486 SPANISH AMERICA. 



ceeded in the command by Major Mackin- 

 tosh. They drove the enemy from his po- 

 sition, but falling short of ammunition, and 

 the enemy being reinforced by another bat- 

 talion, the British, having made repeated at- 

 tempts to use the bayonet, but unavailing on 

 account of the trees, brushvs^ood, and rocks, 

 were obliged to retire, in order to furnish 

 themselves with ammunition. By this time 

 the enemy, although he had succeeded at 

 first in beating back the infantry of the cen- 

 tre, was himself repulsed with considerable 

 loss, by the small body of mounted cavalry, 

 under Colonel Rondon, which made a most 

 gallant charge, and re-established this part 

 of the line. Meanwhile, the two battalions 

 of the enemy on the heights had nearly 

 succeeded in surrounding, and cutting off 

 the communication of the patriots with their 

 rear; when the British, supported by the 

 bravoes of Paez, once more advanced up 

 the hill, and forced the enemy entirely off 



