 Chapter 42 of the Emancipation of South America, by Bartolome Mitre, translated by William Pilling. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Piotr Natter, the reorganization of Venezuela, 1817-1819. The Home Government, on hearing of the Third Insurrection on the Island of Marcharita, sent a reinforcement of 2,800 men under the command of General Cantarac. Morillo, on his way to that island with his 3,000 men, met Cantarac at Barcelona, and embarking his troops in 20 vessels, sailed with him for Marcharita. Brion had left the island with his flotilla for the Orinoco, Alice Mendy was also absent, and General Gomez, who had been left in command, had but 1,100 infantry, badly equipped, 200 cavalry and some few artillerymen. On the 15th of July, the troops affected a landing under the protection of the guns of the squadron. Cantarac had thought that the mere sight of his fresh troops would suffice to disperse the insurgents, but his division suffered a heavy loss ere they could make good footing on the island. Morillo's first step was to publish a proclamation in which he offered pardon to all insurgents who would lay down their arms, but threatened all who should resist with extermination. Gomez rejected the offer of pardon and made every preparation for a stubborn resistance, strengthening the fortified positions and piling up heaps of stones on the heights for want of better ammunition. The castles of Porlamar and Pampatar were evacuated by the Patriots after a slight resistance, but they spiked the guns and concentrated their forces in the city of Assuncion. Morillo marched inland to cut them off from the north of the island and was met on the 31st of July by a body of 500 Patriots who had entrenched themselves on very broken ground covered with brashwood at a place called Matasiete. It took Morillo eight hours of hard fighting to drive them from that position, but his losses were so heavy that he was forced to return the next day to Pampatar. He then occupied the town of San Juan, which is situate in a break in the range of hills which divides the island, and so cut off the communications of the main body of the Patriots with the port of Juan Griego, where their flotilla was stationed. On the 8th of August, the fort which protected the town was taken by assault after a desperate assistance. The garrison of this fort only consisted originally of 200 men, the survivors of whom fled to a lake nearby and refusing to surrender were massacred, Morillo killing 18 of them with his own hand. The scene of this butchery is known to this day as the Lake of the Martyrs. Had Morillo persevered there is no doubt that he would have conquered the whole island, but adverse intelligence recalled him to the mainland. After losing 1000 men he embarked the rest and on the 20th of August 1817 established his headquarters at Caracas. Morillo now adopted a more humane policy. He published a general amnesty, abolished the military tribunals and re-established the Audiencia and the civil courts. The aspect of the war had changed greatly in his absence. Paeth had invaded Barinas, taken the capital of that province and had routed a strong royalist division at San Carlos, sucking the town and shooting all his European prisoners. But the planes were now covered with water, so nothing could be done against him. Bolivar had possession of the line of the Orinoco. Sarathas Gerias, strengthened by an infantry corps, protected the right flank of Paeth. Monagas occupied the plains of Barcelona and the province of Cumana was held by Bermudez. Canterac was sent off to Peru with his sorely diminished division. The garrison of Caracas and the division of La Torre held the line of the coast. Aldama, with another division, covered the line of the lower Apure and protected San Fernando and Calzada with a light infantry division disputed with Paeth the possession of the province of Barinas. The peninsula of Paria and the cities of Cumana and Barcelona were held by 800 men, and the rest of the royalist forces were distributed in various forts along the coast. Neither party had any plan of operations, both were waiting to see what the other would do. Bolivar was at this time the once conspicuous figure in America. He received a dispatch from the director of the United Provinces of La Plata congratulating him upon his success and prophesizing the speedy union of their arms in the same cause. Bolivar replied by an address to the Argentine people, quote, the Republic of Venezuela, though plunged in mourning, offers you brotherhood. When covered in laurels, she has crushed the tyrants who profane her soil, then she will invite your concurrence that our emblem be the Union of South America, end quote. As steps towards constitutional government by the installation of a Congress, Bolivar established a High Court of Justice, and on the 30th of October presided at the opening of a Council of State to which he entrusted the management of civil affairs in his absence hoping to strengthen his authority by, quote, the first of all forces, the public opinion, end quote. Bolivar then ascended the Orinoco with 1500 well-equipped troops and crossed to the left bank at about 100 miles from Angostura. His intention was to join Saratha, who had 2500 men, and with his aid to crush Morillo and retake Caracas. At the same time he wrote to Paeth to cooperate in the scheme by advancing from Barinas, but on the 2nd of December Saratha allowed himself to be surprised and completely routed by La Torre and Ogatha. The Patriots suffered a loss of 1200 killed, with three guns and older flags, while the royalists had only 200 killed and wounded, among the latter being La Torre himself. Bolivar was forced to recross the Orinoco and return to Angostura. Then, with some reinforcements, he again ascended the river to join Paeth, who on the advance of Morillo and La Torre had prudently retired to Calabotho. The two commanders, having united their forces, marched with 2000 infantry and 2000 cavalry on San Fernando. On reaching the river Apure, Bolivar looked in vain for the boats which Paeth had promised to provide, while on the opposite side were a number of canoes under guard of a royalist gunboat and three armed flecheras. Bolivar was dressed in a green spencer, with red facings and three rows of buttons. On his head was a dragon's helmet, which had been sent him as a sample. He wore the anaerogators and carried in his hand a short lance, with a black pen on adorned with a skull and crossbones, under which might be read the inscription Liberty or Death. Where are your boats? asked Bolivar of Paeth. There they are, said Paeth, pointing to the enemy's boats. How shall we take them? With cavalry, answered Paeth. And where are these horse-marines? asked Bolivar. Paeth turned to his guard of honor and, picking out fifty men under Colonel Aramendi, he put himself at their head shouting, into the water, boys, follow your uncle. Then, putting spares to his horse, he plunged into the river, followed by his men, lance in hand, and yelling to frighten off the alligators, which swarmed around them. The armed boats opened fire upon them, but without effect. The terrified crews jumped overboard, and fourteen boats were captured. If I had not seen it, I never would have believed it possible, said Bolivar. Bolivar simply established a blockade of San Fernando, and marched without loss of time against Morio, who had assembled sixteen hundred infantry and three hundred horsemen near to Calabotho. His movements were so rapid, that Morio was taken by surprise on the morning on the tenth of February, 1818, and was himself involved in the rout of his cavalry, and born from the field by the fugitives. One company of light infantry covered the retreats, and perished to the last man. Morio shut himself up in Calabotho, which was defended by four readouts, while Bolivar withdrew to rest his men. Morio, without cavalry, and without supplies, saw that resistance was hopeless. He buried his guns, and on the night of the 14th of February, marched off towards Sombrero on the river Guarico, taking his sick and wounded with him. At midday on the 15th, he was overtaken by Bolivar with his cavalry. The horsemen could make no impression on the solid columns of the Spanish infantry, but they delayed their march, and so gave time for the Patriot infantry to come up. During the night which followed, Morio continued his retreat, and the next day reached the wooden country about Sombrero. Here he took up a strong position on the river Guarico, where he repulsed several attacks of the Patriot infantry, and after nightfall, by a forced march, reached the valleys of Aragua. Bolivar, still with Caracas on the brain, retired to Calabotho, where he had a stormy conference with Paeth. The Llanero chieftain insisted that to attempt an offensive campaign, while the fortress of San Fernando was still held by the royalists, was to lose the command of the planes. Bolivar led Paeth depart with his division, but marched himself with 1000 raw infantry and 1200 horse for the valleys of Aragua, where he greatly increased his force by recruits. At Victoria he established a reserve under Urdaneta, and detached his cavalry and 200 infantry to occupy the pass at Cabrera. Morio, who had concentrated his forces at Valencia, surprised Saratha at Cabrera, routed Panagas at Maracay, on the road to Caracas, and advanced upon Victoria. Bolivar was compelled to make a hasty retreat. He halted at La Puerta, for him a most ominous position, and was there attacked on the morning of the 16th of March by the royalist vanguard under Morales. He succeeded in repulsing this attack, but Morio in person led up the main body, and though himself wounded, very quickly drove the Patriots from the field, with the loss of 400 killed and 600 wounded. Bolivar lost in this battle even his private papers, and seemed to have lost his head also. He exposed himself in the most reckless manner, wherever the fight was hottest, seeming to court death as some expiation of the errors he had committed. Fortunately for him, on the 6th of March Paeth had captured San Fernando with 20 guns, 18 armed vessels and 73 flecheras, and now came to his assistance, as did also Thedeno with his guerrillas. La Torre, who had taken command of the royalists, found another army in front of him when he advanced to Calabotho. He retreated to the heights of Ortiz on the river Poga, which command the entrance to the valleys. Here he was attacked by Bolivar and Paeth with 800 infantry and 2000 horse. The strength of his position enabled him to repulse several assaults, after which he prudently retreated to Cura, and later on to San Carlos. Bolivar then detached Paeth against San Carlos, and marched with the bulk of his force further to the west, always aiming at Caracas. Paeth was met at Cajeres by La Torre with a very superior force. Carried away by his impetuousity, he charged at the head of one squadron, and bore down all before him, but found on his return to the field that his army had disappeared. Overwhelmed by numbers, the infantry had been cut to pieces, the cavalry had fled. Paeth returned to San Fernando with less than half the force with which he had commenced the campaign. Still worse fortune befell Bolivar, he abandoned the plains and advanced into a country swarming with detached parties of royalists. He, with his staff, were attacked at night as they slept in hammocks in a wood. He drew off his green spencer and brass helmet and escaped on foot, but wandered about all alone till next day, when he fell in with his dispersed troops, flying from their encampment, where they had been surprised and ultimately rejoined Paeth at San Fernando. Bolivar, downcast and sick, but not disheartened, immediately set to work to raise fresh troops, and sent Zedenia with 1,300 men to re-occupy the plains of Calabotho. Zedenia was cut to pieces by Morales, who then advanced towards the Apura, but was there totally routed by Paeth on the 28th of May, 1818. Then came on the rainy season, and both parties were forced to remain in quarters. The Patriot army no longer existed, all the infantry had disappeared, the arms were ruined, and the ammunition was exhausted. The liberator had lost both his credit as a general and his civil authority, all threw upon him to blame for the ill success of the Patriot arms, and time, which has enhanced his glory, confirms in this instance the judgment of his contemporaries. But there was yet the nucleus of an army on the Apura, and Guayana was