APPENDIX. 



379 



gins down to the meanest soldier, were amply remunerated by Carrera for 

 the loss of their baggage, &c. 



After they had considered themselves prisoners for a few hours, the scattered 

 remains of those corps (which but just now were his enemies) were incor- 

 porated in a division with their own officers, and, what is still more surprising, 

 with O'Higgins himself at their head. This division was appointed to act as 

 van-guard to the army; and O'Higgins thus reconciled, and obliged not only 

 for his employment, but for his life, to Carrera, after receiving his instruc- 

 tions, marched to possess himself of a post which he was ordered to occupy in 

 order to check the enemy. 



Carrera, ever frugal of the blood of his country, endeavoured by unexam- 

 pled generosity and clemency to engage those in his favour who, according 

 to the laws of war, of society, and of nature itself, had justly forfeited their 

 lives : but he unfortunately miscarried in his attempts to disarm his enemies 

 by these laudable means. Noble actions can only shed their influence on 

 noble minds, and are but lost on the envious and ungrateful. Nevertheless, 

 Carrera' s noble forgiveness of so great a crime on this occasion throws a 

 brilliant light on that disinterested magnanimity and humanity which 

 characterised the actions of his public life. Though he had repeated instances 

 of the ingratitude of those whom he had served, yet he was not the less ready 

 to extend his generosity or protection to all friends, or enemies, who stood in 

 need of it. 



The Spaniards profited by the domestic dissensions of Chile. The strength 

 of the army was much reduced by their strife, and the army of Carrera was 

 obliged to take refuge in Rancagua ; which the Spaniards besieged, assaulted, 

 and after a defence of forty-eight hours, without intermission of fire, the town 

 was taken for want of ammunition to defend it longer. In this action the 

 patriots were obliged to supply the place of grape-shot by dollars, which they 

 fired from their artillery at the close of the second day. 



The remains of the army which escaped the fury of the Spaniards passed 

 the Andes, with General Carrera and his brothers, O'Higgins, M'Kenna, 

 Benevente, Rodriguez, &c, and a vast number of respectable citizens, to seek 

 an asylum amongst the patriots of the Provincias del Rio de la Plata ; from 

 whence, after recruiting their army, they expected to recross the Andes, and 

 again dispute the fate of Chile with her oppressors. 



After a short residence in Buenos Ayres, Carrera, who was without funds, 

 saw that it would be impossible for him to effect his plans. He therefore pro- 



3c 2 



