantry  of  Spain,  resolved  not  to  be  the  vic- 
tims of  such  flagitious  conduct.     They  had,  during 
the  first  struggles  in  the  Peninsula  against  the  French, 
contributed  by  the  most  generous  sacrifices  to  what 
they  considered  the  common  cause  of  the  monarchy. 
For  this  object  they  levied  and  forwarded  to  Spain 
upwards  of  ninety  millions  of  dollars.     Many  of  the 
most  distinguished  youth  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and 
joined  the  standard  raised  in  behalf  of  the  imprisoned 
Ferdinand.    Indeed  the  devoted  loyalty  of  the  Ame- 
ricans at  this  period  was  carried  to  a  length  almost 
incredible,  when  the  tyranny  which  had  been  ex- 
ercised over  them  is  considered.     So  fully  was  the 
Spanish  government  impressed  with  the  conviction  of 
their  fidelity,  that  a  few  hundred  men  were  thought 
a  sufficient  garrison  for  a  whole  viceroyalty*. 

Such  was  their  veneration  for  the  king,  which  in 

•  In  peaceful  times  less  than  two  thousand  Spanish  regulars  have  garrisoned 
the  line  of  country  extending  from  Buenos  Ayres  to  Lima  and  Quito.  In  a 
more  turbulent  period  five  hundred  regulars  formed  the  garrison  of  all  Chile,  and 
of  these,  three  hundred  were  constantly  employed  against  the  Araucanian  Indians. 

VOL.  I.  D 


34  H.  M.  S.  ACASTA—  ITURRIGABAY.       CHAP.  II. 

the  case  of  Ferdinand  was  heightened  by  his  mis- 
fortunes, that  it  was  not  uncommon  with  many  Ame- 
ricans to  touch  their  hats  whenever  they  mentioned 
his  name. 

On  the  cession  of  the  crown  to  Buonaparte,  orders 
were  sent  out  from  Bayonne  to  every  part  of  Spanish 
America,  signed  by  Ferdinand;  by  the  council  of  the 
Indies ;  and  countersigned  by  the  minister  Azanza, 
for  a  general  transfer  of  allegiance  to  Joseph.  It 
was  provided  at  the  same  time,  that  the  Spaniards 
in  America  were  to  preserve  their  dignities  and  em- 
ployments under  the  new  dynasty.  So  perfectly  was 
this  act  of  the  Spanish  government  in  unison  with  the 
feelings  and  views  of  the.  Spanish  local  authorities  in 
America,  that  when  Captain  Beaver  of  H.  M.  S« 
Acasta,  demanded  of  the  governor  of  Caracas  a 
French  ship,  which  had  conveyed  to  La  Guayra 
agents  and  printed  papers  from  king  Joseph,  he 
was  answered  that  his  ship  would  be  fired  upon 
from  the  batteries  if  he  attempted  to  capture  the 
imperial  flag.  But  the  Americans,  disgusted  with 
the  conduct  of  their  governors,  burned  the  pro* 
clamations  of  Joseph  Buonaparte,  and  expelled  his 
agents. 

Iturrigaray,  viceroy  of  Mexico,  was  one  of  the 
very  few  of  the  Spanish  authorities  who  spurned  the 
offers  of  the  intrusive  king.  He  had,  in  common 
with  others,  received  a  confirmation  of  his  employ- 
ment from  Joseph,  but  he  refused  to  compromise  his 
dignity  and  loyalty.  On  the  5th  of  August,  1808, 
the  municipality  of  Mexico  presented  to  Iturrigaray 
an  address  requesting,  in  consequence  of  the  imprison- 


CHAP.  II,  LINIERS— CENTRAL  JUNTA.  35 

ment  of  king  Ferdinand,  "the  convocation  of  a  junta 
of  the  tribunals  and  constituted  authorities  in  the 
capital/*  Acknowledging  that  the  emergency  had 
occurred  which  rendered  such  a  measure  not  only  legal 
and  constitutional,  but  absolutely  necessary,  the  vice- 
roy expressed  his  determination  to  comply  with  the 
request.  But  the  other  Spanish  authorities,  united 
with  the  merchants,  were  no  sooner  apprized  of  the 
loyal  and  patriotic  intentions  of  the  viceroy,  than  they 
secretly  collected  a  body  of  troops,  arrested  him  in 
his  palace,  and,  with  many  personal  indignities,  sent 
him,  after  a  lapse  of  time,  a  prisoner  to  Spain.  Ve- 
negas,  the  viceroy  appointed  to  succeed  him,  was  the 
bearer  of  rewards  and  honours  to  the  principal  agents 
in  this  act  of  rebellion. 

Liniers,  acting  as  viceroy  of  Buenos  Ayres,  in  a 
proclamation  to  the  inhabitants,  informed  them  that 
"the  emperor  of  the  French  returned  them  his 
thanks  for  the  glorious  defence  that  they  had  made 
against  the  English."  Emparan  and  Goyeneche, 
who  had  both  sworn  allegiance  to  king  Joseph,  were 
sent  out  from  Cadiz ;  the  first  appointed  to  a  com- 
mand in  Venezuela,  the  second  to  a  command  in 
Peru. 

The  supreme  central  junta,  on  the  approach  of  the 
French  army  to  the  Guadalquivir,  retired  from  Se- 
ville f  o  the  Isla  de  Leon.  It  was  composed  of  eighty- 
six  individuals,  who  assuming  the  entire  government 
of  the  nation,  did  not  forget,  it  is  said,  to  serve  them- 
selves when  distributing  honours  and  other  sweets  of 
office.     It  was  strongly  suspected  they  had  made  up 


d  2 


36  DUKE  OF  ALBUQUERQUE.  CHAP.  II. 

their  minds  to  compromise  matters  with  the  French ; 
or,  at  least,  it  was  evident  they  wished  to  possess  the 
means  of  doing  so.  Indeed  so  barefaced  were  the  dis- 
loyal designs  of  many  of  the  members  of  the  junta, 
that  they  became  at  last  objects  of  hatred,  and  they 
were  afraid,  on  account  of  the  indignation  of  the  peo- 
ple, to  appear  in  the  day-time  in  the  streets  of  Cadiz. 
It  was  now  proved  by  intercepted  correspondence 
from  Soult,  and  by  other  convincing  evidence,  that 
the  intentions  of  the  junta  in  retiring  to  Cadiz  had 
been  to  surrender  that  place  to  the  French.  That 
they  would  have  succeeded  in  this  design,  little  doubt 
can  be  entertained  had  it  not  been  for  the  opportune 
and  unexpected  arrival  of  the  duke  of  Albuquerque 
with  twelve  thousand  troops,  who  by  marching  to 
Cadiz  had  disobeyed  the  express  orders  of  the  junta, 
which  had  considered  one  thousand  men  a  sufficient 
garrison.  Notwithstanding  the  rapidity  of  Albu- 
querque's movement,  it  was  with  difficulty  he  reached 
the  Isla  before  the  French,  who  overtook  and  skir- 
mished with  his  rear-guard  on  the  march. 

The  preservation  of  Cadiz,  however,  cost  the  heroic 
Albuquerque  his  life.  The  disappointed  junta  soon 
afterwards  deprived  him  of  his  military  command,  and 
he  was  sent  on  a  mission  to  England,  where  he  died, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-seven,  of  chagrin,  caused  by  what 
he  considered  the  traitorous  conduct  and  base  ingra- 
titude of  the  members  of  the  junta.  Actuated  by 
the  same  principles,  they  had  refused  to  admit  more 
than  two  British  regiments  into  Cadiz,  and  thwarted 
in  every  possible  way  the  plans  and  propositions  of 


chap.  II.  REGENCY.  87 

sir  Arthur  and  the  marquess  Wellesley.  The  people 
of  Cadiz  and  of  the  I  si  a  de  Leon  would  no  longer 
endure  the  traitorous  junta:  it  was  accordingly  dis- 
solved, but  not  before  it  had  appointed  a  regency  of 
five  individuals  to  succeed  to  the  government. 

The  same  unjust,  avaricious,  and  prevaricating 
policy  towards  Spanish  America  continued.  The 
ultramarine  possessions  had  been  declared  by  the 
junta  to  be  integral  parts  of  the  Spanish  empire, 
and  their  rights  to  representation  in  the  general 
cortes  acknowledged.  But  these  rights,  recognised 
in  theory,  were  trampled  on,  or  entirely  disregarded, 
in  practice.  The  Americans  had  no  intervention  in 
the  naming  of  the  regency,  for  which  purpose,  ac- 
cording to  Spanish  laws,  a  cortes  ought  to  have  been 
previously  assembled. 

The  council  of  regency,  at  the  instigation  of  Mejias, 
deputy  for  Quito,  passed  a  decree,  dated  May  17th, 
permitting  the  colonies  to  export  to  foreign  nations 
all  such  articles  of  their  own  product,  for  which  there 
was  not  a  sufficient  vent  in  old  Spain.  This  decree, 
morally  just  and  politically  wise,  gave  offence  to  the 
merchants  of  Cadiz,  on  whom  the  regency  were  in  a 
great  measure  dependent,  for  the  means  of  continuing 
its  feeble  and  slippery  government.  It  was  therefore 
revoked  on  the  17th  of  June,  and  the  regency  had 
the  meanness  to  declare  that  it  was  not  authentic,  but 
an  imposition  on  the  public ;  as  if  it  would  have  suf- 
fered a  forgery  to  have  the  force  of  law  for  a  whole 
month,  in  the  very  place  where  the  regency  re- 
sided, without  protesting  against  it.    Was  it  possible 


88  CARACAS.  CHAP.  II. 

that  a  government  so  pitifully  mean,  cunning,  and 
fraudulent  could  be  respected  in  the  colonies? 

On  the  15th  July,  1808,  the  people  of  Caracas,  in 
despite  of  the  intrigues  and  resistance  of  the  Spanish 
authorities,  took  by  acclamation  a  solemn  oath  of 
allegiance  to  Ferdinand  the  Seventh.  In  giving  an  ac- 
count of  this  proceeding  to  the  government  at  Cadiz, 
the  captain-general  and  audiencia  of  Caracas  thought 
it  politic  to  palliate  the  act  by  declaring  that  "  they 
had  permitted  it  in  consequence  of  the  clamours  and 
repeated  messages  of  the  people  and  cabildo." 

A  decree  of  Charles  the  Fifth  in  1580,  confirmed 
by  Philip  the  Second  in  1£63,  authorised,  in  cases 
of  emergency,  the  convocation  of  cortes,  or  general 
juntas,  in  the  respective  kingdoms  of  Spanish  Ame- 
rica. The  natives  of  these  kingdoms  found  them- 
selves at  this  period  placed  in  one  of  the  emergencies 
thus  provided  for.  During  the  temporary  suspension 
of  the  authority  of  the  crown,  by  the  imprisonment 
of  Ferdinand,  they  determined  to  defeat  the  disloyal 
machinations  of  the  Spanish  authorities,  and  save 
themselves  from  the  yoke  of  France  by  the  exercise 
of  the  right  legally  and  constitutionally  vested  in 
them.  Their  motives  and  views  will,  perhaps,  be 
best  given  in  their  own  words,  as  expressed  in  the 
appeal  of  the  junta  of  Caracas  to  the  king  of  Eng- 
land, dated  June  1,  1810,  and  presented  in  July  of 
that  year  to  the  British  government. 

"America  remembers  well  that  in  the  first  mo- 
ments  when  the  irruption  of  the  French  troops  into 
jSpain  and  the  captivity  of  her  monarch  occasioned  a 


CHAP.  II.  INJUSTICE  OF  THE  SPANISH  GOVERNMENT.  39 

dread  that  the  Spanish  sections  of  the  new  world 
might  be  incorporated  under  the  French  yoke. 


"  To  proclaim  the  same  cause  as  our  brethren  in 
Europe,  to  swear  an  endless  hatred  to  France,  to  in- 
voke the  friendship  and  protection  of  England,  was 
the  impulse  of  Caracas;  this  was  the  lesson  she  gave 
to  the  other  provinces  of  America;  and  such  were 
the  sentiments  unanimously  manifested  by  the  loyal 
inhabitants  of  this  city,  sentiments  which  subsequent 
events  have  tended  only  to  strengthen  and  to  ratify. 

"  Caracas  listened  to  no  other  voice  than  that  of 
honour,  she  was  actuated  by  no  other  impulse  than 
that  of  loyalty,  nor  did  she  proclaim  allegiance  to  any 
other  name  than  that  of  her  unfortunate  monarch/' 

But  these  noble  and  generous  views  did  not  accord 
with  the  policy  either  of  the  Spanish  government,  or 
of  the  Spaniards  in  America.  The  regency  in  its 
proclamation,  dated  Sept.  6, 1810,  manifests  its  ulte- 
rior objects.  "No  basta,"  said  the  regents,  "que 
seais  Espaiioles  si  no  sois  de  Espana,  y  lo  sois  en 
qualquiera  caso  de  la  fortuna."  It  is  not  sufficient 
that  you  be  Spanish  subjects,  but  that  you  continue 
to  belong  to  Spain  under  every  event  of  fortune. 

When  a  deputy  of  Mexico  proposed  to  the  cortes 
to  mortgage  the  Mexican  mines,  in  order  to  raise 
money  to  carry  on  the  war  against  France,  on  con- 
dition that  if  the  French  finally  prevailed,  then,  and 
in  that  case  alone,  America  should  be  allowed  to 
establish  and  defend  her  independence,  his  offer  was 


40  MAKQUESS  WELLESLEY.  CHAP.  II. 

treated  with  disdain,  and  rejected  as  revolutionary. 
By  acceding  to  such  proposal,  the  government  at 
Cadiz  would  have  restored  peace  and  confidence  to 
the  Americans,  by  convincing  them  that  it  was  not 
intended  to  yoke  them  to  the  car  of  Napoleon. 

Many  more  facts  might  be  adduced  in  proof  of 
the  disloyalty  of  the  Spaniards  in  America,  and  of 
the  government  at  Cadiz,  as  well  as  of  the  fidelity 
and  indeed  romantic  loyalty  of  Spanish  Americans; 
but  it  is  presumed,  that  the  proofs  which  have  already 
been  given  are  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  most  incre- 
dulous. It  may  however  be  due  to  the  cause  of  truth 
to  produce  one  important  testimony  given  at  a  period 
when  the  executive  of  Spain  had  not  dared  openly 
to  display  its  views j  but  it  could  not  entirely  conceal 
them  from  the  vigilant  and  penetrating  eye  of  the 
Marquess  Wellesley.  That  able  statesman,  in  a  letter 
to  Mr.  Canning,  dated  September  15th,  1809,  says, 
"  Whether  this  ill-formed  government  is  sincerely 
affected  or  not  to  the  cause  of  Spain  and  her  allies, 
is  certainly  dubious." 

The  justice  of  the  marquess's  suspicions  became 
apparent  by  the  conduct  of  the  Spanish  government 
in  1810.  Its  proclamations,  and  the  characters  se- 
lected as  agents  to  Spanish  America,  betrayed  at  once 
its  ulterior  intentions.  But  the  blind  loyalty  of  Ame- 
rica baffled  equally  the  views  of  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment, and  the  efforts  of  its  agents  in  America. 

To  avoid  anarchy,  and  to  preserve  inviolate  their 
allegiance  to  Ferdinand,  the  sections  had  recourse  to 
the  convocation  of  general  juntas,  which  was  the  only 
constitutional  means  afforded  them.     And  yet  this 


CHAP.  II.  BUSTAMANTE— BEVOLLO.  41 

step,  the  only  legal  measure  that  a  people  so  circum- 
stanced could  have  taken  to  preserve  tranquillity,  and 
to  demonstrate  their  devoted  attachment,  proved  to 
be  the  signal  for  the  declaration  of  hostilities  by  Spain, 
and  the  commencement  of  a  war  of  extermination. 

So  infatuated  was  the  conduct  of  the  government 
at  Cadiz,  that  after  the  French  had  been  allowed  to 
take  possession  of  the  whole  of  Spain,  except  the  Isla 
de  Leon,  and  another  place  or  two  of  minor  import- 
ance, it  directed  its  entire  energies  against  the  people 
of  America.  With  characteristic  virulence  "it  fitted 
out,  not  with  its  own  resources,  lor  it  possessed  none, 
but  with  the  funds  supplied  by  the  devoted  loyalty 
of  America,  and  the  arms  and  clothing  afforded  for 
a  widely  different  purpose  by  England,  expeditions 
exceeding,  if  possible,  in  cruelty  and  injustice  those 
of  Cortes  and  Pizarro.  The  nature  of  the  war  which, 
under  such  circumstances,,  and  with  such  means,  they 
declared  and  carried  on,  could  not  be  adequately  de- 
scribed, except  in  the  words  of  the  official  despatches 
of  the  officers  who  were  employed  in  conducting  it, 
as  published  in  the  official  royalist  gazettes  of  Mexico. 

The  commandant  Bustamante,  in  his  despatch  to 
the  viceroy,  dated  Zitaquaro,  Oct.  23,  1811,  recom- 
mends Mariano  Ochoa,  a  dragoon,  "  who  in  pursuing 
the  insurgents  had  a  brother  who  knelt  to  him  to  beg 
his  life,  which  he  took  with  his  own  hands." 

Don  Ignacio  Garcia  Revollo,  in  his  despatch  to 
the  viceroy,  dated  Queretaro,  Nov.  23, 1811,  recom- 
mends Serjeant  Francisco  Montes  "  as  deserving  the 
rank  of  an  officer,  for,  amongst  other  gallant  actions, 
he  killed  one  of  his  own  nephews,  who,  making  him- 


42  CALLEJA— MONTEVERDE.  CHAP.  II. 

self  known,  received  for  answer,  that  he  knew  no 
nephew  amongst  insurgents/' 

General  Truxillo,  in  another  despatch,  boasts  that 
he  ordered  his  men  to  fire  upon  a  flag  of  truce 
from  Hidalgo,  accompanied  by  a  banner  of  the  Holy 
Virgin,  and  adds,  that  he  did  not  expect  to  be 
troubled  in  that  sort  of  way  again.  Every  person 
with  the  flag  of  truce  was  murdered. 

General  Calleja  informs  the  viceroy  that  in  the 
affair  of  Aculco  he  had  one  man  killed  and  two 
wounded ;  but  that  he  put  to  the  sword  5000  se- 
duced Indians,  and  that  their  total  loss  amounted  to 
double  the  number.  Most  of  them  were  killed  as 
they  were  kneeling  for  mercy. 

The  same  general  entered  Guanaxuato  with  fire 
and  sword,  where  14,000  old  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren perished,  because  the  insurgent  army  had  taken 
up  its  quarters  there,  but  by  a  timely  retreat  had 
escaped  his  fury.  Calleja  soon  after  received  from 
the  regency  of  Cadiz  the  rank  of  marucal  de  campo, 
and  the  viceroy  was  decorated  with  the  cross  of  the 
order  of  Charles  the  Third  as  a  reward  for  this 
distinguished  service. 

Extracts  that  have  been  made  from  only  a  few  of 
the  Gazettes  published  in  Mexico  in  the  years  1811 
and  1812,  boast  of  25,344  of  the  "  insurgents"  being 
killed,  3556  made  prisoners,  besides  697  shot  after 
surrendering. 

Caracas  capitulated  to  General  Monteverde  in  San 
Mateo  on  the  25th  of  July,  1812.  The  basis  of  this 
convention  was,  that  the  lives,  property,  and  persons 
of  every  citizen,  should  be  held  sacred ;  that  no  one 


CHAP.  II,  BOVES.  43 

should  be  prosecuted  for  previous  opinions ;  in  short, 
general  oblivion  and  amnesty  were  granted.  How 
the  faith  of  this  treaty  was  preserved  will  perhaps 
best  appear  in  the  words  of  a  respectable  English 
gentleman,  who  was  an  eye-witness  of  the  scenes 
which  he  describes,  and  whose  statement  was  trans- 
mitted to  the  Admiralty  by  one  of  the  English  com- 
manders on  the  West  India  station. 

"  Monteverde  caused  to  be  arrested  nearly  every 
Creole  of  rank  throughout  the  country;  he  then  had 
them  chained  in  pairs,  and  conducted  to  the  dun- 
geons of  La  Guayra  and  Porto  Cabello,  where  many 
of  them  perished  by  suffocation,  or  disease/9  In 
another  part  of  his  statement  he  says,  "  Were  I  to 
detail  all  the  horrid  excesses  committed  by  Boves 
and  Rosette,  on  the  route  from  the  river  Oronoco  to 
the  valleys  of  Caracas*  it  would  be  scarcely  possible 
to  find  a  reader  who  could  believe  such  scenes  of 
slaughter  and  devastation  credible.  Some  idea,  how- 
ever, of  the  melancholy  facts  may  be  conceived,  when 
I  assert  that  these  monsters,  in  traversing  a  space  of 
more  than  four  hundred  miles,  left  no  human  being 
alive  of  any  age  or  sex,  except  such  as  joined  their 
standard." 

Boves  condemned  a  patriot  to  suffer  death.  A 
boy  under  twelve  years  of  age  threw  himself  at  the 
feet  of  the  tyrant,  and  implored  his  father's  life. 
Boves  said,  "Yes;  upon  condition  that  you  will 
have  an  ear  cut  off  without  changing  countenance/' 
"  That  I  will  readily  do,"  said  the  boy.  "  But  re* 
member,"  said  Boves,  "  that  the  smallest  flinch  will 
be  the  death  warrant  of  your  father."     The  ear  was 


44  FRENCH  OFFICER.  CHAP,  II. 

then  cut  off  with  a  knife.  Boves  watched  the  boy, 
who  bore  the  mangling  operation  with  astonishing 
fortitude.  When  it  was  over,  instead  of  performing 
his  promise,  Boves  said,  "  I  can  see  very  well  that 
you  will  be  a  more  terrible  enemy  to  Spain  than 
your  father  has  been ;  therefore  you  shall  be  shot 
before  his  eyes."  It  is  needless  to  add,  that  both 
father  and  son  were  instantly  executed. 

And  yet  the  royalists  did  not  always  escape  with 
impunity.  In  a  battle  which  the  patriots  lost  near 
the  Apure,  a  Frenchman  was  taken  prisoner  amongst 
other  officers.  The  royalist  commander  said  to  him, 
"  So,  monsieur,  you  are  a  great  patriot."  "  I  am," 
said  the  Frenchman,  "  and  I  hate  the  Spaniards 
most  cordially."  "  Mighty  well,"  rejoined  the  other; 
"  now  you  shall  pay  for  your  hatred."  "  You  shall 
pay  first,"  said  the  Frenchman,  and  drawing  his 
sword,  laid  the  commander  dead  at  his  feet.  The 
troops  around  sprang  upon  the  undaunted  French- 
man, but  did  not  despatch  him  until  he  had  slain  or 
wounded  several  of  his  assailants. 

It  would  be  disgusting  to  enter  into  farther  details 
of  this  ferocious  warfare.  Under  all  these  dreadful 
sufferings,  the  unfortunate  Americans,  with  scarcely 
an  exception,  still  preserved  their  infatuated  loyalty, 
under  the  faint  hope  of  the  return  of  Ferdinand,  and 
under  the  conviction  that  his  restoration  would  prove 
the  harbinger  of  relief  and  of  redress.  Their  feelings 
may  then  be  easily  conceived  when  they  found  that, 
after  all  the  sacrifices  they  had  made,  this  eagerly  de- 
sired event,  when  it  did  occur,  so  far  from  affording 
any  alleviation  to  their  miseries  or  wrongs,  proved 


CHAP.  II.  FERDINAND— REWARDS.  45 

only  the  signal  for  renewed  oppression  and  still 
bloodier  massacres.  So  far  was  he  from  wishing  to 
reward  their  long-tried  loyalty,  or  from  endeavouring 
to  conciliate,  that  the  commission  of  atrocities  in 
America  formed  with  him  the  chief  merit  and  the 
highest  claim.  In  reward  for  the  violation  of  the 
most  solemn  capitulations,  for  the  boasted  murder 
of  the  bearers  of  flags  of  truce,  and  for  the  most 
cold-blooded  and  indiscriminate  slaughter,  they  be- 
held Monteverde,  Callejas,  Cruz,  Truxillo,  and  other 
execrable  monsters,  loaded  by  Ferdinand  with  re- 
wards, and  covered  with  decorations. 

The  Americans  recollected  that  Charles  the  Fifth, 
the  proudest  and  most  powerful  monarch  of  his  time, 
had,  in  a  case  of  similar  injustice,  but  not  of  similar 
sacrifices  on  the  part  of  his  subjects,  listened  be- 
nignantly  to  their  complaints,  and  sent  out  the 
Licenciado  Gasca  with  full  powers  to  redress  their 
grievances,  which  he  effected.  The  slightest  indica- 
tion of  a  benevolent  inclination  towards  them  would 
even  still  have  preserved  to  Ferdinand  an  empire, 
and  to  the  Spanish  nation  brothers  and  faithful  allies, 
much  richer  and  more  powerful  than  themselves. 
But  Heaven  had  decreed  that  justice  and  right  should 
take  their  course,  and  that  centuries  of  misrule,  op- 
pression, and  cruelty,  should  at  last,  through  their 
own  instrumentality,  meet  their  merited  punishment. 

Perhaps  nothing  will  excite  more  surprise  than  the 
circumstance  that  America  did  not  find  in  the  cortes 
a  few  sincere,  generous,  and  powerful  advocates,  nor 
amongst  those  liberates  who  at  the  same  period  spoke 
and  wrote  with  equal  freedom  and  ability  upon  abuses 


46  MORILLO.  chap.  n. 

of  power  nearer  home.  The  chains  of  America  might 
indeed  have  been  lightened  and  burnished  by  the 
constitutionalists,  but  the  unanimity  of  parties  on 
colonial  questions  forbade  the  Americans  to  indulge 
in  the  hope  that  a  single  link  would  willingly  be 
removed. 

The  imbecile  Ferdinand  did  not  even  vouchsafe  to 
listen  to  their  complaints,  although,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Caracas,  they  still  persisted  in  their  mistaken 
loyalty  to  this  heartless  sovereign  for  three  long  years 
after  his  restoration.  During  this  period,  the  feelings 
and  conduct  of  the  Spanish  government  varied  not, 
nor  had  its  appetite  for  carnage  been  satiated. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  individuals  who  suffered 
death  and  confiscation  of  property  (without  trial,  or 
in  violation  of  amnesties),  in  New  Granada,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  entrance  of  the  Spanish  troops  under 
the  command  of  General  Don  Pablo  Morillo,  in  the 
year  18)6,  taken  from  official  documents  transmitted 
to  the  court  of  Madrid : 

Carthagena. 

Dates.  Names.  Kind  of  punishment 

Feb.  26.   D.  D.  Manuel  Castillo 

D.  D.  Jose  Ma.  Portocarrero 
D.  D.  Jose  Ma.  Garcia  Toledo 
D.  D.  Miguel  Dias  Granados 
D.  D.  Antonio  de  Ayos  [Shot  through  the 

D.  Pantaleon  Ribon  f     back*. 

D.  Martin  Amador 
D.  Santiago  Stuart 
D.  Manuel  Auguiano,  a  Spaniard, 
and  colonel  of  engineers. 

Mompox  and  Ocana. 

Feb.  D.  Miguel  Carabano  )  ~  , 

D.  Fernando  Carabano  J 

*  Persons  axe  placed  with  their  backs  towards  the  executioners  o£  their  sen- 
tence, with  the  intent  of  treating  them  with  greater  ignominy. 


EXECUTIOKS. 


Santa  V6  de  Bogota. 


Aug.  8. 


Sept.  3. 


Juan  Maria 

D.  Antonio  Villa ricencio 

D.  D.  Ignacio  Burgas 

D,  Joae  Ramon  do  Leiba,  lieu- 
tenant-colonel and  secretary  to 
the  viceroy  alt  y 

1).  Jose  Contreras 

D.  Joae  Maria  Carbonell 

D.  Jorge  Lozano 

D.  D.  Jose  Gregorio  Guiterrez 

D.  D.  Emerigildo  Benitez 

D.  D.  Miguel  Pombo 

D.  Hi.  Fran.  Xavier  Garcia  Hevia 

D-  D.  Cristiano  Valenzuela 

D.  Antonio  Bar  ay  a 

D.  Pedro  Laatrs 

D.  D.  Custodio  Garcia  Ribera 

D.  Hermogenes  Cespedes 

D.  D.  Tomas  Antonio  Pefia 

D.  N.  Navas 

D.  Jose  Ayala 

D.  D.  Joaquin  Hoy  as 

D.  D.  Joaquin  Camacho 

D.  Nicolas  Riras 

D.  Liborio  Megia 

D.  Andrea  Linares 

D.  Si  I vest  re  Hortiz 

D.  Feliz  Pelgron 

D.  Rafael  Nino 

D.  Pasqual  Andreu 

D.  JJ.  Martin  Cortes 

D.  Dionisio  Tejada 

D.  Jose  Cifuentas 

D.  Bcruabe  Gonzalez 

D.  Jose  Maria  Ordonez 

D.  Jose  Antonio  Valdez 

D.  D.  Manuel  Bernardo  Alvarez 

D.  D.  Jose  Maria  Arrublas 

D.  Joaquim  Garcia,  escribano 


Shot  through  the 
"     back. 


Shot,  and  placed 
on  a  gibbet. 


"Shotj  placed  on 
a  gibbet,  their 
heads  cut  off, 
and  placed  in 
a  cage  at  the 
entrance  of  the 


48  EXECUTIONS.  CHAP.  IT. 

Dates.  Names.  Kind  of  punishment. 

The  Count  de  Casa  Valencia 

D.  Pedro  Felipe  Valencia  (colonel) 

D.  D.  Jose  Maria  Davila 
Oct.  12.  D.  Salvador  Rizo 

D.  Pablo  Morillo 
22.  D.  Francisco  Cabal 
24.  D.  Francisco  de  Paula  Aguilar 

oa   £  'VVte  ™0nZ?Y™  .Shot  through  the 

30.  D.  D.  Francisco  de  Ulloa  >•     back. 

D.  D.  Miguel  Montalvo 

D.  D.  Francisco  Caldas 

D  Miguel  Buch 

Nov.  8.  D.  D.  Jose  Maria  Chacon 

Six  soldiers 

21.  D.  Francisco  Morales 

Two  soldiers 

27.  D.  Nicolas  Nueva  Ventura 

C  Shot,  after  being 

D.  Miguel  Gomez  Plata,  aged  80    \      tortured   three 

t     times  *. 

Decern.  D.  Antonio  Campuzano  '    ^ 

D.  N.  Ponce  >  Ditto 

A  distinguished  individual  of  Am-  i 
balema  * 

Zipaquira. 

C  Shot,     gibbeted, 
Aug.  3.  D.  Augustin  Zapata  <      and   his    head 

t     cut  off. 
D.  Juan  Figueroa 
D.  Francisco  Zarate 

D.  Jose  Gomez  S-Shot. 

D.  Luis  Sanchez 
D.  Jose  Riano  Cortez 

Facarativa. 

Aug.  31.  D.  Mariano  Grillo  ^D'tt 

D.  Joaquin  Grillo  3 

Mesa  de  Juan  Diaz. 

Oct.  7«  D.  Francisco  Olaya  7 ,y .. 

D.  Andres  Quijano  3 


*  This  individual  came  to  London  in  1814,  with  Colonel  Duran,  com- 
missioned by  the  province  of  Socorro  to  purchase  muskets,  and,  on  his  return, 
he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards,  and  was  tortured,  for  the  purpose  of 
forcing  him  to  declare  whether  the  English  government,  or  any  mercantile  house 
in  London,  sold  him  the  arms  which  he  brought  with  him  from  Europe,  but 
nothing  could  be  extracted  from  him. 


CHAP.  II. 


EXECUTIONS. 


49 


Villa  de  Leyba. 

Bates.  Names. 

Oct.  27*  D.  Manuel  Jose  Sanchez 
D.  Juan  Bautista  Gomez 
D.  Joaquin  Vinana 

Tunja. 

Sept.  20.  D.  Santiago  Abdon  Herrera 
D.  Antonio  Palacio 
D.  Alberto  Montero 
D.  Ignacio  Palaza 
D.  Manuel  Otero 


Kind  of  punishment 
ishot. 


\ 


Ditto. 


26. 


July  8. 


Neiba. 

D.  D.  Luis  Garcia 
D.  Jose  Dias 
D.  Benito  Salas 
D.  Fernando  Salas 
D.  Francisco  Lopez 
D.  Jose  Maria  Lopez 
D.  Miguel  Tello 

Popayan. 


Ditto. 


Shot  through  the 
back. 


Aug. 


10. 


D.  Augustin  Rosas 

D.  Jose  E span  a 

D.  Rafael  Lataza 

D.  Carlos  Montufar  (lieut.-colonel) 

D.  D.  Miguel  Angulo 

D.  Emerigildo  Troyano 

D.  D.  Jose  Antonio  Ardila 

D.  Pedro  Monzalve 

D.  Jose  Monzalve 

Serjeant  Basquez" 

D.  Jose  Acuna 
Aug.  22.  D.  Jose  Maria  Cabal 

D.  Jose  Maria  Quijano 

D.  Mariano  Matute 

D.  Jose  Maria  Guiterrez 

D.  Jose  Maria  Ramirez 

D.  D.  Manuel  Vallecilla 

D.  Jose  Pino  and  D.  Jose  Navia 

D.  D.  Frutos  Guiterrez 

The  officers  Salias,  Vaez,  Olmedilla, 
and  two  more 

D.  D.  Leon  Armero 

D.  D.  Juan  Nepomuceno  Nino 

D.  D.  Cayetano  Vasquez 

D.  Pedro  Manuel  Montano    ' 

D.  Jose  Buitrago 
Dec.  12.  D.  D.  Francisco  Antonio  Caicedo 

D.  Joaquim  Villacella 

D.  Jose  Maria  Perlaza 


29. 
Sept.  24. 
Oct. 


Shot  through  the 
back. 


30. 
Nov.  28. 


VOL.  L 


E 


50  EXECUTIONS.  CRAP*  U. 

Another  report  says,  "  General  Morillo  entered 
Santa  F6  de  Bogotd  in  the  month  of  June,  1816, 
and  remaiued  there  till  the  November  following. 
More  than  six  hundred  persons,  of  those'  who  had 
been  in  the  congress  and  provincial  governments,  as 
well  as  the  chiefs  of  the  independent  army,  were  shot, 
hanged,  or  exiled,  and  the  prisons  remained  full  of 
others  who  were  yet  waiting  their  fate.     Amongst 
those  executed  were  the  botanists  Don  J.  Caldas  and 
Don  Juan  Lozano  (who  had  been  ordered  by  the 
congress  of  New  Granada  to  publish  the  works  of 
Dr.  Mutis);  Don  M.  Cabal,  an  eminent  chemist; 
Don  C.  Torres,,  highly  distinguished  for  his  learning ; 
Don  J.  G.  Guiterrez  Moreno  and  Don  M.  R.  To- 
rices,  both  well  known  for  their  early  devotion  to 
the  cause  of  their  country;'  Don  Antonio  Palacio- 
Fajar;  Don  J.  M.  Guiterrez;  Don  Miguel  Pombo; 
Don  F.  A.  Ulloa ;  and  many  other  learned  and  esti* 
mable  characters.     The  wives  of  persons  executed 
or  exiled  by  Morillo  were  themselves  exiled."     The 
names  mentioned  in  this  account  are  not  included  in 
the  preceding  official  list.     The  active  agent  of  Fer- 
dinand, General  Morillo,  in  a  letter  to  his  master, 
published  in  the  IHario  Mercantil  of  Cadiz,  6th  of 
January  1817, observes,  that  "his work  is  to  be  done 
in  precisely  the  same  manner  as  the  primitive  con- 
quest  was  established;"  and  boastingly  assures  his 
majesty  "  that  he  .has  not  left  alive,  in  the  kingdom 
of  New  Granada,  a  single  individual  of  sufficient  in- 
fluence or  talent  to  conduct  the  revolution."     On 
his  return  to  Spain,  Morillo  was  received  into  special 
favour,  and  created  Count  of  Carthagena. 

It  was  not  until  above  one  million  of  Spanish 


CHAP.  II.  EXECUTIONS.  61 

Americans  had  been  victims;  until  almost  every 
Spaniard,  whom,  with  a  blind  generosity,  they  had 
retained  in  situations  of  trust,  had  deceived  and  be- 
trayed them;  until  they  found  no  hope  left,  from 
either  prince  or  people,  that  the  film  fell  from  the 
eyes  of  the  natives.  They  at  length  discovered  that 
the  phantom  which  they  had  hitherto  worshipped 
was  unable  td  protect  and  unwilling  to  serve  them, 
and  that  they  had  been,  under  the  king's  name,  the 
victims  of  treachery,  avarice,  and  cruelty. 

Upon  this  discovery,  the  spirit  of  enlightened  pa- 
triotism burst  forth.  Their  duties  to  their  children, 
and  to  the  land  of  their  nativity,  became  at  once  ap- 
parent. The  kingdoms  of  a  vast  continent  imme- 
diately, and  almost  simultaneously,  declared  their 
independence ;  and,  in  the  assertion  of  their  rights, 
placed  their  whole  reliance  upon  the  justice  of  their 
cause,  and  in  the  goodness  of  their  swords. 

The  chequered  events,  iand  glorious  issue,  of  this 
sacred  contest,  are  partly  sketched  in  the  following 


£  a 


52  BUENOS  AYKES.  CHAP.  Ill; 


CHAPTER  III. 

Buenos  Ay  res. — Banda  Oriental. — Contrabandists. — Artigas.— - 
Beresford. — Whitelock. — Princess  Carlota . — Cisneros. — Junta 
Gubernativa. — Moreno. — Elio. — Obes. — Ocampo. — Balcaroe. 
— Cotagaita.  —  Tupiza.  —  Castelli.  —  Paraguay. —  Francia. — " 
Goyeneche — Huaqui. — Saavedra. — Monte  Video. — Rondeau. 
— Tucuman. — Gobierno  Superior. — San  Lorenzo. — San  Mar- 
tin. —  Salta. — Tristan. — Belgrano.  — Vilcapugio. — Ayoma.— 
Supreme  Director. — Arenales. — Warnes. — Alvear. — Monte 
Video.  —  Sipe-Sipe.  — Viluma. —  Congress.  —  Pueyrredon. — 
P umacagua. — Pezuela. — La  Serna. — Gauchos. 

As  Buenos  Ay  res  may  be  considered  the  cradle 
of  South  American  independence,  a  brief  historical 
sketch  of  this  nursery  of  freedom,  in  the  Spanish- 
dominions  of  the  new  world,  may  not  prove  unin- 
teresting. 

Buenos  Ayres  was  a  town  of  little  note  until  the 
year  1776,  when  it  received  a  distinguished  rank 
among  the  cities  of  South  America,  by  its  being 
erected  into  the  capital  of  the  newly  formed  vice- 
royalty  of  Buenos  Ayres.  The  false  idea  of  political 
economy,  which  at  that  time  led  Spain  to  value  her 
colonies  only  according  to  their  abundance  or  de- 
ficiency in  mines  of  gold  or  silver,  caused  the  more 
solid  advantages  which  Buenos  Ayres  possessed  in 
the  salubrity  of  its  climate,  in  the  richness  of  its  soil, 
and  in  the  superiority  of  its  position  for  agricultural 
and  commercial  purposes,  to  be  overlooked.     These 


tJHAP.  III.  BANDA  OMENTAL.  63 

advantages,  however,  in  process  of  time,  and  in  de- 
fiance of  the  ignorance  and  prejudices  of  its  rulers, 
gradually  produced  their  natural  results;  and  Buenos 
Ayres,  enlarging  its  trade  by  extending  its  con- 
nexions, rose  to  be  a  place  of  considerable  import- 
ance ;  but  this  improvement  was  interrupted  by  acci- 
dental circumstances. 

The  Spaniards  and  Portuguese  have,  by  a  singular 
fatality,  been  destined  to  be  neighbours  and  rivals, 
not  only  in  the  old  but  in  the  new  world.  The 
possession  of  the  neighbouring  colony  of  Brasil 
enabled  the  Portuguese,  by  means  of  the  immense 
and  thinly  inhabited  intervening  territory  of  the 
Banda  Oriental,  to  organize  a  system  of  contraband 
which  nearly  annihilated  regular  and  legitimate 
commerce. 

The  desperate  character  of  the  agents  employed  in 
this  illicit  trade ;  their  local  knowledge  of  the  path- 
less country  and  sinuous  shores  on  the  eastern  side 
of  the  Plata,  rendered  vain  every  effort  of  the  Spanish 
government  to  check  the  ruinous  progress  of  the  evil. 
To  such  a  pitch,  indeed,  had  the  insolence  of  these 
daring  outlaws  arrived,  that  they  negotiated  their 
bargains  sword  in  hand,  and  sometimes  murdered 
the  very  person  with  whom  they  had  just  had  trans- 
actions of  business.  An  evil  so  desperate  in  its  na- 
ture could  be  cured  only  by  a  desperate  remedy,  and 
the  means  adopted  by  the  Spanish  government  were 
not  more  extraordinary  than  efficacious.  The  most 
noted  and  resolute  of  all  these  smugglers  was  selected 
to  subdue  his  companions,  and  destroy  the  system, 
and  the  choice  fell  upon  Don  Fernando  Jos£  de  Ar* 


54  ARTIGAS.  GfiAF.  Ut 

tigas,  who  afterwards  took  so  conspicuous  a  lead  » 
the  revolution* 

Artigas  was  a  native  of  Monte  Video.  His  father, 
Don  Martin  Artigas,  was  an  haeendado,  or  gentle- 
man of  landed  property,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
that  town.  The  deficiency  of  the  means  of  education 
which,  owing  to  the  Machiavellian  policy  of  Spakfe 
then  existed  throughout  all  the  colonies,  confined 
the  literary  acquirements  of  .young  Artigas  to  a  know- 
ledge of  reading  and  writing,  and  restricted  hi* 
employments*  to  horsemanship,  superintending  his 
father's  herds,  and  trafficking  in  hides  not  only  with 
the  inhabitants  of  Monte  Video,  but  also  with  the 
eontrabandistas.  In  consequence  of  these  occupa- 
tions, and  his  constant  intercourse  with  the  lawless 
strangers,  he  acquired  a  licentiousness  of  manners, 
and  an  attachment  to  an  independent  and  unsettled 
life,  which  induced  him  very  soon  to  emancipate 
himself  not  merely  from  paternal  control  but  from 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  public  authorities.  In  concert 
with  these  bold  characters,  he  commenced  by  making 
predatory  excursions,  until,  at  length,  associating 
entirely  with  the  banditti,  he  became  the  terror  of 
the  whole  country.  Surpassing  his  companions  m 
their  knowledge  pf  the  secret  paths,  the  hiding* 
places,  and,  in  short,  in  the  arcana  of  the  plains,  no 
Jess  than  he  excelled  them  in  bodily  strength,  horse* 
manship,  daring  courage,  and  superior  talents,  he 
soon  acquired  (hat  ascendancy  whjqb,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, those  qualities  are  calculated  to  command. 

The  name  of  Artigas  struck  terror  into  the  hearts 
jiQt  only  of  the  people  of  the  country,  hut  of  the 


CHAP.  Ill,  AHT1GAS.  55 

Spanish  authorities,  and   afterwards  of  the  whole 
body  of  contraibandiAtas,  whether  of  Spanish  oi-  Por- 
tuguese origin.   These  marauders,  bold  and  ferocious 
as  they  were,  contemplated,  with  astonishment  and 
admiration,  the  sagacity  with  which  he  conceived, 
and  the  unyielding  resolution  with  which  he  executed, 
his  various  plans  when,  at  the  head  of  his  boys  ("tito* 
chachosi"),  as  he  styled  them,  he  from  time  to  time 
foiled  the  officers  of  justice,  and  scattered  the  parties 
of  militia  sent  to  apprehend  him.     It  is  reported 
that,  upon  one  occasion,  when  pursued  in  the  plains* 
and  finding  his  farther  retreat  impracticable  from  the 
worn-out  state  of  his  horses,  he  killed  *  number  of 
them,  and  from  behind  a  parapet,  constructed  of  thejr 
dead  bodies,  maintained  so  destructive  a  fire  upon 
his  pursuers,  as  to  compel  them  to  retire  with  con- 
siderable loss.     The  judicial  proceedings  of  this  new 
pttvosfcinarshd,  when  employed  by  the  Spanish  au- 
thorities  against  his  former  comrades,  were  not  cha- 
racterized by  the  elaborate  forms  of  ordinary  courts 
of  law.     The  notoriety  of  the  crime  was  considered 
fcs  a  sufficient  reason  for  consigning  the  delinquent 
to  instant  execution,  without  any  other  ceremony  or 
religious  preparation  thaii  the  credo  cimarron,  a  sort 
of  mockery  of  confession,  being  the  hurried  repetition 
of  prayers  which,  rathe?  from  ignorance  than  iire- 
ligion,  formed  an  unintelligible  jargon.     But  when 
the  criminals  were  numerous,  and  he  felt  indisposed 
to  waste  powder*  he  used  to  bind  them  in  the  skins 
Of  cattle  tiewly  slain,  and  leave  them  with  only  the 
head  at  liberty,  so  that  in  proportion  as  the  hide  be- 
came dtj  and  shrunk  up,  the  space  allotted  for  the 


56  ARTIGAS.  CHAP.  UU 

body  contracted  until  the  unfortunate  sufferer  ex- 
pired in  the  extreme  of  agony  and  despair.  This 
mode  of  incarcerating  and  tormenting  criminals  was 
styled  enchipar,  but  its  extreme  barbarity  can  scarcely 
be  extenuated  by  the  plea,  that  there  existed  neither 
prisons  nor  guards  in  those  deserts,  and  that  the  fe- 
rocious and  murderous  habits  of  the  criminals  required 
such  dreadful  examples. 

Artigas  was  in  person  well  proportioned  and  of 
ordinary  stature.  His  countenance  was  mild,  and 
expressive  of  amiability.  He  was  somewhat  bald, 
and  of  a  fair  complexion,  which  constant  exposure 
to  sun  and  weather  had  not  darkened.  Dean  Funes 
describes  him  to  be  a  man  who  united  to  extreme 
sensibility  the  appearance  of  coldness;  a  most  in- 
sinuating urbanity  to  decent  gravity ;  a  daring  frank- 
ness to  a  winning  courtesy ;  an  exalted  patriotism  to 
a  fidelity  at  times  suspicious ;  the  language  of  peace 
to  a  natural  inclination  to  discord ;  and  a  lively  love 
of  independence  to  extravagant  notions  as  to  the 
mode  of  achieving  it. 

The  viceroy  of  Buenos  Ayres  offered  Artigas  an 
amnesty  for  the  past,  and  gave  him  hopes  of  an  ho- 
nourable promotion,  if  he  would  undertake  to  put 
an  end  to  the  clandestine  commerce  and  depredations 
of  the  Portuguese  smugglers,  and  clear  the  country 
of  banditti.  Never  did  the  pardon  of  a  public  crimi- 
nal produce  a  more  signal  and  immediate  benefit. 
He  applied  the  whole  powers  of  his  mind  and  body 
so  efficaciously  to  the  task  of  rooting  out  the  nume- 
rous bands  of  vagabonds,  robbers,  and  smugglers,  by 
whom  the  country  had  been  overrun,  that  in  a  shor£ 


CHAP.  III.  ARTIGAS.  57 

time  the  authority  of  the  government  became  re- 
spected, and  private  property  secured  to  a  degree  that 
had  never  been  attained  in  the  most  peaceful  and 
prosperous  period. 

Such  was  the  dexterity  of  Artigas  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  horse  and  in  the  use  of  his  fire-arms ;  so 
formidable  was  his  strength,  and  such  the  impetuosity 
of  his  onset,  that  the  most  daring  outlaw  quailed 
under  his  eye,  and  surrendered  to  his  appalling  shout. 
The  effects  of  his  exertions  claimed  and  received  the 
grateful  rewards  of  those  whom  he  had  so  efficiently 
served. .  At  the  instance  of  the  landed  proprietors, 
he  was  constituted  conservator  of  the  district  (guarda 
general  de  la  campana),  and  the  appointment  was 
accompanied  with  a  salary  adequate  to  its  import- 
ance, and  to  his  services.  From  this  period  Artigas 
became  an  irreconcilable  enemy  to  the  Brasilian  con- 
trabandistas. 

Relieved  by  these  energetic  measures  from  the 
evils  which  had  thus  impeded  its  prosperity,  Buenos 
Ayres  advanced  so  rapidly  in  population  and  import- 
ance, that,  at  the  period  when  the  ill-starred  English 
expedition  of  1806  arrived  in  the  river  Plata,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Buenos  Ayres  amounted  to 
60,000  souls. 

The  native  strength,  courage,  and  energy,  displayed 
on  this  occasion,  and  which  were  so  glaringly  con- 
trasted with  the  pusillanimity  of  the  few  Spaniards 
who  had  held  this  great  population  in  blind  obedience, 
aroused  a  spirit  of  military  ardour  in  the  mass  of  the 
people,  and,  at  the  same  time,  gave  birth,  in  a  few 
enlightened  minds,  to  a  hope  of  future  independence, 


58  GENERAL  WHITELOCK.  CHAP.  RS> 

which  subsequent  events  brought  to  maturity.  Ne- 
vertheless, when  General  Beresford  offered  in  the 
name  of  the  British  government  to  assist  the  natives 
in  throwing  off  the  Spanish  yoke,  and  to  guarantee 
their  independence,  and  when  Sir  Samuel  Auchmuty 
sent  a  flag  of  truce  from  Monte  Video,  in  March 
1807,  to  renew  the  same  proposals,  they  were  not 
listened  to— so  loyal,  at  that  time,  were  the  Buenos 
Ayreans.  But  at  length  some  of  the  leading  <ha* 
racters  began  to  see  the  necessity  of  a  change,  and 
accordingly  Dr.  Zuluaga,  a  highly  respectable  eocle* 
siastic,  in  conj  miction  with  other  influential  indivi- 
duals, secretly  proposed  to  General  Whitelock,  that 
he  should  assist  the  people  of  Buenos  Ayres  in  esta* 
blishing  their  independence  of  Spain*  under  the  pro* 
tection  of  Great  Britain,  agreeably  to  the  offers  made 
by  Generals  Beresford  and  Auchmuty,  and  in  con* 
formity  to  the  declaration  made  by  the  British  mi* 
nistry  in  1797,  to  Spanish  America,  inviting  its  natives 
to  declare  their  independence,  and  promising  every 
-sort  of  support.  This  proposition  was  declined  by 
the  British  commander,  under  the  plea  of  his  having 
received  no  instructions  to  that  effect.  The  feet 
appears  to  be,  that  the  policy  of  the  British  govern- 
ment,  relative  to  Spain  and  her  colonies,  was  no  longer 
the  same,  and  the  instructions  given  to  Whitelock 
obliged  him  to  adopt  a  different  line  of  conduct. 

If  the  British  had  acquired  sufficient  local  and 
political  knowledge  of  the  country,  they  would  not 
have  attempted  the  conquest  of  Buenos  Ayres,  but 
would  have  confined  theii4  immediate  object  to  the 
possession  of  Monte  Video,  the  key  of  the  river  Plata. 


CHAP.  III.  PRINCESS  CAELOTA.  59 

From  its  position  and  strength,  it  might  have  been 
made  the  Gibraltar  of  the  eastern  coast  of  the  Spanish 
possessions.  Buenos  Ayres,  on  the  contrary,  is  an 
extensive  unwalled  city,  situated  on  a  gentle  elevation 
in  a  vast  plain,  and  untenable  by  any  power  unsup- 
ported by  the  good  will  of  its  inhabitants  and  the 
Gauchos,  or  natives  of  the  Pampas. 

Whilst  the  public  mind  at  Buenos  Ayres  was  kept 
in  a  state  of  excitement  by  the  aggression  of  Napoleon 
in  the  Peninsula,  the  transfer  of  the  court  of  Lisbon 
to  the  Brasils  inspired  the  princess  regent  of  Portugal 
with  the  ambition  of  establishing  herself  in  a  similar 
situation  at  Buenos  Ayres.  Her  father  and  brother 
having,  at  Bayonne,  renounced  their  right  to  the 
crown  of  Spain,  she  despatched  emissaries  to  Buenos 
Ayres  to  assert  her  contingent  claim,  and  to  concert 
measures  for  her  residence  in  that  capital.  Her  pro- 
posals were  received  with  enthusiasm,  and  a  warm 
invitation  was  sent  by  the  most  influential  characters 
of  the  country,  amongst  whom  were  Dr.  Castelli, 
Don  Manuel  Belgrano,  D.  Ipolito  Vietes,  and  the 
Senores  Pena  and  Chambo.  But  when  her  projects 
were  on  the  point  of  being  crowned  with  success, 
they  were  rendered  abortive  by  the  unexpected  ar- 
rival, in  May,  1809,  of  the  viceroy  Cisneros,  who, 
on  ascending  the  river,  touched  at  Monte  Video,  and 
concerted  measures  with  the  governor,  General  Elio, 
and  who,  like  Cisneros,  was  a  stanch  supporter  of 
Ferdinand.    Cisneros  *  made  every  effort  to  fulfil  the 

*  Cisneros  was  sent  out  to  supersede  Liniers.  He  was  a  flag-officer  at  the 
battle  of  Trafalgar,  and  was  one  of  the  very  few  saved  from  the  Santisima 
Trinidad. 


60  CISNEROS.  CHAP.  III. 

orders  of  the  court  of  Madrid  to  close  the  ports  of 
the  river  Plata  against  English  trade,  which,  in  spite 
of  repeated  prohibition,  continued  on  the  increase. 
Dr.  Don  Mariano  Moreno,  an  enlightened  native, 
addressed  a  pamphlet  to  the  viceroy,  demonstrating 
the  necessity  of  remodelling  narrow-minded  institu- 
tions incompatible  with  national  prosperity.  Thk 
representation  elevated  Moreno  in  the  opinion  of  his 
countrymen,  and  in  the  same  proportion  it  attracted 
the  hatred  of  the  Spaniards,  who  foresaw,  in  the  ad- 
mission of  strangers,  an  end  to  their  own  monopoly. 
The  Spanish  and  Buenos  Ayrean  merchants  as- 
sembled, and  addressed  strong  remonstrances,  call- 
ing upon  Cisneros  to  enforce  the  colonial  laws,  and 
pointing  out  the  imminent  danger  to  religion  by 
opening  commercial  channels  to  the  English.  Per- 
emptory decrees  were  issued  almost  from  day  to  day, 
ordering  the  English  to  withdraw  Within  a  specified 
time,  and  an  oidor  was  appointed  to  see  these  decrees 
duly  executed ;  but  they  were  evaded  under  different 
pretexts :  and  such  was  the  effect  of  Moreno's  paper, 
that  the  viceroy  was  unable  to  close  the  ports  against 
the  English.  Nay,  he  felt  compelled  to  connive  at 
British  merchants  carrying  on  their  trade  by  means 
of  Spanish  consignees ;  a  triumph  on  the  part  of 
Moreno,  which  removed  or  diminished  some  of  the 
difficulties  which  might  have  obstructed  the  progress 
of  the  revolution.  An  additional  reason  for  the  ac- 
quiescence of  Cisneros  was  the  necessity  of  replenish- 
ing an  empty  treasury,  and  which  could  not  be  done 
without  relaxing  the  prohibitory  system.    From  this 


CHAP.  Ill*    JUNTA  GUBERNATIVA— MORENO.  61 

period  the  principal  supporters  of  Princess  Carlota 
changed  their  views,  and  formed  plans  of  ultimately 
setting  up  the  standard  of  independence. 

After  some  political  struggles,  they  succeeded  in 
deposing  the  viceroy,  and,  on  the  25th  of  May,  1810, 
named  a  junta  gubernativa,  composed  of  nine  mem- 
bers, with  Don  Cornelio  de  Saavedra  as  their  pre- 
sident *,  and  Don  J.  J.  Fasso  and  Dr.  Don  Mariano 

« 

Moreno,  as  secretaries. 

This  last-named  gentleman  was  the  soul  of  the 
new  government,  and  displayed  a  genius  fitted  for 
the  times.  He  saw  the  facility  of  overthrowing  a 
weak  government,  but  he  also  saw  the  difficulties  of 
eradicating  abuses  canonized  by  the  habits  of  ages, 
and  of  substituting  any  system  that  should  introduce 
liberty  unaccompanied  by  anarchy.  Cisneros  and  the 
viceregal  authorities  still  retained  a  dangerous  in- 
fluence in  Buenos  Ayres,  and  in  the  provinces,  where 
a  number  of  individuals  possessing  identity  of  in- 
terests were  of  opinion  that  the  junta  gubernativa 
ought  to  be  dissolved,  and  its  members  punished. 

Under  these  critical  circumstances,  Moreno  con- 
ceived it  necessary  to  effect  further  and  more  obvious 
changes,  that  the  new  system  might  continue  to  pro- 
gress. Amongst  the  oidores  of  the  city,  was  the  fiscal 
Caspe ;  he  had  long  foreseen  the  consequences  of  the 
viceroy  having  permitted  the  formation  of  a  goverii- 

*  About  the  same  time  similar  feelings  had  been  developed  in  various  and 
very  distant  parts  of  Spanish  America.  Actuated  by  the  same  motives,  Juntas 
Gubernativa*  were  formed  in  Caracas,  in  Venezuela,  19th  April,  1809;  La  Pasv 
15th  July,  1809 ;  Quito,  19th  August,  1809 ;  Santa  Fe  de  Bogota,  25th  May, 
1810;  Chile,  18th  Sept.  1810.  On  the  16th  Sept  1810,  an  insurrection  took 
place  in  the  town  of  Dolores,  in  Mexico ;  and  so  early  as  the  25th  May,  1809, 
a  popular  commotion  occasioned  the  deposition  of  the  president  Pizarro  in 
Charcms  in  Upper  Peru. 


m  MORENO.  CHAP.  Iff, 

ing  junta,  under  pretence  that  the  government  of  the 
mother  country  was  in  its  dotage.  Caspe  publicly 
expressed  his  disapprobation  of  the  junta  in  not  re- 
instating the  viceroy,  when  it  became  known  that 
the  regency  was  established  in  the  Peninsula.  At  m 
mimstro  of  the  king,  he  communicated  his  opinion; 
to  the  newly  constituted  authorities.  It  was  received 
as  an  insult,  and  as  the  forerunner  of  other  measures 
calculated  to  endanger  the  existence  of  the  new  order 
of  things*  Some  patriot  officers  gave  Caspe  a  severe 
caning  as  he  quitted  an  evening  party,  and  assured 
him  that  the  lesson  would  be  repeated  unless  he 
became  more  guarded  in  his  political  conduct.  This1 
assault  was  considered  as  the  act  of  the  junta,  because 
the  perpetrators  were  its  zealous  supporters.  It  had 
the  desired  effect  of  frightening  the  adherents  of  the 
old  form  of  government. 

The  hostile  feeling  arising  out  of  this  incident  wa* 
farther  inflamed  as.  the  authority  of  the  governing 
jamta  became  more  circumscribed,  and  which  was 
soon  reduced  to  the  limits  of  Buenos  Ayres.  Monte 
Video  did  not  recognise  it.  In  the  meanwhile  the 
deposed  viceroy  despatched  secret  orders  to  that  and 
other  places,,  not  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  his 
official  letter  announcing  his  abdication  and  the  in- 
stallation of  the  junta,  nor  to  obey  orders  emanating 
from  that  board. 

The  port  of  Montevideo  contained  a  naval  depdt; 
consequently  most  of  the  civil  and  military  officers 
were  Spaniards,  as  were  also  the  greater  part  of  the 
garrison,  who  saw  all  that  was  ominous  to  themselves 
in  the  changes  at  Buenos  Ayres.     The  governor, , 


CHAPtUX.  ELIO— OBES.  63 

Elio,  took  decisive  measures  to  prevent  the  extension 
of  the  authority  of  the  junta  gvbernatwa  to  Monte 
Video.  He  arrested  Colonel  Murgiondo,  command- 
ing the  finest  regiment  in  the  garrison,  and  who  was 
supposed  to  be  an  advocate  for  a  change  of  govern- 
ment. Notwithstanding  this,  the  Creoles  of  Monte 
Video  received  the  news  of  die  installation  of  the 
junta  with  enthusiasm.  They  assembled  at  the  mu- 
nicipality,, and  unanimously  resolved  that  it  was  ex- 
pedient to  unite  with  the  capital.  This  resolution* 
the  spontaneous  expression  of  public  opinion,  was 
rendered  fruitless  by  the  precaution  of  Elio,  and  by 
an  individual  whose  ambition  was  the  original  cause 
of  the  misfortunes  which  befel  the  Banda  Oriental. 

Dr.  Obes,  an  advocate  and  official  legal  adviser  of 
Elio  the  governor,  was  a  young  man  of  considerable 
talent,  who  had  entered  largely  into  mercantile  and 
other  speculations.  He  supported  the  pretensions 
o£  the  Brasils,  which  he  afterwards  abandoned.  De- 
sirous of  playing  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  approach- 
ing revolution,  he  espoused  with  great  warmth  the 
proposal  of  making  common  cause  with  Buenos  Ay  res, 
so  long  as  he  indulged  in  the  hope  of  being  appointed 
one  of  the  junta ;  a  post  to  which  he  considered  his 
services  entitled  him.  But  when  he  found  himself 
excluded,  he  changed  his  plan,  and  exerted  his  in- 
fluence to  thwart  the  views  of  Buenos  Ayres.  With- 
out offering  direct  opposition  to  the  opinions  of  those 
assembled  at  the  municipality,  he  had  the  art  to  draw 
over  many  of  his  countrymen:  in  a  manner  worthy  of 
MachiaveL    The  assembly  having  manifested  for  the 


64  OBES.  CHAP.  III. 

second  or  third  time  its  willingness  to  coalesce  with 
Buenos  Ayres,  Obes  applauded  the  idea,  but  sug- 
gested that  it  ought  not  to  be  done  unconditionally. 
This  was  an  idea  that  had  not  entered  the  heated 
imagination  of  the  people ;  but  falling  from  the  lips 
of  a  popular  advocate,  it  was  unhesitatingly  adopted 
by  a  few,  and  presently  after  by  the  majority,  which 
finally  resolved  that  conditions  were  proper  and  ne- 
cessary. But  as  the  meeting  knew  not  what  con- 
ditions were  desirable,  nothing  was  decided  upon  but 
to  appoint  a  committee  to  consider  of  the  terms,  or, 
in  other  words,  to  discover  their  unknown  wants. 
The  meeting  separated  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  was  reassembled  in  the  following  day.  The 
interval  was  dexterously  employed  by  Obes  in  sowing 
the  seeds  of  dissension.  He  represented  the  deposi- 
tion of  the  viceroy  as  an  act  of  criminal  folly,  at  a 
time  when  any  thing  but  unfavourable  views  might 
be  expected  from  the  Peninsula.  Chance  favoured 
his  scheme.  A  signal  was  made  for  a  ship  in  sight 
from  a  transatlantic  port ;  on  her  arrival  a  tissue  of 
European  news  was  forged,  which  placed  peninsular 
affairs  in  so  favourable  a  point  of  view,  as  to  leave 
the  royalist  party  nothing  to  wish  for.  The  people 
taken  thus  by  surprise,  and  believing  the  intelligence, 
transmitted  an  answer  to  Buenos  Ayres,  signifying 
that  varying  circumstances  prevented  them  from  ac- 
knowledging an  authority  not  appointed  in  a  legi- 
timate way  by  the  nation.  This  was  the  origin  of  a 
schism  which  has  never  been  closed.  Obes  went  to 
Buenos  Ayres  to  invite  the  viceroy  to  remove  to 


CHAP.  IU.  CHARACTER  OF  MORKNO.  65 

Monte  Video ;  but  fearful  of  arrest,  he  re-embarked 
before  the  junta  could  have  an  opportunity  of  giving 
orders  for  his  apprehension. 

Moreno  proposed  that  the  viceroy  and  (Adores 
should  be  banished.  A  foreign  vessel  was  got  ready 
with  the  utmost  secrecy,  to  convey  them  to  the  Ca- 
naries. Such  was  the  want  of  means,  that  the  master 
was  to  be  reimbursed  by  the  junta  remitting  the 
custom-house  duties  upon  any  return  cargo  of  the 
vessel #.  The  viceroy  and  five  oidores  were  invited 
to  attend  the  junta,  which  they  did  in  full  uniform, 
under  the  impression  that  the  intention  was  to  re- 
instate his  excellency.  On  arriving  at  the  saloon, 
a  member  signified  to  the  six  individuals,  that  in 
consequence  of  mal-administration  it  had  been  de- 
termined to  place  them  before  the  majesty  of  the 
throne.  With  this  laconic  intimation  they  were  sent 
on  board :  a  pampero,  or  hurricane  of  the  pampas, 
blew;  and  when  the  gazette  announced,  on  the  fol- 
lowing  morning,  their  departure,  the  vessel  must 
have  been  at  least  twenty  leagues  at  sea. 

This  measure  had  the  effect  of  intimidating  the 
royalist  party,  and  shows  the  decision  of  Moreno,  in 
whose  hands  the  helm  of  state  never  vacillated  so 
long  as  he  retained  his  influence ;  he  had,  too,  the 
happy  art  of  infusing  zeal  into  the  subaltern  officers 
of  every  department;  but  the  severity  of  his  measures 
differed  essentially  from  the  more  moderate  course 
which  the  party  of  Saavedra  proposed  to  reduce  to 
practice;  and  it  became  impossible  that  the  junta,  in 

*  Such  was  the  morale  of  the  custom-house,  that  more  goods  were  passed  as 
the  return  cargo  than  could  have  been  stowed  away  in  a  line-of-battie  ship. 

VOL.  I.  F 


C6  OCAMPO.  chap,  in* 

its  then  divided  state,  could  continue  to  exist.  The 
result  was,  the  retirement  of  Moreno's  party,  and  the 
removal  of  its  leader,  who  accepted  a  mission  to 'Eng- 
land. He  died  on  the  passage,  in  the  thirty-third 
year  of  his  age.  His  best  monument  is  the  public 
library  he  founded  in  his  native  city  of  Buenos  Ayres. 

Moreno  excelled  as  an  orator  and  a  writer.  As 
a  public  man,  he  was  honest,  enthusiastic,  and  la- 
borious. His  private  character  was  unimpeachable: 
he  was  not  acquainted  with  English  literature,  bat 
was  familiar  with  that  of  France.  Raynal  was  his 
favourite  author.  Had  Moreno  resided  for  a  time 
in  England,  it  is  probable  that  the  spirit  with  which 
the  writings  of  the  French  philosophers  often  inspire 
the  American  reader  would  have  been  corrected,  and 
that  practical  experience  would  have  given  him  ad^ 
ditional  power  to  become  permanently  useful  to  his 
countrymen. 

The  Buenos  Ayreans  having  succeeded  thus  far 
in  establishing  their  eventual  independence,  directed 
their  attention  to  distant  points  of  the  viceroyalty. 
Colonel  Ocampo,  with  a  division  of  patriots,  was  sent 
against  a  formidable  faction,  which,  at  Cordova,  had 
declared  against  the  new  order  of  things.  Liniers, 
formerly  viceroy,  and  now  the  leader  of  the  opposite 
party,  was  made  prisoner,  and  shot,  with  Governor 
Concha,  and  Colonels  Allende  and  Rodriguez.  These 
executions  took  place  under  the  immediate  directions 
of  Dr.  Castelli,  who  had  been  sent  from  Buenos 
Ayres  for  that  purpose  by  the  junta  gubernativa. 

Ocampo,  successful  at  Cordova,  considerably  aug- 
mented his  forces,  but  he  had  incurred  the  displeasure 


CHAP.  HI.  CASTELLI.  67 

of  the  junta  by  presuming  to  represent  the  risk  of 
carrying  into  execution  the  sentence  of  death  passed 
upon  Liniers  and  his  followers,  was  recalled,  and  his 
second  in  command,  Colonel  Don  Antonio  de  Bal- 
carce,  advanced  to  liberate  the  provinces  of  Upper  Peru 
(now  called  Bolivia),  composed  of  the  departments 
of  Charcas,  Potosi,  Santa  Cruz  de  la  Sierra,  Cocha~ 
bamba,  and  La  Paz,  and  which  were  formerly  com- 
prehended in  the  viceroyalty  of  Buenos  Ayres. 

On  the  87th  October,  the  royalist  General  Nieto 
was  defeated  at  Cotagaita,  and  on  the  7th  November 
following,  the  royalist  Colonel  Cordova  suffered  the 
same  fate  at  Tupiza.  These  successes  gave  Balcarce 
possession  of  the  Upper  Peruvian  provinces,  as  far  as 
the  bridge  of  the  Inca  across  the  Desaguodero,  the 
river  which  forms  the  outlet  of  lake  Titicaca,  where 
ke  augmented  his  force  to  about  four  thousand  men. 

Castelli  was  named  commissioner,  or  delegate,  as 
well  as  governor  of  Upper  Peru,  and  was  sent  to  Bal- 
earic's head-quarters,  to  direct,  in  the  name  of  the 
junta,  the  operations  of  the  patriot  army,  which  he 
joined  previous  to  its  arrival  at  Potosi.  Castelli,  an 
advocate  of  considerable  talent,  was  shrewd,  active, 
and  decisive,  but  volatile  and  fiery ;  he  was  perfectly 
master  of  that  species  of  eloquence  which  captivates 
the  multitude,  but  his  disposition  was  stern,  and  un- 
satisfied with  half-measures.  He  proclaimed  every 
where  liberty  and  hatred  to  tyranny,  condemning,  at 
the  same  time,  wherever  he  found  them,  those  who 
were  opposed  to  the  new  order  of  things.  Don 
Francisco  de  Paulo  Saens,  governor  of  Potosi,  who 

f  % 


68  CASTELLI.  CHAP.  III. 

had  acquired  universal  respect  during  a  long  re- 
sidence in  South  America,  together  with  the  pre^ 
sident  of  Charcas,  General  Nieto  (an  old  officer,  who 
had  fought  under  General  Blake  against  the  French 
at  Rio  Seco  in  1808),  and  a  naval  officer  (the  son  of 
Admiral  Cordova),  were  shot  in  the  square  at  Po- 
tosi.  These  appear  to  have  been  acts  of  unjustifiable 
cruelty.  Castelli  alleged  that  it  was  necessary  to 
make  the  patriots  commit  themselves,  and  to  dis- 
courage that  sort  of  neutrality  which  until  then  was 
observed  by  the  bulk  of  the  people,  who  did  not 
clearly  understand  the  nature  of  the  dispute,  or  the 
object  in  view.  The  execution  of  men  of  high  rank 
and  influence  struck  terror  into  all,  and  those  in  office 
fancied  that  in  Castelli  they  saw  a  second  Robespierre, 
about  to  immolate  as  many  of  them  as  he  thought  fit 
on  the  shrine  of  liberty.  Castelli  was  in  fact  a  ter- 
rorist, deeply  imbued  with  the  maxims  of  the  French 
revolution,  and  perfectly  familiar  with  its  details. 

His  violent  proceedings  produced  the  effect  he  in- 
tended. The  feeble  Spaniards,  neglectful  of  their 
means  of  defence,  abandoned  the  strongest  positions, 
and  were  scattered  in  every  rencontre.  The  retreat 
of  timorous  generals,  at  the  head  of  an  insubordinate 
soldiery,  was  impeded  by  their  riches.  The  civil 
government  of  the  provinces,  unable  to  leave  the 
beaten  tracks  of  slow  routine,  dissolved  on  the  ap- 
proach of  the  patriots  without  making  an  effort,  and 
the  small  division  which  left  the  bank  of  the  river 
Plata  celebrated  the  first  anniversary  of  the  revolu- 
tion amidsjt  the  ruins  of  the  palace  of  the  Incas  at 


CHAP.  III.  PAUAGUAY.  69 

Tiaguanaco,on  lake  Titicaca,  the  north-west  boundary 
of  the  viceroyalty,  six  hundred  and  ninety  leagues 
from  Buenos  Ayres. 

The  junta  gubemativa,  considering  all  danger  re- 
moved on  the  side  of  Peru,  directed  its  attention  to 
enforce  the  submission  of  Paraguay.  About  two 
thousand  men  were  raised  and  equipped  at  a  great 
expense,  and  Don  Manuel  Belgrano  was  made  a  ge- 
neral, in  order  to  be  appointed  to  the  command.  He 
marched  with  little  interruption  to  the  confines  of 
Paraguay,  where  he  again  required  the  submission 
of  the  junta  to  that  of  Buenos  Ayres.  No  answer 
was  given,  and  Belgrano  continued  to  advance  un- 
opposed into  the  heart  of  the  province.  Arriving 
within  a  day's  march  of  Asumpcion,  he  halted  in  the 
pleasing  expectation  of  making  his  entry  into  that 
capital  on  the  following  morning.  But,  as  night 
closed  in,  numerous  fires  were  seen  to  blaze  around, 
and  excited  considerable  alarm.  These  appearances 
were  the  more  extraordinary,  because  in  his  advance 
no  hostile  preparation  had  been  seen  or  suspected. 
Indeed  an  inhabitant  had  rarely  been  met  with ;  but 
when  daylight  broke  upon  Belgrano,  he  perceived 
his  army  encircled  by  countless  hordes  of  armed  Pa- 
raguayans, evidently  resolved  to  make  a  determined 
resistance  to  the  further .  progress  of  the  invaders, 
who,  upon  comparing  numbers,  anticipated  no  other 
result  than  annihilation.  The  Buenos  Ayreans  were 
attacked  and  defeated;  but  Belgrano  was  agreeably 
surprised  by  a  flag  of  truce  from  Yedros,  the  general 
of  the  Paraguayans,  who  signified  that,  although  the 


70  DR.  FRANCIA.— VICEROY  ABASCAL.     CHAP,  III, 

Buenos  Ayreans  were  completely  in  his  power,  the 
government  of  his  province  felt  no  disposition  to  treat 
them  as  enemies:  on  the  contrary,  they  considered 
Buenos  Ayreans  as  brethren  engaged  in  the  same 
cause ;  that  Belgrano,  having  satisfied  himself  that 
the  Paraguayans  possessed  the  power  and  inclination 
to  maintain  themselves  independent  of  Buenos  Ayres, 
as  well  as  of  the  regency  of  Cadiz,  was  at  liberty  to 
retire  unmolested ;  and  that  provisions  and  supplies 
of  every  kind  should  be  furnished  to  facilitate  his 
return.  Belgrano,  seeing  the  utter  impossibility  of 
accomplishing  the  object  of  the  expedition,  gladly 
accepted  the  offered  terms,  and  countermarched  to 
Buenos  Ayres.  Dr.  Francia,  who  has  since  become 
celebrated  as  the  dictator  of  Paraguay,  was  at  this 
time  secretary  to  the  provincial  government,  and  is 
supposed  to  have  been  the  author  of  the  lesson  which 
Buenos  Ayres  will  not  easily  forget,  although  very 
anxious  to  have  it  forgotten. 

Alarmed  at  the  progress  of  the  Buenos  Ayreans 
on  the  Desaguadero,  Abascal,  viceroy  of  Peru,  made 
overtures  to  Castelli,  the  representative  of  those  whom 
his  excellency  had,  some  time  before,  been  pleased  to 
designate  as  "  men  born  to  vegetate  in  obscurity  and 
submission."  Castelli  received  the  proposal  for  an 
armistice  with  disdainful  levity.  His  answer  was, 
that  he  knew  of  no  other  authority  than  the  sovereign 
people,  of  whom  the  viceroy  was  an  oppressor.  This 
arrogant  reply  cost  the  patriots  dearly.  The  viceroy 
assembled  fresh  troops  under  active  generals,  whilst 
Castelli  gave  himself  up  to  dissolute  pleasures ;  the 


CHAP.  III.         DUPLICITY  OF    GOYENECHE.  71 

civil  administration  of  the  provinces  was  neglected; 
and  the  military  chiefs  showing  an  equal  disregard 
of  their  duties,  the  advantages  gained  in  the  first 
campaign  were  disgracefully  thrown  away. 

General  Goyeneche,  a  native  of  Arequipa,  who 
had  been  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  royalist 
forces,  drew  four  thousand  men  from  Cuzco  and 
Arequipa,  and  placed  himself  on  the  northern  side 
Qf  the  Desaguadero,  within  two  days9  march  of  the 
JJuenos  Ayreans.  Previous  to  this  the  patriots  had 
been  induced  to  listen  to  another  proposal  for  the 
suspension  of  hostilities,  and  an  armistice  had  been 
adjusted ;  but  Goyeneche,  professing  that  the  most 
solemn  engagements,  when  made  with  insurgents, 
might  be  broken  with  impunity,  attacked  and  de- 
feated Castelli  and  Balcarce  at  Huaqui,  on  the  20th 
of  June,  1811,  six  days  previous  to  the  time  agreed 
tipon  for  the  renewal  of  hostilities. 

The  royalists  attempted  to  justify  this  breach  of 
faith  by  asserting  that  Balcarce  had,  during  the 
armistice,  moved  forward  from  La  Paz  to  the  Desa- 
guadero.  This  was  the  case;  but,  by  so  doing,  he 
did  not  pass  the  boundaries  conceded  to  him  by  the 
terms  of  the  armistice.  But  Goyeneche  had  neither 
delicacy  of  feeling  nor  scruples  of  conscience.  He 
had  been  brought  up  to  the  law,  and  was,  besides,  a 
doctor  of  theology.  When  the  French  entered  Spain, 
he  became  their  partisan,  and  received  instructions 
from  the  Grand  Duke  de  Berg,  in  Madrid,  to  pro- 
ceed to  South  America,  to  promote  the  interest  of 
King  Joseph.     But,  upon  passing  through  Seville, 


H  DUPLICITY  OF  GOYKNECHE.  CHAP.  III. 

Goyeneche  changed  his  policy,  and  declared  in  favour 
of  the  central  junta.  He  was  raised,  in  one  pro- 
motion, from  an  officer  of  militia,  to  the  rank  of  bri- 
gadier-general in  the  army.  He  embarked  with  two 
sets  of  instructions,  namely,  those  of  the  Grand  Duke 
de  Berg,  and  those  of  the  central  junta.  The  in- 
trigues and  the  cringing  baseness  of  this  renegade 
are  well  known  at  Monte  Video  and  Buenos  Ayres, 
whence  he  proceeded  to  Peru.  His  servile  pliability; 
great  fluency  of  speech;  and  a  prepossessing  address, 
obtained  his  appointment  to  the  command. 

Balcarce,  with  a  remnant  of  his  force,  sought  safety 
in  Jujuy,  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  leagues  to  the 
southward  of  Huaqui.  Notwithstanding  Balcarce's 
retreat  from  Upper  Peru,  Goyeneche,  in  his  advance, 
met  with  great  opposition  from  the  patriotic  natives 
of  Cochabamba,  Santa  Cruz  de  la  Sierra,  and  Cha- 
yanta.  The  cruelties  committed  under  the  sanction 
of  Goyeneche  are  almost  incredible,  and  entitle  him 
not  only  to  the  appellation  of  a  denaturalized  Ame- 
rican, but  display  the  peculiar  traits  of  his  own  cringing 
and  artful  character.  The  cities  of  Chuquisaca,  La 
Paz,  and  many  others,  will  record  his  infamy.  He 
is  now  excessively  rich,  and  has  been  „crea  ted  Count 
of  Huaqui.  After  the  expulsion  of  the  patriots  from 
Upper  Peru,  Castelli  was  recalled,  and  placed  under 
arrest  at  Buenos  Ayres.  Anxiety  of  mind  acting 
upon  a  broken  constitution,  the  effect  of  his  own 
irregularities,  conducted  him  to  the  grave  in  1812. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  1811,  the  junta  guber- 
nativa  at  Buenos  Ayres  was  dissolved,  and  Saavedra, 


CHAP.  III.  SAAVEDRA.  78 

the  ex-president,  compelled  to  fly ;  an  executive,  com- 
posed of  Don  Manuel  Sarratea  *,  of  Senor  Chiclana, 
and  Dr.  Don  Juan  Jos6  Passo,  was  named. 

Saavedrr,  is  a  native  of  Buenos  Ayres,  and  of  a  re- 
spectable family.  Previously  to  the  revolution  he 
had  been  elected  alcalde  ordinario  for  a  year;  a  sign 
that  he  had  the  reputation  of  integrity,  and  was 
esteemed  by  his  fellow-citizens.  On  the  expulsion 
of  Whitelock,  the  command  of  a  militia  corps,  which 
had  distinguished  itself,  was  conferred  upon  Saavedra. 
This  gave  him  additional  importance ;  and  he  acted 
a  conspicuous  part  in  suppressing  a  plot  formed  by 
Alzaga,  a  Spanish  merchant,  to  overthrow  the  vice- 
roy. Liniers,  principally  because  Liniers  was  a  French- 
man. Grown  dizzy  by  his  elevation  to  the  pre- 
sidency, Saavedra  wished  to  exercise  a  preponde- 
rating influence  in  the  junta,  but  failing  in  his  ob- 
ject, through  want  of  adequate  capacity,  he  intrigued 
with  the  deputies  from  the  provinces  to  exclude  the 
secretary,  Dr.  Moreno,  whose  talents  and  patriotism 
were  insurmountable  barriers  to  the  supposed  in- 
tentions of  Saavedra  to  tread  in  the  footsteps  of  the 
viceroy.  Moreno  contended,  that  the  president  was, 
as  to  power,  only  on  an  equality  with  the  other 
members  of  the  junta;  but  Saavedra  succeeded  in 
the  end  in  separating  Moreno  from  the  executive, 
and  incorporating  the  provincial  deputies  with  the 

junta.  Saavedra  was  not  long  before  he  abused 'the 
ascendancy  thus  acquired.    The  first  proscriptions  of 

*  This  enlightened  and  talented  individual  was  the  envoy  from  the  Argen- 
tine republic  to  the  court  of  London  in  1826. 


74  LAS  PIEDRA8— EL  CER1UTO.  CHAP.  HI* 

deserving  citizens  rendered  him  odious,  and  caused 
his  downfall. 

Saavedra  has  not  since  emerged  from  private  life. 
His  administration  of  the  public  revenue  was  un- 
stained by  rapacity,  and  he  is  now  considered  an  ho- 
nourable citizen,  and  a  respectable  father  of  a  family. 

Buenos  Ayres  had  been  more  successful  in  her  at- 
tempt on  the  Banda  Oriental,  a  province  which  is 
bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Brasilian  province  of  Rio 
Grande,  on  the  south  by  the  river  Plata,  and  on  the 
west  and  north  by  the  river  Uruguay :  Monte  Video 
is  the  capital.  A  brilliant  little  affair  took  place  at 
Las  Piedras  in  1811,  when  nearly  a  thousand  soldiers 
and  sailors  sallied  from  the  fortress  against  a  party  of 
two  hundred  gauchos,  or  mounted  peasantry,  armed 
principally  with  cutlasses  and  boarding  pikes,  under 
the  orders  of  Artigas,  who  had  continued  a  steady 
adherent  to  the  Spanish  cause  until  a  short  time  be- 
fore the  action,  when  he  passed  over  to  the  patriots, 
in  consequence  of  a  dispute  with  the  governor  of 
Monte  Video.  The  royalists  were  driven  back  into 
the  town  with  much  loss. 

On  the  81st  December,  1812,  General  Rondeau, 
at  the  head  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  newly  raised 
troops,  repulsed  two  thousand  Spaniards,  who  made 
a  second  sortie.  This  affair  took  place  at  el  Cerrito, 
about  a  league  from  the  fortress,  to  the  very  walls  of 
which  the  royalists  were  pursued  with  great  slaughter. 

Artigas  continued  to  perform  prodigies  of  valour 
at  the  head  of  his  brave  gauchos,  but  he  had  long 
before  displayed  symptoms  of  insubordination,  and 


CHAP.  in.  TUCUMAN.  75 

about  this  period  he  withdrew  from  under  the  com- 
mand of  Rondeau,  and,  acting  independently,  ever 
after  evinced  great  dislike  to  the  natives  of  Buenos 
Ayres. 

Balcarcewaa  ordered  to  Buenos  Ayres,  and  the  rem- 
nant of  his  troops,  which  had  escaped  from  Huaqui, 
was  compelled  to  retire  from  Jujuy  to  Tucuman,  one 
hundred  and  five  leagues  farther.  After  one  or  two 
intervening  appointments,  General  Belgrano  suc- 
ceeded to  the  command ;  and  he  had  the  talent  and 
good  fortune,  on  the  24th  September,  1812,  to  de- 
feat the  royalists,  three  thousand  strong,  at  Tucu- 
man, under  General  Don  Pio  Tristan,  who  had  ad- 
vanced from  Potosi,  with  the  intention  of  penetrating 
to  the  city  of  Buenos  Ayres  itself.  In  this  affair, 
Belgrano  had  only  eight  hundred  soldiers,  and  some 
guerillas  of  ill-armed  gauchos.  These  successful 
actions  gave  spirit  and  confidence  to  the  patriots, 
who  became  imboldened  in  proportion  as  the  royalists 
were  disheartened. 

In  October,  1819,  another  change  was  effected  in 
the  government  of  Buenos  Ayres,  by  military  com- 
motion. An  executive,  styled  el  gobiemo  superior, 
was  established.  It  was  composed  of  the  Seriores 
Pena,  Passo,  and  Jonte,  who  were  to  call  together  an 
assembly,  representing  the  people  of  the  viceroyalty. 
On  the  SOth  of  January,  1813,  a  sovereign  consti- 
tuent as&embly  was  convened  at  Buenos  Ayres.  It 
was  not  until  now  that  the  Spanish  flag  and  cockade 
were  abolished,  and  replaced  by  the  bi-color  (blue 
and  white).  The  coinage  also  now  bore  republican 
arms.     The  assembly  re-elected  the  members  of  the 


76  SAN  LORENZO.  CHAP.  III. 

gobierno  superior,  with  the  exception  of  Passo,  who 
was  replaced  by  Perez.  Don  Carlos  Alvear  was 
chosen  president  of  the  assembly. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1813,  the  royalists,  still 
in  possession  of  Monte  Video,  sent  three  hundred  of 
the  garrison,  in  some  small  vessels  of  war,  to  make 
an  incursion  into  the  provinces  of  the  river  Plata. 
They  disembarked  at  San  Lorenzo,  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  river  Parana,  when  Colonel  Don  Jose  de  San 
Martin,  with  a  hundred  and  fifty  granaderos  d 
cavaUoy  attacked  and  completely  defeated  them  on 
the  5th  February. 

San  Martin  was  wounded  in  this  affair.  He  is 
the  same  officer  who,  as  General  San  Martin,  was 
afterwards  the  directing  genius  of  the  emancipation 
of  Chile,  and  who  subsequently  undertook  the  bold 
measure  of  liberating  Peru.  He  was  the  first  who 
raised  and  organized,  conformably  to  the  European 
system,  a  regiment  of  cavalry.  It  was  called  the 
granaderos  d  caballo,  and  was  composed  of  four 
squadrons.  Until  this  period  the  importance  of  dis- 
ciplined "and  regular  cavalry,  and  the  mode  of  em- 
ploying it,  was  almost  unknown  in  the  provinces  of 
the  river  Plata.  The  action  of  San  Lorenzo  mani- 
fested the  advantages  of  the  sword  over  the  carbine 
or  pistol. 

After  the  victory  of  Tucuman,  General  Belgrano 
increased  his  numbers  to  about  two  thousand  troops, 
and  obtained  on  the  20th  February,  1813,  another 
signal  victory  over  Tristan,  who,  with  two  thousand 
men,  had  taken  refuge  in  the  town  of  Salta,  eighty- 
seven  leagues  to  the  north  of  Tucuman,  around  which 


CHAP.  III.  VICTOllY  OF  SALTA.  77 

they  had  thrown  up  some  hasty  breast-works,  and  in 
the  defence  of  which  the  Spanish  part  of  the  inhabit- 
ants assisted  the  royalist  troops  with  great  resolution. 

Belgrano  gallantly  attacked  the  royalists  in  their 
parapeted  hold.  They  lost  five  hundred  in  killed, 
and  the  patriots  three  hundred.  The  surviving 
royalists  were  all  made  prisoners. 

The  brilliant  success  of  Tucuman  and  Salta  were 
highly  creditable  to  the  patriots,  and  reflected  honour 
upon  the  bravery  of  the  undisciplined  supporters  of 
the  infant  republic.  But  Belgrano  marred  his  pro- 
spects by  his  confiding  magnanimity.  He  generously 
permitted  General  Tristan  to  return  to  Peru,  toge- 
ther with  his  officers  and  men,  upon  their  engaging, 
with  the  usual  solemnities,  not  to  bear  arms  against 
the  republic.  Forgetful  of  his  honour,  General  Tris- 
tan violated  his  parole,  and  the  archbishop  of  Charcas 
profaned  the  altar  of  God  by  pretending  to  absolve, 
with  the  ceremonies  of  the  Roman  catholic  church, 
Tristan  and  his  soldiers  from  the  performance  of 
their  sacred  pledge.  The  soldiers  followed  the  ex- 
ample of  their  more  guilty  chief,  and  incorporated 
themselves  with  the  royalist  army  of  General  Pezuela 
(afterwards  viceroy  of  Peru),  who,  having  by  these 
dishonourable  means  augmented  his  force  to  four 
thousand  men,  attacked  and  defeated  Belgrano,  who 
commanded  about  the  same  number,  at  Vilcapugio, 
between  Potosi  and  Oruro,  on  the  1st  October,  1813, 
and  again  at  Ayoma,  in  the  department  of  Cocha- 
bamba,  on  the  14th  November  following.  The  un- 
fortunate patriot  general  escaped  with  a  remnant  of 
Jus  force  to  Tucuman. 


78  GUERRILLA  CHIEFS.    -  CHAP.  Iff. 

The  guerrilla  leaders,  Warnes,  Camargo,  and  Pa- 
dilla,  remained  in  the  mountains  of  Upper  Peru,  and 
obtained  many  advantages  in  rencontres  with  royalist 
detachments. 

The  inhabitants  of  Cochabamba,  and  of  Santa  Crag 
de  la  Sierra,  and  the  Indians  of  Chayanta  and  of 
Yamparaes,  lost  no  opportunity  of  manifesting  their 
determined  hostility  to  the  Spaniards. 

On  the  Slst  December,  1813,  the  gobierno  supe- 
rior at  Buenos  Ayres  was  abolished,  and  Senor  Po- 
sadas was  elected  supreme  director,  with  a  council  of 
seven  individuals  to  assist  him. 

San  Martin  was  appointed  to  t|ie  command  of  the 
remains  of  the  army  of  Belgrano.  San  Martin  found 
only  five  hundred  and  seventy-seven  rank  and  file  at 
Tucuman,  but  in  March,  1814,  he  mustered  nearly 
four  thousand  men  of  all  arms,  and  a  train  of  four- 
teen pieces  of  artillery.  He  constructed  barracks 
a  mile  distant  from  the  town  of  Tucuman,  and  sur- 
rounded them  with  a  ditch  and  a  parapet,  in  order 
to  serve  not  only  as  a  point  ctappui,  but  also  to  guard 
against  the  desertion  of  the  gaucho  soldiery,  who, 
brought  up  with  notions  of  individual  independence, 
were  so  predisposed  to  disunite,  and  so  averse  to  re- 
straint, that  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  establish  a  dis- 
cipline incompatible  with  their  roving  mode  of  life. 

On  the  2Sth  May,  1814,  Colonel  Arenales  ob- 
tained some  advantage  over  the  royalists  in  the  pro- 
vinces of  Cochabamba.  Warnes  was  equally  success- 
ful in  the  Quebrada  of  Santa  Barbara  on  the  9th 
October  of  the  same  year. 

The  gauchos  of  Salta,  headed  by  the  brave  Guemes, 


CHAP.  III.  GUERRILLA  CHIEFS.  79 

cut  off  supplies  of  the  royalists  in  their  front.  Warnes, 
Padilla,  Munecas,  and  other  leaders*,  distressed  the 
royalist  rear,  and  ultimately  obliged  Fezuela  to  fall 
back  upon  Cotagaita. 

In  May,  1814,  San  Martin  was  obliged  to  remove 
to  the  Cordovese  mountains,  on  account  of  ill  health. 
This  was  unfortunate,  as  it  put  an  end  to  a  corre- 
spondence with  Colonel  Castro,  who  commanded  the 
royalist  vanguard  at  Salta,  and  was  afterwards  exe- 
cuted by  order  of  General  Fezuela,  in  consequence 
of  its  having  been  discovered  that  he  was  about  to 
excite  revolt  amongst  the  royalist  troops. 

On  San  Martin's  recovery  he  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  province  of  Cuyo*  which  henceforth 
became  an  extremely  interesting  point.  The  invasion 
of  Chile  by  sea  from  Peru,  by  the  Spanish  General 
Osorio,  was  then  threatened.  The  most  fatal  effects 
to  the  cause  of  independence  were  apprehended,  and 
these  fears  were  but  too  soon  realized  by  the  re-esta- 
blishment of  the  Spanish  dominion  throughout  Chile 
about  the  end  of  October,  1814.  . 

General  Rondeau  was  succeeded  by  Colonel  Alvear 
in  the  command  of  the  patriot  force  which  threatened 
Monte  Video  in  1814,  the  year  in  which  the  capture 
took  place  {20th  June),  and  which  was  rendered  less 
difficult  by  Captain  Brown,  of  the  Buenos  Ayrean 
flotilla,  having  gallantly  attacked  and4- destroyed,  on 
the  17th  of  May,  the  Spanish  naval  forces  in  the 
harbour,  which  were  very  superior  in  point  of  num- 
bers to  those  under  his  command.     Five  thousand 


•  Wames,  Padilla,  Munecas,  and  Guemes,  were  successively  slain  in  guerrilla 
warfare. 


80  ARTIGAS.  CHAP.  III. 

five  hundred  royalist  troops,  forming  the  garrison 
of  Monte  Video,  capitulated  to  Colonel  Alvear. 
Eleven  thousand  muskets,  a  complete  depdt  of  am- 
munition and  arms,  and  magazines  of  other  military 
stores,  were  delivered  up  to  the  patriots.  Artigas, 
as  chief  of  the  Banda  Oriental,  the  title  he  now 
assumed,  although  a  stanch  patriot,  was  in  open 
hostilities  with  Alvear.  He  demanded  possession 
of  Monte  Video,  which  was  refused.  The  Buenos 
Ayrean  General  Soler  was  appointed  governor  of  the 
captured  town,  against  whom  Artigas  carried  on  an 
active  war,  until  he  obliged  the  new  governor  to 
evacuate  the  place,  of  which  Artigas  immediately 
took  possession. 

The  extreme  folly  of  Posadas,  and  of  a  subsequent 
government,  in  proclaiming  Artigas  a  deserter,  and 
setting  a  price  upon  his  head,  excited  feelings  of  irre- 
concileable  hatred ;  and  from  this  epoch  all  attempts 
made  by  the  Buenos  Ayreans,  to  reduce  Artigas  to 
submission,  were  vain. 

Rondeau,  who  had  succeeded  San  Martin  in  the 
command  of  the  patriot  army  at  Tucuman,  made  an 
irruption  into  Upper  Peru  at  the  head  of  three  thou- 
sand five  hundred  men,  but  was  totally  defeated  by 
General  Pezuela,  with  equal  numbers,  on  the  28th 
of  November,  1815,  at  Sipe-Sipe  (between  Potosi 
and  Oruro),  and  afterwards  at  Viluma;  and  Upper 
Peru  again  fell  into  the  possession  of  the  Spaniards. 

Posadas  having  resigned  the  supreme  directorship 
(1815),  General  Alvear  was  elected  in  his  stead,  but 
was  soon  obliged  to  resign  and  fly  the  country.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Rondeau  on  the  16th  of  April, 


CHAP.  in.  BANDA  ORIENTAL.  81 

1816,  and  a  Junta  de  observation  was  substituted  in 
the  place  of  the  sovereign  constituent  assembly.  The 
first  object  of  the  junta  of  observation  and  of  the  new 
director  was  to  establish  a  national  congress,  fairly 
representing  the  whole  body  of  the  people,  and,  in 
order  to  do  away  with  provincial  jealousies  against 
Buenos  Ayres,  it  was  ordered  to  assemble  at  Tucu- 
man.  Accordingly  the  assembly  representative,  or 
general  constituent  qongress,  was  regularly  installed 
in  the  city  of  Tucuman  in  the  month  of  March,  1816. 
On  the  9th  of  July  it  declared  the  independence  of 
the  provinces  of  the  river  Plata.  General  Pueyrre- 
don  was  on  the  same  day  named  supreme  director  of 
the  republic.  He  had  distinguished  himself  in  the 
defence  of  Buenos  Ayres  against  the  British,  and 
served  in  Upper  Peru  against  the  royalists.  Con- 
gress was  afterwards  removed  to  Buenos  Ayres.  In 
the  same  year  Belgrano  was  re-appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  remnant  of  the  army  which  had 
escaped  from  Sipe-Sipe  and  Viluma.  He  displayed 
.great  activity  in  re-organizing  and  augmenting  that 
force. 

Several  attempts  had  been  made  by  the  house  of 
Braganza  to  encroach  upon  the  territories  of  its  Ar-. 
gentine*  neighbours,  but  they  were  frustrated.  The 
dissensions  between  Artigas  and  Buenos  Ayres  ap- 
peared to  remove  every  obstacle  to  the  success  of  an 
invading  force.  To  place  the  Brazilian  frontier  be- 
yond the  reach  of  anarchical  contagion  was  the  prer 
text  of  the  court  of  Rio  Janeiro  to  take  possession  of 

•  The  provinces  of  the  river  Plata  are  called  the  Argentine  provinces;  and 
the  inhabitants  Argentines. 

VOL.  I.  G 


8£  BELGBANO.  CHAP.  IIU 

the  Ban  da  Oriental,  because  it  was  pretended  that, 
in  becoming  independent  of  Spain,  the  province  .had 
been  the  prey  of  misrule  and  every  species  of  disorder. 
About  8000  Portuguese  and  Brazilian  troops,  under 
General  Lecor,  advanced  in  three  divisions :  one  by 
the  way  of  Santa  Teresa ;  the  second  by  the  way  of 
Cerro  Azul ;  the  third  proceeded  towards  the  river 
Uruguay.  After  suffering  much  in  repeated  akir* 
mishings  with  the  brave  gauchos,  General  Lecor 
entered  Monte  Video  on  the  19th  of  January,  1817* 
Abandoned  by  Buenos  Ayres,  the  Orientals  made  an 
heroic  desultory  defence.  National  hatred  became 
more  deeply  rancorous,  and  the  Portuguese  soon 
found  themselves  reduced  to  the  fortress  occupied 
by  their  garrison,  and  to  such  parts  of  the  country 
as  were  within  musket-shot  of  their  encampments.    . 

The  Buenos  Ayreans,  not  satisfied  with  remaining 
passive  spectators  of  the  contest  between  the  Bra* 
zilians  and  Artigas,  sent  two  expeditions  against  the 
latter,  which  Artigas  defeated  or  destroyed*. 

Within  a  year  after  resuming  the  command,  Bel* 
grano  had  upwards  of  4000  excellently  well-equipped 
troops  at  Tucuman ;  but  unfortunately  a  spirit  of 
anarchy  extended  to  the  principal  officers,  who  de- 
posed their  general,  and  spread  themselves  over  the 
provinces,  each  with  as  many  soldiers  as  he  could 
draw  over  to  himself.  By  such  means  they  usurped 
the  civil  and  military  administration  of  the  provinces, 
which  some  have  retained  to  this  time.     Thus  Bel- 

r 

*  Artigas  continued  hostile  to  Buenos  Ayres  and  Brazil  several  years  longer, 
but  having  afterwards  sustained  some  reverses  in  the  province  of  Entre-Rioa,  he 
sought  an  asylum  in  Paraguay.  He  was  placed  under  rigid  surveillance  by  Dr. 
Francia.    Artigas  died  in  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age  at  Candalaria,  in  1896. 


CHAP.  III.  BELGRANO.  83 

grano  saw  his  troops  dispersed  and  himself  made 
prisoner,  instead  of  leading  them  on  against  the 
Spaniards  in  Upper  Peru,  agreeably  to  the  combina- 
tions of  San  Martin. 

Belgrano  was  born  in  Buenos  Ayres,  of  Italian 
parents,  who  acquired  and  bequeathed  to  their  chil- 
dren a  considerable  property.  Don  Manuel  was 
educated  at  the  university  of  Salamanca.  On  his 
return  from  Spain,  he  was  appointed  secretary  to  the 
conmlado,  or  chamber  of  commerce;  a  situation 
which  brought  him  in  contact  with  the  commercial 
men,  at  that  time  the  most  important  class  in  Buenos 
Ayres.  The  mildness  of  Belgrano's  manners,  height- 
ened by  something  of  the  Italian  polish,  his  fondness 
for  music,  and  his  taste  for  the  belles  lettres,  ren- 
dered him,  in  early  life,  a  distinguished  member  of 
society. 

He  was  one  of  the  Buenos  Ayrean  literati  who 
wrote  in  periodical  works,  subject  to  a  censorship, 
the  object  of  which,  was  to  prepare  the  way  to  in- 
dependence, by  calling  forth  a  proper  spirit  in  the 
minds  of  the  Argentine  youth.  The  only  print- 
ing press  in  Buenos  Ayres  was  an  indifferent  one, 
formerly  belonging  to  the  Jesuits  of  Cordova,  sold 
in  1809  by  auction,  and  bought  by  a  patriotic  club 
formed  by  Moreno,  and  of  which  Belgrano  was  a  mem- 
ber. He  was  at  one  time  a  partisan  of  the  Princess 
Carlota  of  Portugal ;  but,  dubious  of  the  policy  of 
supporting  the  pretensions  of  the  sister  of  Ferdinand^ 
he  altered  his  plan,  and  dedicated  his  efforts  to  bring 
about  the  independence  of  his  country,  with  a  degree 

g  2 


84  BELGRANO.  CHAP.  III. 

of  disinterestedness  seldom  equalled.  His  relative 
Castelli ;  his  friend  Vietes ;  and  Don  Julian  Espinosa, 
who  were  likewise  favourable  to  the  claims  of  the 
Bourbon  princess,  also  veered  about.  Belgrano  dis- 
played considerable  ardour,  but  not  much  military 
capacity.  He  was  deficient  in  coolness,  and  he  had 
not  the  robustness  of  frame  necessary  to  undergo  the 
fatigue  of  a  harassing  campaign.  Nevertheless  he 
applied  himself  closely  to  the  study  of  tactics,  and 
established  strict  discipline.  He  was  temperate  at 
table,  and  indefatigable  in  his  duties,  but  he  had 
neither  the  experience,  nor  all  the  military  tact  ne- 
cessary to  success  in  a  general  officer.  He  gave  to 
his  country  two  days  of  glory  in  the  actions  of  Tu-r 
cuman  and  Salta,  and  many  of  mourning  for  those 
of  Vilcapugio  and  Ayoma. 

His  popularity  did  not  shield  him  from  persecution, 
which  was  sometimes  carried  to  an  unjust  extreme, 
but  his  mind  was  never  depressed.  He  continued 
to  labour  for  the  welfare  of  his  country  with  un? 
wearied  zeal,  being  persuaded  that,  unless  the  people 
were  enlightened  by  a  more  general  diffusion  of 
knowledge,  liberty  would  remain  an  empty  sound. 
Belgrano  was  one  of  the  most  liberal,  the  most  hu-. 
mane,  the  most  honourable,  and  the  most  disin- 
terested  men  that  South  America  has  produced.  His 
death,  in  1820,  was  justly  deplored  by  every  class.   . 

The  civil  dissensions  which  afflicted  Buenos  Ayres 
after  this  period  are  endless  and  uninteresting. 

The  intrigues  of  France  and  Austria  to  impose 
upon  the  Buenos  Ayreans  a  Bourbon  or  an  Austrian 


CHAP.  III.  PUMACAbUA.  85 

prince  were  defeated  by  the  good  sense  and  patriotism 
of  that  people,  notwithstanding  the  anarchy  which 
had  reduced  them  to  the  brink  of  destruction. 
.  In  Peru,  the  attention  of  the  viceroy  Abascal  had 
been  diverted  by  the  simultaneous  rising  of  the  In- 
dians in  the  provinces  of  Cuzco,  Huamanga,  and 
Arequipa.  As  the  declared  object  of  their  leader, 
Pumacagua,  was  to  establish  the  independence  of  the 
whole  country,  many  Creoles  flocked  to  his  standard; 
but  the  activity  of  General  Ramirez  soon  crushed 
the  efforts  of  these  unarmed  multitudes.  Amongst 
the  patriots  who  suffered  death  was  Melgar,  a  youth 
pf  twenty,  and  a  native  of  Arequipa.  He  was  the 
Moore  of  Peru,  and  composed  some  Yaravi  melo- 
dies of  which  the  author  of  Lallah  Rookh  might 
have  been  proud.  The  fate  of  Melgar  excited  uni- 
versal commiseration,  and  his  memory  is  cherished 
with  affectionate  respect.  His  life,  though  short, 
was  tinged  with  the  romance  of  ardent  but  hapless 
love.  A  beautiful  girl  refused  his  proposals  of  mar- 
riage, and  this  severe  disappointment  drew  from  his 
muse  those  plaintive  trtstes  which  are  still  sung  all 
over  the  country.  The  priest  appointed  to  attend 
Melgar  at  the  place  of  execution  appeared  to  be 
earnestly  exhorting  him,  when  the  prisoner  exclaimed 
aloud,  "  Holy  father,  this  is  not  the  moment  to  talk 
of  politics,  or  of  the  things  of  this  world.  I  came 
here  prepared,  but  you  have  disturbed  the  calm  of 
my  mind."  He  then  asked  the  officer  of  the  escort 
for  a  cigar.  This  was  given,  and  having  smoked 
about  half  of  it,  he  regained  his  composure ;  and 


86  LA  SERNA.  CHAF.  ni. 


coolly  announcing  that  he  was  ready,  he  met 
death  manfully. 

The  severity  of  the  numerous  punishments  *  which 
followed  produced  a  calm  which  lasted  until  the 
arrival  of  San  Martin  at  Pisco,  in  1820. 

Abascal  was  superseded  in  the  viceroyalty  of  Peru 
by  General  Pezuela,  who  made  his  public  entry  into 
Lima  on  the  7th  of  July,  1816.  The  king  of  Spain, 
at  the  same  time,  appointed  General  La  Serna  to 
relieve  Pezuela  in  the  command  of  the  army  of  Upper 
Peru.  La  Serna  arrived  from  Spain  in  the  Venganza, 
at  Arica,  on  the  7th  of  September,  1816.  Two  thou* 
sand  Spanish  troops  arrived  also  about  the  same  time* 
by  the  way  of  Panama,  and  round  Cape  Horn. 

La  Serna,  and  many  other  officers  who  had  also 
served  in  the  peninsular  war,  affected  a  superiority 
over  those  who  had  been  many  years  in  Peru,  and 
spoke  with  contempt  of  every  other  system  of  warfare 
except  that  which  had  been  so  successfully  practised 
in  the  mother  country.  La  Serna  introduced  so 
many  innovations  t  quite  inapplicable  to  Peru,  and 
his  correspondence  with  the  viceroy  betrayed  such 
an  anxiety  to  show  his  attainments  as  a  tactician, 
that  Pezuela,  as  well  as  the  generality  of  old  officers, 
were  disgusted  with  the  pedantry  of  pretensions  which 
soon  became  ridiculous  by  his  total  failure,  and  re- 
treat, before  a  few  irregularly-armed  gauchos* 

La  Serna  seems  to  have  formed  his  opinion  of  the 

*  Pumacagua  was  one  of  those  who  suffered  death. 

f  One,  however,  must  be  recorded  to  his  honour.  He  issued  an  order  that 
thenceforwards  no  officer  should  inflict  the  punishment  of  death  on  account  of 
political  opinions,  without  obtaining  his  previous  sanction. 


