APPENDIX. 377 
of Talca (if I recollect rightly), and besieged by the Spaniards; the town 
was assaulted and taken ; and the Carreras, with all the officers of the garri- 
son, were made prisoners. 
The whole command of the army now devolved on Brigadier-General 
O’ Higgins; who, instead of taking the necessary steps to procure the en- 
largement of Carrera his chief, by exchange or otherwise, seized on the 
favourable opportunity of assuming the civil power, and caused himself to be 
proclaimed President: in these proceedings he was supported by the officers 
and .soldiers of Conception, his native town. Brigadier-General M‘Kenna 
(who was afterwards shot in a duel by.Don Luis Carrera) was appointed as. 
second in command to O’Higgins. The city was governed as before, by a 
Vice-President, whilst the new President remained in front of the enemy. 
He was making vigorous preparations to carry on the war, when his attention 
was called to a quarter he least expected. 
The Carreras having procured and distributed money among the Spa- 
nish soldiers who guarded them, were allowed to escape; of which O’ Higgins 
being apprised, he offered a reward for their apprehension and delivery to him. 
However Carrera, from his popularity in the country, had little to fear from 
such a rival. He proceeded towards Santiago with his brothers, disguised as 
peasants ; and on his arrival in that city, he requested of his brother Luis to have 
himself discovered that he might be made prisoner, at the same time assuring 
him that he would liberate him that very night. Luis acted-accordingly. He 
entered a tavern; and calling a peasant, gave him some money, and desired 
that he would go and inform the town-major, that he could guide him to the 
house in which Don Luis Carrera was lodged: the countryman made some 
remonstrances ; but being ordered peremptorily he obeyed, and soon returned 
with a guard, which made Luis prisoner. 
In the meantime General Carrera, having an unbounded confidence in the 
soldiers whom he once commanded, introduced himself disguised (by being 
inveloped in a large cloak) into the barrack of the artillery; and on being 
challenged by the sentinels, he answered that he was Carrera; upon which 
the officers and soldiers crowded round their proscribed general with enthu- 
siasm and approbation, swearing to stand or fall with his fortunes. He 
ordered them to form, and immediately marched at their head to the plaza, 
liberated his brother Luis ; and as soon as his arrival in the town was known, 
he was joined by all the detachments in the garrison, and congratulated by 
all the citizens, who reinstated him in his former power. 
3.C 
