449 APPENDIX. 
return to his army. ‘The enemy now appeared, surrounding us completely, 
and began to pour in their guerillas, which were quickly repulsed by ours. 
On the opposite shore of the river their strongest parties appeared; and we 
expected that an attack would be made from that quarter, as many of their 
parties were seen uniting themselves there. They were charged by about 
100 men, and completely routed. 
During this time, the General had received information from one of the 
guides, that at about one league’s distance, in the middle of the wood, there 
was a spacious opening entirely clear of trees, where we might charge the 
enemy to some advantage. The General formed our men in column, and 
we began our march for the plain. ‘The enemy did not interrupt us in our 
march through the woods (probably because they found it impracticable to 
bring their whole force to act against us); but they anticipated our design, 
and were in the plain of the Pulgar before us, where they waited our arrival, 
and presented us battle in the border of the wood. The General ordered 
our men to wheel about and retire, in order to draw them into the centre of 
the plain, that they might not be able to shelter themselves in their native 
shades ; but they understood it in another light. Owing to the superiority 
of their numbers, they supposed that we were deterred, and determined to 
fly from their vengeance. They pursued us, and promised themselves as 
easy a victory as that which they had obtained over the Spaniards, whom 
they massacred in San Luis; but when they came into the centre of the 
plain, we wheeled about and offered them battle. They immediately halted, 
and seemed quite astonished at an unexpected change of front. Confusion 
now seemed to take pace in their formation; they saw that our retreat was 
but to draw them out of the woods, and no doubt began to recollect the fate 
of the Cordoveses in Chajan, which made a great impression on them, as 
they had seen the wounded which we sent to San Luis, and heard their 
description of that action. But their superiority in numbers, still left them 
room to hope. Their line was handsomely formed. The right flank con- 
sisted of 200 cavalry, formed in line of battle, and supported by a column of 
reserve of 200 men, at about 50 yards in their rear; their left flank was 
exactly of the same strength and formation. Their centre was occupied by 
100 infantry, covered from our view by a single rank of cavalry, which 
defiled to the right and left, and uncovered them as soon as we charged 
them. About 100 yards to the right of their line was a guerilla, which seemed 
destined to attack us in flank soon as the attack would commence. Opposed 
