APPENDIX. 377 



of Talca (if I recollect rightly), and besieged by the Spaniards ; the town 

 was assaulted and taken ; and the Carreras, with all the officers of the garri- 

 son, were made prisoners. 



The whole command of the army now devolved on Brigadier-General 

 O'Higgins ; who, instead of taking the necessary steps to procure the en- 

 largement of Carrera his chief, by exchange or otherwise, seized on the 

 favourable opportunity of assuming the civil power, and caused himself to be 

 proclaimed President : in these proceedings he was supported by the officers 

 and soldiers of Conception, his native town. Brigadier-General M'Kenna 

 (who was afterwards shot in a duel by Don Luis Carrera) was appointed as 

 second in command to O'Higgins. The city was governed as before, by a 

 Vice-President, whilst the new President remained in front of the enemy. 

 He was making vigorous preparations to carry on the war, when his attention 

 was called to a quarter he least expected. 



The Carreras having procured and distributed money among the Spa- 

 nish soldiers who guarded them, were allowed to escape ; of which O'Higgins 

 being apprised, he offered a reward for their apprehension and delivery to him. 

 However Carrera, from his popularity in the country, had little to fear from 

 such a rival. He proceeded towards Santiago with his brothers, disguised as 

 peasants ; and on his arrival in that city, he requested of his brother Luis to have 

 himself discovered that he might be made prisoner, at the same time assuring 

 him that he would liberate him that very night. Luis acted accordingly. He 

 entered a tavern ; and calling a peasant, gave him some money, and desired 

 that he would go and inform the town-major, that he could guide him to the 

 house in which Don Luis Carrera was lodged : the countryman made some 

 remonstrances ; but being ordered peremptorily he obeyed, and soon returned 

 with a guard, which made Luis prisoner. 



In the meantime General Carrera, having an unbounded confidence in the 

 soldiers whom he once commanded, introduced himself disguised (by being 

 inveloped in a large cloak) into the barrack of the artillery ; and on being 

 challenged by the sentinels, he answered that he was Carrera ; upon which 

 the officers and soldiers crowded round their proscribed general with enthu- 

 siasm and approbation, swearing to stand or fall with his fortunes. He 

 ordered them to form, and immediately marched at their head to the plaza, 

 liberated his brother Luis ; and as soon as his arrival in the town was known, 

 he was joined by all the detachments in the garrison, and congratulated by 

 all the citizens, who reinstated him in his former power. 



3 c 



