322 EVENTS SUCCEEDING THE ELECTION. 



at 11 o'clock next morning. Flanking parties, principally of Cruz's cavalry and Indians, were 

 soon dashing among them ; and this brought on quite a general engagement between the artil- 

 lery and cavalry of both sides, which continued with little intermission for more than three 

 hours. His infantry did not participate, nor could they be forced from their entrenchments 

 either that afternoon or next morning ; and arriving at the conclusion (Bulnes says) that his 

 adversary did not mean to risk a general action, he considered it advisable to proceed to Chilian, 

 for the purpose of giving rest to his troops. The first information of the action of November 

 19th was in the following letter from the military secretary : 



MONTE DE URRA, November 20, 1851. 



I am directed by the General to inform you that we reached the camp of the revolutionists, 

 situated in Los Guindos, yesterday, and finding it between fosses and palisades, passed his flank 

 to the north, taking possession of the place from which I write. At 3 o'clock a guerilla combat 

 was commenced, that was continued by the cavalry of both armies until 5. The advantage was 

 on our side in every charge, and we learn that the enemy suffered much from loss and dispersion. 

 Ours does not exceed eight dead and thirty wounded. On account of the position of the enemy, 

 the infantry could not be employed, and the action has had no definite result both armies pre- 

 serving their positions. This is written to keep you advised of what occurs, and that you may 

 transmit the letter to the authorities at Santiago with practicable promptitude. 



ANTONIO GARCIA REYES. 



To the GOVERNOR OF SAN CARLOS. 



Accompanying it, in the same publication, were three lines from the colonel of cavalry to his 

 wife, telling her "we completely routed nearly the whole of the enemy's cavalry." This 

 information, together with a statement that several of Cruz's best officers and 400 men had 

 been killed, that the Indians had deserted him in a body, and that nearly all of his mounted 

 men had dispersed, was forwarded to Valparaiso in time for the mail of December 1st. 



It has just been, shown that nothing was to be expected from the silver district of Chanarcillo. 

 Coquimbo, the great copper region, from similar causes, was equally unwrought ; and the 

 South, instead of having a surplus of grain for export to California at the beginning of the 

 coming year, it was now certain would need all that the less disturbed central provinces could 

 afford them. In what manner, then, were imports to be paid for four months later? If there 

 were evidences that government was sufficiently powerful to strangle the conspiracy, and that 

 the principal opposing force was tottering, foreign exporters might ship their goods with some 

 degree of confidence, otherwise they would scarcely risk ventures to a bankrupt market. This 

 was well known, and its consequences feared. Without imports there could be no custom-house 

 receipts ; hence the desire by government that only favorable accounts should be found in the 

 papers to go by this steamer. 



Two days after its departure, the annexed letter, from "head-quarters," was printed; but 

 its publication was neither welcomed by salutes from Santa Lucia nor with martial music : 



HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF OPERATIONS OF THE SOUTH, 



Chilian, November 20, 1851. 



In execution of the plan of the campaign, of which I gave you an account in my last letter, I 

 proceeded eastward from San Carlos on the 14th inst., and succeeded in passing the Nuble by the 

 Machicura ford. This first obstacle being overcome without opposition from the enemy, I took 

 the road along the foot of the hills in order to pass the Cato, on whose banks he might show 

 himself in force. Nevertheless the enemy had no intention to dispute it, having concentrated 

 his forces at a place called Los Guindos, distant a league and a half from this town. On the 

 19th inst. I undertook a march in his pursuit, and passed his left flank, until, having reached 

 his rear, my camp was established on the heights of Monte Urra at 11 A. M. At 2 p. M. the 