still secure. The possession of the royalists was not much better. Morillo had 12,000 men scattered about in the touchments, but he had neither money, arms nor supplies, as he himself reported to the viceroy of Peru, quote, 12 pitched battles in which the best officers and troops of the enemy have fallen have not lowered their pride or lessened the vigor of their attacks upon us, end quote. The Spanish squadron Lea Idol at Puerto Cabello, while Argentine and Venezuelan privateers scoured the Caribbean Sea with the ports of Marquerita as their headquarters. In the East the Patriot arms had been equally unfortunate. Marinho, recalled by his partisans and supported by Gomez, governor of Marquerita, had again established himself at Cumaná and openly renounced all allegiance to the liberator. Bermudez, who remained faithful, was routed and driven across the Orinoco with the loss of his artillery. Monagas was isolated on the plains of Barcelona. Bolivar returned to Angostura, leaving Paeth in command of the army of the Apure, and with indomitable energy set to work to create a new army. He raised recruits in the missions of Coroni. He reorganized the divisions of Sarasa and Monagas, while Bermudez recruited his forces in Guayana. Brion brought him 5000 masquettes and a large supply of military stores from the West India Islands. He also affected a reconciliation with Marinho and made him general of the army of Cumaná. The army of the Apure, at the instigation of Colonel Wilson, an Englishman who had joined it with a contingent of volunteers, proclaimed Paeth general-in-chief. This appointment was confirmed by Lilianeros, who adored him, but Paeth, taking no notice of this, assisted the liberator in every way he could. Bolivar then sent general Santander with 1200 masquettes and a group of officers to raise a new army in the province of Casanare from the parties of patriots scattered on the plains, with orders to threaten the frontier of New Granada, which step had very important results. Santander was a native of New Granada. He had served through all the campaigns of the revolution and was a well-educated man of great intelligence. Bolivar also issued a prophetic proclamation to the people of New Granada, quote, the day of America has come. No human power can stay the course of nature guided by Providence. Before the sun has again run its annual course, altars to liberty will rise throughout your land, end quote. Bolivar's next step was to reassent the Orinoco with twenty vessels and some infantry to reinforce the army of the Apure. He had a friendly interview with Paeth, and leaving him in command returned to Angostura to attend to the claims of civil governments. The country was not satisfied with the arbitrary government of one man and demanded some sort of popular representation. Bolivar calmly reviewed the situation and acquiesced. He reorganized the Council of State, which had fallen to pieces in his absence, and charged it with a convention of a constituent congress. An electoral scheme was drawn up on the basis of joining Venezuela and New Granada in one republic. And on the 22nd of October, 1818, Bolivar published this plan in a proclamation in which, as usual, he renounced all claim to the supreme power, but contradicted himself by saying, quote, the first day of peace will be the first day of my authority, end quote. The world was beginning now to turn its eyes to the great movement in Spanish America. The figure of Bolivar stood forth prominently. San Martin had fought and won the Battle of Maipo, and was preparing for the conquest of Peru. Ahiggins wrote from Chile to Bolivar, recognizing him as a champion in the cause of America, quote, the cause which Chile defends is the same in which Buenos Aires, New Granada, Mexico and Venezuela are engaged. It is that of the whole continent of America, end quote. Spain solicited the intervention of the European powers to bring about a reconciliation. Bolivar replied by a solemn declaration, quote, that the Republic of Venezuela, by right divine and human, is emancipated from the Spanish nation, that she neither had solicited nor would admit the mediation of the great powers, that she would only treat with Spain as with an equal, and that the people of Venezuela, in defense of their sovereign rights, were resolved to bury themselves under its ruins if Spain, Europe and all the world were to unite to keep them under Spanish domination, end quote. On the 15th of February, 1819, the Second Congress of Venezuela was solemnly installed at Angostura. Into its hands the dictator resigned his absolute power, and in a speech disclosed for the first time his plan of constitutional organization, the Union of Venezuela and New Granada in one nation. He spoke in favor of democratic government, and against the system of federation, as organically weak. At the same time he showed that no democracy had ever had the stability of monarchies and aristocracies, and held up the constitution of England as a model, at once republican and conservative. He proposed an hereditary senate as the base of the constitutional edifice. In regard to the executive, the idea of a life president, which he had learned from his master, Simon Rodriguez, was in his head, but he dared not as he had proposed it. It would not have met with any support, quote. The executive power in a republic must be strong for all conspire against it. In a monarchy, the power should rest in the legislature for all conspire in favor of the monarch, end quote. On the 10th of February, 1819, Congress unanimously elected him president, and from that day he always respected the liberty and opinions of that body. Although he still remained de facto dictator, he appealed to them in every emergency. When he abandoned Congress, he fell. Congress established a life senate in place of the hereditary senate proposed by Bolivar, and adopted a centralized form of government. Fixed the presidential term at four years, the president being eligible for re-election once, but not oftener, and arranged the other public offices on the republican system. This constitution had yet to be submitted to the vote of the people. This was at present impossible, and it never was actually adopted. The framework alone being established. By decree, unlimited powers were granted to the president in all provinces, which were the theater of war, and it was also decreed that the vice president should have no authority over the armies. This was in fact the creation of a military dictatorship. Bolivar delegated his power to Don Francisco Antonio Thea, with the title of vice president. Thea being a native of New Granada, this appointment formed a link between the sister colonies. Bolivar then took the field, followed by a battalion of 500 English, under command of Colonel Elson, which had been raised in England in the preceding year. Often have we made mention of European officers and men in the Patriot armies, more especially of Englishmen. Venezuela, in spite of the virile strength of her men, and of their heroic efforts during eight years of struggle against the discipline armies of Spain, was the only republic of South America to seek the help of foreign volunteers, and which had in her pay entire core of foreign soldiers commanded by their own officers. Bolivar was something of a cosmopolitan, and had none of the prejudices of his fellow countrymen against foreigners. More a soldier by instinct than by education, he knew that results are only to be obtained by method and discipline. He saw how San Martin, with an army well organized and well led, had triumphed over the best of Spanish troops, and understood that he himself needed a more solid nucleus for his armies than the light horsemen of the plains, and a better disciplined infantry to ensure success. Taught by this late disaster, which were all the result both of his own imprudence and of the lack of cohesion in his own troops, he was convinced that without a properly disciplined army, any advantage he might gain would be ephemeral, and that if he did eventually triumph, he would stand as a conqueror over ruins. Learning these lessons, he grew from a mere warrior to be a great captain, without the science and mathematical precision of San Martin, but with greater boldness, and with a heavier crop of laurels. In 1815 endeavours had been made to raise an auxiliary corps of Irish, but it was only in 1817 that a system of enlisting volunteers was instituted in England through the agency of Donduy's Lopez Mendez, who was at that time the representative of Venezuela in London. Without this assistance and efficient cooperation, Bolivar averred that he would never have accomplished nothing in the famous campaign of 1819 for which he was now preparing. The soldiers received a bounty of 80 dollars on enlisting, were paid two shillings a day and rations, and were to receive at the conclusion of the war 500 dollars and an allotment of land. In the year 1817, various English and German officers made contracts with Mendez to take to Venezuela, organized corps of artillery, lancers, hussars and rifles. The first expedition to leave England consisted of 120 hussars and lancers and their Colonel Hipsley. Their brilliant uniforms gave them more the appearance of a theatrical troupe than a body of soldiers going on active service, nevertheless they became the basis of a corps of regular cavalry. Colonel Wilson and Colonel Skinan organized another corps of cavalry, but Skinan, with 300 men, suffered shipwreck on the coast of France. Campbell took out the nucleus of a battalion of riflemen, which afterwards did good service in Columbia, and a subaltern named Gilmore, with the title of Colonel, and with 90 men formed the basis of a brigade of artillery. Such enlistments were contrary to law in England, but in 1818 and 1819 the number of volunteers increased considerably. General English, who had gone through the peninsular war with Wellington, contracted for a division of 1200 English, which about that time reached the island of Margarita and subsequently became the celebrated Caravavo Battalion. The 500 men under Colonel Elson, who accompanied Bolivar to the Apure, were at first called the British Legion, but were afterwards named the Albion Battalion. Colonel Elson had also brought out 300 Germans under Colonel Uslar, who had been enlisted at Brussels, which corps was landed at Margarita. General MacGregor, of whom we already know something, brought a foreign legion of 800 men. Besides smaller contingents, General Devereux, who had initiated the idea, brought an Irish legion, in which a son of the great Irish tribune O'Connell was an officer. On hearing of the arrival of General English and others at Margarita, Bolivar sent Urdaneta there to organize them. Urdaneta found 1200 English and 300 Germans. These troops were destined for operations on the coast of Cumana and Caracas, but were at this time almost in open mutiny against their officers. They were brought to order by the exertions of Colonel Montia, who had become reconciled to Bolivar. He was the last of Bolivar's enemies to become reconciled, and from this time to the end stood faithfully by him. Montia had served in Spain and had travelled much in Europe. He spoke the languages of these foreigners and understood their customs. He was also energetic and possessed of some military skill. These acquirements gave him considerable influence over the auxiliaries, which he turned to good account. On the 30th of January 1819, Murillo paraded 6,500 men in 7 battalions and 16 squadrons, all perfectly equipped, and opened the campaign by advancing on San Fernando. Paeth burned that city on his approach and retired south of the Arauco with 4,000 men, among whom was a squadron of English dragoons. The royalists dragged canoes with them across the plains and on the 4th of February forced the passage of the river. Paeth then changed his tactics. He sent his infantry to the rear and remained himself facing the enemy, with 1,500 men well mounted. Murillo saw small parties of the enemy who hovered on his flanks and rear, but who fled from him over the vast plain whenever they were attacked. He detached Morales with 3,000 men to reconnoiter and to drive in cattle. On the 14th of February, one of his squadrons was so occupied, when Paeth suddenly rushed upon it with 1,200 men, chased the fugitives to the encampment, charged the reserve, and then retired at full speed. After nightfall, he again appeared in the rear. Murillo wearied out his troops in