378 APPENDIX. 



O'Higgins, on being acquainted with all that had happened, thought proper 

 to prefer the gratification of private animosity to the safety or good of the 

 public in general. He abandoned his station in front of the enemy, and with 

 his whole force marched towards Santiago, to wreak his vengeance on his 

 greatest benefactor, — on the man who had raised him from amongst the un- 

 distinguished multitude, to act in a sphere so far above his expectations! 



Carrera being advertised of the redoubled marches of his rival, despatched 

 deputies to meet and expostulate with him on the impropriety of having left 

 the country unprotected and at the mercy of the Spaniards ; and also to 

 propose the union of their forces, and joint exertions to expel their common 

 enemy (who profited by their disunion) ; after which they could at their 

 leisure decide their private disputes either by the fortune of war, or by the 

 general suffrage of the people in favour of one or the other. As O'Higgins, 

 with the exception of a few detachments, had the whole of the veteran forces 

 under his command, he rejected with contempt these proposals of Carrera ; 

 who making known to the citizens of Santiago, and the peasantry of the 

 country, the issue of the negociations with O'Higgins, they saw that there 

 was no alternative left between submitting to an usurper, or preparing to 

 reduce him to subjection by force. The latter was unanimously agreed to. 

 The citizens enrolled themselves in corps with alacrity ; the country militia 

 assembled ; and being united, they marched out with Carrera to meet O'Hig- 

 gins, and by a battle decide their fate. 



Carrera's men were badly armed, and ignorant of service ; their antago- 

 nists were soldiers disciplined, and already accustomed to conquer. 



Carrera chose a position on the plains of Maypu, which he fortified, and 

 there waited the arrival of O'Higgins, who did not long detain him. The 

 two armies being in front of each other, O'Higgins, having disposed his 

 troops for the assault, commanded the charge, and led his soldiers on with 

 his usual bravery. Carrera waited the shock of the enemy in his entrench- 

 ments, and on their near approach he opened on them a heavy fire which 

 caused them to retire ; they were pursued, and called on to surrender by the 

 peasants of Carrera, who had given orders not to take the lives of any of the 

 fugitives. The soldiers of O'Higgins, as if intimidated by the idea of their 

 disloyalty to their chief, laid down their arms, and were generously received 

 and forgiven. O'Higgins and his principal officers were made prisoners, and 

 experienced the clemency of the conqueror. The spoils of the field were 

 divided amongst the victorious volunteers ; and the vanquished, from O'Hig- 



