HORRORS OF WAR. 



447 



the country generally all the effect of de- 

 feats. 



Between the troops of Buenos-Ayres, and 

 those of Santa F^, several actions were 

 fought, in which the former had chiefly the 

 advantage ; the latter, under the command 

 of Lopez, having received reinforcements, 

 made an attack upon the town of San Nicho- 

 las, but which proved unsuccessful. A con- 

 siderable body of Indians, who had been 

 engaged by the authorities of Santa F6, as 

 auxiliaries, now deserted from the army, 

 and returning to Santa F6, which had been 

 left unprotected, they committed the most 

 dreadful outrages, plundering the inhabit- 

 ants, and burning and destroying many of 

 their houses. In the province, and even in 

 the city of Buenos-Ayres, dissensions also 

 raged with the most bitter animosity ; seve- 

 ral battles being fought between the con- 

 tending parties at the expense of many lives 