ineffectual pursuit, till after 9 days of marchings to and fro upon the immense plain he retreated to the Apure. He then threw up fresh entrenchments at San Fernando and making that place his headquarters detached division to occupy Barinas, Calabotho and Sombrero. At this juncture Bolivar arrived and at once assumed the offensive, but had the worst of it in two small affairs and prudently withdrew beyond the Arauco. Again Murillo advanced. On the 3rd of April Paeth, with 150 picked horsemen, swam the river and galloped towards the camp. 800 of the royalist cavalry, with two small guns, solid out to meet him. He slowly retreated, drawing them on to a place called Las Queceras del Merio, where a battalion of infantry lay in ambush by the river. Then, splitting his men into groups of 20, he charged the enemy on all sides, forcing them under the fire of the infantry and recrusted the river with two killed and a few wounded, leaving the plain strewn with the dead of the enemy. Murillo again retreated, and the rains put an end to further operations. Note. In January 1891 a number of Venezuelans presented the city of New York with a painting commemorative of this deed of arms, in token of their gratitude for honors paid to the memory of their hero who died in exile in that city. The painting is thus described in the Tribune. The canvas is 9.5 by 15.5 feet in size and was brought to this country mounted and handsomely framed. It represents the famous cavalry manoeuvre of General Paeth at the Battle of Queceras del Merio. In this battle General Paeth took 119 men about half his force and started to meet the Spanish cavalry. As the latter advanced, Paeth turned his men in full retreat towards a thicket where he had concealed the rest of his force. At the ambush gate Paeth suddenly turned and charged the Spaniards who fled in terror. The artist had pictured the scene at this moment. The general is mounted on a superb horse which he has pulled sharply back on its haunches as he gives the order, Vuelvancara face about. On one side are his troops, rough looking fellows, carrying long handled spears. Their clothing, saddles, trappings and equipment are all characteristic of their country. In the distance the Spanish cavalry are seen charging in ignorance of the trap into which they are about to fall. The Venezuelan artist, Michelena, who received his education in Paris, has found abundant room for vivid coloring in the tropical landscape and sky and the gaudy garments of his figures. End of note. Bolivar, ever impatient of inactivity, heard at this time that Santander had raised 1200 infantry and 600 horse in Casanare and had driven back a royalist army of 2300 men under Colmel Barrero who had marched against him from New Granada. This gave him an idea. He resolved to cross the Cordillera and save Venezuela by reconquering New Granada. He summoned the Council of War and the idea was received with enthusiasm by his officers. It was decided that Paeth, with a part of the army, should attract the attention of Murillo and of the army of New Granada upon the plains of Barinas. That Urdaneta and Montilla should embark the auxiliaries on the vessels of Brion's squadron and should make a descent on the coast of Caracas, menacing the rear of the royalist army. While he, with the rest of the army of the Apure, and with the forces of Santander, should cross the Cordillera and capture the capital of New Granada. This was the greatest stroke of strategy that had emanated from the fertile genius of Bolivar. It changed the whole aspect of affairs and had a similar effect to the passage of the Andes by San Martín. End of chapter 42. Chapter 33 of the Emancipation of South America by Bartolome Mitre, translated by William Pilling. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Piotr Natter, Boyaca, Columbia, Caravovo, 1819 to 1822. In order to join Santander in Casanare, Bolivar had to cross an immense plain, covered at this season with water, and had to swim seven deep rivers, taking his war material with him. Then lay before him the most difficult part of his enterprise, the passage of the snow-covered Cordillera in the depths of winter. All this he accomplished. He joined Santander at the foot of the Andes at the sources of the river Casanare on the 11th of June, 1819. His army now comprised four battalions of infantry, one of which, the Albion, was composed entirely of English. Two squadrons of Lancers and one of Carabiners, with a regiment called the Guides of Apure, part of which was English also. 2,500 men, all well armed but nearly naked. Santander led the van with the Casanare division, and entered the mountain defiles by a road which leads to the center of the province of Tunja. This point was held by Colonel Barrero, with 2,000 infantry and 400 horse, with advanced posts on the Cordillera. A reserve of 1,000 men was stationed at Bohota, at Cartagena, and in the valley of Cauca. A reserve of 1,000 men was stationed at Bohota. At Cartagena and in the valley of Cauca were other detachments, and there was still another royalist army at Quito. Polivar, who had fewer men, trusted much to the effect of surprise, and counted upon the support of the inhabitants. As the invading army left the plains for the mountains, the scene changed. The snowy peaks of the eastern range of the Cordillera appeared in the distance, while instead of the peaceful lake through which they had waded, they were met by great masses of water, tumbling from the heights. The roads ran along the edges of precipices, and were bordered by gigantic trees, upon whose tops rested the clouds, which dissolved themselves in incestant rain. After four days' march, the horses were foundered, and entire squadron of Llaneros deserted on finding themselves on foot. The torrents were crossed on narrow, trembling bridges, formed of trunks of trees, or by means of the aerial taravitas. Where they were fordable, the current was so strong that the infantry had to pass two by two, with their arms thrown round each other's shoulders, and who to him who lost his footing, he lost his life too. Bolivar frequently passed and repast these torrents on horseback, carrying behind him the sick and weakly, or the women who accompanied his men. The temperature was moist and warm, life was supportable by the aid of a little firewood, but as they ascended the mountain the scene changed again. Immense rocks piled one upon another, and hills of snow bounded the view on every side. Below lay the clouds, veiling the depths of the abyss. An ice-cold wind cut through the stoutest clothing. At these heights no other noise is heard than that of the roaring torrents left behind, and the scream of the condor circling round the snowy peaks above. Vegetation disappears, only lichens are to be seen clinging to the rocks, and a tall plant bearing plumes instead of leaves, and crowned with yellow flowers, like to a funeral torch. To make the scene more dreary yet, the path was marked out by crosses erected in memory of travelers who had perished by the way. On entering this glacial region, the provisions gave out, the cattle they had brought with them as their chief resource could go no further. They reached the summit by the Payapas, where a battalion could hold an entire army in check. It was held by an outpost of 300 men who were dislodged by the vanguard under Santander without much difficulty. Now the men began to murmur, and Bolivar called a council of war, to which he showed that still greater difficulties yet lay before them, and asked if they would persevere or not. All were of the opinion that they should go on, a decision which infused fresh spirit into the weary troops. In this passage more than a hundred men died of cold, fifty of whom were English, no horse had survived. It was necessary to leave despair arms, and even some of those that were carried by the soldiers. It was a mere skeleton of an army which reached the beautiful valley of Sagamoso in the heart of the province of Tunja on the 6th of July, 1819. From this point Bolivar sent back assistance to the stragglers left behind, collected horses, detached parties to scour the country around, and communicated with some fuguerillas who still roamed around. The enemy, knowing nothing of his numbers, took up strong positions and remained on the defensive. But Bolivar could not remain long inactive. Barreiro occupied a position which commanded the main road to Bohota. It was necessary to attack him before he could receive reinforcements from that city or from Murillo. No sooner had he his army once more in hand, than by a skillful flank movement Bolivar established himself on Barreiro's rear, in a country abounding in resources. The royalists were forced to evacuate their entrenchments and a hard thought but indecisive action took place in the swamps of Vargas on the 25th of July, after which Bolivar recrossed the Sagamoso river and forced Barreiro to again change his position. Then, deceiving him by a retreat in the daytime, he rapidly counter- marched by night and on the 5th of August captured the city of Tumha, where he found good store of arms and war material and placed himself between Barreiro's force and the army of Bohota. Barreiro, finding his communications cut, marched resolutely on the capital but it was too late. Bolivar had command of all the roads and seeing that the royalists were advancing by the shortest route, which crossed the small river Boyacá by a bridge, he posted his army on the right bank and waited for them. The battle on the 7th of August commenced upon the bridge itself, where the Spanish skirmishers were driven back. Barreiro then formed his infantry in columns, with cavalry on the flanks, throwing out a battalion of light infantry on the right, whose fire might infulate the attacking column of the patriots. The Patriot center and right wing drove in an advanced party of royalist infantry and crossing a shallow stream through themselves upon the left flank of the royalist army, while the left wing and the cavalry attacked in front. The royalist cavalry fled, the infantry retreated to a fresh position, but on a second attack threw down their arms. The vanguard, under Santander, accounted for all who were not with the main body. The victory was complete. Antoine Tegui, who led the infantry of the right and center, and Trondon, who led the final charge of the Llanero horse, were the heroes of the day. The English auxiliaries were seen for the first time under fire and showed that British solidity for which they were always famous. The trophies of the victory were 1600 prisoners, including Barreiro himself, and 37 officers, 100 killed, and all the artillery and small arms. Boyaca is, after my paw, the great battle of South America. It gave the preponderance to the Patriot arms in the north of the continent, as my paw had done in the south. It gave new Granada to the Patriots and isolated Murillo in Venezuela. Borota was panic-stricken. Samano fled with 200 men to Cartagena, abandoning the archives and nearly a million dollars in the treasury. The rest of the garrison retreated under Colnel Calthada to the north. Bolivar, with a small escort, entered the capital in triumph on the 10th of August amid the shouts and blessing of the populace. This victory was not stained with blood. Bolivar was no longer the man of 1813 and 1814. He shot one only of the prisoners he took, the man who had headed the mutiny at Puerto Cabello in 1812. By incessant activity he soon became master of the whole country, which responded with enthusiasm to his call. He raised new battalions and organized a fresh army to make head against Murillo. Where Bolivar triumphed there could be no lack of honors. Washington and San Martin avoided ostentatious demonstrations of gratitude, but Bolivar delighted in them. The municipality of Borota gave him a cross of honor, a triumphal entry and a crown of laurel. A picture of liberty supported by Bolivar was set up in the council chamber and it was decreed that the anniversary of the great battle should be celebrated forever. The crown of laurel sat well upon his head. Upon that of Washington it would have been a caricature. But great as was Bolivar's vanity there was room also in his head for great ideas. Making use of the ample powers conferred upon him by the Congress of Venezuela he founded the Republic of Columbia, which was the dream of his life, and named Santander vice president of New Granada. During a temporary absence of Bolivar Santander shot the 38 royalist officers who were