into tears, hiding her face in her hands.
Taking one of her hands in his, Don Carlos soothed her and led her back
to the seat she had quitted, then drawing forward another chair he
seated himself near her and waited till she was calm enough to speak.
"Papa! Don Carlos. Do you know where papa is?" she said.
"I have just come from your house; no one was there. I have not seen Don
Roderigo for several days."
"Papa went away last night, I don't know where he has gone. Mamma has
gone to see grandpapa, I have come to see you. Long ago you told me that
perhaps the day might come when a friend----when you might----"
"And you remember, and you have come to me. Thanks, thanks, it is so
good of you. Tell me everything, your least wish is sacred to me."
Don Carlos moved his chair nearer her and tried to take her hand, but
she drew it away from him, and folding her hands together looked
straight at him.
"I know you would," she said. "Yesterday Marcelino came to see papa, and
papa was very angry with him. You know Marcelino wants to marry Magdalen
Miranda, papa says the daughter of Don Alfonso cannot be fit to be
Marcelino's wife. I did not hear all they said, for they were in the
ante-sala and the door was closed but not shut. But as Marcelino was
going papa called after him, to beware, for though he was his own son he
would never stir a finger to save the life of a traitor to his king and
country. That I heard quite plainly for papa spoke loud. I have not seen
Marcelino since, but last night when papa kissed me and held me in his
arms, there were tears in his eyes, and I could see that he was praying
for me. When I went away he called me back and kissed me again, and I
begged him to tell me what was the matter, but he said that nothing was
the matter, and that I was to be cheerful and not to trouble my head
about things, which could not be avoided. I thought that he was thinking
of Marcelino, but I don't know why, I was frightened, and I could not
sleep, and long after that I heard the door of papa's room open, then
the street door was opened very quietly and shut again, and I heard
voices in the patio speaking, one of which was papa's, the other I am
almost sure was Don Ciriaco Asneiros. This morning mamma said papa had
gone and would not be back for several days, but told me I was to say
nothing about it. In the afternoon Evaristo came, and said a number of
the volunteers had deserted and were gone with Don Ciriaco Asneiros into
the provinces to Cordova, to fight against the Junta, and that when they
catch them they will shoot them all. For more than two weeks Don Ciriaco
has been coming every night to see papa, after every one else was in
bed; Evaristo says that Don Ciriaco is a conspirator, and that they will
shoot him too."
Don Carlos had listened to Dolores attentively, letting her tell her
tale in her own way, but now she paused as though she expected him to
speak.
"You fear that Don Roderigo has gone with these mutineers," he said.
"I am almost sure of it. Mamma tells me that it is nonsense, and that he
has gone to Monte Video, but I know she thinks so too."
"I fear there can be little doubt of it," said Don Carlos.
Dolores covered her face with her hands and again burst into tears.
"Can you do nothing to help me, Don Carlos? I know you can. Think if
they should fight, and Evaristo is with the volunteers."
"You wish me to stop Evaristo? If you and Doña Constancia cannot stop
him what can I do?"
"No, no, Don Carlos. Do not be cruel to me, it is papa I wish you to
stop."
"But he is gone, what can I do? If he has gone to join Liniers, if we
fight I will make it my special work to save him for your sake."
Then Dolores sprang indignantly to her feet.
"I thought you were my friend, Don Carlos," she said. "He must not
fight, they will shoot him, what can you do to save him in a battle? But
you can stop him, I know you can."
"He is probably thirty leagues away by this time, how can I stop him?"
"I don't know, I don't know, but I know you can. How can I tell you what
to do? Oh, Don Carlos! you are my friend, you said you were, do not be
cruel to me. What matters Spain or the Junta if papa is killed?"
So saying Dolores fell on her knees at his feet, and seized his hand
pressing her lips to it.
Don Carlos rose hurriedly from his chair, a thrill ran through his whole
body at the touch of her lips, but she clung to him.
"Save papa for me," she said. "I know you can if you will. Save him for
my sake."
Then Don Carlos bent over her and raised her to her feet.
"I will do what I can," he said. "Here I can do nothing, but if I start
now I may reach Arrecifes to-morrow night; my dragoons are there, I may
perhaps overtake him on the frontier."
"I know you will, I knew you would if I asked you," said Dolores,
holding his hand in both hers, and looking up at him, her thanks and her
confidence, beaming upon him out of her large grey eyes.
"There is no time to lose," said she. "He left the house soon after
midnight."
"I shall be in the saddle in half an hour," said he, as he took up her
shawl and laid it carefully over her shoulders, but she raised it and
threw it over her head, wrapping herself up so that it was impossible
for any one who saw her to tell who she was.
"I will see you safe home, then I will go at once," said Don Carlos.
"No, no, not one step with me, I have Manuela." And stretching out her
hand to him, and leaving it for a minute in his firm grasp without
speaking, Dolores turned from him and, taking her maid with her,
disappeared in the patio.
Evaña stood motionless, looking after her, listening to the light rapid
steps which passed along the side-walk outside his sala windows till as
he heard them no more he drew a deep sigh, then ringing his bell for
Pepe he cautioned him never to mention this visit to any one.
Half an hour later, accompanied by two armed servants, he rode away,
leaving a short note behind him for Marcelino, telling him, without any
explanation of this hurried departure, that he had gone to join his
regiment at Arrecifes.
Late the following afternoon, Don Carlos Evaña rode alone into the
encampment of the dragoons, close to the small town of Arrecifes. His
two servants had been unable to keep up with him, and he had only
accomplished the journey so hastily by changing horses at different
estancias on his way.
Colonel Lopez had marched with two troops, the day before, for San
Nicolas, and no chasque had arrived from the city for several days; such
was the report of Venceslao Viana, who had been left in command with
about 100 men.
"A party of mutineers left Buenos Aires yesterday. Send out scouts to
make enquiries at every estancia for ten leagues to the east and west,"
said Major Evaña. "Two parties of three men each, with a sergeant, will
do. Any intelligence they may learn must be reported instantly."
"Are they Goths, Señor Don Carlos?" said Venceslao.
"Yes," replied Evaña.
The news that Goths were in the neighbourhood caused great excitement
among the men. In ten minutes a number of them had caught and saddled
their horses, and before sundown the scouting parties were out of sight.
Close to the encampment there was a small rancho, where Colonel Lopez
had taken up his quarters. There Evaña lay down on a catre to rest, but
was too much fatigued and excited either to sleep or to eat.
At midnight one of the scouts returned, with the intelligence that about
midday a party of eighty men, escorting a galera, had crossed the
Arrecifes river, and was believed to have halted for the night at the
estancia of Don Lorenzo Pico, some five or six leagues further on, Major
Evaña rose at once from his catre, telling Viana to put his troop under
arms, while he himself ate some food which had been kept in readiness
for him.
In half an hour Viana's troop were in the saddle, mounted on picked
horses. A corporal with two men were sent off to San Nicolas with a
despatch for the Colonel; the rest of the command had orders to collect
the spare horses at dawn, and march with all speed for the Estancia de
Pico.
A countryman who had come back with the scout offered to lead Evaña, and
performed his task so well, that at a quiet trot the Major with his one
troop reached the Estancia de Pico before sunrise.
The estancia house was a large azotea, with a courtyard behind,
surrounded by a low wall. There was no outer ditch or fence of any kind.
In spite of the caution with which they advanced, their approach was
perceived by the garrison. A few men whom Evaña sent forward to
reconnoitre were driven back by shots fired from the barred windows, and
the rising sun glinted on a line of bright musket barrels behind the
parapet of the flat roof. Don Roderigo was evidently prepared for a
vigorous defence, but it was not Evaña's purpose to fight with Don
Roderigo if he could avoid it.
Halting his men at a distance of 200 yards, Evaña drew a white
handkerchief from his pocket, and, waving it over his head, rode forward
alone to attempt a parley. Standing close to the parapet with his back
to him he saw a man of medium stature wearing a hat similar to one he
had been Don Roderigo wearing not many days before. He felt certain that
this was Don Roderigo, and rode forward till he was within thirty yards
of the house.
"Don Roderigo," he shouted, "I come to you as a friend."
Before he could say another word this man turned, took off his hat and
bowed to him, disclosing the hated features of Don Ciriaco Asneiros at
the same time shouting--
"Fuego!"
Evaña had just time to drive his spurs into his horse's flanks and rein
him sharply back. The animal reared up, received a volley of balls in
his chest and neck, and fell backwards, Evaña only just saving himself
from being crushed underneath him.
At this sight Venceslao Viana and his men rushed forward with furious
shouts, and, surrounding their leader as he lay on the ground, poured a
random fire from their carbines upon the windows and parapet of the
house, after which many of them galloped closer and struck with their
sabres at the garrison through the bars of the windows. But their fury
availed them little. Asneiros kept up a steady fire upon them from the
parapet, several of them fell from their saddles, and more of them had
their horses shot under them. Evaña, staggering to his feet, shouted to
them to keep back. They were too excited to hear him, but Asneiros saw
him.
"C----jo!" he screamed; "not dead yet!"
Then, pointing to him, he shouted to his men to take good aim and pick
him off. Venceslao heard the words and put himself in front of him,
calling to his men to rally round him. Three more of the troopers fell,
but the rest, re-forming their broken ranks, retreated beyond
musket-shot, Evaña retreating with them on foot. Nothing more could be
done than to keep watch on the house until the arrival of
reinforcements.
Several of the men being wounded, Evaña applied himself to binding up
their wounds, and had just cut out a ball from the shoulder of one man
with his penknife, when an exclamation caused him to look round. A troop
of about fifty horsemen were coming towards them at a rapid gallop from
the south-west. Their wide-brimmed hats, striped ponchos, and long
lances showed that they were not the dragoons. Evaña mounted at once
upon a trooper's horse, and, wheeling his men round, waited for them. At
a distance of 100 yards they halted, and one man came galloping forward
alone. He was a short, stout man, with fat, red cheeks almost destitute
of beard, with curly hair, and dark, piercing eyes. In his hand he
carried a long Indian lance, decked with ostrich plumes.
Reining up his fiery steed with the ease of a consummate horseman, he
looked eagerly at Evaña. Then changing his lance to his bridle-hand, he
removed his hat and bowed, saying:
"Have I the honour of speaking with the Señor Major Don Carlos Evaña?"
"Your servant, Señor," replied Evaña.
"I call myself Andres Zapiola, I am an hacendado of Arrecifes. Last
night some scouts of yours came to my estancia and told me you were in
pursuit of some mutineers. I have collected what men I could, I have the
honour of placing them at your orders."
"Never could you have come at a more opportune moment," said Evaña,
shaking hands warmly with his new ally. "We have had a skirmish with
them already."
The men of both troops were ordered to dismount, while Major Evaña and
Don Andres carefully reconnoitred the house at a safe distance. Don
Carlos was much perplexed as to what he should do next, for he wished at
all hazards to ensure the safety of Don Roderigo, and desired if
possible to conceal the fact of his being with the mutineers. Don Andres
advised him to give up all idea of attacking the place, assuring him
that hunger would soon compel them to surrender.
"But then," Evaña thought to himself, "the delay may bring me more
allies such as this, and it will be impossible to secure the escape of
Don Roderigo."
As he thus thought, scanning eagerly the defences to the rear of the
house, where the low wall round the courtyard offered no great obstacle
to a vigorous assault, Asneiros solved his perplexity for him. The men
were withdrawn from the azotea, and the courtyard which appeared full of
horses, became the scene of busy preparation.
"They are going," said Evaña.
"Let them go," said Zapiola; "it may cost us some lives, but in the open
camp we shall have them all the sooner."
Evaña looked on every side for the galera, it was nowhere to be seen. He
turned rein, and they rode back to their men, telling each man to take
his horse by the bridle and be ready to mount at the first note of the
bugle. They had not long to wait, the iron gate in the low wall was
thrown open, about forty men rode out and formed in column of march on
the green sward outside, many of them led a second horse by the bridle.
Behind them came the remainder of the small force on foot, with
shouldered muskets and bayonets fixed.
"They have not horses to mount them all," said Evaña, "therefore we can
overtake them when we please. If you will spread your men over the camp
in front of them, Don Andres, and prevent them from catching fresh
horses, I will follow you as soon as I have provided for my wounded and
made some enquiries here."
Don Andres bowed, and taking up his long lance, which quivered like a
reed in his grasp, he started off with his men at full gallop in
pursuit. Evaña followed him as far as the house.
Asneiros halted as he saw the horsemen in pursuit, and facing round with
his infantry, prepared to give them a warm reception, but instead of
charging him, the Señor Zapiola and his horsemen galloped past him with
wild shouts of defiance, and, spreading over the camp on his line of
march, drove off all the cattle and horses from before him.
Asneiros again put his men in motion and marched steadily on for about a
league, when he re-halted, and, mounting several of his infantry on the
spare horses, ordered the rest to get up behind such of the others as
were best mounted; he then gave the word to trot, and resumed his march
at a much quicker pace.
Meantime Evaña had dismounted a number of his men, and had sent them
round to the front of the azotea, where a number of his troopers lay
wounded. Four of them were found to be dead, seven more were removed
inside the house.
In the principal room of the house one man in the uniform of the
grenadiers was found lying, shot through the heart. The house had been
thoroughly ransacked, and not a living creature was to be found inside
of it. In the courtyard were several horses lying about in the last
stage of exhaustion.
Leaving a sergeant with three men to take charge of the wounded, Evaña,
after remaining half an hour here, started in pursuit at a quick trot,
but the march of the Spaniards was so rapid that it was two hours ere he
rejoined Don Andres Zapiola. About a league further on there was a large
estancia.
"Let us charge them at once," said Don Andres.
"Collect your men and support me," said Evaña. "We must not give them
time to dismount."
The dragoons, who were marching four abreast, wheeled quickly into line,
and led by Venceslao Viana dashed at full gallop upon the enemy, with
uplifted sabres and a wild cry of "Death to the Goths!"
