APPENDIX. 411 
Garcia heard the proposition with contempt and indignation; adverted to his 
officers on the baseness of their governor Lopez, in thinking of sacrificing 
his greatest friend to his most inveterate enemies the Portefios; and finally 
made Lopez understand that his own safety was in question if he did not im- 
mediately desist. The plot was made known to Carrera, who had for some 
days previous suspected something of that nature to be on foot. Carrera 
dictated a letter, which the Governor was obliged to sign and send to the 
enemy, renouncing all further negociation of a private or dishonourable 
nature. 
The Portefios seeing their perfidious efforts against Carrera disconcerted, 
advanced to try the fortune of another action: their force consisted of 2100 
men ; ours was about 380, of which only 130 were Chilenos. But twelve 
days had elapsed since the surprise of San Nicolas, the impression of which 
was still fresh on the minds of' the soldiers, although few of them had been 
there ; this, together with the great disproportion of our numbers, accounts 
for the unaccustomed timidity of our soldiers in the action of Pabon. 
The Portefios at first were charged, and obliged to retire; but renewing 
the attack with vigour, our line was broken, and began to retreat: we were 
pursued several leagues. ‘The Chilenos and a few Santafecinos protected the 
retreat by keeping a constant fire on the enemy. Our men were not properly 
reunited before our arrival at San Lorenzo, a distance of ten leagues from the 
battle ground. Our loss was immaterial, not exceeding twenty men. The 
most remarkable occurrence of this retreat was, that a Portefiian officer who 
accompanied us, and had been major of the famous hussars of La Madrid in 
High Peru, where he was considered little less than a Mars, was horse- 
whipped and discarded for having too great a desire to be one of the fore- 
most in the retreat. 
Having reunited our men at San Lorenzo, we continued to retire ; and pass- 
ing the Carcarajia, we encamped in Las Barrancas. The Portefios occupied, 
and almost destroyed, the town of Rosario; where they remained, not consi- 
dering it prudent to follow our flying remnant too far in a country where 
they were entirely destitute of friends. 
Lopez, finding that nothing but war would satisfy his officers and sol- 
diers, made a levy in the country, raising about 800 men; a few northern 
Indians also came to join him: our division was now augmented to about 
1000 men. ‘We returned in search of the Portefios ; and when we were about 
to pass the Carcarafia, our advance guard fell in with that of the enemy near 
3G 2 
