INTRODUCTION. gj 



destroyed by us, that there is safe anchorage, and that Chiloe is at 

 the mercy of 500 men, whenever it shall please the government of 

 Chile to incorporate it with the cause of liberty and independence. 



" All the troops behaved with the greatest bravery ; our loss con- 

 sists of four killed and ten wounded. May God keep you many 



y ears - " Cochrane." 



" Chiloe, Feb. 19. 1820. 



On Lord Cochrane's return to Valdivia, he furnished what arms 

 he could to the people of the neighbourhood, to assist in drivino- out 

 the enemy, and despatched Beauchef to Osorio with 100 men to 

 secure that town, which commands one source of the supplies of 

 Chiloe. Beauchef and his little troop were received by all the 

 Indians both in the country and at Osorio with the greatest joy. 

 " I believe," says that officer, in his official letter addressed to Lord 

 Cochrane, " that I have embraced more than a thousand caciques 

 " and their followers. They have all offered their people to serve 

 " in the patriotic cause ; but as circumstances do not require this, 

 " I have invited them to return to their own lands, and have received 

 " their promises to be ready if the country should call for their ser- 

 " vices. I have distributed to each on taking leave, a little indio-o, 

 " tobacco, ribbon, and other trifles." The flag of Chile was hoisted 

 on the castle of Osorio on the 26th of February ; some cannon, 

 forty muskets, and ammunition were found there, but no resistance 

 was made, the Spaniards having escaped to Chiloe. 



Meantime, in consequence of the damage sustained by the O'Hig- 

 gins when she struck at Quinquina, she was disabled from o-oino- to 

 sea, and was therefore hove down at Valdivia to be repaired, while 

 the admiral returned to Valparaiso in the Montezuma. Upon his 

 departure, some feeble efforts were made by the dispersed Spaniards 

 to repossess themselves of Valdivia, and to induce the Indians to fall 

 upon Beauchef: but that brave officer speedily put an end to the 

 struggle, and placing sufficient guards in Osorio and other posts, 

 fixed his own head-quarters at Valdivia. 



