12 



THE BATTLE OF MAYPO. 



able advantages ; particularly in a night action at 

 Cancha Rayada, near Talca, on the 19th of March 

 1818, where the Royalists almost entirely dis- 

 persed the Patriot forces. San Martin, however, 

 who, after the battle of Chacabuco, had been named 

 commander-in-chief of the united armies of Chili 

 and Buenos Ayres ; and who seems to have pos- 

 sessed, in a remarkable degree, the confidence of 

 both countries, succeeded, in conjunction with 

 General O'Higgins and Las Heras, in rallying the 

 troops, augmenting their numbers, and inspiring 

 them with fresh resolution. These exertions on 

 the part of the generals were admirably seconded 

 by the inhabitants of Santiago, who seeing the 

 necessity of making an extraordinary effort, not 

 only subscribed their money, but gave up all 

 their plate and jewels, for the good of their coun- 

 try. This timely supply enabled San Martin to 

 re-equip the army with amazing celerity, and to 

 bring it again into the field as well appointed as 

 before ; so that, on the 5th of April 1818, only 

 seventeen days after his defeat, he engaged, and 

 after an obstinate and sanguinary conflict com- 

 pletely routed, the Spanish army on the plains of 

 Maypo. 



This battle is one of the most important that 

 has been fought during the long struggle between 

 the colonies and the mother country ; for had 

 the event of the day been different from what it 

 was, it is impossible to calculate how materially 

 the liberation of the country might have been 

 retarded. It was not in Chili alone, however, 

 that its beneficial effect was felt and acknow- 

 ledged ; and for many years afterwards, the 

 recollection of its details infused vigour and effi- 

 ciency into the independent cause from one end 

 of the continent to the other. On account, there- 

 fore, of its very momentous consequences, both 

 immediate and remote, I think it right to insert 

 the official account written by San Martin, the 

 great officer who commanded on that memorable 

 occasion. I have retained even those paragraphs 

 which contain the common-place mention of the 

 officers, as many of their names have since become 

 well known in South America ; and it seems but 

 fair that men who have contributed so essentially 

 to the liberation of their country should not be 

 passed over in silence. It is interesting, besides, 

 to observe how speedily the talent and energy of 

 the country expanded, as soon as the dead-weight 

 of the Spanish authority was removed. For there 

 can be no doubt that Freyre, Las Heras, O'Higgins, 

 and various other officers mentioned in this Gazette, 

 and whose services have been of the utmost con- 

 sequence to the cause of South American inde- 

 pendence, would have remained altogether un- 

 known and useless under the former system. 



« BUENOS AYRES GAZETTE. 



" Wednesday, 22d April, 1818. 

 " Despatch of his Excellency the Captain-General 

 of the Andes to the Supreme Government. 

 " Most excellent Sir, 

 " The unlooked-for events which took place on 

 the night of the l'Jth ultimo, at Cancha rayada, 

 threatened to annihilate the liberties of Chili. It 

 was certainly a spectacle in the highest degree 

 alarming to see an army, composed of valiant, 



disciplined, and veteran soldiers, completely dis- 

 persed without fighting. 



" Ever since the opening of the campaign, as I 

 had been perfectly confident of success, all my 

 movements had for their object to render the 

 victory complete and decisive. The enemy, in 

 fact, from the moment he abandoned Curico, 

 never occupied a position in which our troops 

 did not harass and threaten to turn their flanks. 

 Thus circumstanced, both armies encamped at 

 the same moment in the neighbourhood of Talca, 

 and in such a position that it was impossible to 

 recross the river Maule. 



" Our situation was the most unfortunate pos- 

 sible, and was rendered disastrous by the most 

 unlooked-for incidents. Our infantry did not 

 reach their position till sunset ; and as I found 

 it impossible to commence the attack at that 

 hour, the army was formed for the time in two 

 lines, while a reconnoissance was made in order 

 to ascertain which was the most advantageous 

 ground to take up. On further examination, I 

 decided upon occupying a position on the left, 

 and directed that wing of the army to move upon 

 it ; but the troops were scarcely in motion when 

 a vigorous attack was made by the enemy, the 

 effect of which was to throw the baggage and 

 artillery into confusion. This was about nine 

 o'clock in the evening, and the disorder soon 

 spread to the left wing of the army, which, after 

 a brisk fire of half an hour, was dispersed like- 

 wise. The enemy, however, lost many men ; and 

 on our side we had to lament that the gallant 

 General O'Higgins was wounded. 



" Aided by the officers, I did everything in my 

 power to rally the troops on a neighbouring high 

 ground, and this was presently accomplished 

 under the protection of the corps de reserve. 

 An obstinate contest now took place ; but our 

 people became stupified and confused in the 

 darkness, and there was nothing for it but to 

 abandon the post. 



" The right, meanwhile, had not been nearly 

 so severely pressed, and Colonel Las Heras had 

 the address to retire with the infantry and cavalry 

 under his orders. This was the only point we 

 had to trust to when I reached Chimbarongo. I 

 immediately took steps to establish a communica- 

 tion with our scattered forces, especially in the 

 narrow pass or gorge of Regulemu. The head- 

 quarters were at San Fernando. Here we con- 

 tinued for two days ; and I can assure your 

 Excellency our situation was embarrassing 

 enough. All the baggage, and the whole of the 

 materiel of the army, was gone ; everything had 

 been taken from us ; and we were left absolutely 

 without the power of facing such a superior force, 

 flushed as they were with victory. In this pre- 

 dicament, there was no alternative left but to fall 

 back with all speed upon Santiago, and to put 

 every possible means in requisition to obtain 

 supplies, which might enable me to save the 

 country. 



" Your Excellency will scarcely believe it pos- 

 sible, that, at the end of three days, the army was 

 once more organized and encamped on the exer- 

 cising ground, at a league's distance from this 

 city. Their spirits were completely revived ; and 

 within thirteen days of their dispersion, and after 

 a retreat of eighty leagues, were again in condi- 



