SAN JOSE DEL NORTE—ITS CAPTURE—ILL CONDUCT—ITS
RESULTS—DISASTERS OF THE REPUBLICANS—I GO TO SAN
SIMON—BIRTH OF MY FIRST CHILD—MY SOLITARY JOURNEY TO
PROCURE NECESSARY CLOTHING FOR MY LITTLE FAMILY—TRIALS
AND APPREHENSIONS, SAD DISCOVERY ON MY RETURN.
The enemy, for the purpose of making excursions into the country, had
partly garrisoned with infantry the strong places. San Jose del Norte
was in such a situation. That place, which stands on the north shore of
the outlet of the Lake Dos Patos, was one of its keys; and the
possession of it would have been sufficient to change the face of
things. The town was taken, and the Republican troops gave themselves up
to pillage and riot.
In the meantime the Imperialists, having recovered from their surprise,
assembled in a strong quarter, and made head. The Republicans assaulted
them and were repulsed. The combatants endeavored to renew the attack,
but did not meet, or, if they met, they were unfit for fighting. Some
had damaged their muskets by breaking doors, and others had lost their
flints. The enemy lost no time. A few vessels of war lay in the harbor.
They took positions and raked the streets occupied by the Republicans,
sent to Southern Rio Grande for aid, and occupied the only fort which
they had not taken. The largest fort, called the Emperor's Fort,
situated in the centre of the line of fortifications, and which had cost
them a great assault, was rendered useless by a tremendous explosion,
which killed and wounded a great number. In short, the greatest triumph
was changed, towards noon, to a shameful retreat, almost to a flight.
Good men wept with anger and disappointment. The loss of the Republicans
was comparatively immense. From that time their infantry was a mere
skeleton. A few cavalry belonged to the expedition, and they served as a
protection on the retreat. The division marched to their barracks of
Buena Vista, and I remained at San Simon with the marine, which was
reduced to about fifty individuals, including officers and soldiers.
My object in staying at that place was to prepare some canoes, (boats
made of single trees,) and to open communications with the other parts
of the lake; but, in the months which I spent there, the canoes did not
make their appearance; and for the reason that they had existed only in
idea. Instead of boats, I therefore occupied myself with procuring
horses, there being an abundance of wild ones, which furnished much
occupation to the sailors, who became so many knights, though all of
them did not manage their steeds with superior dexterity. And San Simon
is a very beautiful and spacious place, although at that time destroyed
and abandoned. It was said to belong to an exiled Count San Simon, or
his exiled heirs, who had left home because of opinions different from
those of the Republicans. There being no masters there, we strangers fed
on the cattle and rode the horses.
At that place our first child was born, on the 10th of September, 1840.
The young mother, although so short a time before united to her martial
husband, had already passed through many trials and dangers. After the
terrible affair with the Brazilian men of war, she had accompanied me on
the marches, and even in the battles described in the preceding pages,
and had endured great fatigue and hunger, and had several falls from her
horse. During her stay at the house of an inhabitant of the place, she
received the greatest kindness from the family and their neighbors; and
I shall ever entertain to those who have shown kindness to me, and
especially to my wife, "Sarò reconoscientissimo, a quella buona gente,
tutta la mia vita" (I shall be most thankful to those good people all my
life.) It was of the highest importance that she had the comforts of
that house and those friends at that time, for the miseries suffered by
the army then rose to their height, and I was absolutely destitute of
everything necessary for my wife and little son; and in order to procure
some clothes, I determined to make a journey to Settembrina, where I had
several friends, particularly the kind-hearted Blingini, who would
cheerfully supply me with some things I wished to procure for them. I
accordingly set out to cross the inundated fields of that part of the
province, then all drenched by the rains. I travelled day after day in
water up to my horse's belly, and crossed the Rossa Velha, (an old
cultivated field,) where I met Captain Massimo, of the Free Lancers, who
treated me like a true and good friend, as he was. He was posted for the
guard of the Cavalladas. I arrived at that place at evening, in a heavy
rain, and spent the night; and the next day the storm having increased,
the good Captain determined to detain me at all hazards,—but I was too
much in haste to accomplish my object, to be willing to defer my
journey, and I set off again, in spite of every remonstrance, to brave
the flood. After going a few miles, I heard several musket-shots in the
direction of the place I had left, which raised some suspicion in my
mind, but I could only go on. Having reached Settembrina, I bought some
little articles of clothing, and set out on my return towards San Simon.
When I had recrossed the Rossa Velha, I learned the cause of the firing
I had heard, and the most melancholy accident which happened on the day
of my departure.
Moringue, the man who surprised me at Camacua, had now surprised Captain
Massimo, and notwithstanding a very brave resistance, left him dead,
with almost all his thirty lancers of the garrison. Most of the horses,
including the best of them, had been embarked, the remaining ones were
almost all killed. Moringue executed the operation with vessels of war
and infantry, and then reëmbarked the infantry, going himself by land
towards Rio Grande del Norte, alarming all the little forces, which,
thinking themselves safe, were scattered about that territory. Among
these was my band of sailors, who were obliged to take their clubs and
go into the woods, taking my wife with them, who mounted the saddle, to
avoid the enemy, with her infant, then only twelve days old, although it
was in the midst of the storm.
On my return I could not find any of my men, or any of the friends with
whom I had left my family; but I discovered them at length in the edge
of a wood, where they remained without any certain news of the enemy. We
went back to San Simon, where I remained some time, and then removed my
camp to the left bank of the Capivari.
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