406 APPENDIX. 



whose vicinity we collected some good horses. Here a party of ours was cut 

 off: it consisted of a Serjeant and eighteen men, who were conducting a drove 

 of horses^; when, intercepted by a division of the enemy, and not considering 

 it warrantable to give up their horses, they fell on their numerous enemies, 

 and all except three fell in the contest. Continuing our route in a direction 

 parallel with and close to the river, we came to the Hermanos, where we 

 learned that a vast number of horses were guarded by regulars and militia in 

 the islands of the Parrana. As the channels of the river could only be passed 

 by swimming, the defenders of these islands had great advantage in the 

 morning, as they kept up a heavy fire on the men who had volunteered for 

 that service : however, the channels were crossed, and the enemy driven from 

 island to island ; but they still kept their horses secure in their van. About 

 eleven o'clock a dreadful storm of thunder, lightning, and rain came on, 

 which rendered fire-arms useless and burdensome. The fire ceased ; and as 

 the contest remained to be decided by the sword, they entirely despaired of 

 success ; and embarking on large rafts, they crossed the largest channel to an 

 island, leaving their wives, daughters, &c, with 2000 excellent horses, in our 

 possession. The women we left in possession of their islands, marching away 

 with the horses. We arrived at San Nicolas, where head-quarters were estab- 

 lished, to wait the arrival of a vessel from Buenos Ayres, which had on board 

 military stores and money remitted by the friends of Carrera in that town. 

 In a few days the vessel came to San Nicolas, and delivered 900 suits of 

 uniform, shirts, and every necessary for the soldiers ; together with uniform, 

 boots, pistols, &c. for the officers, 60,000 dollars in cash, and several pieces 

 of cloth for cloaks ; which stores were deposited in the house of the command- 

 ant of San Nicolas, where the General resided. 



The Santafecinos under Lopez had crossed the Arroyo del Medio, and 

 encamped in their own province, ten leagues distant from San Nicolas ; and 

 a detachment of Chilenos was also on that side of the Arroyo, about four 

 leagues distant from our encampment. 



This great separation of our force can only be accounted for by taking 

 into consideration the absolute security in which we supposed ourselves from 

 any feeble efforts which our timid enemy could be supposed to make. 



A great levy had been made in Buenos Ayres and its adjacent country ; 

 and on our retreat, an army of 3000 men, commanded by Dorego, Rodriguez, 

 and La Madrid, followed the line of our march, always keeping about thirty 

 leagues in our rear. The same captain who had been sent by Dorego to the 



