1826. CHILOE TAKEN BY THE CHILIANS. 299 
** Upon this occasion the troops landed, on the 8th, at the 
little inlet of the Bay of Huechucucuy; and Fort Corona was 
immediately taken. On the 10th, the disembarkation of the 
troops was completed. A battalion was left to mask Fort Aguy, 
while a force, under Colonel Aldunate, passed on, and took 
the battery of Barcacura. On the 10th, Admiral Blanco shifted 
his flag; and, leaving the O'Higgins outside, stood into the 
bay with the rest of the squadron, which anchored off Barca- 
cura. 
“ The governor, Quintanilla, with upwards of three thousand 
Royalists, took up a strong position on a hill, at the S.E. side 
of the bay, flanked on the left by an impenetrable wood, on 
the right by the shore, and supported by three gun-boats in 
shallow water. These were taken by the-boats of the squadron, 
under Captain Bell, and turned against the Royalists. Their 
position was thus enfiladed, and they retired. Freyre then 
advanced: some skirmishing took place: Quintanilla capitu- 
lated ; and the territory of Chile was no longer sullied by the 
Spanish flag. 
“‘ Colonel Aldunate, Majors Maruri, Asagra, and Tupper 
(a native of Jersey) ; and Captain Bell, of the navy, greatly 
distinguished themselves.”—Miller’s Memoirs. 
Colonel Aldunate was afterwards invested with the govern- 
ment of the island; but, owing to the disaffection of the troops, 
who were urged on by the King of Spain’s agents, a revolution 
took place, Aldunate was imprisoned, and afterwards sent to 
Valparaiso, and the Spanish flag once more waved in Chiloe. 
It was, however, for a short time only ; Aldunate was des- 
patched once more, and with a small force of three hundred 
veteran troops, headed by Colonel Tupper, and accompanied 
by the Aquiles, brig of war, again obtained possession of the 
island, which he has since kept, though not quietly, for the 
Royalists were constantly on the alert, and made several futile 
attempts to recover the place for their king. Time has now 
reconciled the greater number to the change; and, I believe, 
Chilée may be considered a contented dependency of the re- 
public of Chile. 
