APPENDIX. 453 



with us, bearing a letter from his general to Carrera ; in which Ramirez soli- 

 cited the re-union of their forces, the guidance of every thing to be left to 

 Carrera, and Montarosa to remain merely in the character of a priest, who, 

 he again assured him, was no longer the friend of Artigas, but faithful to 

 their interests. 



Carrera answered this letter by assuring his friend, that where the insidious 

 friar Montarosa existed, he would never expose himself or his soldiers. 

 But, even independent of that objection, he told him, that the only means of 

 escaping the vigilance of our numerous enemies was by separating, that we 

 might thereby draw their attention in different quarters, and so by dividing 

 them conquer them separately. He concluded by giving him his opinion on 

 the line of conduct which he supposed would be most eligible for him to 

 follow in his march, and assuring him of his unchanging friendship. 



Besides the official correspondence, the aide-de-camp was the bearer of a 

 private proposition from the officers of Ramirez, offering to leave their gene- 

 ral, and pass with all the soldiers to Carrera, if he would receive or admit 

 them to do so. This proposition Carrera heard with horror and astonish- 

 ment. He told the aide-de-camp that he was sorry the officers had formed 

 so very illiberal an opinion of him as to have supposed him capable of treating 

 his friend in that manner. He also told the aide-de-camp, that he would not 

 inform Ramirez, as he hoped they would never again think of committing so 

 heinous a crime ; that if their general had been led into error, he stood in 

 the greater need of their firm support ; that whatever his weaknesses might 

 be, they never could efface his glories ; that he never expected to hear of 

 such brave officers as those of Ramirez staining their dear-bought honours 

 by the base crime of abandoning the general who so often had led them to 

 conquer, &c. 



The aide-de-camp returned with the letter of Carrera to his general, and 

 with the above-cited reproofs to the officers. Several of Ramirez's soldiers 

 and sergeants deserted, and some of them followed our division. 



As we were about to leave the province of Cordova our division was much 

 reduced by desertion, as many soldiers whom we had recruited in that pro- 

 vince, and nearly all the militia, returned to their homes. 



The enemy trusting to his numbers came out in search of us ; and suc- 

 ceeded in intercepting our rear-guard, which had under its care a great num- 

 ber of waggons, baggage, sick and wounded men, prisoners, women, &c. 

 The Mendocino.? fell on them at day-break, and put all to the sword, not 



