APPENDIX. 449 



obliged to retreat, and seek our protection in the province of Cordova, leaving 

 the artillery, &c. which he had acquired behind him. Mansilla, who had 

 taken Santa Fe, not having positive orders how to act, and hearing of Ra- 

 mirez's loss, evacuated the town, and embarking his troops crossed the 

 Parrana, to wait further orders in the Bajada. Thus all communication was 

 cut off between Ramirez and his province. We met Ramirez at the Passo de 

 Ferreira, on the Rio Tercero. He still had nearly 400 men. 



Bustos all this time remained shut up in his fortifications at Sause, and we 

 marched, together with Ramirez, to assault him in his trenches ; but having 

 had notice of our movement, he quitted his strong hold in order to unite him- 

 self with Lopez and La Madrid, then in the Posta del Esquina, near the line 

 of demarkation between Cordova and Santa Fe. There was a great number 

 of carts in Sause, which he brought with him to fortify himself if attacked on 

 his march. We arrived at Sause, and found that he had retreated two days 

 before ; we therefore left all our heavy baggage in that town with a detach- 

 ment, and redoubled our marches in pursuit of him. 



Doila Delfina, the lady who accompanied Ramirez, was a fair Porteha, who 

 " loved him for the battles he had fought" against her countrymen, and the 

 victories he had gained over them ; and his love for her was unfortunately 

 the cause of his present errors, and afterwards of his death. — As this lady's 

 frame was too delicate long to endure the fatigues of a forced march, several 

 halts were made on her account. When close by Bustos, at least within 

 eight leagues of him, we were obliged to halt the whole night, that she might, 

 by reposing, recover some strength with which she might support the toils 

 which were anticipated for the next day. But Bustos, during our halts, 

 reached the Cruzo Alta, where he fortified himself. Next morning we 

 arrived before the town ; and, forming our divisions, an aid-de-camp was sent 

 to Bustos to intimate his unconditional surrender, and threaten him with 

 the consequences of an assault, if he should refuse. Fifteen minutes were 

 allowed Bustos for the return of his answer ; but he did not hesitate a mo- 

 ment : he replied to the officer, that the " Federal arms were never to be 

 " surrendered, nor could be obtained, but at the expense of the blood of 

 " those who carried them." The officer returned with this answer, and we 

 prepared to assault the town. (Bustos here calls his the Federal army. At 

 the time when he was first put in possession of the government of the province 

 of Cordova by Carrera and Ramirez, his army was called The Third Division 

 of the Federal Army ; and now, though an apostate from the political tenets 



3 M 



