378 ‘ APPENDIX. 
O’ Higgins, on being acquainted with all that had happened, thought proper 
to prefer the gratification of private animosity to the safety or good of the 
public in general. He abandoned his station in front of the enemy, and with 
his whole force marched towards Santiago, to wreak his vengeance on his 
greatest benefactor, — on the man who had raised him from amongst the un- 
distinguished multitude, to act in a sphere so far above his expectations! 
Carrera being advertised of the redoubled marches of his rival, despatched 
deputies to meet and expostulate with him on the impropriety of having left 
the country unprotected and at the mercy of the Spaniards; and also to 
propose the union of their forces, and joint exertions to expel their common 
enemy (who profited by their disunion); after which they could at their 
leisure decide their private disputes either by the fortune of war, or by the 
general suffrage of the people in favour of one or the other. As O’Higgins, 
with the exception of a few detachments, had the whole of the veteran forces 
under his command, he rejected with contempt these proposals of Carrera ; 
who making known to the citizens of Santiago, and the peasantry of the 
country, the issue of the negociations with O’ Higgins, they saw that there 
was no alternative left between submitting to an usurper, or preparing to 
reduce him to subjection by force. The latter was unanimously agreed to. 
The citizens enrolled themselves in corps with alacrity; the country militia 
assembled ; and being united, they marched out with Carrera to meet O’ Hig- 
gins, and bya battle decide their fate. 
Carrera’s men were badly armed, and ignorant of service; their antago- 
nists were soldiers disciplined, and already accustomed to conquer. 
Carrera chose a position on the plains of Maypu, which he fortified, and 
there waited the arrival of O’Higgins, who did not long detain him. The 
two armies being in front of each other, O’Higgins, having disposed his 
troops for the assault, commanded the charge, and led his soldiers on with 
his usual bravery. Carrera waited the shock of the enemy in his entrench- 
ments, and on their near approach he opened on them a heavy fire which 
caused them to retire; they were pursued, and called on to surrender by the 
peasants of Carrera, who had given orders not to take the lives of any of the 
fugitives. The soldiers of O’Higgins, as if intimidated by the idea of their 
disloyalty to their chief, laid down their arms, and were generously received 
and forgiven. O’Higgins and his principal officers were made prisoners, and 
experienced the clemency of the conqueror. The spoils of the field were 
divided amongst the victorious volunteers ; and the vanquished, from O’ Hig- 