CSHAl*.  ill.  GAUCHOS  OF  JUJUY.  87 

practicability  of  marching  over  land  to  Buenos  Ay  res 
by  studying  the  map ;  for,  in  a  letter  dated  Arica, 
12th  of  September,  1816,  he  gravely  tells  the  viceroy 
that  he  purposed  to  take  Buenos  Ayres  in  the  month 
of  May  in  the  following  year ;  but  wisely  adds,  "  if 
topographical  and  political  difficulties  do  not  pre- 
vent it." 

.  La  Serna,  with  four  or  five  thousand  men,  pene- 
trated as  far  as  Sajta,  but  deemed  it  prudent  to  fall 
back  upon  Jujuy,  fourteen  leagues  to  the  northward 
on  the  Potosi  road.  Jujuy  is  a  straggling  place, 
about  half  a  league  in  extent,  and  contained  at  that 
time  a  population  of  about  three  thousand  souls.  The 
town  is  beautifully  situated  on  the  bank  of  a  river, 
which  flows  through  a  finely-wooded  valley.  It  is 
at  the  debouchement  of  the  valley  of  Jujuy  that  the 
town  is  situated,  and  is  the  first  on  the  Pampas  which 
the  traveller  comes  to  on  his  way  southward  from 
Potosi.      . 

t  La  Serna  could  penetrate  no  farther.  The  Spa- 
niards occupied  no  more  of  the  country  than  the 
ground  they  stood  upon;  or,  at  any  rate,  none  be- 
yond the  range  of  their  musketry.  They  were 
hemmed  in  by  about  as  many  hundred  gauchos,  as 
La  Serna  counted  thousands  of  regular  troops.  Some 
of  die  gauchos  were  armed  with  muskets ;  others 
with  swords,  carbines,  or  pistols ;  but  many  were 
only  provided  with  a  long  knife,  bolus,  and  the  lasso. 
A  small  round  hat,  a  shirt,  a  poncho,  breeches 
open  at  the  knees,  and  boots  made  of  raw  hide,  were 
the  only  articles  of  dress  commonly  worn  by  the  pea- 
santry.    These  gauchos  concealed  themselves  in  the 


88  GAUCHOS  OF  JUJUY.       CHAP.  III. 

depth  of  forests  in  the  day-time,  and  often  made  an 
attack  in  the  night  upon  the  royalist  quarters,  or 
outposts.  The  gauchos  outside  the  town  were  in 
constant  communication  with  the  inhabitants ;  many 
of  the  latter  would  join  in  nocturnal  surprises,  and 
be  found  at  home  by  daylight  next  morning.  It 
was  useless  for  La  Serna  to  send  out  strong  piquets* 
The  royalists  lost  so  many  men  in  this  way,  without 
ever  gaining  a  single  advantage,  that  they  were 
obliged  to  give  over  every  attempt  to  move  beyond 
the  outskirts  of  the  suburbs  in  pursuit. 

The  manner  in  which  the  gauchos  carried  on  their 
operations  was  as  follows :  They  kept  men  constantly 
on  the  highest  trees,  to  watch  every  movement  of 
the  royalists,  or  to  receive  communications  from 
friends  in  the  town.  Royalists  who  straggled  to  a 
small  distance  were  invariably  cut  off.  On  some  of 
the  trees  bells  were  hung;  and,  tolling  them,  the 
gauchos  would  call  out  to  the  Spaniards,  "  Come, 
Goths,  and  hear  mass."  From  other  trees,  drums 
were  suspended,  and  the  call  to  arms  beaten  ever 
and  anon ;  whilst,  in  others,  men  would  be  sounding 
bugles,  at  intervals,  both  day  and  night.  If  the 
royalists  approached,  the  gaucho  on  the  look-out 
would  glide  from  the  branches  like  a  squirrel,  vault 
into  the  saddle,  and,  watching  a  favourable  oppor- 
tunity, level  his  musket  or  pistol,  fire,  and  probably 
bring  down  a  royalist,  before  he  galloped  off  and 
dived  into  the  recesses  of  the  forest.  All  this  served 
to  intimidate  and  harass  the  Spaniards  to  an  amazing 
degree.  Numerous  desertions  took  place ;  supplies 
were  cut  off;  and  even  fuel  became  so  scarce,  that 


CHAP.  HI.      RETREAT  OF  LA  SERNA.  89 

the  rafters  and  other  wood-work  of  untenanted  houses 
were  made  use  of  for  the  purpose  of  cooking. 

La  Serna  himself  was  driven  to  desperation.  Foiled 
at  the  very  entrance  of  the  Pampas,  by  a  handful  of 
undisciplined  but  well-mounted  gauchos,  he  had  the 
additional  mortification  of  finding  all  his  vaunted 
plans  of  conducting  the  war  en  regie  inapplicable  to 
the  country  into  which  he  had,  with  so  much  pomp- 
ous parade,  endeavoured  to  introduce  them.  He 
was  finally  compelled  to  abandon  Jujuy  and  retire  to 
Cotagaita,  in  order  to  avoid  starvation. 


90  ARMY  OF  THE  ANDES.  CBAMT. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Army  of  the  Andes. — Royalist  forces  in  Chile. — Palaver  with 
the  Pehuenche  Indians. — Ninconyancu. — Father  Julian.—* 
Millyagin. — Savage  life. — Passage  of  the  Andes. 

It  has  already  been  stated,  that  General  San  Mar- 
tin had  been  appointed  governor  of  Cuyo,  where  he 
laboured  incessantly  to  raise  an  army.  This  force, 
which  assumed  the  denomination  of  the  army  of  the 
Andes,  had  for  its  nucleus  a  detachment  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  recruits  of  the  Buenos  Ayrean  bat- 
talion No.  8,  which  followed  San  Martin  to  Mendoza, 
soon  after  his  appointment  to  the  governorship  in 
the  month  of  September,  1814.  The  slender  re- 
sources of  the  provincial  government,  and  the  thinly 
sprinkled  population  of  fifty  thousand  souls  over  a 
vast  extent  of  pampa,  prevented  the  governor  form- 
ing an  army,  strong  enough  to  threaten  Chile,  in  a 
shorter  space  of  time  than  two  years.  Its  organiza- 
tion reflects  the  highest  credit  upon  the  tact,  talent, 
and  industry  of  San  Martin.  The  discipline  which 
he  established  showed  that  the  experience  he  acquired 
in  the  peninsular  war  had  given  system  and  efficacy 
to  those  natural  qualifications  which  fitted  him  so 
well  for  the  task.  His  popularity  is  evident  from 
the  alacrity  with  which  his  exertions  were  seconded 
by  the  inhabitants  of  the  province,  whose  patriotism 
and  cheerful   submission   to  great   sacrifices    were 


CHAP.  IV.  SAN  MARTIN.  91 

beyond  praise.  The  confidence  of  British  merchants 
at  Buenos  Ayres  was  also  conspicuous  in  the  readi- 
ness with  which  they  gave  credit  to  the  government 
for  supplies  intended  for  San  Martin.  He  was  beloved 
by  the  provincials,  and  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  of 
his  officers  and  men  to  a  degree  never  shown  to  any 
preceding  commander  in  that  part  of  the  world* 

San  Martin  having  received  from  Buenos  Ayres  a 
reinforcement  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  men  of  the 
battalion  No.  7,  and  two  hundred  of  the  regiment 
of  granader os  ti  caballo,  was  enabled,  in  the  middle 
of  the  year  1816,  to  form  at  Mendoza  about  four 
thousand  regular  troops,  tolerably  well  clothed  and 
armed,  besides  a  considerable  number  of  unarmed 
militia.  According  to  the  original  official  returns 
for  December,  1816,  still  in  the  possession  of  a  pa* 
triot  general,  the  royalist  force  in  Chile  under  the 
president,  Captain-General  Marco,  consisted  of  seven 
thousand  six  hundred  and  thirteen  regulars,  and  eight 
hundred  militia  The  latter  were  Led  and  pS, 
which  was  not  uniformly  the  case  with  the  militia. 
Notwithstanding  this'  disparity  offeree,  San  Martin 
determined  upon  making  the  attempt  to  liberate 
Chile,  and  he  was  the  more  anxious  to  commence  at 
once  offensive  operations,  as  some  symptoms  of  party 
spirit  had  been  shown  by  two  or  three  chiefs  of  the 
army. 

The  patriot  general  hoped  to  be  enabled  by  ruse  de 
guerre  to  cause  Marco  to  divide  his  forces.  For  this 
purpose,  when  every  preparation  to  march  was  nearly 
completed,  San  Martin  caused  a  conference  to  be 
held  with  the  Indians  of  Pehuenche,  for  the  ostensible 


92  PALAVER.  CHAP.  IV, 

object  of  soliciting  leave  to  inarch  unmolested  through 
their  territories,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  the 
Spaniards  from  the  pass  of  el  Planchon.     On  the 
day  before  that  fixed  upon  for  an  interview  with  the 
Indians,  San  Martin  caused  to  be  sent  to  the  fort  of 
San  Carlos,  on  the  river  Aguanda,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  goat-skins  of  aguardiente  or  grape  brandy, 
three  hundred  skins  of  wine,  a  great  number  of 
bridles,  spurs,  all  the  old  embroidered  or  laced  dresses, 
that  could,  with  great  diligence,  be  collected  in  the 
province,  hats,  handkerchiefs  of  an  ordinary  kind^ 
glass  beads,  dried  fruits,  &c.  &c.  &c.  for  presents; 
an  indispensable  preliminary  to  success  in  .any  Indian 
negotiation* 

At  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the of 

September,  1816,  the  caciques  approached  the  espla- 
nade in  front  of  the  fort,  with  all  the  pomp  of  savage 
life,  each  at  the  head  of  his  warriors;  their  wives 
and  children  bringing  up  the  rear*  Polygamy  being 
practised,  the  wives  were  very  numerous.  The  men 
wore  their  hair  unconfined  and  long;  their  bodies, 
naked  from  the  waist  upwards,  were  painted  with  dif- 
ferent colours.  Their  horses  were  also  stained  pre- 
cisely in  the  same  manner  as  when  they  go  to  war. 
In  fact,  it  was  the  fighting  costume  of  man  and  horse; 
Each  cacique  was  preceded  by  a  small  party  of  patriot 
cavalry,  sent  by  the  general  for  the  purpose  of  keep- 
ing up  an  irregular  fire  of  blank  cartridges  from  their 
pistols  as  the  tribe  advanced.  This  mode  of  usher- 
ing the  Indians  to  the  presence  of  Christians  is  a 
compliment  with  which  they  never  dispense.  As  the 
tribes  arrived  on  the  esplanade,  the  women  and  chil- 


CHAP.  IV.  INDIAN  SHAM  FIGHT.  98 

dren  filed  off,  and  took  their  station  on  one  side, 
without  dismounting.  When  all  the  tribes  had  ar- 
rived, the  warriors  of  one  tribe  commenced  a  sham 
fight,  during  which  they  kept  the  horses  at  full  speed, 
or  made  them  turn  on  their  hind  legs,  curvet,  caper, 
and  prance  about  in  the  most  extraordinary  manner. 
During  the  exhibition,  a  gun  was  fired  every  six 
minutes  from  the  fort.  The  Indians  answered  the 
salute  by  slapping  their  mouths,  and  making  the 
most  frightful  noises,  in  token  of  satisfaction.  This 
sort  of  tournament  lasted  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
for  each  tribe,  which  afterwards  retired  towards  the 
spot  occupied  by  the  women,  and  remained  on  horse- 
back, spectators  of  the  performance  of  the  other 
tribes,  which  exhibited  in  turn.  These  martial  exer- 
cises lasted  till  noon,  and  San  Martin's  escort  of  a 
troop  of  cavalry  and  two  hundred  militia  remained 
formed  on  the  parade  during  the  whole  time. 

The  prelude  to  business  being  over,  the  palaver 
commenced  in  the  place  d'arunes,  where  the  governor 
of  the  fort  had  provided  a  table  covered  with  the  cloth 
of  the  chapel  pulpit,  and  benches  for  the  caciques, 
and  war-captains,  who  were  the  only  persons  ad- 
mitted to  conference  with  the  general.  The  Indians 
outside  remained  formed  and  mounted,  keeping 
themselves  on  the  alert,  until  the  result  should  be 
made  known. 

„  Upon  arriving  at  the  place  d'armes,  the  chiefs 
took  their  seats  according  to  seniority ;  the  caciques 
first,  and  then  the  war-captains.  San  Martin,  the 
governor  of  the  fort,  and  the  interpreter,  placed 
themselves  on  a  bench  at  the  head  of  the  table.    The 


94  CONFERENCE.  CHAP.  IV; 

general,  as  a  matter  of  courtesy,  proposed  a  friendly 
glass  previous  to  proceeding  to  business ;  but  all  de* 
clined,  assigning  as  a  reason,  that  if  they  drank,  their 
heads  could  not  be  firm  to  give  proper  consideration 
to  the  matter  they  had  assembled  to  discuss*  The 
interpreter,  father  Julian,  a  Franciscan  friar,  an  Arau- 
canian  by  birth,  and  brought  up  by  a  Creole  family 
from  the  age  of  ten,  then  commenced  an  harangue; 
He  reminded  them  of  the  good  understanding  which 
had  subsisted  between  the  Pehuenche  Indians  and 
the  general  in  chief,  who  relied  with  confidence  upon 
a  continuation  of  the  harmony  so  happily  established, 
and  who  had  convened  them  in  solemn  palaver  to 
compliment  them  with  drink-offerings  and  gifts,  and 
to  request  that  the  patriot  army  might  be  permitted 
to  pass  through  the  Pehuenche  territory,  in  order 
to  attack  the  Spaniards,  who  were  strangers  in  the 
land,  and  whose  views  and  intentions  were' to  dis- 
possess them  of  their  pastures,  rob  them  of  their 
cattle,  carry  off  their  wives  and  children,  &c.  &c. 

A  dead  silence  followed :  these  painted  savages, 
wrapped  up  in  profound  meditation  for  a  quarter 
of  an  hour,  presented  a  picture  truly  striking.  At 
length  the  senior  cacique,  named  Ninconyancu,  broke 
silence.  He  was  nearly  eighty  years  of  age,  his  hair 
was  snow-white,  and  his  appearance  venerable  in 
the  extreme.  Directing  his  discourse  to  his  brother 
chiefs,  he  calmly  asked  if  they  were  of  opinion  that 
the  proposals  just  made  by  the  Christians  ought  or 
ought  not  to  be  accepted.  The  debate  which  fol- 
lowed was  carried  on  in  a  manner  exceedingly  in- 
teresting.     Each  chief 'in  his  proper  turn  declared 


CHAP.  IV.      INDIANS  DISARM  THEMSELVES.  95 

his  sentiments  with  the  utmost  tranquillity,  and  with-' 
out  the  slightest  interruption,  or  sign  of  impatience, 
from  the  rest.  Having  agreed  upon  the  answer  pro- 
per to  be  given,  Ninconyancu  addressed  himself  to 
the  general,  and  informed  him  that  the  Pehuenches, 
with  the  exception  of  three  caciques,  whom  the  rest 
knew  how  to  restrain,  accepted  his  proposals.  AH 
then  rose  from  their  seats,  except  the  three  caciques, 
who  did  not  concur  in  opinion  with  the  majority, 
and,  in  testimony  of  their  sincerity,  embraced  th$ 
general.  Without  losing  a  moment,  the  cacique  Mil* 
lyagin  stepped  out,  and  communicated  to  the  Indians 
on  the  esplanade,  that  the  proposals  of  the  Christians 
were  such  as  could  be  accepted.  They  instantly  un- 
saddled, and  delivered  their  horses  to  the  militia  to 
turn  them  out  to  feed.  They  next  proceeded  to  de- 
posit their  lances,  hatchets,  and  knives  (the  arms  of 
the  Pehuenches),  in  a  barrack-room,  not  to  be  re- 
turned till  after  the  conclusion  of  the  revels  which 
invariably  follow  a  palaver. 

The  voluntary  surrender  of  their  arms  into  the 
hands  of  their  natural  enemies  is  an  extraordinary 
trait  in  the  Indian  character.  The  motive  is  to  avoid 
bloodshed  amongst  themselves  during  the  dreadful 
intoxication  which  forms  an  essential  part  of  the 
ceremony  of  every  palaver.  The  blind  confidence 
with  which  they  disarm  themselves  shows  the  ele- 
vated notions  they  entertain  of  the  sacred  rites  of 
hospitality,  and  a  consciousness  of  the  necessity  of 
rendering  themselves  comparatively  harmless  during 
the  maddening  influence  of  excessive  drinking.    The 


96  PREPARATIONS.  CHAP.  IV. 

solicitude  of  the  women  to  remove  weapons  at  such 
times  is  highly  interesting. 

Having  lodged  their  arms  in  the  fort,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  the  corral,  or  cattle-pen,  where  some  mares 
had  been  shut  up  for  slaughter.  They  trip  up  the 
animal  by  means  of  the  lasso;  tie  its  feet  together, 
as  butchers  in  England  do  those  of  sheep;  and  then 
open  a  vein  in  the  neck,  whence  they  sometimes  suck 
the  blood,  in  which  operation  the  women  and  chil- 
dren take  precedence.  The  carcass  is  cut  up  and 
roasted,  which  is  done  very  quickly.  The  skins  are 
carefully  preserved,  and  formed  into  reservoirs  in  the 
following  manner.  An  excavation,  two  feet  deep 
and  four  or  five  in  circumference,  is  made  in  the 
ground;  the  fresh  skin  is  then  placed,  with  the  hair, 
undermost,  in  the  concavity,  and  fastened  round  the 
brim  by  wooden  pegs.  Into  this  skin-lined  cistern 
wine  and  brandy  are  indiscriminately  poured.  Six- 
teen or  eighteen  men  squat  themselves  around  these 
wells,  the  number  which  are  of  course  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  people.  The  women  did  not  com- 
mence their  carousings,  which  were  held  apart,  until 
sunset,  when  they  seated  themselves  around  similar 
reservoirs  filled  with  the  same  mixture.  From  mo- 
tives of  delicacy,  which  cannot  but  be  admired,  four 
or  five  females  of  each  tribe  abstained  from  drink 
altogether,  in  order  to  keep  watch  over  their  com- 
panions when  reason  had  taken  its  flight. 

The  scene  which  next  presented  itself  was  sin- 
gularly novel.  Two  thousand  persons,  including 
women  and  children,  were  seated  in  circles  upon 


CHAP.  iv.  DRUNKEN   SCENE.  97 

the  esplanade.  One  of  the  first  subjects  of  con- 
versation was  their  own  feats,  or  the  deeds  of  their 
ancestors.  Some  were  affected  to  weeping  in  re- 
lating family  history.  As  soon  as  the  liquor  exer- 
cised its  influence  all  talked  together,  and  shouted, 
and  yelled  with  deafening  din.  Quarrels  ensued, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  and  many  fought,  when,  in 
the  absence  of  weapons,  they  bit  and  kicked  each 
other,  and  tore  out  hair  by  handfuls.  The  uproar 
amongst  the  men,  the  vociferation,  the  laughing,  and 
the  shrieks  of  the  women,  and  the  squalling  of  in- 
fant children,  formed  altogether  a  combination  of 
discords  that  must  be  left  for  the  imagination  to 
conceive.  Small  parties  of  the  patriot  militia,  placed 
on  duty  for  that  purpose,  were  kept  in  full  employ 
in  separating  combatants.  Towards  midnight  the 
revels  subsided  into  the  silence  of  the  grave.  Men 
and  women  were  stretched  upon  the  ground  as  if  in 
a  lethargy,  or  in  the  arms  of  death,  except  a  very 
few  who  still  retained  the  power  to  crawl  or  roll  a 
few  paces ;  but  the  greater  part  were  perfectly  mo- 
tionless. The  horrid  carousal  was  kept  up  in  the 
same  style  for  three  successive  days,  that  is,  until  the 
last  drop  of  liquor  was  exhausted.  In  consequence 
of  the  precautions  of  San  Martin,  the.casualties  were 
unusually  few.  Only  two  men  and  one  woman  were 
killed  in  the  course  of  the  entertainment;  a  very 
trifling  loss  of  life,  when  it  is  considered  that  for 
such  occasions  it  is  the  custom  to  treasure  up  the 
memory  of  old  quarrels,  and  endeavour  to  take  ample 
vengeance.  In  negotiations  with  Indians  it  is  im- 
possible to  avoid  contributing  to  excesses,  because  a 

VOL.  i.  h 


98  EXCHANGE  OF  PRESENTS.  CHAP.  IY. 

stinted  supply  of  liquor  is  construed  into  an  insult 
never  to  be  forgiven. 

A  day  was  set  apart  for  the  exchange  of  gifts. 
Each  cacique  presented  the  general  with  a  poncho, 
the  manufacture  of  his  wives.  The  poncho  is  an 
upper  garment  in  universal  use  amongst  the  men  of 
all  ranks  throughout  South  America.  It  is  an  ob-» 
long  piece  of  woollen  or  cotton ;  a  sort  of  scarf  with 
a  slit  in  the  centre,  through  which  the  head  passes, 
and  the  drapery  falls  from  the  shoulders  behind  and 
before  near  to  the  ankle,  and  on  each  side  to  the 
elbow,  leaving  the  arms  in  perfect  liberty.  A  short 
poncho  which  reaches  below  the  waist  is  equally  com- 
mon, and  is  usually  worn  in-doors.  Some  of  the 
ponchos  accepted  by  the  general  were  by  no  means 
contemptible  as  specimens  of  native  manufacture, 
particularly  in  the  liveliness  of  the  pattern,  and  the 
permanence  of  the  colours.  What  the  Indians  ap- 
peared to  prize  most  highly  of  the  gifts  they  received 
were  the  hats,  and  the  embroidered  or  lace  dresses, 
which  were  put  on  and  worn  the  instant  they  came 
into  their  possession. 

The  distribution  of  presents  was  made  on  the  fourth 
day,  and  rendered  it  the  most  fatiguing  of  the  whole 
period.  Those  who  know  the  unscrupulous  and  ha- 
rassing importunity  of  the  Indian  character  can  alone 
form  an  idea  of  the  manner  in  which  the  general  was 
besieged  without  the  respite  of  a  moment. 

On  the  sixth  day,  San  Martin  received  despatches 
from  General  Pueyrredon,  who  was  marching  from 
Salta  to  Cordova,  where  San  Martin  proceeded  to 
meet  him. 


CftAP.  IV.  A  PIOUS  FRAUD.  99 

The  commandant  of  the  fort  of  San  Carlos  was 
charged  to  do  the  honours  of  the  palaver  until  it 
should  be  over.  The  Pehuenches  remained  at  San 
Carlos  eight  days  longer,  on  account  of  some  dealers 
having  appeared  from  Mendoza  with  spirits,  and  bar- 
tered them  away  for  most  of  the  presents  which  the 
Indians  had  received  from  San  Martin.  The  Pe- 
huenches departed  at  the  end  of  a  fortnight,  so 
ftighly  gratified  by  the  entertainment,  that  they  de- 
clared that  such  a  splendid  palaver  was  not  known 
in  the  annals  of  tradition. 

A  circumstance  occurred  which  proved  the  exist- 
ence of  the  custom  of  bathing  immediately  after 
child-birth,  which  had  been  spoken  of,  but  doubted. 
The  accouchement  of  an  Indian  woman  took  place 
two  days  after  her  arrival.  Accompanied  by  two 
women  of  her  tribe,  she  immediately  took  a  bath 
in  the  river,  and,  with  her  new-born  son,  remained 
in  the  water  for  a  considerable  time.  A  few  days 
after  her  delivery  she  set  out  with  the  party  upon 
their  return  to  their  own  country,  in  the  full  en- 
joyment of  health  and  strength.  The  zealous  friar, 
Father  Julian,  did  not  lose  this  opportunity  of  res- 
cuing, by  a  pious  stratagem,  the  soul  of  the  babe 
from  the  "  talons  of  Satan."  Under  pretence  of  ex- 
hibiting the  child  to  his  companions,  he  baptized  it 
in  the  general's  apartment,  and  prevailed  upon  his 
excellency  to  become  godfather. 

The  Pehuenches  are  separated  from  the  Arauca- 
nians  by  the  cordillera  of  the  Andes.  The  men  are 
of  lofty  stature,  of  muscular  frame,  and  have  a  lively 
expressive  countenance.      Their  population  is  esti- 


100  SAVAGE  LIFE.  CHAP.  IT. 

mated  at  from  twelve  to  fourteen  thousand,  which  is 
far  below  what  it  used  to  be,  before  the  small-pox 
and  a  more  loathsome  disease  made  such  dreadful 
ravages  amongst  them.  They  do  not  appear  to  have 
any  object  of  adoration,  or  to  observe  any  form  of 
worship.  They  occupy  the  territory  which  lies  at 
the  foot  of  the  eastern  side  of  the  Andes,  and  ex- 
tends one  hundred  and  twenty  leagues  from  the  right 
or  south  bank  of  the  river  Diamante,  which  forms 
the  southern  boundary  of  the  provinoe  of  Cuyo. 
They  are  accounted  the  most  courageous  people  of 
the  pampas,  and  are  often  engaged  in  warfare  with 
the  neighbouring  Indian  nations.  They  never  give 
quarter  excepting  to  women  and  children,  who  are 
carried  into  captivity.  It  is  remarkable  that  kid- 
napped whites  or  Creoles  do  not  always  avail  them- 
selves of  opportunities  to  return  to  civilized  society. 
There  seem  to  be  pleasures  in  savage  life,  which 
those  who  have  once  tasted  seldom  wish  to  exchange 
for  the  charms  of  more  polished  intercourse.  For 
example,  a  Creole  boy  was  carried  off  at  the  age  of 
thirteen ;  at  twenty-six  he  returned  to  Buenos  Ayres 
on  some  speculation  of  barter.  He  said,  that  who- 
ever had  lived  upon  horse-flesh  would  never  eat  beef, 
unless  driven  by  necessity  or  hunger;  he  described 
the  flesh  of  a  colt  to  be  the  most  delicately  flavoured 
of  all  viands.  Having  transacted  the  business  which 
led  him  to  Buenos  Ayres,  he  voluntarily  returned  to 
his  favourite  haunts,  and  is  probably  living  amongst 
the  Indians  to  this  day. 

In  the  year  1784,  a  rich  landed  proprietor  of  Cor- 
dova repaired  with  his  family  to  one  of  his  most  di- 


CHAP.  IV.  SAVAGE  LIFE.  '.--;*..-        101 

stant  haciendas  for  the  purpose  of  superintending- the 
marking  of  his  cattle.  The  peasantry,  far  and  h&sr, 
had  collected  to  assist  him.  Whilst  he  was  one  day 
occupied  in  this  important  operation  at  a  consider- 
able distance  from  the  house,  a  horde  of  Indians  sud- 
denly pounced  upon  his  family  and  domestics,  who 
had  remained  at  home ;  killed  all  the  males ;  plundered 
the  house ;  and  carried  off  the  females.  Amongst 
these  were  two  lovely  girls,  daughters  of  the  pro- 
prietor, one  of  thirteen,  the  other  of  fifteen  years  of 
age.  After  a  lapse  of  three  years  a  truce  was  con- 
cluded with  these  Indians,  one  of  the  stipulations 
being,  that  the  captured  females  should  be  ransomed. 
The  father  set  out  with  stores  of  bridles,  spurs,  and 
other  articles,  to  redeem  his  daughters.  One  of  them 
had  become  the  mother  of  an  only  daughter,  and  the 
other  of  three  sons.  The  Indians  felt  themselves 
bound  to  restore  the  women,  but  it  was  considered 
a  point  of  honour  not  to  give  up  the  children.  They 
were  accordingly  left;  the  daughters  accompanied 
their  father  home,  and  nothing  that  wealth  could 
procure  was  spared  to  render  them  happy.  Three 
years  subsequent  to  this  transaction  the  family  re- 
visited the  estate  which  had  been  the  scene  of  their 
misfortune.  Whether  this  awakened  maternal  and 
conjugal  affection,  or  that  an  attachment  to  savage 
life  once  indulged  becomes  uncontrollable*  the  very 
first  night  of  their  arrival  at  the  hacienda,  the  ladies, 
instead  of  retiring  to  their  apartments,  persuaded  a 
servant  to  saddle  a  couple  of  their  father's  horses,  and 
to  attend  them  to  the  Indian  frontier.  The  horses 
were  missed  at  daybreak,  but  it  excited  no  particular 


102       .  :;  /  PEHUENCHE  MANNERS.  CHAP.  jv. 

alarai,.  in  consequence  of  its  being  attributed  to  rob- 
bed "  But  the  ladies  being  sought  for  at  the  hour 

foFBreakfast,  it  was  discovered  that  their  beds  had 

*•  -  • 

been  unoccupied  the  previous  night.  The  truth  ia-» 
stantly  darted  upon  the  father's  mind ;  his  fleetest 
horses  were  immediately  prepared,  and  an  ample  relay 
driven  before  the  pursuers ;  but  notwithstanding  the 
speed  with  which  they  travelled,  they  did  not  over- 
take the  fair  fugitives  until  the  third  day.  The  dis- 
tracted father  compelled  them  to  return,  and  they 
have  since  passed  their  days  at  Cordova,  vainly  sighing 
to  rejoin  their  husbands  and  children,  and  regretting 
the  enjoyments  of  what  civilized  people  haughtily  de- 
nominate savage  life.  This  anecdote  was  recounted 
to  the  author  by  General  San  Martin,  who  was  per- 
sonally acquainted  with  the  ladies. 

Hospitality  is  the  virtue  in  highest  repute  amongst 
the  Pehuenches.  Revenge  their  cherished  and  pre- 
dominating vice.  Their  indolence  is  such,  that  they 
pass  the  greater  part  of  their  lives  stretched  out  on 
the  ground  drinking  a  fermented  liquor  made  frpm 
wild  fruits.  Agriculture  is  not  known  amongst  t^iem ; 
they  subsist  upon  horse-flesh  and  wild  fruits*.  Their 
wives,  in  addition  to  domestic  labours,  attend  to  tft$ 
horses,  take  and  fetch  them  to  and  frpjn  pasture,  and 
saddle  them  for  their  husbands.  Their  intervals  of 
leisure  are  occupied  in  spinning  and  weaving  ponchos, 
which  their  husbands  convey  to  Mendoza,  and  barter 
for  liquor,  dried  fruits,  &c.  They  lead  a  wandering 
life,  and  change  of  abode  is  regulated  by  the  sufe 

*  The  kernel  of  the  araucaria  is  called  pehuen,  or  peguen,  and  gives  its  name 
to  the  tribe. 


CHAP.  IV.  PASSES  OF  THE  ANI>ES.  103 

ficiency  of  pasturage  for  their  numerous  cavcdladas, 
or  droves  of  horses.  They  are  bold,  skilful  riders, 
and  they  move  individually,  or  in  a  body,  with  in- 
credible rapidity.  An  Indian  drives  ten  or  a  dozen 
spare  horses  before  him,  and  changes  on  the  road  as 
occasion  may  require :  the  horses  are  so  docile  and 
so  well  trained,  that  oftentimes,  when  called  by  name, 
one  will  come  from  pasture  at  the  sound  of  his  master's 
voice,  and  quietly  suffer  the  lasso  to  be  thrown  over 
his  head. 

During  the  revolution  the  Pehuenches  observed  a 
strict  neutrality,  notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  the 
Spanish  authorities  to  seduce  them  to  act  against  the 
patriots,  who,  on  their  part,  took  care  to  encourage 
this  pacific  conduct  by  seasonable  presents  to  the 
most  influential  of  the  caciques.  It  cannot,  however, 
be  supposed  that  they  were  well  inclined  towards 
either  party;  and,  as  San  Martin  foresaw,  they  soon 
sold  the  secret  (that  the  patriots  intended  to  invade 
Chile  by  the  southern  passes)  to  Captain-General 
Marco,  who  instantly  divided  his  forces  by  trans- 
ferring the  greater  part  from  the  north  to  Talca 
and  San  Fernando,  in  the  full  conviction  that  Chile 
would  receive  the  first  blow  from  one  of  the  southern 
passes  of  the  Andes.  He  was  strengthened  in  this 
opinion  by  knowing,  that  these  passes  are  less  dif- 
ficult of  access,  and  that  they  occasionally  furnish 
pasturage,  of  which  the  passes  more  to  the  north 
are  totally  destitute.  To  keep  up  the  illusion,  San 
Martin  sent  guerrillas  to  make  demonstrations  towards 
the  south  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Cordillera. 

The  known  practicable  passes,  in  a  length  of  a 


104         PATRIOTS  MARCH  FROM  MENDOZA.     CHAP.  IT. 

hundred  and  forty  leagues  of  the  ridge  of  mountains 
which  wall  in  Chile,  on  the  eastern  side,  are  six. 
Beginning  with  the  northern,  they  are  as  follows : 

La  Rioja,  which  debouches  into  the  province  of 
Coquimbo;  Los  Patos,  which  debouches  into  the 
valley  of  Putaendo;  Uspallata  into  the  valley  of 
Aconcagua;  El  Portillo*  into  the  valley  of  San 
Gabriel,  near  to  the  capital  >  Las  Daraas  into  the 
valley  of  Colchagita ;  and  £1  Planchon  Into  the  valley 
of  Talca. 

The  obstructions  which  nature  has  raised  to  im- 
pede the  passage  of  a  numerous  body  of  men  over  the 
mighty  barrier  of  the  Andes,  are  not  easily  conceived 
but  by  those  who  have  crossed  these  stupendous 
ridges.  A  novel  kind  of  warfare  might  be  carried  on 
by  means  of  a  few  men,  who  could  be  made  to  defy 
the  utmost  efforts  of  a  numerous  army.  Supported 
by  a  few  rude  field-works,  they  might  prevent  the 
strongest  division  from  advancing ;  and,  taking  a 
circuitous  route,  might  gain  the  rear,  and,  by  similar 
works,  hem  in  an  invading  column  amongst  horrid 
defiles  and  mountainous  wildernesses,  whence  not  a 
man  could  escape. 

At  length  the  patriot  army  broke  up  its  canton* 
ments,  and  marched  from  Mendoza  on  the  17th 
January,  X817.  As  it  defiled  into  the  gorges  of  the 
Andes,  the  sedate  but  warm-hearted  Mendozinos  took 
a  most  affectionate  farewell  of  the  departing  warriors. 
It  consisted  of  the  following  corps : 

*  Whilst  the  army  of  the  Andes  was  at  Mendoza,  Captain,  now  Colonel 
O'Brien  was  stationed  at  the  Portillo  with  thirty  men:  eleven  died  in  con*, 
sequence  of  the  severity  of  the  weather.  The  colonel  remained  there  for  six 
months. 


CHAP.  IV.  THEIR  FORCE.  105 

Battalion  No.  7*  Lieutenant-Colonel  Conde. 
Battalion  No.  8,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cramner. 
Battalion  No.  11,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Las  Heras. 
Cazadores,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Alvarado. 
Regiment  of  granaderos  d  caballo,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Sapiola. 

TRANSLATION  OF  A  RETURN, 

Showing  the  number  of  men,  of  horses,  and  of  saddle  and  baggage 
mules,  which  composed  the  army  of  the  Andes,  that  marched  from 
Mendoza  to  Chile  in  1817* 

iforses.  Mules. 

Saddle.    Baggage. 
2800  infantry,  one  mule  to  each  man, 

and  one  extra  mule  to  every  fifth  man  3360        150 

200  chiefs  and  officers  of  infantry,  three 
saddle  mules  for  every  two  offieers,  one 
baggage  mule  for  every  two  officers,  two 
baggage  mules  for  every  chief      -        -  300         140 

900  cavalry  and  artillery,  three  saddle 
mules  for  every  two  men,  including  five 
baggage  mules  per  company  -        -  1350  60 

60  chiefs  and  officers  of  cavalry  and 
artillery  in  the  same  proportion  as  that 
allowed  to  infantry    '  - 

Staff 

Hospital  and  hospital-attendants 

Company  of  artificers  with  their  tools 

120  workmen  with  implements  to 
render  the  mountain  tracks  passable      -  180  10 

1200  militia  in  charge  of  spare  mules 
and  the  transport  of  artillery        -        -  1800 

Provisions  for  fifteen  days  for  five 
thousand  two  hundred  men  -        -  510 

113  loads  of  wine,  the  rations  being  a 
bottle  per  day  each  man       -  113 

Train  conducting  a  cable  bridge, 
grapples,  &c.      -----  65 


90 

40 

71 

46 

47 

75 

74 

30 

106         MANNER  OF  CROSSING  THE  ANDES.     CHAP,  IV. 

Hones.  Mule* 

Saddle.    Baggage. 
Field-train  of  artillery,  one  hundred 

and  ten  rounds  per  gun,  500,000  musket- 
ball-cartridges,  180  loads  of  spare  arms  87        683 

Spare    horses    for    cavalry    and    ar- 
tillery         1600 

1600   7859   1922 

This  does  not  include  the  division  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Freyre  of  three  hundred  and  eighty  men,  or  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Lemus  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  men,  who  crossed  the 
Andes  by  the  pass  of  the  Portillo,  taking  with  them  a  thousand 
and  twenty  mules. 

The  provisions  consisted  of  jerked  beef,  highly  seasoned  with 
capsicum,  &c.  &c.  toasted  Indian  corn,  biscuit,  cheese,  and  a 
great  quantity  of  onions  and  garlic.  The  latter  was  indispen- 
sable to  provide  against  the  puna  or  soroche.  [Note  by  the 
translator.  When  animals  are  affected  with  the  soroche,  their 
nostrils'  are  rubbed  with  garlic.]] 

The  most  serious  difficulties  encountered  consisted 
in  the  time  and  labour  expended  in  making  moun- 
tain paths  transitable ;  in  the  want  of  fuel ;  and  in 
the  nature  of  the  climate.  Out  of  nine  thousand  two 
hundred  and  eighty-one  mules  and  one  thousand  six 
hundred  horses,  which  left  Mendo&t  with  the  troops, 
not  more  than  four  thousand  three  hundred  mules 
and-  five  hundred  horses  arrived  in  Chile,  in  spite  of 
every  precaution  that  the  keenest  ingenuity  could 
devise.  Five  hundred  of  the  militia  were  told  off  to 
convey  the  howitzers  and  field-pieces  of  artillery, 
under  the  superintendence  of  the  praiseworthy  and 
indefatigable  Friar  Beltran,  who,  abandoning  his  cell* 
became  an  officer  of  artillery.  Where  the  ground 
was  comparatively  good, -each  piece  of  ordnance  was 


CHAP.  IV.    MANNER  OF  CROSSING  THE  ANDES.         107 

carried  between  two  mules,  by  means  of  a  pole  or  bar 
fastened  "  fore,  and  aft"  to  a  pack-saddle  on  each 
mule;  the  gun  was  suspended  from  the  pole,  and 
hung  in  an  horizontal  position,  about  two  feet  from 
the  ground,  between  the  tail  of  the  foremost  and  nose 
of  the  hindmost  mule.  Sometimes  it  was  carried  on 
the  shoulders,  and  sometimes  in  the  arms  of  the  mi- 
litia-men; at  other  times  dragged  up  and  lowered 
down  declivities  by  means  of  ropes.  The  cabrestante 
(a  sort  of  portable  capstan)  was  also  occasionally  used 
to  assist  in  raising  the  gun,  or  to  steady  it  in  the  de- 
scent. SorraSy  a  sort  of  narrow  sledges  constructed 
of  dried  bull-hides,  were  frequently  made  to  serve  as 
carriages.  Seven  hundred  oxen  formed  a  part  of  the 
provision  for  fifteen  days.  To  provide  against  starva- 
tion, in  the  event  of  defeat,  provisions  were  left  in 
depot  at  about  every  twelfth  league,  in  charge  of  a 
small  militia  guard. 

Between  the  town  of  Mendoza  and  Chile  five  prin- 
cipal ridges  run  north  and  south,  besides  innumerable 
colossal  ramifications.  The  intense  cold  on  the  sum- 
mits killed  many  men ;  nearly  the  whole  army  was 
affected  in  the  course  of  the  march  with  the  puna, 
or  a  difficulty  of  respiration,  and  numbers  died  in 
consequence.  Every  step  the  patriots  took  convinced 
the  least  reflecting,  that  the  obstacles  already  over- 
come were  of  a  nature  that  left  not  a  ray  of  hope  that 
a  retreat  would  be  practicable,  if  they  were  beaten  in 
the  field ;  but,  instead  of  despondency,  a  spirit  of  union 
pervaded  all,  and  they  marched  full  of  confidence, 
each  corps  emulating  the  rest  in  enduring  submission 


108         MANNER  OF  CROSSING  THE  ANDES.     CHAP.  IT. 

to  hardships  of  no  common  severity.  Hence  the 
successful  day  of  Chacabuco,  that  placed  nearly  all 
Chile  in  the  hands  of  the  patriot  party.  But  before 
entering  into  the  details  of  that  decisive  affair,  we  will 
give  some  account  of  the  events  which  characterized 
the  revolution  of  Chile. 


CHAP.  V.  CHILE  IN  1810.  109 


CHAPTER  V. 

Chile  in  1810. — Figueroa. — Carreras. — Pareja. — Yerbas-Bu- 
enas. — Chilian. — Sanchez.  — O'Higgins. — Mackenna. — Mem- 
brillar. — Gainza. — Talca. — Dissensions. — Breach  of  faith  of 
the  royalists. — Desperate  defence  of  Rancagua. — Patriots 
emigrate. — Sambruno. — Osorio. — Exiles  of  Juan  Fernandez. 
— Rodriguez. — Freyre. — Army  of  the  Andes. — Soler. — Mar- 
tinez. — Necochea. — Chacabuco.  —  Supreme  director. — San 
Martin.  — Talcahuano.  —  Las  Heras.  —  Quintana.  —  Patriot 
army. — Commodore  Bowles. 

Chile  continued  tranquil  under  Spanish  misrule 
until  the  18th  of  July,  1810.  On  that  day  the  Cap- 
tain-General  Carrasco  was  displaced,  and  the  Count 
de  la  Conquista  appointed  in  his  stead.  During  the 
administration  of  the  latter,  the  plan  of  the  revolution 
was  formed.  The  Seiior  Alvarez  de  Jonte,  highly 
distinguished  for  talent  and  patriotism,  was  power- 
fully instrumental  in  bringing  about  this  change,  to 
promote  which  he  was  sent  expressly  from  Buenos 
Ayres  by  the  junta  gubernativa* . 

On  the  18th  of  September,  1810,  a  junta  of  go- 
vernment, composed  of  Seven  of  the  most  distinguished 
citizens  of  the  capital,  was  established  in  Santiago  de 
Chile.  Its  authority  was  instantly  acknowledged  by 
the  provinces  with  every  demonstration  of  joy.     To 

*  Alvarez  de  Jonte  resided  some  time  in  London.  He  accompanied  Lord 
Cochrane  to  Chile,  and  was  employed  as  secretary  in  one  of  the  cruises  to  the 
coast  of  Peru.  He  afterwards  sailed  from  Valparaiso  as  judge-advocate  to  the 
liberating  army.  He  died  at  Pisco.  The  government  of  Peru  granted  a  pension 
to  his  children. 


110  CHILENO  UNANIMITY.  CHAP.  V. 

the  general  causes  which  gave  birth  to  the  revolution 
of  Spanish  America,  may  be  added  some  incidental 
events  which  distinguished  the  early  efforts  for  eman- 
cipation in  Chile  from  those  of  every  other  state. 
One  of  the  most  striking  peculiarities  was  the  per- 
fect unanimity  which  pervaded  all  classes.  Here  the 
highest  ranks  of  society  stood  foremost  in  promoting 
a  change.  In  other  states,  numbers  of  the  correspond- 
ing rank  either  hesitated,  or  were  so  much  interested 
in  the  preservation  of  the  old  regime,  that  they  did 
not,  as  a  body,  join  the  people  until  the  cause  was 
pretty  firmly  established,  and  it  became  comparatively 
safe  for  them  to  change  sides.  In  Chile,  the  humbler 
classes  retained  their  habits  .of  passive  obedience 
longest,  andjollowed  instead  of  taking  the  lead ;  but 
unanimity  was  the  grand  characteristic  of  the  blood- 
less revolution  of  1810. 

The  sovereignty  of  Ferdinand  VII.  was  acknow- 
ledged by  the  junta.  The  coinage  continued  to  bear 
his  effigy,  and,  notwithstanding  a  very  general  desire 
to  declare  for  independence,  the  communication  with 
the  viceroy  of  Lima  was  preserved  according  to .  the 
forms  of  the  old  routine. 

The  tribunal  of  the  real  audiencia  remained  in 
full  exercise  of  its  functions;  and  justice  was  ad- 
ministered, as  before,  in  the  royal  name.  No  Spa- 
niard was  removed  from  the  employment,  or  divested 
of  the  dignity,  to  which  he  had  been  previously  ap- 
pointed, or  of  which  he  was  in  the  actual  enjoyment 
at  the  date  of  the  revolution.  It  is  probable  that  less 
alarm  was  felt,  on  account  of  the  Spaniards  being 
fewer  than  in  other  sections  of  Spanish  America* 


CHAP.  V.  PLOT  DEFEATED.  Ill 

The  great  political  change  was  unstained  by  crime 
or  severity,  and  nothing  occurred  to  disturb  the  tran- 
quillity and  satisfaction  of  the  people  at  large,  until 
the  1st  of  April,  1811,  when  the  capital  heard,  for 
the  first  time,  the  sound  of  hostile  musketry,  and  saw 
the  blood  of  some  of  its  citizens  flow.  The  Spanish 
colonel,  Figueroa,  having  gained  over  a  part  of  the 
garrison,  attempted  to  overthrow  the  newly  esta- 
blished government.  Fortunately  the  junta  was  able 
to  bring  an  opposing  force,  which  defeated  the  hostile 
faction:  fifty-six  lives  only  were  lost.  The  Spanish 
leader  was  taken,  brought  to  trial,  and  shot.  The 
indignation  of  the  people  was  satisfied  by  this  act  of 
justice,  though  the  Spanish  residents  in  general  were 
loudly  accused  of  being  implicated.  It  was  also 
known  that  the  real  audiencia  had  encouraged,  and 
secretly  assisted,  the  conspirators.  That  tribunal  was 
therefore  dissolved,  but  its  members  were  permitted 
to  remain  in  the  capital,  in  the  undisturbed  possession 
of  their  liberty ;  and  a  tribunal  called  "camera  de 
apelacion"  (court  of  appeal)  was  substituted  in  its 
room. 

At  the  time  Figueroa  attempted  to  carry  his  plot 
into  execution,  the  Chilenos  were  occupied  in  the 
choice  of  members  of  the  first  congress,  which  as- 
sembled in  June,  1811.  Its  measures  were  distin- 
guished by  liberality.  It  reformed  many  abuses; 
proclaimed -unrestricted  commerce,  with  an  exception 
in  favour  of  coarse  cloths  and  flannels  >  decreed  that 
the  office  oi regular*  hitherto  hereditary  or  purchase- 
able,  should  thenceforth  be  filled  up  by  annual  pa- 
rochial elections ;  useless  places  were  abolished,  and 


112  FIRST  CONGRESS.  CHAP.  V. 

salaries  reduced.  The  clergy  were  to  be  paid  by  the 
treasury,  and  they  were  forbidden  to  take  fees  from 
their  parishioners.  A  manufactory  of  arms;  a  school 
for  artillery;  and  other  useful  establishments,  were 
ordered.  It  had  the  honour  to  be  the  first  legislative 
body  in  Spanish  America  which  took  effectual  steps 
to  bring  about  the  gradual,  but  total,  abolition  of 
slavery  within  the  republic.  Children  born  of  slaves 
after  the  date  of  its  first  meeting  were  declared  to  be 
free,  and  all  slaves  brought  into  the  country  were  to 
receive  manumission  after  residing  there  a  specified 
period.  The  liberty  of  the  press  was  established,  and 
a  happy  futurity  seemed  to  dawn  upon  the  infant 
republic.  But  the  unprincipled  ambition  of  three 
young  men  arrested  the  beneficent  march  of  events, 
and  introduced  into  the  bosom  of  the  state  intestine 
commotions.  The  three  Carreras  were  descended 
from  a  highly  respectable  family,  and  held  com- 
missions in  the  army.  They,  particularly  the  eldest, 
were  gifted  with  talents  which  gave  them  some  claims 
to  consideration,  in  spite  of  licentious  habits,  until 
they  brought  their  country  to  the  brink  of  ruin,  for 
the  sake  of  personal  aggrandizement.  Their  sister, 
called  the  Anna  Boleyn  of  Chile,  was  a  powerful  in- 
strument in  forwarding  their  designs ;  and  although 
some  forty  summers  have  now  -passed  over  her  head, 
she  still  retains  the  bloom  of  beauty.  She  is  a  woman 
of  splendid  natural  abilities,  but,  it  is  said,  too  much 
addicted  to  the  artful  intrigues  of  political  parties. 

The  disproportionate  number  of  deputies  chosen 
for  the  city  and  province  of  Santiago,  and  the  ille- 
gality of  some  elections,  according  to  the  provisions 


CHAP.  V.  THE  CARRERAS.  113 

of  an  act  made  by  the  first  junta,  produced  much 
disquietude,  and  some  heated  remonstrances  from 
-  the  provinces.  Congress,  seeing  the  necessity  of  an 
alteration,  reduced  the  number  of  deputies  represent- 
ing Santiago  to  one  half,  and  countenanced  the  re- 
election of  an  increased  number  for  Concepcion. 
Tranquillity  was  restored,  but  reform  was  the  pre- 
text of  the  Carreras.  Possessed  of  manners  which 
rendered  them  favourites  with  the  troops,  and  with 
many  of  the  people,  they  formed  a  party ;  seized  the 
helm  of  government ;  and,  on  the  £nd  of  December, 
1811,  dissolved  the  congress. 

A  junta  was  formed,  at  the  head  of  which  the  elder 
brother  placed  himself.  Public  affairs  were  con- 
ducted in  a  manner  which  could  not  produce  any 
oth$r  result  than  divisions  and  discontent  in  every 
class  of  society.  Dissensions,  which  afterwards  arose 
between  the  brothers,  occasioned  the  momentary  re- 
tirement of  the  elder;  but  a  reconciliation  having 
been  brought  about,  he  re-assumed  his  post  at  the 
head  of  the  junta.  Meanwhile,  Abascal,  viceroy  of 
Peru,  who  had  always  affected  a  desire  to  maintain 
a  good  understanding  with  the  democratical  govern- 
ment, watched  the  progress  of  anarchy,  and  was  not 
slow  to  ayail  himself  of  the  opportunity,  which  the 
general  dissatisfaction  arising  out  of  the  misrule  of 
the  Carreras  gave,  to  make  their  usurpation  sub- 
servient to  his  own  sinister  views.  Accordingly  he 
despatched  a  force  from  Lima,  under  General  Pareja, 
who  disembarked  at  San  Vicente,  near  Talcahuano, 
in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1813. 

It  appears  throughout  the  revolution,  that  the 

VOL.  i.  J 


Ill  MISPLACED  MODERATION.  CHAP.  Y. 

Chilenos  have  almost  invariably  erred  on  the  side  of 
extreme  moderation.  Neither  the  conspiracy  of  Fi- 
gueroa,  nor  some  disturbances  which  were  caused  by 
the  Spaniards  at  Aconcagua  and  other  points,  nor 
the  unequivocal  signs  of  enmity  daily  manifested  by 
the  Spanish  residents  to  the  new  establishment,  were 
sufficient  to  induce  the  incautious  Chilenos  to  dis- 
place those  Europeans  who  had  been  appointed  to  re- 
sponsible situations  by  the  king's  government.  One 
of  the  natural  consequences  of  this  misplaced  con- 
fidence was,  the  instant  surrender  of  Concepcion  by 
the  governor,  a  Spaniard,  who  had  thoughtlessly  been 
permitted  to  retain  his  command.  At  Talcahuano,  a 
Creole  officer  and  a  priest  made  some  resistance,  but 
these  two  Chilenos  having  no  other  support  than  the 
enthusiasm  of  an  unarmed  population,  were  speedily  • 
reduced  to  submission,  and  Talcahuano,  like  the 
neighbouring  city  of  Concepcion,  became  a  royalist 
station. 

The  intelligence  of  the  landing  of  Pareja,  and  of 
his  uninterrupted  march  towards  the  river  Maule,  at 
length  awakened  the  Chilenos  from  their  slumber* 
The  manner  in  which  they  met  the  threatening 
danger  did  honour  to  their  spirit  and  patriotism. 
Party  feeling  disappeared;  just  causes  of  complaiftt 
against  the  Carreras  were  consigned  to  oblivion ;  and 
rival  factions  were  lost  sight  of  in  a  noble  emulation 
to  make  every  sacrifice  to  preserve  their  country  from 
the  yoke  so  lately  shaken  off.  The  provinces  re- 
sounded with  expressions  of  corresponding  feelings," 
and  unanimity  once  more  pervaded  the  public  mind. 
A  military  chest,  'with  ample  funds,  was  instantly 


jRHAP.  V.  AFFAIR  OF  YEBBAS  BUENAS.  1 15 

formed,  and  a  force  of  six  thousand  men  sent  into 
the  field  as  if  by  magic.  The  command  was  in* 
trusted  to  Don  Jos£  Miguel  Carrera,  who,  upon 
quitting  Santiago,  delegated  the  civil  power  to  his 
brother,  Don  Juan  Jos6,  one  of  the  three  to  whose 
unbridled  ambition  Chile  traces  her  heaviest  mis- 
fortunes. 

The  campaign  was  opened,  on  the  31st  of  March, 
1813,  by  a  bold  and  skilful  movement  with  a  division 
of  the  Chileno  troops,  which  fell  by  surprise  upon  the 
whole  royalist  army  at  a  place  called  Yerbas  Buenas. 
Had  the  first  success  been  immediately  followed  by 
repeated  blows  skilfully  directed,  the  contest  might 
have  been  decided  at  once;  but  the  undisciplined 
levies  of  the  patriots  scattered  themselves  to  indulge 
in  pillage,  instead  of  pursuing  the  affrighted  royalists, 
who,  left  to  recover  themselves,  rallied,  and  took  up 
an  advantageous  position*  The  specimen  which  Ge- 
neral Pareja  had  of  the  valour  of  the  Ghilenos  induced 
him  to  retire  to  San  Carlos  (about  thirty-five  leagues 
from  Yerbas  Buenas),  in  front  of  which  town  he 
posted  his  troops,  on  ground  favourable  for  defence, 
and  awaited  a  second  attack.  In  a  severe  action, 
which  lasted  several  hours,  Carrera  was  unable  te 
break  the.  squares  of  the  royalists ;  nor  was  it  till  the 
following  morning  that  the  patriots  were  aware  they 
had  obtained  a  victory.  They  then  discovered  that 
the  royalists  had  retreated,  leaving  the  field  covered 
with  dead  and  wounded.  The  royalist  garrisons, 
hastily  withdrawn  from  Concepcion  and  Talcahuano, 
concentrated  at  Chilian,  whither  General  Pareja  fled 
for  shelter,  and  where  he  died,  in  old  age  it  is  true, 

i2 


116  SIEGE  OF  CHILLAN.  CHAP,  V. 

but,  as  is  generally  supposed,  of  chagrin  at  his  un- 
looked-for reverses. 

Colonel  Sanchez  succeeded  to  the  command,  and 
displayed  extraordinary  activity  in  strengthening* 
by  field-works,  every  point  around  the  town  of 
Chilian. 

The  siege  which  followed  was  long  and  harassing* 
The  patriots  obtained  signal  successes  in  various 
assaults,  and  penetrated  at  last  to  the  great  square  in 
the  centre  of  the  city ;  but  the  Spaniards,  retiring 
to  a  convent  which  served  as  a  sort  of  citadel,  main- 
tained themselves  there  against  all  the  efforts  of  a 
force  but  poorly  provided  with  means  of  attack.  The 
severity  of  the  weather,  from  rain  and  cold,  at  length 
obliged  the  patriots  to  rais"e  the  siege,  which  had 
been  signalized  by  many  brilliant  proofs  of  personal 
courage,  and  in  which  not  a  few  of  the  gallant  Chi- 
lenos  met  an  honourable  death. 

From  that  time  the  fortune  of  war  inclined  alter- 
nately  to  either  side.  A  series  of  minor  affairs  took 
place,  in  which,  on  the  part  of  the  patriots,  the  names 
of  O'Higgins  and  of  Mackenna  shine  with  distin- 
guished lustre.  But  the  Spaniards  had  better  officers 
than  the  Chilenos,  and  the  tactics  of  their  general 
frequently  rendered  indecisive  the  undisciplined 
valour  of  the  patriot  forces.  The  royalist  general, 
fruitful  in  resources,  had  the  address  to  bring  over 
the  Araucanian  Indians  to  his  support.  He  also 
availed  himself  so  well  of  the  ancient  habits  of  the 
Chilenos,  and  of  their  blind  submission  to  the  orders 
of  the  king,  that  he  found  little  difficulty  in  swelling 
his  ranks  with  recruits  from  the  brave  but  misguided 


CHAP.  Y.  THE  CARRERAS  ARRESTED.  117 

peasantry  within  the  limits  of  the  country  occupied 
by  the  royalists. 

In  this  undertaking  Sanchez  was  ably  seconded 
by  the  efforts  of  Spanish  missionaries,  who  employed 
those  engines  which  are  likely  to  succeed  with  the 
ignorant  and  superstitious.  Unfortunately  many  of 
the  peasantry  were,  at  that  time,  further  confirmed 
in  their  hostility  to  the  cause  of  independence  by 
the  absence  of  all  discretion  and  common  morality 
in  the  conduct  of  the  Carreras,  whose  excesses  ren- 
dered their  dismissal  a  measure  of  indispensable  ne- 
cessity, because  their  example  led  the  patriot  troops 
into  the  greatest  irregularities. 

Jos£  Miguel  Carrera  had  shown  his  military  in- 
capacity by  not  making  the  most  of  the  advantages 
gained  by  the  brave  Chilenos  under  his  orders  at 
Yerbas  Buenas.  He  next  converted  his  command 
into  a  sort  of  dictatorship  in  the  districts  occupied 
by  his  troops.  At  length  the  government  of  Santiago 
mustered  up  sufficient  energy  to  suspend  the  Carreras 
from  rank  and  employment.  They  were  ordered  to 
Santiago,  but  they  were  taken  on  the  road  by  the 
royalists,  and  sent  to  Chilian  as  prisoners  of  war. 

Colonel  Don  Bernardo  O'Higgins,  who,  on  the 
24th  of  November,  1813,  succeeded  Carrera  in  the 
command  of  the  army,  had  distinguished  himself  for 
personal  courage  and  rectitude  of  conduct;  whilst 
the  prudence  and  talents  of  Mackenna  made  up  in 
some  measure  for  the  deficiency  of  discipline  and 
want  of  organization  in  the  patriot  forces. 

The  independents  were  formed  into  two  brigades : 


1 18  TALCA.  OH  A*.  *. 

one  under  O'Higgins,  in  Conception;  the  other  un- 
der Mackenna,  at  Membrillar,  near  Chilian. 

About  this  time  the  royalist  cause  was  strengthened 
by  a  reinforcement  from  Lima,  under  the  command 
of  General  Gainza,  whose  personal  and  professional 
qualities  rendered  him  a  formidable  enemy ;  but,  in 
spite  of  these  changes,  almost  a  year  passed  without 
producing  any  important  occurrence. 

On  the  19th  March,  1814,  Mackenna  repulsed, 
at  Membrillar,  a  sharp  attack  of  General  Gainza, 
who,  on  the  following  day,  was  again  worsted  by  the 
corps  of  O'Higgins,  hastening  from  Concepcion  to 
the  support  of  Mackenna  *.  Discouraged  by  these 
rencontres,  Gainza  left  the  .patriot  brigades  behind 
him,  and  marched  towards  the  capital,  an  open  cky 
without  a  garrison.  The  movement  was  made  under 
the  supposition  that  O'Higgins  would  be  unable  to 
follow  for  want  of  horses.  Gainza  crossed  the  river 
Maule  eighty  leagues  south  of  Santiago,  and  took 
the  city  of  Talca,  but  not  without  an  heroic  though 
unavailing  opposition  from  a  party  of  the  inhabitants, 
who,  unprovided  with  means  of  defence,  perished  in 
the  vain  attempt  to  preserve  the  town. 

The  people  of  Santiago  ascribed  the  loss  of  Talca 
to  the  negligence  of  the  executive.  It  was  therefore 
considered  opportune  to  dissolve  the  governing  junta 
of  three  persons,  and  to  nominate  a  supreme  director. 
Don  Francisco  Lastra  was  the  first  invested  with  that 
dignity.     He  hastily  collected  a  small  division,  and 

,  *,  Thie  officer,  a  native  of  Ireland,  was  killed  by  one  of  the  Carreras,  in  * 
duel  fought  at  Buenos  Ayres  in  1814. 


CHAP.  V.  PASSAGE  OF  THE  MAULE.  119 

sent  it,  under  Don  Manuel  Blanco  Ciceron,  against 
the  enemy ;  but  that  officer  was  totally  defeated  at 
Cancharayada  by  the  vanguard  of  the  royalists. 
-  In  the  meanwhile  CKHiggins  prepared  to  follow 
Gainza ;  and,  by  forced  marches,  made  under  great 
difficulties,  arrived  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river.  He 
immediately  bivouacked,  as  if  it  had  been  his  inten- 
tion to  remain  there  for  the  purpose  of  watching  the 
enemy's  motions ;  but  as  soon  as  it  became  dark  he 
crossed  the  rapid  Maule  at  several  points,  a  few  miles 
above  the  Spanish  posts,  and  when  morning  broke, 
the  astonished  enemy  beheld  the  patriot  army  in  a 
strong  position,  which  commanded  the  road  to  Sant- 
iago, as  well  as  that  to  Chilian,  the  centre  of  the 
royalist  resources.  The  masterly  passage  of  the 
Maule  may  be  considered  as  equivalent  to  a  victory. 
General  Gainza,  cut  off  from  retreating  either  way, 
was  compelled  to  shut  himself  up  in  Talca. 

It  was  during  this  state  of  affairs  that  Captain 
Hillyar,  of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  ship  Phoebe,  ar- 
rived from  Callao  at  Valparaiso  with  overtures  from 
the  viceroy  of  Peru.  The  supreme  director  appointed 
commissioners  to  negotiate,  and  Captain  Hillyar  ac- 
companied them  to  Talca,  where,  under  his  mediation, 
a  treaty  wa§  concluded,  on  the  5th  of  May,  1814. 
General  Gainza  bound  himself  to  re-embark  for  Peru, 
with  all  his  troops,  within  the  space  of  two  months, 
and  to  leave  the  fortifications  of  every  place,  then 
occupied,  in  the  same  state  he  found  them.  It  was 
also  stipulated  that  the  viceroy  should  acknowledge 
the  new  order  of  things,  whilst  Chile  engaged  on  her 
part  to  send  deputies  to  the  Spanish  cortes,  and  to 


ISO  SUPREME  DIRECTOR  DEPOSED.        CHAP.  V. 

acknowledge  the  government  established  in  the  Penin- 
sula during  the  captivity  of  Ferdinand  the  Seventh* 
Hostages  were  given  on  both  sides. 

The  Chilepos  in  general  expressed  their  dissatis- 
faction at  a  convention  which  they  considered  dis* 
advantageous,  under  circumstances  which  gave  just 
grounds  for  hope  that  a  single  blow  would  have  ter- 
minated the  campaign  gloriously,  and  rendered  the 
country  completely  independent  of  Spain.  Never- 
theless peace  was  considered  so  firmly  established, 
that  the  militia  were  permitted  to  return  to  their 
homes;  the  troops  of  the  line  were  indiscreetly  re- 
duced ;  and  the  directorial  government  hastened  to 
fulfil,  with  scrupulous  fidelity,  such  articles  of  the 
treaty  as  could  be  carried  into  immediate  execution. 

Don  Jos£  Miguel  and  Don  Luis  Carrera  had  been 
set  at  liberty  by  the  royalists,  in  virtue  of  the  treaty 
of  Talca.  Don  Juan  Jos£  had  been  banished  across 
the  Andes,  but  had  returned.  In  May,  1814,  a  court 
martial  was  ordered  to  assemble,  for  the  purpose  of 
exhibiting  (as  was  stated  to  the  public)  the  bad  con- 
duct of  the  three  brothers.  Don  Luis  was  arrested, 
but  Don  Jose  Miguel  and  Don  Juan  Jos£  succeeded 
in  concealing  themselves.  The  present  juncture  was 
considered  by  them  to  be  favourable  to  a  new  usurpa- 
tion of  the  reins  of  government.  They  secretly  or- 
ganized in  the  capital  a  party  with  which  they  had 
never  ceased  to  correspond,  and  which  now  assisted 
in  carrying  into  execution  their  criminal  designs.  A 
part  of  the  garrison  having  been  gained  over,  the 
Carreras  showed  themselves  on  the  23rd  of  August, 
1814,  and  deposed  the  supreme  director  Lastra. 


CHAP.  v.  HOSTILITIES  RECOMMENDED.  121 

A  junta  was  formed,  and  the  elder  Carrera  placed 
himself  at  the  head  of  it,  as  in  the  first  usurpation. 
The  indignant  citizens,  although  much  dissatisfied 
with  Lastra,  immediately  assembled,  and  signified 
their  extreme  displeasure  to  the  Carreras;  but  finding 
the  latter  deaf  to  remonstrances,  unsupported  by  the 
bayonet,  they  appealed  for  protection  to  O'Higgins, 
who  lost  no  time  in  obeying  the  call.  He  marched 
from  Talca,  and  a  partial  rencontre  took  place  in  the 
vicinity  of  Santiago.  The  rival  parties  were  on  the 
eve  of  a  general  action,  when  a  messenger  appeared 
from  the  royalist  general,  and  a  suspension  of  arms 
was  agreed  upon,  to  receive  his  despatches. 

The  messenger  was  the  bearer  of  an  official  letter, 
intimating  that  the  viceroy  had  refused  to  ratify  the 
treaty  of  Talca  j  that  the  only  measure  left  for  the 
insurgent  authorities  to  secure  the  royal  clemency 
was  by  surrendering  at  discretion.  The  despatch 
concluded  by  the  assurance  that  the  sword  was  un- 
sheathed, in  order  not  to  leave  one  stone  upon  an- 
other in  case  of  resistance. 

It  also  appeared  that  Gainza  had  been  recalled  to 
Peru,  although  he  had  some  claims  upon  jthe  con- 
sideration of  a  viceroy  remarkable  for  his  disregard 
of  public  faith  towards  the  patriots,  but  who  in  other 
respects  bore  an  honourable  character.  Gainza  had 
violated  the  treaty  by  remaining,  under  various  pre- 
texts, in  Concepcion,  until  General  Osorio  arrived 
with  fresh  troops,  and  a  supply  of  military  stores  of 
every  kind ;  and  events  ultimately  proved  that  he 
had  signed  the  treaty  for  no  other  purpose  than  that 
time  might  be  gained  for  these  reinforcements  to 


122  EAXCAGUA.  CHAP.?. 

arrive.  The  plan  of  the  Spaniards  was  so  well  formed, 

» 

that  4000  troops  were  already  within  fifty  leagues  of 
the  capital  when  the  summons  for  unconditional  sub- 
mission was  received. 

Agitated  by  conflicting  feelings,  O'Higgms  mag, 
nanimously  sacrificed  his  just  resentments  to  save  his 
country.  He  acceded  to  the  demands  of  his  rival, 
and  nobly  turned  his  arms  against  the  common  enemy. 
Carre ra  followed  O'Higgms  with  a  strong  division; 
but  discipline  no  longer  gave  efficiency  to  soldiers 
who  had  often  fought  gloriously:  desertion  to  an 
alarming  extent  prevailed.  To  consolidate  his  ill- 
acquired  power,  Carrera  had  weakened  the  army  by 
removing  some  deserving  officers,  and  had  banished 
from  the  capital  many  distinguished  citizens,  for  no 
other  reason  than  their  discountenance  of  his  arbi- 
trary proceedings. 

O'Higgms  encountered .  the  royalist  force  on  the 
bank  of  the  river  Cachapoal ;  but,  having  only  900 
men,  was  defeated,  and  he  took  shelter  in  the  town 
of  Rancagua,  twenty-three  leagues  from  Santiago. 
He  caused  the  entrances  of  the  streets  to  be  blocked 
up,  and  made  the  place  as  difficult  of  access  as  his 
very  slender  means  permitted. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1814,  the  royalists  com- 
menced an  attack  which  lasted  for  thirty-six  hours, 
during  which  time  the  fire  on  both  sides  was  kept 
up  with  unremitting  vigour.  Each  party  hoisted 
the  black  flag,  and  no  quarter  was  given.  In  the 
hottest  of  the  action  the  magazine  of  the  patriots 
exploded,  and  produced  the  most  destructive  effects; 
but,  undismayed  by  the  heavy  misfortune,    their 


CHAP.  V.  EANCAGUA.  128 

efforts  seemed  to  redouble,  and  the  Spanish  general 
determined  to  abandon  the  enterprise.  He  bad  ac- 
tually given  orders  to  retreat,  under  the  impression 
that  Carrera,  who  had  remained  an  unmoved  spec- 
tator, would  cut  off  his  retreat,  and  that  his  exhausted 
royalists  would  be  attacked  in  a  disadvantageous  po- 
sition by  that  chief  with  fresh  troops.  But  General 
Ordonez,  the  second  in  command,  perceiving  the  in- 
action of  Carrera,  who  evidently  exhibited  no  inten- 
tion to  effect  a  diversion,  or  to  send  to  CHiggins 
the  smallest  succour,  determined  upon  making  an- 
other grand  effort.  By  means  of  the  hatchet  and 
the  flames  the  royalists  penetrated  through  the  walls 
of  the  houses,  and  at  length  fought  their  way,  inch 
by  inch,  to  the  square  in  the  centre  of  the  town. 
Here  O'Higgins  made  his  last  stand  with  two  hun- 
dred survivors,  worn  out  with  fatigue,  tormented 
with  raging  thirst,  and  surrounded  by  heaps  of  slain; 
till  observing  all  was  lost,  he,  although  wounded  in 
the  leg,  headed  the  brave  relics  of  his  party,  and 
gallantly  cut  his  way  through  the  royalists.  Such 
was  the  impression  produced  by  this  desperate  act 
of  valour,  that  hone  ventured  to  pursue  the  patriots, 
who  continued  their  retreat  without  further  molesta- 
tion to  the  capital.  The  royalists  remained  in  Ran- 
cagua  to  despatch  the  wounded ;  to  butcher  the  few 
remaining  inhabitants;  and  to  destroy  what  had 
escaped  the  flames. 

The  Carreras  had  still  under  their  command  one 
thousand  five  hundred  men;  but  they  abandoned  the 
capital  without  a  struggle*  The  depredations  com- 
mitted  by  the  troops  of  the  Carreras  irritated  the 


124  OSORIO  ENTERS  SANTIAGO.  CHAP.  V. 

citizens  to  such  a  degree,  that  a  deputation  was  sent 
to  Osorio,  to  request  him  to  enter  Santiago  and  re- 
establish order.  Six  hundred  troops  crossed  the 
Andes  with  Carrera.  General  O'Higgins  emigrated 
with  about  one  thousand  four  hundred  persons,  many 
of  whom  were  ladies  of  rank,  who  passed  the  snowy 
ridges  of  the  Andes  on  foot.  All  were  received  at 
Mendoza  with  generous  hospitality  by  General  San 
Martin,  and  few  returned  home  until  after  the  battle 
of  Chacabuco  in  18 17* 

In  Santiago,  Osorio  assumed  the  rank  and  ex- 
ercised the  powers  of  captain-general.  His  first 
measure  was  to  proclaim  an  amnesty;  and  some  of 
the  wealthy  citizens,  who  had  fled  to  their  estates,  or 
to  distant  parts  of  the  country,  returned  to  the  bosom 
of  their  families :  but  so  soon  as  Osorio  felt  himself 
secure,  he  threw  off  the  mask,  and  imitated  the  rest 
of  his  countrymen  in  their  violation  of  the  most 
solemn  engagements  with  Americans.  In  less  than 
a  month  after  the  disaster  of  Rancagua,  the  principal 
citizens  of  the  capital  were  arrested.  Confiscation, 
prosecution,  and  imprisonment  were  the  order  of  the 
day;  but,  fearful  of  exasperating  too  far  a  people  who 
bore  the  yoke  with  extreme  impatience,  the  captain- 
general  had  not  the  courage  to  shed  the  blood  of  his 
victims. 

Forty-six  fathers  of  families  were  sentenced  to  be 
transported  to  the  island  of  Juan  Fernandez.  Their 
wives  and  daughters,  clad  in  deep  mourning,  besought 
with  tears  and  prayers  for  permission  to  share  the 
exile  of  their  husbands  and  fathers;  but  the  tyrant 
not  only  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  their  piteous  entreaties, 


CHAP.  V.  EXILES  OF  JUAN  FERNANDEZ.  125 

but  forbade  all  communication  under  the  severest 
penalties.  One  lady  only  overcame  the  difficulties 
thrown  in  the  way.  By  the  kind  interposition  of 
Sir  Thomas  Staines  of  H.  M.  S.  Briton,  with  the 
captain  of  the  corvette,  the  amiable  and  accomplished 
Dona  Rosario  de  Rosales  was  permitted  to  follow  her 
father,  who  was  between  seventy  and  eighty  years  of 
age.  Most  of  the  exiles  were  in  the  decline  of  life ;  some 
of  very  advanced  age ;  two  of  them  paralytic ;  and  all 
of  them,  accustomed  to  the  comforts  and  conveniences 
of  affluence,  were  crowded  into  a  Spanish  corvette  of 
war,  and  sentinels  were  placed  at  the  hatchways,  with 
orders  to  fire  upon  any  who  might  put  their  heads 
out  to  breathe  a  less  impure  atmosphere.  None  were 
permitted  to  retire  for  a  moment,  even  upon  the  most 
urgent  occasion ;  and  pestiferous  air,  engendered  by 
the  congregation  of  so  many  persons,  and  the  accu- 
mulation of  filth,  might  have  caused  the  death  of  all, 
or  the  greater  part,  and  thus,  had  the  voyage  been 
tedious,  have  produced  the  effect  probably  intended 
by  Osorio;  but  luckily  the  passage  was  made  in  a 
single  week.  The  patriots  were  left  on  shore  with 
no  other  allowance  than  the  rations  of  a  soldier. 

Until  1813  Juan  Fernandez  had  been  the  island 
to  which  criminals  were  banished.  Since  that  period 
it  had  been  uninhabited,  and  rats  had  multiplied  to 
an  incredible  extent.  They  soon  devoured  a  fourth 
part  of  the  provisions  sent  from  Chile;  and  although 
millions  of  the  vermin  were  soon  destroyed,  there  was 
no  perceptible  diminution  in  their  numbers.  The 
situation  of  the  unfortunate  exiles  was  aggravated  by 
the  extortions  of  successive  governors,  who,  under 


126  SAM  BRUNO.  CI7A1\  T. 

pain  of  death,  prohibited  the  introduction  of  the 
smallest  supply  from  their  families  or  friends,  unless 
it  passed  previously  through  their  own  hands.  Five 
hundred  per  cent,  was  considered  a  conscientious 
profit,  and  it  was  seldom  that  the  cruel  orders  of  go- 
vernment were  evaded.  Sometimes  the  governor  per- 
mitted the  owners  to  take  a  small  proportion  of  what 
had  not  been  plundered  on  the  passage ;  and,  coun- 
tenanced by  higher  authority,  sold  the  rest  at  enor- 
mous prices  by  auction ;  the  right  owners  being  ge- 
nerally the  only  purchasers.  By  such  nefarious  means 
one  of  the  governors  realized  in  less  than  a  year 
upwards  of  20,000  dollars. 

The  jail  of  Santiago  was  filled  with  persons  of 
condition  suspected  of  infidencia,  or  a  political  bias 
towards  independence.  Many  of  them  became  the 
victims  of  a  plot,  which  seems  to  have  been  got  up  for 
no  other  purpose  than  to  gratify  the  pleasure  which 
some  of  the  vilest  of  Spaniards  felt  in  the  shedding 
of  blood. 

The  two  battalions  of  the  regiment  of  Talavera 
were  composed  of  the  worst  characters  from  the  Pen- 
insula. It  was  the  terror  of  Chile,  on  account  of  the 
systematic  perpetration  of  enormities  which  it  pur- 
sued, and  which  caused  females  to  secrete  themselves, 
if  they  could,  wherever  the  regiment  appeared.  The 
officers  not  only  set  a  frightful  example,  but  openly 
encouraged  their  men;  and  it  is  difficult  to  decide 
which  party  exceeded  the  other  in  deeds  which  must 
not  be  particularized,  but  which  frequently  occasioned 
death. 

Captain  Sambruno,  pre-eminent  in  atrocity  amongst 


CHAP.  V.  TALAVERINOS— MASSACRE.  127 

the  atrocious  Talaverinos,  had  been  selected  by 
Osorio  to  fill  the  office  of  chief  del  tribunal  de  vigu 
laucia,  a  police  appointment,  which  gave  to  Sam- 
bruno  ample  opportunities  to  indulge  in  passions  at 
once  malignant  and  licentious.  Gentlemen  were 
sometimes  thrown  into  prison  with  threats  of  im- 
mediate execution,  in  order  that  a  beautiful  daughter 
or  sister  might  become  the  intercessor.  The  sequel 
need  not  be  told.  \ 

Not  content  with  the  commission  or  encourage- 
ment of  such  outrages,  Sambruno  formed  a  plan  for 
the  destruction  of  the  immured  citizens.  A  serjeant 
and  a  few  other  Talaverinos  were  employed  to  re- 
present to  the  prisoners,  that  their  incarceration  bad 
excited  the  sympathy  of  the  royalist  troops,  who  were  * 
stated  to  be  in  readiness  to  rise  to  overthrow  Osorio, 
and  to  establish  a  government  independent  of  Spain. 
Improbable  as  was  the  tale,  the  unhappy  men  fell  inta 
the  snare,  and,  at  an  appointed  hour  of  the  second  or 
third  night,  suffered  themselves  to  be  let  out  of  their 
dormitories  by  the  pretended  conspirators,  and  con- 
ducted to  the  salon^  or  great  room,  to  deliberate  upon 
the  measures  expedient  to  be  adopted  to  secure  their 
offered  freedom.  When  a  number  were  assembled, 
Sambruno,  at  the  head  of  a  party  of  Talaverinos, 
burst  into  the  salon,  and  carried  on  the  work  of 
butchery  with  an  unrelenting  ferocity,  worthy  the 
times  of  Robespierre.  Osorio,  who  was  not  always, 
able  to  restrain  the  Talaverinos,  sent  his  fiscal  Ro- 
driguez to  put  a  stop  to  the  massacre ;  but  when  this 
law  officer  arrived,  murder  had  already  finished  its 


128  RODRIGUEZ.  CHAP.  V. 

task,  and  the  assassins  were  in  the  act  of  throwing  the 
lifeless  bodies  from  a  gallery  into  the  court  below*. 

To  detail  every  other  act  of  tyranny  committed  by 
Osorio,  and  his  still  more  cruel  successor  Marco, 
would  fill  a  volume.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that,  in  two 
years  and  four  months,  the  barbarity  of  these  despots 
caused  more  mourning  to  be  worn  by  the  principal 
families  around,  more  oppression  in  every  class  of  the 
people,  and  spread  more  ruin  over  the  country  in 
general,  than  all  the  misfortunes  of  every  other  period 
of  the  war  of  independence  in  Chile. 

The  domination  of  the  tyrants  was  not,  however, 
altogether  free  from  alarms.  The  captain-general 
was,  from  time  to  time,  made  uneasy  by  intelligence 
of  the  warlike  preparations  of  San  Martin  at  Men- 
doza.  Accordingly,  cruel  edicts  were  published  and 
enforced  to  augment  the  royalist  army,  not  merely 
for  the  defence  of  Chile  against  the  threatened  in-, 
vasion,  but  also  under  the  pretence  to  act  on  the  of- 
fensive, by  seeking  the  patriots  on  their  own  ground, 
in  the  Pampas,  and  ultimately  to  open  the  way  to 
Buenos  Ayres.  But  the  extraordinary  activity  and 
boldness  of  a  patriot  guerrilla  party  soon  obliged 
Osorio  to  confine  his  views  to  Chile. 

Don  Manuel  Rodriguez,  a  barrister,  was  the  son 
of  a  distinguished  Chileno  family,  and  had  latterly 
been  employed  with  remarkable  success  as  an  emis- 
sary of  San  Martin.    A  price  was  set  upon  the  head 

•  Sambruno  was  taken  prisoner  by  Captain  Alvarez  Condarco,  aide-de-camp 
to  General  San  Martin,  at  the  battle  of  Chacabuco ;  tried  for  murder,  and  su- 
fered  death  in  front  of  the  prison  of  Santiago,  amidst  the  execrations  of  the 
populace. 


CHAP.  V.  RODRIGUEZ.  129 

.  of  Rodriguez ;  but  he,  without  arms,  undertook  to 
supply  himself  by  taking  them  from  his  enemies,  and 
to  produce  the  necessity  of  separating  the  royal  army 
into  detachments,  and  of  dispersing  them  over  the 
country.  At  the  head  of  a  few  guerrillas,  he  entered 
various  towns;  proclaimed  their  independence;  took 
horses  from  the  royalists ;  and  harassed  them  by  every 
species  of  hostility  in  his  power. 

The  captain-general  was  obliged  to  send  strong 
divisions  to  distant  points,  to  prevent  a  general  rising. 
Whenever  one  of  these  approached  the  spot  where 
Rodriguez  chanced  to  be,  the  roads  were  lined,  and 
ambuscades  planted  by  the  royalists  at  every  known 
outlet  to  prevent  escape;  but,  well  acquainted  with 
the  localities,  he  would  order  his  guerrillas  to  dis- 
perse, and  rendezvous  at  some  point  distant  from 
any  royalist  garrison,  where  he  would  again  hoist  the 
standard  of  independence ;  again  draw  upon  himself 
a  superior  force;   and  again  elude  their  vigilance. 
This  was  the  less  difficult,  as  the  "people  everywhere 
clamoured  for  a  deliverer.     Rodriguez  could  easily 
awaken  their  enthusiasm,  and,  when  overpowered, 
could  safely  rely  upon  their  assistance  in  making  his 
escape.     Although  the  people  sometimes  suffered 
severely  for  these  proofs  of  their  attachment,  nothing 
could  keep  down  the  spirit  of  patriotism  whenever  an 
incident  brought  it  into  play.    Thus  supported,  Ro- 
driguez, with  all  the  resources  of  his  ready  genius, 
and  with  a  valour  bordering  upon  rashness,  occupied 
the   attention   of  the  royalists,  and  certainly  con- 
tributed in  a  great  measure  to  pave  the  way  to  the 
subsequent  successes  of  the  army  of  the  Andes. 
VOL.  i.  k. 


130    FREYRE—NEIRA— LIBERATING  FORCE.     CHAF.  V. 

A  division  was  also  effected  in  the  south  by  Com* 
mandant  Freyre  and  the  intrepid  Neira,  a  guerrilla 
chief,  who  took  possession  of  Talca  with  a  small  force, 
raised  in  the  province  of  Concepcion,  and  composed 
partly  of  men  who  had  been  expelled  froip  their 
homes,  either  by  the  edicts  of  the  captain-genera^ 
or  by  an  apprehension  of  sooner  or  later  becoming 
his  victims. 

To  arrest  the  progress  of  the  Spanish  arms,  in  the 
first  instance ;  to  recover  the  ground  that  had  been 
lost,  in  the  second ;  and,  finally,  to  elevate  Chile  to 
the  rank  of  an  independent  state,  were  the  objects 
of  assembling  an  army  at  Mendoza.  San  Martin 
formed  that  army  into  two  brigades,  and  placed  them 
under  the  respective  command  of  Generals  Soler  and 
O'Higgins.  The  passage  of  that  wondrous  barrier 
the  Andes  has  already  been  described. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  1817,  Major  Don  En- 
rique Martinez,  commanding  the  advance  of  the 
army  of  the  Andes,  drove  in  the  Spanish  piquet  at 
La  Guardia,  which  suffered  some  loss.  On  the  8th^ 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Necochea  routed,  with  inferior 
forces,  a  body  of  royalist  hussars.  Having  overcome 
the  first  difficulties,  in  defiles,  where  the  natural  de- 
fences had  been  strengthened  by  hastily  constructed 
field-works,  the  patriots  issued  from  the  mountains, 
and  debouching  into  the  valley  of  Putaendo,  took 
possession  of  the  towns  of  Aconcagua  and  Santa  Rosa. 

The  royalists  retained  for  the  protection  of  the 
northern  provinces  of  Chile,  under  the  command  of 
Brigadier  Maroto,  consisted  of  the  regiments  of  Tala- 
vera,   Chiloe,  Valdivia,   two   squadrons  of  hussars, 


CHAP.  V.      BATTLE  OF  CHACABUCO.  131 

one  of  dragoons,  eight  pieces  of  artillery ;  altogether 
about  four  thousand  men,  which  were  concentrated 
in  the  vicinity  of  Chacabuco.  The  cuesta,  or  moun- 
tain of  Chacabuco,  which  is  very  difficult  of  ascent, 
was  occupied  by  a  strong  royalist  detachment  that 
enfiladed  the  high  road  leading  from  Santa  Rosa  to 
Santiago. 

The  hostile  parties  bivouacked  on  the  10th  of 
February,  not  far  from  each  other.  San  Martin  in- 
tended to  postpone  the  attack  till  the  arrival  of  his 
artillery  and  spare  horses,  which  were  expected  to 
join  on  the  14th;  but  having  ascertained  that  the 
royalist  forces,  detached  to  the  south,  were  rapidly 
countermarching,  he  decided  upon  immediate  ac- 
tion. On  the  12th  of  February  he  directed  the 
brigade,  composed  of  battalions  No.  7  and  8,  and 
three  squadrons  of  the  granaderos  a  cabatto>  to  ad- 
vance. Whilst  this  brigade  moved  to  the  front, 
General  Soler,  with  the  battalion  No.  11,  the  bat- 
talion of  camdores,  and  some  cavalry,  made  an 
obKque  movement  half  a  league  to  the  right.  The 
commanding  officer  of  the  Spanish  advanced  detach- 
ment on  the  cuesta  perceiving  his  retreat  endangered, 
fell  back  a  league  and  a  half  towards  the  estate  of 
Chacabuco,  where  he  joined  the  rest  of  the  royal 
army,  which  Maroto  had  formed  on  the  side  of  a  hill, 
with  a  deep  ravine  in  front.  This  position  was  ad- 
vantageous to  repel  an  attack  along  the  high  road,, 
but  it  was  ill  calculated  to  resist  the  brigade  of  Soler, 
of  whose  movement  the  Spanish  general  was  ignorant 
until  it  was  too  late  to  vary  his  position.  San  Martin 
had  continued  his  front  movement,  and  arrived  within. 

k  2 


132  BATTLE  OF  CHACABUCO.       CHAP.  V. 

range  of  the  enemy  at  the  moment  Soler  was  half  a 
league  distant.  San  Martin,  aware  of  the  advantages 
to  be  obtained  by  leading  young  and  enthusiastic 
troops  boldly  on,  and  the  danger  of  procrastination 
in  the  presence  of  well-disciplined  foes,  had  de<* 
term  in  ed,  on  forming  his  plan  of  operations  for  the 
campaign,  to  become  the  assailant  wherever,  or  when- 
ever, he  came  up  with  his  enemy.  An  immediate 
attack  was  therefore  ordered,  and  O'Higgins  placed 
himself  at  the  head  of  the  infantry.  The  first  effort 
was  unsuccessful,  the  battalion  No.  8  being  repulsed 
with  severe  loss.  San  Martin  then  charged  the 
enemy's  right  with  two  squadrons  of  cavalry,  and 
the  battalions  Nos.  7  and  8  perceiving  this,  returned 
to  the  attack  at  the  same  time.  At  this  moment  the 
head  of  Soler's  columns  appeared  in  sight,  and  bis 
cavalry  came  on  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  last 
charges,  which  led  to  complete  success.  The  Spa- 
niards attempted  to  rally  in  a  vineyard,  but  they  were 
overthrown  by  a  brilliant  charge  of  cavalry,  led  by 
Necochea,  whose  gallant  brother,  Don  Eugenio,  was 
badly  wounded.  Six  hundred  Spaniards  were  left 
dead  on  the  field.  The  rest  dispersed,  and  the  patriots 
entered  Santiago  in  triumph  on  the  14th  of  February. 
On  the  18th,  President  Captain-General  Marco  and 
three  thousand  six  hundred  royalists  had  been  taken 
prisoners  at  various  points  i  five  hundred  escaped  by 
embarking  at  Valparaiso,  and  sailing  to  Lima;  the 
rest  who  escaped  retired  to  Talcahuano. 

Captain  O'Brien,  aide-de-camp  to  San  Martin, 
was  sent  with  a  detachment  of  cavalry  in  pursuit  of 
the  fugitives  towards  Valparaiso.      He  made  some 


CHAP.  V.  LAS  HERAS.  133 

prisoners  at  the  Cuesta  del  Prado,  and  amongst  the 
baggage  also  taken  there,  the  captain  found  two 
alforjas,  or  wallets,  containing  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  doubloons ;  which  treasure  he  sent  to  San 
Martin,  who  caused  them  to  be  placed  in  the  public 
treasury.  The  gallant  and  disinterested  O'Brien 
received  a  letter  of  thanks  from  the  supreme  govern- 
ment. 
\  The  grateful  Chilenos  elected  San  Martin  su- 

"preme  director,  but  he  declined  the  office;  upon  v 
which  the  brave  and  meritorious  O'Higgins  became 
the  object  of  their  choice, 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Las  Heras  was  then  ordered 
with  a  division  to  follow  up  the  royalists;  but  he 
suffered  himself  to  be  detained  at  Rancagua,  Talca, 
and  other  towns  on  the  march,  as  if  the  work  of  libe- 
ration had  been  entirely  accomplished  at  Chacabuco. 
Delay,  originating  rather  from  the  inexperience  of 
young  chiefs,  grown  giddy  with  success,  than  from  a 
worse  motive,  enabled  the  royalists,  under  the  ju- 
dicious and  able  Brigadier  Ordonez,  to  retire  with- 
out further  losses ;  to  collect  scattered  garrisons;  and 
to  fortify  Talcahuano  on  the  bay  of  Concepcion, 
where  they  made  a  successful  stand. 

While  these  events  were  going  on  in  the  province 
of  Concepcion,  or  rather  a  few  days  after  the  vic- 

%  tory  of  Chacabuco,  San  Martin  proceeded  to  Buenos 
Ayres'for  the  purpose  of  soliciting  such  reinforce- 
ment as  might  enable  him  to  extend  his  operations 
to  Peru,  and  to  represent  to  the  Buenos  Ayrean  go- 
yernment  the  impossibility  of  carrying  into  execution 
its  orders  to  raise,  by  means  of  forced  contribution, 


134  TALCAHUANO.  CHAP.  V. 

a  million  of  dollars  in  Chile,  as  well  as  the  impolicy 
of  attempting  it. 

During  San  Martin's  absence  from  Chile,  the  su- 
preme director,  O'Higgins,  left  the  capital  of  Sant- 
iago, and  took  the  command  of  the  patriot  forces  in 
the  province  of  Concepcion ;  two  Chileno  regiment* 
having  been  raised  during  the  investment  of  Talca? 
huano,  which  still  continued. 

The  intrenchments  thrown  up  at  Talcahuano.  by 
the  royalists  were  formidable,  when  the  feeble  means 
of  attack  are  taken  into  consideration.  The  ditch 
on  the  land  side  of  the  town  was  ten  feet  deep,  and 
fourteen  wide  at  the  top,  with  a  parapet,  and  here 
and  there  a  small  battery  of  heavy  ordnance.  On 
the  1st  of  December,  1817,  the  patriots,  led  by  the 
brave  Las  Heras,  advanced  boldly  to  the  assault; 
behaved  nobly;  and  suffered  severely;  but  they  were 
repulsed;  for  the  Spaniards,  who  fight  well  behind 
walls,  were  better  disciplined  than  their  opponents, 
amongst  whom  most  of  the  officers  were  killed  or 
wounded.  Amongst  the  latter  were  the  gallant 
Major  Correa,  a  Buenos  Ayrean,  and  Major  Beau- 
chef,  a  Frenchman,  Captain  Dias,  a  Chileno,  and 
Lieutenants  Carson  and  Manning,  North  Americans. 
Lieutenant  Eldridge,  also,  a  very  brave  young  North 
American,  was  killed.  Although  the  assault  was  a 
complete  failure,  it  speaks  volumes  in  favour  of  the 
patriot  soldiers,  who  were  animated  with  the  finest 
spirit  of  union,  firmness,  and  enterprise.  General 
Brayer*,  who  formerly  commanded  a  brigade  of  the 
French  imperial  guard,  had  joined  the  patriot  army 

*  General  Brayer  quitted  the  patriot  army  in  1818. 


CHAP.  V.  PATRIOT  ARMY.  135 

after  the  battle  of  Chacabuco,  and  Was  employed  as 
chief  of  the  staff  at  the  investment  of  Talcahuano. 

In  the  absence  of  O'Higgins  from  Santiago,  the 
seat  of  the  Chileno  government,  Colonel  Don  Hi- 
larion.de  la  Quintana  had  been  named  supreme  de- 
legate, and  was  afterwards  superseded  by  Don  Luis 
Cruz. 

San  Martin,  who  had  returned  from  Buenos  Ayres 
to  Chile,  in  the  month  of  April,  established  his  head- 
quarters at  Las  Tablas,  near  Valparaiso.  The  troops, 
amounting  to  about  5000,  with  San  Martin,  were 
composed  of  the  following  corps : — Battalion  of  caxa- 
dores  de  los  Andes;  battalion  No.  8 ;  battalion  No.  2, 
of  Coquimbo;  two  squadrons  of  granaderos  d,  ca- 
batto;  two  ditto  of  ca%adores  d  caballo ;  twenty-five 
pieces  of  artillery. 

The  division  with  O'Higgins  in  the  south,  now 
reduced  to  about  three  thousand  men,  was  composed 
as  follows :— Nos.  1  and  8,  battalions  of  Chile ;  No. 
7*  and  No.  11,  of  Buenos  Ayres;  two  squadrons  of 
granaderos  d  caballo;  one  squadron  of  cavalry  of 
Chile ;  ten  pieces  of  artillery. 

At  one  of  the  reviews  which  occurred  at  Las 
Tablas,  Commodore  Bowles,  who  commanded  the 
British  naval  force  on  the  South  American  station, 
was  present,  and  expressed  his  opinion  of  the  ef- 
ficiency and  appearance  of  the  troops  in  terms  highly 
favourable ;  which  was  a  source  of  great  gratification 
to  the  officers  of  the  army,  who  did  not  fail  to  give 
full  value  to  the  compliment  of  a  British  officer  uni- 
versally respected  on  that  station. 

It  was  known  that  Pezuela,  the  viceroy  of  Peru, 


136  PATRIOT  ARMY.  CHAP.  V. 

was  preparing  an  expedition  against  Chile.  Indeed, 
it  was  hourly  expected  on  the  coast.  The  best  spirit 
pervaded  the  independent  army,  and  the  troops  were 
in  a  good  state  of  discipline. 

This  was  the  posture  of  affairs  when  the  subject  of 
these  memoirs  arrived  in  Chile. 


CHAP.  VI.  MILLER.  137 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Miller — enters  the  service  of  Buenos  Ayres.— Tour  towards  Pa- 
tagonia.— Pampas. — Republican  encroachments. — Chascomus. 
— Los  dos  Talos. — Spanish  prisoners  of  war. — Las  Bruscas. — 
Tigers. — Lions. — Emigration. — Gauchos. — Ostriches. — ■Visca- 
chas.— Zorrinos.— Deer. — Indians. — Horsemanship. — Horses. 
— Return  to  Buenos  Ayres. 

William  Miller  was  born  on  the  2nd  of  De- 
cember, 1795,  at  Wingham,  in  the  county  of  Kent. 
He  served,  in  the  field-train  department  of  the  royal 
artillery,  with  the  British  army,  from  the  1st  of  Ja- 
nuary, 1811,  until  the  peace  of  1815.  In  August, 
1811,  he  landed  at  Lisbon,  and  was  present  at  the 
subsequent  sieges  of  Ciudad  Rodrigo,  Badajoz,  and 
San  Sebastian j  at  the  battle  of  Vitoria,  and  at  the 
investment  of  Bayonne.  In  1812,  he  made  an  ex- 
cursion, upon  leave,  from  Badajoz  to  Seville,  Cadiz, 
and  Gibraltar.  A  movement  of  the  French  inter- 
fering with  his  return  by  the  way  of  the  Sierra  Mo- 
rena,  he  embarked  at  Cadiz,  with  his  horses  and  ser- 
vant, in  an  open  craft,  for  Algarve,  but  was  cast 
away  at  Lepe,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Guadiana.  In 
June,  1814,  he  left  Bourdeaux,  and  sailed  from  the 
Gironde,  in  his  majesty's  ship  Madagascar,  Captain 
(now  Sir  Bentick)  Doyle,  to  the  Bermudas,  whence 
he  proceeded  to  the  Chesapeake,  and  joined  the  ex- 
pedition against  Washington  and  Baltimore,  where 
he  witnessed  the  fall  of  General  Ross.    On  the  27th 


188  ARRIVAL  AT  BUENOS  AYRES.        CHA>.  VI. 

of  November,  in  the  same  year,  he  sailed  from  Ja- 
maica with  the  British  forces  destined  to  act  against 
New  Orleans.  After  quitting  the  Mississippi,  he 
was  shipwrecked  in  The  Ranger,  ordnance  transport, 
off  Mobile.  He  subsequently  sailed  from  Isle  Dan* 
phine  for  the  Havannah,  and  reached  England  in  the 
summer  of  1815. 

The  years  1816  and  1817  were  mostly  spent  upon 
the  continent  of  Europe.  During  his  residence  there, 
an  opportunity  offered  by  which  he  might  have  be- 
come the  partner  in  a  French  mercantile  house ;  but, 
after  a  very  short  trial,  he  relinquished  the  intention 
of  advancing  his  fortunes  in  that  way.  Returning 
to  England,  he  soon  grew  tired  of  inactivity,  and 
turning  his  attention  to  the  state  of  the  struggle 
between  Spanish  America  and  the  mother  country, 
considered,  after  due  inquiry,  that  the  river  Plata 
was  the  most  eligible  point  to  which  he  could  direct 
his  course.  Few  English  candidates  for  military 
fame  had  proceeded  to  that  country ;  and  this  was 
one  reason  why  he  preferred  it  to  Colombia,  already 
overrun  with  adventurers  of  all  descriptions.  After 
dedicating  a  few  months  to  tfre  study  of  those  military 
acquirements  in  which  he  was  deficient,  he  sailed  from 
the  Downs  in  August,  1817,  and  landed  at  Buenos 
Ayres  in  the  following  month  of  September. 

A  very  few  letters  of  introduction  paved  the  way 
to  that  welcome  which  is  so  cheering  to  an  aspirant 
at  the  commencement  of  his  career.  Upon  his 
arrival,  he  was  presented  by  his  excellent  friend, 
Mr.  Dickson,  to  the  supreme  director,  Pueyrredon, 


CHAP.  VI.  TOUR  TOWARDS  PATAGONIA.  139 

who,  on  learning  the  object  of  his  visit  to  Buenos 
Ayres,  desired  an  application  to  be  made  in  writing. 
Miller  drew  up  a  memorial,  shortly  stating  how  and 
where  he  had  served,  and  requesting  employment  in 
the  army  of  the  Andes,  which  was  then  in  Chile, 
under  the  orders  of  San  Martin.  A  month  after  this 
application  was  made,  a  captain's  commission  was  de- 
livered to  him.  In  the  meantime,  the  hospitality  of 
his  countrymen,  and  of  some  Buenos  Ayrean  families, 
ripened  into  friendship.  Some  tempting  prospects 
of  a  lucrative  nature  were  placed  before  his  view; 
and  although  he  internally  adhered  with  firmness  to 
his  original  plan  of  inlisting  in  the  cause  of  freedom, 
he  could  hardly  make  up  his  mind  to  give  a  decided 
negative  to  such  flattering  proposals. 

Whilst  in  this  state,  his  own  resolves  were  fortified 
by  the  opinion  of  an  English  lady,  who,  after  some 
preliminary  conversation,  observed,  "  I  find  that 
there  exists  a  wish  to  prevail  upon  you  to  devote 
yourself  to  money-making  pursuits.  Now,  I  dissent 
from  this  well-intentioned  advice.  Were  I  a  young 
man,  I  would  never  abandon  the  career  of  glory  for 
the  sake  of  gain."  In  eight  and  forty  hours  from  the 
time  of  that  conversation,  he  took  an  affectionate  leave 
of  the  lady,  of  her  husband  (Mr.  Mackinlay),  and 
of  their  numerous  family,  from  all  of  whom  he  had 
received  the  kindest  attentions  during  his  stay  in 
Buenos  Ayres*  But  before  we  relate  his  journey 
across  the  continent,  we  will  describe  a  tour  which 
he  made,  in  a  direction,  little  frequented,  towards 
Patagonia. 

At  ten  o'clock,  A.M.,  on  the  28th  of  October,  1817* 


140  TOUtt  TOWARDS  PATAGONIA.  CHAP.  VI. 

he  set  out,  in  company  with  four  Buenos  Ayrean 
gentlemen,  whose  object  was  to  visit  their  estancias, 
or  grazing  farms.  They  were  attended  by  two peones, 
or  out-of-door  servants.  Twenty  horses  formed  the 
cavalcade,  the  spare  ones  being  driven  on  before  as 
a  sort  of  moving  relay.  This  is  the  general  mode 
of  making  long  journeys  on  the  Pampas,  if  not 
travelling  post.  At  noon,  the  party  halted  at  the 
estancia  of  Don  Francisco  Masiel.  Milk  and  mate 
were  presented  on  alighting.  Mate  is  the  infusion 
of  the  leaf  of  a  plant,  said  to  be  a  species  of  ilex,  the 
growth  of  Paraguay,  and  is  in  universal  use  over  a 
vast  extent  of  South  America.  It  is  usually  sipped 
the  first  thing  in  the  morning,  and  several  times  in 
the  course  of  the  day.  It  is  served  in  an  egg-shaped 
cup,  commonly  the  shell  of  a  small  gourd.  Sugar 
and  a  little  lemon-peel  are  sometimes  added,  to  im- 
prove the  flavour.  It  is  sucked,  very  hot,  through  a 
bombilla,  or  little  tube,  generally  made  of  silver.  It 
was  the  common  practice  to  pass  the  same  tube  from 
mouth  to  mouth ;  but  the  custom  is  growing  unfa- 
shionable. Novices  frequently  burn  their  lips,'  or 
scald  the  tongue.  At  other  places,  in  the  course  of 
the  excursion,  ostrich  and  other  eggs  were  put  upon 
table.  The  mutton  of  this  country  is  poor;  and 
pork,  on  account  of  its  being  fed  upon  the  flesh  and 
offal  of  oxen  and  horses,  is  execrable.  The  iguana, 
or  large  lizard,  and  the  ostrich,  are  also  eaten.  On 
the  following  day,  the  29th,  the  party  proceeded  for 
twenty-three  leagues,  over  one  continued  plain,  co- 
vered with  coarse  luxuriant  grass,  growing  in  tufts 
partially  mixed  with  wild   oats  and  trefoil.     The 


CHAP.  VI.  HOMBU  TREE.  141 

thistle  grows  in  great  abundance ;  and  when  it  sheds 
its  down,  the  wind  sometimes  blows  it  into  heaps, 
and  balls  are  formed,  which  are  driven  along  the 
bowling-green-like  Pampas,  until  they  acquire  a  dia- 
meter above  six  feet.  The  general  appearance  of  the 
Pampas  in  every  direction  is  flat  and  uninteresting. 

The  estancias  are  at  considerable  distances  from 
each  other.  People  living  within  half  a  dozen  miles 
consider  themselves  as  next  door  neighbours,  whilst 
those  who  reside  within  twenty  miles  form  only  one 
circle  of  acquaintance.  To  people  invariably  well 
mounted,  twenty  or  thirty  miles  are  only  a  gallop  to 
make  a  friendly  visit  or  a  morning  call.  The  sight 
of  a  hombu  is  a  certain  indication  of  a  human  habita- 
tion, for  one  of  these  trees  is  always  planted  when- 
ever a  hut  is  constructed.  It  grows  to  a  considerable 
size,  but  is  serviceable  only  as  a  landmark  and  for 
shade  #. 

It  is,  however,  the  only  sort  of  tree,  excepting 
fruit  trees,  which  grows  within  fifty  leagues  south 
of  Buenos  Ayres.  Herds  of  oxen,  flocks  of  sheep, 
droves  of  horses,  asses,  and  mules,  numbers  of  deer, 
and  clouds  of  birds,  were  continually  within  view. 

One  hundred  years  ago,  when  the  plains  were  co- 
vered with  cattle,  travellers  were  accustomed  to  send 
people  on  before  to  clear  the  road.  The  Spaniards 
finding  the  trade  in  hides  t  extremely  lucrative,  em- 

*  Wood  was  formerly  so  scarce,  and  cattle  so  plentiful,  that  sheep  were  driven 
into  the  furnace  of  limekilns,  in  order  to  answer  the  purposes  of  fuel.  We  should 
not  have  dared  to  repeat  this  fact,  however  undoubted,  if  a  decree  of  the  king  of 
Spain,  prohibiting  this  barbarous  custom,  were  not  still  preserved  in  the  archives 
of  Buenos  Ayres. 

■f  Hides  have  not  only  become  valuable  on  account  of  the  immense  number 
of  them  exported  to  Europe,  but  also  because  the  consumption  is  so  great  in 
South  America.    Incredible  quantities  are  expended  in  the  manufacture  of  lassot, 


142  WILD  CATTLE.  CHAP.  Vl\> 

ployed  troops  of  gaucho  horsemen  for  the  purpose 
of  slaughtering  the  cattle.  Each  party  had  separate 
tasks  assigned  to  it :  some,  particularly  well  mounted,; 
attacked  a  herd  of  oxen,  and  with  a  crescent-shaped 
knife  fixed  to  the  end  of  a  long  handle,  hamstrung 
the  cattle  as  they  fled ;  a  second  party  threw  down 
other  oxen  by  means  of  the  lasso;  a  third  brought 
up  and  drew  a  knife  across  the  throat  of  the  prostrate 
animals.  A  fourth  party  was  employed  in  stripping 
off  the  hides,  and  in  conveying  them  to  an  appointed 
place;  fixing  them  to  the  ground  with  pegs;  and 
taking  out,  and  carrying  away,  the  tongues  and  fat. 
The  flesh,  which  would  have  sufficed  to  feed  a  nu- 
merous army  in  Europe,  was  left  on  the  plain  to  be 
devoured  by  tigers,  wild  dogs,  and  ravens.  In  an 
expedition  of  this  sort,  which  generally  lasted  for 
some  weeks,  the  person  at  whose  expense  it  was  un- 
dertaken obtained  several  thousands  of  hides,  each 
of  which,  when  dried,  was  worth  four  times  as  much 
as  a  live  bullock,  in  consequence  of  the  expense 
necessarily  incurred  in  killing  the  oxen,  and  the 
labour  of  drying  the  hides  in  the  sun.  This  custom 
of  hunting  and  slaughtering  cattle  having  been  prac- 
tised for  a  whole  century,  almost  exhausted  the  plains 
of  unowned  cattle.  The  herds  now  seen  are  the 
property  of  individuals. 

