412 SPANISH AMERICA. 



night of the 12th of April, sent out a de- 

 tachment for the purpose of surprising 

 their encampment at Yerbas-buenas. This 

 scheme partly succeeded, the royalists 

 having greatly suffered ; but the patriot 

 detachment also sustained a heavy loss. 

 Pareja, however, was deterred from con- 

 tinuing the campaign, and retired to, and 

 fortified himself in Chilian ; whilst the 

 patriots recovered possession of Talcahuana 

 and of Concepcion. The royalist troops 

 remained nearly a year at Chilian, without 

 any engagement of importance taking place; 

 and, in consequence of the death of Pareja, 

 Gainza was appointed to succeed him, who 

 took the command, bringing also reinforce- 

 ments from Lima. 



J. M. Carrera had, in the mean time, 

 become very unpopular, in consequence of 

 his despotism, and his unskilfulness as a 

 general ; and O'Higgins was appointed to 

 succeed him, with M'Kenna for his second 



