PUBLIC DISMAY—ENTHUSIASM OF THE PEOPLE RISING —I RETURN
TO MONTEVIDEO—OURIVES COMING TO BESIEGE IT—PREPARATIONS
FOR DEFENCE—GENERAL PAZ—I AM ORDERED TO COLLECT A
FLOTILLA—A FORTUNATE ACCIDENT.
In the period which elapsed between the battle of Arroyo Grande and the
beginning of the siege of Montevideo, that confusion prevailed which is
common in such cases, when plans are by turns formed, rejected, and
again adopted. Fear, desertion, and irresolution existed; but they were
found only in rare and individual cases. The people stood firm and
heroic, at the voice of noble-hearted men, who proclaimed that the
Republic was in danger, and called upon all to rise in its defence. In a
short time there was a new army, which, although neither so large nor so
well disciplined as the former, was, at least, more full of energy and
enthusiasm, and more strongly impressed with the sacred cause which
impelled them. It was no longer the cause of a single man which
stimulated the multitude: the star of that man had sunk in the late
battle, and in vain endeavored again to rise. It was the cause of the
nation, in the presence of which personal hatred and dissention were
silenced. Foreigners were preparing to invade the territory of the
Republic; and every citizen came out with arms and horses, to range
himself under the banner, to repel him. The danger increased, and with
it the zeal and devotion of that generous people. Not a single voice was
heard to utter the word "submission," or "accommodation." Since the
battle of Novara, in Piedmont, I could never compare my countrymen with
the Montevideans without blushing. However, all Italy desired not to
submit to foreign dominion, but panted for battle; and I am convinced
that Italians, like Montevideans, possess constancy and generous
devotion to liberty. But they have so many and such powerful influences
to keep them enslaved!
I had then orders to sink the small vessels in the channel of the river,
by which the enemy's fleet could come up. The larger vessels of the
patriot flotilla were then not to be sunk, but to be burned; I was
therefore soon engaged in burning a third fleet, but this was not to be
done, as on the two former occasions, while fighting, my sailors having,
consequently, once more been transformed into foot soldiers. I remained
with them a few days in San Francisco, to allow time to ship for
Montevideo the remaining materials of the army; and we then set off on
the march for the capital, in the neighborhood of which all the forces
were to be collected. Little or nothing of importance occurred on the
journey, except my acquaintance with General Pacheco, then a Colonel in
Mercedes. That illustrious Oriental commenced, at that dangerous crisis,
to display a noble superiority in energy, courage, and capacity. He,
beyond all question, was the principal champion of the gigantic struggle
sustained by his country against foreign invasion; a struggle which will
serve as an example to future generations, and to all nations who are
not willing to submit to force; and may God protect the Oriental people!
Montevideo presented, at that time, a surprising spectacle. Ourives had
conquered, and was advancing at the head of an army, which had passed
through the Argentine provinces like a tempest, or rather like a
thunderbolt. At the Coriolano of Montevideo, neither the prostrations of
the priests would have availed, nor the tears of wives or mothers, to
soften the hearts of the soldiers. The idea of chastising that city,
which had driven him away, and seen him fly, gratified the soul of that
atrocious man. The army of Montevideo had been destroyed, and nothing of
it remained except small and disheartened fragments of forces, scattered
over the territory of the Republic. The squadrons were cut in pieces,
arms and ammunition were very scarce, or entirely wanting, and the
treasury! It is only necessary to imagine it in the hands of such men as
Vidal, intent on nothing but on getting doubloons, as the most portable
kind of money for a meditated flight. He was Minister General.
It was, however, necessary to defend themselves. There were many men
belonging to Rivera's party for whom there was no escape after the
arrival of the others, and for whom the defence was an indispensable
condition. But they were powerless and trembling, being bound to their
employments and property. Yet the nation, the people, did not regard
Ourives as the antagonist of Rivera, but as the head of a foreign army,
which he led on for invasion, slavery and death; and they ran to the
defence with a feeling of their rights. In a short time the army, in
companies of cavalry, was made new. An army, chiefly consisting of
infantry, was organized in Montevideo, to support the capital, and under
the auspices of that man of victories, General Paz. That General Paz,
whom envy, but no good cause at all, had driven from the command,
replied to the call of his country in a time of danger, appeared at the
head of the forces of the capital, and organized, with recruits and
freemen, then emancipated by the Republic, that army which, for seven
years, was the bulwark of the country, and still maintains itself in the
presence of the most powerful enemy in South America.
Many leaders, forgotten and not fond of wars in which only individual
interests were engaged, made their appearance in the files of the
defenders, and increased the enthusiasm and confidence of the troops. A
line of fortifications was to be drawn around the city towards the
accessible part from the country, and they labored with alacrity until
it was completed. Before the enemy's approach, manufactories of arms and
ammunition, foundries of cannon, shops for making clothes and
accoutrements for soldiers, all sprang up at once, as if by a miracle.
Cannons, which, from the days of the Spaniards, had been judged useless,
and placed as guards at the borders of the sidewalks in the streets,
were dug out and mounted for defence.
I was appointed to organize a flotilla, for which several small vessels
were chosen. A favorable incident proved very valuable to me, by
enabling me to commence that armament. The enemy's brig Oscar, in
sailing at night in the neighborhood of the coast, ran upon the point of
the Cerro. That is the name of a mountain west of Montevideo, which
forms, with its base, the western side of the harbor. In spite of every
effort made by the enemy to get the vessel afloat, they were obliged to
abandon her. We profited much by that shipwreck. From the first the
enemy endeavored to prevent our saving her, and sent the sloop of war
Palmar to cannonade us; but not obtaining much advantage from this, and
the Republicans showing much obstinacy in seizing their prey, they soon
left them at liberty to pursue their work.
Among the numerous objects removed from the wreck, were five cannons,
which served to arm three small vessels, the first in the new flotilla,
and which were immediately put to use in covering the left flank of the
line of fortifications. I regarded the loss of the Oscar as a good
augury of the terrible defeat which was preparing.
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