Oxen  seldom  wander  far  from  their  native  pastures, 
and  are  easily  prevented  from  straying  into  adjoining 
estates  by  a  little  attention  on  the  part  of  the  peones. 
Every  proprietor  knows  his  own  stock  by  a  particular 

in  the  fastenings  of  homes,  fences,  and  cattle-pens,  and  io  the  making  of  trunks 
and  bags  to  convey  the  herb  of  Paraguay,  tobacco,  sugar,  wheat,  cotton,  and 
other  goods. 


CHAP.  VI.        CARNE  CON  CUERO.  148 

mark  which  is  branded  at  the  castrating  season.  The 
young  bull  is  caught  with  the  las$o9  thrown  down, 
and  the  horns  fixed  into  the  ground  whilst  he  under- 
goes the  operation.  The  time  of  performing  this  is 
made  an  Annual  scene  of  jollity ;  neighbours  assem- 
bling at  different  estates  in  turn,  and  ending  their 
daily  labours  with  carousings.  Came  con  cuero,  or 
meat  in  the  skin,  is  a  favourite  dish  on  occasions  of 
festivity.  The  moment  a  bullock  is  killed  for  this 
purpose,  the  flesh  on.  each  side  of  the  spine,  beginning 
at  the  rump,  is  cut  out  with  enough  of  the  bide  to 
lap  over  and  meet,  so  as  to  be  sewed  together,  to 
prevent  the  juices  from  escaping.  It  is  then  covered 
with  embers,  and  roasted  like  an  onion  or  potato. 

The  travellers  took  up  their  quarters  for  the  night 
at  the  estancia  of  Don  Miguel  Rodriguez,  situated 
on  the  border  of  the  lake  Bitel,  which  abounds  in  two 
sorts  of  fish,  namely,  the  lim  and  the  pen  el  rey  (king 
fish):  the  last  is  not  very  unlike  the  smelt.  Both 
sorts  are  sometimes  taken  to  market  at  Buenos  Ayres. 
The  previous  rains  had  laid  a  great  part  of  the  level 
under  water,  and  it  was  very  irksome  to  wade  through 
extensive  pools,  formed  by  shallow  concavities,  which 
retain  the  water  until  it  evaporates  in  the  dry  season. 
This  is  the  case  with  many  of  the  pools  large  enough 
to  be  called  lakes.  Hence  fresh  and  rich  pasturage 
is,  during  every  season  of  the  year,  abundant  on  the 
plains.  Estancias  are.  generally  established  on  the 
margin  of  a  lake,  or  upon  the  bank  of  some  running 
stream.  But  water  is  to  be  got  at  no  great  depth  by 
digging  wells. 

On  the  30th  the  travellers  advanced  three  leagues 


144  CHASCOMUS.  CHA*.  VI. 

and  a  half  to  Chascomus,  where  they  partook  of  an 
early  dinner  with  Dr.  Campana.     Chascomus  is  a 
miserable  looking  village,  situated  on  the  side  of  a 
lake  eight  leagues  in  circumference,  producing  the 
same  sorts  of  fish  as  lake  Bitel.     It  consists  of  about 
a  hundred  and  fifty  mud  huts,  containing  six  or  seven 
hundred  souls,  exclusive  of  two  hundred  militia  then 
in  cantonments  there,  preparatory  to  the  establish- 
ment of  a  line  of  posts  about  to  be  formed  by  order  of 
the  Buenos  Ayrean  government.     This  was  a  direct 
encroachment  upon  the  territory  of  the  uncivilised 
Indians,  who  had  been  elbowed  off  in  order  that  the 
republican  territory  might  be  properly  rounded.     It 
is  not  a  little  curious  that  the  Creole  bayonet,  which 
expelled  the  Spaniards,  should  be  unscrupulously  em- 
ployed to  drive  the  Indians  from  as  much  territory  as 
it  suited  the  convenience  of  the  Buenos  Ayreans  to 
take  possession  of.    The  latter  have  with  reason  com- 
plained of  colonial  oppressions :  but  had  the  Indians 
an  equal  means  of  publishing  their  grievances,  not  a 
slender  catalogue  of  wrongs  might  make  the  newly 
emancipated  people  blush  for  their  own  inconsist- 
encies.   Fifty  years  ago  Chascomus  had  constantly  in 
its  immediate  vicinity  some  of  the  Indian  moveable  vil- 
lages, which  consist  of  tents  made  of  untanned  hides 
sewed  together,  and  fixed  upon  a  frame-work  of  poles 
made  fast  by  thongs.     The  Indian  occupants  served 
for  a  long  time  as  a  barrier,  preventing  all,  excepting 
their  own  hordes,  from  penetrating  the  country  to- 
wards Patagonia.    Chascomus  is  thirty  leagues  south 
of  Buenos  Ayres,  and  as  many  north  from  what  the 
Buenos  Ayreans  had  considered  their  own  frontier, 


CHAP.  VI.  LOS  DOS  TAIX)S.  145 

although  their  outposts  were  not  extended  so  far  to 
the  south. 

At  two  P.  M.  the  travellers  again  set  out,  and  at 
six,  arrived  at  the  estancia  of  Don  Antonio  Servieta, 
a  Spaniard,  whose  house  is  close  to  the  lake  del  Burro. 
On  this  day's  ride  they  waded  through  several  inun- 
dations, and  more  than  once  the  lower  part  of  the 
saddle-flaps  were  under  water  for  above  a  mile  of  the 
road. 

;  On  the  30th  of  October  the  party  set  out  as  usual 
at  dawn  of  day.  At  noon  they  were  ferried  across 
the  river  Salado,  twelve  leagues  from  its  mouth.  The 
horses  were  made  to  swim  over  after  the  ferry-boat, 
the  river  being  there  about  two  hundred  yards  in 
width.  The  water,  as  the  name  denotes,  is  salt,  from 
its  source  being  in  a  saline  soil,  which  is  the  case  with 
many  streams  flowing  through  the  Pampas. 

At  five  P.  M.  they  reached  Los  dos  Talos.  At 
a  pulperia,  or  shop  and  public  house,  they  procured 
a  supper.  The  only  other  habitations  in  the  place 
were  three  miserable  hovels,  occupied  by  thirty-eight 
Spanish  officers,  who  had  been  made  prisoners  of  war 
at  Monte  Video  in  1814.  They  left  Cadiz  so  lately 
as  1813/  having  served  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
peninsular  war.  Mr.  Miller  visited  them,  and  they 
were  highly  delighted  to  see  an  European;  for,  ex- 
cepting a  few  Creoles  and  Indians,  they  seldom  saw 
4  stranger.  What  added  to  the  interest  of  the  meet- 
ing was  the  circumstance  that  he,  when  in  Spain,  had 
formed  an  acquaintance  with  several  of  the  friends 
of  some  of  the  prisoners.  He  was  therefore  made 
doubly  welcome  j  for  they  could  speak  of  their  native 

VOL.  i.n  l 


146  SPANISH  PRISOXHtS.  CHAP.  ye* 

country,  and  tell  their  tale  of  sorrows  in  a  wflderneas, 
to  a  person  capable  of  sympathizing  with  then. 

The  government  of  Buenos  Ayres  kept  these  un- 
fortunate gentlemen  upon  rations  of  beef  and  salty 
without  any  other  allowance.  The  little  game  they 
caught  was  an  occasional  luxury,  and  if  they  got  a 
bason  of  milk,  it  was  a  rare  act  of  charity.  In  aaoope 
of  a  hundred  miles  around  Los  dos  Talos,  there  weie 
not  more  than  twenty  estancias,  and  those  were  oc* 
cupied  by  gauchos,  whose  antipathy  to  Spaniards  was 
most  violent,  and  they  often  considered  them-  fit 
objects  of  revenge.  Rendered  desperate  by  such  a 
distressing  seclusion  from  the  civilized  world,  ten  of 
the  prisoners,  headed  by  Major  Livinia,  made  their 
escape  two  years  before.  They  took  shelter  amongst 
the  savage  Indians,  intending  to  make  the  best  of 
their  way  to  Chile,  then  in  possession  of  the  royalists: 
but,  after  undergoing  dreadful  privations,  in  wan- 
dering about  for  above  a  thousand  miles,  and  seven 
of  them  having  died  of  hunger  and  fatigue,  the  three 
survivors,  despairing  of  accomplishing  their  object, 
delivered  themselves  up  to  a  patriot  outpost  towards 
the  Pehuenche  territory,  preferring  even  their  hard 
lot  as  prisoners  to  the  life  they  were  obliged  to  lead 
amongst  savages,  whose  manners  and  customs,  *? 
described  by  the  major,  were  disgusting  in  the  ex- 
treme. He  and  his  companions  were  conveyed,  to 
their  old  abode  in  bullock  cars,  being  too  weak  to 
walk,  for  above  twelve  hundred  miles,  unsupplied 
with  sufficient  raiment  to  cover  their  persons.  The 
major  still  remained  in  a  pitiable  state.  His  ghastly 
countenance,  long  beard,  and  squalid  figure,  rendered 


CHAP.  wu  THEIR  TREATMENT.  147 

him  the  picture  of  wretchedness ;  stretched  out  upon 
*  sort  of  truckle  bed,  composed  of  two  or  three  rugs 
placed  upon  cross  sticks,  run  into  the  mud  wall  at 
one  end,  and  fastened  at  the  other  to  upright  sticks 
driven  into  the  earthen  floor.  His  eyes  had  become 
diseased;  and  an  old  sack  was  hung  up  as  a  curtain 
to  shield  them  from  the  glare  of  day.  A  three-legged 
stool,  ten  inches  high,  covered  with  a  woollen  rag, 
was  the  only  seat  for  the  invalid,  who  reclined  against 
a  wall,  the  dampness  of  which  was  kept  off  by  a  piece 
of  canvas  battened  upon  sticks.  A  long  plank,  with 
the  extremities  between  the  horns  of  two  bullock 
skulls,  served  as  a  bench  for  the  rest  of  the  company. 
Some  clasp  and  case  knives  and  forks,  some  horn 
spoons,  a  kettle  or  two,  a  frying-pan,  a  ramrod  (for 
a  spit),  a  couple  of  gridirons,  an  earthen  dish,  and 
about  a  dpzen  shattered  cups  and  saucers,  formed  the 
whole  of  their  household  utensils.  Some  lassos  and 
bolas  hung  upon  the  walls,  but  they  were  seldom 
used;  because  permission  for  one  or  two  of  the  pri- 
soners at  a  time  to  get  on  horseback  was  only  occa- 
sionally granted,  and  the  favour  depended  entirely  on 
the  caprice  of  the  officer  on  guard,  who,  being  of  the 
jgaucho  militia,  thought  such  an  indulgence  would 
i>e  a  breach  of  trust.  The  beards  of  the  prisoner* 
were  the  growth  of  years.  They  said  soap  was  an 
article  too  expensive  for  their  pockets.  If  a  pleasura- 
ble sensation  could  be  felt  in  the  abode  of  wretched- 
ness, it  could  only  arise  from  the  power  of  making 
its  unfortunate  inmates  forgetful,  for  a  few  hours,  of 
their  situation. 

The  major  received  a  trifling  present,  of  tea  with 

l2 


148  IAS  BllTTSCAg.  CfiA*.  Vi; 

more  grateful  acknowledgments  than,  under  othetf 
circumstances,  he  would  have  made  for  the  most 
costly  gifts,  and  insisted  upon  Mr.  Miller  placing 
his  blanket  on  the  bench  already  described.  This 
courtesy  was  gladly  accepted ;  for  the  night  was  chilly; 
and  there  was  no  getting  under  cover  elsewhere.      ' 

An  impressive  silence  preceded  the  separation  od 
the  following  morning.  The  major,  too  weak  to 
stand,  sat  upon  his  bed,  and  stretching  out  his  thin 
hands,  embraced  Miller  with  a  fervency  that  may 
be  readily  imagined.  The  other  unfortunate  gentle* 
men  followed  his  example,  and  also  added  to  their 
embraces  their  most  earnest  benedictions.  It  was  a 
melancholy  parting ;  for  every  eye  was  dim,  and  even 
the  gauchos  were  moved.  Not  a  word  was  exchanged 
by  the  travellers  after  their  departure  till  they!  had 
proceeded  many  miles.  The  major  died  in  captivity; 
the  rest,  profiting  by  the  dissensions  which  arose 
amongst  the  Buenos  Ayrean  factions  of  1819,  dis- 
persed, and  severally  escaped  to  Monte  Video,  Talca- 
huano,  or  Potosi.  .       ; 

The  principal  depot  for  prisoners  of  war  was  at 
Las  Bruscas,  about  three  leagues  from  Los  dos  Talos* 
Five  hundred  officers  and  non-commissioned  officers 
were  in  confinement  there ;  the  private  soldiers  having 
been  permitted  to  settle  as  servants  in  the  houses,  or 
aspeones  on  the  estates  of  Creoles*. 

A  ride  of  fifteen  leagues  brought  the  travellers,  on 

*  Amongst  the  South  Americans  confined  at  Las  Bruscas  for  their  adhesion 
to  the  cause  of  the  mother  country  was  Captain  Santa  Cruz,  who,  having  escaped 
to  Peru  in  1819,  served  with  the  royalists  again  until  1820,  when  the  Spanufi 
general  O'Reilly  was  defeated  at  Pasco;  upon  which  Santa  Cruz,  with  aputr 
of  royalists,  passed  over  into  the  service  of  the  patriots.  Santa  Cruz  was  placed 
at  the  head  of  the  Peruvian  government  by  Bolivar  in  1826.- 


CHAP.  VI.       MONTE  DE  TORDILLO— TIGEJtS.  149 

the  evening  of  the  1st  of  November,  to  Monsalvo, 
which  contains  two  or  three  mud  dwellings.  At  four 
leagues  from  Los  dos  Talos  they  entered  the  Monte 
de  Tordillo,  a  slip  of  country  thinly  sprinkled  with 
one  species  of  small  tree,  which  is  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  huts  and  cattle-pens,  and  for  fuel. 

The  Monte  de  Tordillo  is,  at  the  part  now  tra- 
versed, eight  leagues  in  breadth.  It  extends  from 
the  sea-coast  to  Patagonia  in  a  south-west  direc- 
tion, and  is  infested  with  a  few  tigers,  which  are 
not  very  ferocious,  on  account  of  the  facility  with 
which  they  obtain  their  prey  on  the  plains.  They 
are  not  equal  in  size  or  in  ferocity  to  the  Bengal 
tiger.  They  run  fast,  but  soon  tire.  They  com- 
mit great  havock  amongst  the  oxen,  sheep,  mules, 
and  asses.  A  great  many  tigers  are  caught  with  the 
lasso  by  the  Indian  and  Creole  inhabitants  for  the 
sake  of  their  skins.  They  are  also  sometimes  en- 
trapped  in  the  following  manner:  a  large  chest,  or 
wooden  frame,  is  made,  supported  upon  four  wheels, 
and  is  dragged  by  oxen  to  a  place  where  the  traces  of 
tigers  have  been  discovered.  In  the  furthest  corner 
of  the  chest  is  put  a  putrid  piece  of  flesh,  by  way  of 
bait,  which  is*  no  sooner  laid  hold  of  by  the  tiger  than 
the  door  of  the  trap  falls ;  he  is  killed  by  a  musket 
ball,  or  a  spear  thrust  through  the  crevices  of  the 
planks.  There  are  also  some  lions,  but  they  are 
unlike  those  of  Africa  in  form,  size,  and  disposition. 
They  seldom  attack  any  thing  but  calves,  foals,  and 
sheep.  The  colour  of  their  skin  is  tawny,  with  whitish 
spots.  Their  head  is  large  and  round,  eyes  sparkling, 
and  nose  flattish. 


150  BOLAS.  CHAP.  rt. 

In  this  day's  journey  the  travellers  rode  through 
several  extensive  inundations,  and  swam  their  horses 
across  some  array fos9  or  rivers,  the  beds  of  which  are 
dry  gullies  in  summer.  Some  Indians  pursuing  deer 
were  spoken  to  in  the  morning.  They  use  no  dogs, 
but  gallop  after  the  animal  until  they  approach  within 
thirty  yards  of  it,  when  they  twirl  the  bolas  in  their 
right  hand  over  their  head,  and  lanch  them  with 
great  dexterity,  seldom  missing  their  mark :  they 
generally  entangle  the  animal  by  its  leg.  Deer  are 
caught  for  the  sake  of  their  skins,  which  are  bartered 
away  with  the  gauchos  for  mate,  tobacco,  and  biscuit. 
The  bolus  are  three  stones,  or  more  commonly  balls 
of  lead,  tied  to  the  ends  of  three  slips  of  ox-hide  about 
two  feet  long,  joined  in  the  centre,  and  maybe  spread 
into  the  figure  of  the  arms  of  the  Isle  of  Man.  One 
of  the  amusements  of  children  is  to  trip  up  lambs, 
dogs,  poultry,  cats,  or  tame  young  ostriches,  with 
bolas  suited  to  their  strength. 

At  noon,  on  the  2nd  of  November,  the  travellers 
arrived  at  the  estancia  of  Don  Andres  Hidalgo,  who 
formed  one  of  the  party  from  Buenos  Ayres.  His 
mud-walled  house  is  pleasantly  situated  on  a  rising 
ground,  overlooking  the  lake  of  Mariancul,  eighty-five 
leagues  from  Buenos  Ayres,  and  about  fifteen  from 
the  sea-coast.  Hidalgo's  farm  was  the  termination 
of  the  journey. 

Throughout  the  tour  the  land  appeared  to  be  of 
excellent  quality,  but  it  improved  perceptibly  cm  the 
two  last  days :  not  a  stone  was  to  be  seen.  The  soil, 
for  about  the  depth  of  a  foot/  is  of  a  black  mould; 
under  that  is  a  stratum  of  clay,  then  sand,  and  below 


CHAP.  VI.  EMIGRATION.  151 

a  gravelly  bed,  until  water  is  found.  Some  of  the 
lakes  deposit  a  white  slime,  which  is  used  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  lime.  The  travellers  rode  for  many  leagues 
through  grass,  trefoil,  and  wild  oats,  growing  as  high 
as  the  horses'  heads.  It  no  longer  appeared  surprising 
that  settlers  should  penetrate  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  to  form  a  grazing  farm  where  good  land  might 
be  had  by  the  outlay  of  a  trifling  sum  on  title  deeds, 
and  in  throwing  up  a  few  mounds  of  earth  to  mark 
the  boundary.  The  inducements  are,  that  the  land 
here  is  better  than  the  best  land  near  Buenos  Ayres, 
and  stock  is  much  less  exposed  to  depredations,  be- 
cause the  chance  of  detection  increases  in  proportion 
to  the  distance  from  a  market  to  dispose  of  stolen 
Cattle. 

A  feeling  of  regret  arises  involuntarily  in  the  mind 
of  apt  Englishman,  as  he  contemplates  the  fertile 
tracts  chiefly  tenanted  by  beasts  and  birds,  whilst  his 
own  country  swarms  with  industrious  poor,  willing 
to  work,  but  reduced  to  misery  for  want  of  steady 
employment.  No  man  should  be  advised  to  leave 
his  home,  so  long  as  he  can  get  an  honest  livelihood ; 
but  when  he  must  starve  or  steal,  emigration  to  pro- 
per spots  in  these  savannahs  would  be  a  salutary 
change.  The  sober  and  industrious  would,  in  a  few 
years,  become  persons  of  property  in  land  and  in 
cattle,  though  without  much  ready  money.  Many 
sorts  of  produce  would  be  raised  which  are  now 
almost  unknown.  Bread  is  not  to  be  procured  in 
the  part  of  the  Pampas  now  spoken  of;  and  such  is 
the  listlessness  of  the  inhabitants  in  this  respect,  that 


/ 


152  CHAllACTER  OF  6AUCHOS.  CHAP.  VI, 

they  are  contented  to  subsist  upon  beef  and  salt,  with 
a  little  mate  and  the  solace  of  a  cigar,  rather  than  un- 
dergo the  toil  of  cultivation.  The  bounties  of  nature 
are  disregarded,  and  the  gauchoslive  wretchedly,  if  we 
measure  their  enjoyments  by  the  factitious  European 
standard :  whereas,  if  they  laboured  three  days  out  of 
the  seven,  it  would  be  sufficient  to  procure  them  bread 
and  vegetables  in  as  great  abundance  as  they  now 
obtain  meat.  The  axiom  that  idleness  is  the  parent 
of  vice  does  not  hold  good  to  the  same  degree  in  the 
interior  of  the  Pampas.  In  Europe,  a  lazy  penny- 
less  man  resorts  to  illegal  means  for  subsistence ;  but 
in  the  Pampas  meat  is  so  plentiful,  that  it  is  never 
given  or  received  as  a  favour.  A  stranger  has  only 
to  seat  himself  in  any  house  he  chooses  to  enter,  and 
he  is  sure  to  be  made  welcome  to  family  fare.  The 
usual  courtesies  are  exchanged,  but  no  invitation  is 
necessary  or  expected.  Indeed,  to  give  one  would 
be  to  break  through  the  understood  customs  of  the 
country. 

The  gauchos  are  a  well  grown  race  of  people, 
and  handsome  faces  are  frequently  seen  amongst  the 
women.  The  men  are  bold,  sociable,  and  unembar- 
rassed in  their  deportment.  They  are  good-natured 
and  obliging ;  but  so  high  spirited,  that  the  infliction 
of  a  blow  on  a  gaucho  is  perilous  to  the  aggressor, 
be  he  who  he  may;  for  the  knife  is  instantly  drawn 
to  avenge  the  indignity.  The  children  of  intermar- 
riages between  white  and  Indian  parents  possess  an 
interesting  cast  of  countenance. 

The  gauchos  have  enjoyed  from  time  immemorial 


CHAP.  VI.  CHARACTER  OF  GAUCHOS.  153 

a  degree  of  individual  liberty  not  to  be  seen  perhaps 
amongst  any  other  people.  Thinly  sprinkled  over 
immeasurable  plains,  they  were  scarcely  within  the 
control  of  a  local  magistracy,  and  they  set  at  open 
defiance  the  viceregal  authority  whenever  it  trenched 
upon  personal  freedom.  In  an  unadvanced  state  of 
civilization,  they  retain  more  of  the  noble  traits  of 
the  Spanish  character,  in  the  brightest  era  of  the 
monarchy,  than  is  to  be  found  in  the  mother  coun- 
try, or  in  any  part  of  what  were  once  her  colonial 
possessions.  Inheriting  the  abstemiousness  of  their 
forefathers,  they  are  surrounded  by  an  abundance 
more  than  sufficient  for  their  wants,  and  they  pass 
their  days  in  cheerful  indolence,  or  in  roaming  over 
their  treeless  savannahs  in  the  pursuit  of  business  or 
pleasure.  Hence  dishonesty  was  rare,  and  highway 
robbery  unknown. 

Robberies  and  murders  have  indeed  been  com- 
mitted during  the  unhappy  period  of  civil  broils; 
but  the  perpetrators  have  been  deserters  from  the 
army,  and  seldom  or  never  gauchos,  or  sons  of  the 
Pampas. 

Silver  and  gold  were  conveyed  regularly  from 
Upper  Peru  and  Chile  to  Buenos  Ayres  in  large 
quantities,  unescorted,  in  charge  of  a  single  con- 
ductor, without  the  smallest  risk  of  loss.  This  mode 
of  conveying  treasure  across  the  Pampas  was  resumed 
in  1825. 

It  is  a  generally  received  opinion,  that  mountain- 
ous countries  produce  a  people  animated  by  an  at- 
tachment to  liberty,  and  endowed  with  courage  to 
preserve  it ;  while  the  inhabitants  of  flat  lands  are 


/ 


154  ESTANC1A.  CHAP.  VI. 

considered  to  be  more  pliant  to  the  fetters  of  de- 
spotism. But  this  order  of  things  will  be  found  to 
be  inverted,  if  we  compare  the  wandering  gaucho, 
who  has  always  virtually  enjoyed  individual  independ- 
ence, to  the  abject  mountaineer  of  Peru,  who  was 
treated  infinitely  worse  than  the  negro  slave  in  any 
part  of  the  world.  Hence  it  appears  that  political 
institutions  have  sometimes  more  influence  upon  the 
formation  of  national  character  than  can  be  ascribed 
to  mountains  or  plains. 

The  buildings  on  the  farm  of  Don  Andres  Hi- 
dalgo were  three  dwellings :  the  principal  consisted 
of  a  single  apartment,  without  a  window  or  chimney, 
forty-two  feet  by  eighteen.  All  three  huts  were  made 
of  reed  walls,  covered  outside  and  in  with  clay.  The 
few  spars  are  brought  from  the  Monte  del  Tordillo, 
eighteen  leagues  distant:  the  rafters,  like  those  of 
every  house  in  the  Pampas,  are  fastened  by  strips  of 
hide ;  a  nail  is  never  used :  the  doors  are  frequently 
made  of  a  bullock's  skin  stretched  out  upon  a  frame. 
Don  Andres  had  as  much  land  as  he  chose  to  allow 
three  thousand  two  hundred  oxen  and  three  hundred 
horses  to  range  over.  This  was  considered  a  small 
establishment :  it  was  formed  only  the  year  before. 
Some  estancias  have  twenty  thousand  head  of  oxen, 
with  horses,  asses,  and  mules  in  proportion.  One 
peon  is  equal  to  the  care  of  one  thousand  head.  His 
duty  is  to  count  them  morning  and  evening,  and  to 
fetch  back  such  as  may  have  strayed. 

On  a  clear  day  the  high  ridge,  called  the  Sierra 
de  Volcan,  twenty  leagues  to  the  south,  can  be  dis- 
cerned with  the  naked  eye.     Thither  it  was  wished 


CHAP.  VI.  PARTRIDGES.  155 

to  extend  the  ride,  but  it  was  not  then  practicable, 
nor  would  it  become  so  until  the  waters  in  the  arroyos 
should  subside  sufficiently  to  render  them  fordable. 

The  government  intended  to  take  from  the  Indians 
such  another  slice  of  the  Pampas  as  would  place  the 
Sierra  within  the  Buenos  Ayrean  frontier;  and  it 
may  be  fairly  inferred,  that  these  intentions  proceeded 
from  motives  equally  laudable  as  those  of  the  Emperor 
Pedro,  who,  by  way  of  rounding  his  territories,  was 
very  desirous  of  adding  the  Banda  Oriental  to  the 
Brazilian  empire.  If  crowned  heads  are  fond  of  ag- 
grandizement, republicans  are  not  quite  so  far  be- 
hind them  as  they  profess  to  be,  in  playing  the  same 
game.  The  Buenos  Ayrean  outposts  were  then 
twelve  leagues  south  of  the  estancia  before  men- 
tioned, which,  together  with  two  or  three  estates, 
still  more  in  advance,  were  consequently  exposed  to 
the  visits,  and  sometimes  depredations,  of  the  In- 
dians, whose  huts,  or  awnings  of  skin,  are  often  less 
than  four  leagues  distant,  and  within  the  line  of 
scattered  outposts. 

Don  Andres  entertained  his  fellow-travellers  for 
six  days.  They  amused  themselves  in  chasing  deer, 
running  down  ostriches,  and  shooting  wild  ducks, 
pigeons,  and  quails,  of  which  there  are  immense  num- 
bers. Partridges  were  so  tame,  or  rather  stupid,  that 
the  usual  mode  of  killing  them  was  to  knock  them 
down  with  a  long  stick.  Several  were  despatched 
in  that  way  by  one  person  on  horseback,  within  the 
space  of  a  very  few  minutes.  They  are  so  plentiful 
every  where  that,  in  the  market  of  Buenos  Ayres, 
the  price  is  sometimes  below  tenpence  the  dozen. 


156  OSTRICHES.  CHAP,  VI, 

Ostriches  impart  a  lively  interest  to  a  ride  in  the 
Pampas.  They  are  seen  sometimes  in  coveys  of 
twenty  or  thirty,  gliding  elegantly  along  the  gentle 
undulations  of  the  plain,  at  half  pistol  shot  distance 
from  each  other,  like  skirmishers.  The  young  are 
easily  domesticated,  and  soon  become  attached  to 
those  who  caress  them,  but  they  are  troublesome  in- 
mates ;  for,  stalking  about  the  house,  they  will,  when 
full  grown,  swallow  coin,  shirt-pins,  and  every  small 
article  of  metal  within  reach.  Their  usual  food,  in 
a  wild  state,  is  seeds,  herbage,  and  insects:  the  flesh 

• 

is  a  reddish  brown,  and,  if  young,  not  of  bad  flavour. 
A  great  many  eggs  are  laid  in  the  same  nest,  which 
is  lined  with  dry  grass.  Some  accounts  were  given 
which  exonerate  the  ostrich  from  the  charge  of  being 
the  most  stupid  bird  in  the  creation.  For  example, 
the  hen  counts  her  eggs  every  day.  This  has  been 
proved  by  the  experiment  of  taking  an  egg  away,  or 
by  putting  one  in  addition.  In  either  case  she  de- 
stroys the  whole  by  smashing  them  with  her  feet. 
Although  she  does  not  attend  to  secrecy,  in  selecting 
a  situation  for  her  nest,  she  will  forsake  it  if  the  eggs 
have  been  handled.  It  is  also  said  that  she  rolls  a 
few  eggs,  thirty  yards  distant  from  the  nest,  and 
cracks  the  shells,  which,  by  the  time  her  young  come 
forth,  being  filled  with  maggots,  and  covered  with  in- 
sects, form  the  first  repast  of  her  infant  brood.  The 
male  bird  is  said  to  take  upon  himself  the  rearing  of 
the  young,  and  to  attach  more  importance  to  paternal 
authority  than  to  the  favours  of  his  mate.  If  two 
cock-birds  meet,  each  with  a  family,  they  fight  for 
the  supremacy  over  both ;  for  which  reason  an  ostrich 


CHAP.  VI.  VISCACHA— ZORRINO.  157 

has  sometimes  under  his  tutelage  broods  of  different 
ages. 

In  running  down  ostriches,  there  is  some  danger 
of  the  horse  stepping  in  holes  burrowed  by  the  t?&- 
cacha.  This  animal  resembles  what  might  be  ex- 
pected  between  a  rabbit  and  a  cat,  but  is  larger  than 
either.  In  the  plains,  particularly  on  the  hillocks, 
these  animals  scratch  burrows  so  skilfully,  as  to  be 
safe  from  inundation.  They  are  divided  into  several 
compartments,  and  several  families  usually  inhabit 
the  same  warren.  On  the  surface  many  holes  are 
opened,  near  which  numbers  of  them  are  seen  at  sun- 
set gazing  at  the  passer  by :  if  all  be  quiet,  they  go 
out  to  seek  for  food,  and  make  great  havock  if  they  be 
near  fields,  for  they  will  not  eat  grass  when  they  can 
get  wheat  or  Indian  corn.  They  are  also  very  fond 
of  a  sort  of  pumpkins.  In  order  to  hunt  viscachas, 
water  is  forced  into  the  subterraneous  dwellings,  and 
they  are  knocked  down  as  they  bolt  out.  Their  flesh 
is  not  bad  eating.  A  diminutive  owl  is  in  the  day,, 
time  to  be  seen  at  the  entrance  of  the  burrows,  as  if 
standing  sentry. 

The  xbrrino  is  very  common  on  the  plains.  It  is 
equal  in  size  to  a  small  rabbit,  of  a  very  dark  chestnut 
colour,  marked  on  each  side  by  two  broad  white  lines, 
which  are  a  continuation  of  the  fur  on  the  belly  part. 
Its  shape  is  elegant,  but  it  emits  an  intolerable  odour ; 
and  if  annoyed  or  frightened,  it  squirts,  with  unerring 
aim,  a  liquor  so  pestilent,  that  dogs,  when  sprinkled 
with  it,  will  howl  and  roll  themselves  on  the  ground 
as  if  scalded.  This  fluid  shines  in  the  night  like 
phosphorus.   Although  this  animal  is  small  and  weak, 


158  TRAFF1CK  WITH  THE  INDIANS.     CHAP.  Vf. 

it  may  be  considered  the  terror  of  the  plains,  for  it  it 
dreaded  by  tigers,  lions,  mastiffs,  and  every  animal* 
as  well  as  human  beings.  It  sometimes  enters  houaes, 
in  which  case  the  family  caress  it  until  some  one  has 
an  opportunity  of  seizing  it  by  the  tail,  when,  holding 
it  with  the  head  downwards,  they  kill  it,  without 
danger  to  themselves;  for  by  this  means  it  loses  the 
use  of  the  muscles  which  enable  it  to  emit  its  pesti- 
ferous defence.     The  fur  is  very  soft  and  pretty. 

Few  rabbits  are  to  be  seen  southward  of  Buenos 
Ayres,  but  they  are  more  common  in  the  provinces 
bordering  on  Peru.  Roebucks  are  numerous,  but 
the  red  deer  is  seldom  to.  be  met  with,  except  near 
the  banks  of  the  larger  rivers. 

One  day  the  party  dined  with  Don  Jos£  Pita,  who 
was  another  fellow-traveller  from  Buenos  Ayres,  and 
whose  estancia,  four  leagues  from  Hidalgo's,  was  the 
most  advanced  of  any  in  a  southerly  direction.  There 
they  met  a  cacique  promenading,  with  his  wives,  his 
children,  and  a  few  attendants :  some  of  them  spoke 
Spanish  tolerably.  They  appeared  to  be  of  a  race  su- 
perior to  the  Creek  Indians  employed  with  the  British 
against  New  Orleans.  Their  faces  were  stained  with 
the  blood  of  horses^  and  they  wore  feathers.  Their 
complexion  is  a  dull  copper  colour,  hair  long,  lank* 
and  of  a  shining  black.  The  men  look  upon  the 
women  as  beings  of  a  less  noble  species,  and  accord- 
ingly treat  them  with  indifference. 

Trafficking  with  the  aborigines  must  yield  a  large 
profit,  because  a  tiger's  skin,  worth  eight  dollars  in 
Buenos  Ayres,  was  purchased  on  the  road  for  a  dollar 
and  a  quarter.    For  the  eighth  of  a  dollar's  worth  of 


CHAP.  VI.  INDIAN  ENCAMPMENT.  159 

Paraguay  tea,  six  viscacha  skins  were  bought:  at 
Buenos  Ayres  the  same  articles  would  sell  for  three 
quarters  of  a  dollar. 

One  day  was  devoted  to  a  visit  to  an  Indian  vil- 
lage, or  encampment,  with  the  inhabitants  of  which 
Don  Andres  was  very  popular.  These,  like  all  other 
Indians,  have  an  inveterate  custom  of  begging  for 
every  thing  they  see  and  fancy  in  the  possession 
of  a  stranger;  pocket-handkerchiefs,  gloves,  whips, 
pen-knives,  pencils,  and  metal  buttons  were  eagerly 
grasped  at.  They  all  took  a  childish  fancy  to  Mr* 
Miller's  pelisse,  and  it  was  with  evident  mortification 
they  suffered  themselves  to  be  dissuaded  from  taking 
it  off  his  back;  a  foraging  cap  was  preserved  with 
almost  as  much  difficulty :  but,  notwithstanding  this 
disappointment,  the  Indians  ultimately  took  leave  of 
their  guests  in  a  very  friendly  manner. 

As  we  do  not  profess  to  adhere  to  strict  chronolo- 
gical order,  some  observations,  made  at  subsequent 
periods,  are  here  introduced,  because  they  are  deemed 
illustrative  of  gaucho  manners. 

Amongst  other  exhibitions  for  the  entertainment 
of  his  guests,  skill  in  horsemanship  is  a  favourite  dis- 
play by  an  estanciero.  He  will  order  a  few  young 
horses  to  be  "gentled."  A  number,  never  crossed 
before,  are  driven  into  a  corral,  or  cattle-pen,  which 
is  a  circular  enclosure,  formed  of  strong  stakes  driven 
like  palisades  into  the  ground,  and  tied  crosswise  with 
strong  slips  of  hide:  it  is  sometimes  made  of  a  mud 
or  stone  wall.  A  bar  is  placed  at  a  proper  height 
across  the  only  entrance,  which  is  narrowed  so  as  to 
permit  the  egress  of  a  single  horse  at  a  time.  A  peon 


160  HORSES  OF  TITE  PAMPAS.  CHAP.  VI. 

perches  himself  upon  the  bar,  and  drops  adroitly  upon 
the  back  of  one  as  it  passes  out  at  a  gallop ;  he  holds 
on  without  bridle  or  saddle,  by  sticking  his  long  spurs 
into  the  side  of  the  wild  colt,  which  bounds  away, 
kicks,  plunges,  reaj*s,  jumps,  and  uses  every  effort  to 
throw  his  rider,  until,  frightened  and  wearied,  he  be- 
comes perfectly  manageable.  If  the  peon  wishes  to 
dismount  before  the  horse  grows  tired,  he  trips  it; 
up  by  putting  his  spurs  between  its  fore  legs,  close 
under  the  chest,  and,  preserving  an  upright  seat, 
comes  down  himself  unhurt  upon  his  feet.  The 
breaking-in  of  colts  is  afterwards  easily  effected,  but 
it  is  not  well  done,  for  the  horses  have  generally  very 
hard  mouths.  In  Chile  and  Peru  the  art  is  better 
understood. 

The  horses  on  the  plains  of  Buenos  Ayres  are 
from  fourteen  to  sixteen  hands  high,  plenty  of  bone, 
and  swift.  Although  their  food  is  pasturage  alone, 
they  are  often  ridden  a  distance  almost  incredible. 
Thirty-five  leagues  in  fourteen  or  fifteen  hours  is  not 
an  uncommon  thing  for  one  horse  to  perform.  The 
equality  of  the  stoneless  plain,  and  the  easy  gait  of  the 
unshod  horse,  do  not  a  little  concur  to  render  the  per- 
formance of  long  journeys  easy.  In  summer,  the  horses 
are  exposed  to  the  stings  of.musquitoes  and  scorching 
suns ;  to  heavy  rains  and  hoar-frosts  in  winter,  when 
the  south  wind  blows  bitingly  cold;  all  which  render 
them  extremely  hardy:  whilst  the  liberty  they  enjoy 
in  wandering  up  and  down  the  plains,  plunging  in 
running  streams,  or  large  pools  of  water,  at  pleasure, 
added  to  the  invigorating  effects  of  pure  air,  render 
them  less  subject  to  disease  than  the  horses  of  Europe, 


CHAP.  VI.      THE  GAUCHO  AND  JOHN   BULL.  161 

confined  in  hot  and  unwholesome  stables,  and  where 
the  hardness  of  the  roads  subjects  the  hoof  to  the 
torments  of  the  smith. 

Mares  were  not  useddftfe  the  saddle  until  some 
Englishmen*  in  spite  of  we"  ridicule  of  the  natives, 
introduced  the  custom,  which,  however,  is  not  even 
yet  general.  Tails  of  horses  were  mUfer.  cut ;  but 
our  countrymen  have  likewise  introduced  that  cruel 
fashion. 

Horses,  mules,  and  cattle  bred  on  some  higher 
parts  of  the  Pampas,  which  abound  in  stone,  or  rock, 
as  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Cordova,  are  preferred, 
and  sell  for  more  than  those  bred  on  estates  having 
a  soft  and  clayey  bottom. 

The  gaucho  can  get  more  work  out  of  a  horse 
than  an  European.  An  Englishman,  who  had  been 
accustomed  to  ride  from  infancy,  states  that  it  has 
often  happened  that,  when  he  has  not  been  able  to  get 
a  jaded  horse  out  of  a  walk,  he  has  changed  horses 
with  a  gaucho  postillion,  who  has  immediately  started 
off  at  a  full  gallop.  The  horse  of  the  postillion  has 
proved  as  dull  as  the  first  under  the  European  rider, 
and  upon  exchanging  the  same  horses  a  second  time 
the  same  thing  has  again  occurred.  It  appears  that  they 
have  the  art  of  keeping  them  going  until  they  drop ; 
and  as  ordinary  horses  are  low  priced,  the  loss  and 
the  cruelty  are  equally  matters  of  no  consideration. 

The  gauchos  regard  with  a  sort  of  pitying  disdain 
the  timid  or  unskilful  horseman.  Their  remarks 
upon  a  new-comer  from  Europe  are  irresistibly  lu- 
dicrous. The  contempt  they  entertain  towards  fo- 
f  eigners  unable  to  manage  a  restive  horse  is  more 

vol.  i.  u 


162         RETURN  TO  BUENOS  AYRES.    CHAP.  VI. 

than  a  counterpart  of  a  John  Bull's  sneers  and  scorn 
for  countries  which  have  not  the  comforts  or  accom- 
modations of  England.  When  Miller  travelled  from 
Buenos  Ayres  to  Chile^flfc  second  postillion  eagerly 
inquired  of  the  first,  upo^mopping  to  change  horses, 
what  sort  of  a^pung  man  he  had  brought  with  him. 
The  first  sltf^ged  up  his  shoulders,  and  answered, 
Jtfo  sabe  nada,  nipitar  siquiera,  "  He  knows  abso- 
lutely nothing;  why,  he  cannot  even  smoke."  Thi& 
was  because  an  offered  cigar  had  been  declined  on 
the  road. 

On  the  10th  of  November  the  tourists  set  out  upon 
their  return,  and  arrived,  at  dusk  on  the  second  day, 
at  lake  Ligonel,  where  they  fared  badly,  and  where 
the  musquitoes  were  so  annoying  as  to  render  it  im- 
possible to  sleep.  Upon  rolling  up  their  blankets 
next  morning,  they  disturbed  numbers  of  frogs  which 

* 

had  crept  underneath  them  in  the  course  of  the  night. 

On  the  12th  of  November  they  re-crossed  the  river 
Salado.  On  the  13th  they  made  a  late  start  from 
Chascomus,  on  account  of  their  horses  being  nearly 
knocked  up.  On  reaching  the  estancia  of  Don 
Miguel  Rodriguez,  he  unhesitatingly  lent  Miller 
two  of  his  best  horses  for  the  rest  of  the  journey, 
although  Rodriguez  had  never  seen  Miller  before, 
excepting  when  he  passed  on  his  way  from  Buenos 
Ayres.  The  party  put  up  for  the  night  at  the  house 
of  an  estanciero  who  possessed  a  mill,  the  rude  ma- 
chinery of  which  was  set  in  motion  by  a  mule. 

On  the  14th  of  November  the  tourists  arrived  at 
Buenos  Ayres,  having  ridden  about  a  thousand  miles 
in  nine  days,  not  including  six  spent  at  the  estancia 
of  Don  Andres  Hidalgo. 


CHAP.  VII.  JOURNEY  TO  MKNDOZA.  163 


TOR 


CHAFFER  VII. 


Journey  to  Mendoza. — Andes.] — Chile. — Sam^o. — Roads.— 
Army  at  Las  Tablas. — Mess. — Artillery. — Appointments.— 
Rapidity  of  movement. — March. — Lasso  bridge. — Quechere- 
guas. — Cancharayada. — Consternation  in  the  capital.— 'Rodri- 
guez.— Maypo.; — The  Lautaro. — Blockade  of  Valparaiso. — The 
Esmeralda. 

On  the  6th  of  January,  1818,  Captain  Miller  set 
out  from  Buenos  Ayres,  provided  with  a  passport  and 
fifty  dollars,  as  outfit,  from  the  government.  Tra- 
velling post,  he  took  a  horse  for  himself,  another  for 
his  baggage,  and  a  third  for  the  postillion,  who  was 
relieved  at  every  stage.  The  passport  was  an  au- 
thority to  pay  with  certificates,  supposed  to  be  after- 
wards liquidated  by  the  treasury  at  the  rate  of  a  quar- 
ter of  a  real,  or  about  three  halfpence  per  league  for 
each  horse,  being  half  the  sum  paid  in  cash  by  tra- 
vellers not  upon  the  public  service.  The  military  now 
pay  in  coin,  and  at  the  same  rate  as  other  travellers. 
Post-houses  are  situated  at  from  four  to  seven  or  eight 
leagues  distance  from  each  other.  A  postillion  does 
not  expect  to  be  "  remembered,5 '  but  he  receives  with 
satisfaction  the  compliment  of  half  a  real  (three- 
pence). It  is  not  usually  given,  and  never  asked 
for.  Although  persons  posting  across  the  Pampas 
often  meet  with  delay  in  obtaining  fresh  horses,  forty 
or  fifty  leagues  is  a  common  day's  journey.     At  the 

m  2 


164  POSTING  ON   THE  PAMPAS.  CHAP.  VII. 

different  relays  a  detached  house,  of  one  large  room,  is 
appropriated  for  the  use  of  travellers.     No  charge  is 
made  for  lodgings.     The  climate  is  so  fine  that  a  dry 
bullock  hide,  spread  in  IjtfApen  air,  and  covered  with 
saddle-cloths,  cloak,  or  poncho,  is  preferred,  when  it 
does  not  rain,  to  sleeping  under  cover.  The  saddle  an- 
swers the  giu$oses  of  a  pillow.    Those  who  have  been 
reared  in  the  lap  of  luxury  may  listen  with  a  smile  of 
disdain  to  the  mention  of  these  humble  accommoda- 
tions.    Such  persons  can  have  no  idea  of  the  pleasure 
with  which  the  weary  traveller  eyes  the  lowly  couch 
where  delicious  slumber  is  not  broken  until  the  gray 
of  morning  rouses  hijn  refreshed,  and  prepared  for 
renewed  exertion.     They  cannot  imagine  with  what 
eagerness  he  alights  again  in  the  evening  at  some 
distant  post-house ;  nor  the  relish  which  hunger  gives 
to  the  plain  but  wholesome  supper;  nor  the  com* 
placency  with  which  he  listens  to  the  rude  guitar, 
the  simple  song,  and  the  conversation  of  gauchos 
drawn  together  by  the  arrival  of  a  stranger.     These 
are  pleasures  known  only  to  those  who  have  been 
content  to  take  things  as  they  find  them.     Persons 
of  fastidious   taste,    and  unconforming  mind,  pre- 
determined to  pronounce  every  thing  wrong,  and 
who  feel  in  romantic  novelty  no  compensation  for 
fatigues,  and  the  absence  of  accustomed  comforts, 
might  find  causes  of  complaint  at  every  step,  and 
relief  only  in  the  publication  of  their  miseries. 

After  a  ride  of  three  hundred  leagues,  Miller 
reached  Mendoza  on  the  ninth  day.  It  is  a  large 
town,  in  an  extensive  and  well-cultivated  plain  at  the 
foot  of  the  Andes,  and  is  the  capital  of  the  province 


CHAP.  VII.    MENDOZA— PROVINCE  OF  CUYO.  165 

of  Cuyo.  Its  most  remarkable  feature  is  a  .fine 
alameda,  or  public  promenade,  of  great  length  and 
beauty,  formed  by  four  rows  of  poplars  of  extraordi- 
nary height  and  regularity.  The  introduction  of  this 
tree  by  a  Spaniard  is  deserving  of  notice,  because  it  is 
honourable  to  patriot  liberality.  The  poplar  was  found 
to  thrive  exceedingly  by  the  side  of  the  azequias 
(small  shallow  canals),  by  which  the  cultivated  spots 
are  irrigated.  Within  ten  years  from  their  first  in- 
troduction, half  a  million  of  poplars  were  planted. 
When  the  revolution  broke  out,  this  worthy  Spaniard, 
Don  Juan  — — -,  was,  by  an  express  decree,  excepted 
from  the  hostility  shown  to  his  countrymen ;  exempted 
from  the  payment  of  all  direct  taxes;  and  taken 
under  the  protection  of  government. 

The  manners  of  the  people  of  Mendoza  are  mild, 
and,  in  simplicity,  pre-eminently  republican.  None 
have  much  money,  although  many  possess  large 
estates.  On  the  other  hand,  very  few  are  in  de- 
stitute circumstances.  Ardent  spirits  are  abundant 
and  cheap,  but  notwithstanding  this,  great  crimes 
are  rare.  Of  seventy-two  offenders  brought  to  trial  in 
one  year,  three  only  were  Cuyanos,  or  natives  of  the 
province. 

In  the  country  a  great  deal  of  social  visiting  takes 
place,  particularly  on  a  Sunday.  Good  horses  shorten 
distances,  and  large  parties  assemble  at  farm-houses, 
where  playing  at  forfeits,  dancing,  and  singing,  are 
amongst  the  usual  amusements.  A  lady,  sometimes 
in  a  riding-habit,  perhaps  with  a  long  whip  in  her 
hand,  and  gentlemen  variously  attired,  walk  a  jni- 
nuet  by  day-light,  with  infinite  grace,  on  an  earthen 


166  GOITRE.  CBAfr.  VII. 

floor.  Waltzes  are  also  danced  in  these  gay  and 
good-humoured  parties ;  but  the  heat  of  the  weather 
makes  the  minuet  more  common. 

The  goitre  is  prevalent  at  Mendoza,  and  still  more 
so  at  the  large  and  populous  village  of  San  Vicente, 
a  league  distant ;  but  it  is  not  accompanied  by  idiotcy, 
as  in  some  of  the  cantons  of  Switzerland. 

Miller  crossed  the  Andes  by  the  pass  of  Uspallata, 
and  reached  Santiago,  a  distance  of  ninety  leagues 
from  Mendoza,  in  three  days  and  a  half. 

It  is  impossible  to  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the 
solitary  grandeur  of  those  immeasurable  ridges,  whose 
peaky  summits  seem  to  pierce  the  firmament.     The 
wearisome,  and  almost  never-ending,  ascents  and  de- 
scents along  the  course  of  rumbling  torrents,  so  far 
beneath  as  to  be,  though  within  hearings  not  always 
within  sight,  impart  a  character  of  loneliness  not  coin* 
mon  to  mountain  barriers,  when  enlivened  by  a  few 
scattered  human  habitations.     In  the  Cordillera  it  is 
a  pleasure  to  meet  even  the  stag-like  gaze  of  the 
guanaco,  and  equally  a  relief  to  look  at  the  condor, 
as,  with  unfluttering  wing,  it  floats  almost  movelessly 
above,  bearing  the  s&me  relative  proportion  to  the 
eagle  of  Europe  that  his  native  Andes  do  to  the  Alps. 
The  snow  in  some  of  the  highest  table-lands  is  diffi- 
cult  to  pass,  because  it  dissolves  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  leave  an  irregular  surface  like  fields  of  sugar-loaves 
of  different  sizes.    Jff  ules  frequently  sink  to  the  girth, 
and  surmount  thes^  obstructions  with  great  toil.    The 
strange  noises  made  by  gusts  of  wind  in  the  reverbe- 
rating valleys  sound  to  the  ear  of  the  timorous  guide 
like  moans;   and  he  does  not  fail  to  recount  long 


CHAP-  VII.  SANTIAGO.  167 

stories  of  travellers  that  have  perished,  and  whose 
souls  he  supposes  still  haunt  the  vicinity  of  their  un- 
buried  remains.  He  also  enlivens  the  journey  by 
strange  tales  of  witchcraft  and  of  mountain  demons. 
On  entering  Chile,  the  scene  changes  from  the 
sublime  to  the  beautiful.  Wherever  water  is  to  be 
found,  the  fertility  of  the  soil  is  incomparably  greater 
than  in  almost  any  other  country  of  the  world.  Fruit 
used  to  be  so  cheap  that  it  was  the  custom  for  a  man 
to  load  his  mule  from  a  garden  with  whatever  sorts 
he  chose  to  select,  for  a  real  (sixpence).  One  of  the 
consequences  of  the  revolution  has  been'  to  enhance 
the  value  of  the  products  of  the  earth,  and  a  dollar 
is  now  demanded  for  the  same  privilege.  In  1818, 
as  much  bread  as  would  suffice  six  men,  for  a  day,  cost 
a  real. .  At  the  houses  of  entertainment  by  the  road- 
side, a  real  and  a  half  was  the  charge  for  a  chicken 
with  an  unstinted  accompaniment  of  vegetables. 

Miller  crossed  the  heights  of  Chacabuco,  and 
arrived  at  Santiago  on  the  24th  of  January,  1818. 
This  city  is  the  capital  of  Chile.  Perhaps  it  covers 
nearly  four  square  miles,  although  its  population  does 
not  exceed  forty  thousand  souls.  The  houses  are  of 
a  single  story,  roofed  with  pantiles.  The  principal 
residences  have  lofty  and  ornamental  gateways.  The 
street  front  is  sometimes  built  into  shops,  without 
any  outlet  into  the  court-yard  behind. 

Water  is  conveyed  from  the  river  Mapocho  in 
azequidSy  which  run  through  the  principal  streets, 
and  feed  smaller  ones,  which  supply  the  houses  and 
.carry  off  impurities.  The  water  of  other  axequias 
is  expended  in  the  irrigation  of  fields.     Wherever 


168  LAS  TABLAS.  CHAP.  VII. 

this  can  be  done,  perpetual  verdure  clothes  the  face 
of  the  country,  but  every  where  else  barrenness  pre- 
vails, excepting  in  the  rainy  season. 

The  north  side  of  the  great  square  of  Santiago  is 
occupied  by  the  Directorial  Palace,  a  fine  building, 
having  the  city  prison  under  the  same  roof.  The 
unfinished  cathedral,  and  mean-looking  palace  of  the 
bishop,  form  the  west  side.  The  mint,  a  very  fine 
building,  is  situated  in  an  obscure  part  of  the  city. 
The  alameda,  the  tajamar,  or  wall  to  guard  against 
occasional  overflowings  of  the  Mapocho,  and,  in  fact, 
every  other  great  and  useful  public  work,  were  sug* 
gested  and  carried  into  execution  by  Captain-General 
O'Higgins,  the  father  of  the  late  supreme  director. 
His  road  from  Santiago  to  Valparaiso  is  the  Simplon 
of  the  New  World.  He  also  planned  and  executed 
several  great  works  in  Lima  whilst  viceroy  of  Peru. 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  January,  Miller 
quitted  Santiago,  and,  after  a  ride  of  twenty-five 
leagues,  joined  the  division  of  the  army  bivouacked 
at  Las  Tablas,  near  Valparaiso.  The  officers  and 
men  were  comfortably  hutted.  The  encampment 
extended  over  above  a  league  of  ground,  being  in- 
tersected by  ravines,  formed  by  mountain  torrents 
gushing,  in  the  rainy  season,  through  the  bottoms 
of  little  vales.  The  different  corps,  in  order  to  their 
being  conveniently  supplied  with  water,  were  sta- 
tioned on  the  borders  of  the  ravines,  at  the  distance 
of  about  a  mile  from  each  other.  Each  corps  possessed 
six  or  eight  tents,  which  were  used  by  the  guard,  and 
as  magazines  for  stores  when  halting  at  the  end  of  a 
day's  march. 


CHAP.  VII.   BUENOS  AYREAN  ARTILLERY.        169 

Miller  reported  his  arrival  to  General  San  Martin, 
whose  head-quarters  were  at  the  hacienda  of  Dorego, 
three  or  four  leagues  from  Las  Tablas.  He  was  then 
ordered  to  his  regiment,  the  Buenos  Ayrean  artillery. 
On  his  presenting  himself  to  the  commandant,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Plaza,  the  latter,  without  inviting  him 
to  be  seated,  sent  an  orderly  to  show  him  an  unoccupied 
tent.  As  his  baggage  had  not  come  up,  Miller  threw 
himself  on  the  ground,  and  slept  soundly  till  morning, 
when  he  received  visits  from  the  officers  of  the  regi- 
ment, whose  politeness  effaced  the  unfavourable  im- 
pression made  by  the  lieutenant-colonel's  uncourteous 
reception.  Each  grade  had  a  separate  mess,  and  Miller 
gladly  accepted  the  invitation  to  join  that  of  the 
captains. 

Amongst  them  was  Don  Francisco  Dias,  a  Spa- 
niard, and  formerly  in  the  navy.  He  was  a  proficient 
in  the  mathematics,  understood  fortification,  spoke 
English  fluently,  was  familiar  with  French  literature, 
and  extremely  sociable  with  those  to  whom  he  was 
attached.  His  wife,  a  native  of  Monte  Video,  was 
an  amiable  woman,  and  an  honorary  member  of  the  . 
mess.  She  had  accompanied  her  husband  in  all  his 
campaigns,  and  underwent  extraordinary  privations 
and  fatigues  with  unchangeable  gaiety. 

Don  Juan  Apostol  Martinez,  a  captain  in  the  . 
regiment,  when  a  mere  youth,  distinguished  himself 
in  the  defence  of  Buenos  Ay  res  against  the  British ; 
he  was  a  brave  officer  and  a  cheerful  companion,  but 
of  a  very  eccentric  character.  His  antipathy  to  Spa- 
niards was  unconquerable.  He  would  never  call  Cap- 
tain Dias  by  any  other  name  than  "  Gallego  Dias," 
until  three  duels,  in  which  each  received  wounds, 


170  OFFICERS  OF  THE  GHAP.  VII. 

produced  a  tacit  agreement,  that  Juan  Apostol  was 
never  to  mention  Dias  by  the  name  of  "  Gallego"  in 
his  presence. 

On  the  march,  Don  Juan  Apostol  was  accustomed 
to  play  his  tricks  upon  the  priesthood,  if  Spaniards 
or  of  the  royalist  party.  He  has  been  known  to 
send  for  a  monk,  and,  pretending  to  be  dangerously 
ill,  would,  with  groans  forced  by  apparent  bodily 
sufferings,  confess  himself  guilty  of  all  the  deadly 
sins.  When  he  had  obtained  the  full  attention  of 
the  confessor,  Don  Juan  Apostol  concluded  by  re- 
lating a  pretended  dream,  in  which  he  stated  that  he 
had  kicked  a  priest  out  of  the  house ;  "  and  now," 
said  he,  "  behold  the  dream  of  John  the  Apostle 
come  to  pass."  More  than  one  holy  friar  carried, 
for  days,  the  marks  of  Juan's  anti-apostolical  feet. 
For  these  and  other  practical  jokes  Captain  Martinez 
was  sometimes  placed  under  arrest ;  but,  as  he  judi- 
ciously confined  the  exercise  of  his  wit  to  disreputable 
friars,  and  as  his  character  was  held  in  deserved 
esteem,  he  always  got  off  with  a  slight  admonition. 
.  Beltran,  who  has  been  mentioned  as  superintend- 
ing the  passing  of  the  artillery  across  the  Andes  from 
Mendoza,  was  now  captain  in  the  regiment,  and  placed 
in  charge  of  the  maestranza,  or  field  depot,  to  which 
about  fifty  artificers  were  attached.  The  revolution 
found  Beltran  in  the  cloister  of  a  convent,  but  throw- 
ing aside  the  cowl,  he  became  an  active,  intelligent, 
and  useful  officer*. 


•  This  officer  afterwards  served  with  distinction  throughout  the  campaigns 
of  Chile  and  Peru.  The  war  concluded,  he  retired  to  Buenos  Ayres,  and,  re- 
signing his  commission  of  lieutenant-colonel,  to  which  rank  he  had  attained  with 
much  honour  and  credit,  he  became  a  clergyman.  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that 
'  *mly  meritorious  man  died,  neglected  and  in  penury,  in  1827* 


CHAP.  VII.       BUENOS  AY11EAN  ARTILLERY.  171 

Captain  Giroust,  who  had  been  educated  at  Vtcole 
polytechnique  at  Paris,  and  who  was  afterwards  page 
to  King  Jerome  Bonaparte,  was  another  officer  in 
the  corps,  but  was  at  this  time  .detached  at  Valpa* 
raiso*,  under  the  orders  of  Major  Arcoet  of  the 
engineers. 

The  adjutant,  Taltnayancu,  was  an  Afaucanian 
Ihdian,  Who  had  been  brought  Up  and  educated  by 
Father  Julian,  mentioned  in  the  account  of  the  In- 
dian palaver.  The  adjutant  was  stout  and  squat; 
his  complexion  sallow  and  shining :  from  under  a  low 
forehead  peered  out  two  twinkling  eyes,  which,  from 
their  good-humoured  vivacity,  relieved  the  expression 
of  a  countenance  that  was  often  compared  to  the  full 
moon.  He  was  fond  of  creating  false  alarms  in  the 
encampment,  by  answering  the  challenge  of  sentinels 
at  night,  as  if  enemies  were  at  hand.  .  The  day  after 
his  arrival  Miller  mounted  guard :  Taltnayancu  at- 
tempted to  play  his  usual  pranks  upon  the  new  comer ; 
but  being  overheard  by  an  officer  who  knew  his  voice, 
he  was  detected,  and  placed  under  a  short  arrest. 

Thef6  were  some  very  fin©  young  men  amongst 
the  other  officers  of  the  corps,  and  all  were  extremely 
obliging.     Most  of  them  played  on  the  guitar,  or 

*  Captain  Giroust  was  made  prisoner  by  the  royalists  in  Peru.  He  obtained 
his  liberty,  and  resigned  his  commission  in  the  patriot  service*  fie  has  since 
married  a  lady  of  the  country,  and  is  established  at  Lima. 

•f  Arcos,  a  native  of  Galicia,  served  on  the  staff  of  Marshal  Jourdan  at  the 
battle  of  Vitoria.  Being  obliged  to  quit  the  patriot  army  after  the  retreat  from 
Cancharayada,  he  became  a  contractor.  A  little  before  the  downfall  of  O'Hig- 
gins,  and  his  minister  Rodriguez  Aldea,  Arcos  was  compelled  to  make  a  preci- 
pitate retreat  from  Chile,  not  before,  however,  he  had  realized  a  considerable 
fortune,  which  he  has  since  greatly  augmented  in  Europe.  He  is  now  living  at 
Paris,  with  the  ostentation  of  a  prince,  and  the  meanness  of  a  Jew.  His  beau- 
tiful wife  is  the  daughter  of  a  distinguished  Chileno  family,  and  her  unim- 
peachable conduct  forms  an  amiable  contrast  to  her  husband's 

"  Meanness  that  soars,  and  pride  that  licks  the  dust." 


172  MODE  OF  LIVING.  CHAP.  vn. 

sang,  and  good  fellowship  reigned  throughout  the 
camp. 

The  style  of  living  was  simple  but  substantial.  A 
benign  climate  permitted  persons  to  sleep  and  to  live 
in  the  open  air,  excepting  in  the  heat  of  the  day. 
Mate,  served  by  a  lame  invalid,  retained  for  that 
purpose,  was  taken  from  hut  to  hut  before  the  occu- 
pant arose  from  his  mattrass.  Breakfast  a  la  Jour - 
-chette  was  served  at  nine.  The  dinner,  between 
two  and  three  o'clock,  consisted  of  excellent  soup, 
roasted  strips  of  flesh,  brought  to  table  on  a  stick  or 
ramrod,  which  answered  the  purpose  of  a  spit,  poultry, 
vegetables,  and  fruit  in  great  abundance.  The  prices 
in  the  camp  market  were,  for  poultry  one  shilling  a 
couple;  vegetables  for  six  or  eight  people  threepence ; 
apples  and  pears  a  shilling  per  bushel ;  water-melons 
three  halfpence  each;  bread  and  other  articles  of 
food  were  proportionably  cheap. 

The  rations,  which  consisted  of  meat  and  salt,  and 
sometimes  vegetables,  for  the  whole  corps,  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty  men,  cost  the  government  less  than 
1000  dollars  per  month.  The  pay  of  a  private  soldier 
was  four  dollars  per  month  ;  the  half  was  stopped  on 
account  of  rations,  &c.  The  net  pay  of  a  captain  of 
artillery  was  sixty-five  dollars  per  month. 

Mate  was  again  served  round  at  sunset,  and  a 
supper  followed  for  those  who  chose  to  partake  of  it. 

Sudden  changes  of  temperature  were  felt  at  Las 
Tablas  in  the  course  of  twenty-four  hours.  At  noon 
Fahrenheit's  thermometer  would  stand  at  85°;  at 
sunset  a  breeze  arose,  and  the  mercury  sunk  to  65°. 
Before  this,  black  clouds  appeared  to  rise  up  directly 


CHAP.  VII.  ABTILLEttY.  178 

out  of  the  ocean,  and  were  seen  flying  towards  the 
summits  of  the  Andes,  which  attracted  and  inter- 
cepted them.  Perhaps  in  no  other  country  is  the 
sun  seen  to  set  in  so  much  glory.  For  a  long  time 
after  he  has  sunk  below  the  horizon,  he  still  gilds 
the  summits  of  the  mighty  wall  of  the  Cordillera ; 
broken  masses  of  clouds,  magnificently  tinged,  im- 
part to  the  scene  a  degree  of  splendour  absolutely 
inconceivable. 

The  corps  of  Buenos  Ayrean  artillery  consisted  of 
ten  six-pounders  and  one  howitzer,  and  four  companies 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men  each.  The  first 
company  was  attached  to  the  guns.  Each  gun  was 
drawn  by  four  horses,  and  each  horse  ridden  by  a  gun- 
ner, there  being  no  corps  of  drivers  in  the  service.  A 
non-commissioned  officer  and  seven  gunners  mounted, 
vyere,  besides  the  four  already  mentioned,  attached  to 
each  piece  of  artillery.  The  carriage  and  limber  differ 
but  little  from  what  are  used  in  the  English  service, 
excepting  that  a  pole  is  substituted  for  shafts.  The 
horses  are  put  to  the  carriages  by  a  thong  of  hide, 
one  end  of  which  is  strapped  to  a  ring  at  the  end  of 
the  girth,  high  up  under  the  flap  of  the  saddle ;  the 
other  end  of  the  thong  is  strapped  in  like  manner  to 
another  ring  at  the  end  of  the  pole.  The  thong 
traces  of  the  leaders  differ  from  those  of  the  wheel 
horses  in  nothing  but  being  longer.  The  saddle 
girth  is  about  four  inches  broad,  and  is  made  of 
strips  of  hide  plaited.  At  each  end  is  an  iron  ring, 
by  which  the  girth  is  fastened  to  the  saddle  by  laces 
of  hide.  It  is  to  one  of  these  rings  that  the  thong 
trace  is  fixed.    Buckles,  collars,  cruppers,  and  breast;- 


174  ARTILLEltY.  CHAP*  VII. 

plates  are  not  in  use.  Every  gunner  is  competent 
to  repair,  or  even  to  make  a  harness.  The  only  ira* 
plement  required  is  a  clasp  knife,  and  the  only  ma* 
terial  a  piece  of  hide.  This  lasso  harness,  if  so  it  may 
be  termed,  possesses  the  advantages  of  strength  and 
simplicity,  and  is  at  the  same  time  free  from  many 
inconveniences  attending  harnesses  more  pleasing  to 
the  eye.  To  protect  the  wheel  from  the  action  of 
the  sun,  strips  of  hide  an  inch  broad  are  bound  round 
every  spoke  and  every  felloe.  This  is  done  with 
green  hide,  and  as  the  strips  harden  and  tighten 
gradually  as  they  dry,  they  add  very  much  to  the 
strength  of  the  wheel.  Even  that  part  of  the  overlay 
which  covers  the  tire  lasts  a  long  time  upon  the  South 
American  carriage  roads,  and  when  it  wears  out  it  is 
easily  renewed ;  but  this  species  of  clothing  gives 
clumsiness  to  the  wheels,  and  therefore  upon  going 
into  action  it  is  all  cut  away. 

Each  gunner  of  the  first  company  wore  a  dragoon 
sabre.  Those  of  the  second  company  acted  as  cavalry, 
and  were  armed  with  sabres  and  pistols.  The  third 
and  fourth  companies  had  muskets,  and  acted  as  in- 
fantry. All  however  were  taught  the  horse-artillery, 
cavalry,  and  infantry  exercises ;  and  being  all  equally 
good  horsemen,  no  difficulty  or  confusion  arose  out  of 
this  complexity  of  arms.  Every  man  was  skilful  in 
breaking  in  a  colt,  and  was  accustomed  to  catch  wild 
horses  with  the  lasso. 

Upwards  of  six  hundred  horses  were  attached  to  the 
corps.  When  wanted  they  were  driven  into  a  circle, 
where  each  man  would  unerringly  throw  the  lasso 
ever  the  head  of  the  horse  he  had  fixed  his  eye  upon. 


CHAP.  VII.  CAVALRY.  175 

The  saddles  were  put  on ;  the  horses  hooked  to  the 
carriages;  all  was  done,  and  the  regiment  formed, 
in  less  than  twelve  minutes.  Every  movement  was 
made  with  surprising  celerity.  The  exercise  of  the 
patriot  artillery  does  not  differ  materially  from  the 
European  system. 

If  a  horse  knocks  up  on  the  march,  one  of  the 
gunners  rides  up  with  a  fresh  one,  and,  with  it,  takes 
the  place  of  the  jaded  animal  without  the  party 
slackening  its  march  to  effect  the  change.  Several 
hundred  spare  horses  follow  in  the  rear. 

The  South  American  artillery  can  with  ease  pep- 
form  a  march  of  fifty  or  sixty  miles  a  day  for  many 
days  successively.  If  necessary,  it  could  march  fi  om 
Mendoza,  across  the  level  Pampas,  to  Buenos  Ayres, 
at  the  rate  of  even  ninety  miles  per  day;  supposing 
always  the  spare  horses  to  be  sufficiently  numerous  to 
allow  of  fresh  ones  being  put  to  the  carriage  after  k 
had  been  drawn  at  a  gallop  for  two  or  three  leagues. 

The  carriages  have  no  drags.  To  supply  this  de- 
ficiency, two  gunners  fasten  one  end  of  their  lassos 
to  the  washers,  and  the  other  end  to  the  ring  of  their 
saddle-girths.  By  making  their  horses  hold  back,  the 
purpose  of  a  drag  is  answered.  On  ascending  a  hill, 
on  crossing  rivers,  on  passing  over  swampy  ground, 
as  well  as  in  bad  roads,  additional  horses  are  hooked 
on  to  the  washers.  All  this  can  be  done  without 
halting  for  a  moment. 

To  hear  Creole  officers  speak  of  their  cavalry  as 
comparable  with  the  finest  in  Europe  was  calculated 
to  excite  a  smile  in  a  newly  arrived  European,  who, 
at  first  sight,  would  consider  the  comparison  prepoa- 


176  TROOPS  IN  GENERAL.  CHAP.  VII. 

terous ;  but  when  his  eye  had  become  accustomed  to 
the  poncho  and  the  slovenly  appearance  of  the  men, 
and  he  had  seen  them  in  aetion,  he  would  then  readily 
acknowledge  that  no  European  cavalry  could  cope 
with  gaucho  lancers,  throughout  a  campaign,  on 
South  American  ground. 

The  appearance  of  the  troops  in  general,  at  the 
time  we  are  speaking  of,  was  not  calculated  to  pro- 
duce a  very  favourable  impression  upon  the  mind  of. 
a  superficial  observer.  A  man  on  guard  without 
a  stock,  and  perhaps  without  a  button  to  his  coat, 
was  a  strange  sight  to  one  accustomed  to  see  well- 
dressed  soldiers.  Yet  the  composition  of  the  army  of 
the  Andes  was  good,  and  although  the  dress  of  the 
soldiers  was  unsightly,  they  were  well  armed,  tolera- 
bly well  disciplined,  and  very  enthusiastic.  National 
airs  and  hymns  to  liberty,  accompanied  by  the  sound 
of  guitars,  were  heard  throughout  the  encampment 
every  evening  till  a  late  hour. 

A  week  or  ten  days  after  Miller's  arrival  at  Las 
Tablas,  he  rode  to  Valparaiso  to  see  the  port,  and  to 
deliver  a  letter  of  introduction,  which  Captain  Sharpe, 
of  the  British  navy,  had  been  kind  enough  to  give 
him  at  Buenos  Ayres,  for  Commodore  Bowles.  On 
reaching  the.  table-land,  which  rises  immediately  be- 
Tiind  Valparaiso,  the  vast  Pacific  Ocean  suddenly 
appeared  in  view.  The  sun  shone  upon  the  unruffled 
expanse,  and  altogether  the  effect  was  startingly  in- 
teresting. It  revived  feelings  which  had  been  excited 
in  boyhood,  by  the  perusal  of  that  part  of  the  history 
of  the  conquest  of  Mexico  which  describes  Balbao  as 
leaving  his  companions,  and  advancing  alone  to  the  brow 


CHAP.  VII.  MILITARY  MOVEMENTS.  177 

of  a  ridge  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  whence  he 
caught  the  first  glance  of  the  magnificent  great  South 
Sea.  The  English  flag,  which  Miller  had  not  seen 
for  some  months,  now  appeared  at  the  mast-head  of 
two  vessels  at  anchor  in  the  port,  and  created  in  his 
mind  a  sensation  of  intense  pleasure. 

With  feelings  of  gratified  curiosity,  Miller  con- 
tinued his  ride  along  the  table-land,  and  descended 
the  zigzag  road  which  leads  to  the  Almendral,  a  sort 
of  suburb  of  Valparaiso.  Upon  his  arrival  at  the  port, 
he  proceeded  on  board  H.  M.  S.  Amphion,  where  he 
was  most  cordially  received  by  Commodore  Bowles,  at 
whose  table  he  met  Captain  Biddle  of  the  U.  S.  Ship 
Ontario,  and  Judge  Prevost.  To  the  two  latter  gen- 
tlemen Miller  is  indebted  for  much  subsequent  kind 
attention. 

The  arrival  at  Lima  from  Spain  of  the  first  bat- 
talion of  the  regiment  of  Burgos,  a  squadron  of 
JLanxeros  del  Rey,  and  a  troop  of  horse-artillery,  en- 
abled Pezuela  to  complete  the  equipment  of  an  ex- 
pedition destined  to  reconquer  Chile.  General  Osorio, 
son-in-law  to  the  viceroy,  sailed  from  Callao  on  the 
9th  of  Dec.  18 17,  and  disembarked  at  Talcahuano 
with  three  regiments  of  infantry,  one  of  cavalry,  and 
twelve  pieces  of  artillery,  in  all  about  three  thousand 
six  hundred  men.  To  these  were  added  the  garrison 
of  Talcahuano  under  Ordonez,  and  some  recruits 
obtained  by  Sanchez  in  the  province  of  Concepcion. 

Osorio  having  completed  his  force  to  six  thousand 
effective  men,  advanced  towards  the  capital  of  Chile. 
Previous  to  this,  O'Higgins  and  Las  Heras  had  fallen 
back  towards  Talca.     The  division  at  Las  Tablas 

vol.  1.  n 


173 


BRIDGE  OVER 


CHAP.  vn. 


under  San  Martin  marched  to  form  a  junction  with 
that  of  O'Higgins,  in  order  to  give  battle  to  Osorio. 
The  first  little  incident  that  occurred  was  in  cross- 
ing the  river  Maypo,  six  leagues  south  of  Santiago. 
The  Maypo  is  a  torrent  which  rushes  from  a  gorge 
of  the  Andes.     The  only  bridge  over  it  is  made  of 
what  may  be  called  hide  cables.     It  is  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  and  just  wide  enough 
to  admit  a  carriage.     It  is  upon  the  principle  of  sus- 
pension, and  constructed  where  the  banks  of  the  river 
are  so  bold  as  to  furnish  natural  piers.     The  figure 
of  the  bridge  is  nearly  that  of  an  inverted  arch. 
Formed  of  elastic  materials,  it  rocks  a  good  deal 
when  passengers  go  over  it.    The  infantry,  however, 
passed  upon  the  present  occasion  without  the  smallest 
difficulty.     The  cavalry  also  passed  without  any  ac- 
cident by  going  a  few  at  a  time,  and  each  man  leading 
his  horse.    When  the  artillery  came  up,  doubts  were 
entertained  of  the  possibility  of  getting  it  over.  The 
general  had  placed  himself  on  an  eminence  to  see  his 
army  file  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.     A  con- 
sultation was  held  upon  the  practicability  of  passing 
the  artillery.    Miller  volunteered  to  conduct  the  first 
gun.    The  limber  was  taken  off,  and  drag  ropes  were 
fastened  to  the  washers,  to  prevent  the  gun  from  de- 
scending too  rapidly.     The  trail,  carried  foremost, 
was  held  up  by  two  gunners,  but,  notwithstanding 
every  precaution,  the  bridge  swung  from  side  to  side, 
and  the  carriage  acquired  so  much  velocity,  that  the 
gunners  who  held  up  the  trail,  assisted  by  Miller, 
lost  their  equilibrium,  and  the  gun  upset.     The  car- 
riage, becoming  entangled  in  the  thong  balustrade, 


CHAP.  VII.  THE  MAYPO.  179 

was  prevented  from  falling  into  the  river,  but  the 
platform  of  the  bridge  acquired  an  inclination  almost 
perpendicular,  and  all  upon  it  were  obliged  to  cling 
to  whatever  they  could  catch  hold  of  to  save  them- 
selyes  from  being  precipitated  into  the  torrent,  which 
rolled  and  foamed  sixty  feet  below.  For  some  little 
time  none  dared  go  to  the  relief  of  the  party  thus 
suspended,  because  it  was  supposed  that  the  bridge 
would  snap  asunder,  and  it  was  expected  that  in  a 
few  moments  all  would  drop  into  the  abyss  beneath. 
However,  as  nothing  material  gave  way,  the  alarm 
en  shore  subsided,  and  two  or  three  men  ventured 
on  the  bridge  to  give  assistance.  The  gun  was  dis- 
counted with  great  difficulty,  the  carriage  dismantled, 
and  conveyed  piecemeal  to  the  opposite  shore.  The 
rest  of  the  artillery  then  made  a  detour,  and  crossed 
at  a  ford  four  or  five  leagues  lower  down  the  river. 
Notwithstanding  this  accident,  Miller  lost  no  credit 
by  the  attempt. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  San  Martin  formed  a 
junction  with  the  supreme  director  O'Higgins  and 
Colonel  Las  Heras  at  San  Fernando.  The  patriot 
army  now  counted  seven  thousand  infantry,  fifteen 
hundred  cavalry,  thirty-three  field-pieces,  and  two 
howitzers. 

Ignorant  of  the  numbers  and  movements  of  his 
opponents,  the  royalist  general  crossed  the  river 
Maule,  and  was  proceeding  on  to  Santiago,  when,  on 
the  18th  of  March,  the  vanguard  of  each  army  came 
in  contact  at  Quechereguas.  In  the  affair  which 
took  place  the  royalist  advance  was  worsted.  Osorio, 
having  ascertained  the  superiority  of  the  patriots, 

n  2 


180  SKIRMISH.  CHAP.  Til. 

countermarched  with  evident  precipitation.  San 
Martin  obliqued  to  his  own  left  for  the  purpose  of 
interposing  between  the  royalists  and  the  ford  of  the 
Maule.  On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  the  two 
armies  crossed  the  river  Lircay  at  the  same  time,  at 
the  distance  of  four  miles  from  each  other,  and  con- 
tinued to  march  in  almost  parallel  but  gradually  ap- 
proximating columns  over  five  leagues  of  open  coun- 
try. The  patriots  advanced  in  the  finest  order,  and 
with  the  utmost  regularity.  The  Spaniards  quickened 
their  march  in  some  slight  confusion,  and  were  the 
first  to  reach  the  town  of  Talca,  in  front  of  which 
they  took  up  a  position  an  hour  before  sunset  amongst 
enclosed  fields.  The  patriot  columns  approached, 
and,  whilst  they  drew  up  in  line  on  the  plain  of 
Cancharayada,  some  sharp  skirmishing  took  place. 
A  regiment  of  Chileno  cavalry  charged;  but  having 
committed  the  error  of  getting  into  a  gallop  at  too 
great  a  distance  from  the  enemy,  formed  behind  a 
ravine  which  had  not  been  perceived,  it  was  repulsed, 
but  retired  in  good  order,  under  cover  of  the  Chileno. 
artillery  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Blanco  I 

Ciceron,  and  particularly  well  served.  On  this  oc- 
casion Lieutenant  Gerrard,  a  brave  young  Scotch- 
man, who  had  distinguished  himself  the  day  before 
at  Quechereguas,  was  killed.  He  formerly  belonged 
to  the  British  rifle  corps. 

San  Martin  purposed  to  delay  attacking  till  the 
morning  of  the  20th.  The  situation  of  the  royal  army 
had  become  extremely'critical.  The  able  manner  in 
which  San  Martin  manoeuvred  on  the  preceding  day 
gave  the  royalists  little  room  to  hope  for  success  in    • 


CHAP.  VII.  CANCHARAYADA.  181 

risking  a  battle;  whilst  to  retire  to  the  difficult  ford 
of  the  Maule,  still  five  leagues  off,  in  the  presence  of 
a  superior  enemy,  threatened  to  expose  their  army 
to  destruction.     In  this  extremity  the  incompetent 
Osorio  is  said  to  have  retired  to  a  church  in  Talca, 
and  to  have  spent  that  time  in  prayer  to  an  effigy 
of  the  Virgin  Mary,  which  his  second  in  command, 
General  Ordonez  and  Colonel  Beza,  devoted  to  action. 
Disgusted  with  the  pusillanimity  of  their  commander, 
they  took  upon  themselves  to  plan  and  direct  an  im- 
mediate attack.     Accordingly,  two  or  three  Spanish 
corps  in  column,  and  favoured  by  the  darkness  of 
night,  fell  unexpectedly  upon  the  patriots  at  a  mo- 
ment when  some  battalions  and  the  Buenos  Ayrean 
artillery  were  moving  from  the  left  to  the  right  of 
the  line.     The  advanced  posts  of  the  patriots  placed 
in  the  open  country  were  dispersed  or  made  prisoners. 
An  ill-directed  volley  was  fired  from  the  line,  which 
became  panic-struck,  and,  upon  General  O'Higgins 
being  wounded,  all  fled  in  irremediable  confusion, 
with  the  exception  of  the  right  wing. 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  Buenos  Ayrean 
artillery  participating  in  the  general  alarm,  took  the 
road  to  Santiago,  and  the  guns  were  abandoned.  The 
dispersion  of  the  left  and!  centre  of  the  line  was 
complete. 

This  affair  has  been  called  a  surprise,  but  it  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  so.  The  patriot  soldiers 
were  allowed  to  sit  down  it  is  true,  but  not  out  of 
their  formation.  They  were  not  even  permitted  to 
ground  qt  pile  their  arms.  The  attack  was  unex- 
pected, but  not  unprepared  for,  and  might  have  been 


182 


PANIC. 


CHAP;  VII* 


repelled  with  ease.  But  the  effect  of  an  attack  in 
the  dark  upon  the  minds  of  raw  troops  accounts  na- 
turally enough  for  the  total  rout,  without  its  being 
at  all  necessary  to  inculpate  the  generals  who  com- 
manded. Nor  was  it  possible  for  them  to  counteract* 
by  any  conduct  of  their  own,  at  the  moment,  the  effect 
of  the  panic  which,  originating  in  a  few,  spread  from 
rank  to  rank  like  wildfire. 

Three  thousand  infantry,  under  Colonel  Las  Heras, 
on  the  right,  partook  of  the  general  disorder,  but  not 
to  the  same  extent.  The  presence  of  mind  and 
bravery  of  Las  Heras  enabled  him  to  keep  two-thirds 
of  his  numbers  together,  and,  under  a  heavy  fire,  to 
rally  and  form  most  of  the  remainder  before  he  left 
the  field.  To  his  courage  and  conduct  upon  this 
occasion  Chile  is  deeply  indebted.  He  retired  in  ex- 
cellent order,  with  his  division,  and  with  the  Chileno 
artillery  under  Blanco  Ciceron* 

Miller  was  fortunate  enough  to  save  two  guns  of 
the  Buenos  Ayrean  artillery.  Ensign  Moreno  of 
that  corps  remained  by  him.  He  was  a  boy  of  six- 
teen, and  behaved  vfrith  perfect  heroism.  He  cheered 
and  encouraged  the  gunners,  and  kept  together  a  few 
infantry,  until  a  severe  wound  made  it  necessary  for 
Miller  to  send  him  to  the  rear,  with  one  of  the  guns 
which  could  no  Ibnger  be  worked,  on  account  of  most 
of  the  gunners  having  been  killed  or  wounded;  In 
the  confusion,  the  patriots  on  the  right  began  to  fire 
upon  the  only  remaining  field-piece,  on  which  Miller 
sent  it  also  to  the  rear.  He  then  attached  himself 
to  Las  Heras,  and  acted  as  his  adjutant  during  the 
arduous  retreat. 


CHAP.  vil.  CONSTERNATION.  183 

Lieutenant  Don  Juan  de  Larrain,  a  fine  and  pro- 
mising youth  of  nineteen  years  of  age,  was  shot 
through  the  heart,  whilst  attempting  to  rally  a  dis- 
persed battalion,  at  the  side  of  San  Martin,  to  whom 
he  was  aide-de-camp.  This  youth  was  the  son  of 
Don  Martin  de  Larrain,  whose  family  ranks  amongst 
the  richest  and  most  respectable  of  Chile.  Juan  was 
one  of  twenty-seven  children  by  the  same  parents,  of 
whom  twenty-two  were  then  living.  His  appearance 
was  extremely  prepossessing,  and  he  was  beloved  by 
all,  not  less  for  his  amiable  qualities  than  for  the 
military  ardour  and  noble  patriotism  which  marked 
his  short  but  glorious  career. 

San .  Martin  halted  at  San  Fernando  until  Las 
Heras  came  up.  Having  reviewed  the  division,  San 
Martin  set  out  for  the  capital. 

Some  of  the  fugitives  from  Cancharayada  rode 
eighty  leagues  in  twenty-six  hours,  and,  on  the 
morning  of  the  21st,  spread  the  disastrous  news  in 
Santiago.  At  such  times,  facts  are  not  merely  dis- 
torted, but  lost  in  fearful  rumours.  It  was  believed 
that  not  so  many  as  fifty  patriots  remained  together 
in  a  body,  and  that  Osorio  might  be  expected  almost 
hourly.  The  recollections  of  his  tyranny  and  cruelty 
on  a  former  occasion  gave  rise  to  anticipations,  made 
the  more  dreadful  by  the  knowledge  that  the  former 
companions  of  the  infamous  Sambruno  accompanied 
him.  The  capital  became  a  scene  of  confusion  that 
baffles  description.  People,  with  dismay  and  terror 
depicted  on  their  countenances,  were  seen  conveying 
valuables  to  nunneries  and  convents  for  safety.  Others 
were  loaded  with  household  furniture,  to  be  deposited 


1 84  RODRIGUEZ.  CHAP.  VII. 

in  the  houses  of  friends  connected  with  the  royalists, 
or  supposed  to  be  likely  to  be  respected  in  the  event 
of  partial  pillage.  Sights  still  more  distressing  were 
groups  of  wives,  mothers,  and  young  women,  who 
gathered  together,  and  bewailed  with  wild  cries  the 
supposed  loss  of  husbands,  sons,  brothers,  or  lovers. 
Several  sunk  insensible  on  the  pavement.  Despair 
seemed  to  have  taken  possession  of  every  mind*  Many 
of  the  inhabitants,  ill  provided  with  means  for  crossing 
the  snowy  Cordillera,  fled,  whilst  those  who  were 
obliged  to  remain  became  almost  frantic.  Don  Luis 
Cruz,  the  supreme  delegado,  did  not  preserve  his 
presence  of  mind,  and  every  public  department  was 
in  a  state  of  utter  confusion,  until  the  gallant  Ro- 
driguez placed  himself  at  the  head  of  afiairs,  and  re* 
stored  a  degree  of  order.  He  Obliged,  the  function- 
aries who  had  left  Santiago  with  the  public  treasure 
to  return.  He  put  a  stop  to  further  emigration; 
provided  quarters  for  the  fugitives;  raised  recruits; 
and  took  a  public  and  solemn  oath  not  to  abandon 
his  country  under  any  circumstances.  Many  followed 
his  example,  and  a  ray  of  hope  beamed  upon  the 
prospect.  The  arrival  of  O'Higgins  and  San  Martin 
increased  the  confidence  which  Rodriguez  *  had  in-e 
spired,  and  vigorous  measures  were  adopted  to  make 
a  stand  on  the  plains  of  Maypo. 

The  royalists,  instead  of  continuing  in  pursuit  to- 
wards Santiago,  returned  on  the  night  of  the  19th, 
having  proceeded  a  mile  or  two,  and  occupied  them- 

*  This  brave,  amiable,  and  highly  endowed  patriot  was,  about  a  month  after- 
wards, imprisoned  on  suspicion  of  having  planned  a  conspiracy  to  overthrow  the 
government  The  officer  of  an  escort  belonging  to  a  Buenos  Ayrean  regiment, 
whilst  conducting  Rodriguez  to  Quillota,  barbarously  assassinated  him,  on  the 
plea  that  he  attempted  to  make  his  escape. 


•  • 


!„ 


r 


CHAP.  VII.  ROYALISTS  ADVANCE.  185 

selves  in  plundering  the  baggage  found  in  the  patriot 
position,  and  then  re-entered  Talca.  The  feeble 
Osorio,  who  knew  not  how  to  profit  by  the  unhoped- 
for advantages  gained  by  his  second  in  command,  and 
Colonel  Beza,  marched  northwards  so  slowly,  that  he 
did  not  again  come  in  contact  with  the  patriots  until 
seventeen  days  afterwards. 

This  valuable  interval  was  actively  employed  by 
the  supreme  director,  and  San  Martin,  in  re-assem- 
bling the  fugitives,  and  in  re-organizing  the  army, 
now  encamped  about  two  leagues  from  the  capital. 
Its  numbers  might  be  6500,  including  1000  militia. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  April,  1818,  the 
royalist  army,  6000  strong,  was  discovered  at  the 
distance  of  six  miles,  approaching  by  the  road  which 
leads  from  the  ford  of  the  Maypo  to  Santiago.  San 
Martin  moved  a  mile  or  two  to  his  right,  to  preserve 
his  communication  with  Valparaiso. 

About  1 1  A.  M.  the  royalists  formed  nearly  parallel 
with  the  patriot  line.  A  brisk  cannonade  opened  on 
both  sides.  Shortly  afterwards,  two  patriot  battalions 
charged  the  Spanish  right,  but  were  repulsed  with 
considerable  slaughter.  Two  battalions  of  the  Spa- 
niards pressed  forward  in  column;  but  whilst  de- 
ploying, they  were  charged  and  broken  by  the  patriot 
reserve  under  General  Don  Hilarion  de  la  Quintana, 
who,  supported  by  the  two  battalions  which  had  given 
way,  interposed  between  the  Spanish  line  and  its  re- 
serve, placed  in  the  rear  of  the  centre  of  their  line. 
At  the  same  time,  some  charges  of  the  patriot  cavalry, 
directed  against  the  Spanish  left,  made  an  impression; 
and  in  less  than  an  hour  from  the  commencement  of 


186  BATTLE  OF  CHAP.  VII. 

the  action,  the  Spaniards  gave  way  at  every  point. 
The  brave  Ordonez  rallied  and  made  a  desperate 
though  fruitless  struggle  at  the  hacienda  of  Espejo, 
about  a  league  in  the  rear.  Osorio,  and  about  one 
hundred  men,  had  previously  made  their  escape,  and 
with  great  difficulty  reached  Talcahuano  through  by- 
roads. About  two  thousand  royalists  were  slain,  and 
three  thousand  five  hundred  were  made  prisoners  of 
war.  The  activity  of  the  zealous  Captain  Don  Juan 
Apostol  Martinez,  and  Lieutenant  Olavarria,  who 
with  a  party  operated  on  the  enemy's  rear,  was  very 
conspicuous,  and  they,  together  with  the  followers 
of  Rodriguez,  contributed  to  render  the  victory  com- 
plete. The  patriots  lost  upwards  of  one  thousand 
in  killed  or  wounded.  Amongst  the  former  were 
the  brave  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bueras,  and  Lieutenant 
Don  Juan  Gana,  a  very  enterprising  youth. 

During  the  cannonade,  the  feelings  of  the  inhabit* 
ants  of  Santiago  were  wound  up  to  breathless  in- 
tensity, which,  on  the  news  of  victory,  found  vent 
in  wild  expressions  of  ungovernable  ecstasy.  People 
embraced  each  other,  laughed,  wept,  and  shrieked  aa 
if  deprived  of  their  senses.  Some  went  literally  mad, 
and  one  or  two  of  them  have  never  recovered  their 
reason.  One  man  dropped  down  and  expired  instan- 
taneously. The  glorious  intelligence  of  the  victory 
overtook  a  large  party  of  emigrants,  principally  ladies, 
on  the  elevated  pass  of  Uspallata.  They  were  so 
overjoyed,  that  they  hardly  knew  whether  to  proceed 
to  Mendoza  or  to  return  to  Santiago.  Several  were 
so  overcome,  that  they  were  left  on  the  mountain 
with  a  few  attendants  until  they  found  themselves 


CHAP.  VII.  MAYPO.  187 

sufficiently  composed  to  resume  their  journey  towards 
home.  The  young  lady,  whose  filial  piety  made  her 
the  companion  of  her  father's  exile  in  Juan  Fernandez, 
fell  from  her  mule,  and  received  an  injury,  from  which 
she  has  never  perfectly  recovered. 

Five  days  after  this  great  event,  which  fixed  the 
destinies  of  Chile,  the  victorious  San  Martin  repaired 
a  second  time  to  Buenos  Ayres,  where  he  was  received 
with  something  approaching  to  idolatrous  admiration. 
His  object  was  to  lay  before  the  government  there  his 
plan  for  the  invasion  of  Peru  by  sea  from  Valparaiso  5 
to  solicit  reinforcements  to  enable  him  to  carry  his 
plan  into  early  execution ;  and  to  prevail  upon  General 
Belgrano  to  act  in  concert,  by  marching  with  the  army 
at  Tucuman,  to  attack  the  Spaniards  in  Peru,  on  the 
side  of  Potosi,  whilst  San  Martin  effected  a  descent 
near  Lima. 

Upon  the  return  of  San  Martin  he  remained  at 
Mendoza.  From  thence  he  directed  a  battalion  of 
camdores,  and  piquets  of  two  cavalry  regiments  (in 
all  nine  hundred  men)  to  join  him  from  Chile.  These 
orders  were  given  at  the  desire  of  the  Buenos  Ayrean 
government,  apxious  to  augment  its  forces,  to  be  pre- 
pared for  the  event  of  the  threatened  expedition  from 
Cadiz  making  a  descent  upon  their  territory.  In  three 
months  San  Martin  increased  those  detachments  to 
the  number  of  two  thousand  six  hundred  men. 

Previous  to  the  battle  of  Maypo,  Miller  was  de- 
tached with  a  company  of  infantry  to  take  possession 
of  the  Lautaro  *  frigate,  and  to  secure  the  shipping 

*  The  Wyndham,  an  old  East-Indiaman  of  800  tons,  purchased  the  day 
before  the  battle  of  Maypo. 


188 


THE  LAUTARO. 


CHAP.  VII. 


in  the  port  of  Valparaiso,  to  provide,  in  case  of  fur- 
ther reverses,  the  means  of  conveying  the  retiring 
patriots  to  Coquimbo.  He  embarked  with  his  de- 
tachment on  board  the  newly-purchased  frigate  of 
forty-four  guns,  commanded  by  Captain  O'Brien, 
formerly  a  lieutenant  of  the  British  navy,  and  who 
had  distinguished  himself  in  the  capture  of  the  United 
States  frigate  the  Essex. 

Valparaiso  was  blockaded  by  the  Spanish  frigate, 
Esmeralda,  of  forty-four  guns,  and  by  the  brig  Pe- 
zuela,  of  eighteen  guns.  The  Lautaro  was  suddenly 
equipped,  manned,  and  ordered  out  to  raise  the 
blockade.  She  was  officered  principally  by  English- 
men. Her  ship's  company  was  composed  of  one 
hundred  foreign  seamen,  two  hundred  and  fifty  Chile* 
nos,  most  of  whom  had  never  before  been  afloat,  be- 
sides the  above-mentioned  marines.  The  Chilenos 
were  so  eager  to  go  upon  the  service,  that  several 
swam  off  to  the  frigate.  As  soon  as  the  motley  but 
enthusiastic  crew  was  hurried  on  board,  the  ship  got 
under  weigh  in  a  state  ill  calculated  for  immediate 
action.  The  Europeans  had  just  before  received 
bounty  money,  and,  of  all  the  ship's  cpmpany,  were, 
from  inebriety,  the  least  efficient,  whilst  hardly  a 
naval  officer  could  give  an  order  in  the  Spanish  lan- 
guage. Nevertheless,  in  ten  hours  after  weighing 
anchor,  the  Lautaro  was  engaged. 

The  Esmeralda  seeing  a  frigate-built  vessel  ap- 
proach, mistook  it  for  his  H.  M.  S.  Amphion, 
Commodore  Bowles,  who  had  before  communicated 
occasionally  upon  subjects  relative  to  the  blockade 
with  the  Esmeralda,  which  last  therefore  lay-to  with 


CHAP.  VII.  THE  ESMERALDA.  189 

her  topsails  to  the  mast  to  speak  the  supposed  Am- 
phion.     In  that  situation  the  Lautaro  ranged  upon 
the  weather  quarter  of  the  enemy,  when,  having 
hauled  down  British  colours,  and  hoisted  the  Chileno, 
she  discharged  her  foremost  guns.     It  was  Captain 
O'Brien's  first  intention  to  have  laid  the  Lautaro 
alongside,  but  having  altered  his  mind,  he  ran  upon 
the  Esmeralda's  quarter.     The  Lautaro's  bowsprit 
caught  the  enemy's  mizen  rigging,  and  hung  her  in 
a  way  so  inconvenient  for  boarding,  that  O'Brien 
jumped  on  board  with  only  thirty  followers.     The 
marines  kept  up  a  steady  fire  from  the  forecastle  of 
the  Lautaro,  which  caused  a  heavy  loss  to  the  Esme- 
ralda's crew,  who,  panic-struck  by  the  appearance  of 
the  boarding   party,    ran  below,    and  the   Spanish 
ensign  was  hauled  down  by  the  assailants.     Unfor- 
tunately it  did  not  occur  to  any  one  to  prevent  the 
two  ships  from  separating  by  lashing  them  together, 
or  to  disable  the  prize  by  cutting  her  wheel-ropes 
and  topsail  haulyards.     A  jerk  of  the  sea  canted  the 
ships  clear  of  each  other,  upon  which  the  Lautaro 
lowered  her  boats  to  send  a  reinforcement ;  but  before 
that  could  be  accomplished,  the  Esmeralda's  men, 
seeing  but  a  handful  of  patriots  upon  deck,  rallied, 
fired  from  below,  and  shot  the  gallant  O'Brien,  whose 
last  words  were,  "  Never  leave  her,  my  boys  :*  the 
ship  is  ours."     Meanwhile  the  Lautaro  had  incau- 
tiously left  the  main  object  to  take  possession  of  the 
Pezuela,  which  had  struck,  but  was  stealing  away. 

Upon  perceiving  the  change  of  fortune  on  board 
the  Esmeralda,  the  Lautaro  gave  over  chasing  the 
brig,  and  steered  for  the  frigate ;  but  before  she  could 


190 


BLOCKADE  RAISED. 


CHAP,  VII. 


m 

approach,  the  boarders  were  overpowered,  and  both 
the  Spanish  ships  haying  rehoisted  their  own  colours, 
escaped  by  superior  sailing.  Lieut.  Walker,  of  the 
H.  E.  I.  company's  service,  distinguished  himself 
considerably;  and  before  the  Lautaro  returned  to 
port,  captured  a  vessel  having  on  board  as  passengers 
a  number  of  rich  Spaniards,  who  had  fled  from  Con- 
cepcion  to  take  refuge  in  Lima.  Upon  them  the 
Chileno  government  levied  a  contribution,  in  the 
shape  of  ransom,  which  more  than  reimbursed  the 
original  purchase-money  of  the  Lautaro. 


CHAP.  VIII.  CHILENO  SQUADRON.  191 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Chileno  squadron  flails. — How  equipped. — Cholos. — Capture  of 
the  Spanish  frigate,  Reyna  Maria  Isabel.— Harsh,  treatment 
of  Major  Miller,  the  bearer  of  a  nag  of  truce—General  San- 
<chea. — Difficulties  of  getting  off  the  prize. — New  danger  .-r- 
Spanish  transports  captured. — Chileno  squadron  returns.— 
Rejoicings. — Chileno  manners. 

Although  this  first  naval  essay  was  not  com- 
pletely successful,  yet  it  had  the  effect  of  raising  the 
blockade  of  Valparaiso,  and  Chile  may  be  considered 
to  have  acquired,  from  that  moment,  the  superiority 
over  Spain  in  the  Chileno  seas. 

The  supreme  director  seeing  the  importance  of 
creating  a  marine  force,  purchased  the  Cumberland 
of  twelve  hundred  tons,  and  some  smaller  vessels. 
For  the  payment  of  the  ships,  and  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  arming  and  fitting  them  for  sea,  the  Chi- 
lenos  made  the  most  generous  sacrifices.  Not  only 
was  family  plate  sent  to  the  mint,  but  the  productions 
of  estates  were  contributed  in  kind  by  those  pro- 
prietors whose  means  did  not  enable  them  to  place 
on  the  altar  of  freedom  a  more  splendid  donation. 

It  was  known  that  part  of  the  expedition  preparing 
at  Cadiz  was  destined  for  Chile.  The  patriots,  aware 
that  the  struggle  for  freedom  had  become  a  struggle 
for  existence,  strained  every  nerve  to  meet  manfully 
the  threatening  danger. 

The  shipping  were  soon  manned,  victualled,  and 
got  ready  for  sea ;  but  a  delay  arose  from  the  dif- 


192  CHILENO  SQUADRON.  CHAP.  VIII, 

ficulty  of  naming  a  commander.  Foreigners,  who 
were  candidates  for  the  command,  were  so  exorbitant 
in  their  conditions,  and  so  much  divided  amongst 
themselves,  that  the  government  was  unable  to  select 
a  proper  person  from  amongst  those  in  Chile.  The 
supreme  director  at  length  appointed  as  commodore 
Lieut. -Colonel  Don  Manuel  Blanco  Ciceron,  who 
had  served,  as  a  midshipman,  and  aJfere%  de  navio, 
in  the  Spanish  navy. 

Miller  having  been  a  second  time  strongly  recom- 
mended, was  now  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brevet 
major;  and  re-embarked  as  senior  officer  of  the  troops 
distributed  in  the  squadron,  consisting  of 

Guns. 

The  San  Martin    56   i  Commodore  Blanco, 

(  Captain  Wilkinson. 

The  Lautaro     .     44       Captain  Worster. 

The  Chacabuco      20       Captain  Dias*. 

The  Araucano  .     16       Captain  Morris. 

It  put  to  sea  at  noon  on  the  9th  of  October,  1818. 
A  feeling  of  anxious  solicitude  pervaded  the  whole 
country.  The  salute  returned  by  the  forts  announced 
the  departure  of  the  expedition.  A  steady  southerly 
breeze  enabled  the  ships  to  preserve  exact  order, 
sailing  in  line.  The  highest  points  of  the  hills,  for 
many  miles  along  the  coast,  were  occupied  by  clusters 
of  men,  women,  and  children,  who  had  relations  em- 
barked, and  towards  whom  they  seemed  determined 
to  gaze  as  long  as  a  sail  remained  in  sight. 

A  few  months  before,  Valparaiso  was  blockaded, 

*  This  deserving  officer  has  been  mentioned  as  commanding  a  company  of 
Buenos  Ayrean  artillery  at  Las  Tablas.  An  intimate  and  uninterrupted  friend- 
ship subsisted  between  him  and  the  subject  of  these  memoirs,  until  the  death  of 
Bias  in  1822. 


CHAP.  VIII.     SAILS  TO  THE  SOUTHWARD.  193 

the  country  kept  in  a  state  of  continual  alarm,  and 
its  rising  commerce  crippled.  The  supreme  director 
had  left  the  seat  of  government  to  superintend  the 
outfit  of  the  equipment,  and  through  his  personal 
exertions,  the  object  was  accomplished  under  dif- 
ficulties of  no  ordinary  magnitude.  The  anticipations 
of  public  opinion  were  various,  and  generally  un- 
favourable. Some  foretold  a  mutiny;  others  that 
the  ships  would  founder  in  the  first  gale  of  wind,  on 
account  of  the  insufficiency  of  seamen  to  work  them ; 
whilst  many  considered  that  a  single  Spanish  frigate 
would  be.  able  to  capture  the  whole  squadron.  Nor 
were  these  forebodings  altogether  without  the  appear- 
ance of  being  well  grounded.  The  crews  were,  for 
the  most  part,  made  up  from  cholos,  or  native  pea- 
sants, many  of  whom  had  never  before  seen  the  sea. 
The  naval  officers  were  nearly  all  English  or  North 
American,  who  spoke  the  Spanish  language  imper- 
fectly, or  not  at  all.  With  a  very  few  exceptions, 
they  affected  a  prejudice  against  every  thing  that 
differed  from  the  rules  of  the  service  in  which  they 
had  been  brought  up,  and  they  were  too  full  of  pre- 
conceived notions  to  be  willing  to  do  justice  to  the 
capacity  of  the  unassuming  people  placed  under  their 
orders;  But  the  commodore  was  a  young  man  who, 
in  spite  of  a  manner  which  displeases  on  first  acquaint- 
ance, fortunately  possessed  the  qualities  requisite  to 
establish  union,  harmony,  and  good  order;  qualities 
inore  valuable,  under  those  circumstances,  than  great 
practical  skill. 

Being  out  of  sight  of  land,  on  the  first  evening 
Commodore  Blanco  opened  his  sealed  instructions, 

vol.  i.  o 


1 94  STATE   OF  CHAP.  Till. 

and  as  Major  Miller  had  to  make  their  purport  known 
by  interpreting  to  the  respective  captains,  he  learned, 
that  their  destination  was  to  proceed  to  the  island  of 
La  Mocha,  in  search  of  the  Spanish  frigate  Reyna 
Maria  Isabel,  daily  expected  round  Cape  Horn,  with 
eight  or  ten  transports,  conveying  two  thousand  eight 
hundred  troops  from  Cadiz.  This  information  had 
been  acquired  in  the  following  manner.  The  troops 
on  board  one  of  the  Spanish  transports,  headed  by  a 
serjeant,  having  mutinied  on  reaching  the  latitude  of 
the  river  Plata,  tl^ey  proceeded  to  Buenos  Ayres,  and 
placed  themselves  at  the  disposal  of  that  government, 
which  lost  no  time  in  transmitting  over-land  the  in- 
structions given  at  Cadiz,  by  which  means  every 
rendezvous  was  ascertained. 

