450 APPENDIX. 
which he then professed, though an ally of Buenos Ayres, and a mercenary 
of Chile, he had either ignorance or impudence enough to assume the name 
of Federalist.) 
The Cruz Alta is a village which has been for some time fortified against 
the incursions of the Northern Indians. There are three small forts at right 
angles, formed by palisades, earth, &c., besides many impenetrable corrales 
de tunas* : one side of the triangle was protected by a line of carts made fast 
to each other; the other two were formed by. cheveaux-de-frise, houses, 
yards, &c. These small forts were well manned, and a piece of artillery in 
each : the intervals between each of the forts were occupied by light infantry 
behind their works. The cavalry of the enemy were few, and had been beaten 
by our guerillas into the plaza on our first arrival in the morning. Bustos’ 
whole force was about 580 men; our division, with that of Ramirez, was 
more than 1200. 
Three hundred of our men dismounted, to act against the forts as infantry, 
and were to have been protected by the whole of the cavalry. All being ready 
for the attack, our infantry, sustained by the cavalry, advanced on the right 
and left flanks of the town: a heavy fire commenced. Our men continued to 
advance, and dislodged the enemy from an outpost, and afterwards took the 
fort to which it belonged: in that moment Ramirez rode up and ordered the 
cavalry to charge. We then galloped close in front of the enemy’s line under 
a heavy fire, and entered the plaza; where we found nothing but horses, 
Bustos’ cavalry having abandoned them, and escaped into the forts. We 
remained in the plaza for some minutes covered with dust and smoke, and 
exposed to the enemy’s fire in every direction. Our infantry were aware that 
their fire crossed the plaza, and would be as offensive to us as to the enemy ; 
they therefore ceased firing. After being some time in the plaza without 
being able to do any thing against the enemy, we retired with a degree of 
confusion ; and our infantry (seeing so much disorder prevail among us) also 
retired, abandoning the advantageous posts they had gained, which were 
quickly re-occupied by the enemy. We again formed our infantry and cavalry 
before the town, and, on inspection, it appeared that all the ammunition was 
very nearly expended ; we could not replace it till our return to Sause, where 
we had left our ammunition and baggage: it was, therefore, out of our power 
to renew the action, which the indiscretion of Ramirez had lost by his devi- 
* Enclosures, the hedges of which were made of the Cactus opuntia. 
