ACKOSS THE KOCKV MOUNTAINS, ETC. HOI 



suspected, and naturally induced a supposition that this flagitious 

 act of private animosity was but the prelude to public hostility, 

 and therefore the Chilian commander lost no time in getting his 

 regulars and militia under arms, and in readiness to repel the 

 suspected invasion. On the day following, intelligence of the 

 movements, and meditated attack of the rebel army was received 

 in Valparaiso. All was consternation through the town. Every 

 horse that could be found was seized upon for the use of the 

 troops, not excepting private property even ; the merchants sealed 

 up all their specie in boxes, and sent it on board the men of war 

 for safe keeping, and stood ready to embark themselves, with 

 their most valuable effects, in case of the success of the in- 

 vaders. 



The Chilian general selected an eligible spot of ground within 

 about four miles of the town, concealing his army as well as ho 

 could, in the quebrados or valleys by which it was bounded, and 

 waited, with what patience he might, the approach of the enemy. 



On the 3d of June, at three o'clock in the morning, Vidaurre 

 came on, leading his men quietly and stealthily over the uneven 

 ground, and no doubt thought to take the town by complete sur- 

 prise, and secure an easy, and, perhaps, bloodless victory over 

 the amazed regulars. But he was most sadly mistaken. As 

 his army was silently and warily moving down one of the abrupt 

 hills, in a perfectly unprepared state, a tremendous and most 

 destructive fire was suddenly opened upon them from the bushes 

 upon both sides of the declivity. A large body of men from 

 one valley rushed to the top of the hill, and completely cut off 

 their retreat in the direction from which they came ; a detach- 

 ment from the opposite valley filed off in front, and received them 

 from the town side, and at the same instant, a number of gun- 

 boats, which were stationed in the bay, greeted them with a tre- 

 mendous volley of grape shot and musket balls, which completed 



