APPENDIX. 461 



dispositions for the action. Our whole force was but 470 men, of which 150 

 men and officers were taken out, and given to the Colonel to charge the 

 enemy's line. Our horses were of very bad service, but all the others were 

 entirely unfit for any service. We advanced in line towards the enemy ; 

 whilst the remainder of the force, including women, prisoners, muleteers, and 

 baggage, marched in column at a very slow pace. 



The enemy occupied a strong position : his right and left flanks were 

 composed of cavalry ; the one protected by the Laguna de Guanacacho, the 

 other by a neighbouring wood against which they were formed. The centre 

 was occupied by 600 infantry, and a fosse extended along their front ; which 

 was- easily formed in the sandy ground, and was almost impossible to pass 

 with our weak horses. A guerilla from the enemy's left annoyed us much ; 

 however, it retired as we advanced, and at last took place in their line. Our 

 horses were too weak to reconnoitre their line closely, or ascertain the 

 strength of their position. Having came within pistol-shot of the enemy, 

 they opened a fire on us. Benevente halted, formed his few men for the 

 charge ; and seeing the soldiers rather dispirited, he began to encourage them 

 by reminding them of former difficulties out of which they had extricated them- 

 selves by their exertions ; comparing the present with former dangers, and 

 assuring them that their future welfare entirely depended on their conduct in 

 this action : but seeing them still irresolute, he asked peremptorily, and with 

 a stern countenance, if they would or would not fight. The soldiers, more 

 from a fear of the imputation of cowardice than from any hope of success, 

 answered unanimously, that they would follow and die with their colonel. 

 The charge was sounded ; and we advanced under the fire of the enemy as 

 rapidly as our horses' strength would admit. We soon got on a soft sandy 

 ground ; when many of our horses sinking, and not being able to disengage 

 themselves, lay there ; others advanced, whilst some were obliged to remain 

 behind : thus, by the nature of the ground and incapacity of our horses, our 

 line was broken before we reached that of the enemy. On coming up to the 

 enemy's line we could not charge them, nor cross the trench which protected 

 their front. The Colonel and officers made every exertion to pass it ; but 

 the men being under the galling fire of the enemy but at a few yards' distance, 

 and thinking it impracticable to pass the fosse, retired in disorder. We 

 were pursued by the enemy's cavalry about 300 yards ; when, meeting the 

 General, the soldiers rallied, and drove the enemy back to their trenches. 

 The air was filled with a subtile dust, with which we were almost suffocated, 



