Fénix 10, 203-234

LETTERS TO JAMES PAROISSIEN 225 ding officers are: Alegre, Prieto, Elespiru, Garcan, Pardo Zela, Castro, Mar- quez de Sn. Miguel, Brandsen, Placencia, Gamarra Chief of the Staff, and Aparicio Sr. Ayudante Gral. 105 The whole was fitted out by Sarratea, Lynch, Riglas, Castilla, Robertson and Begg by contract 106. The embarkation of the troops was extreemety creditable to Sta. Cruz, who has, upon this occasion, closely [clearly?] shewrl himself to be possessed of activity and energy. The secrecy and rapidity with which it has been despatched is also highly praise- worthy. Our Countryman, Robertson 107, is intitled to no ordinary share of admiration, for the great talent he has displayed as is also Riva-Aguero for having suffered himself, upon this occasion, to be guided by such able ad- visers. 1 cannot conceal the mortification I feel at my exclusion from a Thea- tre upon which 1 should in a manner find myself at home, and where it happens thnt 1 have the weapon of popular feeling to an extent that Sta. Cruz neither has, nor [is] likely to have at first. Nevertheless, 1 would sooner end my rni- lrtary career, poor as I am, than submit to that which ought not to be tole- rated from one who passed over from the royalists two years ago, and but a few months ago my junior; or from another, upon whom 1 sat in a Court mar- tial, which found him guilty of cowardice 10% 1 have entered thus at length into particulars to enable you to account for my remaining in Lima, whilst the army Libertador and above al1 my own Regiment is in the field. Here ends the first part of my story. 1 have rummaged up the rough of a subsequent letter 109. You shall have that also, for 1 find it saves time and provides for deficiency o< memory. Sta. Cruz marched from Moquegua on the 23 July for the bridge of the Incas over the Desaguadero, and Gamarra at the same time from Tacna for Oruro, each with a division of an equal force, that is about 2,500 effective men. Neither having an Enemy of equal numbers to contend with, success attended the progress of each, or to use the words of Sta. Cruz: al1 his steps were preceeded by fortune. The Indian and Creo1 population were alike unanimously in favour of La Patria, and abundance of supplies of every kind were easily and rappidly raised. Cusco was open, undefended, in front and Salta in the rear as a safe retreat, in the event of misfortune or to draw a considerable royalist force to a great distance from the Army of Sucre 110 and Lima. Olañeta 111 had scarcely 2000 men, of whom aumbers passed over, and many more made known their intentions to do so if an opportunity offe- 105. Bueraventura Alegre, José María Prieto. Juan Bautista Eléspuru, Eugeti~oCraizbn, Juan Pardo de Zela, José Félix Castro, Marqués de San Miguel, Federico Brandsen, Ant~nioPlacensia, Agubtía Gaz~iirra, ai.d EGc.r>uel A~Xartínezde Aparlcio. 106. "Respectable English aiid foreign houses in Lima". Robert Proctor, Narrative of a journey across the Cordillera of the Andes, and of a Residente in Lima . (Lon- don, 1825), p. 130. 107. Tohn Parish Robertson. Se; Wumphreys, op. cit., p. 129. 108. Gamarra. 109. Probably written in October. 110. Antonio José de Sucre. 11 1. Pedro Antoiiio Olañeta. Fénix: Revista de la Biblioteca Nacional del Perú. N.10, 1954