DISCONTENT OF THE PEOPLE OF ST. CATHERINE'S —REVOLT
AT JAMAICA—ATTACK ON THAT TOWN—CONDUCT OF THE
TROOPS—RETREAT TO THE LAGOON—PURSUED—THE IMPERIALISTS
GAINING STRENGTH—COL. TERCEIRA'S EXPEDITION AGAINST
MELLO—OUR DISASTER—RALLY.
Changes were expected to take place at Laguna on the approach of the
enemy, who were very strong on land; and little good-will shown by St.
Catherine's induced some of the towns to rise against the Republican
authority. Among these was the town of Jamaica, a place situated at the
extremity of the lake. Canabarro gave me a peremptory charge to reduce
it, and, as a punishment, to sack it. The garrison had made preparations
for defence towards the water; but I landed at the distance of three
miles, and attacked them unexpectedly from the mountains. The garrison
being discomfited and put to flight, the troops under my command were
soon in possession of the town. I wish, for myself, and for every other
person who has not forgotten to be a man, to be exempt from the
necessity of witnessing the sack of a town. A long and minute
description would not be sufficient to give a just idea of the baseness
and wickedness of such a deed. May God save me from such a spectacle
hereafter! I never spent a day of such wretchedness and in such
lamentation. I was filled with horror; and the fatigue I endured in
restraining personal violence was excessive. As for preventing robbery,
that was impossible. A terrible state of disorder prevailed. The
authority of a commander availed nothing; nor could all the exertions
made by myself and a few officers control their unbridled cupidity. It
had no effect to threaten them that the enemy would return to the fight
in much greater numbers, and if they should take them by surprise,
disbanded and intoxicated, would make a sacrifice of them,—though that
was true to the letter. Nothing would prevent them from engaging in a
general scene of pillage. The town, though small, unfortunately
contained a vast quantity of spirits; and drunkenness soon became
general. The men who were with me were new levies, whom I did not know,
and wholly undisciplined. I am sure that if even fifty of the enemy had
appeared, in those circumstances, we should have been lost.
After a long time, by threats, blows, and some wounds, those wild beasts
were marched out and embarked; several pipes of spirits were shipped for
the division, and we returned to the Lagoon, while the Republican
vanguard was retiring before the enemy, who were advancing with
celerity, and very strong.
When we reached the Lagoon, we took the baggage across to the right
shore.
That day I had much to do; for, if the men were not very numerous, there
were many embarrassments, and many horses to be taken care of. And
besides, the outlet of the Lagoon was narrow at the entrance, the
current was strong, and when this was not found, the shores were not
distant. I had to labor, therefore, from morning until near noon, to get
the division over, and then stood near the bar to observe the enemy's
vessels, which were advancing in combination with the land forces with a
great number of troops on board. Before ascending the mountain, I had
already sent information to the General that the enemy were preparing to
force the passage of the bar, having been able to discover the enemy's
vessels while I was effecting the transport. Having reached the other
side, I satisfied myself of the fact. The enemy had twenty-two vessels,
all adapted to the entrance. I then repeated the message; but either the
General was doubtful, or his men wanted to eat or to rest. The fact was,
that not a man arrived in time to assist in operating at the point where
our infantry had been posted, and where we might have made great havoc
with the enemy. Resistance was made by the battery situated on the
eastern point, commanded by the brave Captain Capotto; but, in
consequence of the want of practice on the part of the cannoniers, very
little damage was done. The same result was experienced by the three
vessels under my command, the crews of which were very small, many of
the men that day being on land; and thus some would rest, and others
would not expose themselves to the tremendous battle which was
preparing. I was at my post in the Rio Pardo; and my wife, the
incomparable Anita, fired the first shot, putting the match to the gun
with her own hand, and animating with her voice the timid and the
hesitating.