During  a  long  passage  of  the  Chileno  squadron, 
the  crews  were  brought  into  something  like  a  state 
of  efficiency.  The  marines  and  cholos  being  con- 
tinually exercised,  were  found  to  possess  the  valuable 
qualities  which  constitute  good  soldiers  or  sailors. 
They  were  subordinate,  and  soon  afterwards  proved 
themselves  to  be  brave.  They  evinced  an  eagerness 
to  be  taught,  and  a  quickness  to  learn.  They  were 
grateful  for  any  small  attention  to  their  comforts, 
and  always  showed  an  earnest  desire  to  please,  for 
even  an  approving  word  or  look  seemed  to  be  to  them 
an  object  of  ambition.  In  short,  they  only  required 
common  pains  to  be  taken  by  their  officers,  in  order 
to  be  rendered  equal  to  any  undertaking.  When  off 
duty  they  sang  national  airs ;  and  when  the  officers 
danced  on  the  quarter-deck,  the  cholos  danced  with 
the  sailors  in  the  waist  and  on  the  forecastle.    They 


CHAP.  VIII.  THE  CREWS.  195 

always  behaved  well ;  and  during  a  heavy  gale,  which 
lasted  two  days,  they  were  made  more  useful  in  as- 
sisting to  work  the  ship  than  could  have  been  rea- 
sonably expected  from  men  who  had  hardly  found 
their  sea  legs.  Whilst  beating  against  the  prevailing 
winds,  the  Chacabuco  parted  company. 

On  the  26th  of  October,  at  day-break,  they  made 
the  island  of  Santa  Maria,  near  the  southern  side  of 
the  great  bay  of  Concepcion ;  but  in  consequence  of 
light  airs,  the  squadron  could  not  near  it  until  the 
evening,  when  three  boats  were  lowered  and  manned, 
to  board  a  vessel  discovered  at  the  distance  of  five 
miles  on  the  southern  side  of  the  island ;  but  the 
boats  were  in  such  a  leaky  state,  that  it  was  deemed 
unsafe  to  send  them.  The  Araucano  was  detached 
to  look  into  the  port  of  Talcahuano,  situated  twelve 
leagues  off  on  the  southern  side  of  the  bay. 

Early  on  the  27th,  the  sail  seen  on  the  night  be- 
fore was  boarded.  She  proved  to  be  the  Shakespeare, 
an  English  whaler,  and  gave  information  that  the 
Spanish  frigate,  having  parted  company  with  her 
.convoy,  had  touched  at  Santa  Maria ;  crew  sickly ; 
in  want  of  provisions ;  and  that  she  had  sailed  five 
days  before  for  Talcahuano,  whither  two  Spanish 
transports  had  followed. 

This  information  was  confirmed  by  a  boat  from 
the  shore,  which  was  decoyed  by  the  Spanish  flag 
being  kept  flying  in  the  Chileno  squadron,  and  un- 
suspectingly delivered  up  the  sealed  instructions  left 
by  the  captain  of  the  Maria  Isabel,  for  the  respective 
masters  of  transports,  ordering  them  to  rendezvous 
at  Talcahuano.     For  that  port  the  San  Martin  and 

o  2 


196  THE  MARIA  ISABEL.  CHAP.  Till* 

the  Lautaro  immediately  crowded  all  sail.  At  night 
they  were  becalmed  off  Concepcion;  but  a  fine  north- 
erly breeze,  very  uncommon  in  those  latitudes,  brought 
them,  at  noon  on  the  28th,  in  sight  of  the  Spanish 
frigate  lying  at  anchor  within  pistol-shot  of  Talca- 
huano.  The  commodore,  under  English  colours, 
steered  directly  towards  the  enemy,  but,  on  coming 
within  musket  range,  hoisted  the  Chileno  ensign* 
An  ill-directed  broadside  was  given  from  the  Spanish 
frigate,  and  the  compliment  was  returned  with  as 
many  guns  as  could  be  brought  to  bear  from  the  San 
Martin,  which  dropped  anchor  within  pistol-shot  of 
her  opponent,  upon  which  the  Spaniards  cut  their 
cable  and  ran  their  ship  on  shore.  Many  of  the 
crew  escaped  in  boats,  whilst  numbers  jumped  over- 
board  and  swam  to  the  beach.  Immediate  possession 
was  taken  of  the  prize,  and  an  attempt  made  to  get 
her  off;  but  the  wind  blowing  fresh  upon  the  land, 
every  effort  was. then  ineffectual.  At  this  crisis  the 
commodore  sent  Miller  with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  offer 
generous  treatment  to  the  fugitives,  if  they  chose  to 
surrender  rather  than  prolong  their  miseries  in  a 
country  inimical  to  the  royalist  cause.  Upon  ap- 
proaching within  fifteen  or  twenty,  yards  of  the  beach, 
a  number  of  guasos,  or  Chileno  yeomanry,  levelled 
their  muskets ;  and  it  was  with  no  small  difficulty 
that  Major  Miller  made  them  comprehend  the  mean- 
ing of  the  white  flag,  and  prevented  them  from  firing 
a  volley.  Having  waited  a  considerable  time  in  the 
boat  for  an  officer  to  come  down,  and  receive  him, 
agreeably  to  custom  in  such  cases,  he  jumped  ashore, 
rather  because  retreat  would  have  hazarded  the  lives 


CHAP.  VIII.  FLAG  OF  TRUCE.  197 

of  his  boat's  crew,  than  from  any  hope  of  being  able 
to  succeed  in  the  object  of  his  mission.  He  found  him- 
self awkwardly  circumstanced.  The  guasos  formed 
themselves  into  groups,  to  decide  whether  he  should 
at  once  be  despatched.  Some  of  them,  on  the  con- 
trary, showed  a  disposition  to  treat  him  civilly.  Dis- 
putes ran  high ;  hard  words  were  exchanged ;  but  at 
last  Miller  had  the  good  fortune  to  allay  a  ferment 
of  which  he  expected  every  moment  to  become  the 
victim. 

Two  militia  officers  now  appeared  in  sight.  They 
would  not  come  down  to  the  beach,  but  beckoned 
Miller  to  go  to  them,  which  he  did  with  some  re- 
luctance. On  his  way,  a  musket-ball,  fired  by  aguaso, 
lodged  in  the  shoulder  of  one  of  the  men  escorting 
Miller.  The  militia  officers  received  him  with  great 
incivility,  and  affected  a  mysterious  style  of  con- 
versation, evidently  with  an  intention  to  give  im- 
portance to  themselves,  and  to  create  alarm.  They 
compelled  their  prisoner,  for  the  major  was  now 
treated  as  such,  to  accompany  them  on  the  road  to 
Concepcion;  but  before  they  had  walked  two  miles, 
they  met  General  Sanchez  at  the  head  of  sixteen 
hundred  men,  part  of  these  being  troops  left  behind  by 
Osorio,  when  he  blew  up  the  fortifications  about  six 
weeks  previous  to  Blanco's  arrival,  and  the  remainder 
had  been  landed  from  the  Maria  Isabel  and  two 
transports,  which  had  afterwards  proceeded  to  Lima. 
Sanchez  passed  on  without  deigning  to  speak  to  Mil- 
ler, but  ordered  him  to  be  blindfolded.  The  militia 
officers,  encouraged  by  this  appearance  of  harshness, 
increased  their  former  incivility,  and  became  brutally 


198  FLAG  OF  TRUCE.  CttAP.  VIII. 

insulting.  One  of  them  poured  forth  an  uninter- 
rupted torrent  of  abuse  for  nearly  two  hours,  and 
then  desired  two  men  to  tighten  the  handkerchief 
over  the  major's  eyes,  which  they  did  with  all  their, 
strength.  Sanchez  at  length  ordered  the  prisoner  to 
be  brought  into  his  presence,  to  communicate  the 
commodore's  proposals.  The  general  listened  to  them 
with  the  utmost  contempt,  and,  with  a  roughness  of 
manner  which  showed  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  com- 
monest forms  of  good  breeding,  gave  for  answer  that 
the  bearer  should  be  despatched  in  the  way  he 
deserved. 

In  the  early  contest  between  Spain  and  her  co- 
lonies, the  laws  of  war  were  frequently  violated  with- 
out scruple  or  compunction,  and  a  lenient  sentence 
could  hardly  be  expected  from  a  ferocious  man,  whose 
feelings  had  been  worked  up  to  exasperation  by  re? 
cent  losses  and  disappointments.  Although  a  war 
of  extermination  had  never  been  openly  declared  in 
Chile,  it  often  happened  that  quarter  was  refused  in 
action,  and  many  were  frequently  sacrificed  in  cold 
blood. 

The  royalist  armed  guasos  in  Talcahuano  still  kept 
pp  such  an  annoying  fire  from  behind  walls  upon  the 
patriots  on  board  the  captured  frigate,  that  it  was 
judged  necessary  by  Blanco  to  land  the  marines,  for 
the  purpose  of  dislodging  them,  which  was  soon  ef- 
fected. Upon  the  arrival,  however,  of  Sanchez,  with 
his  party  from  Concepcion,  the  marines  were  obliged 
to  withdraw  to  the  ships,  with  some  loss  in  killed  and 
in  prisoners. 

MiUer  having  been  taken  from  the  beach  under 


CHAP.  VIII.  FLAG  OF  TKUCE.  199 

circumstances  calculated  to  excite  suspicion,  and  the 
commodore  perceiving  that  he  did  not  return  within 
the  half  hour  prescribed,  sent  Captain  Warnes,  who 
threw  upon  the  beach  an  official  letter,  signifying, 
that  if  the  bearer  of  the  flag  of  truce  were  not  im- 
mediately sent  on  board,  and  if  he  were  not  treated 
according  to  the  laws  of  war,  he  (Blanco)  would  order 
all  the  Spanish  prisoners  of  war,  then  in  his  power, 
to  be  hung  up  at  the  yard-arm,  and  that  the  same 
fate  should  await  all  such  as  might  thenceforward 
fall  into  his  hands.  Sanchez  told  his  prisoner  that 
the  commodore  had  sacrificed  him,  by  having  landed 
troops,  and  that  he  might  prepare  for  death.  The 
uncompromising  tone  with  which  Miller  argued  his 
own  cause  greatly  irritated  the  general,  who  appeared 
to  be  still  determined  to  carry  his  threats  into  exe- 
cution. He  ordered  the  prisoner  to  be  conveyed  to 
a  shed,  within  range  of  the  guns  of  the  patriot  squa- 
dron, and  in  the  precise  direction  that  they  were  then 
firing.  It  seemed  as  if  Sanchez  wished  his  captive 
to  be  disposed  of  by  a  chance  shot.  Several  fell  near 
the  shed,  and  some  passed  through  the  roof.  His 
guard,  fearful  for  their  own  lives,  deserted  their 
charge  for  a  short  time.  In  this  situation,  fatigued, 
hungry,  and  thirsty,  without  being  able  to  procure 
refreshment  of  any  kind,  he  passed  the  night.  The 
firmness  with  which  he  had  disputed  the  right  and 
questioned  the  policy  of  sacrificing  him  had  produced 
no  good  effect  upon  Sanchez,  but  it  had  made  a  very 
different  impression  on  the  minds  of  some  of  the 
chiefs  who  were  present.  Two  of  them,  Colonel 
Loriga  (of  the  artillery),  and  Colonel  Cabanas,  wha 


200  COLONELS  LORIGA  AND  CABANAS.     CHAP.  VIII. 

had  served  in  the  Guardim  Wallones,  both  visited 
him  in  the  course  of  the  night,  evidently  with  a  view 
that  their  occasional  presence  might  prove  a  check 
against  personal  violence.  The  interest  of  these  in- 
terviews was  increased  by  discovering,  in  conversation, 
that  Miller  was  intimately  acquainted  with  some  of 
Loriga's  friends  in  the  Peninsula. 

Meanwhile,  the  royalists  erected  a  battery  of  four 
guns,  which  played  upon  the  Maria  Isabel  with  such 
effect,  that  it  was  contemplated,  at  one  time,  so  set 
fire  to  her.  But  the  unwearied  exertions  of  the 
officers  and  good  conduct  of  the  men  finally  sur- 
mounted every  difficulty.  At  seven  A.M.  on  the 
29th,  the  wind  veered  round  to  the  southward :  every 
effort  was  redoubled,  and  Miller  had  the  gratification 
to  hear  the  Spaniards  lament  their  own  misfortune. 
The  frigate  was  again  afloat,  and  sailing  out  of  the 
bay. 

The  interval  of  time  had  been  employed  by  Loriga 
and  Cabanas  to  make  a  magnanimous  effort  in  behalf 
of  the  prisoner.  At  first  Sanchez  refused  to  listen  to 
them,  and  it  was  not  until  the  colonels  had  given 
some  intelligible  hints,  comparing  the  number  and 
quality  of  the  bayonets  in  their  respective  battalions 
with  the  other  force  of  the  general,  that  he  reluctantly 
gave  way  to  their  generous  importunities.  At  eight 
A.  M.  Miller  was  led  to  the  beach,  accompanied  by 
Loriga*,  and  suffered  to  remove  the  bandage  from 
his  eyes.     An  hour  elapsed  before  the  San  Martin 

*  From  the  chivalrous  part  which  Loriga  acted  on  this  occasion,  a  warm 
friendship  arose  between  him  and  Miller,  which  was  afterwards  kept  up  in  Peru, 
by  a  correspondence,  whenever  a  flag  of  truce  furnished  an  opportunity  to  transmit 
open  letters,  and  by  an  interchange  of  kind  offices,  when  circumstances  permitted. 


CHAP.  VIII.     THE  SAN  MARTIN  AGROUND.  201 

answered  the  signal  for  a  boat,  and  sent  for  him. 
The  major's  reception  on  board  was  of  a  kind  which 
more  than  made  amends  for  the  villanous  treatment 
he  had  experienced.  All  thought  that  he  had  fallen 
a  sacrifice,  and  his  unexpected  return  was  hailed  with 
hearty  cheers.  He  found  that  his  marines  and  cho- 
los,  upon  hearing  of  his  detention,  went  aft,  in  a 
body,  and  requested  the  commodore  to  permit  them 
to  land  and  rescue  their  commandant. 

Soon  afterwards  the  San  Martin  weighed  anchor 
with  the  utmost  difficulty,  for  Captain  Wilkinson, 
most  of  the  officers,  and  a  great  part  of  the  ship's 
company,  were  on  board  the  prize;  those  that  re- 
mained were  almost  exhausted  from  excessive  fatigue 
and  want  of  rest  during  the  preceding  eight-and-fofty 
hours.  To  add  to  their  embarrassment,  the  ship 
struck  on  a  sand-bank  in  two  fathoms  and  a  half. 
The  ship  was  lightened  by  starting  the  water;  they 
set  more  sail,  and  she  floated  into  deeper  water,  but 
had  hardly  cleared  one  danger  before  she  ran  into  an- 
other. The  breeze  died  away,  and  the  man  at  the 
helm,  being  completely  worn  out,  dropped  down  upon 
the  deck  before  he  could  be  relieved.  The  ship 
broached  to,  and  was  swept  by  a  strong  current  and 
heavy  swell  to  within  half  a  cable's  length  of  the 
rocky  coast.  The  anchor  was  let  go,  but  the  con- 
fusion was  indescribable.  The  only  naval  officer  on 
board,  excepting  the  commodore,  was  the  first  lieu- 
tenant, Ramsay,  who,  on  the  day  before,  had  become 
deaf  from  the  effects  of  the  firing,  and  now  became 
dumb,  or  at  least  so  hoarse  as  to  be  unable  to  make 
himself  heard ;  and  the  commodore,  being  ignorant 


208  CONFUSION  ON  BOARD.  CHAP.  VIII. 

of  the  English  language,  could  not  himself  give  orders 
to  the  foreign  seamen.  Miller,  the  surgeon,  Mr. 
Green,  and  the  purser,  were  therefore  the  only  three 
officers  capable  of  communicating  an  order:  but  as 
none  of  them  understood  any  thing  of  seamanship,  the 
scene  became  truly  distressing.  There  were  above 
eighty  prisoners  to  watch  over,  and  only  fifteen  sea- 
men on  board,  exclusive  of  the  marines  and  ckolo*, 
who  exerted  themselves  to  the  utmost.  Two  hours 
before  day-break  on  the  30th,  the  cable  of  the  San 
Martin  was  cut,  in  the  expectation  that  a  land  breeze, 
then  felt,  would  carry  her  clear  of  the  rock-bound 
coast ;  but  a  heavy  swell  prevented  her  from  shooting 
ahead,  and  in  a  few  minutes  she  was  taken  aback,  and 
drifted  rapidly  towards  the  rocks.  The  last  anchor 
was  let  go,  and  the  ship  swung  with  her  stern  within 
a  few  yards  of  the  breakers.  Their  situation  was 
now  rendered  desperate  from  the  exhausted  state  of 
the  crew,  and  the  great  deficiency  of  nautical  skill. 
The  aggravating  idea,  of  losing  the  largest  ship  of 
the  state,  filled  their  minds  with  feelings  of  mortified 
disappointment.  At  nine  A.M.  a  welcome  breeze 
sprung  up,  and  carried  the  ship  clear  off  the  shore. 
The  time  had  now  arrived  for  repose,  but  Miller, 
noting  the  effects  of  this  harassing  service  upon  him- 
self, has  this  remark  in  his  journal :  "  During  three 
days  and  three  nights  I  did  not  get  two  hours  of 
sleep ;  but,  notwithstanding,  I  found  it  impossible  to 
close  my  eyes  for  several  hours  after  retiring  to  my 
cot." 

On  the  1st  of  November  the  squadron  anchored 
with  the  prize  between  the  island  of  Santa  Maria  and 


CHAP.  VIII.  SPANISH  PATRIOTS.  203 

the  main  land.  The  Chacabuco,  which  had  rejoined, 
was  detached  to  cruise  off  Talcahuano.  The  Galva- 
rino  of  18  guns,  Captain  Spry,  joined  at  the  same 
time  from  Valparaiso.  This  vessel,  formerly  the  He- 
cate of  the  British  navy,  was  exceedingly  well  manned, 
officered,  and  equipped.  She  was  sold  to  the  Chileno 
government  by  Captain  Guise. 

In  the  course  of  a  week  seven  transports  arrived 
separately.  Seeing  Spanish  colours  flying  at  every 
mast-head,  the  transports,  in  succession,  obeyed  the 
telegraphic  signal  to  anchor  astern  of  the  Maria 
Isabel.  As  they  approached,  the  military  officers,  in 
uniform,  were  seen  eager  to  pay  their  respects  to  their 
commanding  officer,  who  they  supposed  on  board  the 
frigate.  Crowds  of  soldiers,  women,  and  children, 
were  looking  over  the  sides  of  the  vessel,  rejoicing 
and  apparently  congratulating  each  other  on  the 
termination  of  a  tedious  and  disastrous  passage  of  six 
months.  On  dropping  anchor,  a  musket  was  fired 
ahead  from- the  commodore's  ship,  and  the  patriot 
ensign  substituted  for  that  of  Spain.  On  the  dis- 
covery of  their  error,  a  wild  cry  burst  forth,  and  their 
confusion  was  evidently  extreme :  they  had  all  been 
taught  to  believe  that  the  patriots  gave  no  quarter. 

The  Spanish  expedition  had  sailed  from  Cadiz  on 
the  21st  of  May,  1818.  It  consisted  of  two  battalions 
of  the  regiment  of  Cantabria,  a  squadron  of  cazadores 
dragones,  and  one  troop  of  horse-artillery,  in  all 
about  two  thousand  eight  hundred  men.  One  sixth 
died  on  the  passage,  and  at  least  one  half  of  those  that 
still  lived  were  hors  de  combat  from  the  effects  of 


204  RETURN  TO   VALPARAISO.         CHAP.  VIII. 

scurvy.  The  state  of  the  vessels  was  filthy  in  the  ex- 
treme, and  the  decks  were  so  greasy  that  it  was  difficult 
to  preserve  firm  foot-hold.  The  misery  of  the  scene 
was  greatly  aggravated  by  the  sight  of  several  un- 
fortunate men,  who,  eaten  up  by  scurvy,  were  stretched 
out  at  the  gangways  in  the  agonies  of  death.  Colonel 
Hoyos  commanded  the  expedition.  He,  with  about 
eight  hundred  men,  including  the  greater  part  of  the 
crew  of  the  Maria  Isabel,  had  landed  at  Talcahuano, 
and  the  two  transports  already  alluded  to,  after  dis- 
embarking the  men,  sailed  for  Callao.  A  third  trans-r 
port,  with  two  companies  of  the  Cantabria  regiment, 
had  also  escaped  to  Callao.  All  the  rest  were  cap- 
tured. 

The  Maria  Isabel  was  a  very  fine  ship  of  fifty 
guns,  and  one  of  the  four  which  Spain  had  bought 
of  Russia.  The  filthy  state  in  which  she  was  found 
was  a  disgrace  even  to  the  Spanish  navy*. 

The  return  of  the  squadron  to  Valparaiso  on  the 
7th  of  November  gave  rise  to  the  most  pleasing 
sensations.  Thirteen  sail  entered  the  bay  in  line,  and 
were  welcomed  by  cheers  from  multitudes  on  the 
beach  and  upon  the  hills,  amongst  whom  were  many 
who  had  predicted  a  very  different  result. 

The  capture  of  the  convoy  was  an  event  of  the 
greatest  importance:  it  prevented  the  junction  of 
upwards  of  two  thousand  Spanish  troops,  with  one 


*  Captain  Capas,  who  commanded  the  Maria  Isabel,  was,  upon  his  return  to 
Spain,  most  clamorous  against  Spanish  America.  He  contended,  that  a  few 
shipe-of-war  would  be  quite  sufficient  to  put  down  the  insurrection.  His  violence 
afterwards  formed  a  strange  contrast  with  the  tameness  of  his  behaviour  at  Talca- 
huano.   He  became  minister  of  marine. 


CHAP.  VIII.  RECEPTION  AT  SANTIAGO.  205 

thousand  six  hundred  under  the  command  of  Sanchez. 
These  anight  soon  have  been  augmented,  by  forced 
levies,  to  above  five  thousand,  a  force  of  sufficient 
strength  to  again  threaten  Santiago,  whence  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  army  of  the  Andes  had  been 
detached  across  the  Cordillera  to  the  assistance  of  the 
Argentine  republic. 

Soon   after   arriving   at  Valparaiso,    Commodore 
Blanco  went  to  Santiago,  accompanied  by  Miller. 
They  were  met  a  few  leagues  from  the  capital  by 
the  state-carriage  of  the  supreme  director,  sent  for 
.their  conveyance.     The  approach  was  rendered  in- 
expressibly delightful  by  the   cheering  welcome  of 
those  who  came  to  meet  them  on  the  road.     Even  a 
party  of  recruits,  tied  hand  to  hand,  halted  and  ut- 
tered their  vivas  as  heartily  as  did  their  escort.     On 
reaching  the  suburbs,  the  entry  became,  as  far  as 
feelings  went,  a  perfect  triumph.     A  warm-hearted 
people,  recently  escaped  from  the  most  galling  vassal- 
age, felt  and  naturally  expressed  their  boundless  sa- 
tisfaction that  their  first  naval  triumph  should  have 
been  so  complete.    They  dwelt  with  honest  pride  on 
the  reflection  that  this  victory  had  been  achieved  by 
a  Chileno  commander.     They,  at  the  same  time, 
gave  their  due  meed  of  praise  to  the  foreigners  em- 
ployed on  the  occasion.    Their  imagination  sketched 
freSh  triumphs,  and  banished  from  every  mind  the 
idea  of  subjection  to  any  foreign  power.     A  coun- 
tenance unmarked  with  an  expression  of  exultation 
was  not  to  be  seen.     This  hearty  welcome  of  the 
people  was  followed  by  dinners  and  balls,  given  to 


UEEFTKNI  AT  SANTIAGO. 


Blanco  during  the  eight  or  nine  days  he  remained  at 
Santiago.  * 

The  society  of  that  city  is  highly  agreeable,  and 
foreigners  and  natives  associate  together  perhaps  more 
than  in  any  other  great  town  of  South  America.  This 
renders  Santiago  a  gay  and  delightful  residence. 


CHAP.  IX.  LORD  COCHRANE.  207 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Lord  Cochrane. — Amusements  at  Valparaiso. — Lady  Cochrane. 
— Mrs.  Blanco. — Chilenas. — H.  M.  S.  Andromache. — Chileno 
squadron  sails. — Mutiny  in  the  Chacabuco. — Attack  upon 
Callao. — Captain  Guise. — Island  of  San  Lorenzo. — Accident. 
—Explosion  vessel. — Gun-boats. — Huacho.  — Guambacho.  — 
Pillage  of  Payta. — Conventillo. — Guacas. — Squadron  returns 
to  Valparaiso. — Admiral  Blanco. — Prisoners  of  war  released. 
—  Captain  Esmonde. 

Towards  the  end  of  November,  1818,  Lord 
Cochrane  arrived  at  Valparaiso,  and,  in  conformity 
to  stipulations  agreed  upon  in  London,  was  named 
commander-in-chief  of  the  naval  forces  of  Chile.  He 
was  received  by  the  authorities  with  the  distinction 
due  to  his  rank,  and  by  the  people  with  the  en- 
thusiasm excited  by  the  brilliancy  of  his  naval  careen 
The  rejoicings  which  already  pervaded  the  country 
were  greatly  heightened  by  the  accession  of  so  di- 
stinguished an  officer.  The  governor  of  Valparaiso 
gave  a '  grand  dinner  on  the  occasion.  The  compli- 
ment was  returned  on  St.  Andrew's  day  by  Cochrane, 
who  presided  in  the  full  costume  of  a  Scottish  chie£ 
Extraordinary  good  cheer  was  followed  by  toasts 
drank  with  uncommon  enthusiasm  in  extraordinary 
good  wine.  No  one  escaped  its  enlivening  influence. 
St.  Andrew  was  voted  the  patron  saint  of  champaign, 
and  many  curious  adventures  of  that  night  have  fur- 
nished the  subject  of  some  still  remembered  anecdotes. 

A  succession  of  diversions  rendered  Valparaiso 


908  CAPTAIN  SHIRREFF.  CHAP.  IX. 

more  than  usually  gay.  Captain  Shirreff  and  the 
officers  of  H.  M.  S.  Andromache,  who  had  made 
themselves  highly  popular  with  all  parties,  con- 
tributed largely  to  vary  the  general  stock  of  amuse- 
ment. A  match  at  cricket  between  the  officers  of 
the  Andromache  and  those  of  H.  M.  S.  Blossom  led 
to  the  establishment  of  a  club,  the  members  of  which 
met  twice  a  week,  and  dined  under  canvas.  The 
play-ground  was  a  level  on  a  hill,  jutting  into  the 
Pacific,  so  that  passengers  in  ships  entering  the  bey 
of  Valparaiso  witnessed,  from  the  deck,  sports  not 
to  be  looked  for  round  Cape  Horn.  The  same  pro- 
montory was  frequently  used  as  a  race-course.  Pic- 
nic parties  were  occasionally  got  up,  and  pleasant 
jaunts  were  made  to  Quillota  and  other  places  in  the 
neighbourhood. 

The  intercourse  between  Valparaiso  and  the  ca- 
pital was  incessant.  A  grand  ball  at  one  place  drew 
numbers  of  the  beau  monde  from  the  other.  2Vr- 
tuliaSj  or  routs,  and  dances  were  given  nearly  every 
evening  at  Valparaiso.  The  two  presiding  belles 
were  Lady  Cochrane  and  Mrs.  Commodore  Blanco, 
both  young,  fascinating,  and  highly  gifted.  The  first 
was  a  flattering  specimen  of  the  beauty  of  England, 
and  the  second  was  perhaps  the  most  beautiful  and 
engaging  woman  of  Chile.  To  these  stars  of  the  first 
magnitude  might  be  added  Miss  Cochrane  (now  Mrs. 
Forster),  who,  if  she  yielded  somewhat  in  personal 
charms,  remained  uneclipsed  in  amiability. 

In  the  bright  galaxy  of  Chilena  enchantresses  are 
to  be  recorded  the  names  of  Dias-Cajigas,  Cotapos, 
Vicuna,  Perez,  Caldera,  Gana,  Barra,  with  a  hundred 


CHAP.  IX.        CHILENO  SQUADRON.  209 

more,  all  calculated  to  produce  ineffaceable  impres- 
sions. There  was  not  a  single  foreign  officer  that 
frequented  those  happy  parties  who  was  not  more 
or  less  smitten  by  charms  and  manners  absolutely 
irresistible.  .    % 

In  the  midst  of  these  gay  scenes  the  outfit  of  the 
squadron  was  completed. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1819,  the  under-men- 
tioned ships  put  to  sea : 

Guns. 

Ojtj-     •       /srrw  (  Vice- Admiral  Lord  Cochrane, 
'Higgins   50  ]  •  ■ 

I  Captain  h  orster. 
San  Martin  56     Captain  Wilkinson. 
Lautaro        48     Captain  Guise. 
Chacabuco    20     Captain  Carter. 

The  object  of  the  Chileno  government  was  to 
destroy  the  Spanish  shipping  at  Callao ;  to  blockade 
the  principal  ports ;  and  to  endeavour  to  dispose  the 
Peruvians  to  co-operate  with  the  troops,  intended  to 
be  embarked  at  Valparaiso,  for  the  purpose  of  liber- 
ating Peru. 

Miller  was  re-appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
troops  serving  as  marines.  His  journal  expresses  the 
deep-felt  regret  with  which  he  separated  from  his 
numerous  friends  in  Chile,  where  it  appears  that  both 
natives  and  foreigners  had,  by  boundless  attentions, 
established  the  strongest  claims  upon  his  best  feelings. 
The  hope  that  Lord  Cochrane  would,  before  he  re- 
turned to  port,  attempt  something  worthy  of  his 
naval  renown,  reconciled  the  officers  embarked  to 
the  change  from  a  life  of  pleasure  on  shore  to  the 
tedious  monotony  of  a  seafaring  existence. 

VOL,  i.  p 


210  A  MEETING  ON  THE  PASSAGE.        CHAP.  IX 

The  vessels  of  the  squadron  were  not  in  a  very 
efficient  state  when  they  left  Valparaiso,  and  during 
the  voyage  the  rigging  underwent  a  refit.  For  this 
reason  the  squadron  proceeded  under  easy  sail,  and 
did  not  arrive  in  the  latitude  of  Callao  until  the  16th 
of  February,  when  it  fell  in  with  H.  M.  ships  An- 
dromache and  Blossom,  the  latter  freighted  with, 
treasure  to  a  great  amount. 

For  some  years  after  the  great  Spanish  American 
struggle  had  commenced,  the  policy  of  Europe  to- 
wards the  belligerents  was  so  obscure  and  conjectural, 
that  it  required  no  ordinary  degree  of  tact  to  avoid  un- 
pleasant collision  on  the  high  seas ;  each  naval  com- 
mander being  ignorant  of  the  instructions  or  intended 
line  of  conduct  of  the  other.  On  the  present  occa- 
sion Captain  Shirreff  seems  to  have  acquitted  himself 
with  great  discretion.  Reports  had  been  circulated 
at  Valparaiso,  that  the  first  meeting  of  the  British  and 
Chileno  squadron  was  likely  to  be  any  thing  but  cor- 
dial. Similar  impressions  appeared  to  have  been  made 
at  Callao,  for  the  ships'  companies  of  the  Andromache 
and  Blossom  were  at  quarters,  as  well  as  those  of  the 
San  Martin  and  Lautaro,  when  the  ships  approached 
each  other.  The  Andromache  hailed  the  O'Higgins, 
and  after  a  friendly  interchange  of  the  usual  civilities, 
Captain  Shirreff  went  on  board  the  Chileno  flag-ship, 
waving,  as  he  expressed  himself  to  Lord  Cochrane, 
all  consideration  of  etiquette,  for  the  purpose  of  esta- 
Wishing,  in  a  frank  manner,  a  clear  understanding  as 
to  the  manner  in  which  British  commerce  was  to  be 
treated  by  the  Chileno  flag.  This  important  inter- 
view produced  a  harmony  between  the  two  services; 


CHAP.  IX.  PLAN  OF  ATTACK.  21 1 

and,  during  the  period  that  Captain  Shirreff  cojn- 
raanded  the  British  naval  force  in  the  Pacific,  not  a 
single  vessel  of  his  nation  was  subjected  to  seizure. 

The  first  plan  of  the  admiral  was  to  cut  out  the 
Spanish  frigates  Esmeralda  and  Venganza  from  under 
the  castles  of  Callao.  The  O'Higgins  was  to  assume 
the  name  of  the  Macedonian,  and  the  Lautaro  that 
of  the  John  Adams,  two  United  States'  frigates  then 
daily  looked  for  in  the  Pacific*  A  packet  was  made 
up  and  addressed,  in  due  form,  to  the  viceroy,- as  if 
containing  despatches  from  the  Spanish  ambassador 
at  Washington,  and  which  was  to  be  delivered  to  the 
first  government  boat  that  hailed.  The  O'Higgins 
was  to  board  the  Esmeralda,  and  the  Lautaro  the 
Venganza,  and  the  boats  of  both  were  afterwards  to 
take  a  corvette  reported  to  have  sixty  thousand  dollars 
on  board.  The  San  Martin  was  to  anchor  outside 
of  the  island  of  San  Lorenzo,  which  was  to  be  taken 
possession  of  the  day  after  the  Spanish  frigates  and 
corvette  were  captured.  The  Spanish  force  consisted 
of  the  two  frigates  already  mentioned,  two  brigs  of 
war,  twenty-six  gun-boats,  and  some  merchantmen 
armed  to  assist  in  the  defence,  all  supported  by  one 
hundred  and  sixty-five  guns  from  the  fortifications. 

It  was  intended  that  the  attack  should  have  been 
made  on  the  2Sd  of  February,  on  account  of  its  being 
the  last  day  of  the  carnival,  when  it  was  usual  for 
most  of  the  officers  and  some  of  the  men  of  the  gar. 
rison,  as  well  as  many  belonging  to  the  vessels  at 
Callao,  to  be  absent  on  leave,  in  Lima ;  but  a  variety 
of  causes  concurred  to  prevent  its  execution  on  that 
day.  On  the  22d,  Captain  Guise  went  on  board  the 

P  CZ 


k 


212  MUTINY  IN  THE  CHACABUCO.        CHAP.  IX. 

flag-ship  for  final  orders.  Before  he  could  return  to 
his  own  ship  (the  Lautaro)  the  weather  became  so 
hazy  that  she  parted  company,  and  although  signals 
were  instantly  made,  and  muskets*  discharged  during 
the  night,  she  did  not  rejoin  until  the  fourth  day, 
during  which  interval  the  weather  was  so  hazy  that 
the  land  could  not  be  made. 

The  Chacabuco,  which  had  been  sent  back  ta 
Valparaiso  on  the  15th  of  January,  rejoined  on  the 
26th  of  February.  On  her  way  out  a  second  time, 
the  crew  mutinied.  The  officers  were  kept  in  close, 
confinement  for  several  days,  but,  instigated  by  the 
gallant  Lieutenant  Morgell,  they  regained,  with  th& 
assistance  of  the  marines,  possession  of  the  ship. 
Morgell  and  the  boatswain  who  headed  the  muti- 
neers wrestled  together  for  upwards  of  ten  minutes. 
At  last  the  boatswain  disengaged  himself;  ran  to  the 
forecastle,  and  was  in  the  act  of  firing  offa  carronade 
pointed  towards  the  quarter-deck  when  he  was  shot 
through  the  head  by  a  marine.  Two  other  mutineers 
were  killed  in  the  scuffle,  several  were  wounded,  and 
six  of  the  ringleaders  were  afterwards  tried  and  shot 
at  Coquimbo. 

A  good  deal  of  fever  prevailed  in  the  squadron 
upon  approaching  Peru,  where  very  heavy  dews  fall 
at  night,  and  where  the  weather  is  hazy  for  weeks 
together.  It  happened  that  a  vessel  bound  to  Europe 
met  a  cruiser,  and  hailed  to  ask  if  the  latter  had  any 
commands.  "  Remember  us  to  the  sun  when  you 
see  him,"  was  the  answer. 

*  Guns  were  not  fired,  lest  the  report  should  be  heard  on  shore. 


ip  on  shore  before 

rf  along  shore 

■U  those  on  board  was 

itiKiiit;  could  be  placed 

A4ie  log  suddenly  cleared 

••attended  to  the  main-land, 

p*  found    themselves  almost 

Ifcer.      A  Spanish   gun-boat 

covered  within  musket-shot,  and 

prisoners  stated,  that  the  viceroy 

-••the  morning  to  review  the  garrison, 

Rl  shipping.    The  crews  of  the  vessels 

men  on  shore  had  been  exercised  at 

hum  fight  had  taken  place,  and  hence 

ring  which  attracted  the  patriot  ships  to 

f-iat. 

ish  brig,  with  every  sail  set,  was  observed 
rcl.  It  afterwards  appeared  that  the  viceroy, 
ut  sixty  persons  of  his  court,  were  on  board. 
I  embarked  for  a  trip  of  pleasure  in  the  bay, 
ochrane  had  known  the  circumstance,  all 


214  FAILURE  BEFORE  CAULA0.  CHAP.  IX* 

might  have  been  taken;  but  the  admiral  being  de- 
termined to  attack  the  vessels  at  anchor,  paid  no  at- 
tention to  the  brig,  little  suspecting  that  the  principal 
military  and  civil  personages  of  Lima  were  on  board* 
The  O'Higgins,  followed  by  the  Lautaro,  stood  direct 
for  the  Spanish  shipping.  On  nearing  them,  Xbv 
wind  unfortunately  decreased  so  much,  that  it  was 
not  considered  advisable  or  even  practicable  to  lay 
the  O'Higgins  and  Lautaro  alongside,  as  intended; 
but  the  former  came  to  an  anchor  at  the  distance  of 
a  thousand  yards,  with  springs  on  her  cable.  The 
Spaniards  paid  no  respect  to  the  colours  of  the 
United  States,  which  were  kept  flying,  but  opened  a 
tremendous  fire,  which  was  briskly  returned  for  about 
an  hour,  during  which  time  a  thick  fog  occasionally 
hid  the  combatants  from  a  view  of  each  other;  which 
circumstance  may  account  for  the  trifling  damage 
sustained  by  the  O'Higgins  from  the  fire  of  upwards 
of  two  hundred  pieces  of  ordnance.  Very  few  men 
were  killed  or  wounded,  but  the  running  rigging  wap 
much  cut,  and  the  boom  shot  away.  Guise  was 
dangerously  wounded  in  the  early  part  of  the  action* 
His  first  lieutenant  managed  so  badly  that  the  Lau- 
taro sheered  off,  and  did  not  come  within  range  again. 
The  San  Martin  and  Chacabuco  lagged  astern  for 
want  of  wind,  and  never  got  under  fire.  In  the 
evening  the  patriot  vessels  anchored  under  the  lee  of 
the  island  of  San  Lorenzo.  The  ship's  company  of 
the  O'Higgins,  Chilenos  as  well  as  foreigners,  behaved 
exceedingly  well.  A  fine  example  of  skill  and  bravery 
was  before  their  eyes  in  the  person  of  Cochrane,  who 
is  never  seen  to.  such  shining  advantage  as  in  the  heat 


CHAP.  IX.  YOUNG  COCHRANE.  215 

of  battle.  He  is  remarkable  for  the  quickness  with 
which  he  can  discern  a  shot  coming,  and  the  accuracy 
with  which  he  can  tell  its  direction. 

In  a  subsequent  affair  at  the  same  place,  he  was 
sitting  astride  upon  the  hammocks  according  to  his 
usual  custom.  Miller  was  standing  on  a  carronade 
upon  the  quarter-deck,  close  to  the  admiral,  who  said, 
*'  There  comes  a  shot  straight  for  us,  but  don't  move, 
for  it  will  strike  below  us ;"  and  it  entered  just  under* 
neath,  at  the  lower  part  of  the  very  port  above  which 
both  had  placed  themselves.  The  shot  struck  off  the 
head  of  a  marine  who  had  dodged  to  avoid  it,  and 
wounded  four  seamen.  One,  named  Jos6  de  San 
Martin,  had  been  a  chieftain  of  banditti  in  Chile, 
and  had  been  sent  on  board  from  the  condemned  cell. 
His  leg  was  carried  away,  and  the  bone  shattered  so 
much  that  he  afterwards  suffered  amputation  above 
the  knee,  which  he  bore  with  astonishing  fortitude, 
exclaiming  "  Viva  la  patria  /"  repeatedly  during  the 
operation  *• 

Tom  Cochrane,  a  son  of  the  admiral,  only  ten 
years  of  age,  was  walking  about  on  the  quarter-deck, 
when  the  shot  scattered  the  brains  of  the  marine  in 
the  child's  face.  He  ran  up  to  his  father,  and,  with 
an  air  of  hereditary  self-possession  and  unconcern, 
called  out,  "Indeed,  papa,  the  shot  did  not  touch 
me;  indeed  I  am  not  hurt." 

On  the  2d  of  March,  Captain  Forster  and  Miller 

*  In  February,  1824,  Miller  met  the  same  man,  begging  alms  on  horseback 
in  the  streets  of  Santiago.  Upon  asking  if  he  received  a  pension  from  govern- 
ment,  he  answered  with  gaiety,  that  he  obtained  so  much  in  charity  that  he  never 
thought  ft  worth  while  to  apply  for  a  pension. 


£16  EXPLOSION.  CHAP.  IX. 

took  possession  of  the  barren  island  of  San  Lorenzo, 
about  fifteen  miles  in  circumference,  situated  in  the 
bay  of  Callao.  The  highest  point  is  about  six  bun* 
dred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  commands 
a  fine  view  of  the  domes  of  Lima,  situated  in  a  plain 
six  miles  from  the  shore,  and  precisely  at  the  same 
height  above  the  ocean  as  the  top  of  San  Lorenzo. 
The  city  appeared  to  be  immediately  at  the  foot  of 
the  majestic  Andes,  and  forms  a  picturesque  object. 

Cochrane  finding  his  original  plan  of  attack  im- 
practicable with  bis  slender  means,  resolved  to  fit  out 
fire-ships.  A  laboratory  was  formed  upon  San  Lo- 
renzo, under  the  superintendence  of  Miller.  On  the 
19th  of  March,  an  accidental  explosion  took  place, 
which  scorched  the  major  and  ten  men  in  a  dreadful 
manner.  The  former  lost  the  nails  from  both  hands, 
and  the  injury  was  so  severe  that  his  face  was  swelled 
to  twice  its  natural  dimensions.  Scarcely  a  feature 
was  discernible,  and  he  was  obliged  to  be  fed  through 
a  sort  of  plaster  mask.  He  was  blind  and  delirious 
for  some  days,  and  was  confined  to  his  cabin  for  six 
weeks.  His  fellow  sufferers  on  the  occasion  evinced 
an  extraordinary  and  heroic  degree  of  attachment; 
for  in  the  midst  of  their  sufferings  they  refused  to 
have  their  own  burns  dressed  until  they  were  as- 
sured by  the  surgeon  that  their  officer  had  been 
attended  to. 

At  10  P.  M.  on  the  22nd  of  March  the  squadron 
got  under  weigh.  The  O'Higgins  stood  close  in, 
and  received  a  heavy  fire  from  the  forts  and  shipping. 
The  explosion-vessel  unfortunately  grounded  within 


CHAP.  IX,  SPANISH  GUN-BOATS.  2l7 

musket-shot  of  them,  knocked  a  hole  in  her  bottom, 
and  filled  *.  This  circumstance,  together  with  the 
wind  dying  away,  and  the  Lautaro  and  San  Martin 
keeping  far  astern,  induced  his  lordship  to  relinquish 
the  attack  for  that  night.  The  squadron  therefore 
returned  to  its  anchorage,  leaving  the  fire-ship  to 
go  to  pieces. 

At  day-break  on  the  25th,  the  Spanish  gun-boats 
and  some  armed  launches  came  out,  and,  under  cover 
of  a  thick  fog,  approached  within  pistol-shot,  but  did 
not  attempt  to  board.  The  O'Higgins  gave  some 
well  directed  broadsides,  and  a  breeze  springing  up 
at  the  end  of  an  hour's  firing,  she  got  under  weigh. 
The  gun-boats  made  their  escape  with  some  difficulty, 
and  took  refuge  under  the  batteries. 

Want  of  water  and  provisions  compelled  the  ships 
to  go  to  Huacho.  The  Chacabuco  was  left  at  San 
Lorenzo  to  cruise  off  and  on.  The  people  of  Huacho 
assisted  the  watering  party ;  for  which  two  were  after- 
wards shot,  and  others  severely  punished,  by  the 
royalist  Colonel  Cevallos.  A  party  of  marines  and 
some  seamen,  under  the  orders  of  Captain  Forster, 
marched  to  Haura,  and  the  garrison  of  the  town  was 
soon  put  to  flight.  The  governor  had  a  few  hours 
before  sent  an  impertinent  letter  of  defiance  to  the 
admiral. 

On  the  1st  of  April,  Rear- Admiral  Blanco  in  the 
Galvarino,  of  twenty-two  guns,  and  the  Pueyrredon, 
of  sixteen  guns,  arrived  at  Huacho,  when  Blanco 
shifted  his  flag  to  the  San  Martin.     The  O'Higgins 

*  On  the  following  day  the  viceroy  promoted  some  officers  employed  in  the 
batteries,  for  having  sunk  the  exj>losion-vesseL 


218  PAYTA.  CHAF.  IX, 

and  Gal varino  sailed  to  Supe,  where  a  party  of  ma- 
rines landed  on  the  5th,  and  took  seventy  thousand 
dollars,  Spanish  property,  going  from  Lima  to  be 
embarked  at  the  port  of  Guambacho.  The  squadron 
touched  at  Guarmey,  where  sixty  thousand  dollars, 
Spanish  property,  were  taken  from  the  French  brig 
Griselle. 

On  the  13th,  the  squadron  arrived  in  the  port  of 
Payta,  which  formerly  obtained  the  name  of  "  little 
Jamaica"  when  a  thriving  trade  was  carried  on  witk 
the  West  Indies  across  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and 
when  it  was  the  grand  entrepot  for  contraband.  It 
is  situated  in  a  noble  bay,  but  the  town  is  eight  or 
nine  miles  from  the  nearest  drop  of  fresh  water,  which, 
brought  in  barrels  on  the  backs  of  asses,  is  sold  at  about 
ninepence  the  load  in  the  morning  market.  It  is  four- 
teen leagues  from  Piura,  the  first  town  that  Pizairo 
founded  in  Peru,  and  of  which  Payta  is  the  port. 
The  best  mules  of  Peru  come  from  Piura.  Payta 
contained  four  thousand  inhabitants,  who  deserted 
the  town,  when  the  garrison  of  one  hundred  men 
fled,  on  Captain  Forster's  landing  with  one  hundred 
and  twenty  men,  and  the  place  was  given  up  to  plun- 
der. A  schooner  taken  in  the  bay  was  loaded  with 
captured  ordnance,  cocoa,  and  spirits. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  the  O'Higgins  sailed  for  her 
former  cruising  ground  off  CaUao.  Having  recon- 
noitred, she  proceeded  to  leeward  again,  and  on  the 
8th  arrived  off  Supe.  An  attempt  made  to  land  the 
marines  failed,  on  account  of  a  heavy  surf;  but  a 
second  effort,  after  dark,  succeeded.  Captain  Forster 
disembarked  with  some  seamen,  and  was  the  senior 


CHAP.  IK.  GAKCIA  CAMBA.  219 

officer.  The  detachment  advanced  to  an  estate  called 
el  Conventillo,  where  it  arrived  at  dawn  of  day. 
While  the  troops  were  dispersed  at  breakfast,  they 
were  attacked  by  thirty-six  cavalry  and  forty  infantry 
of  the  Spaniards,  who  sprang  up  from  an  ambuscade. 
The  marines  under  Miller  formed  quickly,  and  soon 
put  the  royalists  to  flight,  killing  and  wounding  seve- 
ral, and  taking  some  prisoners,  with  a  stand  of  colours 
and  some  arms. 

On  the  13th,  three  hundred  of  the  enemy  advanced 
upon  the  marines;  but  the  latter  having  taken  up  * 
good  position,  the  royalists  declined  attacking  them. 
Having  embarked  one  hundred  and  fifty  slaves,  some 
sugar,  and  a  few  oxen  from  the  estate  of  Don  Manuel 
Garcia,  a  royalist,  the  marines  withdrew,  and  the  squa- 
dron sailed  to  the  southward.  Major  (afterwards  Ge- 
neral) Garcia  Camba,  who  commanded  the  royalist 
detachment  sent  from  Lima,  and  who  did  not  venture 
to  attack  the  patriots,  wrote  such  a  bombastic  despatch 
to  the  viceroy  about  driving  the  insurgents  into  the 
sea,  that  he  was  immediately  promoted.  The  only 
trophies  which  fell  into  the  power  of  Camba  were  five 
great-coats  left  behind  through  negligence*. 

At  Huarmey,  the  marines  landed,  and  took  off  a 
quantity  of  saltpetre.  Young  Vidal,  a  lad  not  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  who  had  emigrated  from  Lima, 
and  attached  himself  to  the  squadron,  acted  as  a  vo- 
lunteer, and  here  first  displayed  that  prowess  for  which 


*  General  Garcia  Camba  was  notorious  for  the  virulence  of  his  writings,  and 
for  being  the  suggester  of  cruel  measures.  But  when  he  became  a  prisoner  at 
Ayacucb«  his  manner  formed  a  disgusting  contrast  to  his  previous  haughtiness. 
With  trembling  anxiety,  he  sought  out  General  La  Mar,  and  cringed  to  the 
chjk,  who  had  been  me  of  those  most  abused  by  his  malignant  pen. 


220  ANTIQUITIES  AT  GUAMBACHO.      CHAP.  IX. 

he  became  remarkable.  Having  strayed  to  some  dis- 
tance from  the  party  on  shore,  he  was  suddenly  at- 
tacked by  two  royalist  dragoons.  After  a  short 
conflict,  one  fled,  and  the  other  was  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner  by  Vidal,  who  received  a  sabre  wound 
on  the  head.  The  marines  landed  again  at  Guam- 
bacho  to  protect  a  party  sent  for  water;  the  pro- 
curing of  which  along  the  coast  is  generally  a  work 
of  time  and  labour,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of 
getting  barrels  afloat  through  the  tremendous  surf, 
for  which  purpose  balsas  are  often  used.  They  are 
of  several  kinds.  The  largest  sort  is  formed  of  seven 
or  nine  trunks  of  trees  lashed  together,  then  three  or 
four  cross-pieces,  and  then  a  second  flooring  of  the 
same  number  of  logs  as  the  bottom  tier.  These  rafts 
are  run  aground,  and  the  surf,  in  moderate  weather, 
does  not  break  over  the  upper  tier  so  as  to  spoil  goods 
or  to  wet  passengers.  A  pole  is  stuck  up  in  the  mid- 
dle, to  which  a  sail  is  rigged.  The  rudder  is  a  plank 
run  into  the  water  between  the  logs,  rather  abaft  the 
centre.  The  whole  is  so  unwieldy  that  wind  and  tide 
must  be  in  its  favour  to  work  it  with  effect.  When 
these  rafts  are  wanted  to  windward  they  are  taken  to 
pieces,  the  logs  carried  the  proper  distance  by  land, 
and  then  put  together  at  low  water.  In  this  way 
merchant-vessels  are  commonly  unloaded  on  many 
parts  of  the  coast.  In  some  places  a  long  bundle  of 
rushes,  tapering  at  each  extremity,  is  used,  particu- 
larly by  fishermen,  who  seat  themselves  astride  and 
paddle  through  the  swell. 

Near  Guambacho  are  the  remains  of  an  extensive 
line  of  fortification,  consjjycted  previous  to  the  con- 


CHAP,  IX.  GUACAS  '   221 

quest.  The  wall  in  many  parts  is  still  entire,  and  has 
saliant  angles,  somewhat  resembling  rude  bastions. 
The  wall  runs  along  the  side  of  a  lofty  mountain, 
-close  to  the  sea.  A  great  battle  was  gained  here  by 
the  Inca  over  Chimu,  the  last  king  of  the  province 
now  called  Truxillo.  An  immense  quantity  of  human 
bones  is  scattered  over  the  ground.  Some  of  the 
skulk  retain  all  the  hair.  The  guacas  or  tumuli 
scattered  over  Peru  are  ransacked  for  the  sake  of  the 
gold  and  silver  ornaments  sometimes  found  placed  in 
the  mouth,  ears,  under  the  nape  of  the  neck,  and  on 
the  navel  of  the  persons  buried  in  them.  Earthen 
jars,  of  curious  shape  and  workmanship,  are  often 
dug  up,  together  with  household  utensils,  wearing 
apparel,  and  grains  of  Indian  corn,  which  last  have 
been  known  to  vegetate  on  being  sown  in  an  irrigated 
spot,  after/lying  in  the  desert  above  three  hundred 
years.  The  jaFS. were  filled  with  chicha>  all  supposed 
to  be  needful  to  the  deceased;  the  quantity  or  value 
of  the  supply  being  proportioned  to  his  rank  in  life. 
Phosphoric  exhalations  are  seen  sometimes  as  large 
as  the  flame  of  a  bonfire.  This  is  considered  by  the 
country  people  an  indication  that  gold  is  to  be  found, 
and  they  fall  to  work  to  ransack  the  tumulus,  which 
had  probably  been  pillaged  twenty  times  before. 

The  squadron  having  completed  the  watering,  and 
taken  in  sea  stock,  sailed  to  windward,  and  cast  an- 
chor in  the  bay  of  Valparaiso  on  the  17th  of  June, 

1819. 

:  Blanco,  in  the  San  Martin,  together  with  the  Lau- 
taro,  had  previously  arrived,  having  been  obliged  to 
raise  the  blockade  of  Callao  for  want  of  provisions. 


923  MALTREATMENT  OF  PRISONERS.      CHAK  IX. 

For  this  Blanco  incurred  the  displeasure  of  govern- 
ment. He  was  put  under  an  arrest,  but  honourably 
acquitted  by  a  court  of  inquiry. 

To  avoid  an  interruption  in  the  narrative,  we  have 
deferred  until  now  the  mention  that  a  Spanish  Ser- 
jeant and  ten  men  were  taken  on  the  island  of  San 
Lorenzo.  They  formed  the  guard  over  thirty-seven 
unfortunate  patriot  soldiers,  who  had  been  made  pri- 
soners of  war  at  the  battles  of  Ayoma  and  Huaqui 
in  1811.  The  prisoners  were  loaded  with  chains  like 
convicts,  and  kept  to  hard  labour  in  the  stone  quar- 
ries of  the  island.  At  night  they  were  linked  by  one 
leg  to  an  iron  bar  under  a  miserable  shed,  scarcely 
roomy  enough  to  lodge  them.  The  poor  fellows  were 
overpowered  with  joy  upon  finding  themselves  unex- 
pectedly set  free,  and  once  more  under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  patriot  flag.  Their  unshaken  fidelity  had 
drawn  down  the  barbarous  treatment,  which  had  been 
fatal  to  the  greater  part  of  their  companions  in  mis- 
fortune. Cochrane  carried  to  Chile  the  shackles  found 
upon  the  persons  of  these  unfortunate  soldiers,  whose 
fate  gave  rise  to  a  very  spirited  correspondence  be- 
tween his  lordship  and  the  viceroy,  relative  to  the 
maltreatment  of  patriot  prisoners  of  war. 

His  excellency  answered  in  courteous  terms,  but 
denied  that  the  patriot  prisoners  were  treated  ill,  and 
he  declined  to  exchange  those  taken  in  the  privateer 
(Maypo  brig),  after  a  very  severe  action  with  a  supe- 
rior force,  on  the  plea  that  they  were  pirates.  The 
surviving  officers  of  the  Maypo  were  kept  in  irons 
for  sixteen  months,  and  the  fetters  round  their  ankles 
laid  the  bones  bare.  The  commander,  Captain  Brown, 


CHAP.  IX.  H.  M.  S.  TVNE.  823 

had  the  sentence  of  death  hanging  over  him  for  above 
a  year,  when,  by  the  assistance  of  Alomi,  a  corporal 
of  the  guard,  he  escaped,  and  took  refuge  on  board 
H.  M.  S.  Tyne.  Captain  Falcon  refused  to  give  him 
up  to  the  viceroy,  who,  in  an  angry  and  voluminous 
correspondence,  proved  by  precedents  commencing 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1499,  amd  ending  Anne 
Domini  1808,  that  the  British  commander  had  over- 
stepped the  boundaries  marked  out  by  international 
law.  But  Captain  Falcon,  more  dive  to  the  dictates 
of  an  humane  mind,  took  upon  himself  the  respon- 
sibility of  rescuing  a  brave  countryman,  exposed  to  a 
lingering,  if  not  a  violent,  death  in  a  horrid  dungeon. 
The  corporal,  Alomi,  had  been  an  officer  in  the 
patriot  service.  Falling  a  prisoner  in  Colombia,  he 
was  compelled  to  serve  in  the  regiment  of  Numan- 
cia,  and  intended  to  pass  over  to  the  patriot  standard } 
but  the  officer  of  the  watch  did  not  consider  himself 
justified  in  extending  protection  to  a  Peruvian  sub- 
ject, and  he  was  not  received  on  board  the  Tyne. 
He  was  taken  by  the  loyalists,  and  condemned  to  be 
shot;  and  it  speaks  much  for  the  humanity  of  the 
viceroy's  personal  character  that  the  sentence  was  not 
carried  into  execution. 

Amongst  the  other  patriot  prisoners  was  the  ami* 
able,  the  gallant,  and  unfortunate  Captain  Esmonde, 
brother  to  Sir  Thomas  Esmonde,  Baronet.  The 
circumstances  attending  his  captivity  and  release  are 
the  more  interesting  as  they  afford  an  instance  of  re- 
tributive justice,  in  which  savage  cruelty  is  punished 
through  the  immediate  agency  of  the  sufferer,  in  a 


224  ALGORTE.  CHAP.  IX. 

more  summary  and  obvious  mode  than  usually  occurs 
in  the  history  of  human  transactions. 

One  of  the  authorities  at  Pisco,  to  whose  charge 
the  patriot  prisoners  had  been  consigned,  was  Don 
Francisco  Algorte,  who,  in  addition  to  the  brutal 
tyranny  which  he  exercised  oyer  the  unfortunate 
prisoners,  descended  frequently  to  the  cowardly  vio- 
lence of  striking  Esmonde  upon  the  head  with  a 
Cane.  From  this  situation,  more  horrible  than  death 
to  the  mind  of  a  gentlemanly  and  high-spirited 
officer,  Esmonde  was  removed  to  the  casemates  of 
Callao,  whence  he  was  liberated  by  the  kind  inter- 
position of  Captain  Shirreff,  with  whom,  in  com- 
pliance with  the  terms  of  his  release,  he  returned  to 
England. 

On  the  capture  of  Pisco  in  1821  by  the  patriots, 
under  the  command  of  Miller,  an  estate  of  Algorte 
was,  as  belonging  to  a  violent  and  uncompromising 
Spaniard,  taken  possession  of,  and  subsequently  con- 
fiscated. 

Algorte  repaired  to  Lima,  and,  in  the  course  of  a 
few  months,  by  well  directed  presents,  secured  the 
support  of  some  powerful  friends,  whose  influence 
had  nearly  obtained  from  the  protector  the  restora- 
tion of  his  estate.  Nothing  was  wanting  to  complete 
his  success  but  the  report  of  Miller,  upon  a  reference 
made  to  him,  and  which  was  necessary  to  legalize  the 
restoration.  To  ensure  his  acquiescence,  Algorte  had 
recourse  to  a  mutual  friend,  a  rich  Spanish  merchant^ 
of  the  highest  character.  This  gentleman,  without 
venturing  to  enter  into  particulars,  intimated  that  he 


CHAP.  IX.  ESMONDS.  225 

was  authorised  to  subscribe  to  any  terms.  An  in- 
timate friend  of  Miller's,  an  English  merchant,  was 
also  employed,  and  who,  in  a  jocose  manner,  hinted 
that,  in  the  event  of  a  favourable  report,  five  or  six 
thousand  dollars  might  be  accidentally  found  at  the 
door  of  the  colonel's  apartments. 

Esmonde,  who  had  fulfilled  the  conditions  of  his 
release,  and  returned  to  Peru,  happened  at  this  mo- 
ment to  be  in  Lima.  To  him,  therefore,  Miller, 
who  had  heard  some  reports  of  Algorte's  treatment 
of  the  prisoners,  referred  for  their  correctness,  with- 
out mentioning  either  then  or  afterwards  the  motive 
for  his  inquiries.  Esmonde  simply  recounted  the 
conduct  of  Algorte  towards  himself  and  his  fellow- 
prisoners.  The  result  may  be  anticipated.  Miller's 
report  was  immediately  forwarded,  and  Algorte's 
estate  irrecoverably  lost. 

Captain  Esmonde  was  afterwards  employed  by  the 
Peruvian  government  to  examine  and  report  upon 
the  possibility  of  making  canals  near  Tarapaca.  The 
vessel  on  board  of  which  he  embarked  having  never 
been  heard  of,  is  supposed  to  have  foundered  at  sea, 


vol.  r. 


226  CITY  OF  CONCEPCION.  CHAP.  x. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Balcarce. — Concepcion. — Benavides. — His  barbarities.— Arauca- 
nian  Indians. — Cbileno  squadron  sails. — Unsuccessful  against 
Callao. — Sails  to  Pisco. — Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  killed.-— 
His  character. — Major  Miller  wounded. — Squadron  sails  to 
Guayaquil . — Returns. 

Osorio  having  escaped  from  Maypo  to  Talc* 
huano,  remained  there  until  September  following, 
when,  blinded  by  his  fears,  he  destroyed  the  forti- 
fications and  sailed  for  Callao.  General  Sanches, 
then  in  the  interior,  was  left  in  command  of  the  pro- 
vince of  Concepcion. 

Early  in  1819,  General  Balcarce  with  three  thou- 
sand patriot  troops  marched  against  Sanchez,,  who 
had  augmented  his  force  to  two  thousand  men.  The 
royalists  were  driven  with  loss  from  the  inland  island 
of  Laja,  and  from  Nacimiento,  both  of  which  places 
were  rudely  fortified. 

The  former  city  of  Concepcion,  or  Penco,  was 
pleasantly  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river 
Bio-Bio,  and  contained  a  population  of  above  thirty 
thousand  souls,  but  was  overthrown  by  an  earthquake. 
The  new  town,  built  upon  nearly  the  same  site,  had 
been  ruined  by  the  alternate  occupation  of  royalists, 
patriots,  and  Araucanians.  The  country  around  is 
also  subject  to  the  incursions  of  these  Indians,  whose 
custom  is  to  massacre  all  males  and  to  carry  off  all 
females.  Several  hundred  women  were  in  captivity 
at  the  time  now  referred  to. 


C»AP.  X.  GENERAL  BALCARCE.  227 

Upon  the  advance  of  the  independents,  Sanchez 
collected  his  forces  from  Concepcion,  Chilian,  and 
Laja,  and  fell  back  upon  the  Araucanian  territory. 
He  had  already  gained  over  several  caciques,  and  had 
the  address  to  obtain  the  unprecedented  favour  of 
permission  to  march  with  Spanish  troops  through 
Arauco  to  Valdivia,  about  sixty  leagues  to  the  south- 
ward of  Talcahuano. 

In  crossing  the  Bio-Bio,  Sanchez  was  overtaken 
by  Balcarce,  and  after  losing  six  hundred  men  in  an 
unsuccessful  stand,  the  royalists  were  compelled  to 
make  a  precipitate  flight.  Lieutenant-Colonels  Viel 
and  Don  M.  Escalada,  and  Major  Caxara villa,  sig- 
nalized themselves  greatly  about  this  period.  Bal- 
carce* returned  to  Santiago,  leaving  Colonel  Freyre 
in  the  military  and  civil  command  of  the  province  of 
Concepcion. 

The  persevering  Sanchez  reached  Valdivia  with 
about  nine  hundred  followers,  but  not  without  great 
difficulties;  for  the  caciques  on  the  line  of  march  ex- 
torted presents,  and  it  cost  much  to  preserve  a  good 
understanding.  The  very  soldiers  parted  with  every 
small  article  of  metal,  and  arrived  at  Valdivia  with- 
out a  button  on  their  clothes. 

In  order  to  keep  alive  a  hostile  feeling  towards 
the  patriots,  the  celebrated  leader  Benavides  was, 
With  a  few  desperado  volunteers,  left  amongst  the 
Araucanian  tribes.    These  destructive  bands  of  free- 


*  Don  Antonio  de  Balcarce  had  served  with  credit  in  Spain.  He  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  British  at  Monte  Video  in  1807*  He  was  amongst  the  first  to 
embrace  the  cause  of  independence,  and  gained  for  Buenos  Ayres  her  first  lau- 
rels at  Cotagaita.  He  died  on  the  1 5th  of  August,  1819.  He  was  an  active, 
Upright,  and  zealous  patriot. 

Q2 


£28  ARAUCANIAN    B  A  KB  A  HIT  IKS.  CHAP.  X. 

booters,  strengthened  by  numbers  of  deserters  from 
the  independents,  became  so  formidable  that  Colonel 
Freyre,  with  two  thousand  men,  was  scarcely  able  to 
keep  them  in  check.  Several  strong  patriot  parties 
crossed  the  Bio-Bio,  to  extirpate  the  depredators; 
but  after  some  fighting,  and  sustaining  considerable 
losses,  they  always  returned  without  having  effected 
their  object. 

The  acts  of  barbarity  committed  by  Benavides  are 
almost  incredible.  Captain  Quitospi,  a  Russian  officer 
in  the  patriot  service,  Colonel  O'Carrol,  who  had 
served  in  Spain,  Lieutenant  Bayley,  with  many  other 
officers,  were  wounded  and  taken  in  action  at  different 
periods,  and,  amongst  other  horrid  mutilations,  had 
their  tongues  cut  out.  General  Don  Andres  Alca- 
zar, who  bore  the  character  of  extraordinary  virtue 
and  bravery,  and  who  from  his  advanced  age  was  con* 
sidered  to  be  the  patriarch  of  the  province,  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Indians,  and  suffered  similar  muti- 
lations. Such  were  the  effects  of  revengeful  recol- 
lections ;  for  the  Araucanians  had  not  forgotten  the 
impalings  of  their  ancestors,  and  the  cruel  wrongs 
done  them  by  the  Spaniards  in  their  vain  attempts 
for  three  hundred  years  to  subjugate  them.  These 
feelings  were  continually  excited  by  their  traditions 
and  their  war  songs,  which  record  the  victories  their 
forefathers  obtained  over  the  barbarous  whites.  They 
cared  not  on  which  side  they  fought,  provided  they 
were  instrumental  to  the  destruction  of  either,  as 
they  considered  both  parties  their  natural  enemies. 
Perhaps  Benavides  himself  is  indebted  for  a  part  of 
his  popularity  with  the  Indians  to  his  hatred  of  the 


«      *r     .        ^  1  Rear- Admiral  Blanco. 
San  Martin      60 


chap.  x.  coquimbo.  229 

very  Spaniards  he  served,  as  evinced  by  his  shooting 
or  hanging,  under  different  pretexts,  every  respecta- 
ble Spanish  officer  sent  from  Valdivia  to  assist  him. 

Three  months  were  busily  employed  by  Cochrane 
in  the  manufacture  of  rockets,  and  making  other 
preparations  for  a  renewed  attack  upon  the  shipping 
under  the  walls  of  Callao. 

On  the  12th  of  September,  1819,  the  undermen- 
tioned men-of-war  sailed  from  Valparaiso : 

Guns. 

CHiggins        48     Vice- Admiral  Lord  Cochrane. 

I  Captain  Wilkinson. 
Lautaro  46     Captain  Guise. 

Independencia  28  Forster. 

Pueyrredon      14  Prunier. 

Vitoria  and  Xerezana  to  be  fitted  up  as  fire-ships. 
Galvarino         18     Captain  Spry      \     joined 
Araucano         16  Crosbiel  afterwards. 

Four  hundred  soldiers  were  embarked  to  act  as 
marines.  The  proportion  distributed  in  the  Chileno 
vessels  was  above  double  the  usual  complement  of 
marines  employed  in  ships  of  the  same  class  in  the 
British  navy.  The  Chileno  soldiers  so  embarked 
did  the  duty  of  seamen  as  well  as  of  marines.  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Charles,  who  had  the  superintendence 
of  the  rocket  department,  was  the  commanding  officer. 
Major  Miller  re-embarked  as  second  in  command  of 
the  troops. 

On  the  25th  September,  the  squadron  entered 
the  bay  of  Coquimbo,  and  received  some  marines  on 
board.     Coquimbo  is  the  principal  city  of  the  pro- 


230  PLAN  OF  ATTACK.  CHAP.  X. 

vince  of  the  same  name,  which  is  fertile,  and  contains 
rich  copper  mines.  The  town  is  situated  twenty 
miles  from  the  port,  and  contains  a  population  of  ten 
thousand  souls.  It  is  remarkable  for  the  salubrity  of 
its  climate,  and  for  the  hospitality  of  its  inhabitants, 
who,  with  a  few  foreign  merchants,  showed  how 
highly  they  appreciated  the  services  of  the  marines, 
by  raising  in  a  few  hours  a  subscription  of  four  hun- 
dred dollars,  to  be  laid  out  by  Miller  in  the  purchase 
of  what  he  considered  they  stood  most  in  need  of. 
On  the  17th,  the  squadron  sailed  for  Callao.  On 
the  28th,  the  respective  captains  repaired  on  board 
the  flag-ship,  to  learn  the  plan  of  attack. 

The  O'Higgins  was  to  lead ;  the  San  Martin  and 
Lautaro  were  to  follow ;  and  all  three  were  to  anchor 
in  a  line  parallel  with  the  enemy's  shipping.  Miller, 
on  a  raft  with  one  mortar,  was  to  take  his  station  in 
advance  on  the  extreme  left,  towards  Boca  Negra, 
the  mouth  of  the  Rimac.  Captain  Hind,  on  a  raft 
with  rockets,  was  to  place  himself  between  the  mor- 
tar-raft and  the  O'Higgins.  Charles,  on  another 
raft,  with  rockets,  was  to  place  himself  on  the  right 
of  the  Lautaro.  The  Galvarino  and  Araucano,  with 
the  two  fire-ships,  were  to  anchor  off  the  N.  E.  point 
of  San  Lorenzo.  The  brigs  were  to  weigh  anchor 
on  the  attack  commencing,  and,  with  the  Indepen- 
dencia,  to  remove  to  the  outside  of  the  patriot  line, 
in  order  to  be  in  readiness  to  intercept  any  vessels 
that  might  attempt  to  escape. 

On  the  30th,  the  squadron  stood  into  the  bay  of 
Callao.  The  O'Higgins  hoisted  a  flag  of  truce,  and 
Cochrane  sent  a  boat  ashore  with  a  letter  to  the 


GHAP.  X.  THE  ATTACK   FAILS.  2S1 

viceroy,  challenging  him  to  send  out  as  many  ships 
as  he  chose,  and  the  admiral  would  fight  them  ship 
for  ship,  arid  gun  for  gun.  This  proposal,  of  very 
questionable  propriety,  met  with  the  laconic  answer 
which  might  have  been  expected.  The  equally  use- 
less measure  of  sending  a  rocket  in  the  boat  to  ex- 
hibit to  the  royalists  made  an  impression  very  different 
from  what  was  intended. 

The  squadron  manoeuvred  for  several  hours  in  the 
bay,  and  then  came  to  anchor  off  San  Lorenzo,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Independencia,  which  continued 
to  cruise  off  the  bay. 

On  the  first  and  following  day  of  October  the  rafts 
were  put  together.  Charles  reconnoitred  in  a  boat, 
and  tried  some  rockets,  which  were  not  found  to 
answer  expectation. 

A  partial  attack  took  place  on  the  night  of  the  2d. 
The  Galvarino  led  the  van,  towing  Miller's  mortar- 
raft,  and,  under  a  heavy  fire,  placed  it  within  eight 
hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  The  Pueyr- 
redon  followed  with  the  shells  and  magazine  upon 
another  raft.  The  Araucano,  having  Hind's  rocket- 
raft  in  tow,  followed  next.  Charles,  in  the  last  raft, 
was  towed  by  the  Independencia.  The  rest  of  the 
squadron  remained  at  anchor. 

The  persons  employed  upon  the  rafts  were  provided 
with  life-preservers  made  of  tin,  in  the  shape  of  the 
front-piece  of  a  cuirass,  and  filled  with  air.  The 
rafts  were  formed  of  two  tiers  of  large  logs  of  timber, 
of  the  dimensions  of  sleepers  used  in  laying  down 
platforms  in  batteries.  The  upper  tier  was  about  a 
foot  above  the  surface  of  the  water.     Not  more  than 


232  THE  ATTACK  FAILS.  CHAP.  2, 

one  rocket  in  six  went  off  properly*     Some  burst, 
from  the  badness  of  the  cylinders ;  some  took  a  wrong 
direction,  in  consequence  of  the  sticks  being  made  of 
knotty  wood;  and  most  of  them  fell  short.     The 
shells  sunk  a  gun-boat,  and  did  some  execution  in 
the  forts  and  amongst  the  shipping;  but  the  lashings 
of  the  mortar-bed  gave  way,  and  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  the  logs  of  which  the  raft  was  composed  could 
be  kept  together.     A  great  deal  of  time  was  lost  in 
repairing  the  defective  state  of  the  fastenings.     Day- 
light began  to  appear,  and  the  rockets  having  com- 
pletely failed,  the  rafts  were  ordered  to  retire,  and 
were  towed  off  by  boats  left  in  attendance  for  that 
purpose,  to  their  respective  protecting  vessels,  which 
again  took  them  in  charge  and  towed  them  out  of 
range.     Thus  failed  an  attack  from  which  so  much 
had  been  expected.     The  disappointment  was  ex- 
treme ;  but  the  loss  of  only  about  twenty  in  killed 
and  wounded  was  considered  small  under  such  a 
heavy  fire.     About  forty  shot  struck  the  Galvarino. 
Red-hot  shot  were  fired  from  the  batteries,  but  with- 
out much  effect.     These  red  balls  had  an  alarming 
appearance,  for  they  were  distinctly  visible  from  the 
moment  they  issued  from  the  gun  until  they  hissed 
in  the  water.     All  the  men  employed  were  volun- 
teers ;  yet  such  was  the  effect  of  the  heavy  fire,  that 
one  maq  jumped  from  a  raft  into  the  water  two  or 
three  times  from  fear.     Lieutenant  Bayley,  a  very 
brave  young  man,  and  a  most  active  officer,  was  cut 
in  two  by  a  twenty-four-pounder  shot,  which  also 
took  off  the  head  of  a  marine,  on  the  same  mortar- 
raft.    Twelve  men  were  much  burnt  by  the  bursting 


CHAP.  X.  LIEUTENANTS  MORGELL  AND  COBBETT.     833 

of  some  rockets.  Hind  and  several  of  the  men  were 
thrown  into  the  sea,  but  were  prevented  from  sinking 
by  the  life-preservers. 

In  the  night  of  the  4th,  much  amusement  was  ex- 
cited in  the  patriot  squadron  by  the  alarm  on  shore 
caused  by  a  tar  barrel  being  set  on  fire  and  carried 
by  the  tide  towards  the  Spanish  shipping.  A  tre- 
mendous fire  opened  upon  it,  which  was  kept  up  for 
above  an  hour. 

Disappointed  by  the  total  failure  of  the  rocket 
attack,  the  admiral  determined  to  try  what  could  be 
done  by  means  of  fire-ships*  Accordingly  one  of  the 
explosion-vessels  being  completed,  Lieutenant  Morgell 
and  a  few  men  got  her  under  weigh  at  eight  P.  M. 
on  the  5th,  and  stood,  in  gallant  style,  towards  the 
Spanish  shipping;  but  the  wind  dying  away,  the 
vessel  was  shot  through  and  through  like  a  sieve. 
The  water  gaining  fast,  the  train  was  fired,  and  the 
vessel  abandoned.  She  exploded  at  too  great  a  di- 
stance from  the  shipping  to  do  any  serious  mischief. 
The  rocket-raft  was  again  employed ;  but  the  rockets 
did  as  little  execution  as  on  the  previous  occasion. 
The  other  fire-ship,  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Cobbett, 
was  kept  in  reserve  for  a  future  service. 

The  Araucano,  which  had  been  sent  on  the  4th  to 
cruise  outside  of  the  bay,  returned  on  the  6th,  and 
reported  that  she  had  seen  a  strange  sail  six  miles  to 
windward  off  Chorillos,  which  Captain  Crosbie  had 
no  doubt  was  a  frigate.  The  squadron  got  under 
weigh,  and  soon  caught  sight  of  the  stranger ;  but 
Cochrane,   mistaking  her   for   a   North  American 


884  PISCO.  CHAP.  X. 

whaler,  returned  to  his  former  anchorage  on  the  7th. 
It  was  afterwards  ascertained  that  the  strange  ship 
was  the  Prueba,  Spanish  frigate,  of  fifty  guns,  from 
Cadiz,  bound  to  Lima ;  but  seeing  the  patriot  squa- 
dron, she  made  off  and  escaped  to  Guayaquil.  In 
the  almost  momentary  absence  of  the  blockading 
squadron,  a  Spanish  ship,  with  a  cargo  valued  at  half 
a  million  of  dollars,  entered  Callao  in  safety* 

The  admiral,  considering  that  the  Spanish  ship- 
ping could  not  be  destroyed  without  risking  the 
existence  of  the  patriot  squadron,  decided  upon  a 
different  plan  of  operations.  On  the  evening  of  the 
7th  October,  the  squadron  weighed,  with  the  in- 
tention of  going  to  Arica ;  but  some  of  the  ships 
were  such  dull  sailers,  that,  after  beating  for  three 
weeks  to  windward,  and  against  the  current,  Cochrane 
determined  upon  landing  the  marines  at  Pisco,  for 
the  purpose  of  procuring  brandy  for  the  use  of  the 
squadron.  Three  hundred  and  fifty  soldiers  were 
distributed  on  board  the  Lautaro,  Galvarino,  and  a 
transport  (late  fire-ship).  Cochrane  then  proceeded 
to  the  northward  with  the  O'Higgins,  San  Martin, 
Araucano  and  Pueyrredon,  leaving  Captain  Guise  in 
command  to  proceed  to  Pisco. 

Pisco  is  situated  a  mile  from  the  sea-shore,  on  the 
spacious  bay  of  Pararca,  and  is  fourteen  leagues  to 
the  northward  and  westward  of  the  town  of  lea.  It 
is  the  great  entrepdt  for  the  brandy  (called  Pisco) 
distilled  in  great  quantities  from  the  grape  in  the 
valleys  of  Palpa,  Nasca,  Chincha,  Canete,  and  lea. 
Sugar  is  another  article  of  export.     The  town  con- 


CHAP.  X.  KOYALIST  FOliCE.  235 

tains  a  population  of  nearly  two  thousand  inhabitants ; 
the  adjoining  valley  of  Chunchanga  five  thousand, 
two-thirds  of  whom  are  negro  slaves. 

It  was  known  that  a  strong  detachment  of  regular 
troops  had  been  stationed  in  Pisco,  at  the  request  of 
the  royalist  merchants  and  landowners,  to  protect 
their  property  in  depot  there.  The  patriots  intended 
to  land  in  the  night  and  take  the  garrison  by  surprise ; 
but  the  wind  failing,  the  ships  could  not  get  near 
enough  to  disembark  the  troops  until  broad  day-light 
on  the  7th  November,  1819.  On  landing,  informa- 
tion was  given  that  the  Spanish  garrison  amounted 
to  one  thousand  men.  It  might  therefore  have  been 
prudent  for  the  patriots  to  have  re-embarked,  espe- 
cially as  two-thirds  of  the  marines  were  mere  recruits, 
who  had  not  even  been  taught  the  platoon  exercise ; 
but  the  remembrance  of  the  disappointments  before 
Callao  produced  an  unanimous  desire  to  attack. 

The  Spanish  force,  consisting  of  six  hundred  in- 
fantry, one  hundred  and  sixty  cavalry,  and  four  field- 
pieces,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-General 
Gonzalez,  were  drawn  up  to  receive  the  assailants. 
The  field-artillery,  supported  by  their  cavalry,  oc- 
cupied on  their  left  a  piece  of  rising  ground,  which 
commanded  the  entrance  of  the  town,  in  the  square 
of  which  their  infantry  was  formed.  Their  right  was 
supported  by  a  fort  on  the  sea-shore. 

Charles,  with  twenty-five  men,  filed  off  to  his  right 
to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  left,  whilst  Miller  pushed 
on  to  the  town  with  the  rest  of  the  marines.  Hind, 
with  a  rocket  party,  composed  of  seamen,  occupied 
the  attention  of  the  fort.     The  Spaniards  kept  up  a 


236  LIEUT.-COLONEL  CHARLES  KILLED.     CHAP.  X. 

brisk  fire  from  the  field-pieces,  and  from  the  artillery 
in  the  fort,  as  well  as  from  the  infantry  posted  behind 
walls,  on  the  tops  of  houses,  and  on  the  tower  of  the 
church.  Not  a  musket  was  fired,  or  a  word  spoken, 
in  the  patriot  column,  which  marched  with  the  cool- 
ness and  steadiness  of  veterans,  in  spite  of  the  loss  it 
sustained  at  every  step.  The  silence,  rapidity,  and 
good  order  with  which  they  advanced  struck  a  panic 
into  the  Spaniards,  who  fled  when  the  patriots  ap- 
proached within  fifteen  yards  of  the  bayonets.  The 
royalists  were  completely  routed.  The  gallant?  Charles 
was  mortally  wounded  whilst  charging  four  times  his 
own  numbers  outside  the  town.  The  last  volley  of 
the  Spaniards  in  the  square  brought  down  Miller. 
A  musket-ball  wounded  him  in  the  right  arm ;  an- 
other permanently  disabled  his  left  hand ;  a  third  ball 
entered  his  chest,  and,  fracturing  a  rib,  passed  out  at 
the  back.  His  recovery  was  despaired  of.  Charles 
and  Miller  were  conveyed  on  board  the  Lautaro. 
The  two  friends,  both  apparently  on  the  brink  of  the 
grave,  took  leave  of  each  other  in  the  most  affectionate 
manner,  as  Charles  was  conveyed  aft  through  the  fore 
cabin,  in  which  Miller  was  already  placed  by  the  kind- 
ness of  Captain  Guise.  In  a  few  hours  Charles  ex- 
pired. Cool  and  collected  to  the  last  moment,  the 
manner  in  which  he  died  would  have  done  honour 
to  any  hero  of  ancient  or  modern  times.  He  was 
brave  and  talented j  and  his  gentleness  and  suavity 
of  manners  had  acquired  for  him  universal  love  and 
respect.  Charles  was  educated  at  the  Royal  Military 
Academy  at  Woolwich.  Having  obtained  a  lieute- 
nancy in  the  royal  regiment,  he  went  out  to  Portugal 


CHAP.  X.  CHARACTER  OF  LIEUT.-COL.  CHARLES.     237 

in  the  year  1808  with  a  detachment  of  artillery,  ap- 
pointed to  serve  with  the  Limtanian  Legion,  then 
raising  under  the  orders  of  Sir  Robert  Wilson,  who* 
perceiving  the  excellent  qualities  of  Charles,  appointed 
him  his  aide-de-camp ;  and  throughout  the  service  in 
the  Peninsula  he  distinguished  himself  on  every  oc- 
casion by  his  talents,  activity,  and  intrepidity.  When 
Sir  Robert  Wilson  was  sent  to  Constantinople  to  assist 
in  the  negotiations  for  peace  between  the  Turks  and 
Russians,  Charles  was  again  put  on  his  staff,  but  his 
junction  with  Sir  Robert  was  delayed  till  that  general 
had  been  appointed  as  military  commissioner  with 
the  Russian  army.  Charles,  during  the  whole  of  the 
campaign  in  Germany  and  in  Italy,  continued  to  do 
the  duty  of  aide-de-camp  to  Sir  Robert  Wilson,  and 
gained  the  affection  and  esteem  of  all  the  allied  com- 
manders. The  sovereigns  particularly  distinguished 
him,  conferring  on  him  the  Cross  of  St.  George  of 
Russia,  of  Merit  of  Prussia,  and  of  Maria  Theresa 
of  Austria.  There  never  perhaps  was  an  officer, 
serving  in  foreign  armies,  who  was  more  universally 
a  favourite,  and  who  displayed  qualities  which  more 
entitled  him,  professionally  and  personally,  to  esti- 
mation. 

Captain  Sowersby,  who  succeeded  to  the  command 
of  the  marines,  remained  on  shore  for  four  days  un- 
molested, in  which  time  all  that  was  required  for  the 
ships  was  embarked.  Two  hundred  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  brandy,  private  property,  lying  upon  the 
beach,  was  wantonly  destroyed  by  a  party  of  seamen. 

Amongst  the  officers  who  distinguished  themselves, 
besides  those  already  mentioned,  were  Captain  Don 


238  SANTA— GUAYAQUIL.  CHAP.  X. 

Manuel  Urquisa  (severely  wounded),  a  Buenos 
Ayrean;  Captain  Guitica,  a  German;  Lieutenant 
Rivera,  a  Chileno;  Lieutenant  Carson,  a  North 
American;  and  Monsieur  Soyer,  a  Frenchman 
(purser  of  the  Lautaro),  who  acted  as  a  volunteer. 
No  despatch  of  the  affair  of  Pisco  was  ever  published. 
This  was  an  act  of  injustice  towards  the  marines, 
especially  as  room  was  found  in  the  gazettes  for  the 
elaborate  correspondence  between  Cochrane  and  Pe- 
zuela,  relative  to  prisoners  of  war,  and  for  very  mi- 
nute details  of  naval  operations  before  Callao. 

On  the  16th,  the  Lautaro  and  her  consort,  with 
the  transport,  joined  Lord  Cochrane  off  Santa,  in 
south  lat.  8°  48/7.  Ensign  Vidal,  who  had  remained 
on  board  the  admiral's  ship  with  the  marines  not  em- 
ployed at  Pisco,  had  taken  possession  of  Santa,  after 
defeating  three  times  his  own  number  of  Spaniards. 

The  whole  squadron  having  procured  water  and 
provisions,  now  put  to  sea.  On  the  21st,  the  O'Hig- 
gins,  Lautaro,  Galvarino,  and  rueyrredon  stood  to 
the  northward.  A  sort  of  brain  fever,  called  the 
chavalonga,  broke  out,  and  carried  off  five  or  six 
men  daily.  The  San  Martin  and  Independencia, 
being  in  the  most  sickly  state,  were  ordered  to  make 
the  best  of  their  way  to  Valparaiso.  Rear- Admiral 
Blanco  went  on  board  the  Lautaro  to  offer  Miller  a 
passage  to  Chile;  but,  in  his  then  precarious  con- 
dition, it  was  considered  dangerous  to  attempt  to 
remove  him. 

On  the  27th  November,  Cochrane  entered  the 
river  Guayaquil,  and,  notwithstanding  the  danger  of 
the  navigation,  on  account  of  shifting  sand-banks, 


CHAP.  X.     SQUADRON   SAILS  TO  THE  SOUTH.  239 

he  continued  to  crowd  all  sail  during  the  night,  and 
captured  next  morning,  before  the  crews  had  time  to 
run  them  ashore,  two  ships,  the  Aguila  and  Begona, 
of  eight  hundred  tons  and  twenty-eight  guns  each, 
laden  with  planks.  The  Spanish  frigate  Prueba,  which 
so  narrowly  escaped  from  Callao,  had  been  hauled  up 
the  river  five  days  before,  and,  being  lightened  of  her 
guns,  was  moored  into  shallow  water,  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  batteries. 

On  the  80th,  sixty  marines,  under  the  command 
of  Lieutenant  Carson,  were  landed  to  procure  fresh 
meat,  vegetables,  and  fruit,  with  which  the  country 
abounds.  The  fruit,  particularly  the  pine-apple,  is 
delicious.  The  banks  of  the  river  are  flat,  swampy, 
and  covered  with  wood ;  the  river  swarms  with  alli- 
gators; the  climate  is  intolerably  hot;  the  earth 
teems  with  reptiles,  and  the  air  with  insects.  The 
mosquitoes  are  so  numerous  that  it  is  said  they  some- 
times extinguish  a  candle.  The  houses  are  built  upon 
piles,  so  that  the  lower  floor  is  elevated  a  few  feet 
above  the  ground. 

On  the  13th  December,  Miller  was  removed  in 
his  cot  from  the  Lautaro  to  the  flag-ship  O'Higgins, 
which  sailed  from  the  river  with  the  Lautaro  and 
the  two  prizes  in  company.  Each  ship  was  ordered 
to  make  the  best  of  her  way  to  Valparaiso.  The 
Galvarino  and  Pueyrredon  were  left  behind  to  cruise. 


840  INTERESTING  MEETING.  CHAF.  XI 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  O'Higgins  makes  Valdivia. — Captures  the  brig  of  war 
Potrillo. — Interesting  meeting. — Concepcion. — Reinforcement. 
— The  O'Higgins  strikes  on  a  rock. — Dismay  on  board. — Lord 
Cochrane's  sang  froid. — Valdivia  taken. 

Lord  Cochrane  having  made  the  wide  offing 
necessary  in  sailing  upon  these  coasts  from  north  to 
south,  and  finding  himself  in  110°  west  longitude, 
about  equi-distant  from  Valdivia  and  Valparaiso,  de- 
cided upon  looking  into  the  former  port. 

On  the  18th  January,  1820,  he  approached  under 
Spanish  colours.  On  this  occasion  Miller  was  brought 
upon  deck  for  the  first  time  since  receiving  his  wounds 
at  Pisco,  eleven  weeks  before.  A  signal  was  made 
for  a  pilot,  who,  with  an  officer  of  the  garrison  and 
four  soldiers  to  row  the  boat,  was  sent  from  the 
shore  to  point  out  a  safe  anchorage.  They  were  of 
course  detained,  and  some  useful  information  pro- 
cured. 

Whilst  the  O'Higgins  was  standing  close  in  to 
reconnoitre,  a  strange  sail  hove  in  sight,  and  after 
three  hours'  chase,  the  Spanish  brig  of  war  Potrillo, 
of  sixteen  guns,  became  an  unresisting  prize.  She 
was  two  days  from  Chiloe,  bound  to  Valdivia  with 
despatches,  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  the  pay- 
ment of  the  garrison. 

One  of  those  highly  interesting  meetings  which 
rarely  occur  now  took  place.  The  admiral's  secretary, 


CHAP."  XI.  DINNER  AT  CONCEPCION.  £41 

Captain  Benet,  who  by  some  chance  had  been  left  in 
the  Araucanian  territory  seventeen  years  before,  re- 
cognised  among  the  prisoners  a  family,  named  del 
Rio,  the  heads  of  which  had  rescued  him  from  the 
Araucanians,  and  adopted  him.  He  was  treated  as  a 
son,  and  remained  with  them  until  the  jealous  policy 
'  of  the  Spanish  colonial  system  compelled  the  governor 
of  Concepcion  to  send  him  to  Lima,  on  account  of  his 
being  a  British  subject ;  so  that,  after  an  interval  of 
sixteen  years,  accident  again  brought  them  together. 
The  parental  and  filial  ardour  with  which  they  rushed 
into  each  other's  arms  at  the  moment  of  mutual  re- 
cognition excited  the  sympathy  of  every  witness  to 
the  affecting  scene.  The  secretary  had  the  additional 
gratification  of  finding  himself  in  a  situation  that 
enabled  him  to  repay,  in  some  measure,  the  kind- 
nesses he  had  experienced  when,  as  a  youth  and  a 
prisoner,  he  was  in  need  of  protection. 

On  entering  the  bay  of  Talcahuano,  in  the  night 
of  the  20th  January,  the  O'Higgins  grounded  on  a 
bank  near  the  island  of  Quiriquina,  but  soon  got  off. 
She  unexpectedly  found  the  brig  Intrepido,  Captain 
Carter,  and  the  schooner  Montezuma  at  anchor  there. 
Miller  went  ashore,  and  rode  to  Concepcion,  but  was 
too  weak  either  to  get  on  horseback  or  to  dismount 
without  assistance.  The  next  morning  Cochrane 
rode  to  the  city,  and  was  received  a  league  in  ad- 
vance by  the  governor,  Colonel  Freyre,  who  gave  a 
dinner  on  the  occasion.  About  forty  persons  sat 
down,  and,  to  exemplify  the  hospitality  of  the  coun- 
try, it  may  be  worth  while  to  mention  that  enough 
was  brought  upon  table  to  feed  six  hundred. 

VOL.  i.  R 


I 


343  FORT  SAN  PEDRO.         CHAP.  XI. 

Miller  crossed  the  river  Bio  Bio  to  inspect  the  fort 
of  San  Pedro,  which  mounted  four  nine-pounders, 
surrounded  by  a  ditch,  palisades,  and  a  musket-proof 
casemate  round  the  ramparts*  It  waa  garrisoned  by 
fifty  men,  who  were  so  often  attacked  that  they  in- 
variably slept  upon  their  arms.  The  bridge  was  kept 
drawn  up  night  and  day,  because  there  was  not  a 
moment  in  the  year  in  which  the  Indians  were  not 
lying  in  ambush  near  it.  The  Araucanians  had  at- 
tacked this  fort  two  days  before,  and  were  repulsed, 
after  losing  their  leader,  a  brother  of  Benavides» 
Notwithstanding  this  success,  the  garrison  could  not 
venture  to  make  a  sortie ;  and  the  audacious  Indians 
still  kept  possession  of  the  adjoining  heights. 

Cochrane  having  conceived  the  daring  plan  of 
carrying  Valdivia  by  a  coup-de-main,  employed  all 
his  eloquence  to  induce  Freyre  to  grant  a  small  re- 
inforcement. The  governor  gave  two  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  commanded  by  Major  Beauchef.  They 
embarked  in  the  frigate  O'Higgins,  the  Montezuma 
schooner,  and  the  brig  of  war  Intrepido  belonging 
to  Buenos  Ayres.  All  got  under  weigh  on  the  25th 
January,  at  five  P.  M.,  with  a  light  contrary  wind ;  at 
night  it  fell  calm.  The  officer  of  the  watch,  leaving 
the  deck,  gave  the  O'Higgins  in  charge  to  a  mid- 
shipman, who,  falling  asleep,  neglected  to  report 
when  a  breeze  sprung  up.  Upon  passing  the  island 
of  Quinquina  the  ship  struck  upon  the  sharp  edge 
of  a  rock,  and  was  suspended  amidship  on  her  keeL 
She  shook  in  a  manner  to  produce  the  greatest  alarm j 
for  had  the  swell  increased  she  must  have  gone  to 
pieces.      Cochrane  preserved   his   customary  sang 


CHAP.  XI.         THE  O'HIGGINS  IN  DI8TUESS.  243 

Jroid;  ordered  out  the  kedges ;  superintended  every- 
thing himself;  and,  at  length,  got  the  ship  off.  His 
skill  and  presence  of  mind  on  this  trying  occasion 
made  a  deep  impression  on  all  who  beheld  it.  When 
the  ship  was  out  of  danger,  some  of  the  officers  sug- 
gested that  she  should  be  examined :  a  stern  negative 
was  the  answer  of  the  admiral,  who,  turning  round 
to  Miller,  said,  "  Well,  Major,  Valdivia  we  must 
take.  Sooner  than  put  back,  it  would  be  better  that 
we  all  went  to  the  bftttom."  In  fact,  his  lordship 
felt  keenly  his  disappointments  before  Callao.  He 
was  aware  that  his  enemies  in  Chile  would  raise  a 
clamour  if  he  returned  without  doing  something  de- 
cisive, and  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  run  every 
risk  in  order  to  grasp  a  redeeming  laurel.  "  Cool 
calculation,"  he  observed  to  Miller*  "  would  make  it 
appear  that  the  attempt  to  take  Valdivia  is  madness. 
This  is  one  reason  why  the  Spaniards  will  hardly  be- 
lieve us  in  earnest,  even  when  we  commence ;  and  you 
will  see  that  a  bold  onset,  and  a  little  perseverance 
afterwards,  will  give  a  complete  triumph ;  for  opera- 
tions, unexpected  by  the  enemy,  are,  when  well  exe- 
cuted, almost  certain  to  succeed,  whatever  may  be 
the  odds ;  and  success  will  preserve  the  enterprise 
from  the  imputation  of  rashness." 

The  officers  participated  in  the  same  adventurous 
spirit,  and  hailed  with  eager  satisfaction  a  determina- 
tion likely  to  retrieve  the  credit  of  the  navy  and  make 
former  discomfitures  forgotten.  The  admiral  was  so 
resolutely  bent  upon  pursuing  his  course  that  it  was 
not  until  sunset  on  the  26th  that  he  would  receive 
the  first  report  of  "five  feet  Water  in  the  hold."   The 

r2 


244  THE  O'HIGGINS  IN  DISTRESS.         CHAP.  XI. 

ship  was  then  thirty  miles  from  land.  The  pumps 
were  found  to  be  so  much  out  of  order  that  they 
could  not  be  worked.  At  eight  o'clock  seven  feet 
was  reported.  The  carpenter,  who  was  a  very  in- 
different mechanic,  failed  in  his  efforts  to  put  the 
pumps  in  order.  The  water,  though  bailed  out  with 
buckets,  still  continued  to  gain  upon  them.  The 
powder  magazine  was  inundated,  and  the  ammunition 
of  every  description  rendered  totally  unserviceable, 
excepting  the  cartridges  in  the  cartouch  boxes  of  the 
soldiers. 

Notwithstanding  it  was  a  dead  calm,  the  swell  was 
considerable,  and  the  brig  and  schooner  were  out  of 
sight.  Of  six  hundred  men  on  board  the  frigate,  not 
more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty  could  have  escaped 
in  the  boats.  The  inhospitable  coast  of  Arauco  was 
forty  miles  distant,  and  to  land  there  would  have 
been  worse  than  death.  The  vindictive  character  of 
the  Araucanians  was  well  known,  and  to  those  who 
saw  no  hope  of  keeping  the  ship  afloat  till  morning 
the  alternative  was  terrific.  Alarm  and  despair  were 
depicted  in  the  countenances  of  most  onboard.  But 
Cochrane,  still  undismayed,  pulled  off  his  coat,  tucked 
up  his  shirt-sleeves,  and  succeeded  by  midnight  in 
putting  two  of  the  pumps  into  a  serviceable  state. 
By  his  indefatigable  activity  and  skill  the  frigate 
was  prevented  from  sinking,  and  by  the  serenity  and 
firmness  of  his  conduct  he  checked  a  general  disposi- 
tion to  abandon  the  ship.  The  leak  was  happily 
prevented  from  gaining.  The  schooner  and  brig  rer 
joined  in  the  morning,  and  the  vessels  arrived  in  the 
latitude  of  Valdivia  on  the  2d  of  February.     When 


CHAP.  XI.  VALDIVIA.  245 

about  thirty  miles  from  land,  the  troops  in  the  frigate 
were  removed  to  the  schooner  Montezuma  and  brig 
Intrepido  in  a  high  sea.  Miller  attempted  to  climb 
up  the  schooner's  side,  and  caught  hold  of  the  main 
chains,  but  not  possessing  sufficient  strength  to  lift 
himself,  or,  when  the  boat  sunk  into  a  trough  of 
the  sea,  to  sustain  himself,  he  was  on  the  point  of 
letting  go  his  hold,  when  Lord  Cochrane  caught  him, 

4 

and  prevented  his  falling  under  the  counter  of  the 
vessel.  The  admiral  having  shifted  his  flag  to  the 
schooner,  left  the  frigate  to  stand  off  and  on,  out 
of  sight  of  land,  to  avoid  exciting  the  suspicions  of 
the  Spaniards  on  shore.  There  was,  however,  so 
little  wind,  that  all  hopes  of  effecting  a  landing  that 
night  vanished.  The  brig  and  the  schooner  made 
what  way  they  could  for  the  port,  in  the  hope  of 
taking  the  royalists  by  surprise. 

The  noble  harbour  of  Valdivia,  situated  in  39°  50' 
south  lat.  and  73°  28'  west  Ion.  forms  a  capacious 
basin,  bordered  by  a  lofty  and  impenetrable  forest 
advancing  to  the  water's  edge.  It  is  encircled  by  a 
chain  of  forts,  which  are  so  placed  as  not  only  to  de«- 
fend  the  entrance,  but  to  enfilade  every  part  of  the 
harbour. 

These  forts  are  Niebla  on  the  east,  and  Amargos 
on  the  west,  completely  commanding  the  entrance, 
which  is  only  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  width.  Corral, 
Chorocomayo,  San  Carlos,  and  el  Yngles,  on  the  west 
side ;  Manzanera,  on  an  island  near  the  southern  ex- 
tremity or  bottom  of  the  harbour ;  and  el  Piojo  and 
Carbonero  are  on  the  east  side.  These  different  forts 
wfere  mounted  with  one  hundred  and  eighteen  pieces 


246  HARBOUR  AND  FORTS  CHAF.  XI. 

of  ordnance,  eighteen  and  twenty-four  pounders,  each 
fort  with  a  deep  ditch  and  a  rampart  where  they  were 
not  washed  by  the  sea,  excepting  el  Yngles,  which 
had  merely  a  rampart  faced  with  palisades.  They 
were  manned  by  a  force  which,  according  to  the 
muster-rolls  of  the  preceding  month,  consisted  of 
seven  hundred  and  eighty  regulars,  and  eight  hun- 
dred and  twenty-nine  militia.  The  greater  part  of 
the  latter  were  stationed  at  Osorno,  thirty  leagues 
towards  the  straits  of  Magellan,  and  the  remainder 
at  the  town  of  Valdivia,  fourteen  miles  up  the  river. 
So  impervious  is  the  forest,  from  the  ravines  by  which 
it  is  intersected,  and  from  its  entangled  underwood, 
that  there  is  no  land  communication  between  the 
forts,  excepting  by  a  narrow  rugged  path,  which, 
winding  between  the  rocky  beach  and  the  forest, 
scarcely  at  any  point  admits  of  the  passage  of  more 
than  one  man  at  a  time.  Even  this  path,  in  crossing 
a  deep  ravine  between  fort  Chorocomayo  and  Corral, 
was  enfiladed  by  three  guns,  situated  on  the  crest  of 
the  opposite  acclivity. 

About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  beyond  the  fort  of  San 
Carlos,  and  outside  of  the  harbour,  is  situated  the 
exterior  fort  of  Yngles,  and  half  a  mile  westward 
of  the  fort  is  the  caleta,  or  inlet  which  forms  a 
landing-place,  both  of  which  communicate  with  each 
other,  and  with  San  Carlos,  by  a  path  equally  tiarrow, 
rugged,  and  serpentine  as  that  between  the  other 
forts. 

The  schooner  and  the  brig,  having  hoisted  Spanish 
colours,  anchored  on  the  3d  of  February,  at  three 
P,  M„  uncler  the  guns  of  the  fort  of  Yngles,  opposite 


CHAP.  XI.  OF  VALDIVIA.  247 

the  caleta,  the  only  landing-place,  and  between  the 
two.  When  hailed  from  the  shore,  Captain  Basques, 
<a  Spaniard  by  birth,  who  had  embarked  at  Tal- 
-cahuano  as  a  volunteer,  was  directed  to  answer  that 
they  had  sailed  from  Cadiz  under  convoy  of  the  St. 
-Elmo  of  seventy- four  guns;  that  they  had  parted 
company  in  a  gale  of  wind  off  Cape  Horn ;  and  to 
request  a  pilot  might  be  sent  off.  At  this  time  the 
swell  was  so  great  as  to  render  an  immediate  dis- 
embarkation impracticable,  as  the  launches  would 
have  drifted  under  the  fort.  Cochrane's  object, 
therefore,  was  to  wait  until  the  evening,  when  the 
wind  would  have  abated,  and  the  swell  have  subsided. 
The  Spaniards,  who  had  already  begun  to  entertain 
suspicions,  ordered  the  vessels  to  send  a  boat  ashore, 
to  which  it  was  answered,  they  had  lost  them  in  the 
severe  gales  they  had  encountered.  This  however 
did  not  satisfy  the  garrison,  which  immediately  fired 
alarm  guns,  and  expresses  were  despatched  to  the 
governor  at  Valdivia.  The  garrisons  of  all  the  western 
forts  united  at  fort  Yngles.  Fifty  or  sixty  men  were 
posted  on  the  rampart  commanding  the  approach  from 
the  caleta.  The  rest,  about  three  hundred,  formed 
on  a  small  esplanade  in  the  rear  of  the  fort. 

Whilst  this  was  passing,  the  vessels  remained  un- 
molested ;  but  at  four  o'clock  one  of  the  launches, 
'which  had  been  carefully  concealed  from  the  view  of 
those  on  shore,  by  being  kept  close  under  the  off-side 
of  the  vessel,  unfortunately  drifted  astern.  Before  it 
$ould  be  hauled  out  of  sight  again,  it  was  perceived 
by  the  garrison,  which,  having  no  longer  any  doubts 
as  to  the  hostile  nature  of  the  visit,  immediately 


248  VALDIVIA.  CHAP.  XI. 

opened  a  fire  upon  the  vessels,  and  sent  a  party  of 
seventy-five  men  to  defend  the  landing-place.  This 
detachment  was  accurately  counted  by  those  onboard, 
as  it  proceeded  one  by  one  along  the  narrow  and  dif- 
ficult path  to  the  caleta.  The  first  shots  fired  from 
the  fort  having  passed  through  the  sides  of  the  brig, 
and  killed  two  men,  the  troops  were  ordered  up  from 
below,  and  to  land  without  further  delav.  But  the 
two  launches,  which  constituted  the  only  means  of 
disembarkation,  appeared  very  inadequate  to  the  ef- 
fectual performance  of  such  an  attempt.  Miller,  with 
forty-four  marines,  pushed  off  in  the  first  launch. 
After  overcoming  the  difficulties  of  the  heavy  swell, 
an  accumulation  of  sea- weed,  in  comparatively  smooth 
water,  loaded  the  oars  at  every  stroke,  and  impeded 
the  progress  of  the  assailants,  who  now  began  to 
suffer  from  the  effects  of  a  brisk  fire  from  the  party 
stationed  at  the  landing-place.  The  launch  was  per- 
forated with  musket-balls,  and  the  water  rushed  in 
through  the  holes.  Four  or  five  men  were  wounded. 
Two  of  the  foreign  seamen  were  daunted,  and  ceased 
to  row,  under  pretence  that  it,  was  impossible  to  make 
way  through  the  sea- weed.  One  of  the  soldiers  pre- 
viously named  to  keep  a  watch  upon  them,  in  an- 
ticipation of  some  such  occurrence,  knocked  one  of 
these  fellows  off  his  seat  with  the  but-end  of  a  mus- 
ket. No  further  difficulty  was  made.  Quarter-master 
Thompson  of  the  O'Higgins,  who  acted  as  coxswain, 
was  shot  through  the  shoulder,  upon  which  Miller 
took  the  helm.  He  seated  himself  on  a  spare  oar, 
but  finding  the  seat  inconvenient,  he  had  the  oar  re- 
moved, by  which  he  somewhat  lowered  his  position. 