taken prisoners at Boyacá with Barrero at their head and finished off the Hecatom with a countryman who had protested against it on seeing the bloodstained benches. Santander justified his cruelty by saying that it was done in retaliation of similar barbarities committed by Barrero, but some said it was done in revenge for the death of his mother, occasioned by deprivations she had suffered while hiding herself from the persecutions of Samano. Bolivar returned to Angostura on the 11th of December and found that affairs had greatly changed there during his absence. Thea had been deposed by a revolution and Alismendi was now vice president. Marinho was general-in-chief and he himself was branded as a deserter for having undertaken the reconquest of New Granada without authority from Congress. The news of Boyacá had fallen as a thunderbolt among the disaffected and his return quelled them utterly. He acted with great magnanimity, pardoned everything, resumed his authority and announced to Congress the union of Venezuela and New Granada calling upon it to give legal consistency to an accomplished fact. Congress, enlarged by the addition of five new Granadian deputies from the province of Casanare, decreed the establishment of the Republic of Columbia in three great departments, Venezuela, Quito and Cundinamarca, each ruled by a vice president. A new city, which should be called Bolivar, was to be the capital. The tricolored flag raised by Miranda in 1806 was to be the flag of the new nation. A constituent Congress was convened to assemble at Quito on the frontier of Venezuela. Bolivar was named provisional president of Columbia, Santander vice president of Cundinamarca and Rocio vice president of Venezuela. The day of the installation of the Republic was fixed for the 25th of December. This great political business being settled, war again called for the attention of the liberator. The Spanish armies in the north and west of Venezuela and in Quito and Cartagena amounted altogether to nearly 20,000 men and reinforcements were expected from Spain. The new republic was still beset by dangers, while the strength of the country was well-nigh exhausted. Urdaneta and Montia had been unfortunate in their expedition. Urdaneta captured Barcelona on the 17th of July, but being there attacked by very superior forces was compelled to re-embark his men and retired to Paria, where with some reinforcements he made an attack on Cumaná on the 5th of August, but was beaten off and withdrew to Maturín with a greatly diminished force. McGregor took Portobeo on the 10th of April, but was soon after driven out again with heavy loss. On the 5th of October he took Rio Acha, but the conduct of his troops was so bad that the citizens rose in arms against them and forced him to re-embark. Happily at this time the 1st division of the Irish Legion, 1200 strong, reached the island of Margarita. Bolivar placed them under the command of Montia, with orders to threaten Cartagena and cooperate with the army of New Granada on the lower Magdalena, while the army of the Apure advanced from the plains of Caracas upon the capital. Paeth had invaded Balinas with cavalry, but was soon forced to retire, after which the earth captured 10 armed flecheras on the Apure River, and on the 30th of September the Patriots retook San Fernando, which gave them complete command of the Orinoco. Morillo, thunderstruck by the invasion of New Granada, remained inactive at Calabotho, and simply detached La Torre with 1000 men to the valley of Cucuta, whence he was driven back by the division under Soublette, which crossed the hills against him from Pamplona. Soublette then joined Paeth on the plains in his advance upon Caracas. Bolivar reinforced them with two battalions of infantry, one of which was English, and sent a strong column of Venezuelan troops, under Col Nelvaltes, to the south of New Granada, in order to act against Quito. Morillo, uncertain what to do, confined his attention to securing his base of operations in the western provinces of Venezuela. Happily for America, and for Spain also, the reinforcements expected from Europe never arrived. They could but have prolonged the struggle. The revolution of 1820 prevented them from leaving the mother country. The new policy of Spain was felt as much in the north as in the south of the continent. At the same time that San Martin broke up the Armistice of Miraflores, Bolivar signed one with Morillo at Trujillo, when negotiations for peace recommends that Punciauca hostilities were renewed in Venezuela. The armistice signed by Bolivar and Morillo on the 25th of November 1820 was of great service to the patriots, giving them much needed breathing time, in which the country recovered somewhat from the exhaustion produced by the long continuance of the struggle, and the institutions of the New Republic became to some degree consolidated. Now that the establishment of constitutional government in Spain gave hope of a possible reconciliation, commissioners were sent to the mother country to treat for peace, and Morillo, despairing of ultimate success, resigned his command and returned to Europe, leaving Clatorre as general-in-chief of the royalist armies. The armistice was badly observed by both parties, more especially so by the patriots, while it was still in force and while the commissioners from Colombia were at Madrid. On the 28th of January 1821 the province of Maracaibo declared itself independent and made overtures for a union with the Republic of Colombia. La Torre declared that he should look upon the occupation of this province by the patriots as an act of hostility. Bolivar acknowledged that such would be the case, but stated that the revolution itself was an accomplished fact, and as such he had a right to support it. The armistice was accordingly declared to be at an end on the 28th of April 1821. During this interval of repose the Patriot armies had been considerably strengthened, while the armistice still lasted. Montia had taken Rio Acha and Santa Marta and was now besieging Cartagena with 3000 men. Bolivar had 5000 men at Barinas and Paeth was in his rear with 4000 more. Bermudev with 2000 men threatened Caracas from the east, the army of New Granada held the valley of the Magdalena. La Torre had 9000 men besides the garrisons of the towns on the coast, but his communications were interrupted by the revolution in Maracaibo. Bermudev, after retaking Caracas and meeting with varied fortune in desultory skirmishes, was compelled to retire, but his cooperations were of great effect in occupying the attention of a considerable portion of the royalist army. Bolivar established his headquarters at San Carlos, where he was joined by Urdaneta's division and part of the cavalry of the army of the Apure, and then marched with 6000 men in search of the enemy. La Torre had 5000 men under his immediate orders, including a strong body of cavalry commanded by Morales, but uncertain of Bolivar's intentions he detached two battalions of infantry and one squadron of cavalry to reinforce a royalist division, which was stationed at Barquisimiento, thus materially weakening his force on the eve of a decisive action. The rest of his army he drew up on the white plain of Carabobo at the foot of the passes leading through the Cordillera. Bolivar, after surprising the principal pass on the 23rd of June, occupied the heights looking down upon the plains, he could only descend at the risk of having his troops cut up in detail before they could deploy on open ground. As Bolivar hesitated, a guide told him of another road which would lead him to the flank of the enemy. The next morning he detached Baeth with 1500 horse, the Apure Battalion and the British Legion to attack the right flank of the royalists, while he, with the bulk of the army, remained on the heights ready to descend by the main pass when the coast was clear. The exit from the smaller pass was through a belt of woods and across a stream commanded by a hillock which was occupied by a detachment of royalists. The Apure Battalion was in front, led by Baeth in person. La Torre, with three battalions and under cover of a heavy fire of artillery, attacked this battalion as it left the pass and threw it into disorder, but the British Legion, led by Colonel Ferriere, came quickly to its assistance, deployed in line and with the front rank kneeling, poured in so heavy a fire that the advance of the royalists was checked. The Apure rallied and the cavalry charged on the right flank. Ferriere, having burned all his cartridges, led on his men with the bayonet and drove the enemy before him, while the Llanero horse rode them down and their ranks were disordered by the flights of their own cavalry. One battalion stubbornly kept its formation and repulsed every charge made upon it during a retreat of 20 miles until it rejoined the rest of the routed army which took refuge in Puerto Cabello. Note, the following account of the Battle of Caravobo was written by an officer of the British Legion and was published in all year round. Quote, we halted at dusk on the 23rd at the foot of the ridge. The rain fell in Torren's all night and reminded us of the night before Waterloo. Next morning the sky was cloudless when we stood to arms and presently Bolivar sent us the order to advance. We were moving to get round the enemy's right flank, where his guns and infantry were partly hidden by trees and broken ground. Bolivar, after reconnoitering, ordered us to attack by a deep ravine between the Spanish infantry and artillery. The enemy's guns opened fire and our men began to fall. Meantime the bravos de apure had advanced within pistol shot of the Spaniards and received such a murderous volley from 3000 muskets that they broke and fled back in disorder upon us. It was a critical moment, but we managed to keep our ground till the fugitives had got round our ranks back into the ravine and then our Grenadier Company, gallantly led by Captain Minchin, formed up and poured in their fire upon the Spaniards who were only a few paces from them. Checked by this volley the enemy fell back a little while our men, pressing eagerly on, formed and delivered their fire, company after company. Receiving before our fire and the long line of British bayonets the Spaniards fell back to the position from which they had rushed in pursuit of the apure bravos. But from thence they kept up a tremendous fire upon us which we returned as rapidly as we could as they outnumbered us in the ratio of 4 to 1 and were strongly posted and supported by guns we waited for reinforcements before storming their position. Not a man however came to help us and after an hour passed in this manner our ammunition failed. It then really seemed to be all over with us, we tried as best as we could to make signals of our distress, the men kept springing their ramrods and Colonel Thomas Ferrier, our commanding officer, apprised General Pyeth of our situation and called on him to get up a supply of cartridges. It came at last, but by this time many of our officers and men had fallen and among them Colonel Ferrier. You may imagine we were not long in breaking open the ammunition boxes, the men numbered off anew and after delivering a couple of volleys we prepared to charge. At this moment our cavalry passing as before by our right flank charged with General Pyeth at their head. They went on very gallantly but soon came galloping back and passed again to our rear without having done any execution on the enemy, while they had themselves suffered considerably. Why Bolivar at this time and indeed during the period since our first advance sent us no support I have never been able to guess. Whatever the motive it is certain that the second and third divisions of the army quietly looked on while we were being slaughtered and made no attempt to help us. The curses of our men were loud and deep but seeing that they must not expect any help they made up their minds to carry the enemy's position or perish. Out of nine hundred men we had not above six hundred left. Captain Scott, who succeeded Colonel Ferrier, had fallen and had bequeathed the command to Captain Minchin and the colors of the regiment had seven times changed hands and had been literally cut to ribbons and died with the blood of the gallant fellows who carried them. But in spite of all this the word was passed to charge with the bayonet and on we went, keeping our line as steady as on a parade day, and with a loud hurrah we were upon them. I must do the Spaniards