330 EVENTS SUCCEEDING THE ELECTION. 



to pieces or utterly dispersed. Bulnes had achieved prodigies of personal valor and skill, but 

 none had seen Cruz on the field of battle. The montoneros had robbed all the despatches 

 sent by both sides. These were some of the stories circulating in addition to those of the day 

 before, varied and embellished as they passed from one narrator to another, until even the most 

 credulous could but smile at them. 



Neither the 12th nor the 13th brought any relief to the anxious. Government claimed to 

 have ascertained that the montoneros had robbed the express bringing the official report from 

 General Bulnes, and refrained from printing verbal reports brought by other officers known to 

 have reached Santiago, until a copy of it could be obtained. When the staff officer arrived, 

 he had mentioned the death of the colonel of a ministerial regiment, and the relatives were 

 desirous to learn the particulars ; but it was considered prudent to enjoin silence, and his lips were 

 thereafter closed. The birlochero who had brought the same officer from Talca made it known 

 that he had arrived there without hat, shoes, or sword ; and to save him further questioning 

 by the curious, he was put under lock and key. Subsequently, a letter from General Bulnes 

 proved (as will be seen) the report of the robbery of his official narrative to have been invented. 

 Many things, however, could not be concealed. More troops were collecting hourly, every 

 detachment that left escorting a large supply of ammunition. An additional number of 

 surgeons were sent to the wounded, for whom vehicles started to convey as many as possible to 

 the capital ; and it was conceded that the portion of Cruz's army driven into the houses had 

 made its escape whether by cutting their way out or by eluding the vigilance of the besiegers, 

 was not told. It was only certain that they were gone the government pretended not to know 

 whither. There was evidently more confidence among members of the opposition. They claimed 

 to be in receipt of highly gratifying intelligence ; and by night of the 13th, the Portal and 

 streets began to exhibit the usual number of gaily dressed- purchasers and promenaders. Their 

 three thousand relatives and fellow-countrymen cumbering the field of Loncomilla were already 

 measurably forgotten ! 



At last on the 14th the smoke of the battle began to blow away. A letter came to the 

 President from General Bulnes, very evidently written in reply to one expressing surprise that 

 no official report had been received from him. He says : 



" I have not written to you [the italics are mine] since the battle of the 8th, as well because I 

 supposed you informed by Borgoiio [the staff officer] and the correspondence of friends who 

 accompany me, as because I hoped shortly to have occasion to announce the definite result of 

 the campaign. This has taken place at this moment. The remainder of the enemy's army 

 has rebelled against its leaders ; and after a great many soldiers had passed over to my camp, 

 the rest took up their line of march for the south. The chiefs of the Carampangue and Guias 

 [two of Cruz's battalions] go with them in order to prevent disturbances on their march. At 

 this very moment I send Major Urrutia to regulate their march, and my cavalry goes also. 



" He who communicates to me the prelude to this result is Cruz himself, in a note, of which 

 I shall forward to you a copy. Since last night Don Jose A. Alemparte has been in my camp, 

 having come to adjust with me the surrender of the remains of Cruz's army, and the successful 

 result just referred to has occurred here. A thousand congratulations on this conclusion, my 

 friend ! In a few days, throughout the whole extent of its territory, the republic will recover 

 its precious peace." 



The cannon on Santa Lucia, and bands of music in the streets, uttered their notes of rejoicing 

 Sunday as it was as the bulletin containing this letter issued from the press ; and along every 

 thoroughfare there were groups listening with earnest attention to one of their number who 

 read the document aloud. 



From the best information obtainable at the time, the occurrences at Loncomilla were as 

 follows : On the evening of the 7th, the army of Bulnes was encamped about Cerro Bobadilla, 

 a mile to the south of the Maule ; that of Cruz in and around the houses of a hacienda occu- 

 pied by Seilor Urzua, distant nearly two leagues. The surrounding country is a slightly undu- 