CHAP.  XI.  VAI.DIVIA.  249 

He  had  scarcely  done  so,  when  a  ball  passed  through 
his  hat,  and  grazed  the  crown  of  his  head.     He 
ordered  a  few  of  his  party  to  fire,  and  soon  after 
jumped  on  shore  with  his  marines;    dislodged  the 
royalists  at  the  inlet;  and  made  good  his  footing: 
but  he  was  still   so   feeble  that   he  was  unable  to 
clamber  over  the  rough  rocks  without  assistance.    So 
soon  as  the  landing  was  perceived  to   have  been 
effected,  the  party  in  the  second  launch  pushed  off 
from  the  brig,  and  in  less,  than  an  hour  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  patriot  soldiers  were  disembarked. 
Shortly  after  sunset  they  advanced  in  single  files 
along  the   rocky    track,    leading    to   fort  Yngles, 
rendered  slippery  by  the  spray  of  the  surf,  which 
dashed,  with  deafening  noise,  upon  the  shore,  which 
was  rather  favourable  than  otherwise  to  the  adven- 
turous party.     The  royalist  detachment,  after  being 
driven  from  the  landing-place,  retreated  along  this 
path,  and  entered  fort  Yngles  by  a  ladder,  which 
was  drawn  up,  and  consequently  the  patriots  found 
nobody  on  the  outside  to  oppose  their  approach.    The 

men  advanced  gallantly  to  the  attack;  but,  from  the 

*  

nature  of  the  track,  in  very  extended  order.     The 

leading  files  were  soldiers,  whose  courage  had  been 
before  proved,  and  who,  enjoying  amongst  their  com- 
rades a  degree  of  deference  and  respect,  claimed  the 
foremost  post  in  danger.  They  advanced  with  firm 
but  noiseless  step,  and  while  those  who  next  followed 
cheered  with  cries  of  "  adelante /"  (onwards!)  others 
still  farther  behind  raised  clamorous  shouts  of  "  Viva 
la  patria!"  and  many  of  them  fired  in  the  air.  The 
path  led  to  the  salient  angle  of  the  fort,  which  on  one 


250  VALDIVIA  CHAP.  XI. 

side  was  washed  by  the  sea,  and  on  the  other  side 
flanked  by  the  forest,  the  boughs  and  branches  of 
which  overhung  a  considerable  space  of  the  rampart. 
Favoured  by  the  darkness  of  the  night,  by  the  in- 
termingling roar  of  artillery  and  musketry,  by  the 
lashings  of  the  surge,  and  by  the  clamour  of  the  gar- 
rison itself,  a  few  men,  under  the  gallant  Ensign 
Vidal,  crept  under  the  inland  flank  of  the  fort,  and 
whilst  the  fire  of  the  garrison  was  solely  directed  to 
the  vociferous  patriots  in  the  rear,  those  in  advance 
contrived,  without  being  heard  or  perceived,  to  tear 
up  some  loosened  palisades,  with  which  they  con- 
structed a  rude  scaling  ladder,  one  end  of  which 
they  placed  against  the  rampart,  and  the  other  upon 
a  mound  of  earth  which  favoured  the  design.  By 
the  assistance  of  this  ladder  Ensign  Vidal  and  his 
party  mounted  the  rampart ;  got  unperceived  into  the 
fort;  and  formed  under  cover  of  the  branches  of  the 
trees  which  overhung  that  flank.  The  fifty  or  sixty 
men  who  composed  the  garrison  were  occupied  in 
firing  upon  those  of  the  assailants  still  approaching 
in  single  files.  A  volley  from  VidaFs  party,  which 
had  thus  taken  the  Spaniards  in  flank,  followed  by  a 
rush,  and  accompanied  by  the  terrific  Indian  yell, 
echoed  by  the  reverberating  valleys  of  the  mountains 
around,  produced  terror  and  immediate  flight.  The 
panic  was  communicated  to  the  column  of  three 
hundred  men,  formed  on  an  arena  behind  the  fort, 
and  the  whole  body,  with  the  exception  of  those  who 
were  bayoneted,  made  the  best  of  their  way  along  the 
path  that  led  to  the  other  forts,  but  which,  in  their 
confusion,  they  did  not  attempt  to  occupy  or  defend* 


CHAP.  XI.  TAKEN  BY  ASSAULT.  251 

Upon  arriving  at  the  gorge  of  a  ravine,  between  Fort 
Chorocomayo  and  the  castle  of  Corral,  about  one 
hundred  men  escaped  in  boats  lying  there,  and  rowed 
to  Valdivia.  The  remainder,  about  two  hundred 
men,  neglecting  the  three  guns  on  the  height,  which, 
if  properly  defended,  would  have  effectually  checked 
the  advance  of  their  pursuers,  retreated  into  the  Cor- 
ral. This  castle,  however,  was  almost  immediately 
stormed  by  the  victorious  patriots,  who,  favoured  by 
a  part  of  the  rampart,  which  had  crumbled  down  and 
partly  filled  up  the  ditch,  rushed  forward,  and  thus 
obtained  possession  of  all  the  western  side  of  the 
harbour.  The  royalists  could  retreat  no  farther,  for 
there  the  land  communication  ended.  One  hundred 
Spaniards  were  bayoneted,  and  about  the  same  num- 
ber, exclusive  of  officers,  were  made  prisoners.  Miller 
was  unable  to  climb  the  ladder  placed  against  fort 
Yngles  without  assistance,  and  became  so  exhausted 
in  the  subsequent  pursuit,  that  he  could  not  keep 
pace  with  the  troops  until  he  made  two  of  his  men 
carry  him  in  their  arms.  Such  was  the  rapidity  with 
which  the  patriots  followed  up  their  success,  that  the 
royalists  had  not  time  to  destroy  their  military  stores, 
or  even  to  spike  a  gun.  Daylight  of  the  4th  found 
the  independents  in  possession  of  the  five  forts,  el 
Yngles,  San  Carlos,  Amargos,  Chorocomayo,  and 
Corral.  So  completely  was  attention  absorbed  during 
the  night  by  the  rapid  succession  of  exciting  events, 
that  till  an  officer  remarked  the  next  morning  that 
Miller's  hair  was  clotted  with  blood,  he  did  not  recol- 
lect thejscratch  he  had  received  previous  to  landing. 
Amongst  the  prisoners  taken  in  the  castle  of  Corral 


252  VALDIVIA  CHAP.  XI. 

was  Colonel  Hoyos,  commanding  the  regiment  of 
Cantabria,  who,  in  an  agony  of  mind,  produced  by 
reflecting  on  the  loss  of  the  forts,  had  drunk  a  quan- 
tity of  rum,  and,  when  Miller  appeared,  broke  out 
into  terms  of  outrageous  abuse.  It  was  with  the 
utmost  difficulty  that  the  victorious  soldiers  coiild 
be  restrained  from  killing  the  colonel.  The  next 
morning  Hoyos  said  to  Miller,  "I  thank  you  for 
having  preserved  my  life;  but,  after  what  has  hap- 
pened, death  would  have  been  a  mercy."  He  added, 
"  It  is  singular  that  I  should  owe  my  life  to  you, 
whom  I  was  in  some  measure  instrumental  in  saving, 
by  supporting  the  efforts  of  Loriga  in  your  favour 
at  Talcahuano."  About  the  time  fort  Yngles  was 
carried,  Cochrane  left  the  Montezuma,  and  caused 
himself  to  be  rowed  as  near  the  scene  of  action  as 
the  surf  would  permit  a  boat  to  approach.  The 
patriot  troops  mistaking  the  boat  for  an  enemy's, 
fired  upon  it  from  fort  San  Carlos,  and  obliged  it 
to  sheer  off. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4thj  the  schooner  and  brig 
entered  the  harbour,  and  anchored  under  the  castle 
of  Corral,  after  receiving  a  few  shots  from  the  forts 
on  the  eastern  side,  still  in  the  possession  of  the 
Spaniards.  In  order  to  dislodge  them,  two  hun- 
dred men-  embarked  in  the  brig  and  schooner:  the 
latter  ran  aground  in  crossing  the  harbour,  but  soon 
got  off  again.  The  Spaniards,  however,  alarmed  at 
the  movement,  abandoned  the  castle  of  Niebla,  fort 
Carbonero,  Piojo,  and  Manzanera.  The  patriots, 
not  less  surprised  than  pleased,  found  themselves, 
without  further  opposition,   masters  of  what  may 


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1  Sm  *-:■*  Jt  3 

« 

CHAP.  XI.  TAKEN  BY  ASSAULT.  253 

be  called  the  Gibraltar  of  South  America.  In  the 
evening  the  O'Higgins  entered  the  port  almost 
water-logged,  and,  to  keep  her  from  sinking,  she 
was  run  aground  on  a  muddy  bottom,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  undergoing  a  repair. 

The  following  are  extracts  from  Major  Miller's 
official  report  to  the  admiral,  written  at  the  castle  of 
Corral  on  the  morning  of  the  4th :  "  Having  disem- 
barked with  little  opposition,  at  the  Aguada  Yngles, 
on  the  N.  W.  shore  of  the  bay,  with  the  marines 
under  my  command,  I  continued  my  march,  united 
to  the  detachment  of  infantry  under  the  orders  of 
Major  Beauchef,  to  attack  the  enemy  on  that  side. 
In  his  formidable  position  he  considered  himself  per- 
fectly secure  from  any  attack  that  could  be  made ; 
and,  indeed,  if  due  weight  be  given  to  the  obstacles 
we  had  to  contend  with  through  narrow  and  almost 
impenetrable  tracks,  it  is  not  surprising  that  such 
confidence  should  have  existed  on  his  part.  But 
the  valour  and  intrepidity  of  our  officers  and  sol- 
diers were  irresistible,  and  the  most  complete  suc- 
cess crowned,  if  not  one  of  the  most  arduous  under- 
takings ever  attempted  by  such  a  handful  of  men, 
one  at  least  that  will  add  new  laurels  to  the  gallant 
sons  of  South  America." 

^f  ^?  ^c  ^F 

"It  is  impossible  for  me  to  give  your  lordship 
an  adequate  idea  of  the  valour  and  determined  per- 
severance of  our  small  but  enthusiastic  force.  No 
veterans  could  have  surpassed  them :  few  could  have 
done  so  much." 

On  the  5th,  Majors  Beauchef  and  Miller  proceeded 


254  PRIZE  MONEY.  CHAP.  xi. 

up  the  river  with  Lord  Cochrane,  who  took  posses- 
sion of  the  town  of  Valdivia,  at  the  head  of  two  hun- 
dred of  the  troops.  The  enemy,  five  hundred  in 
number,  had  abandoned  it  in  the  morning,  and  had 
fled  towards  Osorno  to  cross  the  water  to  Chiloe. 
On  deserting  the  town,  the  Spaniards  plundered  and 
committed  great  disorders.  The  governor,  Colonel 
Montoya,  was  the  first  to  make  his  escape.  His  age 
and  infirmities  must  have  incapacitated  him  for  com- 
mand, or  he  ought  to  have  made  a  stand  against  such 
an  inferior  force.  The  admiral  issued  a  proclamation, 
which  induced  many  of  the  inhabitants,  who  had  fled 
from  the  town  on  the  approach  of  the  patriots,  to 
return  to  their  homes. 

Amongst  the  public  property  taken  at  Valdivia, 
were  some  silver  ornaments  and  vessels,  of  which 
Sanchez  had  stripped  the  churches  of  Concepcion. 
This  booty  was  valued  at  the  time  at  from  twelve 
to  sixteen  thousand  dollars.  There  was,  besides,  a 
custodia  inlaid  with  gold  and  set  with  gems.  A 
ship,  called  the  Dolores,  anchored  off  the  Corral, 
and  taken  by  the  soldiers  in  the  night  of  the  3d, 
was  sold  by  the  prize  agent  at  Valparaiso  for  about 
twenty  thousand  dollars.  A  quantity  of  sugar, 
spirits,  and  other  articles  were  taken  and  disposed 
of  in  like  manner,  for  nearly  the  same  sum.  The 
foregoing  statement  does  not  include  a  claim  made 
by  Cochrane  on  account  of  captured  ordnance.  The 
el  dorado  views,  however,  founded  on  the  capture  of 
Valdivia,  all  fell  to  the  ground.  Neither  Miller, 
nor  any  officer  or  soldier  of  his  corps,  ever  received 
prize  money  on  that  account. 


CHAP.  XI.  OSOltNO.  255 

The  town  of  Valdivia,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river, 
contained  about  fifteen  hundred  souls.  The  houses 
are  built  of  wood,  and  the  streets  intersect  each  other 
at  right  angles.  The  river  is  now  navigable  for  boats 
only,  but  it  is  supposed  that  formerly  large  vessels 
anchored  near  to  the  town.  Where  the  Dutch  line- 
of-battle  ships  are  said  to  have  anchored  in  1598  and 
1603,  there  are  now  only  six  feet  water.  The  river, 
like  many  others  which  empty  themselves  into  the 
Pacific,  is  gradually  filling  up  or  becoming  more 
shallow  as  time  rolls  on.  The  banks  of  the  river  are 
bold,  and  covered  with  majestic  cedars,  and  other 
forest  trees.  The  country  is  beautiful,  and  clothed 
in  perpetual  verdure,  rains  being  frequent  and  heavy 
ten  months  out  of  the  twelve.  The  soil  is  rich,  and 
produces  potatoes  of  a  superior  quality.  Apples  are 
also  very  abundant,  and  great  quantities  of  cider  are 
made  there.  The  Chilenos,  accustomed  to  a  serene 
sky,  consider  the  climate  of  Valdivia  as  insupportably 
humid.  It  was  a  place  of  banishment  for  delinquents, 
who  acquired  the  rights  of  citizens  after  serving  a 
given  time,  regulated  by  the  nature  of  their  offence. 

Osorno  is  a  colony  settled  some  fifty  years  ago,  by 
the  illustrious  father  of  General  O* Higgins,  and  con- 
tains three  thousand  inhabitants.  Its  plains  are  ex- 
tremely fertile,  and  the  ground  having  been  partially 
cleared  of  wood,  produces  wheat ;  and  it  rains  less 
there  than  at  Valdivia,  The  country  is  surrounded 
by  Indians,  who  are  occasionally  troublesome.  The 
Spanish  governor  granted  pensions  to  certain  caciques, 
and  the  admiral  proi^Jo^^  that  their  aSWanm  should 
be  doubled  by  the 


*%i°ts* 


256  UKNAVIDES.  CHAP.  XII. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Benavides. — His  marvellous  escape. — Unsuccessful  attack  upoxr 
Ghiloe.  —  Gallantry  of  the  patriot  soldiers. — Major  Miller 
wounded.  —  Fanaticism.  —  Major  Beauchef.  —  Royalists  in 
Osorno  annihilated. — Santalla. — Captain  Bobadilla. — Squa- 
dron arrives  at  Valparaiso. — Humane  character  of  the  Chi- 
lenos.  —  Misunderstanding  between  San  Martin  and  the 
Buenos  Ayrean  government. — La  Logia,  or  club. — Colonel 
Martinez. — Battalion  No.  8. — Preparations  to  liberate  Peru.-^ 
Obstacles. — Royalist  forces  in  Peru. 

The  acquisition  of  Valdivia  enabled  General  San 
Martin  to  bestow  his  undivided  attention  upon  the 
liberation  of  Peru.  It  at  the  same  time  afforded 
a  great  advantage  to  the  patriots,  by  dispossessing 
Spain  of  her  best  harbour  and  strongest  hold  in  the 
Pacific,  and  by  depriving  the  royalist  ruffian  Bena- 
vides of  the  depot  from  which  he  drew  the  matiriel 
to  carry  on  his  desolating  inroads  at  the  head  of  free- 
booters and  Indians,  over  whom  he,  although  an  un- 
educated man,  had  obtained  unbounded  influence. 
That  chieftain  had  become  so  formidable  that,  had 
he  not  been  deprived  of  an  important  point  cPappui, 
and  of  his  usual  resources,  an  expedition  must  have 
been  fitted  out,  in  order  to  preserve  the  southern 
provinces  of  Chile  from  his  daring  and  bloody  in- 
cursions. On  taking  the  port,  a  small  vessel  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  patriots.  It  was  about  to  sail  to 
Arauco  with  two  or  three  officers,  and  four  non-com- 


CHAP.  XII,  BENAVIDES.  257 

missioned  officers,  together  with  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion for  Benavides.  There  is  something  so  extraor- 
dinary in  the  character  and  career  of  this  desperado, 
that  a  short  account  of  both  may  not  be  unseasonable. 

Benavides  was  born  in  the  province  of  Concepcion, 
and,  together  with  one  of  his  brothers,  had  served  in 
the  Buenos  Ayrean  battalion  No.  1 1 ;  the  first  as  a 
serjeant,  the  second  as  a  corporal.  In  1814,  both 
were  sentenced  to  death  for  some  crime,  but  escaped 
from  their  condemned  cell,  and  passed  over  to  the 
royalists,  having,  as  was  strongly  suspected,  set  fire 
to  the  field  depot,  which  was  burnt  on  the  night  they 
absconded.  Both  were  made  prisoners  of  war  at  the 
battle  of  Maypo,  but  were  not  recognised  until  after 
the  government  of  Chile  had  published  a  general 
pardon  to  all  military  offenders,  in  celebration  of  the 
victory.  The  supreme  director  could  not  then  ex- 
cept the  brothers  from  the  amnesty ;  but  he  ordered 
them  to  be  sent  out  of  the  country,  as  dangerous  and 
enterprising  criminals,  and  to  be  placed  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  government  of  the  united  provinces  of 
La  Plata.  On  the  march,  the  commandant  of  the 
escort  was  informed  by  two  of  his  soldiers  that  the 
men  in  custody  had  offered  bribes  to  connive  at  their 
evasion.  The  officer  stated  that,  upon  charging  them 
with  this  proceeding,  the  prisoners  acknowledged  the 
truth  of  the  accusation ;  that  seventeen  doubloons  and 
a  dagger  were  found  about  the  person  of  the  elder 
brother.  Upon  which  the  officer,  acting,  as  he  said, 
in  conformity  to  his  instructions  in  the  event  of  his 
prisoners'  attempting  to  escape,  ordered  them  to  be 
'shot,  and  they  were  executed  accordingly. 

vol.  i.  s 


258  BENAVIDES.  CHAP.  Mil 

On  San  Martin's  return  from  Mendoza  to  Sant- 
iago, a  stanch  patriot,  nearly  related  to  the  wife  of 
Benavides,  apprised  the  general  that  the  unfortunate 
man  was  still  living,  and  that  he  felt  an  unconquef* 
able  desire  to  have  an  interview  with  his  excellency, 
not  only  to  communicate  upon  subjects  of  high  im- 
portance, but  also  to  manifest  the  sincerity  of  hi* 
wishes  to  re-attach  himself  to  the  cause  of  independ- 
ence. He,  however,  stipulated  for  a  guarantee  in 
writing,  and  the  concealment  of  the  fact  of  his  exist- 
ence, particularly  from  the  knowledge  of  the  supreme 
director.  These  conditions  were  acceded  to,  and  the 
first  meeting  took  place  at  midnight,  in  the  chapel 
porch  of  the  Conventilfo,  a  country-seat  about  a  mile 
from  Santiago.  San  Martin  went  with  a  pocket  pistol 
in  each  hand,  and  was  otherwise  well  armed,  tx>  be 
provided  against  sinister  intentions. 

The  following  is  the  account  which  Benavides 
himself  gave  of  the  transaction  to  San  Martin.  He 
said  that,  upon  leaving  Santiago,  neither  he  nor  his 
brother  entertained  any  suspicion  they  "were  to  be 
executed  on  the  road ;  that  if  they  had  apprehended 
any  such  design,  it  would  have  been  easy  for  them 
to  have  absconded  before  they  left  the  capital :  but 
feeling  satisfied  on  the  score  of  personal  safety,  they 
postponed  the  attempt  until  a  favourable  opportunity 
should  occur  in  the  course  of  their  march,  and  more 
particularly  as  they  wished  to  avoid  compromising 
their  friends  of  the  royalist  party  then  resident  at 
Santiago ;  that  on  the  evening  of  the  second  day  the 
officer  of  the  escort  ordered  a  halt  for  the  brothers 
to  be  searched,  and  seventeen  doubloons  being  found 


CHAP.  XIU  BENAViDES.  259 

in  the  lining  of  the  boots  of  the  elder,  the  officer 
asked  if  they  had  attempted  to  bribe  the  soldiers, 
which  was  answered  in  the  negative;  that  the  party 
then  left  the  road,  and  having  arrived  at  a  lonely 
spot  at  nightfall,  the  offieer  ordered  them  (the  two 
brothers)  to  prepare  for  instant  death.  They  were 
made  to  kneel,  with  eyes  unbound,  and  a  volley  was 
fired.  Benavides  received  two  balls,  one  of  which 
passed  through  his  right  shoulder,  the  other  through 
his  left  side.  He  fell,  but,  preserving  his  presence 
of  mind,  he  feigned  himself  dead,  in  the  hope  of 
ultimately  effecting  his  escape*  The  serjeant  of  the 
escort,  as  he  supposed,  drew  his  sword,  and  gave  him 
a  heavy  cut  across  the  throat  *,  saying  at  the  same 
time,  "  Take  that,  villain,  for  the  murder  of  my  fa- 
mily I"  The  soldiers  then  threw  a  quantity  of  earth 
and  stones  over  the  two  bodies,  and  withdrew.  Be- 
navides remained  motionless  for  some  minutes,  when, 
finding  that  his  executioners  had  finally  left  him,  he 
immediately  set  to  work  to  disengage  himself  from 
the  load  of  earth  with  which  he  was  encumbered ;  he 
then  with  great  difficulty  untied  the  cords  with  which 
he  was  bound,  and  having  stripped  off  the  jacket  and 
shirt  of  his  deceased  brother,  to  bind  up  his  own 
wounds,  he  quitted  the  fatal  spot.  He  walked  the 
greater  part  of  the  night,  suffering  acutely  from  the 
pain  of  his  wounds,  and  from  the  still  less  supportable 
agonies  of  thirst.  Having  reached  the  hovel  of  a 
good  old  man  and  woman,  they  took  pity  upon  him ; 
and  although  poverty  confined  their  means  of  trure 
to  the  constant  washing  of  his  wounds  with  water 

*  Benavides  carried  his  head  awry  ever  afterwards. 

s2 


260  BENAVIDES.  CHAP.  Xlf. 

from  a  neighbouring  rill,  Benavides  found  himself 
sufficiently  recovered,  at  the  end  of  sixteen  days,  to 
creep  unperceived  into  Santiago,  where  he  remained 
concealed* 

San  Martin  and  Benavides  had  several  subsequent 
meetings,  which  were  held  at  night  near  the  fountain, 
in  the  great  square  of  the  city.  Benavides  revealed 
the  names  of  those  who  were  still  inimical  to  the 
patriot  cause,  and  also  the  means  they  employed  to 
carry  on  their  correspondence  with  the  royalists,  and 
to  remit  subscriptions  to  promote  the  restoration  of 
the  ancient  order  of  things.  He  reiterated  the  offer 
of  his  services  to  the  republic :  they  were  accepted, 
and  a  plan*  of  operations  for  the  ensuing  campaign  in 
the  south  of  Chile  was  determined  upon.  He  was 
soon  afterwards  sent,  in  charge  of  an  officer,  who  was 
kept  in  ignorance  of  the  name  of  the  person  he 
escorted,  to  General  Balcarce,  at  that  time  command- 
ing the  troops  in  the  province  of  Concepcion,  and 
who  was  minutely  informed  of  the  character  and 
conduct  of  Benavides,  and  of  the  circumstances  which 
rendered  it  expedient  to  place  such  a  person  upon 
his  staff.     Balcarce  was  instructed  to  observe  the 

■ 

utmost  circumspection  in  carrying  into  execution 
plans  suggested  by  Benavides ;  and,  taking  care  not 
to  betray  any  signs  of  mistrust,  to  keep  a  watchful 
eye  over  that  extraordinary  man,  whose  local  know- 
ledge and  prior  connexions  with  the  royalist  chiefs, 
as  well  as  his  influence  over  the  Araucanians,  gave 
value  and  weight  to  his  opinions,  and  rendered  him 
a  desirable  instrument  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  to  his  counsel  was  owing 


CHAP.  XII.  CHILOE.  261 

the  conquest  of  the  inland  island  of  Lajas  and  of 
the  fort  Nacimiento,  and  the  successful  issue  of  that 
'campaign.  Indeed,  Balcarce  distinctly  attributed  it 
'  to  the  advice  of  Benavides,  whose  adhesion  to  the 
cause  of  the  country  became  undoubted. 

Unhappily  Balcarce  imparted  his  secret  to  Freyre, 
governor  of  Concepcion,  who,  in  a  conference  at 
which  all  three  were  present,  had  the  indiscretion  to 
tell  Benavides,  in  a  moment  of  warm  discussion,  that 
a  man  of  his  species  was  not  to  be  trusted.  Fired 
at  the  insult,  the  stern  Benavides  disappeared  within 
eight-and-forty  hours,  and  speedily  commenced  a  de- 
solating war  with  fire  and  sword,  committing  un- 
heard-of barbarities  upon  the  helpless  and  unoffend- 
ing inhabitants. 

Cochrane  having  made  the  necessary  arrangements 
for  the  security  of  Valdivia,  turned  his  views  to  other 
objects.  His  next  attempt  was  to  wrest  the  important 
island  of  Chiloe  from  the  dominion  of  Spain.  Al- 
though it  was  known  to  be  defended  by  one  thousand 
regulars,  besides  a  hardy  militia,  yet  the  garrison 
Was  supposed  to  be  in  a  discontented  state,  and  it 
was  hoped  that  a  majority  of  it  would  gladly  avail 
themselves  of  an  opportunity  of  joining  the  patriot 
cause. 

Chiloe  is  the  largest  of  an  archipelago  of  seventy- 
two  islands,  stretching  along  the  dreary  and  inhos- 
pitable coast  between  the  straits  of  Magellan  and 
Valdivia.  The  navigation  is  very  intricate  and  dan- 
gerous, on  account  of  eddies,  currents,  and  whirlpools; 
moreover,  the  tremendous  surf  of  the  Pacific  Ocean 
breaking  with  fury  on  the  iron-bound  coast,  renders 


262  CHILOE.  CHAP.  XII* 

it  almost  every  where  unapproachable.  The  tem- 
perature is  moderate ;  the  soil  is  generally  rich,  and 
the  islands  produce  fine  timber.  Some  species  of 
larch,  cleft  into  deals,  is  one  of  the  few  articled  of 
export  for  the  supply  of  the  coasts  of  Chile  and  Peru. 
The  humidity  of  the  climate  prevents  the  cultivation 
of  wheat.  The  potatoes  are  perhaps  the  finest  in  the 
world.  *  Chiloe  abounds  with  swine,  fed  upon  the 
abundant  shell-fish.  The  hams  are  so  highly  esteemed 
that  it  may  be  called  the  Westphalia  of  the  New 
World.  The  manufacture  of  ponchos  is  carried  on 
to  a  considerable  extent.  The  population  is  loosely 
estimated  at  thirty-four  thousand.  But,  in  point  of 
civilization,  the  Chilotes  are  but  one  remove  from 
the  Araucanians. 

On  the  10th  of  February,  the  Governor  Quinta- 
nilla,  an  active  officer,  was  apprised  of  Cochrane'* 
intention,  and  instantly  made  his  arrangements  for 
an  obstinate  defence.  On  the  morning  of  the  17th 
the  admiral  approached  the  west  point  of  the  island* 
which  forms  the  south  side  of  the  bay  in  which  San 
Carlos,  the  seat  of  government,  is  situated,  and  at 
sunset  anchored  off  a  little  inlet  in  the  bay  of  Hue- 
chucucay.  Sixty  infantry  and  thirty  cavalry,  with 
a  field-piece,  were  sent  to  dispute  the  landing ;  but 
their  attention  was  divided  between  the  real  place 
of  intended  disembarkation,  and  another  inlet  farther 
up  the  bay,  whither  for  that  purpose  a  boat  had  been 
sent  with  a  few  rockets.  Meanwhile  Miller  effected 
a  landing ;  and  the  royalist  detachment,  divided  into 
two  parties,  was  put  to  flight,  and  their  field-piece 
abandoned.     At  eight  P.  M.  the  patriots,  one  him- 


CHAP.  XII.  FORT  AGUY.  263 

dred  and  seventy  in  number,  advanced;  but  the 
night  was  so  dark  that  no  object  could  be  distin- 
guished at  the  distance  of  three  paces.  The  surf 
ran  very  high,  and  broke  upon  the  beach  with,  a  roar 
that  drowned  the  voice  of  command.  The  guide 
soon  lost  his  way,  and,  either  through  ignorance  or 
treachery,  could  not  or  would  not  recover  it.  The 
party  wandered  about  all  night,  making  unavailing 
efforts.  At  dawn  of  day  the  track  was  again  found* 
and  the  party  moved  on.  Fort  Corona,  and  a 
detached  battery,  were  carried  without  loss.  Having 
halted  for  an  hour,  the  patriots  pushed  forward  to 
storm  the  principal  defence,  Fort  Aguy,  which 
mounted  twelve  eighteen-pounders,  and  was  raised 
on  a  commanding  eminence,  washed  on  one  side  by 
the  sea,  and  having  on  the  opposite  side  an  impene- 
trable wood.  The  only  access  to  the  fort  was  by 
a  narrow  path  on  the  beach,  enfiladed  by  some 
pieces  of  ordnance,  and  flanked  by  two  gun-boats 
anchored  just  out  of  musket  range.  The  path  forms 
a  zigzag  from  the  foot  of  the  rising  ground  to  the 
crest  upon  which  the  fort  is  situated.  At  each  angle 
was  a  small  parapet  for  infantry.  The  garrison  of 
Aguy  consisted  of  three  companies  of  regulars,  two 
companies  of  militia,  and  a  proportion  of  artillerymen, 
in  all  about  five  hundred  men*.  Two  friars  upon  the 
rampart  were  seen  to  excite  them  during  the  assault, 
each  with  a  lance  in  one  hand  and  a  crucifix  in  the 
other.  To  the  violence  of  these  infuriated  bigots 
might  be  advantageously  contrasted  the  calm  advance 

* 

•  According  to  a  despatch  from  Quintanilla  to  the  viceroy  of  Peru,  published 
ill  a  Lima  Gazette.  . 


364  REPULSE.  CHAP.  XII. 

of  the  patriots,  whose  courage  seemed  to  increase 
with  the  increasing  danger.  The  undaunted  intre- 
pidity with  which  they  attacked  deserved  to  have  been 
crowned  with  success.  But  the  garrison,  having  no 
track  by  which  they  could  retreat,  stood  their  ground; 
and,  at  the  first  onset,  Miller  and  thirty-eight  men 
out  of  sixty,  composing  the  forlorn  hope,  were  mowed 
down  by  a  shower  of  grape  and  musketry.  Twenty 
men  were  killed  on  the  spot,  and  most  of  the  others 
were  mortally  wounded.  Captain  Erescano,  who  suc- 
ceeded to  the  command,  perceiving  the  impossibility 
of  accomplishing  the  desired  object,  very  properly 
ordered  a  retreat,  which  he  conducted  with  coolness 
and  ability,  carrying  off  the  wounded.  He  spiked 
the  guns  in  the  fort  and  battery  previously  captured, 
broke  up  the  platforms  and  carriages,  and  demolished 
the  military  stores.  In  making  these  retrograde  move* 
ments  over  two  leagues  of  ground,  Erescano  and  the 
gallant  Ensign  Vidal  repelled,  upon  three  occasions, 
the  attacks  of  numerous  enemies,  inflamed  by  bigotry 
and  animated  by  success.  At  length  they  reached 
the  landing-place,  and  all  that  remained  alive  re- 
embarked.  The  marines  not  only  showed  on  this  oc- 
casion the  conspicuous  gallantry  which  distinguished 
them  on  every  other,  but  also  gave  an  additional 
proof  of  their  affectionate  fidelity  towards  Miller, 
their  commander.  Three  of  them,  being  the  first  to 
advance  and  last  to  retire,  nobly  refused  to  quit  the 
field  without  carrying  him  off.  They  found  him 
stretched  upon  the  ground,  a  grape-shot  having 
passed  through  the  left  thigh:  the  small  bones  of 
the  right  instep  were  crushed  by  a  four-pounder  shot, 


CHAP.  XII.  CAPTAIN  BOBADIL.  865 

fired  from  a  gun-boat,  and  which  might  have  broken 
the  leg  but  for  a  rocket,  which  Miller  held  in  his 
hand,  and  which  changed  the  direction  of  the  shot. 
He  also  received  a  flesh  wound  at  the  same  moment. 
.Under  the  hottest  fire  these  faithful  followers  bore 
him  to  a  place  of  comparative  security.  Two  of  the 
men  were  wounded  in  the  act,  but  declared  that  they 
would  sooner  perish  than  leave  him  to  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  enraged  fanatics.  Despotism  has  en- 
grafted on  the  Chileno  character  many  a  vice ;  but 
who  can  deny  that  it  retains  the  virtues  belonging  to 
the  brave*? 

The  same  evening  the  vessels  made  sail  for  the 
port  of  Valdivia,  which  they  entered  on  the  19th. 
Major  Beauchef,  who  had  been  left  in  command,  had 
in  the  meantime  marched  with  two  hundred  men  in 
search  of  the  royalist  fugitives,  whom  the  indignant 
Governor  Quintanilla  refused  to  admit  into  Chiloe. 
The  Spaniard,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Santalla,  remark- 
able for  personal  strength,  cruelty,  and  cowardice, 
was  therefore  obliged  to  retrace  his  steps  to  Osorno, 
whither  Beauchef  went  in  pursuit  of  him.  Under 
pretence  of  sickness,  Santalla  kept  at  a  safe  distance, 
and  gave  up  the  command  to  Captain  Bobadilla;  well 
named,  for  he  was  another  braggadocio,  although, 
like  his  prudent  companion  in  arms,  of  most  imposing 
appearance.  On  coming  up  with  them,  Beauchef 
completely,  and  in  a  manner  which  reflects  equal 

•  Roxas,  a  soldier  of  the  marines,  who  had  formerly  served  in  Valdivia,  and 
acted  as  guide  on  the  night  it  was  assaulted,  bore  Major  Miller  to  a  boat, 
and,  when  invited  to  follow,  he  answered,  "  No,  sir;  I  was  the  first  to  land,  and 
I  mean  to  be  the  last  to  go  on  board."  He  continued  to  retreat  with  Captain 
Erescano,  and  was  the  last  to  get  into  the  boats.  Roxas  was  severely  wounded 
by  the  side  of  Lord  Cochrane  at  the  cutting  out  of  the  Esmeralda  from  under 
the  forts  of  Callao  in  1820. 


266  11ETURN   TO  VALPARAISO.  CHAP.  XII. 

credit  on  his  military  skill  and  on  his  enthusiastic 
bravery,  routed  the  royalists.  Seventeen  officers  and 
two  hundred  and  twenty  men  were  taken  prisoners. 
The  rest  were  killed  in  action,  excepting  a  few  who 
escaped,  with  the  two  commanding  officers,  to  Chiloe. 
Quintanilla  was  so  much  ashamed  of  the  whole  party 
that  he  sent  off  Santalla  and  Bobadilla*  in  deserved 
disgrace  to  Lima. 

Captain  Labe,  of  the  Chileno  service,  highly  di* 
stinguished  himself  on  this  occasion,  as  he  had  done 
during  the  assault  of  Valdivia.   . 

On  the  20th  of  February,  Cochrane,  Miller,  and 
the  wounded,  sailed  for  Valparaiso  in  the  Monte- 
zuma, the  O'Higgins  not  having  completed  the  re- 
pairs  necessary  to  make  her  sea- worthy.  Three  miles 
west  of  the  westernmost  point  of  the  island  of  Santa 
Maria  are  sunken  rocks  not  laid  down  in  any  chart. 
The  Montezuma  passed  safely  between  them  and  the 
island.  She  was  abreast  of  them,  and  going  at  the 
rate  of  eight  knots,  before  the  breakers  were  seen. 

Miller  experienced  a  long  and  severe  illness,  the 
result  of  so  many  wounds ;  of  so  much  fatigue ;  and 
pf  privations  incidental  to  such  a  service.  It  wa» 
fortunate  that  he  arrived  at  that  period  in  Chile, 
where  the  national  character  does  not  perhaps  display 
a  more  amiable  trait  than  the  unceasing  care  with 
which  people  of  every  class  watch  over  the  stranger 
whom  sickness  overtakes  and  places  at  their  threshold. 
Without  distinction  of  rank  or  party,  the  palace  or 
the  hut  is  alike  open  to  the  invalid,  for  whom  the 

*  Both  these  officers  survived  the  dangers  of  the  campaigns  of  Peru,  and 
returned  to  Spain.  Captain  Bobadil  was  amongst  those  who  capitulated  at 
Ayacucho. 


CHAP.  XII.  CHILENO  CHARACTER.  267 

liveliest  sympathy  is  evinced  by  every  individual  of 
the  family.  At  Santiago,  Miller  occupied  apartments 
in  Cochrane's  mansion ;  but  the  whole  family  being 
at  Valparaiso,  a  Chileno  officer  of  distinction,  with 
his  amiable  and  accomplished  wife,  visited  him  daily, 
and  at  length  prevailed  upon  him  to  remove  to  their 
own  house,  where  he  was  watched  night  and  day 
with  unremitting  solicitude,  till  returning  health  and 
strength  enabled  him  to  take  the  field  once  more. 
This  kindness  of  the  Chilenos  fixes  upon  the  heart 
of  the  recovered  stranger  ineffaceable  impressions  of 
the  most  grateful  and  pleasing  remembrance. 

After  the  battle  of  Maypo,  ladies  of  the  highest 
rank  visited  the  hospitals,  as  a  matter  of  course,  each 
undertaking  the  care  of  as  many  of  the  wounded  as 
her  means  would  allow.  They  administered  me- 
dicines, and  brought  refreshments,  prepared  at  their 
own  houses ;  and  all  exerted  themselves  to  soothe  the 
snffering,  in  a  way  which  seemed  to  proclaim  that 
«very  wounded  patriot  was  their  brother.  He  whose 
task  it  is  historically  to  portray  the  features  of  de- 
flating warfare  cannot  but  dwell  with  pleasure  on 
traits  which  soften  and  illuminate  the  dark  melan- 
choly picture. 

The  repeated  delay  in  the  sailing  of  the  grand  ex- 
pedition from  Cadiz  was  now  ascertained  to  have 
arisen  from  a  disinclination  of  the  troops  to  embark, 
and  which  ended  in  the  revolution  under  Quiroga  of 
the  Isla  de  Leon,  and  the  establishment  of  the  cortes. 
Jt  was  therefore  no  longer  apprehended  that  an  in- 
vasion would  take  place.     Spain  was  rendered  inca- 


268  MISUNDERSTANDINGS.  CHAP.  XII. 

pable  of  attempting  the  re-conquest  of  America  in 
consequence  of  her  own  intestine  divisions. 

General  San  Martin  set  out  from  Mendoza  in  the 
beginning  of  January,  1820,  for  Chile;  and,  appre- 
hensive that  the  spirit  of  disunion,  which  then  agitated 
the  provinces  of  the  Rio  de  la  Plata,  would  extend 
itself  to  the  recruits  raised  in  the  province  of  Cuyo, 
he  directed  that  the  whole  of  the  troops  should  march 
for  Chile.  The  two  cavalry  regiments  obeyed  orders, 
and,  after  losing  some  men  from  desertion  on  the 
march,  they  arrived  at  Rancagua  in  February,  1820. 
The  light-infantry  battalion,  one  thousand  and  se- 
venty strong,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Alva- 
rado,  mutinied  at  San  Juan,  and  dispersed ;  many  to 
return  to  their  homes,  and  others  to  attach  them- 
selves to  some  favourite  leader. 

A  misunderstanding  now  arose  between  the  Buenos 
Ayrean  government  and  San  Martin,  who  was  ordered, 
with  the  troops  of  that  state,  to  re-cross  the  Andes,  to 
quell  some  disturbances  which  had  broken  out  in 
several  of  the  provinces.  The  general,  supported  by 
the  unanimous  decision  of  a  council  of  war,  declined 
to  obey  the  order,  upon  the  ground,  that  to  take  any 
part  in  the  civil  dissensions  which  distracted  the  pro- 
vinces of  Tucuman,  Cordova,  Santa  F6,  Entre-Rios, 
and  Buenos  Ayres,  would  be  to  set  aside  the  pro- 
jected expedition  to  subvert  the  Spanish  authority  in 
Peru ;  and  that  it  would  expose  the  whole  of  his 
army  to  the  contagion  of  those  anarchical  principles 
which  had  already  proved  so  fatal  to  the  battalion  of 
Cazadores  at  San  Juan. 


CHAP.  XII.  THE  LOGIA.  269 

This  refusal  gave  great  offence.  The  Buenos 
Ayreans  accused  San  Martin  of  having,  by  that  act, 
withdrawn  his  allegiance  from  the  general  govern- 
ment of  the  United  Provinces  of  the  River  Plata,  as 
the  executive  in  Buenos  Ayres  styled  itself.  Every 
effort  was  made  to  lower  San  Martin  in  public  opinion. 
Some  lawyers  and  other  civilians,  jealous  of  the  na- 
tural influence  which  services  in  the  field  gave  to  the 
general,  were  amongst  the  most  active  underminers 
of  his  reputation.  These  detractors,  never  having 
exposed  their  own  persons  in  action,  were  the  declared 
enemies  of  the  military.  It  may  be  politic  to  prevent 
successful  generals  from  retaining  an  undue  prepon- 
derance, but  the  littleness  of  mind  by  which  many  of 
San  Martin's  enemies  were  actuated  is  too  manifest 
to  exempt  them  from  feelings  of  contempt. 

From  that  time  all  co-operation  on  the  part  of 
Buenos  Ayres  was  withheld.  A  club,  called  the 
Logia,  an  institution  of  Spanish  origin,  and  intro- 
duced at  Buenos  Ayres  for  the  ostensible  object  of 
promoting  the  emancipation  of  Spanish  America,  lent 
its  aid  to  bring  San  Martin  into  disrepute,  although 
he  himself  was  a  principal  member.  The  Logia,  in 
a  noiseless  manner,  gradually  monopolized  the  pa- 
tronage of  the  principal  civil  and  military  appoint- 
ments, and  arrogated  to  themselves  the  privilege  of 
secretly  selecting  the  commanding  officers  of  regi- 
ments, or  of  ratifying  appointments  made  by  the 
general ;  and  they  disputed  the  right  of  any  general- 
in-chief  to  remove  such  officers,  for  any  cause,  without 
the  previous  concurrence  of  the  club.  Such  members 
as  were  chiefs  in  the  army  of  the  Andes,  and  had  be- 


270  THE  LOGIA.  CHAP.  XII. 

come  more  or  less  inimical  to  San  Martin,  were  sup- 
posed to  receive  proportionate  support  and  counte- 
nance from  the  Logia.  The  members  also  took  upon 
themselves  to  influence,  if  not  to  direct,  military 
operations.  If  General  Belgrano  had  paid  less  de- 
ference to  the  plans  of  a  mischievous  knot  of  incom- 
petent directors,  he  would  have  marched  to  Upper 
Peru,  instead  of  waiting  in  Tucuman,  where  he  saw 
his  army  of  four  thousand  fine  troops  waste  away  by 
desertion.  The  result  of  his  blind  obedience  to  the 
Logia  *  was,  that  he  was  made  prisoner  by  his  own 
men. 

To  the  charge  of  withdrawing  his  allegiance,  San 
Martin  is  reported  to  have  answered,  that,  besides 
the  weighty  reasons  which  influenced  the  unanimous 
decision  of  the  council  of  war,  there  did  not,  in  point 
of  fact,  exist  any  legitimate  government  at  all ;  and 
that  Buenos  Ayres  was  ruled  by  successive  factions, 
which  displaced  each  other  once  a  month,  and  some- 
times oftener ;  an  assertion  which  will  be  borne  out 
by  the  history  of  Buenos  Ayres  at  that  period.  From 
Santiago  San  Martin  sent  a  sealed  packet  to  the  chief 
of  the  staff,  and  second  in  command,  Colonel  Las 
Heras,  whose  head-quarters  were  then  at  Rancagua. 
The  packet,  opened  in  the  presence  of  the  whole  of 
the  officers  of  the  army,  convened  for  that  purpose, 
contained  a  letter,  which  intimated  that,  as  the  go- 
vernment, whence  San  Martin's  commission  as  com- 
mander-in-chief emanated,  was  dissolved,  he  felt  it  to 

*  Clubs  in  South  America  have,  like  the  Comuneros  of  Spain,  and  Carbonari 
of  Italy,  proved,  in  the  end,  to  be  highly  prejudicial  to  the  cause  they  were 
intended  to  uphold.  Many  of  the  petty  revolutions  in  South  America  are  at 
this  time  ascribable  to  their  mischievous  influence. 


CHAP.  XII.  BATTALION  NO.  8.  271 

be  his  duty  to  tender  his  resignation  to  the  officers 
of  the  army  at  large,  and  to  authorise  them  to  elect, 
by  ballot,  a  successor  to  the  chief  command.  On  the 
same  day  San  Martin  was  unanimously  re-elected. 

The  above  details  appear  to  be  necessary  to  account 
for  the  tardy  progress  of  the  independent  cause,  after 
the  decisive  advantages  obtained  by  the  victory  of 
Maypo. 

On  the  11th  of  June,  1820,  Miller  was  promoted 
by  General  San  Martin  to  the  lieutenant-colonelcy  of 
the  eighth  or  black  battalion  of  Buenos  Ay  res,  eight 
hundred  strong.  Don  Enrique  Martinez,  the  colonel 
commanding,  received  Miller  with  as  much  kindness 
and  consideration  as  if  the  appointment  had  taken 
place  upon  his  own  recommendation.  The  friendly 
hospitality,  which  he  received  on  joining,  was  con- 
tinued during  nearly  two  years  that  he  served  in  the 
battalion.  Nor  did  this  promotion  produce  any  sym- 
ptoms of  an  ungracious  feeling  on  the  part  of  the 
major  and  other  officers  thus  passed  over.  The 
officers  of  the  eighth  had  commenced  their  career 
at  the  dawn  of  the  revolution,  and  had  'served  with 
distinction.  One  and  all  uniformly,  and  with  the 
greatest  cordiality,  lent  their  willing  assistance  to 
•supply  the  deficiencies  which  arose  partly  from  Miller's 
not  speaking  the  language  perfectly,  and  from  his 
not  being  thoroughly  versed  in  the  duties  of  his  new 
appointment. 

The  privates  of  the  battalion  No.  8  were  Creole 
negroes,  and  had  been  for  the  most  part  in-door  slaves 
previously  to  the  commencement  of  the  revolution, 
when,  by  becoming  soldiers,  they  obtained  their  free- 


272  BATTALION  NO.  8.  CHAP.  XII. 

dom.  They  were  distinguished  throughout  the  war 
for  their  valour,  constancy,  and  patriotism.  They 
were  docile,  easy  to  instruct,  and  devotedly  attached 
to  their  officers.  Many  were  remarkable  for  their 
intelligence,  cleanliness,  and  good  conduct.  They 
went  through  their  evolutions  exceedingly  well,  and 
it  was  generally  allowed  that  they  marched  better 
than  the  corps  formed  of  whites.  Many  of  them 
rose  to  be  good  non-commissioned  officers ;  some  had 
taught  themselves  to  read  and  write,  while  others 
had  been  instructed  by  a  kind  owner,  or  by  some 
part  of  his  family.  The  band  was  composed  of  twenty- 
seven,  and,  with  the  exception  of  three,  all  played  by 
ear,  and  exceedingly  well.  The  master  of  the  band, 
named  Sarmiento,  was  the  son  of  a  mulatto  woman 
by  an  African.  He  could  both  read  and  write,  and 
was  a  tolerable  composer  of  music. 

In  the  provinces  of  the  Rio  de  la  Plata  and  Chile 
few  proprietors  possess  more  than  a  very  small  num- 
ber of  slaves,  who,  being  kindly  treated,  are  superior 
to  the  mass  of  those  in  Peru,  where,  on  the  great 
sugar  or  vine  estates,  hundreds  are  herded  in  gal- 
pones,  or  slave  huts,  surrounded  by  a  high  wall. 
Cooped  up  in  this  small  enclosure,  except  when  they 
sally  forth  to  work,  they  become  debased  and  vile. 
Subjected  to  the  caprice  and  cruelty  of  their  drivers, 
the  lash  of  the  whip,  and  the  cries  of  the  flogged,  are 
often  heard ;  and  even  instruments  of  torture  were 
sometimes  used.  It  is  not  therefore  surprising  that 
these  miserable  beings  should  imbibe  all  the  vices  at- 
tendant upon  such  cruel  treatment,  and  that  they 
should  sink  to  a  state  of  debasement  which  furnishes 


CHAP.  XII.     BICKERINGS  IN  THE  SQUADRON.  273 

matter  for  enemies  to  their  freedom,  to  represent  them 
as  irrational  and  unfit  to  enjoy  the  rights  of  men. 
Such  cruelty  is  enough  to  change  their  very  nature. 
The  governor  of  Mala,  a  Peruvian  town,  as  he  was 
shivering  with  an  ague  fit,  once  said  to  the  author  of 
these  memoirs,  "  Here  am  I  quite  neglected,  although 
I  have  fourteen  slave  rascals  in  nominal  attendance, 
but  those  who  are  not  thieves  are  drunkards." 

San  Martin,  having  wisely  declined  to  interfere  in 
the  dissensions  of  the  Buenos  Ayrean  provinces,  and 
finding  himself  placed  again  at  the  head  of  the  army 
of  the  Andes  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  its  officers, 
directed  his  attention  to  his  favourite  project  of 
liberating  Peru ;  a  measure  which  had  now  become 
indispensable,  if  only  to  employ  his  army,  \vhich,  in 
the  absence  of  a  foreign  enemy,  was  fast  mouldering 
away  by  desertion. 

The  obstacles  to  the  equipment  of  the  expedition 
were  almost  insurmountable.  The  Chileno  treasury 
had  been  drained  for  the  support  of  the  army,  which 
was  kept  together  with  some  difficulty;  and  by  the 
formation  of  the  navy.  Without  money  and  without 
credit,  the  attention  of  the  government  was  repeatedly 
diverted  from  the  object  of  emancipating  Peru,  in 
order  to  counteract  the  continued  machinations  of 
the  remnant  of  the  Carrera  party. 

The  squadron  was  divided  and  agitated  by  the 
conflicting  parties  of  Cochrane  and  Guise  *, 

*  These  originated  in  bickerings  on  some  unimportant  points  of  etiquette, 
and  were  carried  to  a  length  which  proved  highly  detrimental  to  the  service. 
But  as  these  disputes  do  not,  it  would  appear,  reflect  credit  upon  either  of  the 
principal  parties,  the  subject  will  pass  without  further  remark. 

VOL.  I.  T 


27*  BKNAVIDES.  CHAP.  XII. 

In  the  south,  Benavides*,  although  deprived^ 
the  resources  of  Valdivia,  was  formidable  enough  to 
render  the  measures  for  the  security  of  the  province 
of  Concepcion  a  source  of  very  great  expense  and 
alarm.  Buenos  Ayres,  a  prey  to  successive  anar- 
chies, had  neither  the  power  nor  the  will  to  lend  her 
assistance. 

The  army  of  General  Belgrano  having  dissolved  in 
Tucuman,  the  royalist  army,  under  General  Ramirez, 
was  at  full  liberty  to  march  from  Upper  Peru,  to 
any  part  of  the  coast,  to  the  assistance  of  the  viceroy 
Pezuela. 

The  government  of  Chile,  hopeless  of  farther  co- 
operation from  Buenos  Ayres,  and  suffering  from 
intestine  divisions,  managed,  with  great  difficulty,  to 
assemble  a  force  of  four  thousand  five  hundred  men. 
Under  other  circumstances,  this  number  might  have 
been  more  than  doubled.  But  notwithstanding  the 
disunion  of  the  patriots,  it  was  evident  that  the  Spa- 
nish  yoke  was  equally  dreaded  by  all ;  and  that  the 
desire  of  independence  was  so  ardent  as  not  to  be 
suppressed  by  partial  dissensions. 

On  the  present  occasion,  the  merchants  came  for- 
ward with  a  liberality  which  proved  them  to  be  ani- 
mated by  a  zealous  patriotism.     To  their  confidence 


*  Benavides  remained  with  the  Araucanians  until,  finding  himself  cut  off  from 
most  of  his  followers,  he  embarked  at  the  end  of  two  years  in  an  open  launch, 
and  sailed  for  Arica,  intending  to  join  the  royalist  party  in  Peru.  Being  in 
want  of  water  on  the  passage,  the  launch  put  into  a  small  cove  near  Valparaiso. 
One  of  his  men  betrayed  him,  and  Benavides  closed  his  blood-stained  career  on 
the  scaffold,  at  Santiago,  on  the  23d  February,  1823,  amidst  the  execrations  of 
the  populace.  On  leaving  his  cell  the  manhood  of  Benavides  failed  him,  and 
he  was  borne  along,  or  rather  dragged,  to  the  place  of  execution,  and  underwent 
the  sentence  of  the  law,  with  a  degree  of  cowardice  worthy  of  a  Robespierre. 


CHAP.  XII.     ROYALIST  STRENGTH  IN    PERU.  275 

and  timely  assistance  the  final  equipment  of  the  ex- 
pedition must,  in  a  great  measure,  be  ascribed ;  for  if 
it  had  failed,  the  terms  of  their  contracts  with  the 
government  would  most  probably  never  have  been 
fulfilled. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  now  to  give  a  statement  of 
the  strength  and  distribution  of  the  royalist  forces  in 
Peru,  on  the  authority  of  the  viceroy  Pezuela,  as 
stated  in  his  Manifesto,  published  at  Madrid  in 
1821  j  according  to  which,  the  grand  total  of  his 
Force  in  1820  was  twenty-three  thousand  regulars. 
There  were  in  Callao  and  Lima  .         7815 

In  Pisco,  Caiiete,  and  Chancay      .         .       700 
The  rest  might  have  been  distributed  as 
follows : 

Upper  Peru 6000 

Arequipa  and  province,  Truxillo,  Guaya-  \  040* 
quil,  Guamanga,  Cuzco,  Xauxa,  &c.       .     I 

23,000 
The  above  comparative  statement  will  furnish  per- 
haps the  best  answer  to  the  Spanish  constitutionalists, 
and  others,  who  have  contended  that  the  Peruvians 
did  not  generally  wish  for  independence ;  for,  with- 
out the  support  of  public  opinion,  could  General  San 
Martin  have  maintained  himself  in  Peru?  It  will  also 
justify  the  cautious  measures  of  that  commander,  in 
abstaining  from  risking  the  existence  of  his  army  in 
a  general  action. 


t  2 


S76  LIBERATING  ARMY.  CHAP.  XIII. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Liberating  army.— Sails  from  Valparaiso. — Disembarks  at  Pisco. 
— Arenales. — Affair  at  Nasca. — Army  re-embarks. — Ancon. 
-—Guayaquil. — Esmeralda. — Army  disembarks  at  Huacho. — 
Chancay. — Colonel  Campino. — Exchange  of  prisoners  of  war. 
—Battalion  of  Numancia. — Action  of  Cerro  de  Pasco.— 
Dissensions  of  the  royalists. — Pezuela  deposed.— La  Serna 
made  viceroy. — Lady  Cochrane.*— The  admiral  sails  to  Callao. 
—Returns  to  Huacho.— Proceeds  to  Pisco. — Armistice  of 
Punchauca. 

The  unceasing  exertions  and  determined  perse* 
verance  of  the  supreme  director,  and  of  General  San 
Martin,  seconded  by  the  commendable  spirit  of  ad- 
venture and  zealous  patriotism  of  the  merchants, 
overcame,  at  last,  those  obstacles  which  had  for  so 
long  a  period  delayed  the  sailing  of  the  expedition. 

The  liberating  force  assembled  at  Valparaiso  on 
the  19th  of  August,  1820.  On  the  19th  and  20th 
the  following  corps  embarked : 

Infantry,      .     Battalions  No.  7> 

8, 

11, 
Cavalry,    Granaderos  a  Caballo, 

Cazadores  h  Caballo, 

Artillery,  two  troops, 


Division  of  the 
Andes  *; 


*  One-third  of  the  soldiers  of  the  division  of  the  Andes  were  Chilenos;  but 
the  officers  were  Buenos  Ayreans :  many  other  Buenos  Ayreans  were  also  in  die 
division  of  Chile. 


i 


CHAP.  XIII.  LIBERATING  ARMY.  277 


Division  of  Chile : 


Infantry,  .   Battalions  No.  2, " 

4 
(in  skeleton)       5, 
Artillery,  one  troop, 

and  sailed  on  the  21st,  under  convoy  of  the  Chileno 
ships  pf  war :  the  total  number  not  exceeding  four 
thousand  five  hundred  soldiers  (including  the  men 
afterwards  taken  on  board  at  Coquimbo),  with  twelve 
pieces  of  artillery. 

.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Miller  embarked  in  the  Santa 
Rosa  transport,  with  two  companies  of  his  own  bat- 
talion (No.  8  of  Buenos  Ayres),  and  two  companies 
of  his  former  corps,  the  Buenos  Ayrean  artillery*. 
The  arrangements  for  the  embarkation  of  the  troops 
were  highly  creditable  to  Colonel  Las  Heras  and  the 
naval  officers  who  superintended  this  operation. 

Notwithstanding  the  numerical  weakness  of  the 
expedition,  the  effort  now  made  to  liberate  Peru  will 
be  regarded  as  one  of  no  inconsiderable  importance, 
especially  when  the  unsettled  state  of  Chile  and  the 
exhausted  condition  of  its  resources  are  considered. 
Three  years  had  hardly  elapsed  since  Chile  herself 
lay  prostrate  at  the  feet  of  that  paralyzing  despotism 


•  It  is  remarkable  that  Miller  was  the  only  field-officer  who  sailed  with  the 
expeditionary  army  from  Valparaiso,  who  was  also  present  at  the  great  final 
victory  of  Ayacucho.  Thus  it  was  his  singular  fortune  to  have  been  the  first 
patriot  officer  to  land  on  the  coast  (1819),  and  to  have  heard  the  first  and  last 
shots  fired  during  the  Peruvian  war  of  independence.  Of  nearly  five  thousand 
that  sailed  from  Valparaiso  in  1820,  not  more  than  ten  officers  and  ninety  pri- 
vates continued  in  active  service  in  Peru,  to  be  present  at  the  last  victory.  Besides 
the  proportion  which  fell  by  the  usual  casualties  of  the  war,  many  of  the  higher 
ranks  were  displaced  by  faction ;  numbers  were  swept  off  by  the  prevailing  dis- 
eases of  the  country;  and  not  a  few  for  want  of  medical  attendance.  The  hos- 
pitals were  in  a  state  of  wretchedness  beyond  imagination ;  there  was  scarcely  a 
regimental  surgeon  in  the  army,  and  the  medical  staff  was  composed  of  so  very 
few,  that  the  lives  of  the  sick  or  wounded  soldiers  may  be  said  to  have  been 
trusted  almost  solely  to  nature.  The  want  of  medicines  was  sometimes  even 
greater  than  the  want  of  medical  men. 


278  LIBERATING  ARMY  CHAP.  XIII 

which  had  enthralled  her  for  ages.  Although  en- 
feebled by  the  struggle  with  her  oppressor,  as  well  as 
by  civil  dissensions,  she  now  put  forth  her  remaining 
strength  to  liberate  a  neighbouring  state.  It  was  in 
truth  an  imposing  and  an  exciting  spectacle  to  be- 
hold that  bay  crowded  with  shipping,  under  patriot 
banners,  which  formerly  received  only  one  merchant 
vessel  annually.  As  the  several  corps,  marching  from 
cantonments,  with  ifcusic  playing,  through  cheering 
multitudes,  severally  arrived  upon  the  beach,  they 
were  taken  off  to  their  respective  transports  in  the 
greatest  order,  and  without  the  occurrence  of  a  single 
accident. 

The  population  of  the  capital  and  of  the  country 
had  poured  into  Valparaiso,  and  every  avenue  wag 
crowded  with  spectators.  Many  females  who  ha4 
shared  the  fortunes  of  other  campaigns  were  now 
unavoidably  left  behind,  and  their  farewell  ejacula- 
tions, accompanied  by  the  weeping  of  children,  gave 
a  deep  and  distressing  interest  to  the  busy  scene. 

Miller,  on  his  leaving  Valparaiso,  received  from 
numerous  friends  those  hearty  expressions  of  good 
wishes  which,  at  such  a  time,  relieve  the  heart  from 
that  heaviness  which  approaching  separation  always 
produces.  A  scene  not  devoid  of  affecting  interest 
awaited  him  upon  the  strand.  Some  twenty  or  thirty 
marines  who  happened  to  be  on  shore  from  the  dif- 
ferent men  of  war,  and  who  had  served  with  him  in 
his  former  expeditions,  had  spontaneously  assembled 
at  the  water's  edge  to  witness  his  embarkation.  These 
faithful  comrades  continued  to  shout  their  parting 
vivas  until  the  receding  boat  was  out  of  hearing. 


CHAP.  XIII.  DISEMBARKS  IN   PERU.  279 

On  the  25th  of  August,  1820,  the  liberating  ex- 
pedition hove  to  off  Coquimbo.  Lord  Cochrane,  in 
the  O'Higgins,  stood  into  the  bay  to  order  out  the 
brig-bf-war  Araucano,  and  a  transport  having  on 
board  the  Chileno  battalion  No.  2.  On  the  26th, 
the  convoy  again  made  sail.  On  the  27th,  the  Aguila 
transport,  with  seven  hundred  men  of  the  battalion 
No.  4,  parted  company.  In  the  night  of  the  30th, 
the  Santa  Rosa,  with  Miller  on  board,  also  parted 
company,  in  consequence  of  the  carelessness  of  the 
mate  of  the  watch,  The  Santa  Rosa  continued  her 
voyage  to  the  second  rendezvous,  and  stood  off  and 
on  for  two,  days,  without  catching  sight  of  a  vessel. 
She  then  made  sail  for  the  third  rendezvous,  Punta 
de  Caballo.  On  her  arrival  there,  the  supply  of 
water  taken  in  at  Valparaiso  was  nearly  expended, 
and  it  was  therefore  determined  to  proceed  to  the 
bay  of  Pararca,  in  latitude  13°  south.  On  making 
the  bay,  the  greater  part  of  the  expedition  was  dis- 
covered at  anchor  there.  The  Santa  Rosa  narrowly 
escaped  being  captured  by  two  Spanish  frigates,  which 
were  seen  in  the  offing  the  evening  before.  Had  she 
been  twelve  hours  earlier,  she  must  have  fallen  into 
their  hands.  The  patriot  ships  of  war  had  given  chase, 
but  the  Spanish  frigates  outsailed  them. 

The  convoy  had  reached  an  anchorage  in  Pararca 
bay  at  six  P.  M.  on  the  7th  of  September,  having 
made  the  passage  from  Valparaiso,  a  distance  of 
about  fifteen  hundred  miles,  in  sixteen  days.  Las 
Heras,  chief  of  the  staff,  with  three  battalions  (Nos. 
2,  7>  and  11),  two  pieces  of  mountain  artillery,  and 
fifty  cavalry,  landed,  on  the  8th,  two  leagues  south 


280  Pisco.  chap.  xin. 

of  the  town  of  Pisco,  but  did  not  approach  within 
musket-shot  until  seven  P.  M.,  when  a  halt  wis 
ordered,  and  a  careful  reconnoissance  made.  About 
eighty  Spanish  cavalry  were  seen  to  retire  from  the 
town  in  the  course  of  the  day.  A  few  long  shots 
were  uselessly  fired  at  them  from  the  Montezuma, 
but  the  troops  on  shore  did  not  molest  their  retreat. 
Having  ascertained  that  the  town  was  abandoned, 
the  patriot  division  entered  and  bivouacked  for  the 
night  in  the  Plaza.  The  disembarkation  of  the  rest 
of  the  troops  was  not  completed  until  the  12th. 

The  first  object  of  San  Martin  was,  after  having 
taken  Pisco,  to  occupy  the  surrounding  country,  for 
the  purpose  of  adding  to  his  numbers  by  taking  able- 
bodied  slaves  from  the  vineyards  and  sugar  estates 
situated  at  great  apd  irregular  distances;  but  the 
disembarkation  of  the  troops  having  been  so  leisurely 
performed,  and  the  men  under  Las  Heras  having  ad- 
vanced with  such  extraordinary  caution,  the  owners 
had  time  to  remove  the  principal  part  of  their  negro 
property. 

The  reason  assigned  for  this  delay  was  the  tardy 
arrival  of  a  heavy-sailing  transport,  bringing  horses 
for  the  cavalry,  staff,  and  field  officers. 

San  Martin  had  given  up  the  Santa  Rosa  for  lost, 
and  was  so  delighted  upon  her  arrival,  that  he  or- 
dered the  band  of  every  corps  in  Pisco  to  welcome 
the  troops,  by  playing  the  diana  (reveill6).  The 
Aguila  had  previously  arrived. 

On  the  13th,  San  Martin  established  his  head- 
quarters at  Pisco.  On  the  22d,  Colonel  Alvarado, 
with  the  regiment  of  Granaderos  k  Cabal  lo,  took  pos- 


CHAP.  XIII.  ICA.  281 

session  of  the  two  villages  of  Upper  and  Lower  Chin- 
cha.  On  the  23d,  San  Martin  reconnoitred  the  valley 
of  the  same  name,  and  was  received  with  enthusiasm 
by  the  inhabitants.  The  Marquess  of  San  Miguel, 
who  possessed  large  estates  in  that  neighbourhood, 
joined  the  patriots.  He  received  the  rank  of  colonel, 
and  was  appointed  aide-de-camp  to  the  general-in- 
chief.  On  the  26th  of  September  a  suspension  of 
arms,  for  eight  days,  was  agreed  upon  between  the 
commissioners  of  San  Martin  and  those  of  the  vice- 
roy, at  Miraflores,  near  Lima,  for  the  purpose  of 
adjusting  a  pacification,  on  the  basis  of  the  entire 
independence  of  Peru ;  but.  as  the  viceroy  would  not 
accede  to  this  point,  hostilities  recommenced,  on  the 
expiration  of  the  truce. 

On  the  5th  of  October,  General  Arenales  marched 
from  Pisco  with  battalions  No.  2  and  11,  eighty  ca- 
valry, and  two  field-pieces,  and  entered  lea  on  the 
6th,  where  they  were  received  by  the  inhabitants 
with  every  expression  of  satisfaction.  The  royalist 
Colonel  Quimper  and  the  Count  de  Montemar  aban- 
doned lea  with  eight  hundred  regulars  anji  militia. 
Two  companies  of  the  latter,  with  their  officers,  passed 
over  to  Arenales.  On  the  12th,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Roxas,  second  in  command  under  Arenales,  was  de- 
tached with  eighty  infantry,  and  the  same  number  of 
cavalry,  in  pursuit;  and  on  the  15th  reached  Chan- 
guilla,  four  leagues  north  of  Nasca,  where  the  royalists 
had  halted. 

The  small  party  of  patriot  cavalry,  led  by  Captains 
Lavalle  and  Brandsen,  and  Lieutenant  Don  Vicente 
Suares,  galloped  into  the  town ;  surprised  the  royal- 


aast  ancon.  chap.  xin. 

ists ;  put  them  to  flight ;  pursued  them  for  above  a 
league ;  and  killed  and  wounded  upwards  of  sixty. 
Six  officers  and  eighty  soldiers  were  made  prisoners, 
besides  a  number  of  militia.  Three  hundred  muskets, 
with  a  quantity  of  swords  and  lances,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  patriots.  The  Spanish  force,  consisting 
the  day  before  of  six  hundred  men,  was  totally  di* 
persed.  The  inhabitants  of  Nasca  hailed  the  party 
of  Roxas  as  deliverers,  and  gave  information  that 
one  hundred  mules,  laden  with  military  stores  and 
effects,  carried  away  from  lea,  were  still  at  Acari, 
thirty  leagues  south  of  Nasca.  Roxas  sent  Lieu- 
tenant Don  Vicente  Suares  forward  with  a  party  of 
cavalry,  and,  in  spite  of  the  difficulty  of  the  desert 
they  had  to  pass,  and  length  of  the  march,  this  in- 
defatigable officer  reached  Acari  at  two  P.  M.  on  the 
16 th,  and  captured  the  whole  royalist  convoy.  On 
the  19th,  Roxas  and  Suares  returned  to  lea. 

On  the  20th  of  October,  Arenales  marched  from 
lea  for  the  interior,  leaving  a  detachment  under  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Bermudes  and  Major  Aldao  to  retain 
possession  of  that  province.  On  the  25th,  the  re- 
mainder of  the  liberating  force  re-embarked  at  Pisco, 
and  sailed  northward  on  the  26th. 

On  the  29th  the  squadron  anchored  in  the  bay  of 
Callao.  On  the  30th  the  transports,  under  convoy 
of  the  San  Martin,  sailed  to  the  little  bay  of  Ancon, 
six  or  eight  leagues  north  of  Lima.  Ancon  consists 
of  a  few  fishermen's  huts,  half  buried  in  the  drifted 
sand :  there  is  no  fresh  water  within  several  miles. 
On  the  31st,  fifty  cavalry  and  twenty  infantry,  under 
Lieutenant  Raulet,  a  French  officer,  were  landed. 


CHAP.  XIII.  GUAYAQUIL. 

A  detachment  of  royalist  cavalry  appeared  in  the 
sandy  plain,  to  reconnoitre.  On  the  1st  of  November, 
Raulet  advanced  to  Copacabana,  within  five  leagues 
of  Lima,  where  he  remained  in  observation.  On 
the  3d,  two  hundred  infantry  and  forty  cavalry  were 
disembarked  at  Ancon,  and  sent  under  the  command 
of  Major  Reyes  to  Chancay. 

On  the  5th,  a  battalion  of  royalist  infantry  and 
two  squadrons  of  cavalry  made  a  reconnoissance  upon 
Ancon.  Corporal  Alomi,  who  was  instrumental  in 
saving  Captain  Brown  of  the  Maypo,  passed  over 
from  the  royalist  regiment  of  Numancia,  and  was 
made  a  serjeant  of  No.  8. 

On  the  4th,  the  Alcance  schooner  arrived  at  Ancon 
with  despatches  from  the  municipality  of  Guayaquil, 
announcing  that  that  province  had  declared  itself  in- 
dependent of  Spain,  and  offering  to  place  its  resources 
at  the  disposal  of  San  Martin,  in  furtherance  of  his 
object  of  emancipating  Peru.  This  change  was 
brought  about  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Don  Gregorio 
Escovedo,  who,  with  the  assistance  of  the  troops  of 
the  garrison,  established  a  provisional  government, 
of  which  Escovedo  was  appointed  president. 

The  Chileno  squadron  remained  at  anchor  in  the 
bay  of  Callao ,  blockading  the  Spanish  shipping.  Lord 
Cochrane  having  planned  the  cutting  out  of  the 
Esmeralda,  four  days  were  actively  devoted  to  pre- 
parations. The  Spanish  frigate  was  protected  by  the 
castles,  a  corvette,  two  brigs  of  war,  several  armed 
merchant-men,  and  above  twenty  gun-boats. 

At  11  o'clock  at  night  of  the  5th  November,  one 
hundred  and  eighty  seamen,  and  one  hundred  ma- 


284  CAPTURE  OF  THE  ESMERALDA.      CHAP.  XIII. 

rines,  in  two  divisions,  commanded  by  Captains 
Guise  and  Crosbie,  put  off  in  the  launches  of  the 
squadron,  led  by  Cochrane  in  person.  They  ap- 
proached the  Esmeralda  unperceived,  until  hailed  by 
a  sentry  in  a  gun-boat  astern  of  the  frigate.  Coch- 
rane answered,  "  Silence  or  death."  In  half  a  minute 
the  boats  were  alongside  the  Esmeralda,  and  boarded 
starboard  and  larboard  at  the  same  moment.  The 
Spaniards  made  a  spirited  resistance  with  small  arms, 
but  before  one  o'clock  of  the  6th  the  Esmeralda  was 
in  possession  of  the  admiral.  Her  cables  were  cut, 
her  sails  set,  and  she,  with  two  gun-boats,  at  half- 
past  one,  was  transferred  to  another  anchorage.  The 
British  frigate  Hyperion,  and  the  United  States  ship 
Macedonian,  which  happened  to  be  in  the  port  during 
this  operation,  got  under  weigh,  and  hoisted  lights 
as  signals,  as  had  been  previously  agreed  upon  with 
the  governor,  to  prevent  being  fired  upon,  in  the 
event  of  a  night  attack.  Cochrane,  with  admirable 
adroitness,  ordered  similar  lights  to  be  hoisted,  so 
that  the  Spaniards  could  not  distinguish  neutral  from 
enemy.  In  the  whole  naval  career  of  Cochrane  there 
will  not  be  found  perhaps  any  thing  to  exceed  this 
ably  planned  and  brilliantly  executed  exploit.  His 
lordship  was  wounded  in  the  thigh  by  a  musket-ball. 
Lord  Cochrane  and  Captain  Guise  boarded  the  op- 
posite quarters  of  the  frigate  at  the  same  time.  They 
met  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  supported  each  other 
in  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  This  circumstance  pro- 
duced a  short-lived  reconciliation.  The  brave  Lieu- 
tenant Grenfell,  now  admiral  in  the  service  of  the 
Brazils,  and  who  has  since  lost  an  arm,  was  wounded. 


CHAP.  XIII.  PATRIOTIC  DONATION.  285 

The  Spaniards  lost  a  hundred  and  fifty  men,  in 
killed  and  wounded,  on  board  the  Esmeralda.  Amongst 
the  latter  was  Captain  Coy,  the  late  commander,  who, 
after  capture,  received  a  severe  contusion  from  a 
splinter  caused  by  a  shot  from  the  castles,  or  a  gun- 
boat. The  patriots  had  fifty  killed  and  wounded. 
The  Esmeralda  was  ready  for  sea ;  she  had  provisions 
for  three  months,  and  stores  for  two  years  on  board. 

The  garrison  of  Callao  was  so  much  exasperated 
by  the  result  of  the  daring  enterprise,  that  they  mas- 
sacred an  officer  and  boat's  crew  sent  on  shore,  soon 
after  day-break,  from  the  United  States  frigate  Ma- 
cedonian, under  the  pretext  that  the  "  Devil"  Coch- 
rane would  never  have  succeeded  unless  he  had  been 
assisted  by  the  neutral  men-of-war. 

A  short  time  after  this  event,  two  officers  of  H. 
M.  S.  Conway  happening  to  go  on  shore  in  plain 
clothes,  they  were  rudely  arrested  and  thrown  into 
%  prison  as  spies  of  Cochrane.  Captain  Hall  made 
repeated  applications  for  their  release,  and,  finding 
them  unavailing,  went  on  shore  to  claim  in  person  his 
officers ;  but  the  Spanish  authorities  affected  to  be  so 
satisfied  in  their  own  minds  that  the  two  gentlemen 
were  spies,  that  they  uncourteously  refused  to  take  the 
word  of  Captain  Hall,  and  the  incarcerated  officers 
were  not  set  free  until  some  days  afterwards. 

At  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  the  ad- 
miral sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  propose  an  exchange  of 
prisoners,  upon  principles  to  which,  until  then,  the 
viceroy  would  never  accede. 

Huanuco,  shortly  after  this  time,  signified  its  ad- 


286  MOVEMENTS  OF  CHAP.  XIII. 

herence  to  the  cause  of  independence.  To  show 
that  the  cry  of  "  Viva  la  patria !"  had  also  been 
heard  beyond  the  Andes,  a  young  man  arrived  in 
seventeen  days  from  the  banks  of  the  MaraSon,  of 
river  of  the  Amazons,  with  five  horses  as  a  present 
from  his  mother  to  the  commander-in-chief  of  die 
liberating  army,  wherever  he  might  be  found.  The 
youth,  having  embraced  the  general,  and  seen  the 
patriot  troops,  returned  to  his  widowed  mother  with 
intelligence  calculated  to  strengthen  her  hopes  that 
the  hour  of  emancipation  was  at  hand. 

The  viceroy,  being  informed  that  Major  Reyes 
had  taken  possession  of  Chancay,  ordered  Colonel 
Don  Geronimo  Valdez  to  march  to  that  place  with 
400  infantry  and  200  cavalry.  He  passed  Ancon 
on  the  night  of  the  7th  November.  Reyes  pre- 
pared to  retire  to  Supe,  a  few  leagues  to  the  north 
of  Haura.  On  perceiving  the  royalist  force  halt, 
and  form  upon  the  road,  which  winds  down  a  lofty 
sand-hill  at  the  entrance  of  the  valley,  a  mile  or 
two  from  Chancay,  the  patriot  infantry  fell  in $  the 
dragoons  saddled  their  horses }  and  all  retired  whilst 
Valdez  sent  a  party  to  reconnoitre,  instead  of  ad- 
vancing with  all  his  men ;  but  so  soon  as  he  saw  the 
patriot  infantry  emerge  from  the  cultivated  valley 
into  the  desert  on  the  opposite  side,  Valdez  pushed 
on.  Reyes  continued  his  retreat  with  the  infantry. 
Captain  Brandsen  remained  with  forty  dragoons  in 
the  rear,  and,  watching  a  favourable  opportunity, 
charged  the  royalist  cavalry  as  they  advanced  by  a 
narrow  road,  walled  on  both  sides,  and  drove  them, 


CHAP.  xill.        THE  LIBERATING  FORCES.  287 

with  the  loss  of  three  officers  and  many  men,  back 
on  their  infantry.  Brandsen  then  rejoined  his  own 
party.  The  further  retreat  of  the  patriots  was  un- 
molested. Valdez  followed  them  at  a  cautious  di- 
stance for  three  leagues,  and  then  returned  to  Chan- 
cay.  On  the  morning  of  that  day,  San  Martin  set 
sail  for  Callao.  On  the  following  day  he  returned 
to  Ancon  bay  with  Cochrane  and  the  whole  of  the 
squadron,  including  the  Esmeralda,  which  was  after- 
wards named  the  Valdivia.  In  the  evening  of  the 
8th,  the  squadron  and  convoy  again  left  Ancon. 
They  arrived  on  the  9th  off  Huacho,  where,  in  the 
course  of  the  two  following  days,  all  the  troops  were 
disembarked.  Huacho  is  twenty- eight  leagues  north 
of  Lima,  and  is  the  port  of  Haura.  The  valley  of 
that*  name  is  two  leagues  in  width  at  the  end  nearest 
the  sea,  and  ten  leagues  in  length  from  west  to  east. 
The  surrounding  country  is  a  sandy  waste.  San 
Martin  placed  his  troops  on  the  right  bank  of  a  river, 
fordable  at  only  a  few  places.  This  position  cut  off 
the  usual  communication  between  Lima  and  Truxillo, 
Lambayeque  and  Payta,  by  the  roads  on  the  coast. 

On  the  14th,  Colonels  Guido  and  Lusuriaga  sailed 
for  Guayaquil,  to  compliment  the  provisional  govern- 
ment on  the  recent  changes j  and  to  establish  a  good 
understanding  between  it  and  the  liberating  forces. 

On  the  17th,  the  patriot  infantry  moved  to  Supe. 
In  the  battalions  Nos.  7  and  8  were  above  a  hundred 
blacks,  who  had  been  taken  as  recruits,  the  year  be- 
fore, from  estates  in  the  neighbourhood*  Upon  this 
occasion  they  were  permitted  to  leave  the  ranks  to 
converse  with  their  parents,  brothers,  or  friends,  who 


288    MOVEMENTS  OF  LIBERATING  FORCES.  CHAP.  XIII. 

came  forth  from  their  huts  to  welcome  those  who, 
so  recently,  had  been  their  fellow-slaves.  The  ac- 
count which  the  black  soldiers  gave  of  the  service 
induced  many  slaves  to  inlist.  Many  royalists  also 
passed  over  daily  to  the  patriot  troops. 

Vidal,  whose  prowess  materially  contributed  to- 
wards the  reduction  of  Valdivia,  was  now  here, 
having  been  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy  with  the  rank 
of  brevet-captain.  He  had  been  sent,  in  a  small 
vessel,  from  Valparaiso,  by  San  Martin,  a  little  time 
previous  to  the  sailing  of  the  liberating  forces  from 
that  port.  He  was  the  bearer  of  proclamations  and 
overtures  addressed  to  the  favourably  disposed  part 
of  the  Peruvian  population.  On  attempting  to  land 
near  Haura,  the  boat  was  swamped  in  a  heavy  surf; 
two  men  were  drowned ;  and  two  others  fell  into  the 
power  of  the  royalists.  Vidal  alone  escaped  to  his 
native  town  of  Supe,  where  he  remained,  concealed, 
but  not  idle.  He  held  frequent  meetings  with  some 
of  his  young  friends.  A  plan  to  surprise  a  royalist 
detachment  of  thirty-eight  cavalry  was  agreed  upon, 
and  carried  one  night  into  triumphant  execution  by 
Vidal  and  fifteen  of  his  townsmen.  Thus  supplied 
with  arms  and  horses,  he  found  no  difficulty  in  form- 
ing a  guerrilla,  with  which  he  commenced  offensive 
operations  by  marching  towards  Lima,  along  the  foot 
of  the  Andes,  increasing  his  number  and  his  means  by 
the  results  of  well-timed  attacks ;  while,  by  dividing 
the  attention  of  the  royalists,  he  produced  an  im- 
portant diversion. 

On  the  21st  of  November,  the  battalion  No.  5 
marched  for  Huaras,  twenty-eight   leagues  to  the 


CHAP.  XIII.       EXCHANGE  OF  PRISONERS.  289 

north-east.  On  the  same  day,  the  royalists  advanced 
from  Chancay  to  Chancaillo.  In  the  expectation 
that  they  were  proceeding  to  Sayan,  Alvarado  fell 
back  from  that  place  to  Supe,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
24th.  On  the  25th,  San  Martin  went  from  Supe  to 
Huacho,  and  directed  Alvarado  to  reconnoitre  the 
next  day.  The  only  party  which  came  in  contact  with 
the  royalists,  was  Lieutenant  Pringuel  and  twenty 
granaderos  d  caballo,  whose  retreat  was  cut  off  by 
eighty  royalist  cavalry.  The  twenty  patriots  did  not 
surrender  until  three  were  killed  and  eleven  wounded. 
These  small  affairs,  although  not  always  successful, 
produced  an  impression  upon  the  royalists,  which 
perhaps  accounts  for  the  viceroy  not  employing  his 
superior  numbers  in  a  more  decisive  manner.  On 
the  27th,  San  Martin  returned  to  Supe.  On  the 
29th,  the  patriot  Colonel  Campino,  having  rapidly  ad- 
vanced with  a  small  detachment  of  his  battalion,  took 
Huaras  by  surprise,  and  made  prisoners  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Lantano,  two  other  officers,  and  sixty-seven 

rank  and  file. 

« 

The  2d  December  was  an  interesting  day  at 
Supe.  Twenty-two  officers  and  eighty-five  non-com- 
missioned officers  and  privates  were  landed  from  a 
lugger.  These  unfortunate  men  had  been  released, 
in  pursuance  of  the  agreement  between  the  viceroy 
and  San  Martin  for  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  They 
were  the  only  survivors  of  upwards  of  a  thousand 
patriots,  who  had  been  made  prisoners  in  the  early 
part  of  the  revolution,  on  the  plains  of  Buenos  Ayres, 
or  in  Upper  Peru.  Shackled  together,  they  had  been 
forced  to  march  from  four  to  six  hundred  leagues, 

vol.  1.  u 


«90  EXCHANGE  OF  PRISONERS.      -CHAP.  XHT: 

and  were  afterwards  immured  in  the  dismal  case- 
mates of  the  castles  of  Callao. 

In  order  to  induce  the  prisoners  to  become  apo- 
states to  the  cause  they  had  espoused,  specious  offers 
were  made  to  them  by  the  viceroy:  when  these 
allurements  proved  unavailing,  he  threatened  them 
with  the  death  due  to  rebels,  and  the  priesthood  re- 
fused the  consolations  of  religion  to  the  sick  at  their 
dying  hour.  To  a  man  they  adhered  firmly  to  the 
principles  for  which  they  had  fought,  but  not  more 
than  one  out  of  ten  outlived  the  horrors  of  nine 
years  of  such  imprisonment. 

It  was  an  affecting  sight  to  witness  the  arrival 
of  these  heroic  survivors,  whose  wan  sallow  counte- 
nances, meagre  forms,  and  tottering  gait,  bespoke 
the  fatal  inroads  which  prolonged  captivity,  under 
ferocious  gaolers,  had  made  in  their  constitutions. 
They  were,  of  course,  received  with  open  arms  by  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  San  Martin,  amongst  whom 
they  recognised  many  an  old  companion  in  arms. 

San  Martin  gave  these  devoted  soldiers  the  optiop 
of  returning  to  their  homes ;  but  such  was  their  en- 
thusiasm, that  all  volunteered  to  serve  in  the  libe- 
rating army,  to  promote  the  cause  of  their  country* 
and  avenge  their  own  individual  wrongs.  Several  of 
them  died  in  a  short  time,  in  consequence  of  the 
sudden  change  from  imprisonment  to  a  life  of  liberty, 
and  others  were  afterwards  killed  in  action.  Of  the 
whole  number,  perhaps  there  are  not  twenty  alive 
at  this  day. 

It  would  be  well  for  the  republican  governments 
to  seek  out  the  remnant  of  these  brave  unfortunates* 


CHAP.  XIII.    THE  BATTALION  OF  NUMANCIA.  291 

and  to  make  the  remainder  of  their  days  glide  on 
in  ease  and  comfort.  The  South  American  govern- 
ments, if  they  sought  for  them,  might  easily  trace 
other  deserving  veterans,  pinched  by  want,  enfeebled 
by  disease,  and  scattered  about  in  obscurity.  It 
would  well  become  them  to  pension  invalids,  and  to 
see  that  such  pensions  were  actually  paid ;  for  it  is  to 
the  constancy  and  devotion  of  such  men  that  they 
owe  their  existence  as  governments.  They  would  do 
themselves  more  honour  by  providing  for  veterans, 
pining  in  poverty,  than  by  sending  forth  proclamations 
and  decrees  full  of  high  sounding  words  and  pompous 
declamation.  Those  "  doctor es?  who  are  so  fond  of 
displaying  their  eloquence  and  fine  writing,  ought  to 
cite  the  examples  of  these  veterans,  instead  of  over- 
loading their  speeches  and  productions,  with  those 
eternal  pedantic  allusions  to  the  heroes  of  Greece 
and  Rome,  which  often  make  their  language  unin- 
telligible to  the  mass  of  the  people.  Liberty  is  their 
constant  theme;  but  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  the 
practical  illustration  of  it  should  be  so  little  under- 
stood amongst  them.  Independence  has  indeed  been 
attained,  but  Liberty  has  only  hovered  along  the  coast, 
where  she  has  been  kept  in  strict  quarantine.  Hitherto 
her  name  i&  all  that  has  been  smuggled  ashore. 

On  the  3d  December  the  Spanish  battalion  of  Nu- 
mancia,  six  hundred  and  fifty  in  number,  passed  over 
in  a  body  to  the  service  of  the  patriots,  with  Captains 
Don  Tomas  Heres  and  Don  Ramon  Herrera  at  their 
head.  This  battalion  formed  the  rear-guard  of  a 
royalist  division,  which  had  advanced  from  Copaca- 

u  2 


292  POSITION  OF  THE  PATRIOTS.      CHAP.  XIH. 

bana,  to  make  a  reconnoissance,  as  it  was  in  the  act 
of  retiring  from  Palpa.  It  had  marched  all  day,  and 
halted  about  two  leagues  in  the  rear,  when,  suddenly 
countermarching,  it  carried  into  effect  a  plan  con- 
ceived by  Lieutenants  Guas,  Izquierdo,  and  other 
subalterns,  who  had  the  address  to  gain  over  not 
only  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  men,  but  also 
the  captains.  The  only  persons  who  opposed  the 
measure  were  Colonel  Delgado  and  two  officers,  who 
were  delivered  up  as  prisoners  to  the  patriots  at  Retes. 
The  battalion  was  conveyed  in  two  transports  from 
Chancay  to  Huacho,  where  they  arrived  on  the  fol- 
lowing day.v  The  Numancia  regiment  was  originally 
sent  out  from  Spain  to  Venezuela,  under  General 
Morillo.  At  the  time  of  their  joining  the  patriot 
standard,  the  men  were  nearly  all  Colombians,  who 
had  been  pressed  into  the  service  to  fill  up  the  va- 
cancies occasioned  by  casualties.  The  Numancia  was 
at  this  time  in  a  state  of  discipline  not  inferior  to  any 
corps  in  any  European  service. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  thirty-eight  officers  and 
several  cadets  absconded  from  Lima,  and  passed  over 
to  the  patriot  service,  joining  the  advanced  post  at 
Chancay.  Among  them  was  Salaverri,  a  boy  only 
twelve  years  of  age,  who  had  left  his  father's  house* 
and  who,  on  the  party  being  closely  pursued,  dis- 
played an  extraordinary  spirit  of  perseverance. 

On  the  5th  of  December,  San  Martin  directed  the 
infantry  to  resume  its  position  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  river  Haura,  which  was  now  strengthened  by 
field-works.     The  right  of  this  extended  line  rested 


CHAP.  XIII.  AFFAIR  OF  THE  CERRO  DE  PASCO.         293 

upon  the  sea,  having  Huacho  in  front,  and  the  left 
£t  Sayan,  seven  or  eight  leagues  up  the  valley  of 
Haura.  The  royalists  withdrew  their  advance  to 
Asnapugio,  two  leagues  north  of  Lima,  in  order  to 
tender  desertion  to  the  patriots  more  difficult. 

It  has  been  already  stated  that  General  Arenales, 
with  about  a  thousand  patriots,  marched  from  lea  on 
the  21st  of  October,  1820.  He  entered  Guamanga 
on  the  Slst,  Guanta  on  the  6th  of  November,  Xauxa 
on  the  21st,  and  Tarma  on  the  23d.  Here  it  was 
bis  intention  to  remain,  in  order  to  favour  the  rising 
of  the  Indians  in  support  of  the  cause  of  independ- 
ence; but  having  ascertained  that  the  royalist  Ge- 
neral O'Reilly  had  arrived  at  Canta,  on  his  way  to 
Pasco,  with  one  thousand  infantry,  one  hundred  and 
eighty  cavalry,  and  a  company  of  artillery,  Arenales 
marched  for  the  same  point,  with  seven  hundred  and 
forty  infantry,  one  hundred  and  twenty  cavalry,  and 
four  field-pieces.  On  the  6th  of  December,  he  ar- 
rived at  the  Cerro  de  Pasco,  where  he  found  the 
royalists  drawn  up  in  line  behind  a  deep  ravine.  On 
their  right  was  swampy  ground,  and  on  their  left  a 
small  lake.  The  patriot  battalion  No.  2,  commanded 
Jby  the  gallant  Lieutenant-Colonel  Aldunate,  made 
a  detour  of  the  lake,  and  threatened  the  royalists  in 
flank,  at  the  moment  the  No.  II,  under  the  brave 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Deza,  attacked  in  front.  The 
royalists  gave  way:  one  officer  and  fifty-eight  rank 
and  file  were  killed,  one  officer  and  nineteen  rank 
and  file  wounded;  twenty-eight  officers  and  three 
hundred  and  fifteen  rank  and  file,  two  pieces  of 
artillery,  and  three  hundred  and  sixty  muskets,  were 


294  GENERAL  O'REILLY  TAKEN.       CHAP.  xm. 

taken  on  the  field.  The  patriot  cavalry,  under  Major 
Lavalle,  followed  up  General  O'Reilly*  so  closely, 
that  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  Lieutenant  Don  Vin* 
cente  Suarez,  and  hardly  a  man  of  his  division  escaped* 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Don  Andres  Santa  Cruz  delivered 
himself  up  to  Major  Lavalle,  and  from  that  period 
served  with  the  independents. 

This  complete  and  brilliant  affair  was  the'  close  of 
Arenales's  expedition.  It  had  been  attended  with  a 
degrefe  of  success  which  could  not  have  been  reason* 
ably  anticipated.  Having  accomplished  so  much,  it 
was  natural  to  expect  that  Arenales  would  have  main* 
tained  his  ground.  But  it  happened,  unfortunately, 
that  Alvarado,  who  commanded  the  advance  of  Saa 
Martin's  forces  at  Palpa,  near  Chancay,  was  misled  by 
false  intelligence,  and  wrote  to  Arenales  in  a  way 
which  induced  the  latter  to  re-cross  the  Andes.  So 
soon  as  San  Martin  was  informed  of  this  mistake,  he 
ordered  Arenales  to  countermarch  to  Pasco ;  but  he 
had  already  passed  the  Cordillera,  and  he  was  per- 
mitted to  continue  his  march  to  Retes,  where  his 
division  arrived  on  the  8th  of  January,  in  a  deplora- 
ble state,  in  consequence  of  the  sufferings,  fatigue, 
and  privations  they  had  undergone  in  repassing  the 
mountains. 

The  Indians  who  had  been  induced  by  Arenales 
to  rise  against  the  royalists  made  a  gallant  stand  at 
Huanc&yo  and  other  points ;  but,  unsupported,  they 
were  routed  with  merciless  slaughter  by  the  royalist 
General  Ricaforte. 

*  O'Reilly  was  an  Irishman.  He  was  permitted  to  return  to  Spain,  but  this 
reverse  preyed  so  much  on  his  mind,  that  on  the  passage  he  threw  himself  over- 
board, in  a  state  of  delirium,  and  was  drowned. 


CHAP.  XIII.        THE  ARANZAZU  CAPTURED.  295 

Pasco,  and  a  considerable  line  of  country  to  the 
south  of  it,  was  however  held  by  a  party  which  had 
been  left  at  lea,  and  which  had  been  obliged  to 
abandon  that  province  and  follow  the  movement  of 
Arenales.  Major  Aldao,  who  commanded  this  de- 
tachment, distinguished  himself  on  several  occasions, 
and  particularly  in  the  affair  at  Huancdyo.  He 
reached  Pasco  after  Arenales  had  quitted  that  place. 

On  the  9th  of  January,  1821,  the  Araucano,  Cap- 
tain Carter,  captured,  after  a  gallant  resistance,  the 
Aranzazu,  a  Spanish  schooner,  of  six  guns  and  one 
long  eighteen  pounder  on  a  traverse.  On  the  17th, 
the  patriot  transports  arrived  at  Huacho,  from  the 
port  of  Chancay,  and  on  the  18th,  the  O'Higgins 
and  Valdivia  arrived  from  the  bay  of  Callao. 

Dissensions  broke  out  amongst  the  royalist  chiefs 
about  this  time ;  which  having  considerable  influence 
upgn  the  progress  of  events,  we  shall  now  give  a 
short  account  of  them.  General  La  Serna  having  been 
foiled  by  the  gauchos  in  all  his  boasted  plans  of  carry- 
ing on  the  war  en  rhgle,  obtained  the  king's  leave  to 
return  to  Spain.  In  1819  he  arrived  in  Lima  to 
embark;  but  in  consequence  of  the  expectation  of  an 
invasion  from  Chile,  the  viceroy  promoted  him  to  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-general,  and  prevailed  upon  him 
to  remain.  Soon  after  San  Martin  landed  at  Huacho, 
La  Serna  was  ordered  to  march  against  him j  but  he 
refused  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with  military  opera- 
tions, unless  the  viceroy  would  consent  to  the  esta- 
blishment of  a  sort  of  aulic  council,  to  be  composed 
of  generals,  and  to  be  called  the  junta  directive*,  in 
which  the  viceroy  was  to  have  only  his  individual 


996  DISSENSIONS  CHAP.  XIIL 

vote.  The  directive  junta  was  to  decide  upon  all 
measures  relative  to  carrying  on  the  war;  to  have 
the  power  of  applying  the  public  funds  to  the  pay- 
ment of  the  army,  in  preference  to  the  claims  of  other 
departments;  to  have  the  removal  and  nomination 
of  governors  and  intendants  of  provinces,  and  other 
similar  appointments.  The  majority  of  the  junta 
being  well  disposed  towards  La  Serna,  the  latter  be- 
came, in  point  of  fact,  supreme  in  military  matters. 
Colonel  Loriga  was  named  secretary  to  the  junta. 

Notwithstanding  these  arrangements,  La  Serna 
and  the  junta  displayed  but  little  spirit  or  ability* 
A  very  moderate  degree  of  both  would  have  enabled 
them  to  have  driven  the  inferior  forces  of  San  Mar- 
tin into  the  sea;  but  the  measures  of  the  junta  ap- 
pear to  have  been  confined  to  encamping  their  army 
in  the  unhealthy  position  of  Asnapugio,  and  to  a 
demonstration  of  attack,  which  induced  San  Martin, 
on  the  18th  of  January,  to  fall  back  from  Retes  to 
the  right  bank  of  the  river  Haura,  where  he  re- 
occupied  his  former  position,  threw  up  additional 
redoubts  to  command  the  few  fordable  passages  of 
the  river,  and  fixed  his  head-quarters  within  a  league 
of  Haura,  determined  to  make  a  stand  should  the 
royalists  attack  him. 

The  division  Valdez  moved  upon  Chancay,  where 
Captain  Raulet  had  an  affair  with  its  advance,  in  which 
he  displayed  his  usual  intrepidity,  but  was  forced  to 
retire  with  some  loss.  Before  Valdez  could  advance 
any  farther,  he  received  an  order  from  the  vacil- 
lating directive  junta  which  compelled  him  to  return 
to  Lima;  in  doing  which  he  lost  above  a  hundred 


CHAP.  XIII.        BETWEEN  THE  ROYALISTS.  297 

men  by  desertion,  most  of  whom  passed  over  to  the 
patriots. 

Whatever  might  have  been  the  faults  of  Pezuela, 
it  is  evident  that  the  junta,  which  soon  managed  to 
invest  itself  with  vice-regal  authority,  as  to  military 
matters,  showed  neither  energy,  local  knowledge,  nor 
information  as  to  the  numbers  and  quality  of  the  in- 
vading forces.  Had  San  Martin  been  attacked  upon 
his  first  landing  at  Huacho,  he  would  have  been  com- 
pelled to  re-embark  and  make  for  Truxillo.  Why 
the  royalist  army  at  Asnapugio,  upwards  of  eight 
thousand  in  number,  did  not  instantly  march  against 
San  Martin,  is  a  question  which  La  Serna,  Canterac, 
Valdez,  and  Loriga,  are  best  able  to  answer.  It  may 
fairly  be  presumed  that  the  victory  of  Pasco;  the 
cutting  out  of  the  Esmeralda;  and  the  rencontres  of 
Nasca  and  Chancay,  had  impressed  the  minds  of  the 
royalist  leaders  with  a  considerable  degree  of  dif- 
fidence. Certain  it  was  that  the  sight  of  the  patriot 
troops  at  this  time  inspired  respect.  The  revolutions 
of  Guayaquil  and  Truxillo,  and  the  defection  of  the 
Numancia  regiment,  appeared  to  paralyze  the  junta 
directiva.  Divisions  arose  between  the  Spanish 
chiefs;  and  Pezuela,  who  was  loudly  accused  of  being 
the  cause  of  the  desponding  aspect  of  affairs,  was  de- 
posed by  military  commotion  on  the  29th  of  January, 
1821,  when  La  Serna  was  appointed  viceroy  in  his 
stead. 

On  the  24th  January,  one  hundred  individuals  of 
various  classes  passed  over  to  the  patriots  from  Lima. 
Amongst  the  military  were  Colonel  Gamarra  and 
Lieutenant-Colonels  Velasco  and  Elespuru.    Of  the 


29#  LADY  COCHRANE.  CHAP.  XIII. 

civilians,  the  most  distinguished  were  Doctor  Lopes 
Aldana,  Don  Miguel  Otero,  and  Don  Joaquin  Cam- 
pino. 

About  this  time  a  battalion  of  Peruvians  was  raised* 
by  order  of  San  Martin. 

On  the  25th  six  hundred  infantry  and  sixty  Ca- 
valry, all  picked  men,  were  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  Miller,  who  received  directions  to  embark 
on  a  secret  service,  under  the  orders  of  Lord  Coch- 
rane. He  proceeded  to  Huacho.  On  the  day  after 
his  arrival  there,  and  whilst  he  was  inspecting  the  de- 
tachments in  the  Plam,  Lady  Cochrane  galloped  on 
to  the  parade  to  speak  to  him.  The  sudden  appear- 
ance of  youth  and  beauty,  on  a  fiery  horse,  managed 
with  skill  and  elegance,  absolutely  electrified  the  men, 
who  had  never  before  seen  an  English  lady :  que  her- 
mosa !  que  graciosa!  que  linda !  que  guapa  !  qut 
airosa!  es  un  angel  del  cielo!  were  exclamations 
that  escaped  from  one  end  of  the  line  to  the  other, 
The  lieutenant-colonel,  not  displeased  at  this  in- 
voluntary homage,  paid  to  the  beauty  of  a  couutiy- 
woman,  said  to  the  men,  "  This  is  our  generate" 
Her  ladyship  turned  her  sparkling  eyes  towards  the 
line,  and  bowed  graciously.  The  troops  could  no 
longer  confine  their  expressions  of  admiration  to 
half-suppressed  interjections ;  loud  vivas  burst  from 
officers  as  well  as  men.  Lady  Cochrane  smiled  her 
acknowledgments,  and  cantered  off  the  ground  with 
the  grace  of  a  fairy. 

On  the  30th  of  January,  the  detachments  em- 
barked, and  the  squadron  sailed.  The  object  of  the 
expedition  was  to  get  possession  of  the  castles  of  Cal- 


CHAP.  XIII.     CAPTAINS  ROXAS  AND  VIDAL.  299 

lao.  Some  of  the  royalist  officers  there,  having  been 
gained  over  by  San  Martin,  had  engaged  to  hoist  the 
independent  flag,  provided  they  were  supported  by 
the  disembarkation  of  a  respectable  body  of  patriots ; 
bnt  on  the  day  before  the  sailing  of  the  troops  from 
Huacho,  Pezuela  was  deposed,  and  the  garrison  of 
Callao  relieved,  by  troops  in  the  interest  of  the 
new  viceroy;  the  expedition  consequently  returned 
to  Huacho  on  the  19th  of  February,  without  at- 
tempting a  landing.  The  troops  were  disembarked, 
but  kept  in  readiness  to  be  sent  afloat  upon  some 
other  service. 

On  the  24th  of  February,  Colonel  Gamarra  marched 
to  the  interior  to  take  the  command  of  the  patriots  in 
the  sierra  south  of  Pasco.  Lieutenant*Colonel  Don 
Leon  Febres  Cordero  accompanied  him  as  second  in 
command. 

The  patriot  advanced  posts  were  at  Chancay, 
eighteen  leagues  south  of  the  position  of  their  army, 
on  the  Haura.  On  the  6th  March,  Captain  Roxas 
Tetired  from  Chancay  before  very  superior  numbers ; 
iwit  when  he  reached  Torre  Blanco,  three  leagues 
from  Chancay,  he  turned  round  upon  two  hundred 
of  his  pursuers,  made  a  brilliant  charge,  and,  killing 
mamy,  totally  dispersed  the  remainder.  The  gallant 
Roxas  was  then  permitted  to  continue  his  retreat  un- 
molested. On  the  following  morning  the  royalists 
Evacuated  Chancay,  and  retired  to  their  encampment 
at  Asnapugio.  Chancay  was  re-occupied  by  the  pa- 
triots. About  this  time,  Vidal,  now  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  captain,  with  a  monfonero  party  defeated  a 
'detachment  of  the  royalists  at  Quilcachamay.    Two 


300  COMMISSIONER  ABREU.  CHAP.  Xill. 

captains,  one  subaltern,  seven  rank  and  file  were 
killed,  and  seven  made  prisoners. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  Captain  Quiros,  with  an- 
other montonero  party,  defeated  another  detachment 
of  royalists  at  San  Geronimo,  in  the  vicinity  of  which 
the  royalists  had  burned  six  villages. 

On  the  23d  of  March,  Captain  Vidal  advanced  to 
the  hacienda  of  Pedreros,  within  three  leagues  of 
Lima,  and  carried  off  without  opposition  two  hundred 
and  forty  horses  and  mules,  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  head  of  oxen.  These  and  other  operations  have 
been  detailed  with  minute  precision,  because  it  is 
considered  that  they  illustrate  the  manner  in  which 
the  war  was  carried  on. 

On  the  13th  of  March,  Cochrane  sailed  again  from 
Huacho,  on  board  the  San  Martin,  with  five  hundred 
infantry  and  eighty  dismounted  cavalry,  commanded 
by  Miller.  In  the  night  of  the  21st  of  March,  this 
detachment,  together  with  the  marines  of  the  squa- 
dron, landed  at  Pisco.  At  sunset  on  the  22d,  their 
advanced  post  was  at  Chincha,  eight  leagues  from  the 
place  of  disembarkation,  having  forded  the  rapid  river 
of  Pisco  with  much  difficulty  and  danger. 

At  six  A.M.  on  the  26th,  Captain  Videla,  with  a 
company  of  infantry  and  a  few  cavalry,  was  attacked 
at  Chincha  by  Colonel  Loriga,  who  was  repulsed, 
leaving  four  killed  in  the  town. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  the  Capitan  de  fragata 
Don  Manuel  Abreu,  commissioner  from  the  King  of 
Spain,  arrived  by  the  way  of  Panama  at  General  San 
Martin's  head-quarters.  On  the  29th  April  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Lima,  where  the  respectful  manner  in  which 


CHAP.  XIII.  ROYALISTS  REPULSED.  301 

he  ( Abreu)  spoke  of  the  patriot  officers  and  army, 
gave  umbrage  to  the  ultra-royalists.  This  officer  was 
sent  out  on  the  recommendation  of  the  liberal  party 
in  the  cortes  to  ascertain  the  precise  nature  of  the 
demands  of  the  Americans;  but  the  same  liberates 
did  not  scruple  to  avow,  in  conversation,  that  the  real 
object  of  the  mission  was  to  gain  time,  and  that  their 
real  determination  was,  never  to  acknowledge  the  in- 
dependence of  America. 

At  the  beginning  of  April,  Colonels  Lusuriaga 
and  Guido  returned  from  Guayaquil,  the  provisional 
government  of  which  place  was  firmly  established. 
Considerable  supplies  of  aims  and  ammunition  had 
been  sent  there  from  Colombia. 

On  the  2d  of  April,  orders  were  issued  for  the 
patriot  army  to  be  in  readiness  to  advance  from  its 
position  on  the  Haura.  The  battalion  No.  5  joined 
from  Supe.  On  the  12th  of  April,  Captain  Raulet 
surprised,  and  made  prisoners,  the  royalist  advanced 
post  at  Tambo  Inca,  five  leagues  from  Lima. 

About  this  time  Arenales  marched  with  three  bat- 
talions and  the  regiment  of  granaderos  k  caballo, 
towards  the  Cerro  de  Pasco,  which  was  threatened 
by  a  royalist  division  under  Colonel  Carratala. 

On  the  27th  the  patriot  infantry  broke  up  their 
encampment  on  the  Haura;  embarked  in  the  trans- 
ports at  Salinas  (three  leagues  south  of  Huacho); 
and  sailed  with  the  commander-in-chief  to  windward. 
The  sick  and  baggage  were  sent  to  Supe.  The  ca- 
valry remained  at  Huacho. 

On  the  2d  of  May  the  royalist  division  under  Ge- 
neral Ricaforte  was  repulsed  by  the  montoneros  of 


808  ARMISTICE  OF  PUNCHAUCA.      CHAP.  XIII. 

the  indefatigable  Captains  Vidal,  Quiros,  Elguerra, 
and  Navajas,  at  Quiapata,  near  Canta.  Ricaforte 
was  severely  wounded.  The  royalists  left  one  officer 
and  nineteen  rank  and  file  killed ;  two  officers,  forty- 
three  rank  and  file,  prisoners ;  many  also  were  drowned 
in  retreating  across  a  river. 

