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laid before the public, in the report of General Whitelocke's trial, 

 and I beheve the evidence recorded in that statement will bear me 

 out in saying, that these difficulties were in great part attributable to 

 the glaring omission above-stated. Previous to our advance to Quil- 

 mes, a place four leagues distant from Buenos Ayres, the com- 

 missary-general requested me to undertake the management of the 

 few Peons we had, in order to procure provisions for the troops. In 

 this service I found myself of some use, though no exertion could 

 repair the neglect which was observable in a department so essential 

 to the army. The enemy drove the cattle away wherever they 

 could, and our Peons found the duty extremely harrassing and pe- 

 rilous, for they were frequently chased by the Spaniards and driven 

 within our marching columns. A small detachment of riflemen was 

 sent out to cover their excursions, and the service was afterwards 

 more effectually performed. On our arrival at Quilmes, after many 

 disagreeable encounters, the soldiers were excessively fatigued ; up-* 

 wards of two hundred of them could march no farther. The centre 

 division, commanded by General Whitelocke, quitted this place 

 without any p erson conversant with the country to act as guide, 

 and on halting, after a march of four or five hours, they found that> 

 instead of having followed the route of the advanced division, under 

 General Crawfurd, they had taken a circuit to the left, and were 

 almost as far from Buenos Ayres as when they set out. X ac- 

 cidentally met the General while I was riding about giving directions 

 to the Peons ; and on speaking with him he expressed great irrita- 

 tion and disappointment at the situation in which he found himself. 

 The next morning the division advanced, and crossing the Ria- 

 chuelo, joined that of General Crawfurd, about four in the after- 

 noon, when we were informed of the skirmish that had taken place, 

 and of the cannon that had fallen into our hands. 



It is by no means improbable that the fate of the expedition 

 was decided by the delay which took place in the junction of the 

 centre with the advanced division ; for, had they joined the day 