the justice to say that they met us gallantly and the struggle was for a brief time fierce and the event doubtful. But the bayonet in the hands of British soldiers, more especially such a forlorn hope as we were is irresistible. The Spaniards, five to one as they were, began to give ground and at last broke and fled. Then it was, and not till then, that two companies of the Tiradores came up to our help and our cavalry, hitherto of little use, fiercely pursued the retreating enemy. The remains of the corps passed before the liberator with trailed arms at double quick and received with a cheer, but without halting his words, Salvadores de mi patria. End quote, end of note. This battle, the complement of that of Boyacá, which has been called the Colombian Waterloo, secured forever the independence of Venezuela and New Granada as my pa and the expedition to Peru had secured that of the south. The three battles combining to prepare the definitive triumph of the emancipation of South America. The Bolivar entered Caracas for the second time in triumph. No one could now deny him the glory of being the liberator of his country. His retention of the supreme power, both civil and military, was more than ever a necessity. This was exactly the moment he chose for another resignation, but there was a reason for it. The constituent Congress was convened at Cúcuta on the 6th of May. It was composed entirely of civilians, of whom the greater number were lawyers, and was radically Republican, opposed both to the abuses of military rule and to the anti-democratic theories of the liberator. His resignation was thus at once a protest against accusations made against him and an indirect way of influencing public opinion. Congress took no notice of his resignation, but quietly debated and enacted the constitution of Colombia. It decided that the president should hold office for four years and should not be eligible for re-election, that the general-in-chief of the army should, while on active service, have no political power, which was equivalent to the abolition of the military dictatorship, and that the constitution should not be reformed for ten years. It only adopted the ideas of Bolivar in one respect, which was in the establishment of a centralized system of government. His plans of a life presidency and of an hereditary senate, as also the life senate decreed by the Congress of Angostura, were rejected. Bogota was declared the capital of the republic. Bolivar, quote, as he feared, end quote, was named president and Santander vice president. Bolivar repeated his resignation, but added that he would yield if Congress persisted. Congress did persist, upon which he made an eloquent speech in which he said, quote, a man such as I am, is a dangerous citizen under a popular government. I wish to be a simple citizen in order to be free, and that all may be so likewise, end quote. The dictator of Columbia, reduced in theory to the position of a constitutional president, showed on this occasion, as on all others, that though ambitious, he was not a despot, and had no wish to be. He swore the constitution and proclaimed it, and devoting himself to his military duties left the administration in the hands of the vice president. But on the 9th of October 1821, he procured the passage of a law by Congress, which gave him absolute power over the army, and empowered him to organize, as he pleased, the provinces he might liberate, until he saw fit to place them under the constitution of the republic. On the 1st of October 1821, Cartagena capitulated to Montia after a siege of 14 months. The provinces of Panama and Veracuas, situated on the Isthmus, immediately declared themselves independent, and announced their intention of joining the Republic of Columbia. On the 28th of November, the fortresses of Chagres and Puerto Bello fell into the hands of the Patriots. In Venezuela, the Spaniards, with 5,000 men, now held only Cumaná and Puerto Cabello on the Windward coast. In order to round off the territory of Columbia, it was now only necessary to subjugate Quito. Thither converged the victorious armies of Bolivar from the north, and those of San Martin from the south. San Martin was already in possession of one half of Peru, and had one foot on Guayaquil. On the 1st of August 1822, Bolivar left Cucuta for the south. Before going, he divided Venezuela into three military departments, under Marinho, Paeth and Bermudez, placing them under the superior orders of Sublet. On the 16th of October, Cumaná surrendered to Bermudez. Puerto Cabello was still held by a royalist garrison of 4,000 men under Morales, who at this time succeeded La Torre in command. Morales displayed such activity and energy as for a time changed the aspect of the war. With 12,000 men he went by sea to Maracaibo, took that city on the 7th of September, and on the 12th of November routed a division of 1,000 men under Montia. Then he overran the province of Santa Marta, and on the 3rd of December occupied the province of Coro. But in January 1823, Santa Marta was retaken by Montia, and Coro by Sublet. Colonel Padilla, with a patriot flotilla, which had greatly aided in the capture of Cartagena, entered Lake Maracaibo under the fire of the forts, and on the 24th of July, totally defeated the Spanish squadron, which was their station. On the 3rd of August Morales capitulated. Puerto Cabello was taken by assault by Paeth on the 7th and 8th of October 1823, and the war in this part of the continent was at an end. End of chapter 43. Chapter 44 of the Emancipation of South America by Bartolomé Mitre, translated by William Pilling, this Librivox recording is in the public domain, recording by Piotr Natter, the war in Quito, 1821 to 1822. After the Battle of Boyaca, the defeated royalists had retired to the highland provinces of Pasto and Patia in the south of Colombia, and were there strongly reinforced by Imerich, Captain-General of Quito. General Valdeth was sent against them with three battalions of infantry, one of which was the Albion. On the 6th of June 1820, Valdeth was attacked by 1100 infantry under Calthada at the town of Pitayo, to the northwest of Popayan. His vanguard was driven in, but the Albion re-established the fight and decided the day by an impetuous charge with the bayonet, the royalists, retreated to Patia. Valdeth, being reinforced, then occupied the city of Popayan with an army of 2300 men, which was soon reduced to 1000 by sickness and desertion. Then, in January 1821, in obedience to positive orders from Bolivar, he marched into the province of Pasto. The Patianos, as was their custom, gave him free passage but closed in upon his rear, cutting his communications with Popayan. He marched upon the city of Pasto, surrounded by enemies. Colonel Garthea, who had succeeded Calthada in command, waited for him with 850 men in the pass of Henae, and on the 2nd of February, completely defeated him. The Albion battalion suffered very heavily in this action, and it was only the armistice of Trujillo, which saved Valdeth from total destruction. On the resumption of hostilities, General Torres, who had succeeded Valdeth in command, was forced by Garthea to shut himself up in Popayan. He afterwards marched with 1800 men upon Pasto, but suffered such heavy losses by sickness and desertion that he was compelled to retreat, and in August he abandoned Popayan. The royalists of Patia and Pasto, aided from Quito, might have prolonged the war indefinitely, but that the operations of San Martin and Cochrane threw their base open to attack, and the revolutions of Guayaquil cut off all communication between Quito and the Pacific. Bolivar saw this, and as Quito was not included in the armistice of Trujillo, determined to attack from the south as well as from the north, and at the same time open for himself a road to Pacific. Looking about for an officer to whom he could entrust the undertaking, he chose General Sucre, who was at that time Minister of War of the Republic of Colombia. Sucre was a native of Cumana, had received a scientific education, and had served from his early youth in all the campaigns of the revolution of Venezuela under Miranda, Piar and Bolivar. Bolivar said of him, quote, Sucre has the best organized head in all Colombia, end quote. San Martin, who never met him, wrote of him in after years that he was one of the most noteworthy men produced by the Republic of Colombia and of greater military skill than even Bolivar himself. The mission confided to Sucre was both political and military. He was to aid the new state of Guayaquil against the royalists and was to induce her to join the Republic of Colombia. At Papayan he collected a thousand of the dispersed troops and reached Guayaquil by sea in May 1821. He found that the majority of the people were in favor of the union with Peru, and that they had already suffered defeat in their first brush with the royalists. At this juncture, the flotilla and a battalion of native troops revolted in the name of the king. Sucre put down the movement and thus became master of the situation and commander-in-chief of all the forces. At the head of a combined army, Sucre then marched against the royalists, who under Aimerge were descending the mountain slopes from Quito into separate columns. One of these columns he totally defeated at Yawachi on the 19th of August and compelled the other, which was led by Aimerge himself to return to Quito with heavy loss. He then ascended the slopes of Chimborazo and occupied the plateau of Ambato, but was here attacked by Colnel González with very superior forces and was completely defeated with a loss of 300 killed and 640 prisoners. He himself was wounded and returned to his former position with a remnant of his force. Here he was fortunately reinforced by a battalion of 500 Colombian infantry, and as Aimerge did not follow up the victory, held his ground till on the 20th of November he arranged an armistice of 90 days. At this time the royalists, whose total force of regular troops amounted to 3,000 men in the provinces of Cuenca, Quito and Pasto, received a reinforcement of 800 men under General Murjeón, who had been appointed Viceroy of New Granada on the death of Samano. Murjeón had arrived from Europe at Puerto Cabello with a smaller force, which being increased by La Torre he led across the Isthmus to Panama, whence he went by sea to Atacames, and from there marched for 60 miles through a dense forest and then over the Cordillera to Quito, where he arrived on the 24th of December 1821 and took the command. When New Granada was secure Bolivar wrote to Ohiginsdad, quote, the army of Colombia was about to march on Quito with orders to cooperate with the Argentine Chileno army in their operations against Lima, end quote, but after that affairs in the north distracted his attention. After the fall of Cartagena he wrote to San Martín proposing to take 4,000 men across the Isthmus and by sea to Peru to aid him in crushing the royalists in the center of their power, leaving them in their positions on the equatorial Andes till afterwards. But the defeat suffered by Sucre and the arrival of Murjeón determined him first of all to prosecute the war in the south of Colombia. Under the name of the Columbian Guard Bolivar had organized an army with which he incorporated at Papayan the remnants of the division of General Torres, raising his total force to about 3,000 men. During his march to a hostile country he was compelled to leave 1,000 sick in the hospitals and with the rest reached the frontiers of Quito on the 24th of August 1822. Avoiding a conflict with the pastusos, which had so often proved fatal to the Patriot arms, he turned to the right and tried to find a pass over the river Guaytara, a mountain torrent whose course lies at the bottom of an almost impassable abyss. Finding one suspension bridge cut he marched to the left in search of another and on the 7th of April came upon the royalist army under García, strongly posted between the river and the volcano of Pasto. It was already past noon, but Bolivar, seeing that to retreat was impossible, attacked the enemy at once. He drew up his army on the plain of Bombona and sent a column against the left wing of the enemy, where the ground presented fewer difficulties than on the right and center. This column being repulsed then attacked the center of the position and was almost annihilated in the attempt to forge its way through an abatis which covered this part of the royalist line. Meantime another column, directed against