438 APPENDIX. 
A troop then mounted, and, accompanied by some Indians, went out to meet 
the enemy’s guerilla, which they routed; and eight Indians who, were fore- 
most in the pursuit, succeeded in taking a prisoner, whose life they spared 
in consequence of having received the General’s order to kill no person, 
but bring as many to him as they could take alive. This prisoner was of 
great importance to us: he not only gave us all the necessary information 
relative to the country in which we were (and of which we were entirely 
ignorant), but also became our guide, and conducted us to the parts in which 
the enemy’s horses were concealed, thereby affording us an opportunity to 
have our men remounted. 
O’Higgins had sent money, arms, and ammunition to the governors of 
San Juan, Mendoza, San Luis, and Cordova, to engage these provinces as 
mercenaries to make war against us, and to oppose our march to Chile. The 
regiment called the Guardia de Honor, with such other detachments and 
officers as the Supreme Director thought worthy of his confidence from the 
other regiments, were also ordered to march out of Santiago de Chile, in 
order to cross the Andes, and assist the mercenaries in exterminating us: 
but these troops had only reached Chacabuco, when they were counter- 
manded by O’Higgins, as, on second consideration, he was aware that no 
Chileno would fight against us; that, on the contrary, they would all pass to 
us and strengthen our lines. As Chilenos could not be trusted to oppose the 
man who had first led them against their oppressors, liberated their country, 
and expended his fortune in support of their independence; against the man 
whose rank, character, and benignity gained him the love and respect of 
his countrymen, whilst he was feared but by a few tyrants and usurpers, who 
were loathed by the country over which they had assumed an arbitrary au- 
thority ; — it was thought that Chilian gold would have a better effect against 
him. A fresh supply of money was sent to the provinces, that they might 
raise a competent force to supply the place of the Chilians, who had been 
recalled: of that money Mendoza réceived 30,000 dollars, San Juan and 
Cordova the same sum each, and San Luis 12,000. 
Our squadron consisted of 140 men, which, with forty Indians, the escort 
of the General, composed an entire force of 180 men, not including officers ; 
and for the destruction ef that small but much-feared band thousands took 
the field. 
The privations and dangers over which we had from time to time triumphed, 
made us look with a degree of indifference on any misfortunes which could 
