500 



APPENDIX. 



pletely effected on the 6th instant, under fire from all the 

 guns of the citadel. At the same time a cannonade, from 

 the left of "Los Cocos," battered in breach at half musquet- 

 shot distance the parapet which guarded and defended the 

 entrance to the moat-house. The enemy in consequence de» 

 sisted from their operations on the left, and directed their 

 attention to the outer line. His Excellency, who had well 

 considered all the evil consequences that might result from a 

 protracted siege, which, notwithstanding the bravery and 

 honour of the besiegers, promised only a remote hope, owing 

 to the obstinacy of the besieged, put in execution a plan 

 which he had often conceived, and whose realization had 

 been hitherto prevented from want of means. An assault 

 might decide the fate of a place possessing provisions for 

 three months. Not having small vessels for this under- 

 taking, it became necessary to accomplish it by fording the 

 lake, and on the 5th instant he despatched a reconnoitring 

 party, with the captain of cavalry, Marcelo Gomez ; lieute- 

 nants of the battalion of Auzoategui, Juan Albornoz and Jose 

 Hernandez ; with Julian Istucta as a guide. 



This having been satisfactorily accomplished, his Excel- 

 lency appointed four hundred men of the brave battalion of 

 Auzoategui and one hundred lancers of the regiment of ho- 

 nour, both under the command of Major Manuel Cala of 

 the former regiment, with Lieutenant-Colonel Jose Andres 

 Elorza as second in command, to advance through the lake 

 at 10 o'clock, under cover of a dark night, as far as the cus- 

 tom-house. On this occasion our troops proved their dis- 

 ciphne more than ever, since in an advance through mud and 

 water of more than eight squares (quadras) in extent, where 

 the soldiers could hardly keep their footing, not the slightest 

 noise was heard on the march, nor the least separation in a 

 column of five hundred men marching in line. No one w^ho 