the right wing of the royalists, had detached a battalion of light infantry, which climbed the face of the mountain and secured a commanding position on the flank of the enemy, on which Bolivar made another attack upon the center with a battalion drawn from the reserve. This attack was also repulsed, but when night came on the royalists hurriedly retreated, abandoning their artillery. The patriots were left masters of the field, but it was a pyrrhic victory. They had lost 600 men, inkilled and wounded, while the loss of the royalists was not over 250. Bolivar remained for eight days, encamped on the plateau of Bombona, and then retreated, leaving 300 sick and wounded behind him. During the retreat his losses were very heavy, but at Patia he received reinforcements from Papayan. The climate and the people were both against him. Two months he remained inactive, uncertain what to do, when news reached him that Sucre, aided by a contingent of Argentine Peruvian troops, sent to his assistance by San Martin had taken Quito. The moment had arrived in which the two revolutions of the north and of the south of the continent joined hands on the equator, in accordance with the plan of San Martin. On the eve of setting out on his first expedition against Quito, Sucre had written to San Martin asking for his cooperation. After his defeat at Ambató he wrote again, this time to the Peruvian minister of war, showing the danger which threatened Guayaquil. From Colombia he received a reinforcement of 500 men, but this was quite insufficient to enable him to take the field. Again he wrote to the protector of Peru, and San Martin now resolved to give him efficient help. General Arenales, who was president of the Department of Trujillo, had a division stationed on the Peruvian frontier of Quito. San Martin sent him orders to march with it to the assistance of Sucre. Arenales was ill and declined the command, which was then bestowed upon Colonel Santa Cruz, and by a convention the Republic of Colombia undertook to pay the troops and to supply the places of all who might fall in war. The auxiliary division consisted of about 1200 men, among them being one squadron of the mounted grenadiers, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Juan Laval. Sucre left Guayaquil with such troops as he had and joined the auxiliaries in the province of Cuenca in February 1822, forming an army of 2000 men, and in March went in search of the enemy. While on the march Colonel Santa Cruz received a despatch from the government of Peru directing him to withdraw from the army at once with his contingent, which strange order arose from the misunderstanding concerning Guayaquil. Santa Cruz showed the despatch to Sucre, who forbade him to act upon it, telling him that he was no longer under the orders of the Protector. Fortunately the officers of the contingent upheld the authority of Sucre, whose firmness on this occasion prevented a great disaster, and a few days later a despatch was received from San Martin himself, cancelling the order. The situation of the royalists was now very difficult. The army of Quito, though numbering 2000 good soldiers, was isolated and might defend the mountain passes, but was powerless to take the offensive. The affair at Bombona had greatly depressed the spirits of the pastusos. Murchéon had died of despair on seeing the untoward course of events, and Imerich was again in command. Imerich detached Colonel Lopeth with 1500 men to protect the western passes. Lopeth stationed himself at Riobamba, but was outmaneuvered by Sucre, who entered the valley at the foot of Chimborazo. In accordance with his instructions, Lopeth avoided an action, and slowly retreated from one impregnable position to another, till on the 21st of April 1822 Sucre managed to gain his rare by an undefended pass. The royalists retreated to another position behind the town of Riobamba. As they were marching, Laval took advantage of a faulty manoeuvre, and with 96 grenadiers charged the whole of their cavalry, 420 in number, and drove them in confusion upon the positions held by their infantry. Then, retreating at full trot, he was joined by 30 Colombian dragoons. The royalist horse, having rallied, came down upon him at full gallop, upon which he wheeled round, charged them again, and completely routed them, with a loss of 52 killed and 40 wounded. One Argentine and one Colombian were killed, and 20 were wounded, and the royalist horse were of no further use in that campaign. The infantry continued their retreat to the inaccessible position of Jalupano. Then, Sucre, by a flank march of four days over the snow-covered heights of Cotopaxi, gained the valley of Chio, 14 miles from Quito, but found the enemy again in an inaccessible position between him and the city. On the night of the 23rd of May, during heavy rain, the Patriot army, defiled by a narrow road, covered with loose stones over the slopes of the Volcano of Pichincha, and at eight o'clock the next morning reached the heights overlooking the city of Quito, where the steep mountain site, below them, was covered by a forest of trees and brushwood. Before the whole army had reached this position, the royalists had ascended the mountain site, and rushed out of the forest upon the second battalion of Peru, which led the van. Colonel Ola Thapal, who was in command, stubbornly held his ground till his ammunition was exhausted. The position was held by one battalion after another, as it came up, so long as any cardridges were left, but the reserve ammunition was far in the rear, and the royalists gained ground. A Colombian regiment charged with the bayonet and recovered the position. Then the royalists, advancing under shelter of the trees, endeavored to turn the left flank of the Patriots, but were, in their turn, taken in flank by three companies of the Albion battalion, and driven back in confusion. Colonel Cordova then brought up his regiment of Colombian infantry, and, with the aid of the Albion, drove the royalists down the steep mountain site, in utter rout. On such ground, the cavalry on neither side could come into action, but the royalist horse, drawn up as a reserve in the suburbs of the city, were attacked later on by the Patriot cavalry and dispersed. Sukre then summoned the city to surrender. Next day, the 25th of May 1822, Aimerich capitulated. The royalists lost 160 officers and 1100 men taken prisoners, 400 killed and 190 wounded, 14 guns and all their flags. The Patriots had 200 killed, of whom half belonged to the auxiliaries from Peru, and 140 wounded. The victory of Pichincha was the seal of the Continental Alliance, and concluded the war in the north. García, with his isolated force capitulated to Bolivar, but the indomitable pastusos refused to lay down their arms till García appealed to Padilla, bishop of Papayan, who had hitherto, both by his preaching and by his example, encouraged them in their fanatic loyalty to the king of Spain. Thanks to Bishop Padilla, a capitulation was agreed upon by which these brave mountaineers were secured in possession of all their local laws and customs. The liberator entered Pasto in triumph, and thence, on the 8th of June, addressed a bulletin to the Colombian people. Quote, from the banks of the Orinoco to the Andes of Peru, the liberating army, marching from one triumph to another, has covered with its protecting arms the whole of Colombia. Share with me the ocean of joy which baves my heart, and raise in your own hearts altars to this army which has conquered for you glory, peace and liberty. This deification of the armies of Colombia, inaugurated Pretorianism in South America, which was soon to press heavily upon the independent states, and was to bring the career of Bolivar to an end. The soldiery began to look upon the people they had freed as upon men whom they had conquered. The victors of Pichincha declared that Quito was annexed to Colombia, the municipality protested, and were banished from the city. Nevertheless, Bolivar, on his arrival, was received with enthusiasm. On the 16th of June he made a triumphal entry, and was presented with a laurel reef of gold, the third he had received in commemoration of his victories. The two liberators of the north and of the south were now about to meet on the dividing line of their several campaigns. Their triumphant armies converged upon Peru. History presents no other example of so vast a military combination carried out with steady perseverance for twelve long years, ending in the concentration of the forces of an entire continent upon one strategic point, which concentration gave the final victory. End of chapter 44 Chapter 45 of the Emancipation of South America by Bartolomé Mitre, translated by William Pilling, this LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Piotr Natter, Guayaquil 1822. Up to this time, the struggle for emancipation, both in the south and in the north of the continent, had been the result of the instinctive desire for independence, which was common to all the people of Spanish America. But towards the conclusion of this struggle, the peculiar idiosyncrasy of each separate people began to show itself in action, and the ideas and personal interests of different leaders came into collision. Nevertheless, the fundamental principles of the revolution remained unchanged. The movement was essentially republican, based on local autonomy. The monarchical ideas of San Martín and the dreams of Bolivar of a continental union left not a trace behind. The popular movements of the north and of the south of the continent joined hands at Quito. The diverse principles of the two great leaders came into conflict at Guayaquil. When the province of Guayaquil declared herself independent, she placed herself under the protection of the troops of San Martín and Bolivar, and became an apple of discord between the two leaders. Both accepted the protectorate, San Martín with the idea of annexing the province to Peru, Bolivar with the intention of annexing it to Colombia. In November 1820, San Martín sent Guido and Lothuriaga to negotiate a treaty of alliance, which should place the province under his control. When they arrived, the situation had changed. Guayaquil had sent 1500 men against Quito under the command of Luis Urdaneta, an officer from Venezuela. Urdaneta easily overran the province of Cuenca, but on advancing towards the capital was met on the plateau of Ambato by colonel González, with 600 regular troops, and was completely defeated on the 20th of November. An Argentine officer named García rallied the dispersed troops and led them back against the enemy, but was also routed on the 3rd of January 1821. García was taken prisoner, and being put to death, his head was exposed in an iron cage at one of the entrances of the capital. The city of Guayaquil was thrown into consternation at this disaster, but the commissioners were well received, and Lothuriaga, being placed in command of the remaining troops, checked the advance of the enemy until the rainy season covered the low grounds with water and put an end to military operations, after which the commissioners returned to Peru without having made any definite arrangement. The division of Sucre, sent by Bolivar, arrived in May 1821, and for a time the influence of Columbia prevailed, but the defeat of Sucre and the retreat of Bolivar from Pasto turned the eyes of the people again to San Martín, who had by this time taken the city of Lima. It was then that San Martín declared to take part in the war in Quito and sent the contingent, which did such good service at Pichincha. On 16 December 1821 the district of Puerto Viejo declared itself a part of Columbia, and was supported by the Colombian officers. The junta of Guayaquil pronounced this an act of rebellion and resolved on measures of repression. Civil war appeared imminent, when Sucre interposed, and by calming the zeal of his subordinates restored tranquility. On 30 November 1821 Salazar had arrived as Peruvian minister, with instructions from the protector to adopt a waiting policy, which in the face of a resolute opposition was to ensure defeat. The junta, which as also the majority of the people was in favor of annexation to Peru, complained to Salazar of the overbearing conduct of the Colombian troops, on which Lamar was sent from Peru to take command of the provisional forces. Bolivar, who was resolved to include in the new Republic of Columbia the whole of the late vice-royalty of New Granada, now sent Don Joaquin Mosquera to Peru as