452 APPENDIX. 
in these stipulations relative to the legion of merit ; but had we performed the 
service required of us, no doubt we should have been admitted into that 
meritorious and worthy fraternity. 
When, Guiraldes’ secret commission was made known by the Colonel, it was 
looked on and treated with the contempt and ridicule which it merited. He 
was seized and brought before the General, who became his confessor, to 
whom he disclosed his secrets, and was then given up a prisoner to the guard ; 
from whence he escaped in the confusion of an action, a few days after. 
From Sause, we marched towards Frayle Muerto, when a misunderstanding 
taking place between the generals, they parted. Our division took the route 
for the frontiers of the province of San Luis, in order to surprise the Men- 
docinos, who were encamped in Las Barranquitas: the division of Ramirez 
marched in a northerly direction, to return to Entre Rios by the way of 
Las Charcas. The causes whence this separation originated were various ; 
the following were the principal ones : — Ramirez had for his secretary the 
celebrated priest Montarosa, who had been principal secretary to Artigas, and 
director of all his proceedings. He was much attached to his old master 
(Artigas), and consequently an enemy to Carrera and Ramirez. Carrera ex- 
postulated with Ramirez on the impropriety of having admitted such a person 
to accompany him, and desired that he would be sent back to Entre Rios ; 
where, if he wished to show him any kindness, he could easily do it, without 
exposing himself to the consequences of having a person in his army likely 
to prove a traitor; but Ramirez had much confidence in this warlike priest, 
and could not think of discharging him. Our soldiers began to express 
their disgust towards those of Ramirez, imputing to them and their ge- 
neral the ill success of our attack on Cruz Alta, and the raising the siege 
of Cordova. Ramirez, though he had given himself up to pleasure in this 
more than in any former campaign, did not allow the smallest relaxation in 
the rigid discipline of his soldiers. In the midst of abundance they were 
stinted of meat, and severely punished for every trivial offence : this they con- 
sidered rather hard; for as their general indulged all his appetites, they who 
ventured their lives in his defence thought themselves at least worthy of a 
sufficiency of food in an enemy’s country, where it cost him nothing. 
In consideration of these circumstances, Carrera thought it best to part 
with his friend before grievances would become more serious ; and as it seemed 
to be of necessity, their separation caused no abatement in their friendship. 
The day subsequent to our separation, an aide-de-camp of Ramirez came up 