The battle was short, but a murderous one. Not many were killed, because
very few were on board; but I was the only officer in the three vessels
left alive. All the enemy's squadron entered, making a tremendous fire,
favored by the wind and the current flowing in, by which their velocity
was much increased, and anchored at the distance of a cannon-shot from
our vessels, still keeping up their cannonade. I asked Canabarro for men
to continue the battle; but received, in answer, an order to destroy the
vessels and retire, with all the remainder that could be landed. I had
sent Anna with the message, directing her to remain on shore; but she
returned on board with the answer, showing a coolness and courage which
excited my astonishment and highest admiration. To her boldness and
exertions was due the saving of the ammunition, which was safely landed.
When this was effected, I remained alone on board, having yet to perform
the last act of setting the little flotilla on fire. The enemy still
continued their severe cannonade. I had to contemplate a terrible
spectacle on every vessel, as I visited them all in succession, the
decks being strewn with the dead. Captain Enrique, of the Taparica, from
Laguna, was found shot through the breast with a grape shot; Griggs,
commander of the Cassapava, had been cut in two by a shot, and his trunk
was standing against the bulwarks, his face retaining its natural
rubicund look, so that he seemed as if living. A few moments afterwards
their bodies were sunk in the water: those victims of the empire were
lost to human sight.
Night came on, as I collected the survivors, and marched behind the
division, on the retreat for Rio Grande, by the same road which they had
trodden a few months before, with their hearts filled with hope and
confident of victory.
Among the many sufferings of my stormy life, I have not been without
happy moments; and among them, I count that in which, at the head of the
few men remaining to me after numerous conflicts, and who had gained the
character of bravery, I first mounted, and commenced my march, with my
wife at my side, in a career which had always attractions for me, even
greater than that of the sea. It seemed to me of little importance that
my entire property was that which I carried, and that I was in the
service of a poor republic, unable to pay anybody. I had a sabre and a
carbine, which I carried on the front of my saddle. My wife was my
treasure, and no less fervent in the cause of the people than myself;
and she looked upon battles as an amusement, and the inconveniences of a
life in the field as a pastime. Then, whatever might happen, I was
looked upon with smiles; and the more wild the extensive and desert
American plains appeared, the more beautiful and delightful they seemed
to our eyes. I thought myself in the performance of my duty, in
encountering and overcoming the dangers to which I exposed myself, as
the object I had in view was the good of men who needed my aid.
We reached Las Torres, the boundary of the two neighboring provinces,
where we established our camp. The enemy contented themselves with being
masters of the Lagoon, and did not proceed beyond. But, in combination
with the division of Andrea, the division of Acunha advanced by the
Serra, having recently come from the province of St. Paul, and being on
the way for the Cima da Serra, (meaning the top of the mountains,) a
department belonging to Rio Grande. The Serrans, overwhelmed by a
superior force, asked assistance of General Canabarro; and he arranged
an expedition for their aid, under the command of General Terceira. I,
with my companions, formed a part of it; and, having joined the Serrans,
who were under Colonel Acunha, we completely beat that division at Santa
Victoria. The General was lost in the river Pelotas, and the greater
part of his troops were made prisoners.
That victory brought the three provinces of Lages, Vaccaria, and Cima da
Serra, under the republic; and, a few days after, the conquerors entered
Lages in triumph.
In the meantime the invasion by the Imperialists had restored their
party to power in the province of Missiones; and Colonel Mello, the
Imperial General, had increased his corps in that province to about five
hundred men. General Bento Manuel, who was to have fought him, was
unable, because he had retreated; and he contented himself with sending
Lieutenant-Colonel Portinhos in pursuit of Mello, who was marching in
the direction of San Pablo. The position in which I was then placed gave
us an opportunity not only to oppose Mello, but also to exterminate his
force. But such was not the event.
Colonel Terceira being uncertain whether the enemy would come by
Vaccaria, or by the Caritibani, divided his forces into two, sending
Colonel Aranha, with the good cavalry of the Serra, to Vaccaria, and
marching towards the Caritibani with the infantry, and a part of the
cavalry, chiefly composed of prisoners. It was by that point that the
enemy approached. This division of the forces proved fatal. Their recent
victory, the ardent feelings of the corps, and the information received
concerning the enemy, which represented their numbers and spirit as less
than they really were, led to their despising them too much.