On  the  12th  of  May  the  viceroy  La  Serna,  at  pre- 
sident of  a  junta  pacificadora,  proposed  an  armi- 
stice. San  Martin  appointed  Colonel  Guido,  Don 
Juan  Garcia  del  Rio,  Don  Ignacio  de  la  Rosa,  as 
commissioners,  and  Doctor  Lopez  Aldana,  secretary 
to  the  deputation.  They  met  the  royalist  commis- 
sioners, who  were  the  sub-inspector  of  artillery,  Don 
Manuel  Llano  y  Najera,  and  the  alcalde  de  segvndo 
voto,  Don  Mariana  Galdiano  y  Mendoza,  at  Fun- 
chauca,  five  leagues  north  of  Lima. 

On  the  same  day  the  division  of  Arenales  entered 
Pasco,  and  but  for  a  dreadful  snow-storm  would  have 
prevented  the  retreat  of  Carratala  and  his  division, 
which  had  taken  possession  of  the  town  a  few  days 
previously.  The  subsequent  notification  of  the  armi- 
stice prevented  Arenales  from  taking*  advantage  of 
his  position.  Had  it  been  delayed,  Carratala's  division 
must  have  been  taken  near  Huancayo. 

San  Martin  had  in  the  meantime  arrived  in  the 
bay  of  Ancon,  and  had  pushed  his  advanced  posts  to 
within  two  leagues  of  the  capital.  On  the  23d  of 
May,  1821,  an  armistice  for  twenty  days  was  con- 
cluded. San  Martin  and  the  viceroy  had  an  inter- 
view at  Punchauca.  The  convoy,  with  the  infantry, 
then  returned  from  Ancon  to  Huacho. 

The  armistice  being  agreed  upon,  San  Martin  next 


CHAP.  xriT.  PROPOSALS  FOR  PEACE.  303 

proposed  the  following  terms  as  the  basis  of  a  treaty 
of  peace.  Firstly,  the  recognition  of  the  independ- 
ence of  Peru :  secondly,  that  a  junta  gubernativa 
should  be  formed,  composed  of  three  individuals;  one 
to  be  named  by  the  viceroy,  another  by  San  Martin, 
and  a  third,  on  the  part  of  the  Peruvians,  by  a  junta 
electoral,  consisting  of  a  member  from  each  province. 
The  junta  gubernativa  was  to  establish  a  provisional 
constitution,  which  was  to  be  acted  upon  until  the 
assembling  of  a  general  congress.  Thirdly,  that  two 
commissioners  (one  named  by  the  viceroy,  the  other 
by  San  Martin)  should  be  sent  to  Spain,  to  notify  to 
the  king  the  declaration  of  independence,  and  to  in- 
vite his  majesty  to  place  a  prince  of  his  family  on  the 
throne  of  Peru,  upon  condition  that  the  new  sovereign 
should  first  swear  to  accept  and  maintain  the  con- 
stitution. The  other  articles  were  relative  to  the 
position  which  each  army  was  to  occupy  in  the 
meanwhile. 

The  viceroy  gave  his  personal  assent  to  the  pro- 
posals ;  but  in  two  days  after  his  return  to  Lima  he 
wrote  to  San  Martin,  to  acquaint  him  that  he  had 
consulted  the  chiefs  of  the  royalist  army,  and  that  the 
proposals  were  pronounced  to  be  inadmissible. 

San  Martin  was  well  aware  that  the  cabinet  of 
Madrid  would  never  be  induced  to  ratify  the  treaty ; 
but  his  secret  object  was  to  compromise  the  royalist 
commanders,  so  as  to  leave  them  no  other  alternative 
than  to  unite  with  him  in  the  cause  of  independence. 


301  ROYALIST  HEAD-QUARTEBS.      chap.  xiv. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Operations  of  a  patriot  detachment  in  the  vicinity  of  Pisco.— It 
re-embarks. — Proceeds  to  Arica. — Unsuccessful  attempts  to 
land. — Monro  de  Soma. — Arica  taken. — Property  captured.— 
Affair  of  Mirabe. — Moquegua. — Calera. — Armistice.— Patriot 
prisoners  released  from  slavery  .—Character  of  La  Tapia.— - 
Mrs.  Gago.— The  patriots  re-embark  at  Arica. — Sail  to  the 
northward. 

The  object  of  the  expedition  to  Pisco,  which  sailed 
from  Huacho  on  the  13th  of  March,  was  to  interrupt 
the  communication  between  Lima  and  the  southern 
provinces. 

The  viceroy  being  informed  that  a  patriot  detach- 
ment had  landed,  ordered  Colonel  Garcia-Camba, 
with  a  royalist  division,  to  march  against  it.  Garcia- 
Camba  proceeded  forty  leagues  along  the  coast,  as 
far  as  Chincha  Baja,  situated  eight  leagues  north  of 
Pisco,  where  he  fixed  his  head-quarters.  Between 
these  places  are  the  rivers  Chincha  and  Pisco,  which, 
at  a  distance  of  four  or  five  leagtes  from  each  other, 
run  in  parallel  lines  from  the  Cordillera  to  the  sea, 
fertilizing  the  extensive  valleys  through  which  they 
flow.  In  the  most  northern  valley,  and  not  far  from 
the  right  bank  of  the  Chincha,  stand  the  two  pleasant 
villages  of  Chincha  Alta  and  Chincha  Baja ;  and  on 
the  south  side  of  the  other  river  is  the  town  of  Pisco. 
The  intervening  desert  was  patroled  by  the  patriots, 
who  nominally  held  possession  of  the  left  bank  of  the 
Chincha.    Their  infantry  occupied  the  town  of  Pisco, 


CHAP.  XIV.  THE  INFERNALS.  805 

and  their  cavalry  the  estate  of  Caucato,  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  river.  This  estate  once  belonged 
to  the  Jesuits,  and,  when  the  independents  landed  in 
1820,  contained  upwards  of  900  negro  slaves,  many 
of  whom  entered  their  army.  Of  those  that  still  re- 
mained, Miller  permitted  thirty  of  the  *  most  able- 
bodied  to  join  him.  They  acted  as  guides,  and  Were 
particularly  useful  when  detachments  had  occasion 
to  cross  difficult  or  dangerous  fords.  Some  of  the 
most  intelligent  of  these  negroes  were  often  sent,  in 
•  disguise,  within  the  royalist  lines.  They  signalized 
themselves  in  frequent  skirmishes,  and  being  dressed 
in  scarlet  caps  and  ponchos,  soon  obtained  the  name 
of -the  infernales.  The  cattle  and  other  provisions 
left  at  Caucato,  when  the  royalist  proprietor  aban- 
doned his  estate,  furnished  an  ample  supply,  not  only 
for  the  troops  on  shore,  but  also  for  the  shipping  in 
the  bay  of  Pararca.  Miller  devoted  a  few  hours 
every  day  to  business  in  Pisco,  and  generally,  a  little 
before  sunset,  repassed  the  river  to  sleep  at  his  out- 
posts. 

The  river  of  Pisco  is  particularly  dangerous,  as  it 
expands  during  two  or  three  months  in  the  year  to 
upwards  of  150  yards  in  width;  while,  during  the  dry 
season  of  the  sierra,  it  is  a  shallow  rapid  about  twenty 
yards  in  breadth.  A  year  never  passes  without  fatal 
accidents  occurring  in  the  fords,  which  is  equally  the 
case  in  all  the  large  rivers  on  the  coast  of  Peru,  when 
swollen  by  the  melting  of  the  snows,  or  the  rains 
which  fall  in  the  interior.  The  stream  of  the  Pisco 
was,  at  the  period  of  which  we  are  now  speaking,  at 
its  greatest  height;  the  water  being  of  a  turbid 
vol.  i.  x 


306  FORDS  OF  CHAP.  XIV. 

whitish  colour,  and,  when  the  sun  glistens  upon  the 
surface,  it  shoots  past  like  a  flood  of  molten  lead. 
The  passenger  about  to  cross,  takes  his  feet  out  of  the 
stirrups,  lifts  up  his  legs,  clings  by  his  heels  to  the 
horse's  sides,  and  keeps  his  eyes  steadily  fixed  upon 
some  object  on  the  opposite  bank ;  for  if  they  rest  but 
for  a  moment  on  the  rushing  fluid,  a  giddiness  seizes 
even  the  strongest  head,  the  rider  loses  his  seat,  and 
the  lassos  of  the  vadeadores,  or  river  guides,  cannot 
always  ensure  his  rescue  from  the  sweeping  torrent 
It  requires  considerable  coolness  and  dexterity  to 
pass  the  river  with  safety,  and  the  horses  must  be 
accustomed  to  it.     Some  of  those  belonging  to  Canr 
cato  had  been  trained  for  that  purpose,  and  it  was 
astonishing  with  what  sagacity,  and  pilot-like  skill, 
they  stemmed  the  current,  and  felt  their  way  so  as 
to  avoid  stepping  out  of  their  depth.     The  animal 
should  be  allowed  to  have  his  head,  but  he  must  be 
gently  kept  towards  the  stream,  so  as  to  meet  it  with- 
out ever  presenting  his  side  to  its  full  force.     It  is 
necessary  to  incline  or  zigzag,  according  to  the  shoals 
and  shifting  sand-banks.     These  difficulties  are  in- 
creased, by  the  deeper  parts  of  the  river  being  thickly 
covered   with   huge   rolling   stones,  which  become 
rounded  by  attrition,  as,  in  the  course  of  ages,  they 
are  driven  rumbling  from  the  Andes.     If  the  horse 
gets  entangled  among  these  boulders,  he  plunges,  and 
is  sometimes,  together  with  his  rider,  carried  down 
the  stream.     In  this  case  the  rider  allows  the  horse 
to  recover  himself  by  his  own  efforts ;  or  if  washed 
from  his  saddle,  he  catches  hold  of  his  horse's  tail, 
and  is  dragged  on  shore  at  some  distant  point  below. 


CMAP.  XIV.  THE  RIVER  PISCO.  SOT 

From  daybreak  until  dark  %vadeadares  are  stationed 
on  the  river-side  to  conduct  passengers  across,  but 
when  they  consider  the  ford  impracticable  they  retire 
to  their  huts. 

Miller  sometimes  arrived  at  the  river  after  the 
padeadores  had  quitted  it,  but  his  infernales  were 
equally  expert  as  guides.  Some  would  ride  before, 
others  follow  close  behind,  and  one  or  two  keep  along- 
side of  Miller's  horse ;  all  of  them  shouting  to  en- 
Courage  and  direct  the  horses,  and  at  the  same  time 
twirling  their  lassos  over  their  heads  in  order  to  be 
prepared  against  accident.  Although  Miller  slept 
flmost  every  night  in  his  wet  clothes,  he  preserved  his 
health  for  several  weeks  under  circumstances  which 
excited  general  surprise.  He  had  remained  free  from 
the  intermittent  fever  at  Huacho,  where  scarcely  a 
man  of  the  liberating  army  had  escaped  being  in  the 
sick  list  from  this  cause.  He  began  to  flatter  himself 
that  his  constitution  was  ague-proof;  but  he  was  now 
attacked  by  a  malignant  tertian  fever,  which  in  a  few 
days  reduced  him  to  a  skeleton.  This  w$s  accom- 
panied by  delirium ;  and,  during  the  intervals  of  the 
fever,  his  mind  was  racked  by  continual  reports  of 
the  enemy's  approaching ;  and  this  at  a  time  when  he 
was  not  able  to  rise  from  the  mattrass  on  which  he 
Was  stretched.  His  medical  attendance  was  not  good, 
but  this  was  compensated  by  the  affectionate  and 
attentive  nursing  of  his  faithful  servant  Ortega,  who, 
together  with  Ildefonzo,  one  of  the  iqfernales,  were 
constantly  at  his  bedside.  The  fidelity  and  attach- 
inept  of  these  worthy  fellows  could  not  fail  to  cheer 
the   mind   of  the  patient.    The  Senora  Martinez, 

x  2 


808  PATRIOTS  RE-EMBARK.  CHAP.  XIV. 

her  two  amiable  daughters,  and  several  other  fami- 
lies, were  exceedingly  attentive  to  Miller  during  his 
illness.  It  so  happened  that  the  royalist  commander 
was  also  confined  to  his  bed  by  fever  at  Chincha.  The 
respective  seconds  in  command  limited  their  opera- 
tions to  threatening  movements,  which  brought  on 
occasional  affairs  of  outposts ;  but  both  parties  kept 
essentially  on  the  defensive.  ; 

Of  six  hundred  men  who  landed  with  Miller, 
twenty-two  died  within  a  month,  and  one  hundred 
and  eighty  were  in  hospital,  if  that  name  can  be  ap- 
plied to  places  almost  destitute  of  surgeons,  medicine; 
and  proper  attendance.  Most  of  the  sick  were  sent 
back  to  Huacho.  The  rest  of  the  troops  were  in  a 
very  feeble  and  sickly  state. 

One  hundred  slaves,  six  thousand  dollars^worth  of 
plate  melted  into  bars  by  order  of  Miller,  five  hun- 
dred jars  of  brandy,  one  thousand  loaves  of  sugar,  a 
quantity  of  tobacco,  and  various  other  articles,  taken 
from  estates  belonging  to  Spaniards,  or  from  natives 
serving  with  the  royalists,  were  sent  on  board  the 
squadron. 

On  the  18th  of -April,  Miller  was  conveyed  in  a 
litter  on  board  the  admiral's  ship.  Lord  Cochrane, 
who  had  been  absent  on  a  cruise  to  Callao,  and  had 
only  returned  to  the  bay  of  Pararca  on  the  17th, 
showed  much  concern  at  his  ghastly  appearance. 

The  health  of  the  men  continuing  to  decline,  it 
was  determined  to  abandon  Pisco,  and  to  endeavour 
to  recruit  their  strength  by  a  sea-voyage.  In  pur- 
suance of  this  object,  the  troops  were  re-embarked 
on  the  22d  of  -4pril,  in  the  San  Martin,  which  sailed 


CHAP.  XIV.  PROCEED  TOWARDS  ARICA.  309 

to  the  southward,  leaving  the  other  vessels  of  the 
squadron  to  proceed  back  to  Callao. 

On  the  6th  of  May,  they  were  becalmed  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  miles  from  Arica.    A  part  of  the  troops 
were  ordered  into  the  boats  with  Miller.  They  pulled 
along  the  coast  for  four  hours  without  being  able  to 
make  out  a  landing-place.    A  breeze  then  arising,  the 
San  Martin  came  up  with  them,  and  took  them  on 
board,  much  exhausted  from  the  heat  of  the  weather, 
tad  from  having  left  the  ship  without  a  supply  of 
water.     The  San  Martin  then  made  for  the  bay  of 
Arica,  and  anchored  out  of  range  of  the  guns  of  the 
fort.    A  summons  sent  to  the  governor,  inviting  him 
to  surrender,  was  treated  with  disdain.     He  had  a 
garrison  of  from  three  to  four  hundred  men,  and  the 
only  landing-place  was  defended  by  a  battery  mount- 
ing six  pieces  of  artillery.     The  swell  was  unusually 
great,  so  that  a  disembarkation  appeared  imprac- 
ticable.   This  was  confirmed  by  information  acquired 
from  neutral  vessels  at  anchor  in  the  bay.    Neverthe- 
less, an  attempt  was  made  a  little  to  the  southward, 
where  Captain  Wilkinson,  of  the  navy,  in  his  anxiety 
to  see  the  patriot  soldiers  on  shore  before  the  riches 
of  Arica  could  be  placed  out  of  reach,  fancied  he  had 
discovered  a  spot  favourable  for  disembarkation.   Two 
hundred  and  fifty  men  got  into  the  boats,  and  pushed 
off  at  midnight.     The  sea  rolled  in  long  surges,  but 
the  surface  was  unruffled.     The  stars  shone  bright 
enough  to  render  visible  a  remarkable  white  patch  on 
the  coast  that  served  as  a  land-mark.    Wilkinson  and 
Miller,  with  thirty  men,  led  the  way  in  the  first 
launch.    On  nearing  the  shore,  they  backed  in  stern. 


810  UNSUCCESSFUL  ATTEMPTS        CHAP.  XIVi 

most;  but  on  arriving  within  a  few  fathoms,  they 
were  lifted  on  the  crest  of  a  huge  roller,  carried 
along  with 

"  The  torrent's  smoothness  ere  it  dash  below/' 

and  thrown,  with  the  velocity  of  thought,  into  a  yawn- 
ing abyss  formed  by  large  black  loose  rocks.  For* 
tunately  these  rocks  prevented  the  launch  from  being 
drawn  back  by  the  receding  surge,  and  for  a  few 
moments  it  was  left  high  and  dry.  The  men  had 
scarcely  time  to  jump  out  and  run,  when  a  second 
roller  dashed  the  launch  to  pieces.  The  breadth  of 
snow-white  foam  formed  a  terrific  contrast  with  the 
dark  line  of  coast,  and  the  water,  which  had  previously 
appeared  to  be  smooth  as  a  mill-pond,  now  bubbled 
around  rocks  which,  until  then,  had  escaped  obserVa* 
tion.  The  launches  astern  were  warned  to  keep  off* 
and  the  nearest  dropping  a  grapple,  was  apparently 
encompassed  with  breakers.  The  situation  of  Miller** 
party  became  extremely  critical.  The  men  had  saved 
their  muskets,  but  their  ammunition  was  rendered 
unserviceable.  Re-embarkation  did  not  seem  to  be 
within  the  bounds  of  possibility,  and  their  number 
was  too  small  to  justify  any  hope  of  success  from  a 
rash  attempt  to  surprise  the  garrison.  Yet,  upon 
consultation,  this  last  was  considered  to  be  the  only 
alternative,  and  it  was  decided  that  the  party  should 
creep  into  the  town,  surprise  the  guard,  get  into  the 
fort,  and  hold  out  until  succour  could  be  obtained- 
Accordingly  the  men  formed,  and  a  search  was  made 
for  a  path,  but  it  was  found  that  the  flat  beach* 
a  few  yards  wide,   extended  only  to  a  very  short 


CHAP.  XIV.  TO   LAND.  51 1 

distance  either  way,  and  was  walled  in  by  an  almost 
perpendicular  cliff.  After  climbing  and  groping 
about  for  nearly  two  hours,  no  outlet  could  be  dis- 
covered in  any  direction.  The  party  returned,  and 
sat  down  in  a  state  bordering  on  despair.  It  was  very 
probable  that  the  royalists  had  overheard  the  repeated 
hailing  from  the  launches,  which  still  kept  their 
Stations,  and  it  was  apprehended  that  daylight  would 
bring  an  additional  misfortune,  in  the  shape  of  an 
enemy  on  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  whence  they  could 
despatch  the  patriots  by  a  few  volleys,  or  by  hurling 
down  fragments  of  rock  upon  their  heads.  In  this 
desponding  interval,  Captain  Wilkinson  discovered 
a  ledge  which  projected  some  way  into  the  sea.  He 
instantly  brought  into  play  the  resources  of  his  pro- 
fessional experience,  and  adopted  a  plan  which,  in 
ordinary  times,  might  have  been  considered  an  act  of 
madness.  He  ordered  one  of  the  launches  to  pull  in, 
and  anchor  as  closely  to  the  ledge  as  possible.  This 
was  done,  though  with  great  peril  to  all  on  board. 
A  whale-boat  was  sent  from  the  launch  with  a  small 
hawser,  one  end  of  which  was  thrown  upon  the  rock 
and  made  fast.  By  these  means  the  whale-boat  was 
warped  to  and  from  the  launch.  Only  two  men  could 
stand  at  one  time  upon  the  ledge,  to  which  they  were 
obliged  to  cling,  drenched  by  the  spray,  until  a  lull, 
which  commonly  occurs  between  every  seventh  or 
ninth  surge  or  breaker,  enabled  the  whale-boat  to 
warp  to  the  lee  side  of  the  rock,  and  to  remain  there 
just  long  enough  to  allow  the  men  to  lower  them- 
selves by  the  hawser  with  the  greatest  celerity,  and 
drop  into  the  boat.    By  this  tedious  process  the  party 


312  TROOPS  SENT  TO        CHAP.  XIV. 

was  taken  off,  with  the  loss  of  only  one  man,  who  was 
drowned.  At  sunrise  a  party  of  the  Spaniards  was 
seen  on  the  brink  of  the  cliff. 

On  the  following  night  a  second  attempt  was  made 
to  the  northward,  when  the  same  party  was  again  en- 
tangled, and  nearly  swamped,  amidst  breakers,  from 
which  they  got  clear  only  by  dint  of  extraordinary 
exertions.  The  fatigue,  the  immersions,  and  the 
anxieties  of  these  two  nights,  completely  exhausted 
every  man  employed. 

These  attempts  to  land  so  near  Arica  ought,  per- 
haps, not  to  have  been  made.  Persons  from  neutral 
vessels  had  asserted  that  the  disembarkation  was 
absolutely  impracticable,  but  Cochrane,  from  past 
experience  of  neutrals,  doubted  their  information. 
Droves  of  mules,  heavily  laden,  were  occasionally 
seen  to  issue  from  the  town,  when  every  telescope 
on  board  was  eagerly  caught  hold  of  and  pointed  to 
the  moving  convoy.  The  auri  sacra  James  multi- 
plying the  number  of  animals,  and  converting  their 
cargoes  from  bales  of  merchandize  into  bags  of  dol- 
lars, gave  rise  to  numberless  suggestions  for  the  sol- 
diers to  be  sent  on  shore,  and  Cochrane's  better  judg- 
ment at  last  gave  way  to  these  importunities.  On 
this  occasion  it  was  curious  to  contrast  the  serious 
countenances  of  the  troops  destined  to  land  on  the 
almost  hopeless  enterprise  with  the  buoyant  spirits 
of  the  naval  lookers-on  from  the  ship. 

The  soldiers  were  next  transhipped  to  two  small 
schooners,  which  had  been  made  prizes  of  in  the 
course  of  the  cruise,  and  sent  to  the  Morro  de  Sama, 
a  miserable  port,  ten  leagues  to  the  northward  of 


CHAP.  xiv.  THE  MORRO  DE  SAMA.  313 

Arica.      The  vessels  had  temporary  rudders  only, 
and  were  steered,  even  before  the  wind,  with  dif- 
ficulty.    The  naval  person  who  had  charge  of  them 
was  a  petty  officer,  who  had  never  been  on  the  coast. 
Provisions  and  water  for  twenty-four  hours  were  put 
on  board ;  but  it  was  two  days  before  Miller,  who  was 
obliged  to  act  as  pilot,  could  make  out  the  Morro 
de  Sama,  and  even  then  he  stood  towards  the  inlet 
without  being  certain  he  was  right;  but  the  wind 
was  light,  the  sea  rolled  very  high  astern,  and  ab- 
solute want  left  no  other  alternative  than  to  get  on 
shore  somewhere.     Though  abounding  with  rocky 
dangers,  it  proved  to  be  the  desired  haven,  but  was  so 
fringed  round  with  surf,  that  landing  still  appeared 
impracticable.    Lord  Cochrane  having  become  uneasy 
for  the  fate  of  the  detachment,  sent  Lieutenant  Free- 
man, of  the  Chileno  navy,  to  afford  assistance.  Free- 
man's launch  entered  the  creek  as  the  schooner  came 
to  anchor,  and  with  his  able  and  indefatigable  assist- 
ance the  men  were  got  ashore.     There  was  a  small 
well  at  the  Morro,  but  it  was  brackish ;  and  there  was 
scarcely  enough  water  in  it  to  quench  the  thirst  of 
half  a  dozen  people.     They  had  then  to  march  eight 
leagues  before  a  good  draught  of  water  could  be  ob- 
tained.    Upon  landing,  the  knees  of  the  men  trem- 
bled under  them,  as  they  had  not  entirely  regained 
their  strength  from  the  effects  of  ague,  and  they  could 
not  walk  more  than  half  an  hour  at  a  time  without 
lying  down  on  the  sand  to  recover  themselves. 

Upon  reaching  the  top  of  the  mountain  of  Morro 
de  Sama,  which  is  too  steep  to  ride,  either  up  or 
down,  and  three  miles  to  the  summit  by  the  winding 


814  MARCH  TO  SAMA:  CHAP.  Xl*i 

path,  a  delightful  breeze  fanned  their  faces ;  refreshed 
the  exhausted  men,  and  each  felt  his  strength  in- 
crease as  he  went  along.  The  only  guide  was  a  sol- 
dier,  who  had  travelled  the  road  a  few  times.  He 
was  frequently  alarmed  by  doubts  as  to  being  in  the 
right  direction.  The  anxieties  of  this  night  were 
rendered  perfectly  agonizing.  Tormented  by  thirst; 
knowing  that  no  water  could  be  obtained  in  the  line 
of  road  they  had  passed  over;  and,  uncertain  whe- 
ther the  route  they  had  taken  was  the  right  one,  the 
horrors  of  their  situation  were  further  aggravated  by 
the  knowledge  that  men's  lives  were  frequently  lest 
in  those  extensive  deserts,  where,  for  many  leagues, 
nothing  is  to  be  discerned  but  a  barren  sea  of  sand. 
Nothing  could  exceed  their  joy  when  the  guide  dis- 
covered, by  some  remembered  hillock,  that  he  was 
still  in  the  right  track. 

A  fatiguing  march  of  thirteen  hours  brought  the 
patriots  to  the  entrance  of  the  valley  of  Sama  (at 
9  A.  M.)  in  a  very  distressed  state.  The  sun,  which 
shone  scorchingly,  and  reflected  from  a  deep  loose 
sand,  had  deprived  them  of  the  invigorating  effects 
of  the  previous  night  breeze.  So  soon  as  the  party 
caught  sight  of  vegetation,  every  man  rushed  for- 
ward in  search  of  water ;  some  who  could  with  dif- 
ficulty but  creep  till  this  moment,  now  ran  with  the 
celerity  of  greyhounds  to  the  valley. 

At  Sama  horses  were  procured  for  the  commanding 
.officer  and  a  few  others.  On  the  next  day  the  party 
advanced  to  Tacna,  a  distance  of  twelve  or  fourteen 
leagues,  and  about  twenty  from  their  place  of  landing. 
Tacna  contains  a  population  of  four  thousand  souls. 


CHAP,  xiv*  BON  BERNARDO  LANDA.  Sift 

Miller  rode  on  with  ten  er  a  dozen  soldiers  mounted, 
and  was  enthusiastically  received  by  the  clergy,  mu- 
nicipality, and  inhabitants,  who  met  him  outside  the 
town. 

About  this  time  Don  B.  Landa  introduced  him- 
self to  Miller.  He  was  nearly  six  feet  in  height,  and 
of  a  gaunt  raw-bone  figure,  with  rather  a  ruddy,  but 
lengthened,  care-worn  visage.  After  some  conversa- 
tion, he  said,  "  You  will  hear  numerous  accounts  of 
me,  and  but  few  that  are  favourable.  The  patriots 
will  tell  you  that  I  was  once  a  persecuting  royalist, 
and  they  will  tell  you  the  truth.  They  doubt  the  sin- 
cerity of  my  present  intentions ;  but  believe  me,  when 
I  assure  you,  that  I  have  been  for  some  time  a  bitter 
and  determined  foe  to  the  Spaniards ;  and  if  you  will 
trust  me  without  slighting  me  (sin  desayrarme),  I 
will  not  betray  your  confidence.  You  know  nothing 
of  the  localities  of  these  provinces,  whereas  I  know 
every  body,  and  every  inch  of  ground.  I  know,  too, 
that  you  must  greatly  stand  in  need  of  a  person  of  my 
experience.  Rely  upon  me,  and  I  will  serve  you 
well."  There  was  an  air  of  sincerity  and  good  faith 
in  his  frankness  which  led  to  his  being  immediately 
employed ;  and  his  subsequent  conduct  fully  justified 
the  ready  confidence  reposed  in  him*  Landa  had 
been  a  lieutenant-colonel  of  militia,  and  the  subdele- 
g&te  of  a  province  under  the  Spaniards.  He  was 
allowed  to  retain  the  same  military  rank  in  the  patriot 
service. 

Major  Soler  had  marched  from  the  Morro  de 
Sama  by  the  coast  to  Arica,  which  was  abandoned 
at  his  approach*     He  overtook  the  fugitive  garrisou 


816  SIMULATED  PAPERS.  chap.  xiv. 

in  the  valley  of  Asapa,  and  made  about  one  hundred 
prisoners,  most  of  whom,  with  four  royalist  officers, 
were  admitted  into  the  patriot  service  by  Miller, 
whom  Soler  rejoined  at  Tacna.  The  naval  force 
remained  in  possession  of  Arica,  and  many  houses 
were  plundered. 

One  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars,  in 
specie,  were  taken  near  Locumba  by  a  detachment 
sent  by  Major  Soler.  This  sum,  and  four  thousand 
dollars  found  in  the  custom-house  at  Tacna,  together 
with  about  three  hundred  thousand  dollars'  worth  of 
merchandize,  Spanish  property,  were  conveyed  to 
Arica,  and  there  embarked.  Original  documents, 
sufficient  to  condemn  the  cargoes  of  the  Lord  Cath- 
cart,  Colombia,  and  Joseph,  lying  in  the  port,  were 
found  in  the  archives  of  Tacna;  so  that  the  false 
papers  furnished  by  British  merchants  in  Rio  Ja- 
neiro to  cover  these  cargoes  became  unavailable,  and 
the  fraudulent  system  of  cloaking  Spanish  property 
sent  to  the  Pacific  was  thus  exposed. 

Another  instance  of  the  same  kind  occurred  with 
respect  to  the  English  vessels,  the  Lord  Suffield  and 
the  Edward  Ellice,  which  were  seized  about  this  time 
by  the  Chileno  ships  of  war  blockading  Callao,  and 
sent  to  Valparaiso  for  adjudication.  It  so  happened, 
that  Lord  Cochrane  had  received  information  from 
London,  proving  that  the  cargoes  of  these  two  vessels 
were,  bond  fide,  Spanish  property,  and  pointing  out 
the  precise  method  by  which  false  papers  were  to  be 
obtained  at  Gibraltar.  The  vessels  were  justly  con- 
demned;  but  this  decision  was  afterwards  reversed, 
as  it  is  believed,  by  some  of  the  judges  being  bought 


CHAP.  XIV.  PRIZE  GOODS.  817 

over ;  and  Lord  Cochrane  is,  at  the  present  moment 
(1829),  bound  over  to  answer  to  an  action  for  da* 
mages  and  demurrage. 

During  these  operations  of  the  patriots,  General 
Ramirez  had  ordered  three  detachments  to  march 
against  them.  One,  of  three  hundred  and  eighty 
men,  proceeded  from  Arequipa  by  the  way  of  Mo- 
quegua,  where  it  was  augmented  by  one  hundred 
rank  and  file ;  another,  from  Puno,  of  two  hundred 
and  eighty,  and  another  from  La  Paz,  both  by  way 
of  Tarrata.  All  three  were  to  form  a  junction  at 
Tacna,  and  then  "to  drive  the  insurgents  into  the 
sea."  But,  contrary  to  the  calculations  of  Ramirez, 
the  patriots  had  advanced  from  Arica  into  the  in- 
terior, as  already  stated. 

The  greatest  part  of  the  rich  cargoes  of  the  three 
vessels  before  mentioned,  consisting  of  Canton  crapes 
and  other  Indian  goods ;  French  wines  and  brandies j 
English  pale  ale,  brown  stout,  and  other  good  cheer, 
was  found  in  the  public  warehouses  of  Tacna.  A 
part  of  this  royalist  property  was  immediately  sent 
to  Arica,  and  shipped  in  the  San  Martin.  The  sol- 
diers had  scarcely  time  to  taste  these  unusual  luxuries, 
when  they  were  ordered  away ;  but  such  was  their  en- 
thusiasm, that  the  idea  of  marching  to  cross  bayonets 
with  the  enemy  prevented  a  single  expression  of  re- 
gret on  leaving  so  many  good  things  behind.  The 
keys  of  the  storehouses  were  given  up  to  commis- 
sioners appointed  to  continue  the  shipment  of  the 
prize  goods. 

So  soon  as  Miller  ascertained  the  movements  of 
the  royalist  detachments,  he  determined  to  attack 


918  BUENA  VISTA.  CHAP.  XIV. 

them  separately;  for  which  purpose,  he  advanced 
from  Tacna  to  meet  the  party  of  Colonel  La  Hera, 
sent  from  Arequipa.  Miller's  force  consisted  of 
three  hundred  and  ten  infantry,  seventy  cavalry,  and 
about  sixty  well  mounted  volunteer  peasantry ;  with 
which,  on  the  20th  of  May,  he  arrived  at  the  hamlet 
of  Buena  Vista,  situated  in  a  romantic  spot,  at  the 
foot  of  the  Cordilleras,  which  a  little  higher  up  are 
covered  with  snow.  The  bracing  and  almost  wintry 
feeling  of  the  weather  was  delightful  to  men  who 
had  so  lately  been  traversing  scorching  sands.  Here 
the  patriot  commander,  having,  during  the  night, 
learned  that  Colonel  La  Hera  had  changed  his  di- 
rection from  Locumba,  and  marched  towards  Tica* 
-pampa,  determined  to  direct  his  own  course  with  all 
possible  speed  to  Mirabe,  in  order  to  prevent  the 
royalist  parties  from  La  Paz  and  Oruro  forming  a 
junction  with  that  from  Arequipa.  Soon  after  day* 
break,  the  patriot  division  began  its  march;  and  to 
prevent  the  possibility  of  royalist  emissaries  acquiring 
correct  information,  Miller  pursued  a  track  as  if  he 
intended  going  to  another  place.  Having  proceeded 
some  leagues,  he  turned  to  the  right,  and  took  the 
path  which  led  to  Mirabe. 

The  march  from  Buena  Vista  to  Mirabe,  a  distance 
of  fifteen  leagues,  is  across  a  stony  desert  entirely 
destitute  of  water  and  vegetation ;  but  Miller  having 
taken  the  precaution,  before  he  left  Tacna,  of  ordering 
eight  mules  to  be  loaded  with  hollands #,  a  halt  was 


*  This  hollands  had  very  fortunately  been  sent  from  Antwerp  ready  packed 
in  green  cases,  each  containing  six  large  quadrangular  bottles.  These  formed 
very  handy  packages,  eight  of  them  being  just  a  mule  load. 


CHAP.  XIV.  THE  MAL  PASO.  319 

occasionally  made,  and  a  reviving  dram  sparingly 
served  out.  Thus  moderately  stimulated,  men  pushed 
on  in  steady  compact  order,  which  they  preserved 
even  after  the  darkness  of  night  had  thrown  an  ad- 
ditional horror  over  the  cheerless,  pathless,  and,  to 
all  but  the  guides,  unknown  waste.  The  march 
was  one  of  deep  and  anxious  interest,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  Colonel  Landa,  no  one  was  made  ac- 
quainted with  their  destination.  The  officers  medi- 
tating upon  the  probability  of  attacking  double  num- 
bers, they  knew  not  where,  nor  how  soon,  felt  the 
hazardous  nature  of  their  position ;  and  being  con- 
scious that  there  was  no  retreat,  they  mechanically 
grasped  the  hilts  of  their  swords  as  if  by  way  of  con- 
firming their  courage.  It  may  appear  strange  or 
exaggerated  to  record  this;  but  it  was  so,  and  those 
who  have  been  placed  in  similar  circumstances  will 
not  consider  it  extravagant.  The  last  two  leagues 
was  a  rapid  descent  amidst  precipices  and  projecting 
rocks,  called  the  malpaso,  or  bad  pass,  and  is  so 
narrow  as  to  admit  of  advancing  in  single*  files  only, 
and  on  foot.  After  a  toilsome  march  of  eighteen 
hours,  the  patriots  reached,  at  midnight,  the  rugged 
bank  of  a  stream  which  rushes  through  the  valley  of 
Mirabe.  The  royalists  had,  on  the  preceding  after- 
noon, possessed  themselves  of  the  mud  enclosures 
-around  the  cultivated  grounds  of  the  little  hamlet  of 
Mirabe,  situated  in  the  hollow  of  the  opposite  or 
right  bank,  where  they  awaited  the  arrival  of  their 
expected  reinforcements,  which  at  that  time  had 
halted  only  three  leagues  distant  from  them,  up  the 
valley,  and  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river. 


380  ROYALIST  PIQUET.  CHAP.  XIV. 

As  the  route  from  Sama  to  Mirabe  was  considered 

m 

impassable  for  troops,  the  royalists  had  not  the 
slightest  idea  of  the  proximity  of  their  enemies }  but 
the  indiscreet  zeal  of  a  patriot  officer  in  front  an- 
nounced to  the  Spaniards  their  unexpected  approach. 
He  had  been  sent  on  from  the  entrance  of  the 
malpaso  with  five  mounted  infantry  and  as  many 
peasants,  but  he  disobeyed  orders  by  advancing  too 
fast  and  too  far  in  front.  In  the  darkness  of  the 
night  he  came  unawares  upon  a  small  royalist  piquet, 
guarding  four  or  five  hundred  horses  and  mules 
grazing  in  an  enclosed  field.  A  royalist  officer,  Lieu- 
tenant Callao,  and  two  men,  were  made  prisoners; 
but  the  remainder  escaped  and  gave  the  alarm.  The 
royalist  division  under  La  Hera,  being  at  not  more 
than  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the  spot,  were 
awakened  from  a  sound  sleep,  and  immediately 
opened  a  brisk,  but  random,  fire.  One  of  the  patriot 
peasants,  having  advanced  too  far,  was  taken  prisoner; 
the  rest  of  the  party,  after  discharging  their  muskets 
two  or  three  times,  retired  with  all  practicable  speed, 
and,  without  much  caution,  scrambled  up  the  bank  of 
the  valley  by  the  rough  track  they  had  just  before  de- 
scended. As  they  approached  the  head  of  the  patriot 
column  they  vociferated,  in  the  loudest  and  most  ridi- 
culous manner,  auxilio!  auxilio!  help!  help!  Their 
noises,  added  to  the  fire  of  musketry,  echoed  and  re- 
echoed among  the  mountains,  gave  birth  to  feelings 
of  intense  solicitude,  soon  however  assuaged  by  the 
Spanish  prisoners  being  brought  before  Miller,  who 
ascertained  from  them  the  position  of  the  royalists. 
Determining  to   attack   before  they  had  time  for 


CHAP.  XIV.     PATRIOTS  CROSS  THE  RIVER.  821 

•  ■ 

reflection,  the  march  was  instantly  quickened,  the 
driifns  beat,  the  bugles  sounded,  and  the  cavalry 
rushed  on  heedless  of  obstacles,  and  closely  followed 
by  the  infantry,  all  uttering  the  Indian  yell,  until  the 
progress  of  the  latter  was  arrested  by  the  rapid  flood 
above  described.  The  gallant  Captain  Hill  with  ten 
brave  marines  were  alone  enabled  to  cross,  and  even 
they  were  carried  off  their  legs  by  the  current ;  but 
the  river  was  narrow,  and  they  fortunately  reached 
the  opposite  bank  with  no  other  accident  than  their 
ammunition  being  rendered  unserviceable.  The  pa- 
triot horse,  which  had  continued  to  advance,  were 
driven  back.  They  were  not  permitted  to  repass,  but 
made  to  form  above  the  ford.  A  rocket  party,  under 
the  direction  of  Captain  Hind,  was  detached  to  an 
eminence  on  the  left,  from  which  it  occupied  the 
attention  of  the  enemy :  for  the  same  object  another, 
small  party  was  sent  to  the  right.  Miller  remained 
below  with  the  rest  of  his  men,  who  sat  down  in  line 
on  the  bank  of  the  torrent,  unperceived  and  unheard 
by  the  enemy,  who  were  not  more  than  at  pistol-shot 
distance ;  but  the  intervening  space  was  covered  with 
wood. 

Whilst  the  royalists  kept  up  an  unceasing  fire  upon 
the  rocket  parties,  Miller  conveyed  his  infantry  to  the 
other  side  of  the  torrent  by  mounting  a  foot  soldier 
behind  each  dragoon,  who  went  and  returned  until 
the  whole  of  the  troops  had  effected  the  passage. 
During  this  operation  Captain  Hill  was  posted  in  a 
wood,  close  to  the  royalists,  where  he  remained  quiet, 
having  orders  not  to  suffer  a  musket  to  be  fifed  un- 
less the  enemy  sallied  from  his  position,  in  which 

VOL.  I.  Y 


388  NIGHT-MOVEMENT*.  CHAP,  xm 

case  the  patriot  advance  was  to  stand  its  ground  at 
all  risks ;  and  such  was  the  determined  spirit  with 
which  Hill  and  his  marines  were  animated,  that  it  if 
more  than  probable  they  would  have  perished  sooner 
than  have  given  way.  On  Miller's  crossing  the  river 
a  bright  glimmering  light  was  perceived.  A  peasant 
guide,  who  had  just  been  wounded  in  the  shoulder, 
said  that  it  must  proceed  from  some  habitation.  The 
patriots  immediately  advanced,  jumped  over  low  mud 
walls,  threaded  their  way  up  entangled  vineyards,  and 
reached  the  house  to  which  the  light  had  been  a 
beacon.  Captain  Plaza  was  now  sent  with  a  detach- 
ment to  fire  down  upon  the  enemy,  who  had  not 
stirred  from  their  parapeted  position,  and  were  not 
aware  that  the  patriots  had  effected  the  passage  of 
the  river.  Plaza  mingled  a  great  deal  of  well-timed 
jocularity  with  his  accustomed  coolness,  and  told  his 
men  that,  having  regaled  themselves  with  excellent 
water  at  the  stream,  they  must  now  fight  for  a  supper. 
The  royalists  finding  themselves  unexpectedly  as- 
sailed on  that  side,  withdrew  to  a  short  distance.  A 
good  deal  of  random  firing  took  place  during  the 
night,  and  the  patriots  lost  an  officer  and  seventeen 
men.  Whilst  this  was  going  on,  MMler  placed  his 
infantry  on  a  sort  of  mountain  level,  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  in  width,  which  was  flanked  on  one  side  by 
the  steep  acclivity  of  the  valley  next  the  river,  and 
bounded  on  the  opposite  direction  by  a  range  of  bold 
hills :  his  cavalry  was  kept  below  in  some  lucern  en- 
closures, where  the  jaded  horses  were  allowed  to  feed* 
The  night  was  one  of  extreme  anxiety,  for  the  patriot 
commander  was  ignorant  of  the  precise  position  of  the 


CHAP.  XIV.      PREPARATIONS  FOR  ATTACK.  328 

enemy,  and  the  nature  of  the  ground  whereon  the 
struggle  of  the  following  day  was  to  take  place.  An 
hour  before  daybreak  he  advanced  on  foot  with  Lieu- 
tenant Correa  and  an  orderly,  to  reconnoitre  as  well 
as  the  darkness  would  permit.  They  had  not  pro- 
ceeded above  a  hundred  yards  when  a  slight  rattling 
of  the  orderly's  sword  startled  a  Spanish  sentinel,  who 
challenged  sharply.  They  instinctively  held  their 
breath,  and  the  listening  vidette  hearing  no  further 
noise,  naturally  concluded  that  all  was  right,  and  gave 
no  alarm.  They  retired  a  few  paces,  and  sending 
Correa  to  the  rear  with  orders,  Miller,  with  his 
orderly,  lay  upon  the  ground  until  the  first  faint 
gray  of  morning  enabled  him  to  distinguish  objects. 
The  first  that  caught  his  attention  was  what  he 
imagined  to  be  a  line  of  chalky  cliff;  but  as  objects 
became  rather  more  distinct,  he  perceived  an  oc- 
casional movement  in  this  line,  and  thereby  knew 
that  it  must  be  the  linen  cover  of  the  chacos  of  the 
royalist  army.  On  this  discovery  Miller  withdrew. 
Fortunately  for  the  patriots,  there  was  nothing  that 
could  be  easily  discerned  by  that  light  about  their 
uniforms,  as  their  accoutrements  were  dirty,  and 
their  musket-barrels  had  lost  their  glitter.  Besides 
which  their  line  was  hidden  in  the  deep  shadows  of 
the  ridge  immediately  behind  them,  so  that  they 
were  not  perceived  by  the  royalists  for  many  minutes 
after  the  latter  had  become  distinctly  visible.  The 
patriot  cavalry,  already  in  movement,  agreeably  to 
previous  orders,  were  hastened  up  from  the  pastured 
below,  and  entered  the  arena,  fresh  and  cheerily,  just 
in  time  to  form  on  the  right  of  the  infantry,  in  a  line 

y2 


324  AFFAIR  OF  MIR  A  BE.  CHAP.  XIV. 

parallel  to  that  of  the  royalists,  and  at  the  distance 
from  them  of  about  two  musket-shots.  Upon  per- 
ceiving this,  the  Spaniards  faced  to  their  left  and 
attempted  to  gain  the  ridge,  but  the  patriot  horse, 
followed  by  the  infantry  m  column,  charged  with 
such  celerity  as  completely  to  frustrate  these  in- 
tentions, and  to  cut  off  their  retreat.  Driven  to  the 
edge  of  a  precipitous  ridger  they  fought  with  de- 
sperate valour  for  fifteen  minutes.  Ninety-six  were 
killed  on  the  spot,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
taken  prisoners,  most  of  them  wounded  j  four  hun- 
dred mules  were  also  taken.  About  sixty  infantry 
and  eighty  cavalry  escaped.  Immediately  after  the 
royalists  had  given  way,  the  expected  reinforcement 
from  Puno  and  La  Paz,  mounted  upon  mules,  ap- 
peared in  sight,  upon  which  the  patriots  were  re- 
called to  face  a  fresh  enemy.  A  few  rockets  were 
discharged  at  this  party  as  it  began  to  cross  the  river 
at  the  place  where,  during  the  night,  it  had  been 
forded  by  the  patriots.  The  reinforcement  per- 
ceiving that  it  had  arrived  too  late,  instantly  counter- 
marched. 

The  conduct  of  the  patriots  throughout  this  in- 
cursion was  most  exemplary.  The  officers  of  the 
small  division  were  men  really  deserving  of  the  name 
of  soldiers,  and  would  have  done  honour  to  any  ser- 
vice. Captain  Don  Jos6  Videla,  a  native  of  Men- 
doza,  was  a  person  of  few  words ;  but  no  officer  under- 
stood his  duty  better,  or  enjoyed  more  popularity 
than  the  sedate  but  brave  and  zealous  Videla.  Cap- 
tains Marure  and  Aramburu,  Lieutenants  Asagra, 
Dominguez,  Ballejos,  Vicente  Suares,  La  Tapia,  and 


CHAP.  XIV.  DEATH  OF  MR.  WELSH.  38S 

others,  were  officers  of  tried  valour.  The  conduct  of 
Hind  and  Hill,  both  Englishmen,  reflected  credit  on 
their  own  country,  and  the  cause  they  had  espoused. 
The  latter  was  afterwards  drowned  at  sea. 
.'  In  the  affair  of  Mirabe,  Mr.  Welsh,  private  sur- 
geon to  Lord  Cochrane,  and  who  had  volunteered 
his  services  to  accompany  Miller  on  this  occasion,  was 
amongst  the  slain.  The  loss  of  this  fine  young  Scotch- 
man was  very  much  deplored.  There  was  a  liveli- 
ness of  manner  and  a  kindness  of  heart  perceptible 
in  his  assiduous  attentions  to  the  sick  and  wounded, 
which  won  for  him  more  than  the  esteem  of  all.  The 
soldiers  wept  over  his  remains ;  and  such  was  the  idea 
of  his  worth  in  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  of  Tacna, 
that  the  news  of  his  fall  produced,  in  the  principal 
families,  sensations  of  regret  to  an  extent  unusual 
upon  so  short  an  acquaintance.  Cochrane  wrote  that 
he  would  sooner  have  lost  his  right  arm ;  and  Miller 
had  to  lament  a  friend,  whose  unwearied  attendance 
had  beguiled  the  irksome  hours  of  a  sick-bed  and  long 
suffering  from  severe  wounds.  Welsh  was  mourned 
alike  by  the  soldiers  and  by  the  sailors,  by  his  coun- 
trymen and  by  South  Americans ;  and  his  early  death 
was  a  severe  loss  to  the  patriot  service. 
-"  On  the  afternoon  of  the  22d,  Miller  continued  the 
pursuit  of  the  few  cavalry  and  infantry  of  La  Hera's 
division  to  Moquegua,  thirty  leagues  to  the  north- 
ward. On  reaching  Locumba  they  halted;  the 
friendly  inhabitants  brought  out  provisions,  but  the 
soldiers  were  too  much  fatigued  to  cook  them.  The 
calls  of  hunger  were  overpowered  by  drowsiness,  and 

• 

they  threw  themselves  down  to  sleep  under  the  shade 


886  MOQUEGUA.  CHAP.  XIT. 

of  some  trees.     At  the  end  of  three  hours  they  were 
aroused  to  continue  the  chase.   About  midnight  they 
were  met  by  two  enthusiastic  boys,  each  seventeen 
years  of  age,  who,  on  hearing  of  the  landing  of  the 
patriots,  had  ran  away  from  college  at  Arequipa* 
These  spirited  lads  were  immediately  made  cadets  •• 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Landa,  with  a  few  armed  peasants, 
rode  on  ahead,  and  before  daybreak  gained  the  portillo, 
or  narrow  pass,  in  the  ridge  that  fringes  the  basin  in 
which  Moquegua  is  situated ;  and  thus  prevented  any 
egress  from  the  town  by  the  eastern  outlet.    After  a 
most  wearisome  march,  the  patriots  entered  Moquegua 
at  9  A.  M.  on  the  24th  of  May.  The  fugitive  royalists 
had  arrived  only  a  few  hours  before.     Their  com- 
mander, La  Hera,  uninformed  of  the  near  approach  Of 
his  enemy,  had  proceeded  towards  Puno.  The  party 
he  left  behind,  having  refreshed  themselves,  were  en 
the  point  of  following,  when  Miller  galloped  into  the 
plaza  with  twenty  dragoons  under  the  brave  Vicente 
Suares.    A  skirmish  ensued,  but  the  royalists  slowly 
retreated  in  good  order,  until  the  zealous  Major  Soler 
coming  up  with  the  rest  of  the  patriot  cavalry,  a  charge 
was  made  half  a  mile  outside  of  the  town,  when  a 
royalist  officer  and  thirteen  rank  and  file  were  killed* 
and  the  rest  made  prisoners,  with  the  exception  of  an 
adjutant  and  his  servant,  who  escaped  the  vigilance  of 
their  pursuers,  first  by  the  goodness  of  their  horses, 
and  then  by  disguising  themselves  in  the  poncho  and 
clothes  of  a  peasant,  whom  they  met  accidentally  oil 
the  road,  and  murdered  for  the  sake  of  obtaining  his 

*  Both  became  highly  deserving  officers.  One  of  them,  Don  Mariano 
Rivero,  was  afterwards  made  a  prisoner  of  war  at  lea,  and  being  of  a  feeble 
constitution,  be  died  from  fatigue  on  his  route  to  the  depot  of  Cbuculta 


-CHAP.  XIV.     MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  PATHIOTS.  327 

dress.  Colonel  Portocarrera,  governor  of  the  province 
of  Moquegua,  passed  over  to  the  patriots. 

The  town  of  Moquegua  contains  nearly  ten  thou- 
sand inhabitants.  They  received  the  patriots  with 
every  expression  of  unbounded  satisfaction,  and,  as  a 
proof  of  their  sincere  attachment  to  the  cause  of 
independence,  voluntarily  and  cheerfully  contributed 
the  means  to  strengthen  and  give  full  efficiency  to 
the  little  division. 

On  the  25th  of  May,  Miller  learned  that  from 
two  to  three  hundred  Spaniards  were  passing  the 
heights  of  Torata,  about  five  leagues  distant.  This 
was  the  detachment  which  appeared  in  the  rear  of 
the  patriots  at  the  conclusion  of  the  affair  of  Mirabe, 
and  was  now  proceeding  to  Arequipa.  The  lieu- 
tenant-colonel, with  a  hundred  and  forty  of  his  in- 
fantry upon  mules,  and  a  few  cavalry,  set  out  in  pur- 
suit. The  brave  Landa,  with  eighteen  or  twenty 
well-mounted  armed  peasantry,  accompanied  the  de- 
tachment. At  sunset  they  reached  Torata,  an  Indian 
town,  situated  at  the  foot  of  a  lofty  ramification  of 
the  Andes,  where  they  learned  that  the  enemy  had 
bivouacked  the  preceding  night  on  the  hills  which 
overlook  the  town,  and  had  recommenced  their 
inarch  at  noon.  The  patriots  halted  for  three  hours, 
4nd  having  eaten  a  good  supper,  and  obtained  some 
fresh  horses  and  mules,  they  continued  their  march 
by  a  track  which  ran  up  and  down,  and  along  the 
sides  of  tremendous  mountains.  The  weather  was 
intensely  cold ;  a  good  deal  of  soroche  prevailed ;  the 
night  was  very  dark,  and  the  march  was  as  dangerous 
as  it  was  tedious  and  harassing. .    The  party  lost  its 


338  LOSSES  OF  THE  ROYALISTS.        CHAP,  XIV. 

way  for  some  hours,  and  three  men  fell,  with  their 
animals,  down  a  ravine.  A  mule  was  killed,  but  the 
men  were  not  seriously  injured.  More  than  half 
the  regular  troops  lagged  behind  from  excessive  fa- 
tigue ;  the  rest  reached  Calera  (fourteen  leagues  from 
Moquegua,  and  sixty-three  from  Arica)  at  9  A.  M. 
on  the  26th  of  May,  soon  after  the  royalist  party 
had  arrived  by  a  shorter  road,  without  being  aware 
that  their  pursuers  were  at  hand.  They  had  scarcely 
time  to  saddle,  and  fly  from  the  place,  when  the 
patriots  entered.  In  the  course  of  a  further  pur- 
suit, of  three  leagues,  all  were  taken  prisoners  or 
dispersed.  Of  above  six  .  hundred  royalists,  who 
composed  the  two  detachments  sent  from  Arequipa 
and  Puno,  perhaps  not  above  twenty  rejoined  the 
Spanish  army.  The  garrison  of  Arica,  about  four 
hundred  men,  had  also  been  annihilated  ;  so  that; in 
less  than  a  fortnight  after  the  few  patriots  landed, 
they  had  killed,  made  prisoners,  or  put  hors  de  com- 
bat, upwards  of  a  thousand  of  the  royalist  army. 
This  success  was  the  result  of  long,  difficult,  and 
forced  marches,  which  the  patriots  underwent  with 
a  cheerfulness  and  patience  worthy  the  highest  ad- 
miration. Hunger  and  thirst  in  the  desert  and  in 
the  mountain  wilds  were  borne  with  uncomplaining 
resignation  ;  but  irresistible  sleep  often  overpowered 
the  soldier,  who  fell  as  if  in  a  trance  from  his  mule 
as  he  rode  along,  and  was  sometimes  left  to  follow 
as  he  could. 

'  During  the  march  of  the  patriots,  whenever  they 
fell  in  with  Indians,  they  immediately  engaged  them 
to  scour  the  country  and  bring  in  the  straggling 


CHAP.  Xiv.  MOQUEGUA.  329 

royalists,  who,  having  thrown  away  their  arms,  for 
the  most  part  quietly  submitted.  To  encourage  the 
Indians  in  this  service,  money  was  given  to  them, 
and  now  and  then  a  jaded  mule,  which  they  were 
permitted  to  retain  on  their  delivering  a  Spanish 
prisoner,  at  Moquegua. 

The  Indians  were  assured  that  neither  tribute  nor 
sacrifices  were  required  of  them  j  that  the  patriots, 
their  brethren  in  arms,  came  to  liberate  them  from 
tyranny.  Such  assurances  and  conduct  towards  them 
produced  an  extraordinary  and  enthusiastic  feeling 
of  patriotism  in  these  long  outraged  and  oppressed 
aborigines.  Miller  organized  a  guerrilla  party,  and 
having  waited  for  a  moonlight  night,  that  he  might 
cross  the  desert  with  greater  facility,  he  retired  from 
Calera*  leaving  there  an  officer  and  six  regulars. 
This  place  being  situated  near  the  regions  of  perpe- 
tual snow,  his  men  had  begun  to  suffer  greatly  from 
cold  and  difficulty  of  respiration. 

After  a  most  fatiguing  march,  he  re-entered  Torata, 
celebrated  for  the  excellence  of  its  bread,  and  situated 
at  the  foot  of  high  mountains,  over  which  the  road 
to  Calera  winds.  On  the  next  day,  the  29th,  the 
patriot  party,  worn  out  with  fatigue,  re-entered  Mo- 
quegua, hailed  by  the  enthusiastic  greetings  of  the 
inhabitants. 

Moquegua  is  surrounded  by  high  hills.  Ague  is 
very  prevalent.  The  position  was  objectionable  as 
a  defensive  one;  and  Miller,  considering  his  force 
too  weak  to  attack  General  Ramirez,  who  held  Are- 
quipa  with  seven  hundred  and  fifty-four  royalists, 
fell  back,  on  the  4th  of  June,  with  the  cavalry  to 


390  ILO.  CBAP.  XW. 

Santo  Domingo,  two  leagues  from  Moquegua.  The 
infantry  were  ordered  to  La  Rinconada,  five  leagues 
in  the  rear. 

On  the  same  day,  it  was  ascertained  that  La  Hera 
was  advancing  from  Santiago  de  Machaca  with  new 
reinforcements  towards  Tacna,  to  cut  off  the  retreat 
of  the  patriots*  The  patriot  sick  were  sent  to  Ho. 
The  inhabitants  of  Moquegua  became  a  little  alarmed 
at  these  ominous  preparations ;  but  were  re-assured  | 

by  seeing  a  guerrilla  party,  and  a  few  regulars,  de- 
spatched to  approach  as  near  to  Arequipa  as  the 
commanding  officer,  Lieutenant  La  Tapia,  judged  it 
prudent. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  the  patriot  infantry  marched 
from  the  Rinconada.  On  the  8th,  Miller  overtook  . 
them  at  Sitana,  a  place  consisting  of  half  a  dozen 
huts,  two  leagues  west  of  Locumba.  On  the  9th, 
the  cavalry  arrived  from  Santo  Domingo,  and  the 
whole  division  bivouacked  on  a  commodious  estate 
near  Sitana. 

On  the  10th,  Miller  set  out  for  Ilo.  A  ride  of 
ten  leagues  over  hill  and  dale  brought  him  to  the 
OlivareSy  an  estate  of  olive-groves,  celebrated  for  the 
fruit  being  nearly  as  large  as  pigeons'  eggs,  and 
reckoned  superior  in  flavour  to  the  olives  of  Seville. 
They  are  cured  by  being  soaked  in  oil,  which  softens 
and  swells  the  pulp.  Small  pieces  of  onion  are  often 
minced  up  and  eaten  with  the  olives,  which,  with 
good  bread,  make  no  contemptible  repast,  especially 
after  a  long  ride  over  the  desert.  Continuing  his 
journey  for  four  leagues  along  the  sea-coast,  Miller 
arrived  at  Ilo,  which,  like  most  other  places  on  t&e 


CHAP.  XIV.  TACNA.  881 

desert,  is  mud-built  and  miserable.  He  went  on 
board  three  small  brigs  which  Cochrane  had  sent  to 
Ho,  to  remain  there  as  a  resource,  in  case  of  emer- 
gency. He  then  visited  about  thirty  sick  men,  placed 
under  the  care  of  a  couple  of  elderly  females ;  there 
being  no  medical  officer  with  the  patriots.  Assistant- 
Surgeon  Molloy,  an  Irish  gentleman,  who  had  been 
destined  to  replace  the  loss  of  Mr.  Welsh,  in  attempt- 
ing to  land  near  the  town  of  Ilo,  was  drowned,  to- 
gether with  the  boat's  crew. 

Miller  having  left  some  orders  with  the  alcaide  of 
the  town,  set  out  on  his  return  to  Sitana  on  the  11th, 
whence  his  division  had  been  ordered  to  march,  and 
which  he  came  up  with,  at  Sama,  the  same  evening. 

His  guide  on  this  journey  was  Captain  Belasquez, 
of  the  militia,  who  had  been  brought  up  by  a  mission- 
ary. He  spoke  several  Indian  dialects  with  fluency, 
and  was  master  of  some  curious  acquirements :  one 
of  the  most  useful  was,  that  of  imitating  the  voices 
of  different  animals.  He  was  often  employed  to  go 
into  the  woods  and  enclosures  of  the  valleys,  where 
he  would  neigh  like  a  mare ;  when,  if  any  horses  were 
hidden  there  by  the  royalists,  they  would  neigh  in 
answer,  and  soon  became  patriot  property. 

On  the  12th,  Miller  rode  to  Tacna,  eight  leagues, 
where  he  received  intercepted  correspondence  (an- 
nouncing the  armistice  of  Punchauca)  from  Ramirez 
to  La  Hera,  who  was  supposed  by  Ramirez  to  have 
advanced  to  the  coast :  but  having  approached  within 
four  leagues  of  Tacna  with  eight  hundred  men,  in* 
eluding  the  battalion  of  Gerona,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Ameller,  La  Hera  returned  to  Santiago 


338  ARMISTICE  OF  PUNCHAUCA.         CHAP.  XIV. 

de  Machaca,  under  the  impression  that  the  patriot 
force  was  superior  in  numbers  to  his  own.  This 
miscalculation  arose  from  several  letters  from  La 
Hera  being  intercepted  by  Miller,  who  made  many 
of  the  persons  they  were  addressed  to  sit  down  and 
write  such  answers  as  best  suited  his  views. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  Miller  concentrated  his 
small  force  at  Tacna,  excepting  the  small  .party  in 
advance  at  Moquegiia.  He  sent  an  officer  and  some 
montoneros  in  the  direction  of  Santiago  de  Machaca, 
and  another  to  summon  the  governor  of  Tarapaca. 
Miller  sent  Captain  Hind  to  La  Hera,  informing 
him  of  the  armistice  of  Piinchauca.  Hind  entered 
Santiago  de  Machaca  after  sunset,  unobserved  by  the 
royalist  sentries,  and  coolly  entered  the  house  of  La 
Hera,'  who  was  taking  wine  with  some  of  his  officers. 
On  recovering  from  their  extreme,  astonishment  at 
being  so  broken  in  upon,  Hind  was  received  in  the 
most  cordial  manner,  and  entertained  with  good  fare 
and  the  best  bed  they  could  procure.  The  next  morn- 
ing it  was  agreed  that  the  armistice  of  Punchauca 
should  be  observed  by  the  contending  divisions  in 
the  Intermedios.  After  three  days'  countermarch, 
Captain  Hind  reached  Tacna  with  the  preliminary 
articles,  which  were  afterwards  ratified  by  Miller  on 
the  part  of  the  patriots,  and  by  General  Ramirez,  at 
Arequipa,  on  the  part  of  the  royalists. 

Hostilities  having  ceased,  and  Lord  Cochrane 
thinking,  no  doubt,  that  they  would  not  be  renewed, 
sailed  from  Ilo  for  Chorrillos  and  Ancon  on  the  2d 
of  July,  to  have  an  interview  with  San  Martin.  Mil- 
ler  had,  at  this  time,  pushed  his  advanced  posts  to 


CHAP.  XIV.  PATRIOTIC  SPIRIT.  S33 

within  fourteen  leagues  of  Arequipa;  to  within  twelve 
leagues  of  Santiago  de  Machaca ;  and  to  within  a  few 
miles  of  Iquique  :  so  that  the  patriots  held  possession 
of  the  principal  points  of  one  hundred  leagues  of 
country  from  north  to  south,  and  thirty  leagues  from 
east  to  west. 

He  had  augmented  his  force  as  far  as  the  supply 
of  arms  taken  from  the  enemy  would  allow.  It  con- 
sisted  of  nearly  nine  hundred  rank  and  file,  well 
clothed  and  equipped;  Besides  this,  several  monto- 
nero  parties  had  been  formed  and  spread  over  the 
country.  A  communication  had  also  been  opened 
with  Colonel  Lanza,  a  celebrated  guerrilla  chief  in 
Upper  Peru. 

The  two  worthy  patriots,  Don  Juan  Agustin 
Lyra,  and  Seiior  de  Lobaton,  arrived  from  Majes 
at  Arica,  with  letters  from  Colonel  Don  Domingo 
Tristan,  and  Doctor  Cordova,  cura  of  Salamanca, 
both  possessing  great  influence  in  the  province  of 
Chuquibamba,  soliciting  the  co-operation  of  the  pa- 
triot division,  and  offering  to  support  any  movement 
by  every  exertion  in  their  power.  But  as  Miller 
had  been  left  without  adequate  means  to  transport 
his  men  from  point  to  point  by  sea,  he  was  unable  to 
take  advantage  of  those  favourable  proposals. 

In  the  course  of  these  operations,  the  spirit  of  pa- 
triotism had  been  awakened,  and  it  spread  with  en- 
thusiastic rapidity.  Even  such  of  the  inhabitants  as 
were  Spaniards,  or  attached  to  the  Spanish  cause, 
behaved  in  a  manner  the  most  friendly.  Such  was 
the  orderly  conduct  of  the  patriot  soldiers,  that  they 
acquired  universal  esteem ;  and  such  was  their  intre- 


334  EARTHQUAKE.  CHAT.  XIV* 

pidity  and  good  fortune  in  the  field,  that  the  royalists, 
with  double  numbers,  ceased  to  act  upon  the  offensive. 

The  communications  from  the  Spanish  commanders 
to  Miller  contained  expressions  of  personal  esteem 
not  common  between  opposing  chiefs  in  that  country. 
La  Hera,  who  was  beaten  at  Mirabe,  always  spoke 
of  his  successful  opponent  in  terms  of  respect  and 
regard. 

The  patriots  had  now  a  good  opportunity  of  tasting 
the  good  things  found  in  Tacna ;  and  they  not  only 
did  so,  but  Miller  sent  two  mules  laden  with  spirits, 
wine,  and  porter  to  La  Hera  at  Santiago  de  Machaca, 
who  courteously  acknowledged  the  present.  It  is 
not  to  be  supposed  that  good  dinners  were  forgotten 
amongst  other  relaxations  of  the  officers.  One  day, 
as  the  cloth  was  removing  from  Miller's  table,  a 
shock  of  an  earthquake  was  felt ;  most  of  the  company 
rose  up  and  cried,  Temblor,  temblor!  misericordia! 
Amongst  the  foremost  to  retreat  into  the  street  was 
the  worthy  Doctor  Lazo ;  but  Miller  and  others  at- 
tempted to  detain  him.  Other  shocks  succeeded,  and 
they  would  willingly  have  followed  the  doctor,  but 
having  laughed  at  his  alarms,  they  remained;  not, 
however,  without  repenting  their  own  ill-timed  jocu- 
larity. The  house  was  much  shaken,  the  rafters 
cracked,  and  the  plaster  came  tumbling  down ;  but 
luckily  the  building  was  a  very  strong  one,  and  no- 
thing happened  beyond  frightening  those  who  had 
made  game  of  their  wiser  companions.  Fourteen 
houses  were  either  partially  or  entirely  overthrown 
in  the  course  of  successive  shocks,  which  took  place 
during  the  space  of  four  minutes.    After  this  lesson, 


CHAP.  xiv.  PRISONERS  REDEEMED  FROM  SLAVERY.  835 

Miller  always  ran  into  the  street  with  the  rest  when 
he  felt  an  earthquake. 

During  Miller's  residence  in  Tacna  he  was,  upon 
two  occasions,  attacked  with  violent  fits  of  ague,  and 
each  illness  confined  him  to  his  bed  for  eight  or  ten 
days.  Tacna  is  not  unhealthy,  it  being  situated  at 
some  distance  from  the  coast,  and  at  the  foot  of 
mountains ;  but  few  persons  remain  any  considerable 
time  in  the  other  valleys  without  being  annoyed  by 
the  ague. 

Amongst  other  interesting  incidents  which   oc- 
curred at  this  time,  we  select  the  following. 

Miller,  upon  his  first  landing,  learned  that  many 
negroes  and  mulattaes  formerly  belonging  to  the 
Buenos  Ayrean  army,  and  who  had  been  made  pri- 
soners at  Sipe-Sipe,  and  other  battles  in  Upper  Peru* 
still  existed  in  a  state  of  slavery  on  the  plantations 
in  the  Intermedios.  It  seems  that  these  unfortunate 
soldiers  had  been  sold  by  order  of  the  Spanish  general. 
Miller  immediately  ordered  them  to  be  released,  and 
about  thirty  of  them,  all  that  could  be  found,  were 
restored  to  freedom.  Amongst  these  were  two  young 
men  of  colour,  who  had  risen  in  the  patriot  service 
to  the  rank  of  commissioned  officers,  in  consequence 
of  their  good  conduct  and  bravery.  But,  having  been 
confined  for  eight  years  in  galpone*,  or  slave  huts; 
worked  like  beasts  of  burden ;  and  associating  only 
with  out-door  slaves,  their  minds  had  sunk  under 
the  debasing  servitude,  and  they  gave  themselves  up 
to  drunkenness,  and  all  the  vices  inseparable  from  a 
state  of  slavery.  They  were  found  to  be  so  utterly 
irreclaimable  that  they  could  not  be  employed  again. 


386  ADVENTURES  OF  LA  TAPIA.        CHAP.  XIY. 

Thus  were  two  brave  and  naturally  well-disposed 
men  lost  to  the  service,  to  society,  and  to  them- 
selves. 

Amongst  the  Spanish  prisoners  taken  at  Moque- 
gua  was  Captain  Suarez,  who  was  severely  wounded. 
The  royalist  chiefs  at  Arequipa  requested  that  their 
wounded  friend  might  be  permitted  to  go  there  for 
surgical  treatment,  engaging,  at  the  same  time,  that 
he  should  return  as  a  prisoner  of  war  when  cured  of 
his  wounds.  Miller  released  the  Spaniard  uncon- 
ditionally, and  supplied  him  with  the  means  of  going 
to  his  friends.  This  trifling  occurrence  produced  a 
remarkable  effect  amongst  the  royalists;  for  when 
Miller  sent  a  flag  of  truce,  some  time  afterward^ 
into  Arequipa,  the  Spanish  officers,  discovering  that 
the  bearer  was  commissioned  to  make  some  little 
purchases,  kindly  undertook  to  procure  the  articles, 
and  such  as  were  not  to  be  bought  in  Arequipa  they 
sent  for  expressly  to  Lima;  but,  unluckily,  before 
they  were  received,  Miller  had  left  the  coast.  With 
Old  Castilian  delicacy,  the  wounded  officer  did  not 
again  take  arms  upon  his  recovery,  but  accepted  a 
civil  employment  in  the  custom-house. 

The  following  adventures  of  Lieutenant  La  Tapia 
are  given  as  illustrative  of  the  nature  of  the  contest, 
and  of  the  characters  of  some  of  the  opposing  parties. 

It  has  been  stated,  that  when  Miller  retired  from 
Moquegua  towards  Tacna,  he  sent  La  Tapia  with  a 
trumpeter,  a  few  regulars,  and  a  montonero  party, 
with  orders  to  approach  as  near  as  possible  to  Are- 
quipa. Tired  of  the  dreariness  of  this  service,  La 
Tapia  longed  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  city  itself.     Ac- 


CHAP.  xiv.         ADVENTURE  OF  LA  TAPIA.  887 

cordingly  he  presented  himself  one  day  at  the  royalists' 
advanced  post,  under  pretence  of  being  a  parlamen- 
tarioy  or  bearer  of  a  flag  of  truce,  and  was  conducted 
to  General  Ramirez,  then  commanding  in  Arequipa. 
Producing  a  paper,  which  had  been  fabricated  for 
the  purpose,  he  said,  "General,  you  will  perceive 
by  this  document  that  I  am  commissioned  by  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Miller,  my  commanding  officer,  to 
communicate  with  your  excellency ."  "  Yes,"  an- 
swered the  general,  after  looking  at  the  paper ;  "but 
what  can  you  have  to  say  now  that  the  armistice  has 
taken  place  between  the  viceroy  and  General.  San 
Martin  ?"  La  Tapia,  to  whom  the  news  of  the  armi- 
stice was  equally  sudden  and  unexpected,  and  who 
had  prepared  quite  a  different  pretext,  replied  with 
the  utmost  composure  and  readiness,  "  That  is  the 
object  of  my  mission,  to  inform  your  excellency  of 
that  event,  and  to  propose,  in  consequence,  that 
hostilities  should  cease  at  the  same  time  between 
the  troops  under  your  excellency's  command  and 
those  of  the  liberating  division  of  the  south."  "It  is 
impossible,"  exclaimed  the  astonished  general,  "  that 
your  commanding  officer  could  yet  have  heard  of  the 
armistice,  for  it  was  concluded  at  Punchauca  only 
eight  days  ago,  which  time  it  has  taken  the  courier 
to  bring  me  the  intelligence,  and  it  has  only  just 
arrived.  .  How  then  could  your  commanding  officer, 
who  is  forty  leagues  farther  off,  have  already  received 
the  information?"  La  Tapia,  perfectly  unembarrassed, 
answered,  that  he  was  not  in  the  least  surprised  at 
the  astonishment  expressed  by  the  general,  as  indeed 
the  circumstance  was  almost  incredible  j  that,  how- 
vol.  i.  z 


9SS  ADYENTUItE  OF  LA  TA?rA.         CHAP,  XNk 

ever,  he  was  not  at  liberty  to  divulge  the  means  by 
which  Lieutenant-Colonel  Miller  received  communi- 
cations from  General  San  Martin  along  the  line  of 
coast  occupied  by  the  royalists ;  that  he  would,  there- 
fore, only  observe,  that  such  was  the  energy  and  pa- 
triotism exhibited  by  the  inhabitants,  that  the  agents 
of  the  independents  could  perform  their  secret  mis- 
sions with  such  celerity  as  though  they  actually  had 
wings ;  that  although  the  main  body  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Miller's  division  might  be  nearly  forty  leagues 
distant,  yet  this  officer  was  in  the  habit  of  riding  to 
his  advanced  posts,  which  his  excellency  well  knew 
were  almost  at  the  gates  of  Arequipa;  and  that  it 
was  just  as  probable  that  communications  should  be 
received  at  the  one  point  as  at  the  other. 

Ramirez  appeared,  upon  this  reply,  to  recover  in 
some  degree  from  his  surprise,  and  invited  La  Tapia 
to  partake  of  a  collation,  during  which  he  received 
marks  of  the  politest  attention  from  the  general  and 
his  staff. 

In  the  meantime  the  circumstance  of  the  arrival 
of  the  patriot  officer  occasioned  a  considerable  sensa- 
tion amongst  the  patriotic  inhabitants  of  Arequipe, 
and  the  interest  became  at  last  so  ardent,  that  Ra- 
mirez thought  it  prudent  to  dismiss  La  Tapia  with- 
out delay,  which  he  did  with  the  assurance  that  he 
was  willing  to  conform  to  the  armistice,  and  that  he 
would  send  an  officer  on  the  following  day  to  arrange 
the  terms. 

La  Tapia:  had  left  Arequipa  six  hours,  when  Ge- 
neral Ramirez  discovered  how  ingeniously  he  had 
been  played  upon,  by  the  arrival  of  an  official  com- 


CHAP.  x/r.  LA  TAPIA.  889 

munication  from  Lieutenant-Colonel  Miller  upon  the 
subject  of  prisoners,  in  which  no  allusion  was  made 
to  the  armistice  or  La  Tapia's  mission. 

La  Tapia  was  remarkable  for  his  ready  wit,  his 
amazing  fluency  of  speech,  and  for  the  quaint  and 
amusing  terms  in  which  he  could  express  his  in- 
veterate detestation  of  the  Spaniards. 

When  an  ensign,  La  Tapia  had  distinguished  him- 
self at  the  assault  of  Valdivia.  The  day  after  the 
western  forts  were  captured  he  was  left  with  a  small 
guard  in  charge  of  the  prisoners  at  the  castle  of 
Corral,  whilst  the  remainder  of  the  patriot  troops 
were  re-embarked  to  proceed  against  the  forts  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  harbour.  La  Tapia  was 
no  sooner  left  to  himself  than  he  determined  upon 
shooting  the  whole  of  the  prisoners.  He  was  upon 
the  point  of  commencing  this  operation  at  the  mo- 
ment Lord  Cochrane's  secretary  went  on  shore  to 
look  at  the  castle.  Observing  the  preparation  for 
this  massacre,  the  secretary  went  towards  La  Tapia, 
who  congratulated  him  upon  his  having  arrived  in 
time  to' witness  the  execution  of  the  godos.  (goths), 
who,  he  added,  had  shown  a  disposition  to  rise  upon 
the  guard.  The  secretary  with  some  difficulty  pre- 
vailed upon  La  Tapia  to  suspend  the  execution,  and 
to  allow  him  to  examine  into  the  matter.  In  the 
meantime  he  sent  off  word  to  the  admiral,  who  was 
on  board  the  frigate  anchored  under  the  guns  of  the 
castle.  La  Tapia  was  placed  under  arrest  before  he 
could  accomplish  the  intended  execution.  He  stated 
in  palliation  of  the  projected  crime,  that  his  father, 
mother,  two  brothers,,  and  an  almost  infant  sister 

z  2 


S40  VIEWS  OF  LORD  COCHRANE.        CHAP.  XIV. 

having  been  murdered  in  Colombia  by  the  royalists, 
he  had  made  a  vow  never  to  show  them  quarter*, 
that  the  admiral  might  hang  or  shoot  him  if  he 
pleased,  but  that  he  never  could  lose  an  opportunity 
of  avenging  the  cruel  massacre  of  his  family.  He 
then  threw  off  his  shoes,  and  pulling  down  his  stock- 
ings, pointed  to  several  deep  scars  upon  his  ankle. 
"  These/'  said  he,  "  were  caused  by  the  heavy  irons 
which  fettered  me  in  a  loathsome  dungeon  for  eighteen 
months  before  I  had  attained  the  age  of  sixteen.  Is 
it  in  human  nature  to  forget  or  forgive  such  injuries? 
The  sight  of  a  Spaniard,"  he  added,  "  throws  me 
into  a  fever,  and  his  harsh  and  guttural  tones  re- 
mind me  of  the  insults  I  was  compelled  to  bear  when 
a  prisoner.  I  know  that  I  have  done  wrong  in  the 
eyes  of  the  law,  but  I  obey  the  law  of  nature." 

In  consequence  of  this  affecting  appeal,  and  of  his 
very  courageous  conduct  during  the  assault,  La  Tapia 
was,  after  a  few  weeks'  imprisonment,  liberated,  with 
a  severe  reprimand. 

When  Cochrane  approached  Arica  in  May,  his 
views  were  far  more  comprehensive  than  merely  to 
cause  a  diversion  in  favour  of  San  Martin.  He  had 
previously  importuned  the  Chileno  government  to 
reinforce  Miller  with  a  thousand,  or  at  least  five  hun- 
dred men,  and  to  furnish  a  thousand  stand  of  spare 
arms  from  the  ample  stores  of  Santiago.  No  part 
of  this  request  was  ever  attended  to;  and  Miller, 
thus  unsupported,  was  unable  to  avail  himself  of  ex- 
cellent opportunities,  arising  out  of  the  good  will  of 
the  natives,  to  recruit.  It  may  easily  be  imagined 
with  what  feelings  of  disappointment  he  relinquished 


CHAP.  XIV.  ItOYALISTS  ADVANCE.  341 

the  advantages  already  obtained,  and  at  a  time,  too, 
when  the  fairest  prospect  appeared,  not  only  of  being 
able  to  maintain  his  ground,  but  also  of  taking  pos- 
session of  Arequipa,  whose  inhabitants  were  warmly 
disposed  in  his  favour.  He  might  have  augmented 
and  organized  his  forces  in  that  rich  and  populous 
city,  and  have  marched  towards  Cuzco,  and  thereby 
placed  the  royalist  army  under  the  viceroy,  at  Huan- 
cayo  and  Xauxa,  in  an  embarrassing  situation.  That 
this  is  not  an  extravagant  assumption  will  probably 
be  granted,  if  it  be  remembered  that  Miller  enjoyed 
the  unlimited  confidence  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Puertos  Intermedios  * ;  that  they  unanimously  pressed 
forward  and  made  unsolicited  sacrifices  to  assist  him ; 
and  that  the  soldiery  entertained  an  idea  that  he  could 
not  be  beaten. 

During  this  time  General  Ramirez  had  drawn 
from  distant  garrisons  nearly  two  thousand  men  to 
act  against  Miller,  who  could  now  only  muster  four 
hundred  effective  men,  about  the  same  number  being 
placed  hars  de  combat  by  ague. 

Previous  to  the  expiration  of  the  armistice,  La 
Hera  advanced  from  Santiago  de  Machaca  with  one 
'  thousand  royalists,  and  took  possession  of  Moquegua 
on  the  10th  of  July;  by  which  movement  he  formed 
a  junction  with  a  considerable  reinforcement  sent 
from  Arequipa.  This  breach  of  faith  he  alleged  to 
be  in  retaliation,  1st,  for  Lord  Cochrane's  having 
taken,  from  the  port  of  Ilo,  a  quantity  of  wheat, 
Spanish  property,  during  the  suspension  of  hostilities ; 

*  The  coast  of  Peru  between  Ocuiia  and  Iquiqur  is  called  Los  Puertos  Inter - 
f/tedios,  or,  the  intermediate  ports. 


8*2  LETTER  OF  LA  HERA.  CHAP.  XIV. 

2dly,  for  the  patriots  having  taken  possession  of 
Tacna ;  Sdly,  for  an  irregularity  committed  by  a 
montonero  party,  which  was  explained  to  the  satis- 
faction of  General  Ramirez;  and,  4thly,  upon  the 
unfounded  pretext  of  not  having  a  sufficiency  of  pro- 
visions at  Santiago  de  Machaca,  the  position  he 
occupied. 

The  following  are  translations  of  letters  which 
passed  on  the  subject.  The  first  was  brought  by  the 
royalist  flag  of  truce,  Captain  Don  Ramon  Burgos, 
who  reached  Tacna  on  the  9th  of  July,  and  who  aet 
out  with  an  answer  on  the  following  day. 

"  Express  orders  from  the  general  in  chief  of  the 
national  army  in  Peru  having  authorised  me  to  oc- 
cupy the  town  of  Moquegua  with  the  division  under 
my  command,  I  believe  that  this  movement,  so  far 
from  being  construed  into  an  hostile  act,  or  an  in- 
fraction of  the  armistice  of  Punchauca,  will  be  ad- 
mitted  to  be  founded  upon  bases  legitimate  and  just. 
Resolved  not  to  vary  my  position  until  the  expiration 
of  the  armistice,  or  a  definitive  result,  I  have  main- 
tained myself  in  the  midst  of  the  most  rigorous 
wants,  preferring  to  observe  good  faith  in  spite  of 
the  injuries  it  might  entail.  But  suffering  has  its 
limits,  and  necessity  is  a  law  so  imperious,  that  it 
impresses  the  character  of  duty  to  actions  which  at 
first  sight  appear  to  be  in  violation  of  acknowledged 
rights.  Any  lengthened  extension  of  the  armistice 
would  prevent  the  possibility  of  preserving  my  di- 
vision, if  I  adhered  strictly  to  the  articles  of  that 
treaty.     This  determination  is  warranted  by  infrae- 


CHAP.  XIV.  MILLER'S  REPLY.  8*3 

tious  such  as  the  occupation  of  Tacna  by  you ;  the 
excursion  of  a  party  to  carry  off  horses  from  Cara- 
quen ;  and  the  embarkation  of  wheat  from  Mollendo 
in  the  San  Martin,  will  justify,  in  the  eyes  of  military 
men  (en  los  qjos  de  todos  los  guerreros  del  globo), 
the  instructions  which  my  general  has  transmitted  to 
me.  You  know  well  the  force  of  reasons  as  luminous 
as  they  are  unquestionable,  to  allow  them  to  produce 
a  violation  of  the  truce  on  your  part,  But  if,  in 
spite  of  principle,  you  lend  yourself  to  demonstra- 
tions leading  to  hostilities,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  act 
with  the  energy  and  decision  which  the  decorum  of 
the  national  arms  demands,  holding  you  responsible 
for  the  event, 

"  God  preserve  you  many  years. 

"  (Signed)        Josfe  Santos  de  la  Hera, 

"  To  Lieut.-Col.  "  Santiago  de  Machaca, 

"  Don  Guillermo  Miller.  "  5  July,  1821/' 

"  In  answer  to  your  letter  of  the  5th  inst.  I  inform 
you,  that  in  Tacna  I  received  intelligence  of  the  ar- 
mistice of  Punchauca,  several  days  after  the  military 
commandant  of  this  district  had  taken  possession  in 
the  name  of  the  patria*.  The  taking  of  the  horses 
from  Caraquen  has  been'  explained  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  most  punctilious  advocate  for  military  etiquette, 
as  you  will  perceive  by  the  accompanying  copy  of  a 
letter  from  your  general.  I  believe  you. will  not  ex- 
pect me  to  make  myself  responsible  for  the  conduct 
of  the  navy.  You  will  act  as  you  please,  while  I  shall 

•  It  fa  true,  that  while  Miller  was  returning  from  Moquegua,  La  Hera  ad- 
vanced to  within  lour  leagues  of  Tacna,  and  the  patriot  -governor  did  abandon 
the  town ;  but  as  the  royalists  did  not  approach  any  nearer,  he  re-entered  in  the 
course  of  a  few  hours. 


844  TRADESMEN  OF  TACNA.      CHAP.  XIV. 

regulate  my  proceedings  by  what  is  dictated  by  my 
duty  in  maintaining  the  honour  of  the  division  under 
my  command. 

"  God  preserve  you  many  years. 

" (Signed)        Guillermo  Miller" 

"To  Colonel  "  Tacna, 

"  Don  Jose  Santos  la  Hera.  "  9  July,  1821." 

On  the  15th  of  July,  Colonel  La  Hera  announced 
officially  the  recommencement  of  hostilities.  Miller 
drew  in  his  scattered  detachments.  His  sick  and 
stores  were  sent  to  Arica.  The  three  miserable  craft 
left  at  Ilo  were  also  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  same 
place.  They  made  the  attempt,  but  being  unable 
to  beat  up,  ran  down  to  leeward,  and  were  seen  no 
more  at  the  Puertos  Intermedios. 

On  the  evening  of  the  1 9th,  Miller  sent  off  his. 
infantry  from  Tacna  towards  Arica.  Ten  of  the  pa- 
triots could  not  be  removed  from  the  hospital.  When 
he  went  to  take  leave  of  them,  and  to  supply  them 
with  a  few  dollars,  the  poor  fellows  wept  bitterly,  and 
assured  their  commander  they  would  die  faithful  to 
the  cause. 

The  tailors,  shoemakers,  smiths,  and  others,  who 
had  been  employed  by  requisition,  were  ordered  to 
assemble  an  hour  after  sunset  at  Miller's  quarters,  to 
receive  what  was  due  to  them  on  account  of  work 
done  in  the  public  service.  All  these  people  had 
shown  so  much  zeal  and  alacrity,  that  a  few  extra 
dollars  were  given  to  each  master  to  be  distributed 
among  his  journeymen  as  a  token  of  Miller's  satis- 
faction of  their  good  conduct.  Under  the  vice-regal 
government  it  was  the  rule  to  embargo  the  services 


CHAP.  XIV.  RETREAT  TO  ARICA.  845 

of  tradesmen,  and  to  pay  them  at  a  rate  below  their 
ordinary  earnings,  or  not  to  pay  them  at  all,  when 
employed  on  account  of  the  public  service.  The 
gratuity,  therefore,  to  the  tradesmen  of  Tacna  was 
received  with  equal  surprise  and  pleasure.  Not  con- 
tent with  giving  loud  and  repeated  vivas,  they  em- 
braced the  commandante,  and  vowed,  over  and  over 
again,  that  they  would  remain  unchangeable  patriots. 
The  populace  was  indulged  with  a  few  cases  of  mer- 
chandize belonging  to  the  royalists,  which  being 
placed  in  different  streets,  were  unnailed,  and  every 
body  allowed  to  help  themselves. 

At  two  A.  M.  on  the  20th,  Miller,  with  the  ca- 
valry, followed  the  infantry.  The  inhabitants  felt 
deeply  the  departure  of  the  patriots.  They  continued 
their  kind  offices  to  the  last,  and  every  soldier  was 
shaken  by  the  hand  at  least  twenty  times  as  they 
filed  out  of  the  town  on  the  Arica  road. 

The  venerable  Don  Agustin  Sapata  of  Moquegua, 
the  highly  respectable  families  of  Potrillo,  Landa, 
Lazo,  and  several  others,  had  departed  for  Arica  on 
the  day  before,  choosing  nither  to  emigrate  than  to 
live  again  in  Spanish  bondage.  Others  were  equally 
willing  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  the  patriots,  but 
having  young  families,  or  from  other  causes,  were 
obliged  to  remain.  Amongst  these  were  Don  En- 
rique Solar  and  Don  N.  Boteler,  who  had  both  com- 
promised themselves  by  having  accepted  appoint- 
ments. Although  Miller  strenuously  advised  them 
to  make  their  peace  with  the  royalists  by  speaking 
against  the  patriots,  they  bade  him  farewell  in  the 
most  dejected  manner,  which,  joined  to  the  weeping 


346  CHACALUJTA.  CHAP.  3UV. 

t)f  their  afflicted  families,  added  very  much  to  the 
embarrassment  of  this  depressing  separation.  Three 
hours  after  this  the  royalists  entered  Tacna. 

The  tradesmen  who  had  been  employed  by  the 
patriots  shouted  their  vivas,  and  proceeded  to  hide 
themselves  in  the  valley,  in  order  not  to  be  embar- 
goed to  work  for  the  royalists.  The  expectation  was 
that  Miller  would  fight ;  and  he  kept  up  this  neces- 
sary illusion  so  completely,  that  the  officer  next  to 
him  -in  command  was  not  aware  of  his  real  intention 
to  embark. 

The  patriot  division,  after  a  harassing  march  of 
eleven  leagues  in  thirteen  hours,  over  a  hot  desert  of 
sand,  arrived  at  Chacalluta,  and  bivouacked  on  the 
bank  of  a  rivulet. 

La  Hera,  who  was  also  fully  persuaded  that  Miller 
intended  to  make  a  resolute  stand,  halted  for  twenty* 
four  hours  at  Tacna  to  refresh  his  men.  This  delay 
gave  time  to  the  patriots  to  secure  the  means  of  re- 
treat by  sea.  Arrangements  had  been  secretly  made 
for  withdrawing  to  the  Sierra,  in  case  the  embarkotioa 
could  not  be  accomplished.  The  hopes  entertained 
by  the  patriots  of  escaping  by  sea  were  founded  upon 
the  casual  presence  of  four  merchant-vessels  in  the 
roadstead  of  Arica,  which  they  calculated  upon  get- 
ting possession  of,  either  by  persuasion  or  force. 

The  manner  in  which  transports  were  obtained 
will  show  how  the  course  of  events  may  sometimes 
be  changed  by  a  trifling  incident.  Previous  to  Mil- 
ler's arrival,  the  governor  of  Arica  had,  with  very 
good  intentions,  sent  two  or  three  soldiers  aboard  a 
very  fine  North  American  schooner,  of  three  hun- 


CHAP.  XIV.  TRANSPORT  OBTAINED.  847 

dred  tons,  to  secure  her.  The  master,  disliking  the 
embargo,  got  ready  to  slip  his  cable  and  put  out  to 
sea,  intending  to  land  the  soldiers  when  and  where 
it  suited  his  convenience.  Being  informed  of  the 
circumstance,  upon  entering  Arica,  Miller  instantly 
went  on  board  unaccompanied.  He  offered  the  most 
liberal  terms,  which  were  pertinaciously  rejected. 
This  refusal  rendered  the  services  of  the  other  three 
vessels  unavailable,  as  they  could  not  have  taken  off 
the  whole  of  the  troops.  During  an  animated  con- 
versation, Miller,  as  he  paced  the  quarter-deck,  re- 
cognised  some  men  amongst  the  ship's  company  who 
had  formerly  served  with  him  in  the  Chileno  squa- 
dron, and  who  were  evidently  attending  with  deep 
concern  to  what  was  passing.  It  happened  that 
the  seamen  in  the  Pacific,  whether  British  or  North 
American ;  whether  serving  in  men-of-war  or  in  mer- 
chant vessels,  had  always  evinced  the  liveliest  in- 
terest in  the  successes  of  the  English  leader.  It  was 
a  feeling  which  produced  an  important  effect  at  the 
present  critical  juncture.  He  turned  round  to  them, 
and  made  a  short  address.  They  all  answered  his 
appeal  by  an  animated  declaration,  that  "  a  country- 
man hard  pushed  should  not  be  forsaken ."  After 
some  unavailing  remonstrances  on  the  part  of  the 
master,  he  indignantly  threw  up  the  command,  and 
went  on  shore.  The  chief  mate  prepared  to  follow, 
but  was  prevailed  upon  to  take  charge  of  the  vessel. 
Thus  were  the  patriots  fortunately  relieved  from  the 
necessity  of  contending  with  the  most  fearful  odds  in 
an  untenable  position. 


3iB  MRS.  GAGO. 


CHAP.  XIV. 


When  the  patriots  landed  at  Arica  in  May,  the  in- 
habitants were  decided  royalists.    The  pillage  of  the 
town  by  the  sailors  of  the  San  Martin  augmented 
this  political  feeling  into  a  deadly  hatred.    Amongst 
the  most  violent  was  the  young  and  beautiful  wife  of 
the  late  royalist  governor,  Colonel  Gago.    Her  house 
had  been  stripped;  even  her  piano-forte  was  taken 
on  board  j  and  she  herself  left  without  a  change  of 
apparel.     She  was  subsequently  often  heard  to  say 
that  she  should  only  die  happy  if  she  could  soak  her 
handkerchief  in  the  blood  of  an  insurgent.     How- 
ever, the  general  good  conduct  of  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  division  of  the  patriot  army  produced,  in 
time,  a  complete  revolution  of  opinion.     Notwith- 
standing the  unfavourable  circumstances  under  which 
they  re-entered  Arica,  the  inhabitants  came  forward 
with  the  greatest  good  will,  and  assisted  in  the  em- 
barkation.    They  sent  a  thousand  loaves  of  bread, 
and  a  proportionate  quantity  of  fresh  meat,  for  the 
use  of  the  sick.      Some  of  the  most  steadfast  ad- 
herents  to   the   king  sent   refreshments   of  coffee, 
chocolate,  &c.  to  Miller  during  the  night,  whilst, 
knee-deep  in  surf,  he  superintended  the  difficult  em- 
barkation.    Only  three  or  four  men  could  be  con- 
veyed at  a  time  upon  each  balsa  to  the  launches, 
which  could  not  with  safety  approach  nearer  to  the 
beach  than  twenty  or  thirty  fathoms.     At  five  P.  M. 
on  the  21st,  the  royalists  were  reported  to  have  ar- 
rived within  four  leagues.     Captain  Belasquez,  who 
had  been  despatched,  well  mounted,  and  with  led 
horses,  from  Chacalluta,  on  the  road  to  Tacna,  had 


CHAP.  XIV.  EMBARKATION.  349 

reconnoitred  the  advancing  enemy,  and  now  brought 
the  report.  He  had  left  ten  confidential  men  in  ob- 
servation until  his  return. 

« 

The  shipment  of  the  troops  was  rendered  more 
difficultly  a  hundred  emigrants  with  their  baggage. 
The  latter,  as  well  as  all  those  who  had  recently 
adopted  the  patriot  cause,  were  particularly  anxious 
to  be  the  first  on  board.  The  operation  became 
more  complicated  by  the  necessity  of  sending  wood, 
water,  and  provisions  on  board  at  the  same  time. 
Fifty  bullocks  were  killed,  skinned,  cut  up  on  the 
beach,  and  shipped  before  morning.  This  was  an- 
other night  of  very  hard  work ;  but,  with  the  valuable 
assistance  of  Mr.  William  Cochran,  an  eminent  En- 
glish merchant,  and  the  cordial  co-operation  of  the 
inhabitants,  every  difficulty  was  overcome,  and  Mil- 
ler, in  the  last  launch,  pushed  off  only  a  few  minutes 
before  the  royalists  appeared  and  formed  upon  the 
beach. 

Miller  sent  a  boat  on  shore  with  a  flag  of  truce,  to 
request  that  the  sick  left  at  Tacna  should  be  treated 
with  humanity.  Colonel  La  Hera  returned  a  polite 
answer,  paying  some  compliments  on  the  discipline 
of  the  patriot  force,  and  giving  an  assurance  that  the 
few  independent  soldiers  in  the  hospital  should  be 
attended  to  in  preference  to  his  own  men. 

At  two  P.  M.  on  the  22d,  the  vessels  weighed 
anchor  and  stood  to  the  northward. 

The  good  conduct  of  the  patriot  soldiers  has  been 
mentioned  as  well  as  that  of  several  officers.  It  re- 
mains to  enumerate  some  others  whose  names  cannot 
with  justice  be  omitted.    Colonel  Landa,  afterwards 


360  EMBARKATION.  chap.  XIV. 

taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Moquegua  and  shot 
by  the  royalists;  Captain  Aramburu,  taken  prisoner 
at  the  same  time,  and  drowned  at  sea  on  his  passage 
to  Chiloe ;  Captain  Carreiio,  killed  on  the  day  before 
the  battle  of  Ayacucho ;  and  Lieutenant  Don  Vi- 
cente Suares,  killed  in  1824,  in  an  affair  of  outposts 
near  Lima;  all  distinguished  themselves  for  zeal  and 
valour.  Dr.  Don  Jose  Lazo,  a  lawyer  of  superior 
talents  and  warm  patriotism,  acted  as  auditor  de 
guerra,  or  judge  advocate;  he  rendered  important 
services  as  a  legal  adviser,  and  acquired  the  con- 
fidence of  his  commander,  and  the  consideration  of 
the  Peruvian  government.  He  was  subsequently  in 
a  village  near  Chucuyto,  having  been  left  behind  on 
the  dispersion  of  a  patriot  force.  He,  however,  con- 
tinued to  win  the  good  graces  of  the  royalists  by 
his  poetical  talents,  and  escaped  being  made  a  close 
prisoner  by  writing  complimentary  verses  upon  some 
of  the  royalist  leaders.  In  this  dilemma  his  muse 
proved  to  be  his  best  friend. 


CHAP.  XV.  *  PISCO  RE-OCCUPIED.  351 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Pisco  re-occupied.— Ildefbnso. — A  Peruvian  Meg  Merrilies. — Co- 
pari. — Gaguachi.— Character  of  Santalla.— General  San  Martin 
enters  Lima.— Atrocities  of  the  royalists. — Independence  pro- 
claimed.— San  Martin  becomes  protector. — Decrees. — Canterac 
returns  to  Callao — retreats  again — is  pursued. — Puruchuco. — 
Quiros.— Montoneros. 

When  Miller  sailed  from  Arica  it  was  his  in- 
tention to  have  landed  at  Quilca,  and  to  have 
marched  rapidly  upon  Arequipa,  which  city  was  left 
unguarded,  Ramirez  having  sent  the  garrison  to 
Arica:  but  the  wind  was  so  boisterous  that  it  was 
impossible  to  effect  a  landing,  and  having  only  three 
days'  provisions  and  water  on  board,  he  was  unable  ta 
wait  off  the  bad  port  of  Quilca  until  the  weather  mo- 
derated. Ignorant  of  the  situation  of  General  San 
Martin,  he  took  upon  himself  to  direct  his  course  once 
more  to  Pisco.  The  commander  of  the  schooner 
never  having  been  on  that  part  of  the  coast,  Miller 
acted  as  pilot,  and  entered  the  roadstead  after  dark 
on  the  1st  of  August,  landed,  and,  before  daylight  on 
the  2d,  took  possession  of  the  town.  Fifty  royalist 
cavalry,  after  exchanging  a  few  shots,  galloped  off. 

He  detached  small  parties  in  every  direction  to 
procure  horses  and  mules,  to  mount  a  company 
in  pursuit  of  the  garrison  of  two  hundred  men, 
commanded  by  Colonel   Santalla,  who  had  seized 


362  ILDKFONSO.  CHAP.  XV. 

upon  every  horse  and  mule,  not  hidden  away  by  the 
owners. 

Amongst  the  casualties  of  this  period  was  the  loss 
of  a  negro  youth,  whose  death  should  not  go  unre- 
corded. His  condition  was  indeed  lowly ;  but  a  noble 
mind  is  not  restricted  to  colour  or  to  station. 

Ildefonso  was  born  a  slave  at  Chincha,  near  Pisco. 
He  enteredthe  patriot  service  as  one  of  the  infernales 
when  Miller  landed  the  year  before,  and  shortly  after 
became  his  servant.  He  brought  himself  first  into 
notice  by  his  shrewdness  in  discovering,  and  boldness 
in  passing  fords,  where  great  skill  in  horsemanship 
and  dexterity  in  throwing  the  lasso  are  sometimes 
the  only  means  of  saving  the  foremost  to  attempt  the 
ford  from  being  carried  away  by  the  torrent.  Ilde- 
fonso was  engaged  in  every  affair  that  occurred  in  the 
Intermedios  in  the  year  1821.  He  possessed  all  thev 
good  qualities  of  a  soldier,  being  bold,  obedient,  and 
cleanly.  To  a  tall  and  finely  proportioned  form, 
equal  to  any  fatigue,  and  to  any  enterprise,  were 
added  a  mild  expressive  countenance,  teeth  as  white 
as  ivory;  and  so  pleasing  were  his  manners,  that  he 
was  as  much  beloved  by  his  comrades,  as  he  was  ad- 
mired by  all  for  his  extraordinary  intrepidity.  Trust- 
worthy, and  unceasing  in  his  endeavours  to  please, 
nothing  could  ruffle  the  serenity  of  his  temper  but  to 
see  another  person  wait  upon  his  master,  at  whose 
side  he  was  constantly  to  be  found  in  moments  of 
danger.  At  the  affair  of  Mirabe,  Miller  ordered  him 
to  the  rear,  under  pretence  of  giving  him  charge  of 
his  horses.    "  No,  sir,"  was  the  reply;  "  where  there 


CHAP.  XV.  ILDEFONSO.  353 

is  danger,  there  will  I  be:  where  my  master  dies, 
there  dies  Ildefonso."  No,  senor;  donde  hay  peli- 
gro,  ahi  estari  yo ;  donde  muere  mi  a??io,  ahi  mo* 
rird  Udefonso. 

This  brave  negro  lad  deserved  a  better  fate  than 
that  which  now  befell  him.  He  had  been  sent  into 
Pisco  in  disguise  to  acquire  information,  and,  having 
indiscreetly  delayed  his  return  from  the  town  until 
daybreak,  he  was  seen  and  pursued  by  the  Spanish 
cavalry.  Unable  to  reach  the  patriot  column  that 
was  advancing,  he  threw  himself  into  the  sea  to  avoid 
falling  into  the  hands  of  his  pursuers,  who,  calling 
upon  him  to  surrender,  received  for  answer  that  he 
would  rather  die  a  thousand  deaths  in  the  cause  of 
lapatria  than  again  obey  a  Spaniard.  The  royalists 
then  fired,  and  shot  him  through  the  neck.  They 
themselves  were  made  prisoners  a  few  days  after- 
wards, and  related  the  last  expressions  of  Ildefonso, 
whose  body  was  washed  ashore  the  next  day,  and 
consigned  to  the  grave  with  military  honours,  amidst 
the  deep  regrets  of  his  comrades. 

Notwithstanding  the  enthusiastic  exertions  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  the  favourable  disposition  of  the 
landed  proprietors  for  twenty  or  thirty  miles  round, 
three  days  elapsed  before  the  requisite  means  of  trans- 
port could  be  obtained.  In  the  interval,  a  requa,  or 
drove,  of  fifty  mules,  arrived  at  Chincha  from  Lima. 
Miller  gave  an  order  to  press  them  for  the  service; 
upon  which  the  owner,  a  lady  on  the  wrong  side  of 
fifty,  whose  hale,  and  not  unhandsome,  dark  coun- 
tenance and  commanding  figure  might  well  become 
a  queen  of  the  gypsies,  presented  herself  to  the  colo- 

VOL.  I.  A  A 


854  A  CHARACTER.  CRAP.  XV. 

neT,  and,  with  the  imposing  air  of  a  Meg  MerriUes, 
displayed  a  passport  and  protection  from  General  San 
Martin,  who  had  entered  Lima  jufct  before  she  quitted 
it.     On  Miller's  telling  her  that  circumstances  ren- 
dered it  impossible  to  respect  the  general's  safe  con- 
duct, she  pompously  exclaimed,  that  whoever  could 
act  in  defiance  of  that  great  man's  signature  must  be 
either  the  devil  himself,  or  a  wretch  who  could  never 
hope  to  reach  the  gates  of  heaven.    The  patriot  com- 
mander's determination  to  pursue  the  enemy  could 
not  be  shaken  by  the  eloquence,  or  denunciation^ 
of  the  venerable  dame,  who  was  neither  very  choice 
in  the  selection  of  her  terms  of  reproach,  nor  very 
sparing  in  their  application.     He  felt  compelled  to 
take  her  mules,  but  gave  her  reason  to  hope  that  they 
would  be  restored  at  lea,  and  the  detachment  set  out, 
each  soldier  mounted  on  a  mule.    The  wary  old  lady 
accompanied  the  party,  grumbling  most  wofully,  but 
determined  not  to  lose  sight  of  her  animals.     She 
certainly  had  reason  to  complain  of  her  ill  fortune,' 
and  to  bewail  her  blighted  prospects.    She  explained 
to  the  colonel,  that  the  object  of  her  long  journey 
had  been  to  purchase  brandy  at  Pisco,  which  at  that 
time  was  very  scarce  in  Lima,  in  consequence  of  the 
long  investment  of  that  place  by  the  patriots.     She 
might,  at  that  moment,  have  procured  it  at  eight 
dollars  the  jar,  and,  providing  she  had  been  the  first 
speculator  to  enter  Lima,  would  have  sold  it  for 
eighty.     The  prospect  of  losing  such  a  golden  op- 
portunity was  ill  calculated  to  reconcile  her  to  the 
forcible  seizure  of  her  mules. 

The  distance  from  Pisco  to  lea  is  fourteen  leagues : 


CHAP.  XV.     NIGHT  SCENE  IN  THE  DESERT.  866 

the  last  ten  are  over  a  burning  desert  of  very  loose 
sand,  thinly  interspersed  with  clumps  of  palm  trees. 
The  royalists  retired  from  lea  as  the  patriots  ap- 
proached. The  latter  were  enthusiastically  received 
on  the  evening  of  the  5th  of  August,  as  they  passed 
through;  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives.  Santalla,  al- 
ready mentioned  in  describing  the  capture  of  Val- 
divia,  had  taken  the  route  to  Palpa,  twenty-five 
leagues  south  of  lea.  Only  three  hours  were  allowed 
for  the  patriots  to  rest  at  Garganta,  two  leagues  be- 
yond lea,  during  which  interval  some  fresh  horses 
and  mules  were  procured.  They  then  continued  the 
chase  across  the  sandy  desert,  sixteen  leagues,  to 
Changuilla.  At  midnight  on  the  6th,  the  troops 
halted  in  the  desert.  For  the  purpose  of  protecting 
themselves  against  the  heavy  dews,  each  man  ex- 
cavated a  sort  of  shallow  grave,  and  lay  down  in  it, 
and  then  scraped  the  sand  over  his  body,  leaving 
only  his  head  above  ground,  which  he  wrapped  up 
in  his  poncho.  As  it  was  important  to  observe  the 
Strictest  secrecy,  smoking  was  forbidden,  lest  the 
small  twinkling  lights  should  accidentally  discover 
their  approach  to  the  enemy.  The  lady  was  the 
only  person  permitted  to  indulge  in  the  solace  of  a 
cigar  before  she  decorously  tucked  herself  into  a  bed 
of  sand,  amidst  the  surrounding  group  of  soldiers  and 
muleteers.  Thus,  as  it  were  buried  alive,  all  slept  as 
comfortably  as  if  reposing  on  a  bed  of  down,  ,and  so 
soundly  that  at  daybreak  it  was  difficult  to  rouse  them 
from  their  delicious  slumbers.  The  morning  was 
foggy,  as  is  very  usual  in  these  regions.  They  had 
marched  about  two  leagues,  when,  the  sun  suddenly 

aa  2 


S8&  MORUCHUCO  INDIANS,  chap,  xr* 

dispelling  the  mist,  they  discovered  that,  instead  of 
advancing*  they  had  retraced  their  route  of  the  pre- 
vious night.  To  prevent  the  recurrence  of  similar 
mistakes,  from  that  time,  whenever  they  halted  at 
night,  they  took  the  precaution  to  pile  their  muskets 
in  such  a  way  as  to  point  out  the  proper  direction.    . 