Evaña, galloping behind them with his sword drawn, had left the lead to
Venceslao, so that he might devote his attention to protecting Don
Roderigo in the melée.
But, quickly as the dragoons had performed their change of front;
Asneiros had seen his danger. He halted at once, and ordered every man
to dismount and form up in front of the horses. His men had not been
drilled to these manoeuvres, and, being unaccustomed to riding, were
sore and stiff with the rapid marches of the last two days. Before he
could get them clear of the horses the dragoons were upon them. In vain
he shouted to them to close up and fire, a random volley did not stop
the dragoons for an instant; bending low on their horses' necks, so that
they could hardly be seen, the shot flew over them; the flankers on both
sides of the short line of infantry were swept away and trodden
underfoot; a small knot in the centre alone stood firm, beating off the
horsemen with their levelled bayonets.
Asneiros, who had remained on horseback, was carried away by the rush
and separated from them. As soon as he recovered command of his horse,
he turned rein and tried to cut his way through the disordered dragoons,
coming, in the midst of the tumult, face to face with Evaña. Muttering a
fierce execration he struck at him with his sword, but Evaña parried the
blow, and Venceslao Viana, spurring his horse between them, clove him to
the teeth with his sabre.
"Venceslao," said Evaña, "have you seen Don Roderigo, he was with these
yesterday?"
"Don Roderigo! I have not seen him. If he is with those," said
Venceslao, pointing to the small knot of infantry who yet stood firm,
"we must be quick to save him."
A number of the dragoons riding round this group were firing upon them
with their carbines, every shot telling on the close rank. Evaña
galloped up to them, shouting to them to lay down their arms; a number
of them did so; the next moment the horsemen of Don Andres Zapiola
poured over them like an avalanche. Behind the rush of the partidarios
the dragoons closed in, cutting down without mercy any who yet kept
their feet.
With an aching heart Evaña rode over the field, while Viana called his
men together by the bugle and so put a stop to the slaughter. Evana
searched among both dead and wounded, frequently dismounting to turn
over one lying on his face, but saw nothing of Don Roderigo.
The dragoons had taken some few prisoners, he inspected them, and
casting his eye upon a young man who was not dressed in uniform he
called him to him.
"What is your name?" he said.
"Joaquin Saurez, Señor, at your service."
"How do you come among these mutineers, you do not seem to be a
soldier?"
"Señor, I had urgent necessity for money, and the Señor Major Asneiros
gave me two doubloons to enlist in the regiment of Cordova."
"Well, Joaquin, you are mixed up in a bad business, but will you swear
to me that you are not a deserter from some regiment in Buenos Aires?"
"By the Holy Virgin Maria and by all the saints I swear it to you,
Señor. I never was a soldier, I do not know how to handle a musket.
Señor, I will tell you how it was I came to enlist."
"I have no time to listen, but if you will answer me my questions, and I
find your information correct, I will give you your liberty and a good
horse, so that you may go where you like; if you deceive me, with your
life you will pay for it. Now listen: was Major Asneiros your own
leader?"
"He was the only one who gave any orders?"
"Were all here to-day who left Buenos Aires with you?"
"No, Señor. There was a gentleman with two servants who rode with us the
first day, but we stopped that night at an estancia where there was a
galera waiting for him."
"And he came with you in this galera yesterday as far as Pico's
estancia?"
"Yes, Señor, we reached there soon after midday, and the men refused to
travel any further. He picked out the best of the horses and went on."
"How many men went with him?"
"Four postillions and his two servants who were in the galera with him."
"Do you know who this gentleman was?"
"I heard his servants speak of him as Don Roderigo, and I have seen him
before in Buenos Aires. I think he must be some powerful Señor, from the
respect that the Major showed to him."
"Did you hear where he was going?"
"To Cordova, Señor. He was very angry that we would not march on
yesterday, but some of the men could not sit their horses any longer."
As Evaña finished his examination the second party of the dragoons came
up, driving a mob of horses before them. The whole of the dragoons
dismounted and stood in a circle round these horses, while each man in
his turn caught one. When all were supplied they turned the horses they
had previously ridden adrift, and saddled these fresh ones.
Meantime Evaña had walked to where the body of Asneiros lay stretched on
the ground in the charge of a dismounted dragoon. This man he told to
search the pockets and give him all the papers he could find. The man
found few papers on the body, but he found a leather belt round the
waist, filled with gold coins. Evaña took the papers, but handing the
belt to Viana told him to distribute the money among the men of both
troops. He did not think it necessary to give any of it to the men of
Don Andres, for they were busy plundering the slain for themselves.
Evaña was not long in making up his mind what to do. Stiff and fatigued
as he was, and sore with the bruises he had received when his horse fell
back with him, he yet determined to carry on his pursuit himself.
Telling Viana to select twenty men from his troop, he gave up the
command of the rest to the captain of the other troop; then, with many
thanks to Don Andres Zapiola for his opportune assistance, he turned his
horse's head to the north and galloped away, attended only by Viana, and
a guide well acquainted with all the roads through Santa Fe, who had
been found for him by Don Andres.
After them galloped the twenty picked troopers without any attempt at
military array, driving before them some two score spare horses.
CHAPTER VIII
HOW GENERAL LINIERS LOST AN IMPORTANT ALLY
It was an hour past midday when Don Carlos Evaña galloped from the scene
of the skirmish. Judging that Don Roderigo would proceed by the high
road for Cordova, he cut straight across camp for the town of Pergamino,
where he halted for half an hour to make cautious enquiries. His uniform
and his announcement that he was on government service, procured him
every attention from the townspeople, who were eager in their offers of
assistance, and he soon learned, without exciting suspicion, that the
galera had arrived there late on the preceding night, and had started
again at sunrise.
Onwards he galloped, and soon after sundown reached an estancia near to
the Arroyo del Medio, which divides the province of Buenos Aires from
the province of Santa Fè. Here he found it was useless for him to
attempt to go any further, as, though a good horseman, he was quite
knocked up, not having galloped for any distance for several months. The
estanciero pressed him to remain, and at once sent some peons to
slaughter a cow for his men.
"I am dead beat," he said to Venceslao, taking him to one side; "I must
trust to you to catch this galera for me and bring it back."
"Pues! that is not strange, Señor Don Carlos," said Venceslao; "but you
know you have only to tell me what to do and I will do it."
"The gentleman who is in this galera is Don Roderigo Ponce de Leon. He
is on his way to Cordova to join Don Santiago Liniers in raising an
insurrection against the Junta. All who joins this insurrection will be
shot, so we must stop Don Roderigo at any cost."
"Have no fear, Don Carlos, even if I have to go to Cordova I will bring
him back. I do not forget that he is a relation of mine, and you know
that the family has its obligations."
"You must stop him before he reaches Cordova, or it will be too late,
and above all you must let no one know who he is. I shall wait here for
you."
"And if he will not come?" said Venceslao thoughtfully.
"If the men he has with him resist, shoot them, but do not touch him on
any account. He does not anticipate pursuit, so I do not think he is
prepared to resist. You have nothing to do but to turn the galera round
when you overtake it, and drive back. Speak to him as little as
possible. Everything depends upon your speed; if you start at dawn you
may catch him to-morrow."
Evaña asked the hospitable estanciero for a bed, and, in spite of the
fever of fatigue, was soon in a dreamless sleep; but soon after midnight
he woke and heard the jingling of spurs and the rattle of sabres in
their iron scabbards, as Viana with his men mounted and rode away.
Viana took fifteen men with him, leaving the other five behind in charge
of the spare horses; by sunrise he had reached the first post-house in
the province of Santa Fè on the main road to Cordova. All day he
travelled rapidly, changing horses at the post-houses as he went on,
encouraged by finding that the roads were heavy, and led through many
swamps and bad passes, which would seriously impede the progress of a
wheeled vehicle. At every post-house he heard that the galera was before
him, at the place where he halted at sundown he learned that it had
passed about two hours before.
Mounting again at midnight, he reached the next post-house at dawn, just
as the galera was leaving. Don Roderigo, supposing his party to be a
detachment of Asneiros' men, waited for him to come up. Venceslao rode
alone to the galera.
"You have mistaken the road, Señor Don Roderigo," said he.
"Are not you Venceslao Viana?" replied Don Roderigo.
"Your servant," replied Venceslao. "The Señor Major Evaña has detached
me with this escort to secure your safety, there are many bad characters
about."
"Evaña!" exclaimed Don Roderigo; "I thought he was in Buenos Aires."
"He left the day after you did, Señor Don Roderigo. The day before
yesterday we arranged those vagabonds, so now with this escort you need
fear nothing."
"And the Señor Major Asneiros, what of him? Where is he?"
"He died, Señor."
"And the Señor Major Evaña, where is he?"
"He was tired and could come no further, he is waiting for you at an
estancia on the Arroyo del Medio."
Don Roderigo looked fixedly at Venceslao, asking with his eyes a
question he did not care to speak. Venceslao bowed his head in reply.
"Carry out your orders, whatever they are." So saying Don Roderigo shut
the window of the galera through which he had leaned during this
colloquy, and, seating himself in a corner, wrapped himself in his
cloak.
Viana then rode up to the postillions, telling them to turn and go back
the way they had come, silencing their objections by throwing back his
poncho, and laying his hand on the butt of a pistol.
On the afternoon of the day following Don Carlos Evaña, now quite
recovered from his fatigue, sat talking with the estanciero who had
given him shelter, when one of his troopers came to the door of the room
and announced that a galera had crossed the arroyo and was coming up
towards the estancia, escorted by a party of dragoons. Don Carlos sprang
joyfully to his feet, and went out with his host to watch the galera as
it came swiftly towards them. At the tranquera it stopped, Don Carlos
himself opened the door.
"My friend," said he, "I am rejoiced to see you in safety."
"I am your prisoner I suppose, Señor Don Carlos?" replied Don Roderigo,
stepping out, but refusing the hand which Evaña stretched out to him in
welcome.
"My prisoner, no," said Don Carlos; "I shall be happy to escort you to
Buenos Aires, or any other place to which you may wish to go."
"I am on my way to Cordova and have lost four days by your
interference."
"To Cordova! that is impossible, Cordova is in the hands of a party of
rebels against government."
"Cordova is the present station of the only legitimate government of the
Viceroyalty of Buenos Aires. I see what you wish, Don Carlos, I see that
you wish others to believe that I have taken no part in this
insurrection as I suppose you call it. You have not introduced me to
this good gentleman, who is, I presume, the owner of this estancia."
"The Señor Don Luis Peña," said Evaña, on which the estanciero stepped
forward, raising his hat.
"I have much pleasure in welcoming you to my house, Señor, and put it
and all I have at your service," said Don Luis, shaking hands with Don
Roderigo.
"Peña!" said Don Roderigo, "I know your father well, and a worthy old
gentleman he is but I fear me infected with the disloyalty of the
present time. I am Roderigo Ponce de Leon, Señor Don Luis, I am a member
of the Cabildo and of the Audencia Real of Buenos Aires, and I am on my
way to Cordova to join Marshal Liniers and to concert measures with him
for the upsetting of this rebel Junta which has been established by the
mob in Buenos Aires. If you still offer your services you can aid me
very much, Don Luis, by raising the partidarios in this district and
liberating me from these dragoons."
"I am sorry, Don Roderigo, to have to refuse your first request,"
replied Don Luis; "we all here recognise the Junta of Buenos Aires as
the only legitimate government of the Viceroyalty."
"Then, Don Carlos," said Don Roderigo, turning brusquely away from Don
Luis, "I am your prisoner."
"If you think well over it," said Don Carlos, "you will see that in
turning your back on your journey I have been actuated only by a desire
to prevent great unhappiness to your family."
"And have acted as a traitor to your country," replied Don Roderigo,
then turning his back upon him he walked with Don Luis up to the house.
Don Luis Peña strove by every means in his power to render the
compulsory visit of Don Roderigo pleasant to him, but Don Roderigo
declined to look upon himself in any other light than as a prisoner. He
absolutely refused to return to Buenos Aires, although both Don Carlos
and Don Luis gave him every assurance that he should suffer no
molestation; he considered that to reside quietly in Buenos Aires,
taking no part in public affairs, would be equivalent to acknowledging
the authority of the Junta.
Thus two days passed; on the third Colonel Lopez arrived with the rest
of his regiment and encamped near to the estancia. In company with the
Colonel came Don Andres Zapiola and several other wealthy hacendados
from Arrecifes and Pergamino. To many of these Don Roderigo was known
personally, to all he was known by repute.
Don Carlos Evaña was sorely perplexed; some of these new arrivals spoke
of Don Roderigo as the man who had induced the desertion on the 10th
June from the "Espedicion Auxiliadora." This expedition had already left
Buenos Aires, and might probably reach the frontier in a day or two. He
himself was now under the orders of a superior officer, on the arrival
of the expedition both would be under the orders of Colonel Ocampo, who
would unquestionably send Don Roderigo to Buenos Aires as a prisoner,
for trial on a charge of treason. He consulted with Colonel Lopez, who
had declined to visit the estancia.
"Do what you will, Don Carlos, and lose no time," said the Colonel; "I
do not require your services with the regiment for a day or two, and if
you wish to go anywhere you can take an escort. In your report to me of
the defeat of Asneiros you have mentioned that you started at once after
the action in pursuit of a detachment which had gone in advance. Since
that you have made no further report, I suppose the other party escaped,
but I have instructions from Buenos Aires to arrest Don Roderigo Ponce
de Leon if he is in the neighbourhood; if I see him I shall carry out my
orders, but I have also letters which inform me that he is in Monte
Video."
Don Carlos returned to the estancia, and offered to escort Don Roderigo
to San Nicolas if he would promise him to go thence by water to Monte
Video, and give up all thoughts of joining Marshal Liniers. For long Don
Roderigo refused, the news of the approach of the volunteers under
Colonel Ocampo had no effect upon him, and it was only when Don Carlos
entreated him to secure his safety for the sake of his wife and daughter
that he at last consented.
