APPENDIX. 461 
dispositions for the action. Our whole force was but 470 men, of which 150 
men and officers were taken out, and given to the Colonel to charge the 
enemy’s line. Our horses were of very bad service, but all the others were 
entirely unfit for any service. We advanced in line towards the enemy ; 
whilst the remainder of the force, including women, prisoners, muleteers, and 
baggage, marched in column at a very slow pace. 
The enemy occupied a strong position: his right and left flanks were 
composed of cavalry; the one protected by the Laguna de Guanacacho, the 
other by a neighbouring wood against which they were formed. The centre 
was occupied by 600 infantry, and a fosse extended along their front ; which 
was easily formed in the sandy ground, and was almost impossible to pass 
with our weak horses. <A guerilla from the enemy’s left annoyed us much ; 
however, it retired as we advanced, and at last took place in their line. Our 
horses were too weak to reconnoitre their line closely, or ascertain the 
strength of their position. Having came within pistol-shot of the enemy, 
they opened a fire on us. Benevente halted, formed his few men for the 
charge ; and seeing the soldiers rather dispirited, he began to encourage them 
by reminding them of former difficulties out of which they had extricated them- 
selves by their exertions ; comparing the present with former dangers, and 
assuring them that their future welfare entirely depended on their conduct in 
this action: but seeing them still irresolute, he asked peremptorily, and with 
a stern countenance, if they would or would not fight. The soldiers, more 
from a fear of the imputation of cowardice than from any hope of success, 
answered unanimously, that they would follow and die with their colonel. 
The charge was sounded ; and we advanced under the fire of the enemy as 
rapidly as our horses’ strength would admit. We soon got on a soft sandy 
ground; when many of our horses sinking, and not being able to disengage 
themselves, lay there; others advanced, whilst some were obliged to remain 
behind: thus, by the nature of the ground and incapacity of our horses, our 
line was broken before we reached that of the enemy. On coming up to the 
enemy’s line we could not charge them, nor cross the trench which protected 
their front. The Colonel and officers made every exertion to pass it; but 
the men being under the galling fire of the enemy but at a few yards’ distance, 
and thinking it impracticable to pass the fosse, retired in disorder. We 
were pursued by the enemy’s cavalry about 300 yards; when, meeting the 
General, the soldiers rallied, and drove the enemy back to their trenches, 
The air was filled with a subtile dust, with which we were almost suffocated, 
