440 APPENDIX. 
for safety. They were pursued six leagues, and received very little mercy 
from the enraged soldiers. The Indians, with their long lances, gratified 
themselves exceedingly on their enemies. Late in the evening the carnage 
abated ; and fifty-four soldiers, with seven officers, were taken prisoners. We 
were employed that night in gathering those who were badly wounded on the 
field, and conducting them to our encampment, where they received every 
attention in our power to bestow; and next morning the field was again in- 
spected, the arms gathered, and such wretches as were languishing under the 
pain of incurable wounds were shot from principles of humanity. The 
wounded who were dreadfully carved, but still curable, were sent under the 
charge of a guard of peasants to San Luis, with a letter from Carrera to the 
governor Ortiz, recommending them to his humanity. Ortiz, though he did 
not answer Carrera’s first letter, answered the latter in such a polite manner 
as induced us to believe that he would sooner allow us to pass through his 
province unmolested than run the risk of opposing us. 
We continued our route towards San Luis, and discovered on our right a 
faint glimmering light, which appeared and disappeared alternately. A party 
was sent to reconnoitre, and found an advanced guard, which they pursued. 
As the enemy’s guard reached the line and gave the alarm, they supposed 
themselves attacked, and made several discharges. The flash from their arms, 
in a night extremely dark, showed their position and the extent of their line 
perfectly ; but as the ground was covered with wood, and little known by 
us, we resolved to hold the position in which we were for that night, and at- 
tack them at day-break. Our party returned, having lost a few men; and 
the enemy effected a retreat, notwithstanding the darkness of the night. One 
of the enemy’s guides deserted, and came to join us early next morning ; from 
whom we learned, that the force which we had seen that night belonged to 
San Luis, consisted of 800 men, and was commanded by Colonel Videla and 
Lieutenant-Colonel Suasti, who were expecting large reinforcements every hour 
from San Juan, Mendoza, and Arioja, besides infantry which they expected 
from San Luis. Soon as daylight appeared we pursued the enemy; but 
could not overtake him, as he had had considerable advantage of us in the 
time of starting. However, after marching fifteen leagues, we arrived on the 
banks of the Rio Quinto, in whose thick impenetrable woods the Puntanos had 
taken up a position, in order to hinder us from obtaining water for ourselves 
and horses. They sent out a flag of truce, to inform the General that they 
had orders from their governor not to attack him, as Ortiz was coming out 