As soon as it was dark that night, Viana's troop of dragoons left the
encampment and marched away eastward, passing close to the estancia of
the Señor Peña, where they were joined by five men well mounted, who
rode with them through the night at a rapid pace, and left them at dawn
near to the frontier town of San Nicolas. The dragoons encamped till the
next morning, when they were joined by Don Carlos Evaña and Don Luis
Peña; returning immediately to the estancia of the latter gentleman,
they were there met by the intelligence that the "Espedicion
Auxiliadora" was encamped near at hand on the Cañada de Cepeda.
CHAPTER IX
LA CABEZA DEL TIGRE
The Spanish adherents of Marshal Liniers, had done their best to excite
enthusiasm for the cause of Spain, in the hearts of the citizens of the
learned city of Cordova, a city of which it was said at that time, that
even the waiters in the cafés talked Latin, and that the favourite
amusement of the peons at the street-corners, was to discuss among
themselves the most abstruse questions of philosophy and metaphysics.
Among other reports which were diligently circulated, was one that a
great part of the troops in Buenos Aires had mutinied, and were on the
march to join Marshal Liniers under the command of Don Roderigo Ponce de
Leon, who had been appointed by Cisneros as his delegate in the
provinces. The news of the skirmish on the Estancia Pico, in which these
troops were stated to have been cut to pieces, consequently produced
great consternation among these Spaniards, but made little impression
upon the good citizens of Cordova, who for the most part heard of all
these events with indifference, not considering matters of government to
be any affair of theirs.
Marshal Liniers was better informed concerning the particulars of that
skirmish. The aid he looked for was not from Buenos Aires but from Peru,
yet still he lingered at Cordova, hoping to be joined by Don Roderigo,
of whom he had heard nothing, save that he had left Buenos Aires for the
purpose of joining him. So passed the month of July, his adherents
falling away from him, till he lost all hope of making any effectual
stand where he was against the patriot army.
Meantime the patriots had met with great difficulties on their march
across the Pampas to Santa Fè, and it was already August when they
ascended the high lands which surround the city of Cordova, marching
with great precautions, for they knew not what resistance they might
meet.
It was a fine morning, it seemed as though the spring had already come,
the air was so balmy, the vegetation so luxuriant, when on the 5th
August, Don Carlos Evaña with a troop of dragoons, which formed the
advanced guard of the patriot army, debouched from the thick wood, and
looked down upon the pleasant city of Cordova, snugly nestling among the
hills in the valley below him; upon Cordova, the city of churches and
convents, the city of monks and nuns, the city of learned doctors and of
eager seekers after a knowledge void of all practical value; upon
Cordova, a city of which no native was ever known to be in a hurry, and
where men were well content to sleep away their lifetime, sheltered from
the storms of nature by those encircling hills, sheltered from the
storms of men by their ignorance of all those varied aspirations, which
make life in other climes a never-ending race after prizes for ever
vanishing away; upon Cordova, the peaceful and the learned, where Spain
was thought of as the empress of the world, and where more was known of
the history of Carlo-Magno and his Paladins than of that of Frederick
the Great or of Napoleon, where the greatest war that the world had ever
known was supposed to be the war against the Moors waged by Ferdinand
the Catholic and his Queen.
Upon Cordova looked down from those wooded heights, the vanguard of the
patriot army; upon Cordova looked down Don Carlos Evaña, a man to whom
the learning of Cordova was but as an idle dream, a man in whose eyes
its peacefulness was sloth, and its religion hypocrisy.
But no thought of all this passed through the brain of Major Evaña as he
gazed upon the learned city, whose white domes and towers filled up the
small valley beneath him; he thought but of that one man whom he
considered as the most dangerous enemy of the Argentine people; he had
determined within himself to crush this man, and as he looked down upon
the city, where he had set up the standard of Spain, he thought only of
how best that standard might be trampled in the dust, he dreaded only
lest his foe might have escaped him by timely flight.
As his men cleared the wood, he gave the word to trot, and with much
jingling of spurs and clattering of iron scabbards, each man with his
loaded carbine resting on his thigh, the little force wound its way
rapidly along the tortuous path, and, descending the hill without
meeting a foe, trotted swiftly up the main street of the city to the
Plaza.
Men standing in doorways, gazed curiously upon them as they passed;
between the iron bars of many a window peered many a fair face, looking
upon the rough soldiers as though they formed part of some unwonted
pageant.
Both men and women looked upon these swarthy troopers, and women looked
much upon the pale, stern face of him who rode at their head; but the
men spoke no word of welcome, and the women gazed after them with
foreboding hearts. The steady tramp of the horses, the clattering of the
iron scabbards, were sounds unfamiliar to their ears, they recognised
intuitively that these men were the heralds of a new era, and that there
was little in common between them and the black-robed priests and
bearded monks who were the more usual occupants of their streets.
Major Evaña drew up his troop across the sandy Plaza in front of the
cathedral, and himself rode up to the hall of justice. Here he was met
by a group of the civil authorities, who stood in the sun before him
bare-headed, and invited him to dismount. Evana replied by asking them a
question.
"Where is the Señor Mariscal Don Santiago Liniers?"
"Marshal Liniers had left the city on the preceding day."
"What troops had he with him?"
"None. Only a few friends had accompanied him."
"What road did he take?"
"The northern road."
As the last question was answered, the great doors of the cathedral were
thrown wide open, a procession of priests issued forth, bearing an image
bedecked with jewels, seated on a throne under a canopy heavy with
golden fringe. In front walked a number of boys bare-headed, dressed in
white robes, with long hair which flowed down over their shoulders. Some
of these boys carried censers, which they swung to and fro, filling the
air with perfume, others carried small silver bells, which they shook as
they walked, producing a medley of sweet sounds which announced the
approach of the procession. Immediately before the canopy, walked a
young priest bearing a tall crucifix of massive silver, behind came
other priests bearing a crozier and crosses of silver, while on either
hand, and further behind, came a number of citizens, bare-headed and in
long white robes, carrying immense wax candles, which were lighted and
burned in the bright sunshine with a dull, yellow flame.
Evaña, with a gesture of impatience, wheeled his horse round, and
placing himself in front of his troop drew his sword, while Viana
shouted the word of command, "Present arms!"
Straight for the centre of the troop marched the procession, but Evaña
stirred neither foot nor hand, each swarthy trooper sat motionless on
his horse. An aged priest, with an angry scowl at the dragoons, spoke a
word to the boys, they turned to the right, and the whole procession
passed on in front of the line of horsemen and took its slow way down
the main street by which the dragoons had come, bells tinkling, and
censers swinging before it. The citizens in their doorways, and the
women-folk behind the barred windows, who had gazed so apathetically
upon the dragoons, now kneeling down with uncovered heads, devoutly
crossed themselves, muttered an "Ave" and a "Credo," and gazed with
admiring eyes upon the gorgeous canopy and upon the jewelled figure
beneath it.
No sooner was the front of his line free than Evaña, sheathing his
sword, gave a signal to Viana, the troop wheeled at once into column,
and trotted swiftly away by the northern road, watched by many a
wondering eye as it crossed the Rio Primero and wound its way up the
steep hillside, till it was lost to view among the abrupt peaks of the
sierra.
As simple shepherds tending their flocks by night gaze wonderingly at
the track of some fiery meteor, so the simple citizens of Cordova gazed
wonderingly at the cloud of dust which marked the track of the
fast-receding soldiery. They were accustomed to think of Spain as of a
great nation, empress of the world; they had heard of revolution as of a
deadly sin, as of a whirlwind sweeping over the earth, destroying
nations in its course, and inflicting unutterable woes upon the people;
now the whirlwind had descended into their peaceful valley, the deadly
sin had passed along their streets, the authority of Spain was uprooted
from amongst them.
Cordova was as the heart of the southern continent, her universities
were renowned teachers of theology and jurisprudence, and to her flocked
students from all the Spanish colonies of South America. Of late there
had come among them, men telling them that their learning was folly,
talking to them of the right of men to make their own laws, and to
worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience. These men
had spoken of the revolution of the 25th May as of a glorious event.
The townsfolk had looked upon Marshal Liniers as the man who was to
vindicate the authority of Spain, who was to uphold the integrity of
those laws and religious customs, the teaching of which was the glory of
their city. But Marshal Liniers had fled from among them, and now came
this troop of horsemen pressing after him in pursuit, passing through
their midst and injuring no one, neither halting to eat nor to drink,
but pressing on with the steady purpose of a relentless fate.
The genius of liberty rode unseen at the head of that small party of
dragoons, and, passing through Cordova, brought the knowledge of a new
era into the heart of South America.
* * * * *
Leagues beyond the sierra, on the road to Tucuman, there stood a large
estancia, used also as a post-house, which went by the name of "La
Cabeza del Tigre." About noon, on the day after Evaña with his dragoons
passed through the city of Cordova, Marshal Liniers with General Concha,
Bishop Orellana, Colonel Allende, and two others, were seated at dinner
in the principal room of this estancia. The faces of all present were
clouded and anxious; news had been received that morning that it was not
safe for them to proceed on their way to Tucuman, that province, the
garden of South America, had pronounced as one man in favour of the
Junta of Buenos Aires; the route to Peru was closed. San Juan and
Mendoza, lying at the foot of the Andes, had also declared in favour of
the Junta, barring the way to Chili. On every side there were enemies,
wide desolate plains, or impenetrable forests.
As they conferred together, there came a sound through the open doorway
of the galloping of horses, then came hoarse words of command, and the
jingling of spurs, as of horsemen dismounting.
"See what it is, Anselmo," said Marshal Liniers to the serving-man,
while his companions looked upon him in consternation.
Anselmo went out a handsome, smooth-faced mulatto, he came back at once,
his face of a pale-green colour, his eyes almost starting from his
forehead with terror.
"Señor! Señores! my General! the revolution!" he gasped out.
Then there came a heavy step with the jingling of a spur, a hand was
laid upon his shoulder, he was pulled roughly back, and Don Carlos Evaña
strode into the room.
"Señores, all of you, surrender yourselves prisoners to the orders of
the Junta Gubernativa."
Liniers started to his feet, stared wildly at Evaña, then turned deadly
pale and sank back into his chair, muttering between his teeth--
"It is he. All is lost!"
"What is this? who are you?" said the Bishop angrily, while Colonel
Allende drew his sword.
"It is madness to think of resistance, the house is surrounded," said
Evaña.
"Promise us our lives," said General Concha.
"I promise nothing. Give up you arms," replied Evaña, stamping his foot.
At this signal, in at the doorway came Venceslao Viana with his drawn
sabre in one hand and a pistol in the other, behind him filed into the
room a strong party of dragoons. Marshal Liniers, unbuckling his belt,
handed his sword to Viana.
* * * * *
It was the afternoon of the 25th August. The large dining-room of the
Estancia "La Cabeza del Tigre" was the scene of a court-martial.
At one end of the room, at the head of the table, sat Dr. Don Juan José
Castelli, member of the Junta Gubernativa, who had come express from
Buenos Aires on learning the capture of Marshal Liniers in order to
preside at this court-martial. On each hand sat several field-officers
of the patriot army, who formed the court. At the other end of the room,
and facing the President, stood Marshal Liniers, General Concha, Colonel
Allende, and two civil officials named Rodriguez and Moreno, who had
been captured at the same time. Behind them stood a party of the
Patricios, with grounded arms and bayonets fixed. Several other officers
of the patriot army, who had not been summoned to sit on the
court-martial, stood grouped about the doorway.
About half-way down the table stood Don Carlos Evaña, in full uniform as
a major of dragoons. He had just concluded his speech as public
prosecutor, demanding in vehement language that sentence of death should
be passed upon the five prisoners who stood before them, as guilty of
treason against the legally-constituted government of the provinces of
the Rio de la Plata; warning the members of the court not to permit
their private feelings to interfere with their duty to their country,
for if they allowed the authority of the Junta to be set at defiance
with impunity, they would deliver their country over to anarchy,
entailing upon it greater evils than had ever been inflicted by the
tyranny of Spain.
As he sat down a deep silence fell upon all present. Then Dr Castelli
addressed the prisoners, calling upon them for their defence against the
charges which had been brought with sufficient witness against them,
charges of attempting to foment rebellion against the royal authority of
King Ferdinand VII., and against the Junta governing in his name.
"If my acts and services do not attest my loyalty, I have no other
defence to offer," replied Marshal Liniers.
General Concha and the others denied the authority of the court, and
demanded to be sent for trial to Buenos Aires.
When the prisoners had been removed, many of the officers who had served
under Liniers, and were anxious to save him, demurred to the sentence of
death, but the influence of Dr Castelli, seconded by Don Carlos Evaña,
overcame all opposition. It was determined that the five prisoners
should be shot on the following day, and buried with military honours,
in consideration of the past services of Marshal Liniers.
The prisoners being recalled, the sentence of the court was read out to
them by Dr Castelli. General Concha and the three others protested
against the sentence as unjustifiable, but Marshal Liniers had given up
all hope of life when he surrendered his sword.
"What would you from the agents of a revolutionary Junta?" said he to
his fellow-prisoners; then turning to the court, he added:
"To one only of you have I a word to say--to you, Don Carlos Evaña. My
fate I have brought upon myself, by listening to the words of those who
induced me to spare you, when I had you in my power. I have long known
you as a dangerous conspirator. I have known you as one of those
reckless men, who care nothing what evils they bring upon a people in
the prosecution of their own extravagant ideas. But beware! this people
whom you have led to rebellion against their legitimate rulers, will
learn quickly the lesson you would teach them. As ruthlessly as they now
cast aside that authority and allegiance which has for centuries watched
over them, so will they trample underfoot any such ephemeral government
as you may attempt to set up. The people know no gratitude for past
services, and the day will come when they will turn upon you and destroy
you, in payment for the lessons you have taught them.