minister of Columbia to arrange the question of limits, and on the eve of marching against Quito sent a note to the junta saying that quote, the government of Guayaquil knows that it cannot remain an independent state, that Columbia cannot give up any of her legitimate rights, and that there was no human power which could deprive her of a hands breath of her territory, end quote. The province of Guayaquil had been at various times a dependency of the vice-royalty of Peru, but on the formation of the vice-royalty of New Granada it became definitely an integral part of Quito, which was a dependency of the new vice-royalty. During the disturbances of 1809 and 1810, Abascal, vice-roy of Peru, had for military purposes taken charge of the province, as he had done of the outlying districts of Upper Peru, which belonged to the vice-royalty of the river plate. But this arrangement came to an end in 1819 by a decree from the court of Madrid. Without Guayaquil, Quito was cut off from all communication with the Pacific. The junta of Guayaquil appealed to San Martín, who replied that if they boldly declared Guayaquil an independent state, he would assist them by force if necessary, but that he would make no complaint if they chose to join the Republic of Colombia. At the same time, he wrote to Bolivar asking him to let the people decide for themselves. The attitude adopted by Bolivar was one of defiance. That adopted by San Martín, if more correct, was not based either on good policy or on good military tactics. Bolivar could not recede without consenting to the mutilation of Colombia, a republic of his own creation. The direct intervention of San Martín endangered an open rupture between them, which would upset the plans of both. Under these sinister auspices took place the interview previously arranged between San Martín and Bolivar at Guayaquil, which had been postponed in consequence of the exigencies of the war. End of chapter 45 Chapter 46 of the Emancipation of South America by Bartolome Mitre, translated by William Pilling. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Piotr Natar. The interview at Guayaquil, 1822. Once only do astronomers record the meeting of two comets at the point of intersection of their eccentric orbits. Almost as rare in the records of mankind as the meeting of two men who have made the history there recorded. After Washington, San Martín and Bolivar are the only two men of the New World whose names figure in the catalogue of the heroes of humanity at large. They were greater as liberators than as men of thought, but the influence of the deeds accomplished by them yet lives and works in their posterity. Events are the logical consequence of causes, which have preceded them, nevertheless they are molded by the influence of individuals. If Columbus had never lived, America would at some later date have been discovered by someone else. If Cromwell had never lived, the revolution would have occurred in England all the same, but without him it would not have triumphed. The emancipation of the British colonies of North America must in any case have produced a great republic, but it was Washington who impressed upon the democracy the seal of his moral greatness. The French Revolution was the natural outcome of what had preceded it, but had it been directed by others than those who had directed, the result might have been better. The insurrection in South America was a spontaneous movement resulting from historical antecedents and from the circumstances of the time, but the triumph would have been delayed and the losses in the struggle would have been greater, but for the genius of San Martín and Bolivar who directed the discordant elements to an indefinite end. San Martín acted more from calculation than from inspiration, Bolivar more from instinct than method, yet both were necessary, each in his own place, while they went with the current they were mere agents, but they laid hold of the forces that were in action, condensed them and impelled them to act on one general plan by them devised, which was unseen by the masses, and they worked in concert, the idea of San Martín being carried to a successful ending by Bolivar, neither could alone have achieved the emancipation of the continent. Now these two men were to meet for the first time under the fiery arch of the equator, with the ocean on the one hand, on the other, the giant range of the Andes. The world listens intently and hears nothing of what they say, one quietly disappears, saying words which have no meaning in them, the other as quietly takes his place. For twenty years all is mystery, then the veil is partially drawn aside and it is seen that there is no mystery, that nothing had happened save what everyone knew was certain to befall. Only now that the masks have fallen we can read in the character of each one of them the motives which made the one relentless in his purpose and forced abdication of the other. San Martín sent an auxiliary force to aid in the war in Quito without making conditions of any kind and expected to receive help in Peru on the same terms, but after Pichincha Bolivar was master of the situation and could dictate his own terms. San Martín indulged the illusion that he was still one of the arbiters of South America, that Bolivar would share with him his political and his military power and that in conference they would arrange together the destinies of the nations by them emancipated. Without other plan he sought that interview with the liberator which was to decide his own destiny and was to paralyse his career. Guayaquil was the only province of delayed vice-royalty of New Granada which was not yet absorbed into the new Republic of Colombia. With this acquisition her territory would stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific and Bolivar would lay his powerful hands upon Peru quote the last battlefield of America and quote as San Martín expressed it. Bolivar was now arbiter of the destinies of South America and could not tolerate opposition from San Martín. His policy, a union of personal ambition with grand designs of emancipation now began to show itself. At Quito he saw for the first time the troops of San Martín and could compare them with his own. He barked their soldierly bearing and strict discipline, more especially he noted the Argentine mounted grenadiers and saw that compared with them his own Dianeros, brave as had been their deeds, were but an undisciplined mob of horsemen. From that time there arose in his heart that jealousy of Argentine influence which was presently to mold his policy. At a banquet given in his honor at Quito he exclaimed in his enthusiasm quote the day is not far distant when I will carry the flag of Colombia triumphant to Argentina end quote. Five Argentine officers were present and Juan Laval rising to his feet proposed a toast quote to the independence of America and of the Argentine Republic end quote. There were no more toasts. On the 11th of July Bolivar entered Guayaquil under triumphal arches inscribed with his name, the gunboats on the river hold down the white and blue flag of Guayaquil and hoisted the tricolor of Colombia. Quote what so soon end quote he exclaimed thinking this was a signal for the incorporation of the province. But when the boats had fired a salute up again went the white and blue flag and was hailed by a unanimous shout of quote Viva Guayaquil Independiente end quote. He replaced his cocked head which he had still then carried in his hand and the procession went on but the incident excited much comments in the city and especially in the Peruvian legation. The intentions of Bolivar were no secret. He had brought 1500 men with him who occupied the city. Within 24 hours of his triumphal entry a deputation of his partisans waited upon the municipality and asked them to proclaim the province a part of the Republic of Colombia. They refused alleging that the decision of the question lay with the representatives of the people who were then in assembly. The application was repeated and was again refused. On the 13th of July an appeal was made to Bolivar himself. Bolivar sent his secretary to the junta and an aid the camp to the assembly to announce to them that in consequence of an anarchy which prevailed he had assumed the supreme power and had annexed the province to Colombia. The junta resigned and fled on board the Peruvian squadron then lying at anchor in the harbour. San Martin had sent this squadron in support of his own partisans thinking that Bolivar was yet in Quito but the liberator had been too quick for him. On the 25th of July San Martin himself arrived in Descuner, Macedonia. Bolivar sent off two of his aides the camp to salute him and to offer him hospitality, quote, on Colombian soil, end quote. The next day he disembarked amid files of silent soldiery and crowds of enthusiastic people. Bolivar dressed in full uniform and surrounded by his staff awaited him at a house which had been prepared for him. The two heroes met and embraced for the first and last time at the foot of the staircase and, turning, entered the house arm in arm. In the salon the liberator presented his generals then the authorities of the city came to bid him welcome. A deputation of ladies presented an address to him then a beautiful girl of 18 years of age placed a laurel reef of gold upon his head. San Martin, little accustomed to such theatrical ceremonies, flushed and took the crown from his head but said that he would keep it for the sake of the patriotic sentiment that inspired the gift and for the sake of those who bestowed it in memory of these happy days. The two representatives of the revolution being left alone walked up and down the salon together but what they said to each other could not be heard by those in the enter room. Bolivar appeared to be agitated. San Martin was calm and self possessed. They shut the door and talked together for more than an hour and a half. Bolivar then retired, impenetrable and grave as a sphinx. San Martin accompanied him to the foot of the staircase and they took a friendly leave of each other. Later on the protector paid a visit to the liberator, one of mere ceremony which lasted only half an hour. The next day, the 27th, San Martin sent his baggage on board the schooner saying that he should sail after attending the great bowl given in his honor and at 1 p.m. went again to call on the liberator, remaining closeted with him for four hours. At 5 p.m. they sat down together to a splendid banquet. When the time for toast arrived, Bolivar stood up and proposed one, quote, to the two greatest men of South America, General San Martin and myself, end quote. San Martin then proposed another, quote, to the speedy conclusion of the war, to the organization of the different republics of the continent and to the health of the liberator of Columbia, end quote, words that indicated the thoughts which occupied his mind. They then passed to the ballroom, where Bolivar gave himself up with juvenile ardor to the delights of the worlds of which he was passionately fond. The rude behavior of the Colombian officers, who were roughly reprieved by Bolivar, gave a grotesque aspect to the scene. San Martin looked coldly on, evidently preoccupied with thoughts of a much more serious matter. At 1 a.m. he called his aid the camp Guido to him and said, quote, let us go, I cannot stand this riot, end quote. Bolivar had already taken leave of him, a chamberlain showed him out by a private door and accompanied them to the landing place. An hour afterwards, the Macedonia was under way. The next day San Martin rose early and was silent and preoccupied. After breakfast, as he was walking the deck, he exclaimed, quote, the liberator has been too quick for us, end quote. On reaching Kayao, he commissioned General Kruth to write Dvohegins, quote, the liberator is not the man we took him to be, end quote, words which are a compendium of the results of the interview. Of what passed between them, no account was published, but at that time there were only two questions which could be discussed between them, the conclusion of the war and the political organization of the new states. What occurred at the famous conference at Tilsit is as well known as though all the world had been there to listen. The interview at Guayaquil is still more easy to reproduce, illuminated as the subject is by later disclosures from the pen of San Martin himself. The unsteady glance and ill-concealed vanity of Bolivar produced repulsion in San