EVENTS SUCCEEDING THE ELECTION. 323 



fire of guerillas began to be active, and afterwards a combat of cavalry and artillery was com- 

 menced, which lasted until 5 p. M. During thin time, repeated charges and recharges were 

 sustained linnly mi both in which ..nr soldiers, as well as officers and leaders, gave 



marked evidences of courage, and succeeded in breaking up the enemy's squadrons. But their 

 boldness hud nut the result it merited, because it was impossible to bring the infantry into 

 action on account of the position of the rebels behind fosses and palisades, as I have said; and 

 thus both lines preserve! 1 their positions. 



This morning I endeavored, by repeated manoauvres, to provoke a general combat; but the 

 enemy has been obstinate in refusing it, and in a manner that convinces me his plans contem- 

 plate another class of hostilities. In this belief, and it being proper to rest the troops, I 

 decided to take possession of this place, which was accomplished ut 2 p. M. 



No other object is proposed in this communication than to give you a general notice of what 

 has transpired, a circumstantial detail of yesterday's engagement being reserved for a future 

 occasion. The course which the campaign will henceforward take depends on the plans shown 

 by the enemy, whom I shall endeavor, by every possible means, to draw out of his position ; 

 but if this cannot be done, because of the weakness in which he finds himself by the destruc- 

 tion and dispersion of his cavalry, I must make an effort to overcome the physical obstacles 

 behind which he is sheltered. 



God preserve you. 



MANUEL BULNES. 



To the MINISTER OF WAR. 



With this letter there were also published several from officers, giving details of the valor 

 and patriotism of their troops, the dreadful havoc they had caused among the enemy's cavalry, 

 whose loss they rated as high as 400 men in killed and wounded, and his total rout in this 

 arm, of whom a large body had deserted to the north of the Nuble. But, with the exception of 

 the "eight killed and thirty wounded," mentioned in the letter of Seiior Reyes, an ominous 

 silence is preserved by all respecting the casualties on their side. Now what was the truth 

 about this action? Was it a drawn battle, as General Bulnes claims? In the first place, it 

 must be mentioned, his own officers acknowledge that the formidable palisades preventing an 

 attack on the infantry of the enemy were only a few stakes, driven in the ground years ago, as 

 a defence against Indians ; and that the fosses were only ditches, not exceeding four feet in width 

 or depth, at which his horsemen would not have stopped an instant. Moreover, where was his 

 artillery, acknowledged to be so much more numerous and efficient than that of his adversary? 

 He was undoubtedly seeking an action on ground chosen by his opponent, and in this respect 

 was at a disadvantage, possibly increased by being attacked before completing the disposition 

 of his forces. Most probably he underrated their strength, and, instead of striking terror 

 among them and accomplishing a decisive victory, his squadrons of cavalry were met by foes 

 more numerous, equally disciplined, and better prepared for combat, because of the long rest 

 they had been enjoying. In fact, "he caught a Tartar," and, as the sequel proved, he was 

 glad to escape so easily; for, had his adversary been aware of his actual condition, nothing 

 short of a miracle could have saved his army from destruction. 



By the arrival of the U. S. ship St. Mary's at Valparaiso, from Talcahuano, we were favored 

 with the perusal of papers printed by the revolutionist party, which otherwise would scarcely 

 have been permitted to approach the capital. As the semi-official journals reprinted, without 

 contradiction, a part of the letters contained in them, we have a right to suppose them authen- 

 tic. The first is from General Cruz to his opponent, dated November 19, the day of the action 

 at Los Guindos. He tells him that, being at the head of such an army as assured to him (Cruz) 

 the victory, he earnestly desired to save the blood of their fellow-countrymen, and therefore 

 entreated him to spare, if possible, this terrible resort to arms. Although it was not the time to 

 discuss political quebtious, he believed that the justice of the cause he espoused must be recog- 