"Beware, Don Carlos Evaña! Here in America you have raised up the fiend
of revolution. You, and those who work with you, take to yourselves
pride, in that you have liberated a great people from the power of a
crushing despotism. You have done no such thing. You have but raised up
among them an evil spirit whom your puny efforts will be powerless to
curb. This people, this Argentine people, will themselves destroy the
work which you labour to accomplish. You are to-day the murderer of five
innocent men, condemned to death for no crime but because they stand in
the way of your own insensate ambition."
Here Marshal Liniers was interrupted by Dr Castelli, who commanded the
officer of the guard to remove the prisoners.
"I pray you, Señor Presidente, to let him speak," said Don Carlos Evaña.
"We, conscious of the rectitude of our own hearts, may well suffer our
motives to be impugned; it is but another sacrifice we make upon the
altar of our country."
"You are to-day my judges, to-morrow you will be my executioners,"
continued Marshal Liniers, looking haughtily round him, heedless of the
interruption; "but I tell you that the day is not far distant, when the
Argentine people shall themselves call you to account for the blood so
unjustly shed, and shall deliver you over to be torn in pieces by the
evil spirit you yourselves have raised--a spirit which will soon deluge
in blood those same streets of Buenos Aires in which I have twice led
you to victory--you who are to-day my murderers."
He spoke no more, but, with a proud inclination of the head, retired
surrounded by his guards.
* * * * *
Many efforts were made during the night by inferior officers who had
served under Liniers to procure a commutation of his sentence, but after
this farewell address the members of the court were more convinced than
before, of the necessity of ridding themselves of so dangerous an enemy.
On the following day, the 26th August, a volley terminated the existence
of the man who had first led the people of Buenos Aires to victory, of
the man who had first organized their militia into an effective force,
who had first taught them their strength, and had so made liberty and
independence possible to them. Marshal Liniers fell before the fire of a
platoon drawn from the ranks of a volunteer army, the offspring of his
own exertions, which Buenos Aires had sent forth to vindicate in the
provinces, the liberty she had already achieved for herself.
CHAPTER X
ONCE MORE IN THE PORCH TOGETHER
Once more, in the balmy springtime, they stood in the porch together,
Marcelino and Magdalen. The storms of winter had passed over, again the
trees clothed themselves in brilliant green, again the shrubs decked
themselves with flowers, and all nature rejoiced in the renewal of life
and strength. Together they stood in the porch, looking out into the
mellow sunshine, she leaning upon his arm with happy confidence, with a
sweet sense of ownership, for she was his wife.
Seated in an easy-chair under the shade of the trees, with the soft wind
playing round him and tossing lightly about the scant white hairs which
lay upon his temples, sat an old, old man. Don Alfonso had survived his
illness, but he rose from his bed older by apparently twenty years,
since the night when Magdalen had found him lying on the floor of his
room beside the brass-bound coffer, from which his treasure had been
stolen. He might yet live long, although the zest of life had gone from
him, leaving him only a monotonous, aimless existence, but he had now
both a son and a daughter to watch over the comforts of his declining
years. He accepted their attentions, passively submitting himself to
their care, and seeming happy, though taking no interest in anything that
went on around. Still his eye would brighten as they spoke to him of the
devastation and ruin which had fallen upon Spain, and of the success
which attended the measures of the new Junta of Buenos Aires. One day he
asked Marcelino for $1000, a sum which it was no easy matter for
Marcelino to procure, and he was curious to know what it was required
for, but for days the old man would do nothing except repeat his demand,
till Marcelino promised him that he should have the money. Then he
rubbed his hands together, saying:
"Such a good stroke, it should be well paid."
"What stroke, papa?" said Magdalen.
"That man who saved Don Carlos and killed that traitorous Spaniard."
Then Marcelino gave him the money, and he locked it up himself in the
black coffer, till Venceslao Viana should come back and receive the gift
from his own hands. Magdalen sighed as she saw that her father had not
yet fully learned the lesson of forgiveness, but to Marcelino she spoke
only of his gratitude.
Together they stood in the porch, watching the old man as he sat under
the trees, looking out into the mellow sunshine, thinking of troubles
past, fearing little for troubles to come, confident that their mutual
faith and trust, would bear them through whatever trials might yet be in
store for them.
"You have not told me if you have been successful," said Magdalen.
"I have had no difficulty at all," replied Marcelino. "My father can
come back and remain here as long as he chooses, but I fear there is
little chance of his remaining long, I fear he has made up his mind to
return to Spain, and will take my mother and Lola with him."
"And is Doña Constancia willing to go?"
"Yes, she is even anxious; she dreads nothing so much as that my father
should take an active part in the hostile measures of the Spaniards of
Monte Video. Dolores rejoices at the idea."
"That I can understand very well," said Magdalen, smiling.
"She was always more a Spaniard than a Porteña," said Marcelino. "Though
she does not say anything to me, yet I know she sorrows over me as a
hopeless rebel. When my father returns I think that both she and my
mother will come to see you."
"Does she ever speak of Don Carlos Evaña?"
"Yes, and you would be surprised to hear her. She will not allow any one
to say a word against him. She calls the execution of Marshal Liniers a
foul murder, but is angry when any one says that he had anything to do
with it. She says she knows that it was for quite another purpose that
he joined the army."
"Yet every one says that he went only to pursue Marshal Liniers. Don
Fausto says that when he marched from Arrecifes he was not in pursuit of
Major Asneiros, but of some one else, and that he had false information
that Don Santiago Liniers was with the mutineers."
"One thing is certain, that he went away after the fight on Pico's
estancia with twenty men, and that nothing was known of him for more
than a week after, but Marshal Liniers was at that time in Cordova."
"Do you think it is true that he sat on the court-martial?"
"Of that there is no doubt. My uncle Gregorio refused, and they named
him instead. Dr Castelli told me that, when he returned."
"Is that the reason why Don Gregorio came back and left the command of
the regiment to Don Carlos?"
"I believe so, but I have not seen my uncle since, he only remained one
night in the city."
"When you write to Don Carlos do not forget to tell him that Don
Roderigo is going to Spain, and will take Doña Constancia and Lola with
him," said Magdalen.
"I will not forget," replied Marcelino.
* * * * *
Spring drew on towards summer; everywhere the patriot arms carried
everything before them. Goyeneche, general-in-chief of the Spanish
armies of the Viceroyalty of Peru, maddened by repeated defeats and the
loss of some of his most trusted officers, gathered his forces together
for one last effort to retrieve the cause of Spain in the late
Viceroyalty of Buenos Aires, of which he, a Peruvian, was the champion.
The fight was fierce and bloody; the cavalry of Diaz Velez, charging
with true Argentine impetuosity, broke through the lines of the
partidarios of Peru, and scattered them in hopeless confusion; the
infantry of Buenos Aires, pressing on through showers of grape and
musketry, stormed with the bayonet the centre of the Spanish position,
but, broken by their rapid advance, their ranks in disorder, they here
found themselves opposed by a regiment of Spanish infantry, which had
been kept in reserve, and whose steady fire mowed down their men by
scores. Diaz Velez was far off; to retreat was utter ruin, to reform the
column under this murderous fire was impossible. Already the signs of
panic were visible, soldiers throwing down their arms and seeking
shelter, officers running wildly about, striving to collect their men
and make some reply to the volleys which shattered each rank as it was
formed. One young officer seized a standard, and waving it over his
head, calling upon his men to follow him, rushed upon the levelled
muskets of the Spaniards, who, in close ranks and steady as on parade,
loaded and fired with the rapidity only acquired by long practice; alone
he stood unflinchingly, under a tempest of balls, which tore the flag he
held into streamers, and shattered the shaft till it fell in pieces in
his hands. Other Spanish corps began to rally on the flanks of the
patriot column; all seemed lost, when through the smoke and dust a small
band of horsemen came rushing at full gallop, and hurled themselves upon
that serried line of infantry. At their head rode a tall man with pale
olive features and high square forehead, who neither waved his sword nor
shouted, but, taking his bridle in both hands and plying his spurs,
forced his horse into the thickest of the levelled bayonets; he never
looked behind, but rode straight on, knowing that those who followed his
lead, would follow it to the death. With wild shouts his troopers
galloped close behind, and their sabres drank deep of Spanish blood that
day.
The murderous fire was stopped, the panic was at an end, his men
answered to the voice of the young officer, who again called upon them
to rally to the standard, the ranks were reformed, the patriot column
rushed on, and the field of Suipacha was won.
"Major Evaña," said General Balcarce, as he strained that officer in his
arms, when covered with blood and dust he retired from the hard-fought
field, "to you our country owes the greatest victory she has yet
achieved. The enemy is totally routed, to-morrow there will not remain
one armed foeman on Argentine soil."
"Not to me alone," said Evaña; "let me ask you a favour for a young
officer, who did even more than me to-day."
Evaña stepping back laid his hand upon the shoulder of a young officer
of the Patricios, and continued:
"You have granted me leave of absence, let Don Evaristo Ponce de Leon
accompany me, he will be back ere you have need for him again."
"He shall carry my despatches for me to the Junta," replied General
Balcarce, "and shall carry his shattered flag-shaft with him as a proof
of the gallantry of the youth of Buenos Aires."
* * * * *
The year 1810 drew near to its close; a few days more and 1810 was
merely a date in the past, a date replete with memories both sad and
joyful to many of those whose lives and deeds have furnished the
materials for this book.
In the roadstead of Buenos Aires there lay a noble ship, with anchor
apeak, sails hanging in the brails, the blue-and-white flag, signal of
departure, flying from the truck of the fore-mast. On the quarter-deck
of this ship were collected several of those of whom we have just
spoken. Over them floated the flag of England, under whose shelter
political animosities were forgotten, and the close ties of relationship
and of friendship were once more acknowledged.
Don Roderigo Ponce de Leon had settled his affairs in Buenos Aires, and
shaking off the dust from his feet, was on his way to Europe; rending
asunder the liens which bound him to the country of his adoption, he
turned himself again to the country which had given him birth,
determined to devote the rest of his life to her service. But he went
not alone, with him went his wife and daughter, and he said to himself
that he had yet a son left, who, uninfected with the heresies of the
present age, was still a loyal child of Spain. Yet as the moment of
departure drew nigh his heart yearned towards the son who had at one
time been his pride, his anger towards him melted away, and forcing
himself to forget the present and the immediate past, he talked only to
him of the future; talked to him of the day when Ferdinand of Bourbon,
reinstated on the throne of Spain, should re-establish his authority
over his subjects in America who yet acknowledged their allegiance to
him, and, grateful for their past loyalty and devotion, should forgive
their present disloyalty to Spain.
Side by side he and Marcelino paced the deck together. Marcelino, deeply
grateful for the love his father yet displayed to him, seizing eagerly
at any topic of conversation in which he could agree with him, and
speaking confidently of the day as not far distant, when Spain and her
colonies should again be united under one sceptre.
"You have forgiven me, my father," said he. "God bless you for it. When
you are far away, and in your own country are striving to substitute the
will of an entire people for the tyranny of a few, when you establish a
cortes at Cadiz, and so direct the valour of a noble people, fighting
for rulers in whom they can trust, that this unbroken series of defeats
shall be changed into one of victories, till not a Frenchman tread the
soil of Spain, then, father, you will do me justice. Buenos Aires is my
country, as Spain is yours; what I have done for Buenos Aires you will
do for Spain, and under free institutions, Spain and her colonies shall
all acknowledge one king."
Then as Don Roderigo answered nothing, but paced the deck with a flush
of pride on his face as he thought of down-trodden Spain, and of the
future which lay before him, should he contribute to her certain
triumph, Marcelino continued:
"You have forgiven me, my father, there is one here to whom you owe no
forgiveness, who has never wronged you, and who, if you love me, has
every claim upon your love also, for she is your daughter. Father, you
have never spoken to Magdalen, she is my wife, and only waits permission
to share with me, all the love and respect I have for you. Father, will
you not speak to Magdalen? May I not bring her to you, and will you not
bless her for my sake if not for her own?"
"Magdalen! Your wife! Yes, let me see her," replied Don Roderigo.
Apart from the others, sitting by Doña Constancia and soothing her
sorrow with many gentle words, was Magdalen Miranda, who had already
found in Doña Constancia a second mother, and had learned to love her
dearly, only to lose her. Marcelino went up to her, and taking her hand
in his said:
"Come, Magdalen."
And Magdalen knew why he spoke, for her eyes had followed him wherever
he had gone, and her heart was with him in its one hope, that
Marcelino's father might yet bless her and call her his daughter ere
they parted, never to meet again.
She rose, and with her hand m his, walked with him to where Don Roderigo
stood awaiting them. Don Roderigo raised his hat, bowing to her with
courtly politeness, but without speaking, till seeing the yearning look
in her gray eyes, eyes which reminded him so much of those of his own
daughter, Lola, he forgot that she was the daughter of the man whose
life he had blasted, of the man who had ruined for him his hopes when
life was at its brightest, he saw in her only the wife whom his son
loved; opening his arms he took her to his breast and kissed her, then
raising his hand he laid it upon her head and blessed her, calling her
his daughter, and thanking her for the happiness she had brought into
the life of his son.
Taking her hand he led her to a seat, and seating himself beside her
began talking to her, questioning her much concerning herself, and
listening with ever-increasing pleasure to the sound of her voice, which
fell upon his ear with the melody of soft music.
Marcelino sat beside his mother with her hand in his, trying to speak
cheerfully to her of the future time when they should meet again, and
Dolores, flitting to and fro, kept the others from approaching these two
couples, so as to prolong for them the few minutes they might yet have
together.
"Here he comes at last," said a voice.
It was the English captain who arrived in a boat from shore, for his
arrival alone the ship was waiting. As he set his foot upon the deck,
the boom of a gun drew all eyes towards the distant city, then there
came the boom of another gun, then another.
