438 APPENDIX. 



A troop then mounted, and, accompanied by some Indians, went out to meet 

 the enemy's guerilla, which they routed ; and eight Indians who, were fore- 

 most in the pursuit, succeeded in taking a prisoner, whose life they spared 

 in consequence of having received the General's order to kill no person, 

 but bring as many to him as they could take alive. This prisoner was of 

 great importance to us : he not only gave us all the necessary information 

 relative to the country in which we were (and of which we were entirely 

 ignorant), but also became our guide, and conducted us to the parts in which 

 the enemy's horses were concealed, thereby affording us an opportunity to 

 have our men remounted. 



O'Higgins had sent money, arms, and ammunition to the governors of 

 San Juan, Mendoza, San Luis, and Cordova, to engage these provinces as 

 mercenaries to make war against us, and to oppose our march to Chile. The 

 regiment called the Guardia de Honor, with such other detachments and 

 officers as the Supreme Director thought worthy of his confidence from the 

 other regiments, were also ordered to march out of Santiago de Chile, in 

 order to cross the Andes, and assist the mercenaries in exterminating us : 

 but these troops had only reached Chacabuco, when they were counter- 

 manded by O'Higgins, as, on second consideration, he was aware that no 

 Chileno would fight against us; that, on the contrary, they would all pass to 

 us and strengthen our lines. As Chilenos could not be trusted to oppose the 

 man who had first led them against their oppressors, liberated their country, 

 and expended his fortune in support of their independence ; against the man 

 whose rank, character, and benignity gained him the love and respect of 

 his countrymen, whilst he was feared but by a few tyrants and usurpers, who 

 were loathed by the country over which they had assumed an arbitrary au- 

 thority ; — it was thought that Chilian gold would have a better effect against 

 him. Afresh supply of money was sent to the provinces, that they might 

 raise a competent force to supply the place of the Chilians, who had been 

 recalled : of that money Mendoza received 30,000 dollars, San Juan and 

 Cordova the same sum each, and San Luis 12,000. 



Our squadron consisted of 14-0 men, which, with forty Indians, the escort 

 of the General, composed an entire force of 180 men, not including officers ; 

 and for the destruction of that small but much-feared band thousands took 

 the field. 



The privations and dangers over which we had from time to time triumphed, 

 made us look with a degree of indifference on any misfortunes which could 



