EVENTS SUCCEEDING TUB ELECTION. 326 



particulars of this engagement may be written one day, and those interested in mil- 

 itary event-, ha\e iin opportunity t<> Irani * Mm-! liing of the truth conccTiiin^ it, as well as of 

 the part borne by the Aianeariians, and tin- terror that their Miiall band inspired among tin- H-IIM- 

 diseiplined troopsof u'overninent. Usually mounted bare-backed on almost untamed horses, which 

 the powerful hit lit' ( hih* enahles tln-m to control with the ease of thought, their dark and half- 

 naked bo.lies painted in colors of many shades, their long hair streaming in the wind as they 

 rush to the fight, waving lances of extraordinary length, and uttering such shrieks as only 

 children of the forest can compass, they are objects that may well terrify. To strike them 

 si mis almost impossible. With the left arm clinging to the neck, and one foot only over the 

 horse's back, they lie close along his side, and in this manner ride with such momentum that 

 they will sometimes unhorse a rider and carry him several yards on the ends of their lances. 

 So thoroughly do they seem a part of their animals, that they will pick up small articles form 

 the ground when at rapid speed, and without dismounting. 



In Santiago we only knew that such scenes did occur, and endeavored to infer the truth from 

 subsequent results. That General Bulnes was defeated, seemed to admit of little doubt; and 

 being on the south side of the Nuble, there was no alternative for him but to take possession of 

 the town evacuated by General Cruz, and there make preparations to continue the campaign, 

 or to attempt a retreat, in which the moral effect on his army would cause either revolt or 

 desertion. Both movements followed on the heels of each other. 



Except in a southerly and easterly direction, Cruz had denuded the adjoining country. 

 Every blade of grass, or wheat, or barley that could contribute as forage for cavalry had been 

 destroyed, and even its wood had been collected together and burned in piles; so that Bulnes 

 found himself absolutely without resources. He was no sooner quartered in Chilian, than Cruz 

 despatched a battalion to capture the ammunition and three hundred troops left to guard San 

 Carlos, a service that was successfully performed. Perceiving that his communication with the 

 capital was likely to be cut off, and himself prevented from receiving succors, Chilian was 

 hastily abandoned, and Bulnes recrossed the Nuble with his whole force, though not without 

 much annoyance from the Indians and skirmishers of his opponent. In this retreat four pieces 

 of artillery were abandoned, making, with two taken from them in the action of the 19th, the 

 battery of Cruz superior in number. Better provided with both cavalry and cannon, it is not 

 easy to comprehend why a general battle was not forced at once, instead of permitting the min- 

 isterial troops to approach Talca, where a reserve army was forming, known to comprise some 

 1,500 men. Had Cruz done so, there is no doubt his victory would have been both easy and 

 complete, and his army could have marched to Santiago without further resistance. But he 

 had other policy, and, without event of consequence, the two armies encamped between the 

 Maule and Loncomilla, within half a score of miles of each other just near enough for the 

 chillis on both sides to tamper with the loyalty of subordinates, gold being a more favorite and 

 quite as effective a weapon in Spanish-American wars as iron and steel guided by science 

 and courage. Here let us leave them for a time, to glance rapidly at what had transpired in 

 other parts of the republic during the month. 



Around Serena government had collected troops immediately after the battle at Petorca, and 

 the siege seemed to be contested more and more obstinately every day. A handful of men 

 apparently set at defiance all who could be spared to send against them. Orders after orders 

 were despatched from Santiago to storm the town, and relieve the ministry from the jests to 

 which it was subjected by the repeated failures of prophecies put forth by their adherents. But 

 the orders were all to no effect. Wearied with the delay, and as the officer in command ap- 

 peared to be too humane (others said he kucic himself to be too weak), in order that some one item 

 of good news might go by the next foreign mail, Sefior Mujica an ex-minister who possessed 

 the credit of regarding life with as little sympathy as a famished tiger was sent in the steamer 

 Cazador to direct the assault in person, and bring back to the President news that legal 

 authority was once more dominant. Some days prior to the time that this was to have taken 