"The guns are firing from the fort, papa," said Dolores, and as she
spoke, the continued roar of the guns came to them mingled with the
joyful clash of bells, coming to them with a softened sound across the
wide waste of water which separated them from the land.
"What is it?" asked several, of the English captain.
"They have just received news of a great victory somewhere in the
north," replied he; "they were making no end of a hullabulloo about it
when I left."
"Oh! my son! my son!" cried Doña Constancia, when these words were
translated to her, "I shall never see Evaristo again; but he could not
know, poor boy!" and she covered her face with her hands.
But her son was nearer to her than she thought. In the wake of the
captain's boat came another, swiftly propelled by six stout oarsmen. As
it drew near, it was seen to contain two passengers, whose eyes eagerly
scanned the row of faces peering over the bulwarks at them. Both were
in uniform, but in uniforms travel-stained and sun-browned.
"Evaristo!" said Dolores, with a cry of joy.
"And Evaña," echoed Marcelino.
Hardly had the boat touched the side, ere the younger officer, springing
lightly up the ladder, stood on the deck looking eagerly about him, then
bursting from those who pressed round him with congratulations and many
questioning words, he ran to where his mother sat, even yet barely
comprehending what she heard.
"Mamita!" he said, clasping her in his arms.
Leaving mother and son together, the rest crowded round Evaña, pressing
his hands and listening eagerly, as he told them of the great victory
which had freed Argentine soil from the footstep of a foe. Even Don
Roderigo, forgetful of all else, came up to him, and taking his hand,
listened with a father's pride, to the words in which Evaña spoke of the
gallantry displayed by his youngest son, attributing to him more than to
any other, the glories of Suipacha.
Evaña spoke with head erect, he stood among them with the bearing of a
conqueror, he felt that the dream of his life was rapidly approaching
its full accomplishment. Though he spoke but little of his own deeds, he
knew that had he not marched from Cordova with the army of the north,
the victories which had crowned the standards of the patriots, had never
been won. He it was who had infused determination into the counsels of
the chiefs; he it was who had set his foot with ruthless energy upon
every attempt to shackle in any way the authority of the Junta; he it
was who had interpreted to them the orders of that Junta, and had dared
to trample in the dust the standard of Spain, when upheld by those who
equally with the Junta claimed to rule by the authority of King
Ferdinand.
Evaña spoke proudly and haughtily as a free citizen of a free people,
but as he spoke, his eye wandered from them who hung upon his words,
wandered unceasingly, till his gaze fell at last upon her he sought, his
eye had found Dolores, seated at some distance from him with her mother
and Evaristo; then his voice faltered, and he answered at random the
questions which were put to him.
"And General Nieto, is it true that he fell in some action?" asked Don
Roderigo.
"No," replied Evaña fiercely, "I took him prisoner. Two file of
grenadiers and a priest, you remember his counsel to Marshal Liniers,
such mercy as he would have shown to me, such mercy I gave to him."
Then heedless of more questions, he made his way through them, and
walking up to Doña Constancia took her hand and raised it to his lips.
"Oh, Carlos, how good you have been to my son," said Doña Constancia.
"If you had not brought him, he could not have come, and I should have
gone away without seeing him."
"He might have been here before," said Evaña, "but Evaristo is a brave
soldier, and his country could not spare him on the eve of a battle. I
never told him you were going till the fight was over."
"I never saw any one in such a hurry to finish a fight," said Evaristo;
"but for Viana he would have been killed twice over. Then when all was
over he told me and we have galloped ever since."
"Don Carlos, I am so glad you have come," said Dolores, putting her hand
in his.
Evaña drew her away from the others to a vacant corner behind the wheel,
where they stood side by side, looking together at the shore.
"You are glad to see me, Lola," said Evaña.
Dolores started and her face was troubled as he spoke to her by this
name, which he had never used but once before during all their long
friendship, but quickly recovering herself she answered:
"Yes, so glad. You have been a true friend to me and mine, I have so
much to thank you for, you managed it all so well. No one knows here
that papa went with the mutineers, no one, not even mamma or Marcelino."
"I told you that I would be your friend, Lola, I have kept my word and
you have kept yours. I have left the army and come here on purpose to
see you once more, I have come to ask you to give me yet one promise."
"Tell me, you have only to ask me, I will promise what you wish."
"Listen first. You see that fair city stretched white and smiling, with
its towers and glistening domes, before us on the shore. That city is
the city of your birthplace, this country which you leave behind you
to-day is your country. You are going to Spain, you love Spain because
Spain is your father's country, when you have lived in Spain you will
know better what Spain is. I am glad you are going, but some day you
will come back, and to make sure that you do come back, I want you to
make me one promise, the promise I have come here to ask from you.
Promise me that you will never forget the land of your birth, promise me
that you will never forget that you are a Porteña."
"I will promise," said Dolores, "I can make that promise very easily,
for I am a Porteña. I love Spain as you say, because it is papa's
country, but I am a Porteña."
"Away across the ocean in the land to which you are going there is a
gallant soldier, whose heart will beat with a wild joy when he hears
that you tread the same soil as he. Some day you will be his wife, Lola,
remember then that your country is his also. He has promised us, he has
promised me and Marcelino, that when his own country no longer needs his
sword, he will come and join us, and will fight beside us till the
independence of your country and my country is secure."
Dolores flushed scarlet, her hand trembled as it lay in Evaña's firm
grasp, and she answered hurriedly:
"But the war is over, is it not? After this great victory there will be
no more fighting?"
"The war is but commencing," replied Evaña; "so long as Spain holds one
foot of ground on American soil, our independence is not secure."
The white sails came fluttering down from the brails where they hung in
festoons, the monotonous clank of the capstan ceased, the cheery cry of
the sailors announced that the anchor was aboard, and the noble ship,
swinging round, spread her wings to the wind. No longer an inert mass
lying lifeless on the waters, she became a thing of life, and cleaving
her way through the dancing waves, began her voyage back to Europe,
bearing within her the mingled joys and sorrows, hopes and cares, which
make a ship a small epitome of the world.
"Remember!" said Evaña to Dolores, then bending over her he pressed his
lips upon her forehead and so left her.
* * * * *
Again they stood in the porch together, Marcelino and Magdalen. Evaña
had just left them, and the evening breeze tossed about the branches of
the trees which had waved over him as he disappeared, going from them
with his heart full of proud hopes of which he had eloquently spoken to
them, going forth into a life such as he had planned out for himself
long ago, a life full of proud hopes and high resolves, a busy,
turbulent life, the life of a politician in a young democracy. They
stood in the porch together, and through the evening air came again to
them, as it had come to them in the morning across the waste of waters,
the loud boom of the cannon, the joyful clangour of the bells.
"Again!" said Magdalen. "Have they not made noise enough over Suipacha?"
"Again," replied Marcelino, "but for another cause; this is to celebrate
another victory. Belgrano has forced the passage of the Parana, and the
army of Velazco has fled before him. Everywhere the Junta is
victorious."
So joyously and gloriously ended the year 1810, with the booming of
cannon and the loud clangour of the bells. So, decking her brows right
early with the laurel leaves of victory, there rose up in the New World
a new nation. As a young man, glorying in his strength, rejoices in the
difficulties and dangers which beset his path, so Buenos Aires, recking
nothing of the toils and dangers she entailed upon herself, set her hand
zealously to the task she had undertaken, scorning to count the cost of
the great work she purposed to accomplish. Manumission from the thraldom
of a tyrant is purchased by the lives of men, and Buenos Aires sent
forth her best and her bravest to bear the standard of freedom in the
fore-front of the battle. Over the whole continent of South America the
sun of May rose resplendent, awakening enslaved peoples from the sloth
in which they wallowed, calling upon them to claim their place among the
nations.
"Then there will be no more fighting now," said Magdalen; "the authority
of the Junta is established."
"That I cannot tell," said Marcelino; "but one truth I know, which you
have taught me, that he who works out zealously the life-task which God
gives him to do, need fear nothing that may befall him in the future--as
his day is so will his strength be."
GENERAL EPILOGUE
GENERAL EPILOGUE
I. THE VICEROYALTY OF BUENOS AIRES
The Spanish colonies of La Plata were, from the conquest up to the year
1776, annexed to the Viceroyalty of Peru, but in that year, the same in
which the revolted colonies of Great Britain declared themselves an
independent republic, King Charles III. of Spain created by royal edict
the Viceroyalty of Buenos Aires.
"Its limits extended from ten and a half degrees south latitude to
Tierra del Fuego, and from the Cordillera of the Andes to the hills from
whence flow the upper affluents of the Paraguay, Paranà, and Uruguay;
this immense line terminating at the opening where the Rio Grande de San
Pedro falls into the sea. This territory, equal to a quarter part of the
whole of South America, comprehended the most beautiful fluvial system
of the world, and might compete in fertility, riches, and natural
beauties with the finest empire of the universe. It contained within its
limits six out of the seven climates into which Humboldt has divided the
globe--from the region where bloom the cinnamon and the spice-trees to
far beyond the agricultural countries; thus it produced all that man
requires for his sustenance, comfort, and delight."[14]
The first Viceroy, Don Pedro de Ceballos, landed at Buenos Aires on the
15th October, 1777; the last actual Viceroy was deposed by the people of
Buenos Aires on the 25th May, 1810.
The Viceroyalty of Buenos Aires was divided into several provinces and
"intendencias," which later on became provinces. Of the Viceroyalty
Buenos Aires was the capital city, being the seat of the Viceregal
government, and the general residence of the Viceroy. The province of
Buenos Aires was thus under the immediate rule of the Viceroy. The other
provinces were ruled by governors appointed by him, but were in their
internal administration, completely independent of Buenos Aires.
The Spanish colonial system, not only prohibited direct commercial
intercourse with foreign nations, but also imposed great restrictions
upon the intercourse of the several provinces with each other, the aim
of Spanish rule, being to secure the dependence of each separate colony
upon herself.
The whole of these provinces were independent colonies, bound together
only by their common allegiance to Spain, under the rule of one Viceroy.
The conquest of Spain by Napoleon destroyed the only bond which held
these provinces together.
The several events which followed the capture of Buenos Aires by
Beresford in the year 1806, and which it is the object of this book to
elucidate, gradually raised the citizens of Buenos Aires from a state of
blind subservience to Spanish rule, taught them their strength, and
accustomed them to criticise the acts of their rulers. Thus the
revolution of the 25th May, 1810, was nothing more to them than the
spontaneous outburst of popular will, a will which they had already
exercised on previous occasions with most glorious results. But the
provinces had undergone no such training. Thus, when the conquest of
Spain was apparently complete, and the whole Viceroyalty was left
without any legal authority, the citizens of Buenos Aires did not
hesitate as to what they should do. They saw at once that the
appointment of a new government rested with themselves, and, taking such
means of expressing their will as they had already in other cases found
efficient, they named the Junta Gubernativa. But upon the provinces the
news of the conquest of Spain fell as a thunderbolt. The fall of Spain
left them at the mercy of any ruler who should call upon them to obey.
Such was the condition of the masses of the Argentine people on the 25th
May, 1810, but both in Buenos Aires and in the provincial cities, there
was a small minority of educated men who had learned and had accepted
with eagerness, the principles inculcated by the revolutionary leaders
of France. "Le Contrat Social" and "Les Droits de l'Homme" were for
these men the gospel.[15] It was they who directed the popular
enthusiasm of Buenos Aires to one definite object, the establishment of
a Junta composed for the most part of men of Argentine birth; it was
they who throughout the provinces echoed the cry of "Liberty" raised by
the patriots of the capital.
[14] "La Historia de la Republica Argentina," by Don Luis Josè
Dominguez.
[15] Mitre.
II. THE YEAR 1810
"The new government lost no time in propagating the revolution throughout
the Viceroyalty, inviting the towns to follow the example of Buenos
Aires, to appoint popular assemblies, and to name deputies to form a
congress, which should decide their future fate. Where the people were
free to express their opinions the vote was unanimous. Maldonado and
Colonia, in the Banda Oriental; Las Misiones and Corrientes, La Bajada
and Santa Fè, along the rivers; San Luis, in the interior of the Pampas;
Mendoza and San Juan, at the foot of the Andes; Salta and Tucuman, on
the confines of Upper Peru, answered the call of the capital; Chili soon
afterwards following the same example."[16]
The revolution of the 25th May, 1810, was the work exclusively of the
citizens of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires took upon herself the
responsibility of the step, and spared neither blood nor treasure to
secure to herself and to the Argentine people, that liberty which she
was the first to proclaim in South America as the birthright of man.
Throughout the provinces there were many friendly to the cause, but
there were also many who were not so, and more still who looked on with
perfect apathy, and were ready to accept as their rulers any who might
claim the sceptre which had fallen from the hands of Spain.
To secure the triumph of her friends, Buenos Aires fitted out an army
composed of volunteers, equipped by private subscription, and despatched
it into the provinces. From Cordova this army marched to the borders of
Upper Peru, under the command of Don Antonio Balcarce, defeated
Goyeneche and other Spanish generals in several actions, shot General
Nieto and other chiefs, and completely freed the Arribeño provinces from
Spanish rule. The revolution advanced in every direction, Chili entered
into strict alliance with the Junta of Buenos Aires, and sent a
contingent of troops, and the auxiliary army, again victorious at
Suipacha, menaced with destruction the last remnants of the Spanish army
of Upper Peru.
A second expedition was also despatched to Paraguay under the command of
Don Manuel Belgrano, who received the grade of general. Belgrano crossed
the Paranà on the 19th December, putting to flight a small force under
Colonel Thompson, which opposed his passage, and occupied the town of
Itapùa.