Martin who read his character at once, but Bolivar, full of himself, failed to penetrate the calm exterior of San Martin. He learned nothing of his ideas and looked upon him as one who owed his victories to fortune more than to genius. Bolivar had in his head a confused plan for the consolidation of America, in which everything was to hinge upon his own personality. San Martin, who had no personal ambition, said of him, quote, his feats of arms entitle him to be considered the most extraordinary character that South America has produced, of a constancy to which difficulties only add strength, end quote. But he had none of the frankness of a soldier and disclosed nothing of these plans to San Martin. There was therefore nothing to discuss between them. On that point they could treat only of facts already accomplished. San Martin expatiated upon the importance of bringing the war to an end. Three or four thousand Colombian troops placed at his orders would enable him to finish it in three months. Bolivar offered him only three battalions, and the war lasted for yet three years. San Martin then offered to serve under him, if he would only take a sufficient force with him. Bolivar declined the offer, alleging that he could not leave Colombian territory without special authority from Congress. San Martin then saw that the liberator would not make common cause with him, that one or the other must give way, and it is probable that he then formed the resolution of retiring from the scene. The organization of the new states was the only other subject on which they could exchange opinions. Doubtless San Martin set forth his reasons for believing that in the establishment of independent monarchies lied the solution of the question. The people not being yet so educated in the principles of self-government as to be capable of sustaining the common responsibility of democratic rule. And Bolivar would scout the idea showing that monarchy was a European, not an American institution. His own power, as the head of a republic, was greater than that of any constitutional king. Deep in his mind lay the teachings of his old master, Simon Rodriguez, who had taught him that the best hour of all offices for life was the means whereby stability could be given to democracy. The result of this talk was seen in the toast which San Martin proposed at the subsequent banquets. To the republics of South America. Was there more than this? Likely enough, the reserve which both maintained on the subject for many years is an indication that such was the case. San Martin foresaw the failure of his scheme and silence became a patriotic duty lest he should place arms in the hands of the enemy. Bolivar, recognizing the moral superiority of his rival, felt abashed in the presence of such abnegation, and cared not to speak of that which could only throw a slur upon his own fame. On the return of San Martin to Peru he announced publicly his satisfaction with the result of the interview, the conclusion of a South American alliance, and the speedy arrival of a reinforcement of three battalions of Colombian troops. But immediately afterwards he wrote to Bolivar, setting forth the great numerical superiority of the royalist forces, and showing that much more efficient help was needed to put an end to the war. He concluded with these remarkable words. Quote This letter explains one of the principal causes of his retirement from public life, and may be considered as his political testament. He yields his self-imposed task into the hands of a more fortunate rival, congratulating him upon the glory of finishing the great work. By the bearer of this letter he also sent Bolivar a fouling piece, a brace of pistols, and a war horse to carry him on his next campaign with this special note. Quote This remembrance from the first of your admirers, with the expression of my sincere desire that you may have the glory of finishing the war for the independence of South America. End Quote Mystery records not in her pages an act of self-abnegation executed with more conscientiousness and with greater modesty. End of Chapter 46 Chapter 47 of the Emancipation of South America by Bartolome Mitre, translated by William Pilling. Desley provokes recording as in the public domain, recording by Pietronater, the abdication of San Martin, 1822. During the absence of San Martin at Guayaquil, an event had occurred at Lima which must have confirmed him in his intention of retiring from public life. The people had risen against the government, and though the movement was not directed against him, it showed him the instability of his power. Before his departure, the Council of State had consulted him as to what they should do in case of the death or incapacity of his delegate Torre Tagle. San Martin left with them a sealed paper in which he appointed General Alvarado to the post in case it became vacant. On the 25th of July, 50 citizens of Lima, at the instigation of Riva Agüero, presented a petition to Torre Tagle, asking him to dismiss his Minister Monte Agudo, whose tyrannical procedures and private immoralities had disgusted everyone. At the same time they addressed a note to the municipality, asking them for support in delivering the city and the country at large from, quote, the oppression and despotism under which they suffered, end quote, and one of their number was sent to notify the governments that in case this petition was not complied with, they would convene an open cabildo. Riva Agüero, who was president of the municipality, acceded to their request and demanded the immediate imprisonment of the obnoxious minister. Government replied that they would take the matter into consideration next day. At half past ten at night the people assembled in crowds at the gates of the municipal building and round the government house, calling loudly for the deposition of the minister. Monte Agudo resigned. The municipality demanded his imprisonment, which was decreed, and Monte Agudo remained under arrest in his own house. Meantime the army remained quietly in barracks, alvarado not choosing to interfere, although he wrote to the municipality that if disorders continued, he might be compelled to take steps to restore tranquility. But the popular excitement day by day increased, as one of their own leaders said, quote, the peace-loving Peruvians appeared to have changed into raging clients, end quote. National sentiment was aroused against the foreigners who ruled them, republican sentiment against the monarchical proposals of the government, fly sheets of the most seditious tendencies circulated from hand to hand. On the 29th the municipality again met and demanded the banishment of Monte Agudo. He was banished. On the 20th of August San Martin returned and was received with enthusiasm by the people. Riva Aguero and the principal leaders presented themselves and assured him of their adhesion, but he was not deceived. He saw that they were tired of his rule, that the army was no longer devoted to him, that he had erred in the choice of his deputy and of his ministers, and that he himself was no longer necessary and might even become an obstacle to the complete independence of the country. He could only re-establish his authority by means of repression, which were repugnant to him. He preferred to leave the Peruvians to work out their destiny for themselves. Then it was that he wrote the memorable letter to Bolivar of which mention was made in the last chapter. Also he wrote to O'Higgins alleging bad health as the cause of his retirement. I am tired of hearing them call me tyrant, that I wish to make myself king, emperor, the devil. On the other hand my health is broken. This climate is killing me. My youth was sacrificed to the service of Spain. My manhood to my own country. I think I have now the right to dispose of my old age. Twenty-five years later the publication of his letter to Bolivar disclosed the true motive of his retirement. He sacrificed himself from duty and from necessity, and kept silence. But he did not purpose to leave Peru defenseless. He set to work with the greatest activity to place the army on the best possible footing. At the end of August he had more than eleven thousand men under arms and expected one thousand men from Chile to join in an expedition against the intermediate ports and drew up a plan for the next campaign which would probably have been decisive if he had led the troops himself. On the 20th of September 1822 the first constituent congress of Peru was installed with great pomp. San Martin in its presence took off the bicolored sash he wore as the emblem of his authority, made a short speech, laid six folded sheets of paper upon the table and retired amid the plaudits of the assembly. The first sheet being opened was found to be a renunciation of all future command. Congress passed a vote of thanks, quote, to the first soldier of liberty, end quote, and named him Generalissima of the land and naval forces of the Republic with a pension of twelve thousand dollars a year. San Martin accepted the title and the pension but refused to serve, giving good reasons therefore, quote, my presence in Peru after the powers I have wielded would be inconsistent with the dignity of Congress and with my own. I have kept the promise I made to Peru but if someday her liberty be in danger I shall glory in joining as a citizen in her defense, end quote. Congress then voted him the title of, quote, founder of the liberty of Peru, end quote, with the right to wear the sash he had laid down and with the rank of captain general decreed to him the same pension as Washington had enjoyed that a statue should be erected to him with inscriptions commemorative of his services that a bust of him should be placed in the National Library he had established and that he should receive all the honors due to one of the actual executive. Up to this time, San Martin had said no word to anyone of his intentions to leave the country but that same evening at his country house he told Guido who had gone there with him. Guido expostulated with him and tried all means to dissuade him from his intentions till at last he told him in confidence his real reasons for going, quote, there is not room in Peru for both Bolivar and myself. He will shrink from nothing to come to Peru. It may not be in my power to avoid a conflict if I am here. Let him come so that America may triumph. It shall not be San Martin who will give a day of delight to the enemy, end quote. It was 10 o'clock, his orderly announced that all was ready. The general embraced his faithful friend, mounted on horseback and rode away through the darkness. Next morning Guido found a letter of farewell from him lying at the head of his bed and Alvarado received another but San Martin had embarked that same night on the brick Belgrano and had left Peru forever. All that he took with him were the 120 doubloons, the standard of Pizarro and the golden bell of the Inquisition of Lima. In Chile he had the farm which had been given him and a small sum of money left with a friend, most of which was lost. The government of Peru, hearing of his poverty, sent him two thousand dollars, with which, after an illness of two months in Chile, he crossed to Mendoza early in 1823 and while living there as a farmer, heard of the banishment of Ahiggins and of the death of his own wife. The reasons for his sudden departure were for long a mystery to all, except to Bolivar and to Guido. Some looked upon it as an act of self abdication, some as one of desertion. Time has solved the problem. The step was taken after mature reflection and was the result of deep insight into his own character, into those of the men about him and into surrounding circumstances. Bolivar was master of the situation, he recognized this fact and left the field open for him to put the seal to their joint labors in his own way. On the night of his departure he issued a farewell address to the Peruvian people in which no mention was made of these facts. He gave no sufficient reason for so leaving them, and this cost much obloquy to be thrown upon his name. But he did so wittingly. For the disclosure of the true character of Bolivar would have predisposed the Peruvians against him, and his aid was necessary to their complete deliverance. The public life of San Martin ends here, but the remains of the army which he had organized for the liberation of Chile continued its glorious career in Peru until the emancipation of South America was accomplished. End of chapter 47