235 



îiifantry and four hundred horse, whom he sent out 

 ill several divisions to ravage the country in the vi- 

 cinity, leaving only two hundred to guard the nar- 

 row pass of the Congrejeras. Rebolledo, the com- 

 mander of the place, provoked at his temerity, dis- 

 patched seventy horse to take possession of the^bove 

 mentioned defile and cut off his retreat, but they 

 were received with such bravery by the troops of 

 Lientur, that they were compelled to retire for secu- 

 rity to a hill, after having lost eighteen of their num- 

 ber, with their captain. Rebolledo sent to their as- 

 sistance three companies of infantry, and the re- 

 mainder of the cavalry. Lientur, who by this tirce 

 had arrived with all his army, immediately formed 

 his troops in battle array, fell upon the Spaniards, 

 notwithstanding the continual fire of their musketry, 

 and at the first encounter put the cavalry to flight. 

 The infantry, being thus left exposed, were almost 

 all cut in pieces ; but thirty-six prisoners were ta- 

 ken by the victors, who were distributed in thtï 

 several provinces of the country. 



Had Lientur at that time invested the place, it 

 must inevitably have fallen into his hands ; but, for 

 some reason which does not appear, he deferred the 

 siege until the following year, when his attempts to 

 take it were rendered ineffectual by the valiant de- 

 fence of Ximenes, the commander. This failure 

 was, however, recompensed by the capture of Ne- 

 culguenu, the garrison of . which he put to the sword, 

 and made prisoners of all the auxiliaries who dwelt 

 in the neighbourhood. These successes were fol- 

 lowed by many others equally favourable, whence. 