But there was one exception to this general success which attended the
first measures of the Revolutionary Junta. General Don Francisco Elio,
Governor of Monte Video under the late Viceroy Cisneros, was appointed
in his place Viceroy of Buenos Aires by the new Regency of Cadiz. Until
the receipt of this appointment Elio had given a favourable hearing to
the emissaries of the Junta Gubernativa, but he now insisted upon their
recognition of his authority, and, finding his friendly overtures
rejected, declared war against Buenos Aires, and despatched the Spanish
squadron to blockade that port. The authority of Spain was for a time
re-established throughout the Banda Oriental, but the blockade of Buenos
Aires, after lasting three months, was raised in November, through the
intervention of Lord Strangford, who considered the Junta Gubernativa,
who ruled in the name of King Ferdinand, as the allies of Great Britain.
So ended the year 1810. During the seven months which had elapsed since
the revolution of the 25th May, many reforms had been introduced into
the administration, chiefly through the influence of Dr Don Mariano
Moreno, secretary to the Junta Gubernativa, but even his far-seeing
intellect did not fully comprehend the magnitude of the task Buenos
Aires had taken upon herself.
The first aim of the patriots was to procure the concurrence of all the
different provinces of the Viceroyalty. The next necessity was to
organise some entirely new form of government, which should amalgamate
these different provinces into one people. The history of the Argentine
Republic for the next six years, is the record of struggles for these
two objects, and of resistance against the attempts of Spain to
re-establish her authority.
The cry of "Liberty" raised in Buenos Aires on the 25th May, 1810, had
resounded throughout the Western Hemisphere, awakening responsive echoes
in the hearts of the down-trodden colonists of Spain. Venezuela and
Mexico had arisen against their oppressors, Chili had declared for the
revolution, Peru alone remained faithful to Spain, and Peruvian troops
marched under the Spanish flag against the patriot armies of Buenos
Aires. But in Buenos Aires only had the champions of liberty any secure
footing, to Buenos Aires alone could the enslaved peoples of America
look for the full achievement of their freedom.
[16] "La Historia de Belgrano," by General Mitre, from which work the
dates and facts of this Epilogue are chiefly taken.
III. PARAGUAY
Paraguay had suffered more than any other province of the Viceroyalty
from the tyrannical exactions of Spanish rulers, but the rule of
Velazco, the then governor, was extremely popular, and General Belgrano
with his small army, instead of meeting with a friendly reception, found
the whole country in arms against the Porteños; the country people fled
before him, driving off their horses and cattle, leaving nothing behind
them that could in any way assist his progress, but without venturing to
molest him.
Through forests and swamps Belgrano forced his way with infinite labour
to within eighteen leagues of Asuncion, where, at Paraguay, on the 19th
January, 1811, he with 800 men attacked the Paraguayan army under
Velazco, which numbered 9000. The impetuous valour of the volunteers at
first carried all before them, but, disordered by success, one part of
them was surrounded by overwhelming numbers and cut to pieces, and the
rest under the immediate command of Belgrano were forced to retire. On
the banks of the Tacuari, Belgrano halted with the remnant of his small
army, was there attacked by a pursuing column of 3000 men, repulsed
them, and then offered to retire across the Paranà if allowed to march
unmolested, saying it was not his object to conquer Paraguay.
In a lengthened conference Belgrano fully explained his views to the
Paraguayan generals and officers, his proposition was accepted, he
recrossed the Paranà, but the object of his expedition was achieved.
Soon after his retreat the Paraguayans rose against their Spanish
rulers, deposed them, and placed the government in the hands of a
triumvirate of natives. Of this triumvirate Dr Francia, a lawyer of
Asuncion, was the leader, a man of considerable mental attainments and
of great suavity of address, but withal of an iron will and of a most
ruthless disposition. Before long he had made himself the sole ruler of
Paraguay, and presently, seeing that anarchy was gradually spreading
over the other provinces of the late Viceroyalty, he cut off all
intercourse between Paraguay and the rest of the world.
IV. THE BANDA ORIENTAL
Early in 1811 the campaña of the Banda Oriental rose in rebellion
against the Spanish Viceroy; the Junta of Buenos Aires sent an army to
aid the movement. To Belgrano, recalled from the frontiers of Paraguay,
was entrusted at first the command of this army, but he was soon
superseded by General Rondeau, who was by birth an Oriental.
Josè Artigas had commenced life as an estanciero, and had obtained great
fame and influence among the paisanos of the Banda Oriental, till the
Government of Monte Video, finding themselves unable otherwise to put a
stop to depredations upon the revenue, entrusted him with the task of
suppressing contraband trade; his influence with the paisanage became
greater than ever. In February, 1811, he put himself at the head of the
popular outbreak, marched with his "gauchos" upon Monte Video, won the
first victory of the war at Las Piedras, and then, joining the army of
Rondeau, assisted him in laying siege to Monte Video.
The Princess Carlota of Brazil sent an army of 4000 Portuguese in aid of
the Viceroy. Then peace was made in November, 1811, but was of no long
duration. Josè Artigas took umbrage at the slow retreat of the
Portuguese, and made war upon them with his light cavalry on his own
account. Again the Government of Buenos Aires sent an army to aid him,
and secured the retreat of the Portuguese by concluding a separate peace
with them, after which, in October, 1812, Rondeau again laid siege to
Monte Video.
On the 31st December the garrison sallied out, under the command of
Vigodet, who had succeeded Elio in command, and attacked the principal
position of the besiegers at the Cerrito. The sortie was at first
successful, but the day was retrieved by the gallantry of Colonel Soler,
who with the 6th regiment recaptured the Cerrito at the point of the
bayonet, and drove the garrison back with heavy loss into the city.
After this, Artigas left the whole work of the siege to the Porteños,
named himself the military Governor of the Banda Oriental, and sent
deputies chosen by himself to the "Constituent Assembly" of Buenos
Aires. The assembly refused to admit his deputies, on the ground that
they were not legally elected; whereupon Artigas declared war against
Buenos Aires, and sent emissaries into Entre Rios, Corrientes, and Santa
Fè, seeking to stir up the people of those provinces against the
"Government of the Porteños."
At this time, the Government of Spain sent out to Monte Video a
reinforcement of 2200 men. Thus, when in January, 1814, Don Gervacio
Posadas was appointed Supreme Director of the united provinces, he found
himself with two wars upon his hands in the Banda Oriental. The
Argentine army, aided by Artigas, had been unable to capture Monte
Video, the garrison of that city was now much stronger than before, and
Artigas was actively engaged in cutting off the supplies of the
besieging army. Don Juan de Larrea, a Spaniard by birth, and one of the
members of the Junta Gubernativa appointed on the 25th May, 1810, was
the man to whom belongs the credit of overcoming these difficulties. Up
to this time the Spanish fleet had held the command of the estuary of La
Plata; the Government of Buenos Aires, inspired by Larrea, now fitted
out some small merchant vessels as men-of-war, and, placing them under
the command of an Irishman named William Brown, determined to dispute
this supremacy.
The Spanish fleet was at that time divided into two squadrons, one
stationed at Martin Garcia, an island which commands the entrance to the
rivers Uruguay and Paranà, the other stationed at Monte Video. Brown
sailed in the first place against Martin Garcia, but was beaten off by
the Spanish squadron with heavy loss. He returned to Buenos Aires for
the purpose of refitting and procuring reinforcements, after which he
again approached the island, and, landing his crews, captured it on the
16th March, 1814. The Spanish squadron fled up the Uruguay, and placed
themselves under the protection of Josè Artigas.
Brown then sailed for Monte Video, attacked the Spanish squadron there
on the 14th May, and after a desperate conflict against very superior
numbers, gained a complete victory, and blockaded the city.
On the 8th May General Alvear crossed the river from Buenos Aires with
3000 men, and with this reinforcement took command of the besieging
army. On the 20th June Monte Video, closely invested by land and sea,
surrendered. The trophies of this victory were 3500 prisoners, eight
standards, 545 guns, and 8200 muskets.
Artigas, on hearing of the surrender, immediately advanced upon Monte
Video, but his lieutenant, Otorguez, a caudillo of infamous repute, was
twice defeated by a small force detached against him under the command
of Colonel Dorrego, but Dorrego was in his turn completely defeated at
Guayabo by Don Fructuoso Rivera, in consequence of which, the Government
of the united provinces entered into an arrangement with Artigas. On the
24th February, 1815, Artigas took peaceable possession of Monte Video,
the Argentine army returned to Buenos Aires, and the Banda Oriental
became an independent state.
V. THE ARMY OF UPPER PERU
The auxiliary army of the north after its first successes, took the name
of "the army of Upper Peru," and, under the command of Colonel Diaz
Velez, penetrated victoriously to the confines of the province of Cuzco,
but was on the 20th June, 1811, surprised by Goyeneche at the
Desaguadero and totally routed. The remains of the army, under the
command of Don Juan Martin Puyrredon, made good their retreat, in
defiance of all the efforts of the Spaniards to stop them, to the city
of Salta. Here Puyrredon and Diaz Velez again attempted to make head
against the enemy, but their vanguard was defeated at Nazareno and they
were compelled to retreat upon Tucuman. On the march they were joined by
General Belgrano, who had been recalled by Government from the Banda
Oriental and appointed to the command of this army, at the request of
General Puyrredon, whose health was much shattered by the hardships
through which he had passed.
On the 26th March, 1812, Belgrano took the command of the army of Upper
Peru, which was no longer an army but a disorganised, half armed mob,
with a very small supply of ammunition, consisting of barely 1500 men,
one fourth of whom were sick. The retreat of Goyeneche gave him time to
form an army on the basis of this remnant; again he advanced into the
neighbourhood of Salta. Government, too much occupied by the war in the
Banda Oriental to send him any effective reinforcement, sent him
positive orders to retreat to Cordova. To these orders he paid no
attention, till Goyeneche, after quelling an insurrection in Cochabamba,
despatched General Tristan with an army of 3000 men to attack him.
In August Belgrano commenced his retreat from Jujui, closely pursued by
the Spanish vanguard, till on the 3rd September they drove in his
rearguard under Diaz Velez at Las Piedras, upon which he turned on them
with his whole army and totally routed them. The success of this
skirmish so greatly encouraged his men, that Belgrano, disregarding
renewed orders to retreat to Cordova, determined to halt at Tucuman. The
inhabitants of this city received him with acclamations, and some of the
principal citizens raised a contingent of "gaucho" cavalry among the
paisanos for his assistance.
On the 24th September Tristan marched past the city of Tucuman with the
idea of cutting off the retreat of Belgrano and compelling him to
surrender. Belgrano sallied out and attacked him; he himself at the head
of his gaucho allies broke through the Spanish line and assailed them in
the rear, while his infantry completely routed their centre, capturing
five guns and three standards. The left wing of the Spanish army stood
firm, but the next day Tristan beat a precipitate retreat, having lost
450 killed and 700 prisoners; the loss of the patriots was 80 killed and
200 wounded.
The news of this victory excited the greatest enthusiasm in Buenos
Aires; then in January, 1813, came the news of the victory of the
Cerrito, and in February the victory of San Lorenzo. Fortune seemed
again to smile upon the patriot cause.
Colonel San Martin, since his arrival in Buenos Aires in 1812, had been
actively engaged in organising a regiment of cuirassiers, known to
history as the mounted grenadiers famous in the campaigns of Chili and
Peru. Their first exploit was the affair of San Lorenzo, where they cut
to pieces a detachment of Spaniards who had landed from the squadron.
After the victory of Tucuman, Belgrano received reinforcements until he
had 3000 troops under his command, exclusive of the gaucho cavalry of
Tucuman, who scoured the whole country round, and greatly harassed the
Spanish general, Tristan, in his endeavours to reorganize his routed
army.
Up to this time the patriot armies had fought under the Spanish flag.
Previous to taking command of the army of Peru, Belgrano had been for a
short time stationed at Rosario, where he had adopted a new flag for his
troops, two horizontal stripes of blue and one of white, with the
national arms embroidered in the centre of the white stripe. For this
proceeding he had incurred the censure of the Government, and had
withdrawn his flag, saying that he should keep it concealed until he
could adorn it with the laurels of victory.
In February, 1813, Belgrano marched from Tucuman; on the banks of the
Rio Pasages, in the province of Salta, he halted his army on the 13th
February, and hoisting the blue-and-white flag upon a flag-staff,
administered to the whole army an oath of obedience to the "Sovereign
Assembly," from which imposing ceremony that river bore afterwards the
name of the "Rio del Juramento." Belgrano stood beside the new standard,
and drawing his sword held it across the staff, while every officer and
soldier of the army came up and kissed this military cross as he took
the oath. This standard was afterwards adopted by the nation, and is
to-day the national flag of the Argentine Republic.
From the Rio del Juramento the patriot army marched upon Salta, where
Tristan was then stationed with 3500 men. In the neighbourhood of this
city the two armies met on the 20th February; the battle was hotly
contested, but at length the Spaniards were driven in disorder back into
the city, where the whole army surrendered that afternoon, but after
laying down their arms were permitted by Belgrano with misplaced
generosity, to retire to Peru.
The losses in this battle were about equal, 600 killed and wounded in
each army. The trophies of the victory were three standards, ten guns,
and the whole of the arms and baggage of the royal army.
Goyeneche, who was at Potosi with 4000 men, retired precipitately on the
news of this disaster, and throwing up his command was succeeded by
Pezuela.
Belgrano made but slight use of his victory, and spent months at Potosi
organising schools, while the royalists recovered from their panic and
organised an army. Of his supineness Pezuela took every advantage, and,
having assembled about 4000 men, advanced in the spring upon Potosi.
Belgrano awaited him on the table-land of Vilcapugio, where he was
attacked by Pezuela on the 1st October. The patriots, advancing with
their usual impetuosity, at first carried all before them, but through
an ill-understood order were seized with a sudden panic and suffered a
total defeat. Belgrano lost the whole of his guns and baggage, but saved
his standard, and four days afterwards established his headquarters at
Macha with a remnant of his army.