The  patriots  reached  Changuilla,  on  the  7th,  at 
night,  and  cut  off  the  retreat  of  Santalla,  by  the 
direct  road,  to  Arequipa,  from  Palpa,  where  he  was 
halting,  unconscious  of  the  approach  of  the  patriots. 

On  the  8th,  Santalla,  perceiving  the  patriot  party, 
retired  with  precipitation  to  the  mountains;  but 
Miller  having  already  communicated  with  the  Mo- 
ruchuco  Indians,  they  rose  en  masse.  The  sides  and 
summits  of  the  hills  were  covered  with  these  In- 
dians, and  the  air  resounded  with  their  yells  and 
war-whoops. 

Santalla  could  not  escape  by  the  road  leading  to 
Huancavelica  with  such  enemies  in  front,  and  he 
could  not  return  by  the  road  he  came  without  fight- 
ing with  the  party  at  his  heels.  At  Copari,  seven 
leagues  from  Palpa,  a  little  skirmishing  took  place: 
a  few  of  the  royalists  were  killed,  seventy  or  eighty 
made  prisoners,  and  the  rest  took  to  a  mountain  so 
difficult  of  access,  that  the  patriots,  being  unable 
from  fatigue  to  climb  it,  returned  by  the  valley 
through  which  they  had  advanced.  Miller  proceeded 
from  Palpa  back  to  lea;  but  before  he  set  out  he 
detached  Captains  Plaza  and  Carreno,  with  twenty- 
three  men  mounted  on  fresh  horses,  in  pursuit  of 
Santalla,  who  had  in  all  probability  once  more  gained 
the  road  leading  to  Arequipa.     No  more  men  could 


43HAP.  XV.  CAGUACHI.  357 

be  sent  forward,  the  rest  being  in  a  state  of  fever,  in 
consequence  of  the  late  harassing  marches.  At  mid- 
night Plaza  arrived  at  Caguachi,  three  leagues  from 
Nasca,  where  he  found  ninety-six  royalists,  with 
their  sentinels,  all  sound  asleep  in  a  corral.  They 
were  so  worn  out  with  fatigue  that  hallooing  was  not 
enough  to  awaken  them.  The  patriots  fired  a  volley, 
killed  twelve,  and  wounded  as  many  more*  Amongst 
the  latter  was  Lieutenant-Colonel  Rada,  a  very  brave 
Spaniard.  Fifteen  officers  and  sixty-seven  rank  and 
file  were  taken  prisoners.  The  timid  Santalla,  and 
*a  few  attendants,  were  the  only  persons  who  escaped; 
and  this  he  effected  in  consequence  of  having  taken 
the  precaution  of  sleeping  at  a  distance  from  his  party, 
And  galloping  off  at  the  sound  of  the  first  alarm.  For 
this  purpose  their  horses  were  kept  saddled,  and  the 
bridles  attached  to  the  arms  of  the  sleepers. 

The  Iquenos  were  so  much  exasperated  with  the 
troops  of  Santalla  that  many  went  out  from  lea  to 
waylay  and  murder  the  prisoners ;  but  as  they  did 
not  conceal  their  intentions,  measures  were  taken, 
and  their  designs  were  frustrated. 

During  these  long,  dreary,  and  fatiguing  marches, 
the  aged  damsel,  already  mentioned,  rode  by  the  side 
of  Miller,  but  her  resentful  tone  soon  changed  into 
such  a  good-humoured  one,  that  she  entered  into  the 
spirit  of  the  expedition  with  the  enthusiasm  of  an 
amazon.  She  declared  that  it  did  not  signify  un 
pito  (a  whistle)  if  all  her  mules  were  lost,  provided 
she  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  the  patriots  triumph. 
-She  rode  astride;  wore  large  silver  spurs;  could 
manage  the  most  restive  horse;   and  was  able  to 


S58  ANECDOTE.  CHAF.  XT. 

throw  the  lasso  as  dexterously  as  any  of  her  mule- 
teers. Her  voice  was  louder  than  a  boatswain's,  and 
shrill  as  his  pipe.  The  desert  frequently  rang  with 
the  sound,  as  she  hallooed  to  the  men  to  encourage 
them.  Having  accomplished  the  object  proposed, 
there  was  no  longer  any  necessity  to  detain  her,  and 
her  mules  were  again  put  at  her  free  disposal.  Miller 
presented  the  good  old  lady  with  twenty  of  those 
taken  from  the  Spaniards,  but  she  would  not  accept 
them.  He  then  offered  her  a  sum  of  money  for  the 
service  her  mules  had  performed ;  but  she  could  not 
be  induced  to  receive  any  species  of  remuneration. 
She  said  she  was  amply  recompensed  by  having  wit- 
nessed the  total  overthrow  of  a  party  of  royalists  by 
the  "  dear  soldiers  of  the  patria"  She,  however, 
thankfully  accepted  a  letter  to  General  San  Martin, 
certifying  her  services.  When  Miller  read  it  to  her, 
she  embraced  him  with  tears  of  joy,  and  took  leave 
without  repeating  a  word  about  the  devil  himself,  or 
the  gates  of  heaven  being  closed.  It  is  satisfactory 
to  add,  that  she  was  lucky  enough,  notwithstanding 
her  detention,  to  be  the  first  to  arrive  with  brandy  in 
Lima,  where  she  realized  all  her  expectations.  This 
most  active  and  singular  woman  of  business  traded, 
farmed,  reared  cattle,  and  let  out  valencienes  (car 
briolets).  She  was  accounted  rich,  and,  though  highly 
disinterested  in  the  above  instance,  fond  of  adding  to 
her  wealth.  Before  taking  our  final  leave  of  her,  a 
circumstance  that  occurred  in  the  following  year 
(1822)  may  be  mentioned  here. 

Miller  happened  to  be  riding  towards  the  can- 
tonments of  his  regiment  at  Lomo  Largo,  three 


CHAP.  XV.  COLONEL  SANTALLA.  359 

leagues  south  of  Lima,  in  company  with  General  Al- 
varado.  The  latter  perceiving  a  well  cultivated  estate 
on  the  road-side,  inquired  of  a  countryman,  who  was 
passing,  to  whom  it  belonged.  The  man  answered, 
that  he  was  the  major  domo,  or  steward,  of  the  estate, 
and  that  it  belonged  to  Senor  Miller.  "  To  whom? 
to  whom?"  said  Alvarado.  u  To  Senor  Miller,"  re- 
joined the  man ;  "  because  my  mistress  has  bequeathed 
it  to  him,  and  when  she  dies  he  will  be  the  lawful 
owner."  "  And  who,"  said  Miller,  "  is  that  name- 
sake of  mine?"  "  No  other,"  said  the  man,  "  than 
you  yourself,  sir :  my  mistress  says  she  will  have  no 
other  heir.  When  she  delivered  your  letter  to  Ge- 
neral San  Martin,  he  received  her  so  kindly,  and  has 
treated  her  so  well  ever  since,  that  she  considers  you 
as  the  author  of  her  good  fortune."  Miller's  regi- 
ment, stationed  within  a  mile  of  the  estate  in  question, 
had  been  in  the  habit  of  sending  thither  to  purchase 
vegetables,  &c.  and  a  good  deal  of  surprise  had  always 
been  excited  by  the  major  domo's  invariably  declining 
to  receive  any  payment  for  them.  He  told  them  that 
his  mistress  would  settle  with  the  colonel  for  every 
thing  which  the  officers  and  men  had  occasion  to 
send  for.  The  mystery  was  now  cleared  up,  by 
the  accidental  meeting  of  the  major  domo  as  above 
described. 

Having  mentioned  the  royalist  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Santalla  more  than  once,  and  described  his  last  signal 
discomfiture,  we  will  now  portray  his  character  at 
some  length,  by  way  of  contrast  to  that  of  the  good 
Lima  lady,  who  is  still  living,  and  as  an  exempli- 


860  BARBAROUS  REQUISITION.  CHAP.  XV. 

fication  of  the  evils  to  which  the  Peruvians  were  ex- 
posed when  the  rod  of  iron  was  placed  in  the  relentless 
hand  of  an  unprincipled  poltroon. 

When  he  first  heard  that  the  patriots  had  landed, 
he  bellowed  forth  to  the  assembled  people  in  the 
square  of  lea,  that  if  he  discovered  that  a  single  in- 
dividual communicated  with  the  insurgent  leader,  he 
would  burn  the  city,  and  put  every  man,  woman,  and 
child  to  death.  Upon  overhearing  this,  his  wife,  a 
Spanish  woman,  called  out  to  him  from  the  doorway 
of  the  Marquess  of  Campo  Ameno's  house,  "  San- 
talla,  all  this  ought  to  be  done,  instead  of  said.  Why 
not  then  burn  at  once  a  city  whose  inhabitants  are 
all  rebels  ?"  It  will  be  presently  seen  that  this  fury 
was  reduced  to  implore  upon  her  knees  for  the  life 
of  her  barbarian  husband. 

As  commanding  officer  of  the  district  of  lea,  he 
issued  a  barbarous  circular,  calling  upon  the  landed 
proprietors  in  that  extensive  valley  to  furnish  three 
hundred  horses  and  mules  within  four  hours  of  the 
date  of  the  order,  in  default  of  which  they  were  to 
be  shot ;  their  houses  burned ;  their  estates  made 
desolate;  and  their  families  put  to  the  sword  * ! 

*  "  Commandancia-general  del  sur, — Los  hacendados  de  este  valle,  dentro 
del  perentorio,  y  preciso  termino  de  quatro  horas,  presentaran  en  casa  del  Sefior 
Marques  de  Campo  Ameno,  tres  cientos  cavallos  y  mulas  suyas,  tomandolas 
de  qual-quiera  persona  que  las  tenga  sin  excepcion  alguna,  en  inteligencia  que 
no  verificandolo  dentro  de  dicho  termino  seran  irremislblemente  pasados  por  las 
armas,  quemadas  y  taladas  sus  haciendas,  y  pasadas  a  cuchillo  sus  famifias. 

"  Juan  de  Santalla.. 

u  lea,  a  las  10  de  la  manana  de  hoy  19  de  Julio  de  1821. 

"  Al  Serior  Don  Fulgencio  Guerrero." 

(translation.) 

u  Commandancy-general  of  the  South, — The  landed  proprietors  of  this  valley 
will  deliver  up  three  hundred  horses  and  mules  at  the  house  of  the  Marquess  of 
Campo  Ameno,  within  the  peremptory  and  precise  time  of  four  hour*,  taking 


CHAP.  XV.       COLONEL  SANTALLA.  361 

Many  landowners  resided  upon  their  estates,  which 
were  at  such  a  distance  from  the  town  that  it  was 
physically  impossible  to  comply  with  the  requisition 
within  the  specified  time.  But  too  many  patriots 
had  already  been  put  to  death;  too  many  women 
violated  by  Santalla  and  his  followers ;  too  many  old 
men,  and  even  children,  punished  with  stripes  and 
imprisonment,  to  leave  a  doubt  on  the  mind  of  any 
one  that  he  would  hesitate  to  put  his  savage  threat 
into  execution :  in  fact,  he  had  taken  one  step  to  show 
that  he  was  in  earnest.  The  alcalde  Sorillo,  a  rich 
and  respectable  citizen,  had  concealed  a  beautiful  and 
favourite  horse.  This  was  discovered  by  Santalla. 
He  immediately  Ordered  Sorillo  to  be  fastened  to  the 
banquillo,  or  bench  of  execution,  fixed  in  the  square, 
preparatory  to  being  shot :  but  every  minute  brought 
fresh  intelligence  of  the  nearer  approach  of  the  pa- 
triots from  Pisco.  The  assembled  inhabitants,  already 
disposed  to  rescue  their  alcalde  by  force,  increased  in 
numbers  and  boldness.  Santalla  was  only  induced 
by  his  fears  to  forego  glutting  his  vengeance,  and  he 
hurried  away,  to  provide  for  his  personal  safety. 

Santalla  was  a  man  of  lofty  stature,  and  in  strength 
a  giant.  He  was  what  is  called  double-jointed ;  and 
could,  with  his  thumbs  and  fingers,  break  a  dollar  in 
two,  and  tear  a  pack  of  cards  in  halves.  But  his  pusil- 
lanimity was  greater  even  than  his  personal  strength. 


them  from  any  person  who  may  have  them,  without  any  exception  whatever;  it 
being  understood  that,  in  failure  hereof  within  the  said  term,  the  defaulters  will 
be  immediately  shot,  their  houses  pillaged  and  burned,  their  estates  ravaged, 
and  their  families  put  to  the  sword. 

(Signed)  "  Juan  de  Santalla. 

"  lea,  10  A.  m.  19th  July,  1821. 

"  To  Don  Fulgencio  Guerrero." 


368  COLONEL  SANTALLA.       CHAP.  XV. 

On  retiring  from  lea,  he  was  informed  that  the 
pursuing  patriots  were  only  one  hundred  in  number. 
His  officers  remonstrated  against  a  disgraceful  flight 
before  such  an  inferior  force.  To  justify  himself  in 
their  eyes,  he  forged  a  letter,  and  directed  it  to  him- 
self. It  purported  to  be  frond  a  royalist  in  lea,  stating 
the  insurgents  to  be  above  four  hundred.  He  showed 
the  paper  to  his  officers,  and  they  then  acquiesced  in 
the  propriety  of  further  retreat.  This  fact  was  re- 
lated to  Miller  by  Captain  Matafuertes,  who  was 
made  prisoner  at  Caguachi,  and  who  declared  that 
the  letter  was  forged  in  his  presence. 

In  his  flight  from  Caguachi  to  Arequipa,  Santalla 
escaped  being  torn  to  pieces  by  having  recourse  to 
the  stratagem  of  speaking  bad  Spanish,  and  passing 
himself  off  as  a  French  officer  in  the  patriot  service, 
sent  forward  to  procure  quarters  and  provisions.  He 
had  also  the  address  to  persuade  the  priest  of  Yauca 
to  confide  to  his  care  a  fine  horse  which  his  Reverence 
had  concealed  with  great  care,  for  the  purpose  of 
presenting  to  the  first  patriot  chief  who  should  pass 
through  the  parish. 

Notwithstanding  the  disguise  which  Santalla  had 
assumed,  he  was  recognised  at  Chaparra,  and  the  in- 
habitants of  the  valley  having  tied  his  hands  and  feet, 
were  about  to  treat  him  as  be  deserved ;  but  his  life 
was  spared  through  ;the  tears  and  entreaties  of  his 
wife,  who  was  in  the  last  stage  of  pregnancy,  and  who 
gave  efficacy  to  her  prayers  by  a  liberal  distribution 
of  doubloons  amongst  the  poorer  people. 

Upon  his  arrival  at  Arequipa,  Santalla  was  put 
under  arrest  for  a  few  days,  on  the  charge  of  cow- 


CHAP.  xv.     SURPRISE  OF  A  ROYALIST  PIQUET.         368 

ardice,  but  it  never  transpired  that  he  was  ever  re- 
primanded for  his  cruelties  and  extortions.  The  con- 
trary appeal's  from  his  having  soon  afterwards  re- 
ceived the  civil  appointment  of  sub-delegate  of  Arica ! 
The  system  of  shooting  patriot  inhabitants,  and  con- 
fiscating the  property  of  the  wealthy  at  the  caprice 
of  the  commanding  officer,  was  too  common  with  the 
royalists. 

Miller,  who  had  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
colonel *,  assumed  the  civil  and  military  government 
of  an  extensive  district,  of  which  lea  was  the  centre. 
His  administration  is  still  spoken  of  by  the  inha- 
bitants in  terms  highly  honourable  to  his  character. 
He  employed  this  opportunity  in  augmenting  his 
military  means,  and  in  establishing  montoneros,  or 
guerrillas,  to  hover  on  the  flank  of  the  enemy,  then 
in  cantonments  between  Guamanga  and  Xauxa.  The 
Marquess  of  Campo  Ameno,  the  Senores  Nestares, 
Guerrero,  and  other  wealthy  inhabitants,  who  long 
preserved  their  attachment  to  the  royalist  cause,  now 
openly  declared  themselves  in  favour  of  the  patriots; 
and  cordially  combined,  in  the  most  efficacious  man- 
ner, to  second  the  efforts  of  Miller  to  establish  per- 
manent order,  and  to  give  every  possible  support  to 
his  military  operations.  Amongst  these  Captain  La 
Tapia  was   sent   to   surprise   a  royalist  piquet  at 

Huaitard,  commanded  by  the  sub-delegate ■, 

who  made  a  desperate  resistance.  La  Tapia  grappled 
with  him  personally ;  both  fell,*  and  struggled  toge- 
ther for  several  minutes  on  the  floor  of  a  room.    The 

*  Immediately  after  the  affair  of  Mirabe,  Miller  was  advanced  to  this  rank 
by  Lord  Cochrane.  When  at  lea  he  received  the  commission  signed  by  San 
Martin. 


364        CANTERAC  ENTERS  CALLAO.    CHA*.  XV. 

sub-delegate  managed  to  draw  a  dagger  from  his  boot, 
and  was  about  to  plunge  it  in  the  body  of  La  Tapia, 
when  a  patriot  soldier  came  up  to  the  assistance  of 
his.  officer,  and  knocked  out  the  sub-delegate's  brains 
with  the  butt-end  of  his  musket. 

Miller  having  learned  that  Canterac  had  descended 
from  his  position  at  Xauxa,  and  that  a  general  action 
was  likely  to  take  place  near  Lima,  left  Major  Videla 
in  command  at  lea,  and  set  out  for  the  capital  alone. 
After  passing  through  Lurin,  six  leagues  south  of 
Lima,  he  observed,  at  the  distance  of  two  or  three 
leagues,  the  Spanish  columns  in  full  march  between 
him  and  Lima.  Unable  in  consequence  to  proceed, 
he  returned  to  Lurin,  and  wrote  a  letter  to  San 
Martin,  signifying  that  he  was  at  the  head  of  a  thou- 
sand followers,  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  pounce 
upon  the  rear-guard  of  Canterac.  The  despatch  was 
put  into  the  wallet  of  a  well-mounted  peasant,  who 
was  instructed  to  ride  near  enough  to  the  royalists 
to  attract  attention,  and  to  drop  his  wallet,  as  if  by 
accident,  when  pursued.  These  orders  were  very 
cleverly  executed,  and  the  intercepted  despatch  ap- 
pears to  have  produced  an  order  from  Canterac  to 
hasten  up  stragglers.  Miller  reached  Lima  on  the 
12th,  and  was  received  with  warm  expressions  of  ap- 
probation by  San  Martin,  two  days  after  Canterac 
had  entered  Callao. 

But  before  we  proceed  to  describe  the  collateral 
events  which  occurred  at  this  time,  it  will  be  necessary 
to  revert  to  the  24th  of  June,  when  hostilities  recom- 
menced in  the  vicinity  of  Lima,  on  the  expiration  of 
the  armistice  of  Punchauca. 


QHAV,  xy.  ANECDOTE.  365 

The  viceroy,  unable  to  retain  possession  of  the 
capital,  invested  as  it  was  by  rnontonero  parties  which 
hovered  around  and  cut  off  regular  supplies,  aban- 
doned that  city  on  the  6th  of  July,  and  the  patriots 
entered  it  on  the  9th,  amidst  universal  acclamations. 
One  division  of  the  royalists  under  Canterac  took  the 
way  of  Lunaguana,  and  the  other,  commanded  by  the 
vice-king  in  person,  took  the  road  to  Yauyos,  the 
ultimate  destination  of  both  being  Xauxa. 

During  the  retreat,  desertion  from  the  royalist 
ranks  was  so  frequent,  that  the  SpaniSh  generals  gave 
orders  that  every  soldier  found  a  hundred  yards  from 
the  line  of  march  should  be  shot,  and  many  were  in 
consequence  executed.  To  increase  their  difficulties, 
the  Indians  rose  in  favour  of  the  patriots,  whilst 
the  montoneros  hung  upon  the  rear,  and  cut  off  all 
stragglers. 

If  the  liberating  army,  instead  of  going,  as  it  did, 
into  cantonments  in  the  dissipated  city  of  Lima,  had 
seconded  the  efforts  of  .those  armed  patriotic  bands, 
it  can  hardly  be  doubted  that  the  war  would  have 
terminated  in  a  very  few  weeks :  whereas,  for  want 
of  timely  energy,  unhappy  Peru  continued  to  suffer, 
and  her  capital  and  provinces  were  alternately  in  the 
hands  of  the  friends  and  foes  to  freedom.  Each 
army,  unavoidably  oppressive  even  to  its  friends,  was 
a  scourge  to  those  inhabitants  who  espoused  the  op- 
posite side,  and  each  party  felt  the  scourge  in  turn. 

Once,  when  the  viceroy  happened  to  be  in  Gua- 
manga,  a  landowner  of  facetious  humour  waited  upon 
his  excellency,  and  represented  that  one  party  *  having 

*  "  La  madre  patria" 


906  BABBAKTiro  OF  THE  BOYAUSTS.     CHAP.  XV. 

eased  him  of  Ins  cash  and  valuables,  and  the  other 
party*  having  taken  away  his  cattle  and  crop,  he 
hnmbly  besought  the  viceroy  to  inform  him  to  what 
party  he  ought  to  deliver  over  his  aft*,  that  being  all 
that  was  left  which  he  could  venture  to  call  his  own. 

The  town  of  Cangallo,  two  days'  march  from  Gua- 
manga,  was  burnt  by  the  royalists,  and  the  viceroy 
issued  a  decree,  dated  11th  January,  1822,  that  the 
walls  of  the  houses  should  be  destroyed,  and  that  the 
name  of  Cangallo  should  henceforth  disappear  from 
the  list  of  towns.  The  villages  of  Ulcamayo,  Huailly, 
Zancas,  and  some  others,  with  many  estates  in  the 
vicinity  of  Tarma,  were  burnt.  The  stores  of  the 
silver  mines  of  Pasco  were  plundered  five  times  by 
the  royalists,  and  as  often  by  the  patriots.  The  won- 
der is  how  the  works  were  kept  going  at  all !  In  fact, 
they  often  stopped,  or  were  worked  upon  so  limited 
a  scale  as  hardly  to  be  worth  the  attention  of  either 
party. 

When  General  Carratala  retreated  from  Pasco 
before  the  division  of  Arenales,  meeting  an  Indian 
on  a  very  fine  brood  mare,  he  ordered  him  to  dis- 
mount, and  to  deliver  it  up.  In  vain  the  poor 
peasant  represented,  that  to  deprive  him. of  the  only 
animal  he  had  in  the  world,  was  to  take  away  the 
chief  means  of  his  support.  The  general  was  inexor- 
able, the  mare  was  taken,  and  the  plundered  Peruvian 
followed  on  foot  with  the  troops.  On  arriving  at  the 
village  of  Moya,  opposite  to  Concepcion,  near  Xauxa, 
the  royalist  division  halted.  The  Indian,  taking 
advantage  of  the  bustle  which  prevails  when  soldiers 

•  "  El  Padre  Rey." 


c&ap.  Jft*     BARBARITIES  OP  THE  ROYALISTS.  867 

make  good  their  quarters,  suddenly  threw  himself 
across  the  best  charger  of  Carratalk,  and  galloped  off 
through  four  thousand  people  who  at  that  moment 
crowded  the  Plaza  and  the  streets.  He  was  pursued 
to  the  river  close  by,  and  some  muskets  were  dis- 
charged at  him ;  but  the  man*  being  well  acquainted 
with  the  ford,  escaped  untouched.  Several  Spaniards 
dashed  into  the  water  after  him,  and  three  of  them 
were  drowned.  On  arriving  at  the  patriot  bivouac  on 
the  opposite  bank,  the  Indian  received,  in  exchange 
for  Carratate's  charger,  a  doubloon,  and  a  mare  as 
good  as  the  one  of  which  he  had  been  robbed. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  O'Brien  commanded  the  ad- 
vanced guard  on  the  following  day ;  and  entering  the 
town  of  Carguancuanga,  near  the  bridge  of  Iscuchaca, 
inquired  for  the  priest  of  the  parish,  supposing  that 
he  could  give  the  most  correct  information  of  the 
enemy :  but  as  he  had  absconded,  O'Brien  next  asked 
for  the  sexton. '  The  Indians  pointed  in  silence  to  a 
tree ;  and,  upon  approaching  it,  he  beheld  the  sexton 
and  his  wife  suspended  by  the  neck  from  one  of  the 
branches.  The  crime  of  the  unfortunate  man  was, 
the  not  being  in  attendance  when  one  of  General 
Carratal^'s  officers,  on  passing  through  the  village, 
demanded  the  keys  of  the  church,  which  he  required 
to  quarter  his  troops  in.  The  crime  of  the  woman 
was,  in  not  revealing  the  hiding-place  of  her  husband, 
which  was,  however,  discovered,  and  both  were  im- 
mediately hanged.  O'Brien  saw  their  nine  young 
children  on  their  knees  weeping  most  piteously,  and 
praying  to  their  lifeless  parents  to  come  down  to 
them. 


368  CAIXAO  INVESTED.  CHAP.  XT. 

A  day  or  two  after  this  horrible  cruelty  had  been 
committed,  Car  ratal  a  sent  a  flag  of  truce,  consisting 
of  an  officer,  a  trumpeter,  and  six  privates.  As  they 
were  passing  through  Carguancuanga,  the  inhabitants 
rose,  and  put  every  one  of  them  to  death.  Their 
tongues  were  cut  out,  their  bodies  drawn  and  quar- 
tered, and  then  stuck  upon  poles. 

The  viceroy  was  fortunate  enough  to  reach  the 
valley  of  Xauxa,  where  he  concentrated  his  forces. 
He,  as  well  as  Canterac  and  Carratala,  were  still  more 
fortunate  in  not  having  been  attacked  by  Arenales, 
whose  division  consisted  of  the  regiment  of  grana- 
deros  a  caballo,  and  of  the  battalion  of  Numancia, 
Cazadores,  Nos.  2  and  7  >  altogether  four  thousand 
three  hundred  and  eighty-four  men.  With  these 
Arenales  re-crossed  the  Cordillera,  and  arrived  on 
the  Lima  side  of  the  mountains  on  the  26th  of  July. 
Thus  the  patriots  abandoned  the  important  provinces 
of  the  Sierra,  of  which  the  royalists  took  quiet  pos- 
session, by  isolated  divisions.  Thus  this  extraordinary 
oversight  on  the  part  of  the  patriots  compensated  the 
royalists  for  the  loss  of  Lima. 

The  viceroy,  on  his  departure  from  Lima,  had  left 
a  garrison  in  the  castles  of  Callao.  They  were  in- 
vested by  a  patriot  division  under  General  Las  Heras, 
while  Lord  Cochrane  blockaded  the  port  by  sea.  On 
the  24th  of  July,  Captain  Crosbie  cut  out,  in  the 
most  masterly  manner,  three  merchant  vessels,  and 
burnt  four  others.  In  this  affair  Captains  Morgell 
and  Simpson,  of  the  Chilenonavy,  particularly  distin- 
guished themselves. 

On  the  26th  July,  a  sortie  was  made  from  the 


CBAP.  XV.  PROTECTOR  OF  PKRU.  369 

castle,  but  repulsed  in  the  most  gallant  manner  by 
Major  Don  Eugenio  Necochea  and  Captain  Raulet. 
The  latter  received  a  lance  wound. 

On  the  28th  of  July,  the  independence  of  Peru 
was  proclaimed,  and  the  usual  oath  taken,  with  great 
pomp  and  rejoicings. 

On  the  12th  of  August,  an  attempt  to  surprise  and 
take  the  principal  castle  of  Callao  (Real  Felipfe)  failed. 

On  the  3d  of  August,  San  Martin  declared  him-* 
self  protector  of  Peru,  and  assumed  the  supreme  civil 
and  military  command.  He  appointed  Don  Juan 
Garcia  del  Rio,  Don  Bernardo  Monteagudo,  and 
Dr.  Don  Hipolito  Unanue,  ministers  respectively  for 
foreign  affairs,  for  war  and  marine,  and  for  finance. 
General  Don  Juan  Gregorio  de  Las  Heras  was  ap- 
pointed commander-in-chief  of  the  army. 

The  following  are  early  specimens  of  the  legisla- 
tion of  the  protectorate. 

Of  the  12th  of  August,  1821,  a  decree  declaring 
that  the  children  of  slaves  born  in  Peru  subsequently 
to  the  28th  of  July,  1821,  should  be  free. 

Of  the  15th  of  August,  declaring  every  individual, 
naval  as  well  as  military,  who  sailed  from  Valparaiso 
in  the  liberating  expedition,  to  be  considered  as  be- 
longing to  the  service  of  Peru,  and  to  be  entitled  to 
a  pension,  equal  to  half  the  amount  of  the  pay  he  was 
in  the  receipt  of,  on  leaving  Chile ;  such  pension  to 
be  paid  even  though  the  individual  should  fix  his 
residence  in  a  foreign  country. 

Of  the  27th  of  August,  abolishing  the  tribute, 
and  forbidding  the  name  of  Indians  to  be  applied 
to  the  aborigines,  who  were  thenceforth  to  be  called 

vol.  1.  B  B 


S70  ORDER  OF  THE  SUN.  CHAP.  XV. 

Peruvians,  which  term  was  formerly  confined  to 
those  born  of  Spanish  parents,  and  their  descendants. 

Of  the  28th  of  August,,  abolishing  the  mita,  and 
every  species  of  compulsory  labour  to  which  the  In- 
dians  had  been  subjected. 

The  establishment  of  a  national  library  was  decreed 
on  the  same  day. 

In  the  month  of  October,  the  Order  of  the  Sun, 
upon  the  model  of  the  Legion  of  Honour  in  France, 
was  established.  It  was  divided  into  three  classes: 
1st,  Fundadores;  2d,  Benemeritos;  3d,  A&ociados. 
To  the  members  of  the  first  class,  and  to  a  certain 
number  of  each  of  the  other  classes,  pensions  were 
attached.  It  might  have  been  rather  better  to  have 
postponed  the  formation  of  an  order  of  knighthood 
until  after  the  Spaniards  were  expelled ;  but  ithe  in- 
stitution was  a  popular  measure,  and  it  was  politic, 
inasmuch  as  it  enabled  government  to  reward  military 
and  civil  merit,  at  a  cheap  rate,  although  it  was  evi- 
dently a  step  towards  the  introducing  of  principles 
savouring  strongly  of  monarchy  *•    The  mode  of  con- 


*  Jn  1825  the  congress  passed  a  resolution  abolishing  the  order.  Although 
it  did  not  receive  the  official  assent  of  the  executive,  it  goes  far  enough  to  show 
the  narrow  views  which  actuated  some  of  the  deputies  on  the  question.  It 
was  unjust  to  attempt  to  deprive  men  of  a  decoration  given  for  past  services, 
and  it  was  indelicate  towards  members  of  the  order,  who  had  called  these  very 
deputies  into  political  existence,  by  services  performed  when  many  of  them  were 
languishing  in  obscurity,  and  groaning,  in  comparative  insignificance,  under 
the  Spanish  yoke. 

One  great  cause  of  offence  was,  that  tl?e  honour  was  almost  exclusively  re- 
stricted to  those  who  had  espoused  the  cause  of  independence,  from  principle,  at 
an  early  period  of  the  contest,  and  before  it  became  the  sqfi&  tide  of  the  question. 
Those  who  had  done  nothing  to  earn  the  distinction  could  not  bear  the  sight  of 
it  when  bestowed  upon  others. 

As  to  the  legality  of  the  absolute  abolition  of  the  order,  congress  had  no  more 
power  to  pass  laws  having  the  retro-active  effect  of  taking  away  from  members 
the  decoratiors  and  pensions,  than  it  had  to  deprive  them  of  medals  given  for 
victories,  unless  indeed  that  congress  assumed  the  power  of  the  Turkish  divan ; 
a  fault  it  was  not  entirely  free  from  when  its  labours  were  confined  to  petty 
legislation. 


CHAP.  XV.  CANTER  AC  RETURNS  TO  CALLAO.      371 

•  ferring  the  decoration  on  the  military  was  impartial. 
A  certain  number  of  those  who  in  each  corps  had 
established  the  fairest  claims  were  recommended  by 
a  junta  of  general  officers. 

On  the  19th  December,  property  valued  at  500,000 
dollars  was  granted  to  twenty  general  and  field  officers 
of  the  liberating  army,  as  a  reward  for  past  services, 
and  was  equally  divided  amongst  them.  Colonel 
Miller  received  25,000  dollars  for  his  share. 

Canterac's  division,  united  with  that  of  Carratala, 
entered  Xauxa  on  the  25th  of  July.  The  viceroy 
reached  the  same  place  in  the  beginning  of  August. 

On  the  24th  of  August,  Canterac  again  set  out 
from  Xauxa,  with  3000  infantry  and  900  cavalry ; 
and,  countermarching  by  the  road  of  San  Mateo, 
arrived  on  the  9th  of  September  in  sight  of  San 
Martin,  encamped  on  the  hacienda  called  Mendoza, 
a  mile  from  Lima,  on  the  Arequipa  road. 

The  object  of  Canterac  was  to  attack  the  patriots, 
and  to  succour  the  castles  of  Callao*  He  had  pro- 
bably been  encouraged  by  information  transmitted  by 
Spaniards  from  Lima,  as  to  the  state  of  the  patriot 
army ;  the  composition  and  appearance  of  which  was 
any  thing  but  favourable,  although  it  then  exceeded 
seven  thousand  in  number:  but  when  Canterac  be- 
held them  strongly  posted  behind  mud  walls,  and 
supported  in  the  rear  by  the  population,  of  Lima, 
many  of  whom  were  on  horseback,  armed  with  sabres, 
knives,  pikes,  &c.  he  deemed  it  more  prudent  to  pass 
on  between  Lima  and  the  sea-shore,  and  to  take 
shelter  under  the  guns  of  Callao  on  the  afternoon  of 

the  10th. 

b  b  2 


372        CANTERAC  AOAIN  RETREATS,    CHAP,  xr. 

The  patriots  changed  their  position,  and  took  up 
another  equally  strong  at  Mirones,  a  league  and  a  half 
from  Callao,  extending  half  a  mile  in  length,  and  in- 
tersected by  the  Lima  road. 

San  Martin  has  been  severely  censured  for  not 
attacking  the  royalists  upon  this  occasion :  but  when 
it  is  considered  that  many  of  his  troops  consisted  of 
raw  recruits,  perhaps  it  may  be  allowed  that  he  acted 
wisely.  The  royalists,  on  the  contrary,  were  veteran 
soldiers,  and  well  disciplined.  It  is  curious  that  some 
of  the  patriot  chiefs  most  loud  in  condemning  the  in- 
action of  the  protector  were  those  who  had  shortly 
before  let  pass  the  most  brilliant  opportunities  to  an- 
nihilate the  royalists  when  scattered  in  the  Sierra*  as 
also  when  Canterac  shortly  afterwards  retreated  from 
Callao  towards  Xauxa.    '      . 

On  the  14th  of  September,  Miller  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  700  men,  being  the  light  com- 
panies of  the  liberating  army,  to  act  as  a  column  of 
observation,  and  to  be  in  readiness  to  move  at  a  mo- 
ment's warning. 

On  the  15th  this  party  made  a  lateral  movement, 
in  consequence  of  Canterac  having  commenced  a  re- 
treat. Having  reached  the  mouth  of  the  river  Rimac, 
half  a  league  from  Callao,  he  suddenly  counter- 
marched; upon  which  the  light  companies,  under 
Miller,  returned  to  their  position  at  Mirones.  The 
colonel  at  this  time  suffered  so  much  from  ague  that 
he  was  obliged  to  be  carried  into  Lima,  where. the 
attentive  nursing  and  kindness  of  the  Baroness  of 
Nordenflidtch  in  two  days  restored  him  to  health. 
In  the  night  of  the  17th,  Canterac  effected  his 


CHAP.  XV.  ROYALISTS  PURSUED.  378 

escape  across  the  Rimac  at  Bocanegra,  leaving  Ge- 
neral La  Mar  in  the  castles  with  three  days'  pro- 
visions to  make  the  best  terms  he  could.  Las  Heras, 
with  the  liberating  army,  was  ordered  to  pursue  the 
royalists,  but  to  avoid  a  general  action.  After  ad- 
vancing to  the  estate  called  Los  Cavalleros,  nine 
leagues  from  Lima,  Las  Heras  gave  over  further 
pursuit.  Miller's  division,  now  consisting  of  700 
infantry,  125  cavalry,  and  500  montoneros,  were  not 
permitted  to  follow  up  until  9  A.  M.  on  the  20th. 
During  this  long,  and  apparently  uncalled  for,  halt 
of  ten  hours,  his  men  were  without  provisions,  and 
were  allowed  to  march  onwards  with  empty  haver- 
sacks. Las  Heras  and  the  rest  of  the  army  counter- 
marched ;  for  many  of  the  chiefs  appeared  to  be  less 
eager  to  prosecute  hostilities  than  to  indulge  in  the 
gayeties  of  Lima,  where  every  officer  and  soldier  had 
been  well  received,  and  where  each  had  formed  friend- 
ships and  attachments  he  was  anxious  to  renew. 

A  march  of  three  leagues  brought  Miller  with  the 
light  division  to  Macas,  where  they  dined  upon  a 
number  of  sheep,  which  the  royalists  left  behind,  ready 
prepared  for  cooking.  Lieutenant-Colonel  O'Brien 
and  Captain  Vidal  skirmished  with  the  rear-guard: 
the  latter  was  wounded.  One  hundred  royalists  de- 
serted to  the  patriots  in  the  course  of  the  day's  march. 
-  It  appeared  that  Canterac  had  prevailed  upon  his 
men  te  quit  the  walls  of  Callao,  under  the  persuasion 
that  they  were  to  be  led  against  the  patriots,  so  soon 
as  they  had  cleared  the  country  intersected  by  the 
mud  fences.  He  then  promised  them  victory,  and  a 
return  to  the  capital.  But  when  the  men  ascertained, 
beyond  a  doubt,  that  their  destination  was  for  the 


874  ROYALISTS  PURSUED.  CHAP.  XT. 

cordillera,  such  were  the  attractions  of  Lima  that 
discontents  arose,  and  a  mutiny  was  prevented  only 
by  the  active  energy  of  Valdez,  Loriga,  and  other 
royalist  chiefs,  and  by  shooting  an  officer  and  nine 
rank  and  file.  At  5  P.  M.  the  patriot  infantry  marched 
three  leagues,  and  bivouacked  at  the  foot  of  the  Cuesta 
of  Puruchuco.  Miller  having  ridden  in  the  dark  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  front  of  his  column,  suddenly  met 
six  Spanish  deserters,  headed  by  Serjeant  Gmeres, 
who,  supposing  him  to  be  a  royalist  officer,  were  pre- 
paring to  despatch  him:  but  upon  his  challenging 
them,  they  luckily  perceived,  by  his  accent,  that  he 
was  no  royalist,  and  gave  themselves  up.  They  de- 
scribed Canterac  to  be  a  league  in  advance,  about  half 
way  up  the  mountain.  With  the  montoneros  and  half 
a  dozen  trumpeters  the  royalist  army  might  have  been 
put  into  commotion,  if  not  dispersed ;  but  the  mon- 
toneros had  been  unaccountably  ordered,  by  superior 
authority,  to  the  rear  from  Macas,  and  the  light  dir 
vision  was  too  much  fatigued  to  undertake  the  double 
duty  of  alarming  the  enemy  at  night,  and  of  perform- 
ing long  marches  in  the  day.  Indeed,  so  tired  were 
they,  that  not  a  man  could  have  advanced  a  mile 
farther. 

At  daybreak  on  the  22d,  the  division  began  to 
climb  a  fatiguing  ascent  of  two  leagues  of  the  cuesta, 
or  mountain  side  of  Puruchuco,  on  which  was  dis- 
cerned the  royalist  rear-guard.  So  narrow,  rugged, 
and  steep  was  this  zigzag  track,  that  the  patriots  were 
obliged  to  march  in  single  files,  their  line  extending 
over  half  a  league  of  ground.  Upon  gaining  a  small 
level  spot  near  the  summit,  the  headmost  files  halted, 
and  the  rest  formed  as  they  came  up;  but  they  were 


CHAP.  XT,  ROYALISTS  PURSUED.  875 

all  so  fatigued  that  they  were  allowed  to  lie  down 
upon  their  arms.  At  no  great  distance  in  front,  a 
few  royalists  were  seen  to  come  out  from  behind 
crags,  covered  with  heath  and  brushwood.  They 
called  out  that  they  wished  to  pass  Over  to  the 
patriots.  O'Brien,  accompanied  by  a  trumpeter,  rode 
forward  to  parley  with  them,  but  he  had  not  pro- 
ceeded far  when  the  pretended  deserters  commanded 
him  to  halt  *•  At  this  time  a  royalist  battalion  issued 
from  an  ambuscade;  but  finding  that  the  patriot 
party  was  not  to  be  entrapped,  they  pursued  their 
march  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain.  The  light 
infantry  company  of  Numancia,  commanded  by  the 
gallant  Captain  Saens,  and  some  cavalry,  were  sent 
forward,  under  the  orders  of  O'Brien,  who  skir- 
mished for  about  an  hour;  but  three  royalist  bat- 
talions having  countermarched  to  support  their  rear- 
guard, O'Brien  was  compelled  to  fall  back,  and  the 
patriot  division  was  drawn  up  so  as  to  defend  a  strong 
pass;  and  they  continued  in  this  position  all  night, 
expecting  to  be  attacked ;  but  the  royalists  continued 
their  retreat. 

The  montoneros  having  been  permitted  to  rejoin, 
Miller  with  these,  a  company  of  the  battalion  No.  7> 
and  the  cavalry,  marched,  on  the  morning  of  the 
22d,  to  the  village  of  Puruchuco,  situated  in  a  recess 
on  the  eastern  side  of  the  mountain.  From  a  high 
hill  the  patriots  saw  the  royalists,  in  Huamantanga, 

*  In  1824,  when  Miller  was  on  his  passage  from  Valparaiso  to  Peru  in  a 
patriot  brig  of  war,  which  captured  a  Spanish  boat  off  Callao  bound  to  Pisco, 
a  royalist  officer,  with  despatches,  was  taken.  In  a  conversation  with  Miller 
he  asked  If  he  recollected  the  circumstance  that  occurred  on  the  cuetta  of  Puru- 
chuco, and  said,  that  he  commanded  the  very  party  which  endeavoured  to  decoy 
the  patriots  Into  an  ambush. 


S76  PURUCHUCa  CHAP.  xv. 

a  small  town  on  the  crest  of  an  eminence  two  leagued 
from  Puruchuco. 

The  montoneros  were  sent  to  the  front,  whilst  the 
cavalry  and  infantry  bivouacked  in  some  pasture 
grounds.  Amongst  the  luxuries  of  Puruchuco,  two 
loaves  of  bread  were  procured,  and  were  an  unusual 
treat.  The  rest  of  the  division  was  marched  back  to 
Macas,  as  it  was  not  without  risk  to  have  the  whole 
light  division  unsupported  so  near  the  royalist  army, 
which  showed  no  disposition  to  move  from  HuamaiK 
tanga. 

On  the  23d,  Miller  rode  to  within  five  hundred  yards 
of  Huamantanga  to  reconnoitre.    He  saw  the  enemy 
drawn  up,  as  if  in  perfect  readiness  to  make  some 
movement.    He  rode  back  to  Puruehueo;  formed  his 
company ;  and  placed  the  montoneros,  dismounted,  in 
the  ravines  of  the  mountain  side.    He  had  no  sooner 
done  this  than  the  royalists  rapidly  descended  with  the 
greater  part  of  their  force,  consisting  of  the  first  bat- 
talionof  the  regiment  imperial ;  second  battalion  of  the 
1st  regiment;  one  hundred  dragoons  of  the  union  re- 
giment ;  and  their  granaderos  k  caballo  of  the  guard; 
in  all  two  thousand  men.      The  montoneros  were 
driven  in,  and  Miller  was  expelled  from  his  strong 
position,  with  the  loss  of  fifteen  killed,  twenty-five 
wounded,  and  six  missing.     The  Spaniards,  in  their 
official  accounts,  reckon  the  loss  of  the  patriots  at 
fifty  in  killed  alone,  and  their  numbers  at  five  hun- 
dred infantry :  whereas  there  were  only  one  hundred 
and  twenty-one  regulars,  all  raw  troops,  and  many 
of  them  boys  from  fourteen  to  seventeen  years  of 
age.     O'Brien,  with  a  small  party  of  infantry,  by  a 


CHAP.  XV.  MONTONEROS.  377 

well-directed  fire,  kept  the  royalists  in  check,  and 
enabled   the  patriots  to  make  an  orderly  retreat. 
O'Brien  and  Miller  were   more  than  once  on  the 
point  of  being  made  prisoners.     They  were  saved 
by  the  goodness  of  their  horses,  and  galloped  down 
declivities  that,  at  another  time,  they  would  hardly 
have  descended  on  horseback  at  a  walk.    Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Davalos,  commanding  the  montoneros,  be- 
haved exceedingly  well,  as  did  Captain  Prieto  of  the 
battalion  No.  7-      The  patriots  reached  Macas  at 
midnight,  when  Miller  had  the  mortification  to  find 
that  his  next  in  command,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Capa 
Rosa,  a  Spaniard,  had  retired  two  leagues  farther 
than  his  orders  authorized  him  to  do. 

Finding  his  division  insufficient  in  numbers  to  con* 
tinue  an  effectual  pursuit,  Miller  ordered  it  to  Lima, 
with  the  exception  of  thirty  picked  dragoons.  With 
these,  and  some  montoneros,  he  and  O'Brien  marched 
on  the  24th  again  to  the  front  by  a  different  route. 
They  bivouacked  the  first  night  by  the  side  of  a 
stream,  flowing  through  a  few  fertile  fields  in  a  grand 
and  beautiful  ravine. 

On  the  25th  they  joined  a  montonero  party,  com- 
manded by  a  chieftain  named  Quiros ;  a  man  of  great 
natural  abilities,  tried  courage,  and  of  extraordinary 
tact  in  command.  He  had  been,  not  long  before,  a 
captain  of  banditti,  and  had,  on  coming  out  of  jail  for 
the  fourth  time,  been  publicly  whipped.  At  a  former 
period  he  had  reduced  his  highway  exploits  to  so 
much  system,  that  there  were  not  wanting  merchants 
and  others  who  paid  him  tribute  to  exempt  their 
muleteers  and  cargoes  from  plunder.     Had  Quiros 


878  MONTGNEROS.  CHAP.  IV. 

received  a  proper  education,  he  must  have  become  a 
*hining  military  character, 

His  party  consisted  of  men  of  lawless  habits,  wear- 
ing  long  beards,  and  dressed  in  •  the  most  grotesque 
manner.  Halting  at  night,  it  was  curious  to  hear  the 
conversation  of  these  fellows  seated  in  gttups  around 
their  fires.  One  avowed  having  committed  seventeen 
murders;  another  having  strangled  a  woman  of  seventy, 
and  violated  her  daughter.  Almost  every  one  boasted 
of  some  deed  of  darkness.  As  most  of  them  had  been 
followers  of  Quiros  in  his  former  capacity,  he  pre- 
served the  most  absolute  authority,  in  spite  of  the 
familiarity  which  subsisted :  and  this  party,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  strong,  was  the  most  daring  and  efficient 
of  the  m  on  toner  os.  Quiros  was  afterwards  wounded 
and  taken  prisoner  in  action  near  Pisco.  His  wife, 
who  always  accompanied  him,  fell  fighting  by  his 
side.  Quiros  was  shot  by  the  royalists  on  the  same 
day. 

On  the  26th,  O'Brien  proceeded  towards  Canta 
with  the  montoneros  of  Davalos.  Miller,  still  suffer- 
ing from  ague,  remained  behind,  in  company  with 
Quiros  and  his  delectable  associates. 
'  The  quebrada,  or  ravine,  was  most  romantic.  The 
grandeur  of  the  mountain  sides,  studded  with  over- 
hanging rocks ;  the  torrent  which  foamed  below ;  the 
huts  at  different  elevations,  in  the  midst  of  cultivated 
•patches ;  and  the  narrow  zigzag  paths  leading  to 
them,  imparted  a  picturesque  air  of  mountain  mag- 
nificence, whilst  its  loneliness,  and*  the  Newgatonitm 
character  and  conversation  of  those  around!,  gave  a 
depth  of  interest  equal  to  its  novelty. 


chap.  xv.  royalist  losses.       •  879 

On  the  27th,  Miller  ordered  two  montonero  parties 
across  the  cordillera.  in  observation  of  the  enemy,  who 
passed  it  on  the  25th.  One  of  them  found  the  corpse 
of  General  Sanchez,  who  had  been  left  in  the  rdar  by 
the  retreating  royalists,  and  who  expired  fa  a  hut  by 
the  road-side.  Sanchez  was  the  officer  who  treated 
'Miller  with  harshness  at  Talcahuano  in  1818.  Having 
•tio  further  object  to  induce  him  to  remain  in  front, 
and  the  bracing  air  of  the  mountain  having  driven 
away  hk  ague,  Miller  took  leave  of  the  montonero 
chieftains,  Davalos  and  Quiros,  and,  on  the  38th,  re- 
turned  to  Lima,  where  he  reported  for  cowardice  the 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Capa  Rosa,  who  afterwards  passed 
over  to  the  royalists,  but  has  since  transferred  his 
valuable  services  to  Mexico. 

Although  the  pursuit,  by  the  light  division,  was 
not  altogether  successful  in  its  object,  it  captured 
three* hundred  head  of  oxen,  some  horses  and  mules; 
obliged  Canterac  to  destroy  his  military  stores ;  and 
facilitated  the  desertion  of  above  one  thousand  royal- 
ists, in  spite  of  the  exertions  and  severities  of  their 
chiefs. 

•  Sail  Martin  has  been  greatly  blamed  for  remaining 
before  Callao  with  a  single  battalion  (No.  4)  and 
thirty  cavalry,  instead  of  placing  himself  at  the  head 
of  the  forces  sent  to  molest  the  royalists  in  their  re- 
treat. The  "protector  assigned  as  a  reason,  that  he 
thought  it  necessary  to  preserve  the  direct  com- 
munication opened  with  La  Mar,  governor  of  Callao, 
in  order  to  prevent  Lord  Cochrane  from  obtaining 
possession  of  the  castles,  upon  which  it  is  said  his 
lordship  intended  to  hoist  the  Chileno  flag,  in  op- 


980  SAN  MARTIN  AND  COCHRANE.       CHAP,  xv. 

position  to  the  views  and  policy  of  the  protector.  A 
misunderstanding  had  existed  for  some  time,  and, 
without  entering  into  the  merits  of  conflicting  state- 
ments, we  shall  notice  the  incident  which  rendered 
the  breach  irreparable.    The  admiral  made  a  claim. 

First.  For  arrears  due  to  the  squadron. 

Secondly.  A  bounty  equal  to  one  year's  pay  for 
each  individual  of  the  squadron,  agreeably  to  the 
promise  made  before  sailing  from  Valparaiso. 

Thirdly.  Fifty  thousand  dollars,  which  had  been 
promised  to  the  seamen,  in  the  event  of  their  taking 
the  Esmeralda;  and 

Fourthly.  One  hundred  and  ten  thousand  dollars, 
the  estimated  value  of  the  frigate. 

The  protector  contended,  that  the  Chileno  govern- 
ment was  alone  responsible  for  the  first  and  fourth 
claim.  He  admitted  the  justice  of  the  second  and 
third,  but  required  to  have  time  allowed  him  to 
liquidate  them.  The  admiral  was  highly  dissatisfied 
with  this  answer.  In  the  mean  time,  the  royalist 
army  approached  the  walls  of  Callao,  when,  as  a 
matter  of  precaution,  the  coined  and  uncoined  trea- 
sure belonging  to  government,  as  well  as  to  private 
individuals,  was  removed  from  the  Lima  mint  to  trans- 
ports lying  at  Ancon.  The  admiral  sailed  there, 
and  seized  the  treasure  to  pay  the  squadron,  and  re- 
turned to  the  bay  of  Callao.  His  lordship  stated 
the  treasure  so  seized  to  have  belonged  to  govern- 
ment, or  to  have  been  contraband,  that  is,  silver  sent 
on  board  unaccompanied  by  a  document  to  prove  the 
embarkation  duty  had  been  paid,  and  that  the  whole 
amounted  to  two  hundred  and  five  thousand  dollars. 


CIIAP.  xv.  SURRENDER  OF  CALLAO.  381 

The  protector,  on  the  other  hand,  asserted  that  a 
great  part  of  it  was  private  property,  and  that  the 
total  sum  was  above  four  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
The  investment  of  the  fortress  presented  the  un- 
fortunate spectacle  of  two  chiefs,  who  ought  to  have 
acted  in  unison,  offering  terms  separately  to  a  third 
party,  equally  hostile  to  both.    Callao  surrendered  ori 
the  21st  of  September  to  the  protector,  upon  terms 
highly  favourable  to  the  besieged.     Colonel  Don 
Tomas  Guido  was  appointed  governor  of  the  castles. 
'    On  the  26th  of  the  same  month,  the  protector 
transmitted  to  Lord  Cochrane  a  copy  of  that  article 
of  his  private  instructions,  from  the  Chileno  govern- 
ment, which  authorized  San  Martin,  as  commander- 
in-chief  of  the   liberating   expedition,   to   employ 
(disponer)  the  whole,  or  any  part,  of  the  squadron 
as  he  might  deem  most  expedient.    In  virtue  of  these 
powers  he  ordered  the  admiral,  and  the  vessels  under 
his  command,  to  leave  the  coast  of  Peru.     His  lord- 
ship sailed,  shortly  afterwards,  for  California. 


38*  UMA.  CHAP.  XYI. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Description  of  Lima. — Markets. — Vicinity. — Banditti. — Pan- 
theon.— Bridge. —  Baths. — Cathedral. — Palace. — Fountain.— 
Theatre. — Bull  circus. — Bull  fights. — Climate.— -Routs*— 
Balls. — Uninvited  spectators — Tapadas. — Gaming. — Inhabit* 
ante. —  Palanganas. — Ladies  of  Lima. — Costume. — Peruvian 
legion. — Patriot  and  royalist  forces. — Supreme  delegate. — Dis- 
tress at  sea.-— Spanish  ships  capitulate. — Lord  Cochrane  re- 
turns to  Chile. — Quits  the  service. — The  surprise  at  lea.— 
Battle  of  Pinchincha. — Interview  between  Bolivar  and  the 
protector. — Monteagudo  banished. — Congress  installed.— San 
Martin  retires  from  public  life. 

The  viceroyaity  of  Peru  formerly  comprehended 
the  whole  of  the  Spanish  dominions  in  South  Awe* 
rica.  Lima,  its  capital,  was  the  centre  of  riches, 
influence,  political  intrigue,  and  dissipation.  The 
elevation  of  the  subordinate  governments  of  Buenos 
Ayres  and  of  New  Granada  to  vice-regal  rank  di- 
minished the  consequence  of  Lima,  but  it  still  re- 
tained its  court,  and  continued  to  be  the  favourite 
resort  of  the  wealthy  and  the  sensual.  The  city,  ten 
miles  in  circumference,  is  built  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  Rimac,  in  a  plain  near  the  foot  of  some  of  the 
lower  branches  of  the  Andes.  Viewed  from  the  bay 
of  Callao,  its  numerous  domes  and  towers  give  to  it 
an  air  decidedly  oriental.  The  prospect  at  sunset 
is  particularly  interesting,  for  when  twilight  has 
already  thrown  the  landscape  of  the  plain  into  deep 
shade,  the  domes  of  the  city  are  still  gilded  by  the 


chap.  xvi.  LIMA.  383 

departing  sun,  and  when  these  also  become  shrouded 
in  .darkness,  the  peaky  summits  of  the  mountains  con- 
tinue for  some  time  to  be  illumined  by  his  lingering 
beams.  The  approach  from  Callao  is  by  a  fine  road, 
the  last  mile  of  which  is  shaded  by  four  rows  of  lofty 
trees,  forming  -a  handsome  promenade,  with  benches. 
The  entrance  is  by  a  noble  gate  built  by  the  public- 
spirited  viceroy  Don  Ambrosio  O'Higgins,  Marquess 
of  Osorno. 

.  The  city  was  founded  by  Pizarro  in  1535.  It 
contains  about  seventy  thousand  inhabitants,  three 
hundred  and  sixty  streets,  nearly  four  thousand 
houses,  fifty-four  churches,  monasteries,  and  chapels, 
a  theatre,  and  a  university.  The  Moorish  aspect 
does  not  altogether  disappear  on  closer  inspection. 
The  houses,  like  those  in  most  other  Spanish  Ame- 
rican towns,  are  disposed  in  quadras,  or  square  plots, 
and  are  generally  one  story  in  height,  having  a  light 
and  flat  roof.  The  quadras  are  equal  in  size,  and 
form  straight  streets,  nearly  forty  feet  wide,  inter- 
secting each  other  at  right  angles.  The  best  re-r 
gidences  are  scattered  amidst  houses  of  a  meaner  sort* 
The  description  of  one  of  the  former  may  perhaps 
convey  an  idea  of  the  usual  plan  of  a  mansion  in  any 
Spanish  American  city*.  A  single  building  sometimes 
occupies  half  a  quadra.  A  line  of  dead  w^all,  re-r 
lieved  by  a  lofty  gateway,  forms  the  street  front,  ex-? 
cept  when  it  is  converted  into  shops,  which  have  no 
communication  with  the  inner  court.  In  consequence 
of  the  frequency  of  earthquakes,  the  houses  consist 
generally  of  a  ground  floor  only.  The  apartments 
occupied  by  the  family,  the  offices,  coach-houses,  and 


384  IJMA.  CHAP.  XVI. 

stabling,  being  in  the  same  court-yard,  which  is  di- 
vided in  the  centre  by  a  suite  of  lofty  and  well-pro* 
portioned  reception  rooms,  capable  of  being  thrown 
into  one  by  means  of  large  folding  doors,  which  are 
in  themselves  very  handsome,  the  upper  part  con- 
sisting of  splendid  panes  of  plate  glass  enriched  with 
highly  burnished  gilded  mouldings*  The  windows 
are  open  to  the  grouud,  and  are  secured  by  iron  bars 
wrought  in  a  manner  highly  ornamental,  and  par- 
tially gilded.  The  ceutre  suite  of  apartments  com- 
mands a  view  through  the  gateway  into  the  street 
Some  of  the  houses  are  of  two  stories,  with  a  bal- 
cony round  the  upper  floor,  whilst  the  exterior  fronts 
have  large  verandas,  latticed  in  a  fashion  completely 
Moorish.  The  roofs  are  flat,  and  mostly  formed 
with  rafters  made  of  canes  tied  five  together,  and 
covered  with  matting ;  others  are  built  much  stronger, 
and  being  paved  with  bricks,  form  an  agreeable  pro- 
menade. 

A  shallow  stream  of  water,  of  two  feet  in  width, 
runs  through  the  centre  of  the  principal  streets,  and 
contributes  much  to  carrying  off  impurities.  These 
miniature  canals  are  supplied  by  means  of  a  dam 
placed  across  the  Rimac,  by  which  a  portion  of  the 
water  is  diverted  into  them  at  some  distance  above 
the  city.  The  streets  are  paved,  but  badly  lighted, 
and  are  patrolled  by  watchmen,  who  vociferate  "Ave 
Maria  purisima !  viva  fa  patria  /"  and  a  serene, 
or  cloudy,  sky;  as  if  either  the  Virgin  Mary  or 
patriotism  had  any  thing  in  common  with  the  hour 
of  the  night,  or  the  state  of  the  weather. 

In  the  less  frequented  parts  of  the  city  the  eye  is 


CfcAP.  xvi.  WALLS.  385 

offended  by  unsightly  proofs  of  the  total  inattention 
of  the  police  to  general  cleanliness.  The  markets 
are  plentifully  supplied  with  fish,  fruit,  vegetables, 
&c.  The  standings  are  usually  under  portable  canvas 
awnings,  of  a  circular  shape,  made  fast  to  a  long  pole, 
like  an  umbrella.  Monks,  with  wallets  slung  across 
their  shoulders,  go  punctually  round,  and  collect  the 
offerings  of  the  pious  market-people,  who  have  always 
something  in  readiness  for  the  holy  mother  church. 
A  remarkable  feature  in  the  market  is  the  rows  formed 
by  the  stands  of  the  misturerasy  or  flower-women, 
who  are  at  the  same  time  venders  of  perfumery, 
for  both  of  which  there  is  a  great  consumption  in 
Lima.  The  narrow  avenues  so  formed  are  called 
calles  de  peligro,  or  paths  of  peril,  and  are  much  fre- 
quented by  gallants,  who  make  purchases  of  bouquets 
for  those  ladies  on  whom  they  are  in  attendance,  the 
flowers  of  Lima  beftig  particularly  beautiful.  Such 
is  the  competition  occasioned  by  these  love-stricken 
swains,  that  seven  or  eight  dollars  have  been  fre-< 
quently  paid  for  a  single  carnation. 

The  walls  of  the  town  describe  four-fifths  of  a 
circle,  resting  upon  the  river,  having  seven  gates, 
and  thirty-three  bastions ;  but  the  ramparts  are  too 
narrow  to  admit  of  heavy  ordnance  being  placed  upon 
them. 

Lima  is  situated  in  a  plain  about  ten  or  twelve 
leagues  in  circumference,  irregularly  indented  by 
gentle  elevations,  which,  being  above  the  level  of 
irrigation,  are  condemned  to  irreclaimable  sterility  < 
Small  hills  are  scattered  over  various  parts  of  the 
plain,  resembling  barrows,  which  are  covered  with 

VOL.  I.  G  e 


386  VICINITY  OF  LIMA.  chap.  xvi. 

the  ruins  of  villages.  The  fortress  of  Callao  Con- 
tains from  two  to  three  thousand  inhabitants j  ahcl 
in  the  valley  of  the  Rimac  are  also  the  fishing  town 
of  Chorrillos,  the  large  villages  of  Miraflores,  Mag- 
dalena,  Surco,  and  some  small  hamlets.  The  rest 
of  the  valley  is  parcelled  out  into  fine  estates,  some 
of  which  are  worth  from  five  hundred  thousand  to 
a  million  of  dollars  each.  These  are  surrounded 
by  high  mud  walls,  called  tapias,  and  subdivided 
by  quadrangular  fences  of  the  same  materials,  four 
or  five  feet  high.  The  principal  produce  is  sugar, 
Indian  corn,  legumes,  chirimoyas,  oranges,  olives, 
plantains,  bananas,  alligator-pears,  apples,  lucern, 
and  various  other  fruits  and  vegetables  common  to 
the  torrid  and  temperate  zones.  Fuel  is  exceed- 
ingly expensive;  fires  are  seldom  made  but  for 
culinary  purposes,  and  then  with  the  greatest  par- 
simony. Charcoal  is  brought  by  the  aborigines 
from  great  distances.  A  particular  kind  of  wfllo'w 
is  planted  along  the  banks  of  the  azequias,  and  un- 
derneath flowers  the  nasturtium,  or  nun  of  Peru. 
In  a  few  swampy  spots  the  wild  cane  runs  up  to  a 
luxuriant  height,  and  forms  extensive  clumps  of  airy 
elegance,  giving  variety  to  the  verdant  prospect. 
Could  the  reader  imagine  Milan  placed  within  twenty 
miles  of  Duomo  d'Ossola,  he  may  form  a  clear 
idea  of  the  circumjacent  landscape,  this  land  vidw  of 
the  lower  ridges  of  the  Andes  bearing  a  strong  re- 
semblance to  the  Italian  Alps  in  outline  and  in  al- 
titude. 

The  vicinity  of  the  capital  is  occasionally  infested  by 
banditti,  carrying  on  their  operations  in  open  day  with 


CHAP.  *VI. 


BANDITTI, 


387 


^o  much  system,  -that  all  who  chapce  to  travel  pt  that 
ttime  are  sure  to  foe  relieved  of  tjiej^valu^es.  These 
.robbers  are  composed  chiefly  of , free  pa ulattpes  and 
Others  of  a  mixed  race.  The. evil  has  existed  from 
•  time  immemorial,  and  is  of  purely  Spanish,  origin;  for 
;  Ipdian  honesty,  in  retired  villages,  is  so  great,  that 
when  a  family  for  a  time  leaves  its  cage-like  hut,  the 
latchless  wicket  is  left  ajar ;  a  brush  Js  placed  on  the 
sill,  and  it  would  be  w#rse  than  sacrilege  for  any  one 
to  cross  the  threshold  under  any  pretence.  It  has 
happened  that  the  brigands,  well  armed  and  well 
.mounted,  have  assembled  at  distant  and  uncertain 
periods  within  a  mile  of  Callao.  They  direct  their 
course  towards  Lima,  stop  all  whom  they  meet,  and 
having  very  civilly  lightened  them  of  their  purses, 
.  oblige  the  plundered  persons  to  accompany  the  rob- 
bers until  all  arrive  near  to  the  city  gate,  when  the 
bandits  disperse.  Some  ride  boldly  into  the  town; 
many  conceal  themselves  in  the  thickets  of  canes ; 
whilst  others  cut  across  the  country,  and  return 
quietly  to, their  homes,  to  enjoy  the  spoil,  or  follow 
their  usual  occupations.  The  ■.  banditti,  on  such . ex- 
traordinary occasions,  amount  to  twenty  or  thirty  in 
number;  and  it  has  happened  that  they  have  had 
about  twenty  carnages,  besides  persons  dismounted 
apd  njade  to  lead  their  own  horses,  in  the  train, 
which  was  regularly  brought  up  by  a  rear-guard,  while 
.tfie  advanced  scouts,  pushed  on  to  secure  fresh  booty. 
rTbeyT  seldom  commit  murder;  and  whenever  it  is 
possible,  they  avoid  robbing  officers  of  the  army,  or 
civilians  in  the  employment  of  government.  Neither 
do  they,  when  acting  in  small  parties,  attack  persons 

cc2 


388  PANTHEOS.  CHAF.  Xtl. 

of  note.  Foreigners  and  strangers  are  in  general  their 
usual  victims.  In  1822,  two  Chileno  gentlemen, 
named  Errazuris  and  Baras,  were  stopped.  Errazuris 
told  the  chief  bandit  that  the  horse  on  which  he  rode 
was  a  borrowed  one,  belonging  to  an  officer  in  the 
army,  and  so  valuable  that  he  could  not  replace  it; 
he  therefore  entreated  that  the  animal  might  not  be 
taken.  The  robber  replied,  "  We  cannot  give  it  up 
at  present,  as  good  horses  are  exactly  what  we  are 
most  in  need  of,  being  on  the  eve  of  a  distant  excur- 
sion ;  but  say  where  you  live,  and  the  horse  shall  be 
returned."  A  few  mornings  after,  it  was  found  in  the 
court  of  the  house  of  Dona  Rosita  Cortes  (a  descend- 
ant of  the  celebrated  Hernan  Cortes),  where  Erra- 
zuris had  taken  up  his  residence.  The  other  gentle- 
man, from  whom  a  few  thousand  dollars  had  been 
taken,  perceiving  that  the  request  of  his  friend  was 
so  readily  complied  with,  told  the  robbers  that  he  had 
no  more  money  than  what  they  had  taken,  and  begged 
them  to  return  enough  for  him  to  subsist  upon  in 
Callao.  They  asked  him  how  much  he  wanted.  He 
answered,  a  few  doubloons;  upon  which  the  robbers 
refunded  a  hundred  dollars,  and  all  parties  then  took 
a  polite  leave  of  each  other.  To  the  practice  of  ab- 
staining from  personal  violence,  and  to  the  discrimi- 
nating exemption  granted  to  influential  persons,  may 
be  attributed  in  a  great  measure  the  degree  of  impu- 
nity enjoyed  by  these  well-bred  chevaliers  dHndustrie. 
The  pantheon,  half  a  mile  east  of  the  city,  is  the 
general  cemetery.  It  is  a  large  circular  enclosure, 
having  a  handsome  entrance,  and  a  well  built  chapel 
for  the  performance  of  the  burial  service.     Behind 


CHAP.  XVI.  CATHEDRAL.      .  389 

the  chapel  are  seven  double  tiers  of  brick-work,  di- 
vided into  compartments,  each  of  sufficient  dimen- 
sions to  admit  a  full-sized  coffin,  and  which,  when 
occupied,  is  closed  at  the  end,  and  a  tablet  with 
the  name  of  the  deceased  recorded  on  it.  There  are 
thousands  of  these  receptacles,  but,  as  this  mode  of 
interment  is  expensive,  the  poor  are  buried  in  long 
and  deep  trenches,  which  are  gradually  filled  by  the 
number  of  corpses  daily  deposited,  and  by  the  slight 
covering  of  earth  which  is  thrown  upon  them.  Monks 
are  in  constant  attendance,  and  reprieved  malefactors 
are  employed  to  perform  the  office  of  inhumation, 
and  to  keep  this  great  burial-ground  in  order. 

A  stone  bridge  over  the  Rimac  leads  to  the  ex- 
tensive suburb  of  San  Lazaro,  at  the  eastern  extremity 
of  which  is  a  fine  alameda,  or  public  walk,  above 
half  a  mile  in  length,  overlooking  the  river.  This 
conducts  to  the  bull-ring,  and  to  the  baths  of  Antaza, 
which  are  spacious  and  excellent.  Not  a  great  di- 
stance from  thence,  and  leading  to  the  Conventillo  de 
los  Descalzos,  is  a  small  alameda,  ornamented  with 
fountains  and  grottoes. 

The  cathedral  is  a  large,  handsome,  though  heavy 
structure.  The  viceregal  palace  is  .a  spacious  build- 
ing, but  without  architectural  merit.  There  are  in- 
ner courts,  around  which  are  offices  for  the  treasury, 
and  ministers  of  the  war  and  home  departments.  The 
ascent  to  the  state  rooms  is  from  the  west  front  of 
the  palace*  by  a  grand  marble  staircase.  The  most 
interesting  ornaments  of  these  apartments  are  original 
portraits  of  forty-four  viceroys  who  governed  Peru, 
from  Pizarro  down  to  Pezuela.     Each  viceroy  was 


390  PORTRAITS  OF  THE  VICEROYS.     CHAP.  XVI. 

expected,  on  taking  office,  to  have  a  painting  of  him- 
self placed  in  the  saloon,  and  it  is  remarkable  that  the 
last  vacant  panel  was  filled  by  the  portrait  of  Pezuela. 
The  head  of  Pizarro  is  classically  shaped,  his  foreBfe&f 
high,  nose  Greciati,  complexion  dark,  and  cotrrite-: 
nance  touch  covered  by  a  long,  black,  and  martial 
beard.  The  different  shades'  of  complexion,  from  the 
Moorish  down  to  the  modern  Spanish,  ak  also  tire 
gradual  variety  of  costumes  whfch  these  intet'&tfing 
pictures  display,  furnish  matter  for  curious  con- 
templation. Several  of  the  paintings  have  been  in- 
jured, though  the  Sbuth  American  rabble  are  less 
prone  to  destruction  than  were  the  puritans  of  Eng- 
land, or  the  revolutionary  mobs  of  Ftkrice;  The 
Limena  populace  is  Equally  ardefit,  but  I&ss  wanton; 
than  the  destroying  hordes  of  Europe,  whof  btfiSt  0f 
her  superior  refinement. 

The  palace  afrd  cathedral  bcctipy  the!  norths  tftid 
eastern  sides  of  the  plaza,  or  great  sqiiare;  the  ibvfrii- 
hbuse  and  gaol,  together  with  spacious  houses  tdn- 
sisting  of  two  stories,  ornamented  by  an  arcade,  coiii- 
plete  the  quadrangle.  Shops  and  stalls  are  placed 
under  the  arcade.  In  the  centre  df  tlie  sqharfe  is  a 
handsome  fountain,  having  bronze  figlifres  rotlfad  the 
reservoir;  In  the  evehirig,  numbers  of  perSbhs  Si- 
semble  in  froiifc  of  the  arcades,  to  rfegalie  thfemsfelvfeis 
with  ibbS;  orgeat,  lettiohade,  sweetmteats,  &c.  The 
proprieiors  of  Hie  Adjoitiihg  cdffee-hohseis  jilAfce 
behcheS  and  chatte  for  general  Accommodation*  arid 
matay  people  rettliin  thus  ih  the  bpeh  Ait  until  mi&- 
riight.  The  theatre  is  a  tvell  arranged  and  ttfeal; 
building.     The  perfbrnianees  take  plAcfe  three  tfttieis 


CHAP.  xvi.  THEATRE.  391 

a  week,  and  are  tolerably  good.  The  head  of  the 
executive  attends,  in  rather  more  than  republican 
simplicity,  his  cavalcade  consisting  of  a  state  carriage 
dra\yn  by  six  horses  or  mules,  attended  by  an  escort 
and  torch-bearers. 

A  captain's  guard  is  on  duty  during  the  perform- 
ance, and  sentries  are  stationed  in  various  parts  of 
the  house,  as  in  continental  theatres.  In  the  pit, 
immediately  under  the  government-box,  ar^  placed 
a  corporal  and  six  soldiers  with  carried  arms.  Ad- 
jjpining  the  stateJbox  is  one  skreened  from  public 
view,  in  which  General  San  Martin  was  accustomed 
to  grant  interviews,  especially  to  such  of  his  secret 
agents  as  could  not  conveniently  appear  at  the  palace. 
They  could  glide  into  this  private  box,  deliver  in  their 
reports,  and  receive  fresh  instructions,  without  at- 
tracting observation.  Smoking  at  the  theatre  is  now 
prohibited.  Under  the  old  regime  if  was  permitted 
f>ptween  the  acts ;  when  the  viceroy  withdrew  from 
the  front  of  his  box,  and  was  supposed  to  be  absent, 
3t  which  moment  hundreds  of  pocket  tender-boxes 
were  produced,  and  clouds  of  smoke  arose.  On 
drawing  up  the  curtain,  the  viceroy  resumed  his  seat, 
and  every  cigar  was  suddenly  extinguished.  The 
use  of  the  cigar  is  still  so  prevalent,  that  it  is  fre- 
quently seen  in  the  mouth  of  a  woman,  or  placed  in 
reserve  behind  her  ear,  in  imitation  of  the  pen  of  a 
shopman.  Ladies  rarely  indulge  avowedly  in  the 
practice,  and  the  mere  attempt  at  concealment  proves 
jthat  the  custom  is  growing  into  disrepute. 

The  amphitheatre,  in  which  the  bull-fights  are  held, 


892  AMPHITHEATRE.  CHAP.  XVI. 

is  the  best  constructed  and  most  convenient  place  of 
public  amusement  in  Lima.  The  exterior  wall  is  a 
circus  of  about  half  a  mile  in  circumference :  three* 
tiers  of  boxes  enclose  an  uncovered  arena.  Above 
the  ground  tier,  and  in  front  of  the  middle  one,  which 
recedes,  ten  or  twelve  rows  of  benches  are  placed, 
which  slope  from  the  front  of  the  boxes  to  the  ex- 
treme edge  of  the  roof  of  the  lower  tier.  The  seats 
accommodate  ten  thousand  spectators,  and,  whenever 
this  favourite  diversion  takes  place,  are  crowded  as 
well  with  beauty  and  rank  as  with  the  motley  and 
variously  tinged  populace.  In  the  centre  of  the  arena 
is  an  escapade,  composed  of  two  rows  of  strong  pali- 
sades, intersecting  so  as  to  form  a  cross.  The  stakes 
are  wide  enough  apart  to  allow  a  man  to  pass  between 
them. 

The  taste  for  bull-fights,  introduced  by  the  early 
Spaniards,  is  retained  by  their  American  descendants 
with  undiminished  ardour.  The  announcement  of 
an  exhibition  of  this  kind  produces  a  state  of  uni- 
versal excitement.  The  streets  are  thronged,  and 
the  population  of  the  surrounding  country,  dressed 
in  their  gayest  attire,  add  to  the  multitudes  of  the 
city.  The  sport  is  conducted  with  an  £clat  that 
exceeds  the  bull-fights  in  every  other  part  of  South 
America,  and  perhaps  even  surpasses  those  of  Madrid. 
The  death  of  the  bull,  when  properly  managed, 
creates  as  much  interest  in  the  ladies  of  Lima  as  the 
death  of  the  hare  to  the  English  huntress,  or  the 
winning  horse  to  the  titled  dames  at  Newmarket  or 
Poncaster;   nor  can  the  pugilistic  fancy  of  Eng- 


CHAP.  XVI.  BULL-FIGHTS.  893 

land  take  a  deeper  interest  in  the  event  of  a  prize 
fight  than  the  gentlemen  of  Lima  in  the  scientific 
worrying  of  a  bull. 

It  is  curious  to  observe  how  various  are  ideas  of 
cruelty  in  different  countries.  The  English,  for 
instance,  exclaim  against  the  barbarity  of  the  bull- 
fight, as  compared  with  the  noble  sports  of  cock- 
fighting,  badger-baiting,  &c. ;  but  their  enlightened 
horror  could  not  exceed  the  disgust  shown  by  a 
young  South  American,  who  witnessed  a  casual  box- 
ing-match between  two  boys  in  Hyde  Park,  sur- 
rounded and  encouraged,  as  he  expressed  himself, 
by  well-dressed  barbarians.  It  is  amusing  to  wit- 
ness the  complacency  with  which  one  nation  accuses 
another  of  cruelty,  without  taking  a  glance  at  cus- 
toms at  home. 

The  bulls  destined  for  the  ring  are  obtained  prin- 
cipally from  the  woods  in  the  valleys  of  Chincha, 
where  they  are  bred  in  a  wild  state.  To  catch  and 
drive  them  to  Lima,  a  distance  of  sixty  leagues,  is  a 
matter  of  no  inconsiderable  expense.  A  bull  is  given 
by  each  gremio,  or  incorporated  trading  company,  of 
the  city.  The  gremios  vie  in  decorating  their  dona- 
tion, which  is  bedizened  with  ribands  and  flowers; 
across  its  shoulders  are  suspended  mantles,  richly 
embroidered  with  the  arms  of  the  gremios  to  which 
it  belongs,  all  of  which  becomes  the  perquisite  of 
the  matador  who  slays  the  bull. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  fixed  for  a  bull- 
fight, every  street  leading  to  the  amphitheatre  is 
crowded  with  carriages,  horsemen,  and  pedestrians. 
^11  are  in  the  greatest  glee,  and  in  full  dress.    The 


394  BULL-FIGHTS.  CHAP,  XVK 

price  of  admission  is  four  reales,  or  two  shillings*  but 
an.  additional  charge  is  made  for  seats,  in  the.  bqxes* 
The  managers  pay  a  considerable  ta&  to  government 
on  every  performance. 

About  2  P.  M.  the  business  of  the  circus  cms- 
mences,  by  a  curious  sort  of  prelivte*  A  co*#f>wy 
of  soldiers  perform  a  despejoy  or  a  military  papt% 
mime.  The  men,  having  been  previously  d£$e4 
for  that  purpose,  go  through  a  variety  of  fancifi^ 
evolutions,  forming  the  Roman  and  Greek  crosses, 
stars,  and  figures  describing  a  sentence,  such  a*  vivq 
la  patria!  viva  San  Martin !  or  the  nam?  e£  apy 
other  person  who  happens  to  be  at  the  head  <?f  the 
government.  As  a  finale,  the  soldiers  form  a  circle, 
face  outwards,  then  advance  towards  the  boxes,  pre- 
serving their  circular  order,  while  they  extend  until 
they  approach  close  enough  to  climb  up  to  the  benches. 
Every  movement  is  made  to  the  sound  of  the  drum ; 
and  the  effect  is  exceedingly  good.  A  band  of  music 
is  likewise  in  attendance,  and  plays  at  intervals. 

The  prelude  being  over,  six  or  seven  toreadores 
enter  the  arena  on  foot,  dressed  in  silk  jackets  of  dif- 
ferent colours,  richly  spangled  and  bordered  with  gold 
or  silver  lace.  One  or  two  of  these  men  are  matador es; 
they  are  pardoned  criminals,  and  receive  a  consider- 
able sum  for  every  bull  they  kill.  About  the  same 
time  various  amateurs,  well  mounted  on  stepd?  gaily 
caparisoned,  fancifully  and  tastefully  attired,  present 
themselves.  When  all  is  prepared,  a  door  is  opened 
under  the  box  occupied  by  the  municipality,  and  a 
bull  rushes  from  a  pen.  At  first  he  gases  abont  in 
surprise,  but  he  is  soon  put  upon  his  mettle  by  the 


CHAP.  xvi.  BULL-FIGHTS*  396 

waving  of  flags,  and  the  throwing  of  darts,  crackers*: 
ind  other  annoyances.  The  amateur  cavaliers  dis- 
play their  horsemanship  and  skill  in  provoking  his 
ire,  and  in  eluding  his  vengeancd,  in  order  to  catch 
the  eye  of  some  favourite  fair  one,  as  weU  as  to  gai» 
thfe  applaruse  of  their  friends  aaod  the  audience.  They 
infuriate  the  animal  by  waving  &  mamtle  over  his 
bead?  when  pursued^  they  do  not  allow  their  horses 
to  recede  more  than  a  few  inches  from  the  horns 
of  the  angry  btell.  When  at  full  speed,  they  make 
their  horse  revolve  upon  his  hind  legs,  and  remain 
ill  readiness  to  make  a  second  turn  on  the  animal. 
This  operation  is  several  times  repeated,  with  equal 
agility  arid  boldness,  arid  is  called  capear.  The 
Amateurs  then  promenade  around,  to  acknowledge 
the  plaudits  bestowed.  This  species  of  sparring  on 
horseback  with  the  bull  is  practised  only  in  South 
America.  Indeed,  in  no  other  part  of  the  world  is 
the  training  of  the  horses  or  the  dexterity  of  the 
rider  equal  to  the  performance  of  such  exploits. 
Effigies  made  of  skin,  and  filled  with  wind,  and 
others  made  of  straw,  in  which  are  live  birds,  are 
phded  hi  the  arena.  The  bull  tossea  them  in  the 
&if,  but  the  fefflgies,  being  made  heavy  at  the  base, 
Cdtrie  to  the  ground,  and  always  retain  an  upright 
pttettitte.  The  straw  figures  are  furnished  with  fire- 
wbrks,  which  lare  made  to  take  fire,  on  the  birds 
taping;  arid  it  often  happens  that  the  bull  runs 
about  with  the  cracking  figure  upon  his  horns. 
Sdttietitties  he  is  maddened  by  fireworks  being  fas- 
tened on  hitto,  which  go  off  in  succession.  The 
tSMtckers  being  expended,  the  animal  usually  stands 
gteihg  around  with  rolling  tongue,  panting  sides, 


3&6  BULL-FIGHTS.  CHAP.  XVI. 

and  eyes  sparkling  with  rage.  He  is  then  faced  by 
the  principal  matador,  who  holds  a  straight  sword 
in  one  hand,  and  a  flag  in  the  other.  As  the  bull 
runs  at  him  at  full  speed,  the  matador  coolly,  but 
with  great  celerity,  takes  one  step  to  the  left,  hold- 
ing the  flag  just  over  the  spot  he  occupied  when  the 
bull  took  aim.  Being  foiled,  he  wheels  round,  and 
charges  his  tormentor  a  second  time,  who  again  skil- 
fully eludes  being  caught  on  the  horns.  This  is  re- 
peated about  three  times,  to  the  great  delight  of  the 
audience.  At  length  the  matador  assumes  a  sort  of 
fencing  attitude,  and,  watching  the  proper  moment, 
as  the  bull  runs  at  him,  plunges  his  sword  into  the 
animal's  neck,  near  its  shoulders,  when  it  falls  down 
dead  at  his  feet.  Handkerchiefs  are  then  waved,  and 
applauding  shouts  resound.  Four  horses,  richly  har- 
nessed, next  appear.  The  dead  bull  is  quickly  fixed 
to  traces,  and  dragged  out  at  a  gallop,  cheered  by  con- 
tinued acclamations. 

"  Four  steeds  that  spurn  the  rein,  as  swift  as  shy, 
Hurl  the  dark  bulk  along,  scarce  seen  in  dashing  by."— Byron. 

Other  bulls  are  killed  in  the  same  way  by  successive 
matadores.  One  is  generally  despatched  by  means 
of  a  long  knife,  grasped  by  the  matador,  so  that 
when  his  arm  is  extended,  the  blade  is  perpendicular 
to  the  wrist.  The  bull  being  worried  for  a  time, 
the  matador,  instead  of  receiving  him  on  the  point 
of  a  sword,  as  before,  steps  one  pace  aside,  as  the 
bull  runs  at  him,  and  adroitly  plunges  the  knife  into 
the  spinal  marrow,  behind  the  horns,  when  the  animal 
drops  instantly  dead.  Another  bull  is  next  attacked 
by  mounted  picador es,  armed  with  lances.     Their 


CHAP.  XVI.  BULL-FIGHTS.  397 

legs  are  protected  by  padding.  Their  horses  are  of 
little  value,  and  cannot  easily  get  out  of  the  way  of 
the  bull.  Neither  do  the  riders  often  attempt  it,  as 
to  do  so,  is  considered  cowardly.  The  consequence 
is,  the  horses  generally  receive  a  mortal  gore.  Part 
of  their  entrails  are  frequently  torn  out,  and  exhibit 
a  most  disgusting  spectacle.  The  riders  run  con- 
siderable risk,  for  their  lances  are  inadequate  to  kill- 
ing the  bull,  which,  after  being  pierced  and  mangled, 
is  finally  despatched  by  a  matador. 

u  Foil'd,  bleeding,  breathless,  furious  to  the  last, 
Full  in  the  centre  stands  the  bull  at  bay, 
Mid  wounds,  and  clinging  darts,  and  lances  brast, 
And  foes  disabled  in  the  brutal  fray : 
And  now  the  matadors  around  him  play, 
Shake  the  red  cloak,  and  poise  the  ready  brand. 
Once  more  through  all  he  bursts  his  thund'ring  way- 
Vain  rage!  the  mantle  quits  the  cunning  hand, 

Wraps  his  fierce  eye — 'tis  past — he  sinks  upon  the  sand  1"— -Byron. 

The  next  bull,  as  he  sallies  from  the  pen,  is  en- 
countered by  six  or  eight  Indians  with  short  lances, 
who  kneel  down,  like  the  front  rank  of  a  battalion 
to  receive  a  cavalry  charge.  One  or  two  Indians 
are  usually  tossed.  The  others  follow  up  the  bull, 
and  when  he  turns  upon  them,  they  drop  on  one 
knee,  and  receive  him  as  before.  They  are  seldom 
able  to  despatch  him ;  and  a  matador  steps  forward 
to  end  his  sufferings.  Some  of  the  Indians  are  often 
much  hurt.  They  invariably  make  themselves  half 
drunk  before  they  enter  the  circus,  alleging,  that 
they  can  fight  the  bull  better  when  they  see  double. 

Again  another  bull  is  let  into  the  ring,  for  the 
lanzada,  or  trial  of  the  lance,  the  handle  of  which 
is  very  long  and  strong,  fixed  into  a  wooden  socket 
secured  to  the  ground,  and  supported  by  an  Indian 


.998  BULL-FIGHTS.  CHAP.  xvi. 

toreador.  The  head  of  the  lance  is  a  Jong  blade,  of 
highly  tempered  steel,  made  sharp  as  a  razor.  Be- 
fore the  bull  is  permitted  to  leave  .the  pen,  he  is 
rendered  furious  by  a  variety  of  torments.  When 
he  has  been  .sufficiently  maddened,  the  doors  are 
thrown  open,  and  the  animal  makes  a  rush  at  the 
Indian  who  is  dressed  in  scarlet,  and  directs  :tbe 
lance  as  he  kneels  on  the  ground.  The  raging, bull 
runs  at  him,  but  he  steadily  points  the  lance  so  #s 
to  receive  the  bull  on  its  point.  Such  is  the  force 
with  which  he  plunges  at  his  opponent,  that  the 
lance  generally  enters  at  the  head,  and,  breaking 
through  skull  and  bones,  comes  out  at  the  sides  or 
back. 

Finally,  a  bull,  with  tail  erect,  comes  bellowing 
and  bounding  in,  with  a  man  strapped  on  his  back. 
The  animal  jumps  and  capers  about,  making,  every 
possible  effort  to  rid  himsejf  of  his  burden,  to  the 
no  small  amusement  of  the  spectators.  The  rider 
at  length  loosens  the  straps,  and  the  bull  is  attacked 
on  all  sides  by  amateurs  on  foot  and  on  horseback* 
When  a  matador  has  killed  a  bull,  he  bows  to  the 
government-box,  to  the  municipality,  and  all  around, 
receiving  plaudits  in  proportion  to  the  skill  he  has 
shown,  and  the  sport  he  has  afforded.  ~  Advancing 
then  to  the  box  of  the  municipality,  he  receives  his 
reward  from  one  of  the  members  appointed  as  judge, 
or  umpire,  on  the  occasion,  which  consists  of  a  few 
dollars  thrown  into  the  arena.  When  the  spectators 
are  particularly  gratified  by  the  performance,  tbey 
also  throw  money  into  the.  arena. 

Dryden  has  given  so  spirited  and  correct  a  de- 


CffAP.XVi.  TEMPERA'WJHfE  Off  LIMA.  899 

scriptibn  of  a  btill-fight,  ttatt  We  c&rmot  refrain  from 
transcribing  it  in  this  place. 

"  One  "bull,  with  curPd  black  head  beyond  the  rest, 
And  dewlaps  hanging  from  his  brawny  chest, 
"With  nodding  front  awhile  did  daring  stand, 
And  with  his  jetty  hoof  spurn'd  back  the  sand; 
Then  leaping  fori,  he  bellow'd  out  aloud : 
The*  amazed  assistants  back  each  other  crowd, 
While  monarch-like  he  rang'd  the  listed  field; 
Sometoss'd,  some  gored,  some  trampling  down  he  kilTd. 
The'  ignoble  Moors  from  far  his  rage  provoke 
With  woods  of  darts,  which  from  his  sides  he  shook. 
Meantime  your  valiant  son,  who  had  before 
Gain'd  fame,  rode  round  to  every  rhirador; 
Beneath  each  lady's  stand  a  stop  he  made, 

And,  bowing,  took  the  applauses  which  they  paid. 

***** 

Thus  while  he  stood,  the  bull,  who  saw  his  foe, 
His  easier  conquests  proudly  did  forego, 
■  And,  making  at  him  with  a  furious  bound, 
From  his  bent  forehead  aim'd  a  double  wound. 
A  rising  murmur  ran  through  all  the  field, 
And  ev'ry  lady's  blood  with  fear  was  chilTd : 
Some  shriek'd,  while  others,  with  more  helpful  care, 
Oied  out  aloud,  ( Beware,  brave  youth,  beware !' 
At  this  he  turn'd,  and  as  the  bull  drew  near, 
Shunn'd,  and  Teceived  him  on  his  pointed  spear. 
The  lance  broke  short,  the  beast  then  bellow'd  loud, 
And  his  strong  neck  to  a  new  onset  bow'd. 
The  undaunted  youth 

Then  drew,  and  from  his  Saddle  bending  low, 
Just  where  the  neck  did  to  the  shoulders  grow, 
With  his  full  force  discharged  a  deadly  blow. 
Not  heads  of  poppies  (when  they  reap  the  grain) 
Fall  with  more  ease  before  the  lab 'ring  swain 
Than  fell  this  head  : 

It  fell  so  quick,  it  did  even  death  prevent, 
And  made  imperfect  bellowings  as  it  went 
Then  all  the  trumpets  victory  did  sound ; 
And  yet  their  clangors  in  our  shouts  were  drown'd." 

Conquest  of  Granada. 

Notwithstanding  that  Lima  is  situated  in  twelve 
degrees  south  latitude,  Fahrenheit's  thermometer 
seldom  rises  to  70°  in  the  shade.  This  low  tem- 
perature is  probably  caused  by  the  frays  of  the  sun 
being,  for  a  great  part  of  the  year,  intercepted  by  a 
fleeey,  or  mottled  veil  of  clouds,  called  by  sailors  a 
mackarel  sky.  At  one  season  of  the  year,  garuas> 
or  heavy  mists,  prevail ;  which  chill  the  air  and  moisten 


400  SOCIETY  OF  LIMA.  CHAP.  XVi. 

the  ground  sufficiently  to  render  the  pavement  slip- 
pery. With  the  exception  of  intermittent  fevers, 
Lima  is  subject  to  no  epidemical  disease.  Those 
who  outlive  fifty  years  generally  attain  the  age  of 
eighty  and  upwards,  for  which  reason  Lima  has  been 
called  the  paradise  of  the  old. 

In  this  city,  as  at  Buenos  Ayres,  Santiago  de 
Chile,  &c.  families  are  at  home  every  evening  to 
their  friends,  which  is  called  the  tertulia.  The 
only  refreshments  offered  consist  of  liqueurs,  sweet- 
meats, and  a  glass  of  water.  People  walk  in  and 
out,  and  join  the  dance  without  ceremony.  No- 
thing can  be  more  agreeable  than  this  unconstrained 
intercourse,  from  which  even  strangers  are  not  churl- 
ishly debarred;  whilst  the  circumstance  of  being  a 
foreigner  is  usually  in  itself  a  sufficient  introduction. 
If  he  understands  the  language  tolerably  well,  and 
makes  himself  agreeable,  his  future  visits  are  encou- 
raged, by  the  assurance,  on  his  taking  leave  of  the 
hostess,  that  the  house  is  at  his  disposal,  which  is 
equivalent  to  a  general  invitation.  The  baile  de 
convite,  or  the  set  party,  is  an  affair  of  no  small 
moment.  Great  preparations  are.  made  for  many 
days  previous,  nor  is  the  baile  de  convite  a  matter 
of  indifference  to  the  uninvited,  as  custom  gives  to 
the  populace  the  privilege  of  being  spectators.  A 
porter  usually  takes  his  station  at  the  gateway,  but 
does  not  dispute  the  entrance  into  the  court-yard  of 
orderly  persons  of  any  class.  These  crowd  about 
the  doors  and  windows  in  such  numbers,  that  a  lane 
must  be  made  for  the  guests  as  they  arrive.     These 


CHAP.  XVI.  TAPADAS.  401 

lookers-on  are  not  sparing  in  their  observations,  but 
are  careful  never  to  utter  a  joke  that  can  offend. 
This  privilege  claimed,  and  pertinaciously  exercised, 
by  the  uninvited,  is  one  which  they  would  not  quietly 
relinquish.  An  English  gentleman  once  shut  his  gate, 
but  it  was  forced,  and  the  foreigner  had  the  good  sense 
to  quell  the  revolt  by  conforming  good-naturedly  to 
a  custom  which  he  found  himself  unequal  to  set  aside, 
and  which,  he  also  discovered,  was  as  agreeable  to 
the  gazed-at,  as  to  the  gazers.  Indeed  the  distin- 
guished beaux  and  belles  would  not  only  consider 
it  a  flat  evening  unless  admired  by  the  crowd,  but 
the  whole  party  would  feel  disappointed  if  there  were 
none  to  look  on  and  vary  the  scene.  Besides  these 
threshold  guests,  there  is  another  class  of  visiters 
peculiar  to  South  America,  called  tupadas,  or  muf- 
fled-up  females,  who  are  frequently  of  a  rank,  or  in- 
timacy, to  entitle  them  to  an  invitation,  but  who, 
being  elderly,  or  unprovided  with  a  proper  dress,  or 
not  liking  the  trouble  of  dressing,  or  slightly  indis- 
posed, or  in  deep  mourning,  or  from  some  other 
cause,  prefer  to  attend  in  the  character  of  unseen 
spectators.  Some  go  thus  disguised  in  consequence 
of  not  being  of  a  rank  in  life  to  appear  otherwise, 
and  it  is  maliciously  supposed  that  some  few  attend 
for  purposes  of  flirtation.  The  tapadas  are  accommo- 
dated with  seats  in  adjoining  rooms,  which  have  no 
other  light  than,  what  is  thrown  through  the  fold- 
ing doors ;  they  give  a  piquancy  to  these  balls  which 
otherwise  they  would  not  possess.  They  do  not 
always  preserve  their  incognita  very  strictly,  but  chat 
with  such  of  their  friends  as  come  to  them.  The 
vol.  i.  D  D 


40&  GAMING.  CHAP.  XV*. 

dancers,  particularly  the  young  men,  frequently  leave 
the  ball-room  to  converse  with  some  veiled  friend, 
and  many  tender  disclosures  are  made  on  these  happy 
opportunities*  Balls  were  not  very  frequent  at  Lima 
previous  to  the  entrance  of  the  patriots.  When  Ge- 
neral San  Martin  established  his  head-quarters  there* 
he  gave  an  assembly  once  a  week  at  the  palace.  At 
first  the  ladies  who  had  been  accustomed  to  minuets* 
the  fandango,  mariquita,  and  guachambai,  were  not 
perfectly  au  fait  at  country  dances ;  but  they  were 
apt  scholars,  and  soon  became  graceful  dancers*  and 
passionately  fond  of  that  amusement. 

Gambling,  the  besetting  sin  of  the  indolent  in 
many  countries,  is  ruinously  general  throughout 
South  America.  In  England,  and  other  European 
states,  it  is  pretty  much  limited  to  the  unemployed 
of  the  upper  classes,  who  furnish  a  never-ending; 
supply  of  dupes  to  knavery.  In  South  America 
the  passion  taints  all  ages,  both  sexes,  and  every 
rank.  The  dregs  of  society  yield  to  the  fascination 
as  blindly  as  the  high-born  and  wealthy  of  the  old  or 
of  the  new  world.  Perhaps  gaming  ought  not  to  be 
subjected  to  legal  restraints :  so  long  as  the  gamester 
is  without  family  ties,  and  stakes  but  his  own  pro- 
perty, he  is.  surely  at  liberty  to  fool  it  away  as  he 
pleases.  If  the  transfer  benefits  no  third  party,  it 
at  least  occasions  the  public  advantage  of  dispersing: 
an  overgrown  patrimony.  If  any  thing  can  be  ad- 
vanced in  extenuation  of  the  vice,  as*  practised  in 
South  America,  it  is  the  banefiri  policy  of  the  Spa- 
nish system,  which  once  almost  totally  shut  out  the 
active  and  well-disposed  mind  from,  the  resources* 


CHAP.  XVI.  ,  GAMING.  403 

of  reading,  study,  and  honourable  pursuits.  Hence 
play  was  not  merely  an  amusement,  but  an  occupa- 
tion. Fortunately,  public  opinion,  the  only  effica- 
cious check,  is  beginning  to  take  a  right  direction. 
It  speaks  much  in  favour  of  the  revolution,  that  this 
vice  is  sensibly  diminishing  in  Peru,  and  to  the  un- 
fortunate Monteagudo  belongs  the  honour  of  having 
been  the  first  to  attempt  its  eradication.  A  noted 
gambler  was  once  as  much  an  object  of  admiration 
in  South  America  as  a  six-bottle  man  was  in  Eng- 
land fifty  years  ago.  The  houses  of  the  great  were 
converted  into  nightly  hells,  where  the  priesthood 
were  amongst  the  most  regular  and  adventurous 
attendants.  Those  places  are  now  more  innocently 
enlivened  by  music  and  dancing.  Buena  Vista,  a 
seat  of  the  late  Marquess  of  Montemira,  six  leagues 
from  Lima,  was  the  Sunday  rendezvous  of  every 
fashionable  of  the  capital  who  had  a  few  doubloons 
to  risk  on  the  turn  of  a  card.  On  one  occasion,  a 
fortunate  player,  the  celebrated  Baquijano,  was  under 
the  necessity  of  sending  for  a  bullock  car  to  convey 
his  winnings,  amounting  to  above  thirty  thousand 
dollars :  a  mule  thus  laden  with  specie  was  a  com- 
mon occurrence.  Chorillos,  a  fishing  town,  three 
leagues  south  of  Lima,  is  a  fashionable  watering- 
place  for  a  limited  season.  Here  immense  sums  are 
won  and  lost;  but  political  and  literary  coteries,  for- 
merly unknown,  daily  lessen  the  numbers  of  the 
votaries  of  fortune. 

To  show  the  effects  of  gaming  amongst  the  sol- 
diery, the  following  anecdotes  are  introduced.  Two 
non-commissioned  officers,  who  had  been  remarkable 

d  d  2 


404  GAMING.  CHAP.  XVI, 

for  bravery  and  steady  conduct,  suddenly  disappeared. 
They  were  pursued,  and,  when  brought  back,  con- 
fessed that  the  motive  which  induced  them  to  abscond 
was,  their  having  had  an  extraordinary  run  of  luek 
at  play,  by  which,  in  the  course  of  a  few  evenings, 
they  had  won  upwards  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars  each. 
Considering  such  sums  ample  fortunes,  they  resolved 
to .  quit  the  army,  and,  when  taken,  they  were  on 
their  way  to  establish  themselves  in  their  native  vil- 
lages. The  patriot  commander  asked  one  of  his 
officers  what  punishment  ought  to  be  inflicted. 
c<  Shoot  them  both,"  was  the  reply.  "  If  I  do  so," 
answered  the  patriot  general,  "  I  ought  to  shoot 
every  gambler  in  the  division;  and  in  that  case  I 
should  hardly  have  an  officer  or  private  soldier  left* 
Besides,  I  ought,  in  justice,  to  begin  with  you,  who 
are  notoriously  addicted  to  play.""  The  two  offenders 
were  pardoned ;  but  a  second  run  of  good  fortune 
having  afterwards  added  to  their  ill-gotten  wealth, 
they  took  their  measures  more  cautiously,  and,  de- 
serting a  second  time,  got  clear  off.  So  strong  was 
this  ruling  passion,  that  when  the  patriot  army  has 
been  closely  pursued  by  the  royalists,  and  pay  has 
been  issued  to  lighten  the  military  chest,  the  officers, 
upon  halting,  would  spread  their  ponchos  on  the 
ground,  and  play  until  it  was  time  to  resume  the 
march ;  and  this  was  frequently  done  even  on  the  eve 

m 

of  a  battle.  Soldiers  on  piquet  often  gambled  within 
sight  of  an  enemy's  advanced  post.  A  Colombian 
officer,  intrusted  with  two  or  three  months'  pay  be- 
longing to  Colonel  Don  Thomas  Heras,  lost  the 
amount,  and,  being  unable  to  replace  it,  attempted 


CHAP.  XVI.  *  LIMENOS.  403 

to  pass  over  to  the  royalists,  but  being  taken  at  a 
patriot  outpost,  he  was  shot,  by  order  of  General 
Bolivar,  who  at  that  period  commanded  the  libe- 
rating army  in  Peru.  Perhaps  no  other  vice,  singly, 
produced  so  many  drawbacks  to  the  patriot  cause  as 
the  unfortunate  propensity  to  play  on  the  part  of 
ministers,  envoys,  and  officers  of  all  ranks,  who  too 
frequently  dissipated  public  property  intnisted  to 
their  care.  Insubordination,  desertion,  occasional 
defeat,  and  a  prolongation  of  the  miseries  of  war, 
were  some  of  the  natural  consequences  of  the  un- 
happy propensity.  A  generation  or  two  must  pass 
away  before  a  habit  so  general  and  so  inveterate  can 
be  altogether  rooted  t)ut.  It  is  but  fair  to  add,  that 
one  of  the  greatest  recommendations  an  officer,  par- 
ticularly if  he  were  a  foreigner,  could  possess,  was 
the  reputation  of  not  being  a  gambler.  Few  things 
tended  more  to  obstruct  his  rise  to  responsible  com- 
mands than  habits  of  gaming. 

The  majority  of  the  men  of  Lima  have  the  appear- 
ance of  being  feeble  and  emaciated.  These  physical 
defects  are  certainly  attributable  not  alone  to  climate, 
but  may  be  ascribed  also  to  the  general  dissoluteness 
which  characterized  the  old  regime;  in  proof  «of 
which,  those  who  have  latterly  grown  to  maturity 
showed  themselves,  during  the  campaigns,  to  be 
hardy,  enterprising,  and  infinitely  superior  to  their 
predecessors,  who  had  been  taught  to  cringe  to 
Spanish  satraps,  and  to  familiarize  their  minds  with 
every  species  of  meanness.  Hence  the  duplicity,  dis- 
honesty, shameful  political  inconsistency,  and  total 
want  of  public  spirit  evinced  by  some  few  who  have 


406  PALANGANAS.  chap.  xvi. 

attained  office  since  the  overthrow  of  the  all-debasing 
European  despotism.  From  the  rising  generation  m 
Peru  higher  expectations  may  be  formed.  The  youth 
generally  possess  great  natural  vivacity  as  well  as 
talent,  and  are  impelled  by  an  honest  ambition  to 
render  themselves  useful  to  their  country.  The  cli- 
mate of  Lima  seems  to  be  favourable  to  the  quicken- 
ing of  the  intellectual  faculties. 

The  native  mulattos  have  great  aptitude  for  trades, 
becoming  excellent  shoemakers,  tailors,  barbers,  car- 
penters, &c.  From  the  church  and  the  bar  they 
were  excluded  by  the  laws  of  the  Indies,  but  many 
acquired  a  knowledge  of  medicine,  and  some  of  those 
who  received  a  regular  education  have  risen  to  great 
eminence.  Such  is  the  extreme  volubility  of  this 
mixed  race,  and  the  ease  with  which  they  express 
their  ideas,  that  they  have  acquired  the  nickname 
of  pcdanganas,  or  chatterers.  Sermons,  and  their 
preachers,  are  favourite  objects  of  criticism,  probably 
because  there  is  a  never-failing  source  in  Lima,  which 
abounds  in  altars j  and  a  sermon,  or  rather  an  eulogium 
upon  the  life  and  miracles  of  the  principal  saints,  is 
given  at  their  respective  festivals.  On  these  occasions 
the  palanganas  seldom  fail  to  indulge  in  their  critical 
propensity.  They  remember,  with  provoking  ac* 
curacy,  sermons  preached  several  years  before,  and 
when  a  friar  repeats  an  old  discourse,  the  palangana 
manifests  his  detection  by  violent  gesticulation.  One 
day  a  clergyman  smarting  under  this  annoyance  ex- 
claimed from  the  pulpit,  "  Turn  out  that  mulatto, 
who  disturbs  me."  "  That,"  said  the  palangana,  with 
characteristic  readiness,  "  is  the  only  thing  that  is 


CHAP.  XVI.  ANECDOTE.  407 

new;  all  the  rest  was  preached  two  years  ago  by 
Father  Francisco,  in  the  church  of  Santo  Domingo." 
Sometimes  a  palangana  not  only  remembers  an  entire 
sermon,  but  will  versify  it  on  the  repetition.  Mulatto 
servants  will  occasionally  repeat  one,  word  for  word, 
as  delivered,  and  often  draw  their  master  and  his 
family  to  become  auditors.  Notwithstanding  the 
mental  vivacity  of  the  palanganas,  they  do  not  make 
as  good  soldiers  as  the  Indians,  in  consequence  of 
their  inferiority  in  bodily  strength,  and  more  espe- 
cially in  the  power  of  resisting  the  cold  of  the  moun- 
tains, which  the  following  anecdote  will  demonstrate- 
In  1780  a  battalion  of  palanganas  was  raised,  and 
sent  to  the  interior,  under  the  command  of  Inspector 
Valle,  to  assist  in  putting  down  the  insurrection  of 
Tupac- Amaru.  The  latter,  knowing  the  complexioa 
of  his  opponents,  studiously  avoided  coming  to  close 
quarters  until  a  fall  of  snow  should  render  them  an 
easy  prey,  by  depriving  them  of  the  free  use  of  their 
limbs.  Accordingly,  Tupac- Amaru  fell  upon  them 
early  in  the  first  morning  after  a  severe  frost,  when 
they  were  so  benumbed  that  they  could  not  handle 
their  muskets.  The  palanganas  called  out  when  the 
action  commenced,  "  Wait,  Indians,  wait,  until  the 
sun  shines  out;'9  but  they  of  course  turned  a  deaf 
ear  to  the  proposal,  and  most  of  the  mulattos  were 
slain. 

