APPENDIX. 463 



470 men, which we brought into the field, we lost all except about 20 officers 

 and 80 soldiers : in action we could not have lost 30 men ; the rest remained 

 on the field, as their horses could not march. 



We had gained eighteen leagues a-head of the enemy ; and were about to 

 surprise a squadron which guarded a great number of excellent horses in the 

 potreras of Jocoli, when a catastrophe the most fatal, horrid, and criminal, 

 put us in power of our oppressors. 



The officers who had planned the revolution in San Luis supposed this to be 

 the most favourable moment for executing their villanous undertaking. They 

 reported to the soldiers, that soon as Carrera should surprise the enemy's 

 squadron in Jocoli, and possess himself of the horses, he and his favourite 

 officers would abandon them and the soldiers, by escaping to Buenos 

 Ayres disguised ; from whence they would embark for England, or the United 

 States : and that to avert the vengeance which awaited them (the soldiers), 

 it was necessary that they would take him and his officers, and give them up in 

 Mendoza. The soldiers believed this ingenious fabrication of the mutineers, 

 and entered unanimously into the design of seizing the General and officers ; 

 which they soon after effected. 



It was very dark, about two o'clock in the morning, when we were surprised 

 by the word " Halt" being given vehemently by many voices. We halted, 

 supposing the enemy were on us. The conspirators (Arias, Moya, Fuenta, 

 and Inchouti) rushed forward with a chosen escort to the head of the 

 column, exclaiming "Seize the General and Colonel ! Tie all the officers !" In 

 the same moment some shots were fired at the Colonel and Ansorens (a 

 guide), who, having good horses, escaped. The General made some efforts to 

 defend himself) — his pistols missed fire, and he was in a moment overpowered 

 and disarmed. He attempted to speak to the soldiers, but they would not 

 hear him j and Arias ordered him and the rest of the officers not to speak to 

 the soldiers on pain of death. 



A letter was immediately sent back to the army of the enemy by the con- 

 spirators, and another to Godoy Cruz, governor of Mendoza, informing them 

 of what they had done : they then continued their march towards Mendoza, 

 till we arrived at Jocoli ; when we halted, and had some refreshment, for the 

 first time in the forty-eight hours antecedent. 



Here Moya, one of the conspirators, seemed to have repented of his 

 treachery : he acknowledged that nothing could efface the stain which his 

 character had sustained ; but he was over-awed, and persuaded by his com- 