In a month's time Belgrano had succeeded in again assembling about 3000
men, while the victorious royalists were held in check by the gaucho
cavalry which swarmed all around their position. In November Pezuela
again advanced and again defeated the patriots at Ayouma, Belgrano
retiring from the hard-fought field with only 400 infantry and eighty
cavalry.
Belgrano retreated to Jujui, where he succeeded in collecting 1800 men,
but on the approach of Pezuela he evacuated that city, and continued his
retreat to Tucuman, where he was met by considerable reinforcements,
including the mounted grenadiers of San Martin, who was named second in
command.
Worn out with sickness and reverses, Belgrano applied to be relieved of
his command, and in January, 1814, resigned it into the hands of General
San Martin, who, establishing his headquarters at Tucuman, applied
himself diligently to reorganising the army, and constructed an
entrenched camp to the north of the city. Pezuela reoccupied Jujui and
Salta, but the two victories gained by Belgrano had so roused the spirit
of the people, that the paisanos rose in mass against the invaders, and
under Arenales and Güemes prevented any further advance of the
royalists.
In this year 1814, the revolution in Chili was completely crushed by the
defeat of the patriots at Rancagua. San Martin gave up the command of
the army of Peru to General Rondeau, and, marching with his mounted
grenadiers and a small force of infantry to Mendoza, set to work to
collect and organise the immortal "army of the Andes."
Rondeau, advancing from Tucuman, retook Salta and Jujui, but was
afterwards totally defeated at Sipe-Sipe by Pezuela, on the 29th
November, 1815, and retreated to Jujui.
VI. THE SOVEREIGN PEOPLE
Such is a slight sketch of the military achievements and reverses of the
Argentine patriots, during the first six years of the era of liberty.
But not against external foes alone had they to contend, even yet a more
formidable foe, was the ignorance of the most enlightened among them of
the first principles of popular sovereignty. The principles of
representative government, then but partially understood even in
England, were by the Argentine people understood not at all. Further,
the Viceroyalty of Buenos Aires comprised a host of discordant elements,
which only the most consummate skill could weld at once into one
homogeneous people.
The Junta Gubernativa had not been long in power before it became
divided into two parties, Conservatives and Democrats. The latter, under
the leadership of Dr Moreno, represented the revolution; they were for
completely changing the whole system of government, and to themselves
made no secret that their ultimate aim was the establishment of an
independent republic on the democratic basis of the sovereignty of the
people. The Conservatives, of whom Don Cornelio Saavedra was the head,
aimed at nothing more than continuing the government under the old
forms, but independent of Spain, until such time as Ferdinand VII. might
again exercise his royal authority. Such reforms as were forced upon
them they accepted, but they made no attempt to direct public opinion to
any definite end, they had no fixed policy whatever, and thus the
measures of the Junta were directed exclusively by the more active
Democrats, until in the month of March, 1811, twelve deputies named by
the Cabildos of as many provincial towns arrived in Buenos Aires.
These provincial deputies, in spite of the opposition of Dr Moreno, were
incorporated with the Junta itself, and gave an overwhelming majority to
the Conservatives, who, not content with this triumph, stirred up a
popular commotion for the purpose of crushing the Democrats. The result
was the expulsion of four of the leading Democrats from the Junta, after
which the provinces were directed to form Juntas of their own.
In September the form of government was again changed by the authority
of the Cabildo. The Junta was resolved into a deliberative assembly,
whose functions were very obscure, and the executive was entrusted to a
triumvirate, Chiclana, Passo, and Sarratea. To this triumvirate Don
Bernardina Rivadavia acted as secretary, and his clear intellect infused
itself into every measure adopted.
The provincial Juntas and the Junta of the capital were abolished, and
the triumvirate, under the name of "The Superior Provisional Government
of the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata," commenced a vigorous
policy of centralisation, with a view to putting an end to the disorder
which had crept into every branch of the administration. Among other
decrees was one establishing liberty of the press.
The only check upon the power of the triumvirate was an assembly of
"Notables" chosen by the Cabildo. This assembly had the right of
appointing a successor to an outgoing triumvir every six months. On the
occasion of the first election their choice fell upon Don Juan Martin
Puyrredon, who was at that time absent in the interior. The triumvirate
denied their right to appoint a deputy to represent him until his return
to the capital, they insisted, the assembly was dissolved, and the whole
powers of government were assumed by the triumvirate.
But the Argentine people, in accepting the revolution of the 25th May,
had delegated their power to an executive, only until the meeting of a
sovereign congress. The triumvirate convened a new assembly elected by
the Cabildos of the capital and of the provincial towns, which was far
from representing the people, and was in no sense a congress.
At this time there existed in London a secret society, composed entirely
of men born in Spanish America, organised by General Don Francisco
Miranda of Venezuela, with the object of working out the independence of
the Spanish colonies of America. Three members of this society, Josè de
San Martin, Carlos Maria de Alvear, and Josè Matias Zapiola, all
Argentines by birth, arrived in Buenos Aires on the 13th March, 1812, in
the British ship _George Canning_. They at once proceeded to form a
branch of this society under the name of "Los Caballeros Racionales,"
and found many eager adherents among the more advanced Democrats of the
capital.
Taking advantage of the popular discontent with the measures of the
triumvirate the "Caballeros Racionales" stirred up a commotion, and a
fresh revolution in September placed the executive in the hands of a new
triumvirate, consisting of:
Dr Don Juan Jose Passo,
Don Nicolas Rodriguez Peña,
Antonio Alvarez Jonte,
all of whom belonged to the Democratic party.
"The eternal captivity of Ferdinand VII., has destroyed the last rights
of Spain."
Such were the words with which the new Government commenced their first
address to the Argentine people. They cast aside at once the fiction of
loyalty to a foreign king, and claimed to govern only by the will of the
people.
In accordance with this programme they devised a new plan of electing
the deputies to the assembly. Each town or city was divided into eight
electoral districts; in each district the citizens voted "viva voce" for
an "elector"; the eight "electors" so chosen by each city named the
deputy or deputies who should represent that city. Buenos Aires, as the
capital, had the right of sending four deputies to the assembly, the
capital of each province two, and all other towns one each.
This was an immense advance upon the old system of leaving the right of
naming deputies to the Cabildos, and produced a very fair representation
of the urban population of the united provinces, but the rights of the
rural population were entirely overlooked.
"The General Constituent Assembly" was inaugurated on the 31st January,
1813. Without proclaiming the independence of the united provinces, they
yet took to themselves the supreme power, substituting the national arms
for those of Spain; a national flag for the flag of Spain; suppressing
all laws and customs which in any way recognised Spanish tribunals as
courts of appeal; abolished the Inquisition and judicial torture; gave
liberty to all children born of slave parents after that date; and in
the service of the Litany substituted a prayer for the "Sovereign
Assembly of the United Provinces" in place of the one previously offered
on behalf of the King. Further, they decreed that all Europeans, whether
ecclesiastics, civilians, or soldiers, who should not within fifteen
days become citizens should forfeit any employment they held under
Government.
In January, 1814, the assembly determined upon another great step, they
abolished the triumvirate and placed Don Gervacio Posadas at the head of
the state, with the title of "Supreme Director of the United Provinces,"
but after holding office for one year Posadas resigned, and Don Carlos
Maria de Alvear was named Supreme Director.
Alvear owed his election to the influence of the "Caballeros
Racionales," of which secret society he was President, but he was
disliked both by the mass of the people and by the army.
The position of the united provinces was at this time very critical; the
fall of Napoleon had set Ferdinand at liberty, he was again King of
Spain, and was preparing at Cadiz an expedition of 15,000 men for the
purpose of reconquering the revolted colonies of La Plata. Alvear
despaired of securing the independence of the united provinces, but five
years of revolutionary rule had inspired the entire Argentine people
with a hatred of Spain; he determined to place them under the
protectorate of Great Britain. With this object he chose two
ambassadors, Don Manuel Belgrano and Don Bernardino Rivadavia, whom he
despatched to London with credentials to the Court of Saint James, and
with a despatch addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
in which, after describing the disorder into which everything had fallen
from the inaptitude of the people for self-government, he said:
"These provinces wish to belong to Great Britain, to adopt her laws, to
obey her Government, and to live under her powerful influence. They
deliver themselves unconditionally to the generosity and good faith of
the English people."
The two ambassadors reached London in March, 1815, only to find Europe
in a fresh commotion produced by the return of Napoleon from Elba. This
unforeseen event, put an end to the expedition in preparation at Cadiz;
greatly improved the position of Charles IV., ex-King of Spain, who
still asserted his right to the crown of Spain, and was then living in
retirement at Rome; and utterly precluded any hope that the British
Government would adopt any policy in opposition to the interests of
Ferdinand.
The two ambassadors never presented their credentials to the Court of
Saint James, and, in conjunction with Sarratea, who was at that time
agent in Europe for the Government of the united provinces, addressed
themselves, instead, to the ex-King Charles, offering to bestow the
crown of Buenos Aires upon his adopted son the Infante Don Francisco de
Paula. Waterloo put an end to this negotiation, Rivadavia went to Spain
to endeavour to treat with Ferdinand, and Belgrano returned to Buenos
Aires.
Belgrano was no great genius, either as a military man or as a
politician, but he was a hard-working, honest patriot; loving his
country, and ready to make any personal sacrifice in her service, he
aspired to no dignities and was careless of all emolument; he devoted
his life and his energies to securing the independence of the Argentine
people. But he was also a deep thinker, and foresaw that the anarchy
which was spreading over the united provinces threatened evils even
worse than the tyranny of Spain. During his residence in England, he had
seen that the liberty of the people was perfectly compatible with
monarchial institutions; he returned to Buenos Aires, convinced that the
establishment of a monarchy was the only means by which order and
liberty could be at once secured to the Argentine people.
During the campaign of Tucuman he had entered into friendly relations
with various Indian chieftains of the interior, among them he now
proposed to search for a lineal descendant of Atahualpa, for the purpose
of re-establishing the Empire of the Incas. In this purpose he found
many willing to join him, but the Argentine people, jealous of their
new-born liberty, looked upon the project as a dream.
* * * * *
The necessities of Government had compelled them to many extreme and
arbitrary measures for the replenishing of the exhausted treasury. Of
these measures the Spanish residents of Buenos Aires were the especial
victims. Early in the year 1812 the capital was almost drained of troops
by the large reinforcements despatched to the army in the Banda
Oriental, and the Spanish residents, headed by Don Martin Alzaga,
entered into a conspiracy together, their object being to seize the
city, put to death all the principal Argentine leaders, and to set up a
new government in connection with the Spanish Cortes then assembled at
Cadiz. To further their scheme they entered into a correspondence with
the Princess Carlota of Brazil, and the Portuguese army, which had
received orders to retire from the Banda Oriental, delayed its retreat
in pursuance of secret instructions, and was held in readiness to
support the conspirators if they should succeed in gaining possession of
the capital.
Until the eve of the outbreak, the Government was in complete ignorance
of the danger, but immediately on the discovery of the conspiracy
adopted the most vigorous measures of suppression. Thirty of the
principal conspirators, including Don Martin Alzaga, were shot, and
their bodies hung upon gibbets, seventy-eight of less note were
condemned to minor punishments, and the danger was thus averted.
* * * * *
The authors of the revolution of the 25th May, 1810, had sought to
establish a new government upon the democratic basis of the sovereignty
of the people. Many of them were men of great intellectual attainments,
but they had adopted the ideas of the revolutionary leaders of France,
in the full persuasion that that form of government, which is in theory
the best, must necessarily be the best in practice. The failure of
democracy in France had not opened their eyes to the fact that a
government, to be securely based upon the will of the people, must be
constructed in conformity with the traditions, circumstances, and
instincts of the people.
The first five years of revolutionary government were thus a series of
political experiments, a series of abortive attempts to govern a number
of distinct provinces by schemes of administration, which might have
been fully adequate for the government of the small republics of ancient
Greece, or of the Italian cities of the middle ages, when each city was
a separate state, but were totally inadequate for the government of an
immense territory, peopled chiefly by herdsmen and shepherds. They
totally failed to give the people any adequate means of expressing their
will, and the result was that during these years the people, who had
responded eagerly to the cry of liberty, interpreted in their own way
the theory of popular sovereignty.
The nature of the country and the traditions and instincts of the people
all inclined them to an aristocratic form of government; the attempt to
form an administration on a democratic basis was consequently a complete
failure.
The mass of the Argentine people were herdsmen and shepherds, who
lived scattered over immense plains, who were yet in a state of
semi-barbarism; the theory of the sovereignty of the people was
interpreted to mean that each man had a right to choose his own
ruler. The qualities which they could most fully appreciate were
dauntless courage, a strong seat on horseback, and a ruthless will.
Men possessed of such qualifications were those to whom they would
naturally look as their leaders, and to whom they were ready to yield
the most unquestioning obedience; but men like these were not the men
to work cordially with the authors of the revolution in the
regeneration of their country. Thus the leading Democrats, almost
ignoring the existence of the mass of the people, except when they
looked to them for aid against the Spaniards, sought only the
co-operation of the towns and cities in their attempts to form a
national government.
