5(3 INTRODUCTION- 



captured the Potrillo, a small Spanish vessel with provisions, stores, 

 and 20,000 dollars in money, which she was conveying to the garri- 

 son of Valdivia, and having sent her to Valparaiso, he proceeded to 

 Talcahuano bay, where he arrived on the 22d of January, 1820. 

 There he found the Chilian States' schooner, Montezuma, and the 

 brig of war, Intrepid, belonging to Buenos Ayres ; and, desiring to 

 reconnoitre the port of Valdivia, he left the O'Higgins at Talcahuano, 

 and proceeded in the schooner, under Spanish colours, to make his 

 observations on the harbour. 



Valdivia had always been considered as impregnable. The har- 

 bour is formed by the river of Callacallas, which, widening opposite 

 the town to an aestuary of four leagues broad, narrows again at its 

 mouth to half a league. Four considerable forts defend the narrow 

 entrance, besides a battery at the Morro Gonzales, or the English- 

 man's watering place, in which there are altogether upwards of 100 

 guns, the fires of which cross each other from every point. Under 

 the Spanish flag, however, Lord Cochrane ran in so close to the place 

 that the health boat boarded him, and from the officer he learned the 

 state of the ports and of the garrison, and immediately returned to 

 Talcahuana to take measures for the attack he meditated. 



On being made acquainted with His Lordship's plans, General 

 Freire frankly lent him 250 men, under Major Beauchef ; and, supe- 

 rior to the petty jealousy and bargaining which too often disgrace 

 the operations of war, where the navy and army have to act together, 

 he placed them absolutely at the admiral's disposal, and on the 29th, 

 they were embarked in the O'Higgins, Intrepid, and Montezuma, 

 and sailed on the 30th. Unfortunately the frigate struck on the rocks 

 off the island of Quinquina in getting out, but as it did not appear 

 that she was much damaged at the time, the little fleet proceeded, 

 and on the 2d of February, 1820, arrived off Valdivia, 10 leagues 

 to the southward, when the whole of the troops were put on board 

 of the small vessels, and the O'Higgins was ordered to keep out of 

 sight till the next day. At sunset, the troops were landed at the 

 Englishman's bay, Lord Cochrane accompanying them, and, as they 



