Fénix 10, 203-234

LETTERS TO JAMES PAROISSIEM 223 lost his way in the night, and after a march of 14 leagues, found himself in sight of 2500 of our troops, commanded by Correa and Martinez 90. There they, the Enemies, remained 20 hours unmolested, and were allowed to re- treat by a most difficult road, across a dreary desert, to Tarrata, without the srnaílest anaoyance. Had they been attacked their total destruction were ine- vitable. ñhe moral effect of such blow would have made the rest of the Cam- pain mere holyday work. Just such another blunder was afterwards commi- tted at Locumba, where some Eundreds of the Enemy ought to have been ma- de prisioners with still greater ease. Instead of which, Canterac 91 and Val- dez were permitted to form a junction a: Tarata, where, and at Moquegua, Alvarado was nearly annihilated. 800 who escaped, and got on board at Ylo, would have been taken, had the Enemy shown ordinary activity in following up their successes. The still increasing patriotismo of the inhabitants was ill repaid by the excesses committed by the soldiery, which is to be attributed to the want of tact and decision in the Commander in Chief. The peasantry bringing their produce to market were pillaged until they could not venture t o come again. Owners of mules, who brought their droves voluntarily, were robbed of the very horses they rode, and returned on foot. During the action it is said [that] Alvarado kept himself half a league in the rear, and that he was not the last o11 board. 1 can freely forgive hirn for having previously contrived to send me to break my head against the rocks of Quilca 92, and can smile at the disa- ppointment he may feel at my not being so disposed of; but 1 cannot so easily forget his having sacrificed my brave Batallion, which gained a name, and drew from the royalist generals expressions of unquallified admiration. Poor La Rosa, Tarramona, and Esobar 93, with 7 subalterns, were killed. Domin- guez 94, Echavaria, with eight subalterns, were wounded and taken prisioners. Prieto 95 concealed himself for a rnonth in a Chacara and at last got on board a French Frigate bound to Callao. He was also wounded and is now Mayor of the Regiment. Having alway expressed my oppiriion when ever called upon to do so more freely than was agreeable, it became impossible for Alvarado and me to act together. 1 embarked for Lima with a Passport, but my departure ha- ving created a buzz in the Army and especially amongst my own officers and men, the general thought it necesary to invite me upon my own terms by Blanco 96 and other messengers to come on shore again 97. It was my wish to proceed to Tarrapaca with two companies, which, united with the force already there, would have enclbled me to act offensively towards Potosi. This would not only have producecl a diversion but formed a point d'appui, and a 90. Cirilo Correa and Enrique Martínez. 91 . See note 62. 92. December, 1822. Cf. Miller, Memoirs, ii, 25. 93. Colonel Pedro de la Rosa, Major Manuel Taramona, and Lieutenat [?] Escobar. 94. Pedro José Domínguez. 95. José María Prieto. 96. See note 82. 97. Cf. Miller, Mernoirs, ii, 16. Fénix: Revista de la Biblioteca Nacional del Perú. N.10, 1954