SECOND RIFLE BATTALION. 473 



peared more like a field hospital than a bat- 

 talion fit for duty in front of an enemy, and 

 served only as a laughing stock and ridicule 

 for the other troops, who were inured to the 

 climate and bad fare. Three or four months 

 were spent in this disagreeable mode of 

 campaigning ; when the British began to 

 think that their companions were all cow- 

 ards, and sought any thing rather than to 

 meet the enemy, of which themselves were 

 so desirous, ardently wishing for an oppor- 

 tunity either to die gloriously, and end their 

 present sufferings, or change their condition 

 by beating their adversaries, and possessing 

 themselves of their resources. However, 

 they were soon undeceived as to the cou- 

 rage of the patriots, by one of those mas- 

 terly achievements, for which General Paez 

 has made himself so celebrated. Finding that 

 his troops, like the British, were getting 

 dissatisfied with this mode of warfare, which 

 the Supreme Chief through necessity had 