The revolution of the 25th May, 1810, was exclusively the work of the
citizens of Buenos Aires. The nucleus of all the armies which fought in
the subsequent campaigns was formed of the militia of Buenos Aires; the
Patricios, and other regiments levied in Buenos Aires, bore the brunt in
every conflict. It was the militia of Buenos Aires who marched with
Belgrano through the dense woods and endless swamps of Paraguay, and
held their own against the overwhelming odds of fourteen to one. It was
the militia of Buenos Aires who kept the Portuguese armies in check in
the Banda Oriental, laid siege to Monte Video, where the garrison
outnumbered them three to one, gained the victory of the Cerrito, and
eventually compelled the surrender of the city. It was the militia of
Buenos Aires who penetrated with Balcarce, Diaz Velez, Puyrredon, and
Belgrano to the confines of Upper Peru. It was the militia of Buenos
Aires who decided with their bayonets the fields of Suipacha, Tucuman,
and Salta; they stood round Belgrano and the blue-and-white standard
among the rocks on that dismal night which followed the rout of
Vilcapugio; they retreated with him from the still more disastrous field
of Ayouma. Argentines from other provinces, Paz, Arenales, Martin
Güemes, and many others, vied with their comrades from Buenos Aires in
gallantry and endurance on many a hard-fought field; on two occasions
Belgrano saved the remnant of his army solely through the devoted
bravery of his "gaucho" allies of the interior, but in every conflict
the brunt fell upon the infantry of Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires not only furnished the nucleus to every army, but her
citizens impoverished themselves to provide by voluntary contributions
for the support and equipment of these armies, while her trade was
harassed, and at times destroyed, by the hostility of the Spanish
cruisers. Of all the cities of the interior, Tucuman alone displayed
equal patriotism, equal zeal for the cause of all.
But Buenos Aires in return for the great sacrifices she made, claimed
for herself the chief place in the direction of affairs. The Cabildo of
Buenos Aires took upon itself on more than one occasion the right of
nominating the Government which ruled in the name of the Argentine
people. The "Constituent Assembly" of the year 1813 was the first
legislative body which in any degree represented the united provinces.
This assembly soon fell under the influence of the secret society, then
known as "Los Caballeros Racionales," and later on as "La Sociedad de
Lautaro."
The provincial jealousy of Buenos Aires, which almost disappeared in the
first burst of enthusiasm that welcomed the cry of "Liberty" raised by
Buenos Aires on the 25th May, 1810, soon revived; the provincial cities
began to ask themselves whether the domination of Buenos Aires, the
domination of a secret and irresponsible society, was not worse than the
domination of Spain. The disastrous issue of some of the campaigns, and
the continued demands upon them for supplies, exhausted their patience.
Then rose up a new power in the state, to which both the provincial
cities and Buenos Aires, had hitherto given but slight attention--the
people.
The army of Peru under Rondeau, the army of the Andes under San Martin,
refused to obey the orders of a Government which was merely the
mouth-piece of a clique. In their dilemma the citizens of Buenos Aires
looked about for a deliverer who should free them from a despotism which
threatened them with the loss of all for which they had fought. Their
gaze fell upon the new power which had risen up amongst them, they
appealed to the people.
In the year 1815 Josè Artigas stood forth prominently as "the man of the
people." The people were in a state of semi-barbarism. He himself was
little better, but he understood them, knew how to attract their
sympathies to himself, and how to rule over them. The Banda Oriental,
Entre Rios, and Corrientes obeyed him. In answer to the appeal of the
citizens of Buenos Aires, he crossed the Parana into Santa Fè with the
pompous title of "Chief of the Orientales and Protector of the Free
Peoples." The men of Santa Fè received him as their deliverer. Cordova
declared herself independent of Buenos Aires.
The people, knowing nothing of representative Government, chose for
themselves their leaders, and prepared to yield them unlimited
obedience. In every province there rose up petty chieftains, ruling with
absolute sway over their followers, ready for any sacrifice to defend
their country against Spain, equally ready to defend their provincial
rights against the domination of Buenos Aires. These popular chieftains
throughout the provinces hailed Artigas as their champion.
Alvear bestirred himself against this new enemy, and despatched an army
to drive him from the province of Santa Fè. But on the frontier of
Buenos Aires this army joined the popular movement, and fraternised
with the barbaric hordes of Artigas. Then the citizens of Buenos Aires
arose and decreed the downfall of the Government, the assembly was
dissolved, and Alvear took refuge on board a foreign vessel anchored in
the roadstead.
The Argentine people were left without a government, and, in presence of
the anarchy which prevailed, without any legal means of appointing one.
Again Buenos Aires put herself forward as the arbiter of the destinies
of the nation. The Cabildo of Buenos Aires resumed to itself the powers
of government, and decreed the election by the citizens of Buenos Aires
of a "Junta de Observacion," which should form a provisional government
until the convention of a sovereign congress. This Junta named General
Rondeau, then in command of the army of Upper Peru, Supreme Director.
The new Government found itself face to face with three distinct
enemies, Spain, the provinces, the people. Two provinces of the old
Viceroyalty of Buenos Aires, Paraguay and the Banda Oriental, were now
completely independent of Buenos Aires; every other province had an
equal right to such independence; Cordova and Santa Fè utterly refused
to recognise the new government; Entre Rios and Corrientes had chosen a
ruler for themselves, and obeyed the orders of Josè Artigas. The people
everywhere, weary of the exactions of the nominees of the capital,
looked to Josè Artigas as their champion.
Artigas, obeying the universal law which impels "the man of the people"
to become a despot, sought only to consolidate and extend his own power.
The Government, after a vain attempt to come to some definite
arrangement with Artigas, concluded a truce with him. He retired across
the Parana, and they despatched an army to occupy Santa Fè. But this
Army was compelled to capitulate to the "Montonera," or "gaucho" cavalry
of Santa Fè. A second army, stationed at Rosario, revolted, and demanded
the resignation of the Supreme Director. The Government yielded, the
"Junta de Observacion" named General Antonio Gonsalez Balcarce, Supreme
Director, and the army of Buenos Aires was withdrawn from Santa Fè.
VII. THE CONGRESS OF TUCUMAN
The only hope now of putting an end to this anarchy lay in the
assembling of a sovereign congress, in which all the provinces should be
duly represented.
On the 24th March, 1816, this congress was convened at Tucuman, the mass
of the Argentine people looking on with supreme indifference. At the
same time Artigas amused himself by convening a Federal congress of his
own at Paysandu in the Banda Oriental.
Each province sent deputies to the Congress of Tucuman in proportion to
its estimated population, and some attempt was made to procure the
representation of the campaña. Buenos Aires sent seven deputies;
Cordova, five; Chuquisaca, four; Tucuman, three; Catamarca, Santiago del
Estero, Mendoza, and Salta, two each; La Rioja, San Luis, San Juan,
Misque, Cochabamba, and Jujui, one each. The Banda Oriental, Entre-Rios
Corrientes, and Santa Fè sent no deputies, Paraguay was by this time
completely isolated from Argentine affairs.
The congress of Tucuman did not fully represent the Argentine people,
nevertheless it was a more exact representation of the popular will than
any assembly which had yet been convened. Upon one point only had the
Argentine people as yet made up their minds, they looked upon themselves
as an independent nation, and were ready to assert that independence
before the world. To this resolve of the people, the Congress of Tucuman
gave full expression.
The first measures of Congress were marked by great timidity, as though
they feared to measure the extent of their power, but on the 3rd May
they appointed Don Juan Martin Puyrredon Supreme Director, thus
annulling the appointment of General Balcarce by the Junta of Buenos
Aires.
VIII. INDEPENDENCE
In June Belgrano and San Martin arrived in Tucuman; neither of them were
members of Congress, but their personal influence had great weight in
the decisions of that body. In pursuance of their counsels, on the 9th
July, 1816, a day ever memorable in the annals of the Argentine people,
the secretary of Congress proposed this question to the deputies:
"Do you desire that the provinces of the union form a nation free and
independent of the kings of Spain?"
"Yes," answered every deputy, springing to his feet.
That answer was the true, outspoken will of the Argentine people, and
has been maintained by them with unshaken heroism ever since. By that
answer the Argentine people took their place in the world as an
independent nation. Nothing less than that answer would have justified
the revolution of the 25th May, 1810. That answer was the seal to the
liberties of the New World, it carried with it the independence of all
the infant peoples then groaning under the tyranny of Spain.
The Act of Independence was then drawn out as follows:
"We, the representatives of the united provinces of South America,
invoking that eternal Power which presides over the universe, in the
name and by the authority of the people we represent, protesting before
Heaven and before all nations and men of the globe, the justice of our
vote, solemnly declare before all the world, that it is the unanimous
and undoubted will of these provinces to break the chains which bind
them to the kings of Spain, to reassert the rights of which they have
been despoiled, and to take upon themselves the high character of a free
nation. In consequence of which they remain with ample and full power to
adopt such form of government as justice and their circumstances may
require. All and each one of us so publish, declare, and notify, binding
ourselves to the fulfilment and support of this their will, under the
security and guarantee of our lives, fortunes, and good name."
Twenty-nine deputies signed their names to this Declaration of
Independence. To maintain this independence the Argentine people, by
their deputies and their authorities of every class, devoted
themselves, their lives, and their properties, and amid all the
convulsions through which they have since passed they have never
faltered for one moment in their adhesion to this solemn declaration
which was made for them by the Sovereign Congress of Tucuman on the 9th
July, 1816.
Since then the anniversary of that great day has been yearly welcomed
with rejoicings throughout the length and breadth of the land. Amid the
vineyards of Mendoza, on the sunny plains of Santa Fè, in the peaceful
seats of learning at Cordova, and amid the busy hum of commerce at
Buenos Aires, the yearly recurrence of that day has been welcomed ever
since. Arribeños, Rivereños, and Porteños, whatever their passing
differences, alike look back in boastful pride to the day when their
forefathers boldly asserted their right to a place among the nations of
the world.
Through much turmoil and sorrow, through anarchy, tyranny, and bloodshed
the Argentine people have struggled since the day when Buenos Aires
first raised the standard of freedom. For six years they laboured before
they could unite to declare themselves a nation, even to the present day
their efforts to form themselves into one homogeneous people have not
met with full accomplishment. But the Argentine Republic now exists, she
holds her acknowledged place among the nations. The dream of those
gallant men who, on the 25th May, 1810, shook themselves free from the
traditions of centuries, is fulfilled.
* * * * *
In many of the events which we have so shortly chronicled in this
epilogue, Don Marcelino Ponce de Leon and Don Carlos Evaña took their
share, playing their parts, each according to his several character.
Both of them sprang to their feet and responded with an enthusiastic
"Yes" to the question proposed to the deputies by the secretary of the
Sovereign Congress of Tucuman, on the 9th July, 1816, both of them
signed the Declaration of Independence. Yet if you read that document
you will not find either of those names there written. They represent
two great sections of the Argentine people, differing widely in their
principles, more widely yet in their modes of thought, who joined
cordially together, to overthrow the domination of Spain, to establish
the Argentine Republic.
THE RIVERSIDE PRESS LIMITED, EDINBURGH
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
The original spelling and grammar have been retained.
Footnotes have been moved to the end of the chapters in
which they are referenced.
Minor changes in hyphenation and other punctuation
have been made without annotation.
Typographical changes to this volume:
Pg 6 in the aame[name] of the King of Great Britain.
Pg 31 Doña Constanica[Constancia] and Dolores
Pg 41 earned for themelves [themselves] immortal fame
Pg 75 forming perpendicular chiffs,[cliffs]
Pg 78 taking his hand let[led] him up to his mother
Pg 82 the things[thing] is to commence a
Pg 83 one of the twenty had make[made] off from the
Pg 83 he ordered them to drive to[delete to] four stout stakes
Pg 87 when the golloping[galloping] of horse
Pg 87 said Donñ[Doña] Constancia
Pg 88 Then you were made prisioner[prisoner]
Pg 99 his two brothers, Lietuenant[Lieutenant] Gordon
Pg 103 and a few sconds[seconds] afterwards
Pg 107 near to the Ensenada do[de] Barragan
Pg 107 has already reported to to[delete to] himself
Pg 126 But he shrank form[from] her
Pg 131 the losses seemed marvellously[marvelously] small
Pg 140 the distant hum with[which] told him
Pg 140 We[He] had crossed the ocean
Pg 143 on the Plaza Miserere[Miserere]
Pg 145 The right wing of this columnn[column]
Pg 146 closed by a black mound of eath[earth]
Pg 173 Very few prisoners find such kind goalers[gaolers]
Pg 177 He[We] thought him our friend
Pg 188 like one of the old partiarchs[patriarchs]
Pg 191 by any proceedure[procedure] short of an absolute rupture
Pg 196 to meddle any more in this affiar[affair]
Pg 215 who thought in[it] one of the
Pg 220 I know don't [don't know] any woman
Pg 220 her enthusiam[enthusiasm] beamed
Pg 224 Buenos[Buenas] noches y pasa adelante,
Pg 224 Upon which one of then[them] led him
Pg 229 and could bribe my goalers[gaolers].
Pg 230 Princess Carloto[Carlota] will not find
Pg 232 The idea is perfectly inadmissable[inadmissible]
Pg 236 Buenos Aires hailed the even[event] with joy
Pg 237 in which Don Carlos had esconced[ensconced] himself.
Pg 238 the interest of the is Patria[Patria is] above every other
Pg 240 But do not afflict pourself[yourself],
Pg 245 Until the new Viceroy arrive [arrives]
Pg 250 in the most critical noment[moment]
Pg 262 their follow[fellow]-countrymen.
Pg 289 said Don Ciricao[Ciriaco]
Pg 291 For this Doña[Don] Manuel Belgrano
Pg 296 he forget[forgot] that he
Pg 303 But Marcelino heardly[hardly] heard the remark
Pg 318 With heard [head] erect
Pg 322 for his bad success as a sportsmen.[sportsman]
Pg 332 Enclosed in this letter come[came] another
Pg 338 Look you, Don Alfonso," said Asnerios[Asneiros]
Pg 376 hunging[hanging] low over the city
Pg 377 clothing the whole earch[earth] with
Pg 378 than she had heart[heard] him speak
Pg 381 looked back in indignation upon his coleagues[collegues],
Pg 382 King Fedinand[Ferdinand] VII
Pg 386 Marcelino has peruasded[persuaded] him
Pg 386 He declined it," said Esneiros[Asneiros]
Pg 391 were in the enighbourhood[neighbourhood] caused
Pg 401 in the hearts of the citzens[citizens]