After a three days' march we reached Caritibani, and went round by the
pass of Maromba, by which it was supposed the enemy would march. Guards
were placed in the Pass, and at other points, where they were thought
necessary. Towards midnight the guards at the pass were attacked, and
compelled to retreat, so that they had scarcely time to escape after
firing a few shots. From that moment until the break of day, the
Republican troops stood ready for action; and it was not long after that
hour that the enemy appeared, having crossed the river with their whole
force, and drawn up near it ready for action.
Any other officer than Terceira, on seeing their superiority, would have
hastened to effect a junction with the column of Aranha, and would have
occupied the enemy until he could have accomplished it. But the ardent
Republican feared that the enemy might escape him, and deprive him of an
opportunity to fight. He therefore pressed on to the encounter, although
the enemy were in an advantageous position. Of that position they took
advantage, having formed their line of battle on a hill of considerable
height, opposite which was a very deep valley, obstructed with thick
bushes. I had covered our flanks with several platoons of cavalry, which
they did not see. Terceira ordered to attack, with a band of infantry,
taking advantage of the obstacles in the valley. The attack was made,
and the enemy made a feint of retreating; but, while the whole
Republican body, after passing the valley, was pursuing the enemy under
the hill, within musket-shot, it was charged in flank by a squadron
which had been concealed on the right flank of the enemy, obliged to
retreat in disorder, and to concentrate anew. In that encounter fell one
of the bravest of my officers, Manuel N., who was very dear to me. The
troops, being now reinforced, and sent forward with greater impetus and
resolution, the enemy finally retired, and took up their retreat,
leaving one of their men dead on the field.
There were not many wounded on either side, for very few had taken part
in the action. The enemy, however, retreated precipitately, and the
Republicans pursued them to Aube; but the infantry were not able to
overtake them in nine miles, although they did their utmost to
accelerate their march. In the vicinity of the Pass of Maromba, the
commander of the Republican vanguard, Major Jacinto, informed the
Colonel that the enemy were crossing the Ganado and the Cavaladas,[2]
with indications that they would continue their retreat and not recover
from their panic. The brave Terceira did not hesitate for a moment, but
ordered the cavalry to proceed on the gallop, and directed me to follow
with the infantry as fast as possible.
The watchful enemy, however, had only manœuvred to deceive us, and by
the precipitation of their march had got in an advantageous position of
which we were not aware, concealed by the ground. One of our platoons
had been placed far in advance, and two others near it, but the infantry
imprudently left far behind. The enemy suddenly extended their right and
made his appearance on our left, running out from a valley which had a
small declivity. They bore down upon the Republican platoon with their
lances, and gave them this first notice of their error, which there was
not time to repair. Attacked in flank, they were completely discomfited.
The other platoons of cavalry shared the same fate, notwithstanding the
courage and efforts of Terceira and several brave Rio Grande officers.
Being taken in detail, they opposed little resistance; and in a short
time all were scattered, flying and completely broken. To be so far with
the infantry was very painful to me, and the more so because the
materials of which it was composed were not good, the greater part being
men who had been prisoners in Santa Victoria. I therefore hastened on
the infantry as fast as possible to join in the fight, but in vain.
Having reached an elevation, I witnessed the slaughter of my friends,
and knew there was no time to do anything to turn the tide, and
therefore resolved to save as many as possible.
I called to about a dozen of my old companions, whom I saw and
recognized; and, on hearing my voice, they hastened towards me. I left
an officer, to remain in charge of the body of infantry (Major
Peixotto,) and then, with that small band, I took a position, partly
sheltered by a few bushes, on an elevated spot of ground. There we began
to make a stand against the enemy, and to teach them that they were not
victorious everywhere. In an attack upon us, several companies of
cavalry were repulsed, although they made great efforts and displayed
much courage. The infantry at last joined us in our position, and then
the defence became powerful, and to the enemy terrible and murderous.
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Footnote 2:
"Ganado" means herds of cattle, and "Cavaladas" herds of horses, which
animals abound in those regions, living in the rich pastures. The
cattle afford the only food for soldiers, and the horses are
indispensable for cavalry—the best troops in South America.
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