Perhaps  the  proportionable  number  of  very  hand* 
some  women  is  smaller  in  Lima  than  in  Guayaquil, 
and  in  some  other  South  American  towns ;  but  there 
is  in  the  manner  of  the  Limena  a  spell  which  gives 
her  an  influence  over  the  other  sex  unknown  else- 


108  LIMENAS.  CHAP.  XVI. 

where.  In  consequence  of  the  power  they  exercise, 
and  the  consideration  they  enjoy,  Lima  is  called  the 
heaven  of  women*. 

The  Limenas  have  black,  resistless  eyes,  delicately 
arched  eyebrows,  finely  turned  arms,  pretty  shaped 
hands,  and  feet  bewitchingly  small.  Their  stature 
is  short,  and  nothing  sets  off  their  supple  forms  more 
enticingly  than  the  saya  and  the  manto.  The  saya 
is  an  elastic  petticoat,  usually  of  silk,  which  fits  rather 
closely,  and  lessens  in  circumference  as  it  approaches 
the  ankle,  so  much  so,  that  the  wearer  is  obliged  to 
take  short  steps.  It  is  an  expensive  article  of  dress, 
costing  very  frequently  upwards  of  ten  pounds;  is 
made  by  men ;  and  the  prevailing  colours  are  black  or 
brown.  The  manto  is  a  piece  of  black  silk,  formed 
into  a  skirt,  open  in  front.  This,  when  the  ladies 
walk  out,  is  turned  over  the  head,  and,  taking  a 
corner  of  it  in  each  hand,  hold  it  across,  just  under 
the  chin,  which  forms  the  manto  into  a  complete 
hood,  that  conceals  the  whole  of  the  face,  with  the 
exception  of  one  eye,  an  engine  that  seldom  appears 
to  be  idle.  It  might  be  imagined  that  some  of  these 
jetty  piercers  belong  to  the  houris  promised  by 
Mahomet  to  the  faithful.  It  has  been  remarked  by 
the  malevolent,  that  a  gust  of  wind  rarely  deranges 
the  manto,  so  as  to  discover  the  features,  unless  a 
stranger  happen  to  be  passing,  and  the  face  beneath 
more  than  usually  pretty.  This  unique  dress  is  the 
costume  of  ladies  when  they  go  to  church,  to.  the 
promenade,  or  to  pay  morning  visits.  It  is  a  sort  of 
domino,  of  Moorish  origin,  and  often  gives  oppor* 

*  It  is  also  called  the  purgatory  of  husbands,  and  the  hell  of  asses* 


GHAP.  xvi.  PERUVIAN  LEGION.  409 

tunities  to  those  who  may  wish  to  indulge  in  innocent 
adventure,  without  provoking  the  noisy  tongue  of 
scandal.  The  Limenas  are  esteemed  warm  in  their 
attachments,  but  somewhat  inconstant. 

Having  endeavoured  to  make  the  reader  acquainted 
with  the  Peruvian  capital,  we  will  resume  the  thread 
of  the  narrative. 

Shortly  after  the  retreat  of  Canterac,  the  Peruvian 
legion  of  the  guard  was  formed,  the  chief  command 
of  which  was  given  to  General  the  Marquess  of  Torre 
Tagle.  It  consisted  of  a  regiment  of  hussars,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Brandsen ;  a  troop  of  horse  artillery, 
Captain  Arenales;  and  a  regiment  of  infantry,  Colo- 
nel Miller.  From*  the  deserters  from  the  enemy 
Miller  selected  forty  good  non-commissioned  officers, 
and  from  two  to  three  hundred  privates.  An  equal 
number  of  mulattos  and  mestizos  were  soon  recruited 
at  Lima,  and  six  hundred  Indians  were  sent  from  the 
interior*  His  regiment  was  to  consist  of  two  bat- 
talions, each  of  eight  companies  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  rank  and  file  per  company.  The  colonel  was 
permitted  to  propose  his  own  officers  for  the  approval 
of  the  protector ;  several  of  the  most  active  and  in- 
telligent of  whom  had  before  served  under  Miller's 
orders,  and  now  joined  him,  besides  many  of  the 
distinguished  youths  of  the  capital.  The  organization 
of  his  regiment  became  a  favourite  object  with  Miller, 
who  studiously  endeavoured  to  give  to  it  a  national 
character;  and  he  completely  succeeded  in  the  at- 
tempt to  infuse  an  esprit  de  corps,  which  it  ever  after 
retained.     The  uniform  was  blue  with  red  facings, 


410  PERUVIAN  LEGION.  CHAP.  XYI. 

white  edging  and  red  lace.  The  grenadier  company 
had  high  bearskin  parade  caps;  the  light  company 
had  caps  similar  to  those  worn  by  English  riflemen, 
and  the  other  companies  the  French  chakos. 

The  hussar  regiment  of  the  legion  was  composed 
of  four  squadrons,  or  eight  troops :  each  troop  con- 
sisted of  one  hundred  rank  and  file.  The  uniform 
was  similar  to  that  of  the  English  hussars. 

The  troop  of  artillery  was  composed  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  rank  and  file,  with  five  four-pounders, 
and  one  four-and-a-half  inch  howitzer.  The  uniform 
was  similar  to  that  worn  by  the  British  horse  artillery. 

The  retreat  of  Canterac;  the  capitulation  of 
Callao ;  and  the  departure  of  Cochrane  for  Cali- 
fornia in  quest  of  two  Spanish  frigates  and  a  corvette ; 
gave  the  protector  an  opportunity  to  consolidate  his 
government,  and  to  take  further  steps  for  the  termi- 
nation of  the  war. 

The  royalists  were  now  few  in  number ;  not  cordial 
in  council,  and  depressed  by  gloomy  anticipations. 
The  protector  had  above  eight  thousand  men  in  the 
vicinity  of  Lima.  Half  of  this  force,  if  properly  led 
on,  would  have  been  sufficient  to  have  driven  the 
last  Spaniard  beyond  the  Peruvian  frontier.  But, 
unfortunately,  the  pleasures  of  a  luxurious  capital 
had  taken  such  a  firm  hold  on  the  minds  of  die 
chiefs  and  others,  that,  when  the  march  of  some  bat* 
talions  had  been  determined  upon,  obstacles  were 
raised,  and  pretences  fabricated  for  delay.  If  such 
irregularities  and  want  of  zeal  had  been  punished  in 
one  or  two  principal  instances,  San  Martin  might 


CHAP.  XVI.  DISCIPLINE  RELAXED.  411 

not  have  had  to  pay  the  penalty  of  indecision,  by 
feeling  himself,  in  a  manner,  compelled  to  retire 
from  public  life  when  his  fame  was  at  its  zenith. 
Perhaps  he  might  have  avoided  the  latter  alternative 
if  he  had  thrown  off  the  shackles  which  bound  him 
to  the  Logia,  an  institution  already  described,  and 
which,  at  this  time,  pointedly  supported  the  mal- 
contents of  the  liberating  army  in  every  intrigue 
directed  against  the  power  of  the  protector. 

When  chiefs  are  remiss  in  the  performance  of 
duty,  and  inattentive  to  the  claims  and  comforts  of 
their  men,  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  junior  officers  be- 
come lukewarm,  and  the  soldiers  discontented. 

The  inhabitants  of  Lima,  who  had  received  the 
independent  army  with  so  much  enthusiasm,  grew 
tired  of  their  liberators,  in  proportion  as  discipline 
relaxed ;  nor  could  a  quick  succession  of  balls  and 
entertainments  prevent  the  growth  of  dissatisfaction 
and  murmurs.  Lima  began  to  feel  severely  the  bur- 
den of  an  army  kept  unemployed,  while  an  enemy, 
whom  the  patriot  chiefs  affected  to  despise,  retained 
undisturbed  possession  of  the  interior. 

Although  the  South  Americans  profess  to  be  ani- 
mated by  a  republican  spirit,  they  in  general  retain 
a  strong  bias  towards  some  of  the  attributes  of  mon- 
archy. Peru  has  the  Order  of  the  Sun,  Chile  the 
Order  of  Merit,  and  Colombia  that  of  Liberators. 
All  these  confer  privileges  on  their  members,  and 
are  held  in  high  estimation.  Military  rank  too,  al- 
ways so  much  coveted,  was  eagerly  sought  for  and 
often  obtained  by  men  of  property,  whose  principal 
merit  consisted   in  their  having  declared  for  the 


412  SANK  INDISCREETLY  GIVEN.     CHAP.  XVI. 

cause  of  independence.  It  might  have  been  very 
politic  to  have  bestowed  nominal  rank  upon  persons 
of  this  description,  but  they  ought  not  to  have 
been  intrusted  with  commands  for  which  they  were 
glaringly  incompetent.  Disastrous  results  attended 
this  lamentable  oversight  of  the  protector. 

San  Martin  having  agreed  to  meet  Bolivar,  the 
president  of  Colombia,  at  Guayaquil,  delegated  his 
civil  and  military  powers  to  the  Marquess  of  Torre 
Tagle,  who  was  in  consequence  named  Supremo 
Delegado  on  the  19th  of  January,  1822.  San  Mar- 
tin  sailed  from  Callao  on  the  8th  of  February,  and, 
touching  at  Truxillo,  learned  that  the  visit  of  Bolivar 
had  been  postponed.  He  therefore  returned  to  Lima 
on  the  3d  of  March,  but  Torre  Tagle  retained  his 
post  of  supreme  delegate,  as  the  protector  still  in- 
tended to  proceed  to  Guayaquil  to  hold  the  projected 
conference  with  Bolivar. 

Cochrane  having,  as  before  stated,  sailed,  in  Oc- 
tober 1821,  with  the  O'Higgins,  Valdivia,  In  depen- 
dencies, and  a  small  vessel,  in  pursuit  of  the  Spanish 
squadron,  ascertained,  at  Panama,  that  it  had  touched 
there.  This  enterprising  seaman  proceeded  in  his 
leaky  and  inefficient  vessels  to  the  coast  of  California, 
but,  learning  that  the  Spanish  frigates  had  not  gone 
in  that  direction,  he  returned  to  the  coast  of  Peru. 
The  dangers  and  privations  endured  on  this  cruise 
have  seldom  been  surpassed.  The  crazy  ships  were 
tossed  about  in  a  tempestuous  and  unfrequented  sea, 
while  the  ill-paid  and  discontented  crews,  suffering 
from  great  scarcity  of  fresh  water  and  of  provisions, 
were  obliged  to  keep  constantly  working  at  the  pumps. 


CHAP.  XVI.  SUFFERINGS  AT  SEA.  413 

At  one  time,  after  a  long  calm/  and  when  ninety 
leagues  from  the  nearest  land,  the  stock  of  water  in 
the  whole  squadron  was  reduced  to  less  than  a  hun- 
dred gallons.  The  crews  were  in  a  state  of  con- 
sternation at  the  horrid  death  which  seemed  to  await 
them,  and  which  no  human  efforts  could  avert.  Every 
eye  was  lifted  towards  heaven;  fervent  ejaculations 
were  uttered,  for,  on  such  trying  occasions,  there  are 
no  unbelievers.  The  crews  were  a  medley  of  all  re- 
ligions; but  the  same  thoughts,  the  same  fears,  and 
the  same  hopes  in  the  all-powerful  Director  of  events, 
pervaded  every  breast.  When  the  feelings  of  all  were 
approaching  to  frenzy  and  despair — when  they  had 
arrived  at  that  pitch  of  heart-rending  agony,  of  which 
none,  but  those  who  have  experienced  similar  cala- 
mities, can  form  any  idea — at  this  critical  period 
the  sky  assumed  a  threatening  aspect;  the  lightning 
flashed  on  the  horizon ;  black  clouds  arose ;  peals  of 
thunder  resounded  through  the  air,  and  every  thing 
indicated  an  approaching  storm.  The  drooping 
spirits  of  the  sufferers  revived,  and  one  and  all  ear- 
nestly looked  for  the  speedy  bursting  of  the  tempest. 
Dangers  which,  at  other  times,  would  have  been 
dreaded,  in  such  shattered  vessels,  were  now  hailed 
with  rapture.  The  rain  soon  fell  in  torrents,  and,  as 
if  escaped  from  shipwreck,  the  men  wept  with  joy. 
Every  awning  and  sail  that  could  be  made  available 
was  spread.  It  continued  unceasingly  for  twenty- 
four  hours,  and  every  cask  was  filled.  The  wind, 
boisterqus  at  first,  soon  moderated  into  a  fair  steady 
breeze,  and  the  trials  and  danger  of  the  sufferers  were 
forgotten. 


414  SFAKI&H  FRIGATES.  CHAP.  xn. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  Spanish  naval  rommandmg 
officer,  Don  Jot6  VIBegM,  fearing  to  come  in  contact 
with  the  patriot  admiral,  had  made  the  beat  of  his 
way  from  Panama  to  Guayaquil,  where  he  capitulated 
to  the  Peruvian  agents  in  that  city  on  the  15th  of 
February,  1822.  During  the  progress  of  the  ne- 
gotiation the  patriot  authorities  caused  signals  to  be 
telegraphed,  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  that  the 
squadron  under  Lord  Cochrane  had  arrived  within 
sight  of  the  coast.  This  stratagem  tended  materially 
to  hasten  the  termination  of  the  business,  by  which 
the  Spanish  commanders  were  to  receive  a  consider- 
able sum.  One  of  the  frigates  and  the  corvette  re- 
mained in  the  river.  The  other  frigate  sailed  for 
Callao,  where  she  arrived  on  the  31st  of  March. 
All  the  vessels  were  delivered  up  to  the  Peruvian 
government.  Cochrane  arrived  in  the  bay  of  Callao 
on  the  25th  of  April,  and  demanded  them  as  his 
prizes.  The  Peruvian  government  alleged  that  he 
had  no  right  to  them,  and  refused  to  comply  with 
the  demand.  Some  altercation  took  place,  and  the 
admiral  sailed  for  Chile  on  the  10th  of  May,  1822*. 

General  Don  Domingo  Tristan  had  been  appointed 
to  the  command  of  lea,  for  the  purpose  of  recruiting 
the  patriot  forces  in  that  neighbourhood.  He  took 
with  him  two  battalions  from  Lima,  and  his  instruc- 
tions were,  that  in  the  event  of  the  approach  of  an 
enemy,  however  inferior,  he  was  to  retire  without 
fighting.    Colonel  Gamarra  was  appointed,  as  second 


*  In  December,  1823,  Lord  Cochrane  receiTed  an  invitation  from  the 
Emperor  Don  Pedro  to  take  command  of  the  Branlian  navy.  On  the  19th  of 
January,  1823,  the  admiral  sailed  from  Valparaiso  for  Rio  Janeiro. 


CHAP.  XVI.  TRISTAN  SURPRISED.  415 

in  command,  to  assist  in  the  organization  of  the  new 
levies,  for  which  he  was  well  qualified.  Both  these 
officers  had  passed  over  from  the  Spaniards.  Tristan 
had  twice  changed  sides.  He  was  a  worthy  country 
gentleman  of  large  landed  property,  and  had  worn 
the  uniform  of  a  colonel  of  militia. 

The  royalists,  driven  to  a  state  of  desperation,  and 
unable  to  augment  their  almost  skeleton  corps  for 
want  of  arms,  decided  upon  attempting  a  coup  de 
main  against  Tristan,  whom  they  calculated  upon 
being  able  either  to  surprise  or  intimidate*  Accord- 
ingly, on  the  26th  of  March,  1822,  Canterac  put 
himself  in  motion  from  the  valley  of  Xauxa  at  the 
head  of  fifteen  hundred  infantry,  six  hundred  cavalry, 
and  three  field-pieces.  After  a  march  of  above 
seventy  leagues,  he  arrived,  on  the  6th  of  April,  at 
Carmen  Alto,  within  two  leagues  of  lea.  Tristan 
was  completely  taken  by  surprise.  It  is  true  he 
heard  rumours  of  some  hostile  movements,  but  he 
neither  knew  the  numbers  of  the  enemy  advancing 
against  him,  nor  the  name  of  the  general  who  com- 
manded them.  Ica  is  a  bad  position.  Tristan  ought 
to  have  placed  his  division  at  the  Molinos,  four  leagues 
on  the  road  to  Xauxa;  but  as  he  seldom  or  never  ex- 
tended his  rides  beyond  the  suburbs  of  the  town,  it 
is  not  very  surprising  that  he  did  not  avail  himself 
of  the  localities. 

In  the  evening  of  the  6th,  Canterac  made  a  detour 
to  the  Pisco  road,  and  cut  off  the  retreat  of  Tristan 
by  placing  himself  at  Macacona,  a  league  and  a  half 
from  Ica.  Tristan,  though  entirely  ignorant  of  the 
enemy's  last  movement,  commenced  his  retreat ;  and 


416  BATTLE  OF  PINCHINCHA.  CHAP.  XVI. 

at  one  A,  M.  on  the  7th  was  attacked  whilst  on  his 
inarch.  His  force  dispersed  immediately.  Canterac 
took  one  thousand  prisoners,  who  went  to  swell  the 
ranks  of  the  royalists,  four  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a 
great  number  of  horses,  mules,  and  oxen.  Lieute- 
nant-Colonel Aldunate,  a  highly  distinguished  officer, 
was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  Major  Gumer 
(a  German)  was  assassinated  as  he  lay  wounded  on 
the  field  by  the  dastardly  Spanish  Colonel  Don  Mateo 
Ramirez.  The  circumstance  of  his  being  a  foreigner 
was  the  only  reason  given  for  this  cold-blooded 
murder. 

On  the  8th  a  squadron  of  lancers  advanced  from 
Chunchanga  to  the  neighbourhood  of  lea,  to  re- 
inforce Tristan,  being  in  total  ignorance  of  his  de- 
feat. They  were  attacked  by  Colonel  Loriga:  ten 
were  killed,  and  ninety  taken  prisoners. 

The  appointment  of  Tristan  to  an  important  com- 
mand was  not  creditable  to  the  usual  discrimination 
of  the  protector.  It  must  have  originated  in  the 
misplaced  hope  that  promotion  and  commands  be- 
stowed  on  men  of  rank,  who  passed  over  to  the  patriot 
cause,  would  encourage  other  influential  people  to 
follow  their  example,  and  thus  in  the  end  attach  all 
the  country  to  the  cause  of  independence,  and  settle 
the  question  without  bloodshed;  a  benevolent  mo- 
tive, but  the  source  of  incalculable  mischief. 

The  immediate  result  of  the  unfortunate  affair  of 
lea  was  the  capture,  not  only  of  nearly  three  thou- 
sand stand  of  arms  thrown  away  in  the  flight,  but 
also  of  a  large  quantity  of  spare  muskets,  sabres,  &c. 
in  depot  at  Pisco;  and  for  the  wanfr  of  which  the 


CHAP.  XVI.         BATTLE  OF  PINCHINCHA.  417 

royalists  had  been  much  distressed.  The  moral  effect 
was  to  dispel  the  idea,  which  until  then  had  been 
entertained,  of  the  superiority  of  the  patriots  j  and 
to  throw  a  damp  over  the  mass  of  the  population, 
which  had  before  this  cheerfully  lent  its  powerful 
assistance.  Union  was  again  restored  in  the  royalist 
councils,  while  the  patriots  were  distracted  by  dis- 
sensions, and  weakened  by  insubordination. 

The  only  counterbalancing  event  at  this  time  was 
the  victory  of  Pinchincha.  This  battle  was  won  on 
the  24th  of  May,  1822,  by  the  Colombian  General 
Sucre,  with  the  assistance  of  an  auxiliary  Peruvian 
division,  composed  of  the  battalion  No.  2,  the  bat- 
talion of  Piura,  and  two  squadrons  of  cavalry,  sent 
from  Truxillo  under  Colonel  Santa  Cruz.  The  con- 
tending forces  were  about  equal,  each  being  from 
three  to  four  thousand  men.  No.  2  of  Peru  bore 
the  brunt  of  the  action;  but  being  opposed  to 
overwhelming  numbers,  it  began  to  give  way,  when 
Colonel  Cordova,  with  two  Colombian  battalions, 
came  up,  and,  gallantly  charging  the  royalists,  de- 
cided the  fate  of  the  day.  The  battalion  Albion, 
commanded  by  the  brave  Colonel  Mackintosh,  di- 
stinguished itself  particularly  in  another  part  of  the 
field.  Five  hundred  Spaniards  and  three  hundred 
patriots  were  either  killed  or  wounded.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  royalists  capitulated.  By  the  event  of 
this  battle  the  independence  of  Colombia  was  finally 
secured. 

The  brilliant  little  affair  of  Rio-Bamba  preceded 
the  battle  of  Pinchincha :  and  it  is  worthy  of  being 
recorded.      Lieutenant-Colonel   Lavalle,   with    his 

VOL.  I.  E  E 


418  AFFAIR  OF  RIO-BAM  B A.  CHAP.  XVI. 

squadron  of  granaderos  k  caballo,  forming  part  of 
Colonel  Santa  Cruz's  division,  having  followed  up 
the  enemy  closely,  found  himself  unexpectedly  much 
nearer  to  four  hundred  of  the  royalist  cavalry  than 
was  prudent :  but  to  have  attempted  a  retreat  so  near 
to  such  superior  numbers  would,  he  knew,  have  led 
to  a  complete  dispersion  of  his  men.  He  there- 
fore charged  with  his  few  followers,  and  drove  the 
royalist  cavalry  back  upon  their  infantry  with  con- 
siderable loss.  Lavalle  was  obliged  to  retrograde ; 
and  the  royalists,  having  been  reinforced,  Lavalle, 
whilst  retreating  at  a  trot,  ordered  his  men  to  wheel 
about,  and  then  charged  the  enemy  a  second  time  in 
the  most  determined  and  brilliant  manner,  killing 
four  of  their  officers  and  fifty-two  rank  and  file, 
and  wounding  many  others,  most  of  whom  however 
escaped  under  the  fire  of  the  infantry.  Lavalle  was, 
during  his  active  career,  successful  in  every  charge. 
Captains  Bruiz*  and  Sowersby,  Lieutenant  Latus, 
and  Cornet  Olmos,  highly  distinguished  themselves 
in  this  affair,  which  took  place  on  the  21st  of  April, 
1822.  The  royalists  were  so  awed  by  it,  and  their 
consequent  timidity  was  so  evident,  that,  no  doubt, 
the  event  contributed  in  a  great  measure  to  the  vic- 
tory of  Pinchincha. 

San  Martin  again  set  sail  from  Callao  for  Guaya- 
quil, where  he  met  the  Liberator  Bolivar  on  the  26th 


*  A  very  gallant  Frenchman,  and  son  to  the  celebrated  Admiral  Bruiz.  He 
had  been  page  to  Napoleon.  He  met  his  death  by  accident  in  Lima.  A 
younger  brother  was  shot  through  the  heart  in  an  action  against  the  royalists  in 
Chile,  and  in  which  he  had  accompanied  Bruiz  as  an  amateur.  The  pre- 
mature loss  of  these  distinguished  young  men  was  universally  lamented.  Bruiz 
had  served,  in  the  Russian  campaign.  Latus,  a  spirited  young  Englishman, 
formerly  of  the  rifle  corps,  died  at  Lima  of  his  wounds.    . 


CHAP.  XVI.  MONTEAGUDO  DISMISSED.  4l9 

of  July,  1822,  who  had  arrived  twelve  days  before. 
The  interview,  which  took  place  between  these  two 
distinguished  characters,  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  very  satisfactory.  The  protector  remained  at 
Guayaquil  only  eight-and-forty  hours,  and  then  sailed 
for  Callao,  where  he  arrived  on  the  21st  of  August. 

This  province  had  preserved  its  independence  froirji 
the  time  of  its  revolution  in  1820,  when  the  Senor 
Dr.  Don  J.  J.  de  Olmedo,  the  celebrated  poet  *,  a 
native  of  the  city,  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the 
government ;  but  soon  after  Bolivar  arrived  there,  he 
(declared  that  Guayaquil  belonged  to  the  territory  of 
Colombia,  and  that  it  should  henceforward  be  in- 
corporated with  that  republic.  The  independent 
colours  of  the  province  were  consequently  supplanted 
by  those  of  Colombia. 

During  the  protector's  absence  from  Lima,  a  com.- 
motion  took  place  in  that  capital  on  the  28th  July. 
The  inhabitants,  aggrieved  by  some  oppressive  mea- 
sures of  the  unpopular  minister  of  state,  Don  Berr 
nardo  Monteagudo,  assembled  in  a  riotous  manner, 
and  demanded  through  the  municipality  his  imme- 
diate removal  from  office  j  which  demand  was  acceded 
to  by  the  trembling  Supremo  Delegado,  the  Marquess 
of  Torre  Tagle,  who  obliged  Monteagudo  instantly 
to  resign.  The  military  took  no  part  in  the  affair : 
on  the  contrary,  they  were  insulted;  though  many 
lawyers  and  learned  "doctored"  tampered  with  them, 
and  gained  over  to  their  party  some  officers,  who  en- 
gaged to  assist  them,  in  case  the  general-in-chief, 

*  Amongst  other  works,  Olmedo  translated  Pope's  "  Essay  on  Man"  into  the 
Spanish  language. 

E  E  2 


*J»        THE  PROTECTOR  RETIRES.    CHAP.  XVI. 

Alvarado,  should  attempt  to  support  the  ex-minister. 
Men  in  a  state  of  intoxication  penetrated  into  the 
palace,  and  reviled  the  Supremo  Delegado  in  the 
most  abusive  manner. 

The  people  had  just  grounds  for  insisting  upon  the 
removal  of  Monteagudo.  The  harsh  and  uncourteous 
tone  in  which  he  addressed  all  who  transacted  busi- 
ness with  him ;  the  oppressive  espionage  which  he  had 
adopted ;  the  cruel  manner  in  which  he  had  banished 
many  highly  respectable  and  extensively  connected 
individuals,  principally  accused  of  royalism,  together 
with  his  suspected  views  of  establishing  a  monarchical 
government  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  the  people,  all 
served  to  render  him  an  object  of  dislike  and  mis- 
trust. The  commotion  was  therefore  a  natural  conse- 
quence of  his  despotic  administration,  and  the  feeble 
support  which  he  received  from  the  weak  and  dis- 
solute Torre  Tagle. 

Monteagudo  was  sent  to  Callao  under  arrest,  and 
embarked,  not  without  some  risk  of  assassination 
from  the  populace.     He  sailed  for  Guayaquil*. 

The  protector  arrived  at  Lima  on  the  19th  of 
August,  and  on  the  21st  reassumed  the  supreme 
command.  Agreeably  to  a  former  decree,  deputies 
had  been  elected,  and  the  congress  was  installed  with 
due  formality  on  the  20th  of  September,  1 822.  The 
protector  repaired  in  state  to  the  hall  of  the  deputies, 
where,  divesting  himself  of  the  insignia  of  supreme 
power,  he  declared  that,  from  that  moment,  congress 
was  installed,  and  that  he  resigned  all  authority  into 

*  Monteagudo  resided  in  the  city  o(  Quito  until  1824,  when  he  returned  to 
Peru,  under  the  patronage  and  protection  of  Bolivar.  He  was  assassinated  at 
Lima  in  1825. 


CHAP.  XVI.         THE  PROTECTOR  RETIRES.  481 

the  hands  of  the  representatives  of  the  people.  He 
then  withdrew,  and  immediately  set  out  for  his 
country  house  at  Magdalena.  Two  hours  afterwards 
a  deputation  of  congress  waited  upon  his  excellency 
to  communicate  a  decree  of  that  body,  expressive  of 
the  gratitude  of  the  Peruvian  people,  and  another 
conferring  upon  him  the  office  of  generalissimo  of 
the  Peruvian  forces.  San  Martin  consented  to  accept 
merely  the  title,  but  refused  the  exercise  of  the  com- 
mand, and  embarked  the  same  evening  at  Callao  for 
Chile,  leaving  the  following  proclamation  addressed 
to  the  Peruvians : — 

"  I  have  witnessed  the  declaration  of  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  states  of  Chile  and  Peru.  I  hold 
in  my  possession  the  standard  which  Pizarro  brought 
to  enslave  the  empire  of  the  Incas,  and  I  have  ceased 
to  be  a  public  man ;  thus  I  am  more  than  rewarded 
for  ten  years  spent  in  revolution  and  warfare.  My 
promises  to  the  countries  in  which  I  warred  are  ful- 
filled ;  to  make  them  independent,  and  leave  to  their 
will  the  election  of  their  governments. 

"  The  presence  of  a  fortunate  soldier,  however 
disinterested  he  may  be,  is  dangerous  to  newly  con- 
stituted states.  I  am  also  disgusted  with  hearing 
that  I  wish  to  make  myself  a  sovereign.  Neverthe- 
less, I  shall  always  be  ready  to  make  the  last  sacrifice 
for  the  liberty  of  the  country,  but  in  the  class  of  a 
private  individual,  and  no  other. 

"  With  respect  to  my  public  conduct,  my  com- 
patriots (as  is  generally  the  case)  will  be  divided  in 


48JI  SAN  MARTIN.  CHAP.  XYU 

their  opinions j  their  children  will  pronounce  the  true 
verdict. 

"  Peruvians !  I  leave  your  national  representation 
established:  if  you  repose  implicit  confidence  in  it, 
you  will  triumph;  if  not,  anarchy  will  swallow  you 
up. 

"  May  success  preside  over  your  destinies,  and 
may  they  be  crowned  with  felicity  and  peace! 

"  Pueble-libre,  September  20,  1822. 

"  (Signed)        San  Martin." 

On  the  retirement  of  San  Martin,  General  Don 
Jos6  de  la  Mar,  Don  Felipe  Antonio  Alvarado, 
(brother  to  General  Alvarado)  and  the  Count  Vista 
Florida,  were  named  by  congress  to  form  an  executive* 
which  was  called  the  Junta  Gubernativa. 

The  learned  and  eloquent  Luna  Pizarro,  a  native 
of  Arequipa,  remarkable  for  the  dignified  firmness, 
and  for  the  political  consistency  of  his  character,  had 
been  chosen  president  of  the  congress.  One  of  the 
first  measures  of  that  assembly  was  to  decree  that 
General  San  Martin  should  bear  the  title  of  founder 
of.  the  liberty  of  peru,  and  enjoy  a  pension  of 
twenty  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 

The  actions  of  men  who  have  conspicuously  con- 
tributed to  change  the  destinies  of  nations  belong  to 
history ;  and  it  is  the  duty  of  writers  to  put  fleeting 
facts  upon  record",  before  the  opportunity  of  correct- 
ing mistatements,  or  inadvertencies,  shall  have  passed 
away.  The  eminent  services  of  General  San  Martin 
to  the  cause  of  independence  in  the  New  World,  are 


t 


•  • 


•  ••  «  • 

•  •• 


•  • 





•  •' 


•  • 


•  • 


•••••• 

•  •*» 
•  •• 


•  ••• 


••••• 


•  •, 


•• 


•  ••  • 


CHAP.  XVI. 


SAN  MARTIN.  428 


of  so  commanding  a  character,  as  to  render  every 
circumstance  of  his  life  a  matter  of  public  interest. 

Jos6  de  San  Martin  was  born  in  the  year  1778, 
at  Yapeyu,  his  father  being  at  that  time  governor  of 
the  Misiones,  bordering  on  Paraguay.  When  eight 
years  old,  San  Martin  was  taken  by  his  family  to 
Spain,  and  being  destined  for  the  military  career,  he 
was  admitted  a  studeut  of  the  College  of  Nobles,  in 
Madrid.  He  served  in  the  peninsular  war,  and  was 
aide-de-camp  to  Solano,  Marquess  of  Socorro,  then 
governor  of  Cadiz.  On  that  nobleman's  falling  a 
victim  to  popular  fury,  San  Martin  narrowly  escaped 
assassination,  being  mistaken  in  the  confusion  for  the 
marquess,  to  whom  he  bore  a  strong  resemblance. 
San  Martin  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of 
Baylen  in  a  manner  which  attracted  the  attention  of 
General  Castanos,  and  his  name  was  mentioned  with 
honour  in  the  despatches.  He  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brevet  lieutenant-colonel,  and  served  after- 
wards under  the  orders  of  the  Marquess  de  la  Rom  ana 
and  General  Coupigny.  But  the  cry  of  liberty  arose 
in  his  native  land ;  and  he  could  not  resist  the  holy 
invocation.  Without  having  more  than  a  vague  idea 
of  the  true  state  of  the  contest  in  America,  he  re- 
solved to  quit  Spain.  By  the  kind  interposition  of 
Sir  Charles  Stuart,  now  Lord  Stuart  de  Rothesay,  he 
obtained  a  passport,  and  sailed  for  England,  where 
he  remained  for  a  short  period.  To  the  friendship  of 
Lord  MacDuff,  now  Earl  of  Fife,  he  was  indebted 
for  letters  of  introduction,  as  well  as  of  credit ;  and 
although  he  did  not  avail  himself  of  the  latter,  he 


4£4  SAN  MARTIN.  CHAP.  XVI. 

always  speaks  of  the  generosity  of  his  noble  friend  in 
terms  of  grateful  recollection  *. 

San  Martin  sailed  from  the  Thames  to  the  Rio 
de  la  Plata  in  the  ship  George  Canning.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  at  Buenos  Ayres,  he  married  Dona  Re- 
in edios  Escalada,  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  most  di- 
stinguished families  of  that  city.  San  Martin,  having 
established  his  credit  as  a  soldier  on  the  banks  of 
the  Parand,  and  acquired  the  confidence  of  the  Ar- 
gentines, was  appointed  to  an  important  command. 
We  have  seen  that  to  his  persevering  genius  belongs 
the  honour  of  introducing  a  regular  and  scientific 
system  of  operations  for  the  emancipation  of  South 
America;  and  of  forming  that  army  which,  on  the 
heights  of  CHacabuco,  and  on  the  plain  of  Maypo 
gave  to  Chile  her  political  existence.  It  was  San 
Martin  who  first  raised  the  standard  of  liberty  in 
Peru,  and  there  laid  the  groundwork  of  that  great 
plan  which  was  so  gloriously  accomplished  at  Aya^- 
cucho.  Having  redeemed  his  pledge  of  allowing  the 
Peruvians  to  assemble  in  congress,  to  form  a  govern* 
ment  conformable  to  the  wishes  of  the  people,  San 
Martin,  emulating  the  example  of  Washington,  re- 
tired from  public  life.  The  only  riches  he  has 
acquired,  is  the  glory  resulting  from  his  great  and 

•  Lord  MacDuff  was  amongst  the  first  of  the  British  who  took  a  part  in  the 
war  of  Spanish  independence.  Being  at  Vienna  in  1808,  and  hearing  of  the 
events  in  the  Peninsula,  he  immediately  proceeded  to  embark  at  Trieste  for  Spain, 
and  was  engaged  in  many  affairs  during  the  war.  He  was  severely  wounded, 
made  general  in  the  Spanish  service,  and  decorated  with  the  military  order  of 
San  Fernando.  Since  the  Earl  of  Fife's  return  to  England,  he  has  been  made  a 
British  peer,  a  knight  of  the  Thistle,  grand  cross  of  the  royal  Hanoverian  Guelphic 
order,  lord  of  the  bedchamber,  and  lord-lieutenant  of  Banffshire.  The  friend- 
ship formed  between  his  lordship  and  San  Martin  continues,  with  undiminished 
mutual  regard,  to  the  present  day. 


<?HAP .  xvf .  SAN  MARTIN.  425 

patriotic  labours  during  ten  years  of  incessant  exertion 
both  in  the  cabinet  and  in  the  field.  The  eventful 
operations  which  he  directed  have  been  detailed  in 
this  narrative,  sometimes,  indeed,  with  qualified  ap- 
plause, but  always  with  an  uncompromising  regard  to 
truth  and  justice. 

The  person  of  San  Martin  is  tall  and  full-formed. 
He  has  a  dark  attractive  countenance,  with  black, 
expressive,  and  penetrating  eyes.     His  manners  are 
dignified,  easy,  friendly,  eminently  frank,  and  pre- 
possessing.    His  conversation  is  lively,  and  that  of 
a  man  of  the  world.    His  friendships  are  warm  and 
lasting.     Though  economical  and  unostentatious  in 
his  habits,  yet  he  is  of  a  most  hospitable  disposition. 
He  writes  his  own  language  well,  and  speaks  French 
•  fluently.      Although  he  has  had  political  enemies, 
he  has  always  been  personally  popular.     Even  when 
his  army  has  pressed  most  heavily  on  the  resources  of 
a  province,  the  inhabitants  have  continued  to  speak 
of  him  with  respect  and  enthusiasm.     In  the  forma- 
tion of  the  government  of  Peru,  as  well  as  previously, 
he  displayed  the  soundness  of  his  judgment  by  select- 
ing men  of  first-rate  talent,  such  as  Jonte,  Monte- 
agudo  *,  Guido,  Garcia  del  Rio,  and  others.      If  he 
was  sometimes  less  fortunate  in  the  selection  of  his 
military  leaders,  it  could  hardly  have  arisen  from 
want  of  discernment.     With  regard  to  his  political 
bias,  San  Martin  considered  the  representative  mon- 

*  The  talents,  and  not  the  conduct,  of  persons  are  here  alluded  to.  The  arbi- 
trary conduct  of  one  of  them  has  been  already  mentioned,  but  it  was  more  than 
counterbalanced  by  his  eminent  services,  particularly  in  the  early  part  of  the  re- 
volution. 


426  SAN  MARTIN.  CHAP.  XVI. 

archical  form  of  government,  as  best  adapted  to  the 
South  Americans.  Nevertheless,  his  principles  are 
republican,  and  it  is  the  decided  opinion  of  those 
who  have  had  opportunities  of  forming  one,  that  he 
never  entertained  the  remotest  idea  of  placing  a  crown 
upon  his  own  head,  although  it  is  believed  that  he  i 

would  have  willingly  assisted  a  prince  of  the  .blood 
royal  to  mount  the  throne  of  Peru  j  but,  even  in  this 
case,  it  was  to  have  been  on  the  basis  of  absolute  and 
complete  independence  from  Spain. 

San  Martin  having  had  the  misfortune,  in  1822, 
to  lose  his  very  charming  wife,  quitted  his  estate  near 
Mendoza,  and  sailed  from  Buenos  Ayres  to  England, 
where  he  remained  sixteen  months.  He  visited  his 
friend  Lord  Fife,  in  Scotland,  and  afterwards  went  to 
Brussels  to  complete  the  education  of  an  only  child,  a 
beautiful  and  accomplished  daughter.  In  November, 
1828,  -he  once  more  visited  England,  having  left 
his  daughter  at  Brussels  under  the  care  of  Miss 
Phelps,  a  highly  respectable  English  lady,  resident 
at  that  place.  During  the  few  days  which  the  general 
devoted  to  preparations  for  a  long  voyage,  he  paid  his 
friend  Miller  the  compliment  of  going  down  to  Can- 
terbury to  visit  his  mother.  San  Martin  sailed  from 
Falmouth  on  the  21st  of  November,  in  the  Countess 
of  Chichester  packet,  bound  for  Buenos  Ayres. 


S 


APPENDIX. 


(A.) 

(Page  34.) 

Letter  from  Captain  Beaver  to  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Acasta,  La  Guayra,  19th  July,  1808/ 

Sir, 
Events  of  singular  importance  occurring  at  present  in  the 
province  of  Venezuela,  I  have  thought  it  necessary  to  despatch 
to  you,  without  loss  of  time,  the  late  French  corvette,  Le  Serpent, 
in  order  that  you  might,  as  early  as  possible,  be  made  acquainted 
with  those  which  have  already  occurred,  as  well  as  be  able  to 
form  some  opinion  of  those  which  will  probably  follow.  Tbe 
latter  port  (La  Guayra)  I  made  in  the  morning  of  the  15th,  and, 
while  standing  in  for  the  shore,  with  the  cartel  flag  flying, 
I  observed  a  brig  under  French  colours  just  coming  to  an  anchor. 
She  had  arrived  the  preceding  night  from  Cayenne  -with  de- 
spatches from  Bayonne,  alTd  had  anchored  about  two  miles  below 
the  town,  to  which  she  was  now  removing.  I  was  never  nearer 
than  five  miles  to  her,  and  could  not  have  thrown  a  shot  over  her, 
before  she  was  close  under  the  Spanish  batteries,  and  therefore 
I  attempted  not  to  chase ;  but  I  claimed  her  of  the  Spanish 
government,  as  you  will  perceive  by  my  letter,  No.  1.  Just 
before  I  set  out  for  the  Caracas,  and  presented  your  despatches, 
the  captain  of  the  French  brig  returned  exceedingly  displeased 
(I  was  told),. having  been  publicly  insulted  in  that  city.  About 
three  o'clock  I  arrived  at  the,  Caracas,  and  presented  your  de- 
spatches to  the-  captain-general,  who  received  me  very  coldly,  or 
rather  uncivilly,  observing,  that  that  hour  was  very  inconvenient 
to  him  and  to  me ;  and  that,  as  I  had  not  dined,  I  had  better  go 
and  get  some  dinner,  and  return  to  him  in  a  couple  of  hours.  On 
entering  the  city,  I  had  observed  a  great  effervescence  among  the 


428  APPENDIX  A. 

people,  like  something  which  either  "precedes  or  follows  a  popular 
commotion ;  and  as  I  entered  the  large  inn  of  the  city,  I  was 
surrounded  by  inhabitants  of  almost  all  classes. 

I  have  learned  that  the  French  captain,  who  had  arrived 
yesterday,  had  brought  intelligence  of  every  thing  which  had 
taken  place  in  Spain  in  favour  of  France;  that  he  had  announced 
the  accession  to  the  Spanish  throne  of  Joseph  Napoleon,  and  had 
brought  orders  to  the  government  from  the  French  emperor. 

The  city  was  immediately  in  arms ;  ten  thousand  of  its  in- 
habitants surrounded  the  residence  of  the  captain-general,  and 
demanded  the  proclamation  of  Ferdinand  VII.  as  their  king, 
which  he  promised  to  do  the  next  day;  but  this  would  not  satisfy 
them ;  they  proclaimed  him  that  evening,  by  heralds,  in  form, 
throughout  the  city,  and  placed  his  portrait,  illuminated,  in  the 
gallery  of  the  town-house.  The  French  were  first  publicly  in- 
sulted in  the  coffee-house,  whence  they  were  obliged  to  with- 
draw ;  and  the  French  captain  left  the  Caracas  privately,  about 
eight  o'clock  that  night,  escorted  by  a  detachment  of  soldiers, 
and  so  saved  his  life ;  for  about  ten  o'clock  his  person  was  de- 
manded from  the  governor  by  the  populace ;  and  when  they  had 
learned  that  he  was  gone,  three  hundred  followed  him  on  the 
road,  to  put  him  to  death.  Coldly  received  by  the  governor,  I 
was,  on  the  contrary,  surrounded  by  all  the  respectable  people  of 
the  city,  the  military  officers  included,  and  hailed  as  their  de- 
liverer. The  news  which  I  gave  them  from  Cadiz  was  devoured 
with  avidity,  and  produced  enthusiastic  shouts  of  gratitude  to 
England. 

Returning  to  the  governor  about  five  o'clock,  the  first  thing  I 
demanded  was  the  delivering  to  me  the  French  corvette,  or  at 
least  the  permitting  me  to  take  possession  of  her  in  the  roads,  in 
consequence  of  the  circumstances  under  which  she  had  entered, 
as  stated  in  my  letter  to  him,  No.  I.  Both  these  hejxwitively 
refused,  as  well  as  to  take  possession  of  her  himself;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  he  told  me  he  had  given  orders  for  her  immediate 
sailing.  I  made  him  acquainted  with  the  orders  I  had  given,  to 
seize  her  if  she  sailed,  to  which  he  assented;  and  I  at  the  same 
time  told  him  that,  if  she  was  not  in  the  possession  of  the  Spa- 
niards on  my  return,  I  should  take  her  myself.     He  replied, 


APPENDIX  B.  429 

that  he  should  send  orders  to  the  commandant  of  La  Guayra  to 
fire  upon  me  if  I  did;  to  which  I  simply  replied,  that  the  con- 
sequence would  fall  upon  him :  and  I  further  told  him,  that  I 
considered  his  reception  of  me  at  Caracas  as  that  rather  of  an 
enemy  than  a  friend,  while,  at  the  same  time,  I  had  brought  him 
information  of  hostilities  having  ceased  between  Great  Britain 
and  Spain ;  and  that  his  conduct  towards  the  French  was  that 
of  a  friend,  while  he  knew  that  Spain  was  at  war  with  France. 
He  replied,  that  Spain  was  not  at  war  with  France :  to  which  I 
asked  him  what  he  would  consider  as  a  war,  if  the  captivity  of 
two  of  his  kings,  and  the  taking  possession  of  their  capital, 
was  not  to  be  so  considered  ?  He  only  replied,  that  he  knew  no- 
thing of  it  from  the  Spanish  government,  and  that  what  your 
despatches  informed  him  of  he  could  not  consider  as  official. 


(B.) 

(Page  81.) 

Declaration  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  Provinces  of 

South  America. 

In  the  well-deserving  and  most  worthy  city  of  San  Miguel  del 
Tucuman,  on  the  ninth  day  of  the  month  of  July,  1816,  the 
ordinary  sitting  being  ended,  the  congress  of  the  United  Pro- 
vinces resumed  its  previous  deliberations  respecting  the  grand, 
august,  and  sacred  object  of  the  independence  of  the  inhabitants 
constituting  the  same.  The  cry  of  the  whole  country  for  its 
solemn  emancipation  from  the  despotic  power  of  the  kings  of 
Spain  was  universal,  constant,  and  decided;  nevertheless,  the 
representatives  carefully  dedicated  to  this  arduous  affair  the 
whole  extent  of  their  talents,  the  rectitude  of  their  intentions, 
and  the  interest  with  which  they  viewed  their  own  fete,  that  of 
the  people  represented,  and  also  of  their  posterity.  After  mature 
deliberation^  they  were  asked,  whether  they  considered  it  ex- 
pedient that  the  provinces  of  the  union  should  constitute  a  nation, 
free  and  independent  of  the  kings  of  Spain  and  the  mother  country  ? 


430  APPENDIX  B. 

Pilled  with  the  holy  ardour  of  justice,,  they  simultaneously  an- 
swered in  the  affirmative  by  acclamations,  and  then,  one  by  one, 
successively  reiterated  their  unanimous,  spontaneous,  and  decided 
votes  in  favour  of  the  independence  of  the  country;  and,  in  virtue 
thereof,  they  concurred  in  the  following  declaration : 
.  We,  the  representatives  of  the  United  Provinces  of  South 
America,  in  general  congress  assembled,  invoking  the  Supreme 
Being  who  presides  over  the  universe,  in  the  name  and  by  virtue 
of  the  authority  of  the  people  we  represent,  and  protesting  to 
Heaven,  and  to  the  nations  and  inhabitants  of  the  whole  globe, 
the  justice  by  which  our  wishes  are  guided,  do  solemnly  declare 
in  the  face  of  the  earth,  .that  it  is  the  unanimous  and  indubitable 
will  of  these  provinces  to  break  the  repugnant  ties  which  bound 
them  to  the  kings  of  Spain,  to  recover  the  rights  of  which  they 
were  despoiled,  and  invest  themselves  with  the  high  character 
of  a  nation,  free  and  independent  of  King  Ferdinand  VII.,  his 
successors,  and  the  mother  country.  In  consequence  whereof, 
the  said  provinces,  in  point  of  fact  and  right,  possess  ample  and 
full  power  to  assume  for  themselves  such  forms  of  government  as 
justice  requires,  and  the  urgency  of  existing  circumstances  may 
demand.  All  and  each  one  of  them  publish,  declare,  and  ratify 
the  same,  through  us,  pledging  themselves,  under  the  assurance 
and  guarantee  of  their  lives,  property,  and  honour,  to  abide  by 
and  sustain  this  their  will  and  determination.  Let  the  same, 
therefore,  be  communicated  for  publication,  to  whomsoever  it 
may  concern ;  and,  in  consideration  of  the  respect  due  to  other 
nations,  let  the  weighty  reasons  which  have  impelled  us  to  this 
solemn  declaration  be  detailed  in  a  separate  manifesto.  Given 
in  the  Hall  of  our  Sittings,  signed  by  our  hands,  sealed  with  the 
seal  of  the  Congress,  and  countersigned  by  our  secretaries,  also 
members  thereof* 

(Signed)  Francisco  Narciso  de  Laprida,  President  and  Deputy  for 
San  Juan. 
Mariano  Boedo,  Vice-President  and  Deputy  for  Salt*. 
Dr.  Antonio  Saenz,  Deputy  for  Buenos  Ay  res. 
Dr.  Jose  Darregueyra,  Deputy  for  idem. 
Father  Cayetano  Jose  Rodriguez,  Deputy  for  idem. 


APPENDIX  B.  481 

Br.  Pedro  Medrano,  Deputy  for  idem. 

Dr.  Manuel  Antonio  Acevedo,  Deputy  for  Catamarca. 

Dr.  Jose  Ignacio  de  Gorriti,  Deputy  for  Salta. 

Dr.  Andres  Pacheco  de  Melo,  Deputy  for  Chichas. 

Dr.  Teodoro  Sanchez  de  Bustamante,  Deputy  for  the  city 

of  Jujuy  and  jurisdiction  thereof. 
Eduardo  Perez  Bulnez,  Deputy  for  Cordova. 
Tomas  Godoy  Cruz,  Deputy  for  Mendoza. 
Dr.  Pedro  Miguel  Araoz,  Deputy  for  the  capital  of  Tu- 

cuman. 
Dr.  Estevan  Agustin  Gazcon,  Deputy  for  the  province 

of  Buenos  Ayres. 
Pedro  Francisco  de  Uriarte,   Deputy  for  Santiago  del 

Estero. 
Pedro  Leon  Gallo,  Dep*uty  for  idem. 
Pedro  Ignacio  Rivera,  Deputy  for  Mizque. 
Dr.  Mariano  Sanchez  de  Loria,  Deputy  for  Charcas. 
Dr.  Jose  Severo  Malabia,  Deputy  for  Charcas. 
Dr.  Pedro  Ignacio  de  Castro  Barros,  Deputy  for  La  Rioja. 
Licentiate  Geronimo   Salguero  de   Cabrera  y   Cabrera, 

Deputy  for  Cordova. 
Dr.  Jose  Colombres,  Deputy  for  Catamarca. 
Dr.  Jose  Ignacio  Thomas,  Deputy  for  Tucuman. 
Father  Justo  de  Santa  Maria  de  Oro,  Deputy  for  San  Juan. 
Jose  Antonio  Cabrera,  Deputy  for  Cordova. 
Dr.  Juan  Agustin  Maza,  Deputy  for  Mendoza. 
Tomas  Manuel  de  Anchorena,  Deputy  for  Buenos  Ayres. 
Jose  Mariano  Serrano,  Deputy  for  Charcas,  and  Secretary. 
Juan  Jos6  Paso,  Deputy  for  Buenos  Ayres,  and  Secretary. 

MANIFESTO. 

Addressed  to  all  Nations  of  the  Earth,  by  the  General  Constituent 
Congress  of  the  United  Provinces  of  South  America,  respecting 
the  treatment  and  cruelties  they  have  experienced  from  the 
Spaniards,  and  which  have  given  rise  to  the  Declaration  of  their 
Independence. 

Honour  is  a  distinction  which  mortals  esteem  more  than  their 
own  existence,  and  they  are  bound  to  defend  it  above  all  earthly 


482  APPENDIX  B. 

benefits,,  however  great  and  sublime  they  may  be.     The  United 
Provinces  of  the  river  Plata  have  been  accused,  by  the  Spanish 
government,  before  other  nations,  of  rebellion  and  perfidy;  and 
as  such  also  has  been  denounced  the  memorable  Act  of  Emanci- 
pation, proclaimed  by  the  National  Congress  in  Tucuman,  on  the 
9th  of  July,  1816,  by  imputing  to  it  ideas  of  anarchy,  and  a  wish 
to  introduce  into  other  countries  seditious  principles,  at  the  very 
time  the  said  provinces  were  soliciting  the  friendship  of  these 
same  nations,  and  the  acknowledgment  of  this  memorable  act,  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  one  among  them.     The  first,  and  among 
the  most  sacred  of  the  duties  imposed  on  the  National  Congress, 
is  to  wipe  away  so  foul  a  stigma,  and  defend  the  cause  of  their 
country,  by  displaying  the  cruelties  and  motives  which  led  them 
to  the  declaration  of  independence.     This  indeed  is  not  to  be 
considered  as  an  act  of  submission,  which  may  attribute  to  any 
other  nation  of  the  earth  the  power  of  disposing  of  a  fate  which 
has  already  cost  America  torrents  of  blood,  and  all  kinds  of  sa- 
crifices and  bitter  privations:  it  is  rather  an  important  considera- 
tion we  owe  to  our  own  outraged  honour,  and  the  decorum  due 
to  other  nations. 

We  wave  all  investigations  respecting  the  right  of  conquest, 
papal  grants,  and  other  titles  on  which  Spaniards  have  usually 
founded  and  upheld  their  dominion.  We  do  not  seek  to  recur  to 
principles  which  might  give  rise  to  problematical  discussions,  and 
revive  points  of  argument  which  have  had  defenders  on  both  sides. 
We  appeal  to  facts,  which  form  a  painful  contrast  of  our  forbear- 
ance with  the  oppression  and  cruelty  of  Spaniards.  We  will  ex- 
hibit a  frightful  abyss  which  Spain  was  opening  under  our  feet, 
and  into  which  these  provinces  were  about  to  be  precipitated,  if 
they  had  not  interposed  the  safeguard  of  their  own  emancipation. 
We  will,  in  short,  exhibit  reasons  which  no  rational  man  can  dis- 
regard, unless  he  could  find  sufficient  pleas  to  persuade  a  country 
for  ever  to  renounce  all  idea  of  its  own  felicity,  and,  in  preference, 
adopt  a  system  of  ruin,  opprobrium,  and  forbearance.  Let  us 
place  before  the  eyes  of  the  world  this  picture,  one  which  it  will 
be  impossible  to  behold  without  being  profoundly  moved  by  the 
same  sentiments  as  those  by  which  we  are  ourselves  actuated. 
From  the  moment  when  the  Spaniards  possessed  themselves  of 


APPENDIX  fi.  433 

these  countries,  they  preferred  the  system  of  securing  their 
dominion  by  extermination,  destruction,  and  degradation.  The 
plans  of  this  extensive  mischief  were  forthwith  carried  into  effect, 
and  they  have  been  continued  without  any  intermission,  during 
the  space  of  three  hundred  years.  They  began  by  assassinating 
the  monarchs  of  Peru,  and  they  afterwards  did  the  same  with  the 
other  chieftains  and  distinguished  men  who  came  in  their  way. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  country,  anxious  to  restrain  such  ferocious 
intrusion,  under  the  great  disadvantage  of  their  arms,  became 
the  victims  of  fire  and  sword,  and  were  compelled  to  leave  their 
settlements  a  prey  to  the  devouring  flames,  which  were  every 
where  applied  without  pity  or  distinction. 

The  Spaniards  then  placed  a  barrier  to  the  population  of  the 
country.     They  prohibited,  under  laws  the  most  rigorous,  the 
ingress  of  foreigners;  and  in  every  possible  respect  limited  that 
of  even  Spaniards  themselves,  although  in  times  more  recent  the 
immigration  of  criminal  and  immoral  men,  outcasts,  was  encou- 
raged; of  such  men-  as  it  was  expedient  to  expel  from  the  Penin- 
sula.    Neither  our  vast  though  beautiful  deserts,  formed  by  the 
extermination  of  the  natives;  the  advantages  Spain  would  have 
derived  from  the  cultivation  of  regions  as  immense  as  they  are 
fertile;  the  incitement  of  mines,  the  richest  and  most  abundant 
on  the  earth;  the  stimulus  of  innumerable  productions,  partly  till 
then  unknown,  but  all  estimable  for  their  value  and  variety,  and 
capable  of  encouraging  and  carrying  agriculture  and  commerce  to 
their  highest  pitch  of  opulence;  in  short,  not  even  the  wanton- 
wickedness  of  retaining  these  choice  countries  plunged  in  the 
most  abject  misery,  were  any  of  them  motives  sufficiently  powerful 
to  change  the  dark  and  inauspicious  principles  of  the  cabinet  of 
Madrid.     Hundreds  of  leagues  do  we  still  behold,  unsettled  and 
uncultivated,  in  the  space  intervening  from  one  city  to  another. 
Entire  towns  have,  in  some  places,  disappeared,  either  buried  in 
the  ruins  of  mines,  or  their  inhabitants  destroyed  by  the  com*, 
pulsive  and  poisonous  labour  of  working  them;  nor  had  the  cries 
of  all  Peru,  nor  the  energetic  remonstrances  of  the  most  zealous 
ministers,  been  capable  of  reforming  this  exterminating  system  of 
forced  labour,  carried  on  within  the  bowels  of  the  earth. 

The  art  of  working  the  mines,  among  us  beheld  with  apathy 

VOL.  I.  F  F 


434  APPENDIX  B. 

and  neglect,  has  been  unattended  with  those  improvements  which 
have  distinguished  the  enlightened  age  m  which  we  live,  and  di-» 
minished  the  attendant  casualties ;  hence  opulent  mines,  worked 
in  the  most  clumsy  and  improvident  manner,  have  sunk  in  and 
been  overwhelmed,  either  through  the  undermining  of  the  mineral 
ridges,  or  the  rush  of  waters  which  have  totally  inundated  them. 
Other  rare  and  estimable  productions  of  the  country  are  still  con- 
founded with  nature,  and  neglected  by  the  government,  and  if, 
among  us,  any  enlightened  observer  has  attempted  to  point  out 
their  advantages,  he  has  been  reprehended  by  the  court,  and  forced 
to  silence,  owing  to  the  competition  that  might  arise  to  a  few 
artisans  of  the  mother  country. 

.  The  teaching  of  science  was  forbidden  us,  and  we  were  allowed 
to  study  only  the  Latin  grammar,  ancient  philosophy,  theology, 
and  civil  and  canonical  jurisprudence.  Viceroy  Joaquin  del 
Pino  took  the  greatest  umbrage  that  the  Buenos  Ayres  Board  of 
Trade  presumed  to  bear  the  expenses  of  a  nautical  school:  in 
compliance  with  the  orders  transmitted  from  court,  it  was  closed  ; 
and  an  injunction  besides  laid  upon  us,  that  our  youths  should, 
not  be  sent  to  Paris  to  become  professors  of  chemistry,  with  a 
view  to  teach  this  science  among  their  own  countrymen. 
-  Commerce  has  at  all  times  been  an  exclusive  monopoly  in  the 
hands  of  the  traders  of  Spain,  and  the  consignees  they  sent  over 
to  America.  The  public  offices  were  reserved  for  Spaniards,  and 
notwithstanding,  by  the  laws,  these  were  equally  open  to  Ameri-, 
cans,  we  seldom  attained  them,  and  when  we  did,  it  was  by  sa- 
tiating the  avarice  of  the  court  through  the  sacrifice  of  immense 
treasures.  Among  one  hundred  and  sixty  viceroys  who  have 
governed  in  America,  four  natives  of  the  country  alone  are  num- 
bered; and  of  six  hundred  and  two  captains-general  and  go- 
vernors, with  the  exception  of  fourteen,  all  have  been  Spaniards 
The  same,  proportionably>  happened  in  the  other  offices  of  im- 
portance; scarcely,  indeed,  had  the  Americans  an  opportunity 
of  alternating  with  Spaniards  in  situations  the  most  subaltern. 

Every  thing  was  so  arranged  by  Spain,  that  the  degradation 
of  the  natives  should  prevail  in  America.  It  did  not  enter  into 
her  views  that  wise  men  should  be  formed,  fearful  that  minds 
and  talents  would  be  created  capable  of  promoting  the.  interests 


APPENDIX  B.  4S5 

of  their  country,  and  causing  civilization,  manners,  and  those  ex- 
cellent capabilities  with  which  the  Colombian  children  are  gifted, 
to  make  a  rapid  progress.  She  unceasingly  diminished  our  po- 
pulation, apprehensive  that,  some  day  or  other,  it  might  be  in  a 
state  to  rise  against  a  dominion  sustained  only  by  a  few  hands, 
to  whom  the  keeping  of  detached  and  extensive  regions  was  in- 
trusted. She  carried  on  an  exclusive  trade ;  because  she  supposed 
opulence  would  make  us  proud,  and  inclined  to  free  ourselves  from 
outrage.  She  denied  to  us  the  advancement  of  industry,  in  order 
that  we  might  be  divested  of  the  means  of  rising  out  of  misery 
and  poverty ;  and  we  were  excluded  from  offices  of  trust,  in  order 
that  Peninsulars  only  might  hold  influence  in  the  country,  and 
form  the  necessary  habits  and  inclinations,  with  a  view  to  leave 
us  in  such  a  state  of  dependence  as  to  be  unable  to  think,  or  act, 
unless  according  to  Spanish  forms. 

Such  was  the  system  firmly  and  steadily  upheld  by  the  viceroys, 
each  one  of  whom  bore  the  state  and  arrogance  of  a  vizir.     Their 
power  was  sufficient  to  crush  any  one  who  had  the  misfortune  to 
displease  them.     However  great  their  outrages,  they  were  to  be 
borne  with  resignation;  for  by  their  satellites  and  flatterers  their 
frown  was  superstitiously  compared  to  the  anger  of  God.     Com- 
plaints addressed  to  the  throne  were  either  lost  in  the  extended 
interval  of  those  thousands  of  leagues  it  was  necessary  to  cross,  or 
buried  in  the  offices  at  home  by  the  relatives  or  patrons  of  men 
wielding  viceregal  power.     This  system,  so  far  from  having  been 
softened,  all  hopes  that  even  time  would  produce  this  effect  were 
totally  lost.     We  held  neither  direct  nor  indirect  influence  in  our 
own  legislation :  this  was  instituted  in  Spain ;  nor  were  we  allowed 
the  right  of  sending  over  persons  empowered  to  assist  at  its  forma- 
tion, who  might  point  out  what  was  fit  and  suitable,  as  the- 
cities  of  Spain  were  authorized  to  do.     Neither  had  we  any  in-, 
fliience  over  the  administration  of  government,  which  might,  in 
seme  measure,  have  tempered  the  rigour  of  such  laws  as  were  in 
force.     We  were  aware  that  no  other  resource  was  left  to  us  than 
patience,  and  that  for  him  who  was  not  resigned  to  endure  all,  even 
capital  punishment  was  not  sufficient,  since,  for  cases  of  this  kind, 
torments,  new  and  of  unheard-of-cruelty,  had  been  invented,  such 
as  made  nature  shudder. 

F  F  2 


436  APPENDIX  B. 

Neither  so  great,  nor  so  repeated,  were  the  hardships  which 
roused  the  provinces  of  Holland,  when  they  took  up  arms  to  free 
themselves  from  the  yoke  of  Spain,  nor  those  of  Portugal,  to  effect 
the  same  purpose.  Less  were  the  hardships  which  placed  the 
Swiss  under  the  direction  of  William  Tell,  and  in  open  opposition 
to  the  German  emperor.  Less  those  which  determined  the  United 
States  of  North  America  to  resist  the  imposts  forced  upon  them 
by  a  British  king ;  less,  in  short,  the  powerful  motives  which  have 
urged  other  countries,  not  separated  by  nature  from  the  parent 
state,  to  cast  off  an  iron  yoke,  and  consult  their  own  felicity.  We, 
nevertheless,  divided  from  Spain  b'y  an  immense  sea,  gifted  with 
a  different  climate,  possessing  other  wants  and  habits,  and  treated 
as  herds  of  cattle,  have  exhibited  to  the  world  the  singular  example 
of  forbearance  amidst  degradations,  by  remaining  obedient,  when, 
at  the  same  time,  we  had  the  most  favourable  opportunities  of 
breaking  the  bond,  and  putting  an  end  to  so  unnatural  a  connexion. 

We  address  ourselves  to  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  we  cannot 
be  so  rash  as  to  seek  to  deceive  them  in  what  they  have  themselves 
seen  and  felt.  America  remained  tranquil  during  the  whole  period 
of  the  war  of  succession,  and  waited  the  decision  of  the  question 
then  at  issue  between  the  houses  of  Austria  and  Bourbon,  and 
with  a  view  to  follow  the  fate  of  Spain.  That  would  have  been 
a  favourable  moment  to  redeem  herself  from  so  many  hardships  : 
but  she  did  not  do  it ;  rather  she  sought  to  arm  and  defend  herself 
alone,  in  order  to  preserve  herself  united  to  the  parent  state.  We, 
without  having  direct  share  or  interest  in  the  differences  of  the 
latter  with  other  powers  of  Europe,  have  equally  felt  and  par- 
taken in  her  wars ;  we  have  experienced  the  same  ravages,  and, 
without  repining,  we  have  endured  the  same  wants  and  privations, 
brought  upon  us  by  our  weakness  at  sea,  and  the  manner  in  which 
we  were  cut  off  from  all  communication  with  her. 

In  the  year  1806  we  were  attacked.     A  British  squadron  sur- 
prised and  occupied  the  capital  of  Buenos  Ayres,  through  the 
imbecility  and  unskilfulness  of  the  viceroy,  who,  although  he  had  . 
no  Spanish  troops,  did  not  know  how  to  avail  himself  of  the  - 
numerous  resources  offered  to  him  in  defence  of  the  town.     At  ■> 
the  end  of  forty-five  days  we  recovered  the  capital,  and  the 
British,  together  with  their  general,  were  made  prisoners,  without  ; 


APPENDIX  B.  437 

the  viceroy  having  had  the  smallest  share  in  the  affair. .  We  im- 
plored the  government  at  home  to  send  us  such  aid  as  would  pro- 
tect us  from  another  invasion,  with  which  we  were  threatened ; 
and  the  consolation  transmitted  to  us  was,  a  revolting  royal  order, 
by  which  we  were  enjoined  to  defend  ourselves  in  the  best  manner 
we  could.  In  the  following  year,  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river 
Plata  was  occupied  by  a  fresh  and  stronger  expedition,  and  the 
fortress  of  Montevideo  was  besieged  and  surrendered.  There 
more  British  forces  assembled,  and  an  armament  was  formed  for 
the  purpose  of  again  attacking  the  capital,  which,  in  fact,  within 
a  few  months  experienced  an  assault ;  but  fortunately  the  heroic 
courage  of  the  inhabitants  and  garrison  overcame  the  efforts  of 
the  enemy,  and  a  victory  so  brilliant  compelled  him  to  evacuate 
Montevideo,  and  the  whole  of  the  eastern  bank. 

No  opportunity  more  favourable  for  rendering  ourselves  inde- 
pendent could  have  presented  itself,  if  the  spirit  of  rebellion  and 
perfidy  had  been  capable  of  actuating  our  conduct,  or  if  we  had 
been  susceptible  of  those  seditious  and  anarchical  principles  im- 
puted to  us,  But  why  recur  to  pleas  of  this  kind?  We  could  not 
be  indifferent  to  the  degradation  in  which  we  lived.  If  victory  at 
any  time  authorizes  the  conqueror  to  be  the  arbiter  of  his  own 
destiny,  we  could  at  any  moment  have  secured  our  own ;  we  had 
arms  in  our  hands,  were  triumphant,  without  a  single  Spanish 
regiment  among  us  capable  of  resistance ;  and  if  victory  and  force 
do  not  suffice  to  establish  a  right,  we  had  still  other  more  powerful 
reasons  no  longer  to  submit  to  the  dominion  of  Spain.  The  forces 
of  the  Peninsula  were  not  to  be  dreaded  by  us ;  its  ports  were 
blockaded,  and  the  seas  controlled  by  British  squadrons.  Yet, 
notwithstanding  fortune  thus  propitiously  favoured  us,  we  did  not 
seek  to  separate  from  6pain,  conceiving  that  this  distinguished 
proof  of  loyalty  would  change  the  principles  of  the  court,  and  cause 
them  to  understand  their  real  interests. 

We  miserably  deceived  ourselves,  and  were  flattered  with  vain 
hopes.  Spain  did  not  receive  a  demonstration  so  generous  as  a 
sign  of  benevolence,  but  as  an  obligation  rigorously  due.  America 
continued  to  be  governed  with  the  same  harshness,  and  our  heroic 
sacrifices  served  only  to  add  a  few  pages  more  to  the  history  of 
that  injustice  we  had  uniformly  experienced- 


438  APPENDIX  B. 

Such  w^s  oar  situation  when  the  Spanish  revolution  commenced. 

Accustomed  as  we  were  blindly  to  obey  all  the  arrangements  of 

the  Madrid  government,  we  tendered  our  allegiance  to  Ferdinand 

de  Bourbon,  notwithstanding  he  had  assumed  the  crown  by  ejecting 

his  own  father  from  the  throne,  through  the  means  of  a  commotion 

excited  in  Aranjuez.     We  afterwards  saw  that  he  passed  on  to 

France,  was  there  detained  with  his  parents  and  brothers,  and 

dispossessed  of  that  throne  he  had  just  usurped.    We  beheld  that 

the  Spanish  nation,  every  where  overawed  by  French  troops;  was 

in  a  convulsed  state ;  and  that  illustrious  persons,  who  either  got 

verned  the  provinces  with  success,  or  honourably  served  in  the 

armies,  were  assassinated  by  the  people,  in  a  state  of  open  mutiny; 

that,  amidst  the  oscillations  to  which  the  administration  of  affairs 

was  exposed,  distinct  governments  rose  up,  each  one  calling  itself 

supreme,  and  each  arrogating  to  itself  the  right  of  commanding 

over  America  in  sovereignty.     A  junta  of  this  kind  instituted  in 

Seville  was  the  first  that  presumed  to  exact  our  obedience,  and  to 

it  the  viceroys  compelled  us  to  give  in  our  acknowledgment  and 

submission.     In  less  than  two  months  afterwards,  another  junta, 

entitled  the  supreme  junta  of  Galicia,  sought  from  us  a  similar 

acquiescence,  and  sent  over  to  us  a  viceroy,  with  the  generous 

threat  that  thirty  thousand  men  would  also  come  over  if  it  should 

be  necessary.    The  central  junta  was  next  instituted,  yet  without 

our  having  had  any  share  in  its  formation ;  we  instantly  obeyed, 

and  with  zeal  and  efficacy  complied  with  all  its  decrees.    We  sent 

over  succours  in  money,  voluntary  donations,  and  aid  of  all  kinds, 

in  order  to  prove  that  our  fidelity  was  in  no  danger,  whatever 

might  be  the  risk  to  which  it  was  exposed. 

We  had  been  tempted  by  the  agents  of  King  Joseph  Napoleon, 
and  flattered  by  great  promises  of  our  situation  being  ameliorated, 
if  we  adhered  to  his  party.  We  were  aware  that  the  Spaniards 
of  the  highest  class  and  importance  had  already  declared  in  his 
favour ;  that  the  nation  was  without  armies,  and  divested  of  all 
vigorous  guidance  and  administration,  so  necessary  in  moments 
of  dilemma.  We  were  informed  that  the  troops  belonging  to  the 
river  Plata,  which  had  been  carried  over  as  prisoners  to  England 
after  the  first  expedition  of  the  British  here,  had  been  conveyed  to 
Cadiz,  and  there  treated  with  the  greatest  inhumanity;  that  they 


APPENDIX  B.  439 

had  been  compelled  to  beg  alms  in  the  streets,  to  avoid  dying  of 
hunger ;  and  that,  naked  and  without  any  relief,  they  had  been 
sent  to  fight  against  the  French.  Nevertheless,  amidst  so  many 
urgent  and  trying  causes  of  complaint,  we  remained  in  the  same 
position  till  Andalusia  was  occupied  by  the  French,  and  the  central 
junta  dispersed. 

In  this  state  of  things,  an  address  was  published,  without  date, 
and  signed  only  by  the  archbishop  of  Laodicea,  who  had  been  pre- 
sident of  the  dissolved  central  junta.  By  it  the  formation  of  a 
regency  was  ordained,  and  three  members  who  were  to  compose 
it  were  named.  A  measure  as  sudden  as  it  was  unexpected  could 
not  fail  to  surprise  and  alarm  us.  For  the  first  time  we  were 
then  placed  on  our  guard,  fearing  that  we  should  be  involved  in  the 
misfortunes  of  the  mother  country.  We  reflected  on  her  uncertain 
and  vacillating  situation,  the  French  being  already  before  the  very 
gates  of  Cadiz  and  La  Isla  de  Leon.  We  were  apprehensive  of 
the  new  regents,  to  us  totally  unknown,  since  the  Spaniards  of 
greatest  credit  had  already  passed  over  to  the  French,  the  central 
junta  had  been  dissolved,  and  its  members  persecuted  and  accused 
of  treason  in  the  public  prints.  We  were  sensible  of  the  infor- 
mality of  the  decree  published  by  the  archbishop  of  Laodicea,  and 
his  total  want  of  powers  to  establish  a  regency.  We  were  ignorant 
whether  the  French  had  taken  Cadiz,  and  completed  the  conquest 
of  Spain,  in  the  mean  time  that  this  same  decree  had  been  wafted 
over  to  us.  We  were  moreover  dubious  whether  a  government 
rising  out  of  the  dispersed  fragments  of  the  central  junta  would  not 
very  soon  share  the  same  fate.  Intent  on  the  risks  to  which  we 
were  exposed,  we  resolved  to  take  upon  ourselves  the  care  of  our 
own  security,  until  we  acquired  better  information  respecting  the 
situation  of  Spain,  and  saw  that  the  government  there  attained 
at  least  some  degree  of  consistency.  Instead  of  this,  we  soon  beheld 
the  regency  fall  to  the  ground,  and  various  changes  succeeded 
each  other  in  moments  of  great  public  distress  and  confusion. 

Meanwhile  we  established  our  own  junta  of  government,  on  the 
model  of  those  of  Spain.  Its  institution  was  purely  provisional, 
and  in  the  name  of  the  captive  King  Ferdinand.  Our  viceroy, 
Don  Baltasar  Hidalgo  de  Cisneros,  immediately  issued  circulars 


440  APPENDIX  B. 

to  the  interior  governors,  in  order  that  they  might  prepare  a  aril 
war,  and  arm  one  province  against  the  other.  The  river  Plata  was 
soon  blockaded  by  a  squadron ;  the  governor  of  Cordova  began  to 
organize  an  army,  that  of  Potosi,  and  the  president  of  Charcas 
caused  a  division  of  troops  to  march  to  the  confines  of  Salta;  and 
the  president  of  Cuzco,  presenting  himself  with  a  third  army  on 
the  margins  of  ElDesaguadero,  entered  into  a  forty  days'  armistice, 
in  order  to  throw  us  off  our  guard ;  but  before  its  termination 
commenced  hostilities,  and  attacked  our  troops,  when  a  bloody 
battle  ensued,  in  which  we  lost  more  than  one  thousand  five 
hundred  men.  The  human  mind  shudders  at  the  recollection  of 
the  acts  of  violence  then  committed  by  Goyeneche  in  Cochabamba. 
Would  to  God  it  were  possible  to  forget  this  ungrateful  and  bloody 
American,  who,  on  the  day  of  his  entry  into  the  above  place, 
ordered  the  honourable  governor  and  intendant,  Antesana,  to  be 
shot ;  and,  witnessing  from  the  balcony  of  his  house  this  assas- 
sination, in  a  ferocious  manner  cried  out  to  the  soldiery  not  to 
shoot  him  in  the  head,  because  he  wanted  this  to  place  it  on  a 
stake ;  who,  after  cutting  it  off,  ordered  the  lifeless  trunk  to  be 
dragged  along  the  streets;  and  who,  by  his  barbarous  decree, 
authorized  his  soldiers  to  become  the  arbiters  of  lives  and  property, 
allowing  them,  in  possession  of  so  brutal  a  power,  uncontrolled  to 
range  the  streets  for  several  days ! 

Posterity  will  be  astonished  at  the  ferocity  exercised  against 
us  by  men  interested  in  the  preservation  of  America ;  and  that 
rashness  and  folly  with  which  they  have  sought  to  punish  demon- 
strations the  most  evident  of  fidelity  and  love  will  ever  be  matter 
of  the  greatest  surprise.  The  name  of  Ferdinand  de  Bourbon 
preceded  all  the  decrees  of  our  government,  and  was  at  the  head 
of  all  its  public  acts.  The  Spanish  flag  waved  on  our  vessels,  and 
served  to  animate  our  soldiers.  The  provinces,  seeing  themselves 
in  a  bereft  state,  through  the  overthrow  of  the  national  government, 
owing  to  the  want  of  another  legitimate  and  respectable  one  sub- 
stituted in  its  stead,  and  the  conquest  of  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
mother  country,  raised  up  a  watch-tower,  as  it  were,  within  them- 
selves, to  attend  to  their  own  security  and  self-preservation, 
reserving  themselves  for  the  captive  monarch,  in  case  he  recovered 


APPENDIX  B.  441 

his  freedom.  This  measure  was  in  imitation  of  the  public  conduct 
of  Spain,  and  called  forth  by  the  declaration  made  to  America, 
that  she  was  an  integral  part  of  the  monarchy,  and  in  rights  equal 
with  the  former ;  and  it  had,  moreover,  been  resorted  to  in  Monte- 
video through  the  advice  of  the  Spaniards  themselves.  We  offered 
to  continue  pecuniary  succours,  and  voluntary  donations,  in  order 
to  prosecute  the  war,  and  we  a  thousand  times  published  the 
soundness  of  our  intentions  and  the  sincerity  of  our  wishes.  Great 
Britain,  at  that  time  so  well-deserving  of  Spain,  interposed  her 
mediation  and  good  offices,  in  order  that  we  might  not  be  treated 
in  so  harsh  and  cruel  a  manner.  But  the  Spanish  ministers, 
blinded  by  their  sanguinary  caprice,  spurned  the  mediation,  and 
issued  rigorous  orders  to  all  their  generals  to  push  the  war,  and 
to  inflict  heavier  punishments ;  on  every  side  scaffolds  were  raised, 
and  recourse  was  had  to  every  invention  for  spreading  consterna- 
tion and  dismay. 

From  that  moment  they  endeavoured  to  divide  us  by  all  the 
means  in  their  power,  in  order  that  we  might  exterminate  each 
other.  They  propagated  against  us  atrocious  calumnies,  attributing 
to  us  the  design  of  destroying  our  sacred  religion,  of  setting  aside 
all  morality,  and  establishing  licentiousness  of  manners.  They 
carried  on  a  war  of  religion  against  us,  devising  many  and  various 
plots  to  agitate  and  alarm  the  consciences  of  the  people,  by  causing 
the  Spanish  bishops  to  issue  edicts  of  ecclesiastical  censure  and 
interdiction  among  the  faithful,  to  publish  excommunications, 
and,  by  means  of  some  ignorant  confessors,  to  sow  fanatical  doc- 
trines in  the  tribunal  of  penance.  By  the  aid  of  such  religious 
discords,  they  have  sown  dissension  in  families,  produced  quarrels 
between  parents  and  their  children,  torn  asunder  the  bonds  which 
united  man  and  wife,  scattered  implacable  enmity  and  rancour 
among  brothers  formerly  the  most  affectionate,  and  even  placed 
nature  herself  in  a  state  of  hostility  and  variance. 

They  have  adopted  the  system  of  killing  men  indiscriminately, 
in  order  to  diminish  our  numbers ;  and  on  their  entry  into  towns 
they  have  seized  non-combatants,  hurried  them  in  groups  to  the 
squares,  and  there  shot  them  one  by  one.  The  cities  of  Chuqui- 
saca  and  Cochabamba  have  more  than  once  been  the  theatres  of 
these  ferocious  acts. 


44£  APPENDIX  B. 

They  hare  mixed  oar  captive  prisoners  among  their  own  troops, 
carrying  off  oar  officers  in  irons  to  secluded  dungeons,  where 
daring  the  period  of  a  year  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  retain 
their  health ;  others  they  have  left  to  die  of  hunger  and  misery 
in  the  prisons,  and  many  they  hare  compelled  to  toil  in  public 
works.  In  a  boasting  manner  they  have  shot  the  bearers  of  our 
flags  of  truce,  and  committed  the  basest  horrors  with  military 
chiefs  and  other  principal  persons  who  had  already  surrendered 
themselves,  notwithstanding  the  humanity  we  have  always  dis- 
played towards  prisoners  taken  from  them.  In  proof  of  this  asser- 
tion, we  can  quote  the  cases  of  Deputy  Matos  from  Potosi,  Captain 
General  Pumacagua,  General  Anguloand  his  brother,  Commandant 
Munecas,  and  other  leaders,  shot  in  cold  blood  many  days  after 
they  had  been  made  prisoners. 

In  the  town  of  Valle-Grande  they  enjoyed  the  brutal  pleasure 
of  cutting  off  the  ears  of  the  inhabitants,  and  sent  off  a  basket 
filled  with  these  presents  to  ^heir  head-quarters;  they  afterwards 
burnt  the  town,  set  fire  to  thirty  other  populous  ones  belonging 
to  Pent,  and  took  delight  in  shutting  up  persons  in  their  own 
houses  before  the  flames  were  applied  to  them,  in  order  that  they 
might  be  burnt  to  death. 

They  have  not  only  been  cruel  and  implacable  in  murdering, 
but  they  have  also  divested  themselves  of  all  morality  and  public 
decency,  by  whipping  old  religious  persons  in  the  open  squares, 
and  also  women,  bound  to  a  cannon,  causing  them  previously  to 
be  stripped  and  exposed  to  shame  and  derision. 

For  all  these  kinds  of  punishment  they  established  an  inquisi- 
torial system,  seized  the  persons  of  several  peaceable  citizens,  and 
conveyed  them  beyond  seas,  there  to  be  judged  for  supposed  crimes; 
and  many  they  have  sent  to  execution  without  any  form  of  trial 
whatever. 

They  have  persecuted  our  vessels,  plundered  our  coasts,  butchered 
their  defenceless  inhabitants,  without  even  sparing  superannuated 
priests;  and,  by  orders  of  General  Pezuela,  they  burnt  the  church 
belonging  to  the  town  of  Puna,  and  put  to  the  sword  old  men, 
women,  and  children,  the  only  inhabitants  therein  found.  They 
have  excited  atrocious  conspiracies  among  the  Spaniards  do- 
'  miciliated  in  our  cities,  and  forced  us  into  the  painful  alternative 


i 


) 


APPENDIX  B.  443 

of  imposing  capital  punishment  on  the  fathers  of  numerous 
families. 

They  have  compelled  our  brethren  and  children  to  take  up 
arms  against  us,  and,  forming  armies  out  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  country  under  the  command  of  their  own  officers,  they  have 
forced  them  into  battle  with  our  troops.  They  have  stirred  up 
domestic  plots  and  conspiracies,  by  corrupting  with  money,  and 
by  means  of  all  kinds  of  machinations,  the  peaceful  inhabitants 
of  the  country,  in  order  to  involve  us  in  dreadful  anarchy,  and 
then  to  attack  us  in  a  weak  and  divided  state. 

In  a  most  shameful  and  infamous  manner  they  have  railed  to 
fulfil  every  capitulation  we  have,  on  repeated  occasions,  concluded 
with  them,  even  at  a  time  when  we  have  had  them  under  our 
own 'swords;  they  caused  four  thousand  men  again  to  take  up 
arms  after  they  had  surrendered,  together  with  General  Tristan, 
at  the  action  at  Salta,  and  to  whom  General  Belgrano  generously 
granted  terms  of  capitulation  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  more 
generously  complied  with  them,  trusting  to  their  word  and 
honour. 

They  have  invented  a  new  species  of  horrid  warfare,  by  poison- 
ing the  waters  and  aliments,  as  they  did  when  conquered  in  La 
Paz  by  General  Pinelo ;  and  in  return  for  the  kind  manner  in 
which  the  latter  treated  them,  after  surrendering  at  discretion, 
they  resorted  to  the  barbarous  stratagem  of  blowing  up  the  sol- 
diers' quarters,  which  they  had  previously  undermined. 

They  have  had  the  baseness  to  tamper  with  our  generals  and 
governors,  by  availing  themselves  of  and  abusing  the  sacred  pri- 
vilege of  flags  of  truce,  exciting  them  to  act  traitorously  towards 
us,  and  for  this  purpose  making  written  overtures  to  them.  They 
have  declared  that  the  laws  of  war  observed  among  civilized  na- 
tions ought  not  to  be  practised  towards  us ;  and  their  general, 
Pefcuela,  after  the  battle  of  Ayoma,  in  order  to  avoid  any  com- 
promise or  understanding,  had  the  arrogance  to  answer  General 
Belgrano,  that  with  insurgents  it  was  impossible  to  enter  into 
treaties. 

Such  has  been  the  conduct  of  Spaniards  towards  us,  since  the 
restoration  of  Ferdinand  de  Bourbon  to  the  throne  of  his  ancestors. 
We  then  believed  that  the  termination  of  so  many  sufferings  and 


444  APPENDIX  B. 

disasters  bad  arrived;  we  had  supposed  that  a  king  schooled  by 
the  lessons  of  adversity  would  not  be  indifferent  to  the  desolation 
of  his  people,  and  we  sent  over  a  commissioner  to  him,  in  order 
to  acquaint  him  with  our  situation.  We  could  not  for  a  moment 
conceive  that  he  would  mil  to  meet  our  wishes  as  a  benign  prince, 
nor  could  we  doubt  that  our  requests  would  interest  him  in  a 
manner  corresponding  to  that  gratitude  and  goodness  which  the 
courtiers  of  Spain  had  extolled  to  the  skies.  But  a  new  and  un- 
known species  of  ingratitude  was  reserved  for  America,  surpass- 
ing all  the  examples  found  in  the  histories  of  the  greatest  tyrants. 

In  the  first  moments  of  his  restoration  to  Madrid  he  declared 
.  us  to  be  in  a  state  of  mutiny,  but  since  then  he  has  refused  to 
hear  our  complaints,  to  admit  our  requests;  and,  as  the  last  favour 
we  could  expect  from  him,  he  has  offered  to  us  unconditional 
pardon.  He  confirmed  the  viceroys,  governors,  and  generals, 
whom  at  his  return  he  found  carrying  on  their  works  of  butchery* 
He  declared  it  to  be  a  crime  of  high  treason  for  us  to  presume  to 
frame  a  constitution  for  ourselves,  in  order  that  the  administration 
of  our  own  affairs  might  not  depend  on  a  tyrannic,  arbitrary, 
and  distant  government,  under  which  we  had  groaned  during  i 

three  centuries ;  a  measure  which  could  alone  be  offensive  to  a 
prince,  the  enemy  of  justice  and  beneficence,  and  consequently 
unworthy  of  governing. 

By  the  aid  of  his  ministers,  he  then  applied  himself  to  the 
forming  of  large  armaments,  with  a  view  to  employ  them  against 
us.  He  has  since  caused  numerous  armies  to  be  conveyed  over  to 
these  countries,  in  order  to  consummate  the  work  of  devastation, 
fire,  and  robbery.  He  has  caused  the  first  felicitations  of  the 
potentates  of  Europe,  on  his  return  to  Spain,  to  be  used  as  pleas 
in  order  to  engage  them  to  refuse  us  all  aid  and  succour,  and  thus 
behold  us  tear  each  other  to  pieces  with  an  eye  of  indifference. 
He  has  made  special  regulations  for  cruising  against  vessels  be- 
longing to  America,  containing  barbarous  clauses,  and  ordering 
that  the  crews  shall  be  hung.  He  has  forbidden,  with  regard  to 
us,  the  observance  of  the  laws  of  his  naval  regulations,  framed 
according  to  the  rights  of  nations,  and  denied  to  us  all  that  we 
grant  to  his  subjects  when  captured  by  our  cruisers.  He  has  sent 
over  his  generals  with  certain  decrees  of  pardon,  which  they 


APPENDIX  B.  445 

cause  to  be  published  for  the  purpose  of  deceiving  weak  and 
ignorant  minds,  and  under  a  hope  to  facilitate  their  entry  into 
the  towns ;  but  at  the  same  time  he  has  given  to  them  other  pri- 
vate instructions ;  and,  authorized  by  these,  as  soon  as  possession 
is  gained,  they  hang,  burn,  plunder,  confiscate,  and  connive  at 
private  assassinations,  plotting  all  kinds  of  injury  against  those 
thus  feignedly  pardoned.  In  the  name  of  Ferdinand  de  Bourbon 
it  is,  that  the  heads  of  patriotic  officers  who  have  been  taken  pri- 
soners are  placed  on  the  highways;  that  one  of  our  commanders 
of  a  light  party  was  killed  with  sticks  and  stones;  and  that 
Colonel  Camargo,  after  also  being  murdered  with  blows  by  the 
hand  of  the  villain  Centeno,  had  his  head  cut  off,  which  was 
sent  as  a  present  to  General  Pezuela,  with  this  revolting  noti- 
fication, "  that  this  was  a  miracle  of  the  Virgin  del  Carmen." 

Such  is  the  extent  and  force  of  the  evils  and  sufferings  which 
have  impelled  us  to  adopt  the  only  alternative  left  to  us.  We 
have  long  and  deliberately  meditated  on  our  fate,  and,  casting  our 
eyes  every  where  around  us,  we  have  beheld  nothing  but  the 
vestiges  of  those  elements  by  which  our  situation  was- necessarily 
distinguished,  opprobrium,  ruin,  and  patience.  What  had  Ame- 
rica to  expect  from  a  king  who  ascends  the  throne  animated  by 
sentiments  so  cruel  and  inhuman  ?  from  a  king  who,  before  he 
commences  his  ravages,  hastens  to  prevent  any  foreign  prince 
from  interposing  in  order  to  restrain  his  fury  ?  from "  a  king 
who  with  scaffolds  and  chains  rewards  the  immense  sacrifices 
made  by  his  own  subjects  of  Spain  to  release  him  from  the  cap- 
tivity in  which  he  lay?  those  very  subjects,  who,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  their  own  blood,  and  under  every  species  of  hardship, 
had,  without  any  intermission,  fought  to  redeem  him  from  prison, 
and  till  they  had  again  placed  the  diadem  on  his  head !  If  men 
to  whom  he  is  so  much  indebted,  only  for  forming  to  themselves 
a  constitution  have  received  death  and  imprisonment  as  a  return 
.  for  their  services,  what  could  we  suppose  was  in  reserve  for  us  ? 
To  expect  from  him  and  his  butchering  ministers  benign  treat- 
ment were  to  seek  among  the  tigers  of  the  forest  the  magnani- 
mity of  the  eagle. 

Had  we  hesitated  in  our  resolve,  we  should  have  beheld  re- 
peated among  us  the  sanguinary  scenes  of  Caracas,  Carthagena, 


446  APPENDIX  B, 

Quito,  and  Santa  Fe  ;  we  should  have  implicated  the  ashes  of 
eighty  thousand  persons  who  have  been  victims  of  the  enemy's 
fury,  whose  illustrious  memories  would  have  risen  up  in  judgment 
against  us,  and  demanded  vengeance ;  and  we  should  have  called 
down  upon  ourselves  the  execration  of  so  many  future  generations 
condemned  to  serve  a  master  at  all  times  ready  to  ill-treat  them, 
and  who,  owing  to  his  impotency  at  sea,  has  been  completely  dis*- 
abled  from  protecting  them  from  foreign  invasions. 

In  consequence  whereof,  and  impelled  both  by  the  conduct  of 
Spaniards  and  their  king,  we  have  constituted  ourselves  inde- 
pendent, and  prepared  for  our  own  natural  defence  and  against  the 
ravages  of  tyranny,  by  pledging  our  honour,  and  offering  up  our 
lives  and  property.     We  have  sworn  to  the  King  and  Supreme 
Judge  of  the  universe  that  we  will  not  abandon  the  cause  of 
justice;  that  we  will  not  suffer  that  country  which  he  has  given 
us  to  be  buried  in  ruins,  and  immersed  in  blood  spilled  by  the 
hands  of  our  executioners;   that  we  will  never  forget  the  ob- 
ligations we  are  under  of  saving  our  homes  from  the  dangers  by 
which  they  are  threatened,  and  the  sacred  right  vested  in  our 
eountry  to  demand  from  us  every  sacrifice,  in  order  that  it  may 
not  be  polluted,  crimsoned  with  blood,  and  trampled  under  foot, 
by  usurpers  and  tyrants.     We  have  engraved  this  declaration  on 
our  hearts,  in  order  that  in  its  behalf  we  may  never  cease  to 
combat ;  and  while  we  manifest  to  the  nations  of  the  earth  the 
reasons  which  have  so  powerfully  induced  us  to  adopt  the  present 
measure,  we  have  the  honour  to  proclaim  it  as  our  intention  to 
live  in  peace  with  all,  even  with  Spain  herself,  from  the  moment 
she  is  desirous  of  accepting  it.— -Given  in  the  Hall  of  Congress, 
Buenos  Ayres,  this  25th  day  of  October,  eighteen  hundred  and 
,  seventeen. 

Dr.  Pedro  Ignacio  de  Castro  y  Barros,  President. 
Dr.  Jose  Eugenio  de  Elias,  Secretary. 


APPENDIX  D.  447 

"   (C.) 

(Page  317.) 

[The  following  documents  are  inserted  to  elucidate  the  operations 
in  the  Puertos  Intermedios.  They  are  translations  of  in- 
tercepted letters,  and  of  fictitious  answers  which  were  sent  to 
them.     The  originals  are  in  the  hands  of  the  author.] 

Letter  from  General  Ramirez  to  the  Subdelegate  of  Tarapaca. 

"The  enemy,  who  re-embarked  in  Pisco  on  the  22d  of  April 
last,  have  directed  themselves  towards  this  part  of  the  coast,  and 
have  steered  for  Arica,  according  to  the  information  I  have 
received, 

"  I  have  placed  a  combined  expedition  under  the  command  of 
the  subinspector-general  of  the  army,  Colonel  Don  Jose  Santos  de 
la  Hera,  to  operate  against  them,  and  to  oblige  them  to  re-embark. 
As  the  amount  of  the  enemy's  force  is  only  500  infantry  and 
100  cavalry,  it  is  merely  sufficient  for  the  purposes  of  plunder, 
and  to  satiate  their  avarice  for  pillage. 

"  As  those  persons  who  are  attached  to  the  opposing  party  are 
always  raising  rumours  and  forging  lies,  exaggerating  circum- 
stances according  to  their  wishes,  and  detracting  from  our  suc- 
cesses, and  from  whatever  may  be  of  advantage  to  the  national 
cause,  I  communicate  this  to  you  for  your  government. 
God  preserve  you  many  years. 

Head-quarters  in  Arequipa,  7th  May,  1821. 

(Signed)  "  JUAN  RAMIREZ. 

To  the  Subdelegate  of  Tarapaca." 


« 
t< 


(D.) 

(Page  331.) 


Letter  from  Don  JosS  Santos  de  la  Hera,  to  the  illustrious 
Constitutional  Municipality  qfTacna. 

"  As  inspector-general  of  the  army  of  Upper    Peru,   and 
commandant -in-chief  of  the  division  destined  to  regain  possession 


448  APPENDIX  D. 

i 

of  this  coast,  I  Lave  received  your  official  note,  dated  yesterday. 
I  shall  only,  at  this  moment,  remark,  that  it  is  very  singular 
that  we  should  not  have  received  any  information  from  your 
illustrious  municipality  since  the  13th  of  this  month,  on  which 
day  the  enemy  entered  your  town,  and  that  not  one  inhabitant 
should  have  come  over  to  join  the  national  army,  as  they  must 
have  had  frequent  opportunities  of  doing  so. 

"  I  am  at  the  head  of  more  than  sufficient  troops  to  drive  the 
enemy  from  the  places  he  occupies,  and  in  a  very  short  time  you 
will  see  all  the  towns  of  the  provinces  of  Arequipa  subject  to  the 
national  arms,  as  are  all  those  from  Lima  to  Jujuy. 

"  I,  in  consequence,  order,  that  from  to-morrow*you  will  inform 
me  daily  of  every  thing  that  occurs,  directing  your  communica- 
tions to  me  at  Tacora,  that  they  may  be  forwarded  from  thence 
towards  Moquegua,  where  I  am  about  to  proceed  by  the  direction 
of  which  I  have  informed  the  commandant  of  the  troops,  who  will 
remain  in  that  point,  in  conjunction  with  the  forces*  Should  you 
fail  in  attending  to  this  order,  or  conceal  from  me  the  most  trivial 
particular  that  you  may  become  acquainted  with,  you  must  not 
be  surprised  if  the  inhabitants  of  Tacna  are  treated  as  enemies, 
both  in  their  persons  and  interests. 

"  It  is  also  indispensable  that  in  the  course  of  an  hour  you 
should  send  me,  by  a  special  messenger,  an  answer  to  the  follow- 
ing questions : 

"  1.  What  is  the  total  amount  of  the  force  that  the  enemy  has 
landed  on  all  parts  of  this  coast  ?  Which  are  those  that 
they  now  occupy,  and  with  what  number  of  men  ? 
"  2.  What  cavalry  has  he,  and  of  what  description  ? 
"  3.  Who  are  the  enemy's  chiefs,  and  of  what  rank  ? 
"  4.  If  the  subdelegate,  Portocarrero,  has  assisted  them  in 
any  thing,  and  if  he  is  now  with  them. 
"  God  preserve  you  many  years. 
"On  the  march,  1st  June,  1821. 

(Signed)        «  JOSE  SANTOS  DE  LA  HERA." 


APPENDIX  K.  449 

(E.) 

(Page  332.) 

Letter  from  La   Hera,    commandanUin-chief  of  the   Royalist 

Division,  to  Don  Bias  Mendoza. 

"  To  Don  Bias  Mendoza. 
"  Dear  Sir, 
"  In  the  course  of  a  few  days  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  you.  Although  I  have  information  of  all  that  is  passing 
in  your  town,  I  desire  that  you  will  immediately  send  me  an 
answer  to  the  following  questions.  Your  doing  this  will  cer- 
tainly decide  as  to  your  future  fate,  and  I  Hope  that  you  will 
prevent  its  being  an  unhappy  one  : 

e *  1 .  What  is  the  total  amount  of  the  enemy's  force,  and 
what  points  do  they  occupy,  distinguishing  infantry 
and  cavalry  ? 
"  2.  What  other  force  has  entered  Moquegua,  besides  that 
which  Miller  brought  with  him  from  the  attack  of 
Mirabe  ?  and  if  they  have  landed  more  troops  ? 
"  3.  How  many  negroes,  and  peasants  of  all  classes,  have 

joined  them  ? 
"  4.  If  they  think  of  advancing  upon  Arequipa,  what  day? 

with  what  force?  and  by  what  route? 
"  5.  What  part  does  Colonel  Portocarrero  play  amongst 
them  ? 
"  I  imagine  that  you  will  know  who  it  is  that  writes  to  you, 
and  the  benefits  that  await  you,  if  you  fulfil  my  commands. 

"  The  Commandant-General  of  the  troops  of 
the  King,  marching  upon  Moquegua." 

Counterfeited  Anstcer  to  the  above,  sent  hy  Miller. 

Honoured  and  most  respected  Sir, 
I  received  last  night  the  note  which  you  were  pleased  to 
address  to  me,  requiring  information  as  to  the  enemies  who  un- 
fortunately infest  this  coast.  I  did  not  answer  you  immediately, 
because,  as  I  am  known  to  be  a  royalist,  and  a  good  servant  of 
the  king,  (whom  God  preserve!)  their  eyes  are  always  fixed  upon 

VOL.  I.  G  G 


« 

« 


460  APPENDIX  E. 

me;  and  I  have  now  got  up  before  daybreak,  and  am  dictating 
this  letter  by  candle-light,  that  I  may  not  be  observed  by  any  body. 
"  I  cannot  tell  you  the  precise  number  of  the  enemy's  force, 
because  they  are  spread  all  over  the  coast.  They  say  that  in  this 
town  there  are  a  thousand  and  upwards,  between  cavalry  and 
infantry;  but  I  do  not  conceive  that  they  can  have  more  than  900, 
because  people  always  exaggerate  things.  Three  days  ago  this 
garrison  received  reinforcements  from  Ilo,  which  were  sent  by 
Cochrane.  A  Captain  Quadros  came  with  the  troops,  but  as 
they  arrived  in  the  night,  we  do  not  know  how  many  he  brought. 
They  say  that  more  troops  have  landed  in  the  Monro  de  Sama, 
and  at  Arica,  and  that  all  of  them  are  to  march  against  you ;  and 
that,  with  this  intention,  Miller  will  leave  this  place  to-morrow 
with  all  his  force.  They  boast  a  good  deal  of  the  action  at 
Mirabe,  which  they  say  they  gained ;  and  also,  that  when  they 
have  done  with  you,  they  will  march  to  Arequipa,  to  salute  his 
excellency,  General  Don  Juan  Ramirez.  There  are,  however,  so 
many  reports  afloat,  that  you  must  not  consider  it  extraordinary, 
that  I  cannot  say  any  thing  positive  as  to  the  operations  of  these 
wretches.  Portocarrero  made  use  of  every  pretext  not  to  take 
any  side  until  Miller  told  him  that  he  must  either  publish  a  pro- 
clamation, declaring  himself  an  enemy  of  the  king,  or  consider 
himself  a  prisoner.  Portocarrero  wished,  in  the  first  instance, 
to  go  on  board  ship  to  see  Cochrane,  but  Miller  told  him 
that  he  should  not  move  a  single  step  till  he  declared  himself, 
which  he  did  the  same  day;  and  he  is  now  called  a  brigadier  of 
the  patria,  though  it  does  not  appear  that  they  confide  much  in 
him.  Sr.  Miller  appears  to  place  more  confidence  in  the  rebel 
Bernardo  Landa,  and  Don  Agustin  Sapata,  than  in  Portocarrero. 
Miller's  second  in  command  is  Major  Soler.  They  say  there  are 
three  other  chiefs  between  Arica  and  Ilo.  The  infamous  Captain 
Carre  no  has  passed  over  to  them,  and  is  already  major  of  the 
insurgents.  Doctor  Laso  also  plays  a  great  part  amongst  them. 
There  are  two  lieutenants,  who  are  called  Francisco  La  Tapia, 
and  Vicente  Suares,  in  whom  Miller  has  great  confidence.  They 
say  that  they  are  as  brave  as  lions,  and  on  this  account  are  always 
at  the  advanced  posts,  and  they  give  no  quarter.  La  Tapia  has 
under  his  orders  about  fifty  peasants  and  a  few  regulars,  and  is 


APPENDIX  F.  451 

about  to  march  on  a  secret  expedition,  some  say  to  Arequipa,  and 
others,  to  get  into  your  rear. 

"  This  is  all  the  information  I  can  give  you;  and  you  will 
know  by  whom  it  is  dictated,  and  who  remains 

"  Your  faithful  and  loving  servant, 

"B.M. 

"  If  you  should  write  to  me  again,  please  to  send  your  letter 
by  a  trustworthy  person ;  because  they  would  hang  me  without 
mercy  if  they  discovered  our  correspondence." 


(F-) 

(Page  414) 

Translation  of  a  Vote  of  Thanhs  from  the  Peruvian  Congress  to 

Lord  Cochrane, 

The  sovereign  constituent  congress  of  Peru,  contemplating 
how  much  the  liberty  of  Peru  owes  to  the  Right  Honourable  Lord 
Cochrane,  by  whose  talents,  valour,  and  constancy  the  Pacific  has 
been  freed  from  our  most  inveterate  enemies,  and  the  standard  of 
liberty  has  been  displayed  on  the  coasts  of  Peru,  resolves  that  the 
Junta  of  government,  in  the  name  of  the  Peruvian  nation,  do 
present  to  Lord  Cochrane,  admiral  of  the  squadron  of  Chile,  ex- 
pressions of  our  most  sincere  gratitude  for  his  achievements  in 
favour  of  this  country,  once  tyrannized  over  by  powerful  enemies* 
now-  the  arbiter  of  its  own  fate.  The  Junta  of  government, 
obeying  this,  will  command  its  fulfilment,  and  order  it  to  be 
printed,  published,  and  circulated. 

Given  in  the  Hall  of  Congress,  Lima,  the  27th  September,  1822. 

(Signed)       Xavier  Luna  Pizarro,  President. 

Jose*  Sanchez  Carrion,  }  Deputies, 

Francisco  Xavier  Marreatigui,  5  Secretaries. 

In  obedience,  we  order  the  execution  of  the  foregoing  decree* 

(Signed)  Jose  de  La  Mar. 

Felipe  Antonio  Alvarado. 
£1  Conde  de  Vista  Florida. 
By  order  of  his  Excellency,  Francisco  Valdivieso. 


*' 


452  APPENDIX  F. 

Lord  Cochrane* 8  Proclamation,  on  quitting  Chile. 

Chilenos!  You  have  expelled  from  your  country  the  enemies 
of  independence.  Do  not  sully  the  glorious  act  by  encouraging 
discord,  and  promoting  anarchy,  that  greatest  of  all  evils.  Con- 
sult the  dignity  to  which  your  heroism  has  raised  you,  and  if  you 
must  take  any  steps  to  secure  your  national  liberty,  judge  for 
yourselves;  act  with  prudence;  and  be  guided  by  reason  and 
justice. 

It  is  now  four  years  since  the  sacred  cause  of  your  independence 
called  me  to  Chile.  I  assisted  you  to  gain  it ;  I  have  seen  it 
accomplished;  it  only  now  remains  for  you  to  preserve  it. 

I  leave  you  for  a  time,  in  order'not  to  involve  myself  in  matters 
foreign  to  my  duty,  and  for  reasons  concerning  which  I  now  re- 
main silent,  that  I  may  not  encourage  party  spirit.  Chilenos ! 
you  know  that  independence  is  purchased  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet.  Know  also  that  liberty  is  founded  on  good  faith,  and 
is  supported  by  the  laws  of  honour,  and  that  those  who  infringe 
them  are  your  only  enemies,  among  whom  you  will  never  find 

(Signed)  Cochrane. 


END  OF  VOL.  I. 


LONDON : 

PRINTED  BY  THOMAS  DAVISON,  WHITEFRIARS. 


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