ON THE MARCH BACK TO SALTO—SUDDEN ATTACK —DESPERATE
DEFENCE—FLIGHT, AND PURSUIT—THE "BOLLA"—EXCELLENCE OF
THE HORSEMEN—INCIDENTS.
Having reached the border of a brook, I thought it better not to cross
it, because our small force might be disordered in the passage, and the
hill on the right concealed the great body of the enemy, who were not
far off, and marching in a direction parallel to our own. I thought we
would be attacked at that point; and the result justified my
expectation. I halted, and, wishing to discover the enemy's condition,
sent orders to Major Carvello, to "charge that line of the enemy quite
to the hill." The charge was made, and with bravery, as far as the
eminence, where the assailants stopped, and an adjutant came galloping
up to me, to inform me that the enemy were marching towards us at a
trot, and with their whole force in order of battle. No time was to be
lost. The cavalry on the wings wheeled to the right, and were reinforced
by the line, suddenly concentrated. The infantry formed on the right
flank and towards the enemy. When the line reached the top of the hill,
the enemy's line was marching upon us within pistol shot.
I must confess that the enemy had made a movement of which my troops
would not have been capable, and which proved that they were brave,
warlike, and well commanded. Seeing this, without taking time for
reflection, I gave the signal for a charge: for as soon as I discovered
them, the enemy were converging, from the centre to the wings,
laterally; and, after having made about half a circle beyond our flanks,
they charged our cavalry by platoons in flank, and so rendered our
infantry useless. I did not hesitate, but ordered my cavalry to close
in, and charge, to avoid losing the advantage of the impetus of the
horses. And indeed they charged well, and fought bravely.
Several charges were made by the cavalry on both sides, and with
different results. It would be difficult to decide which party displayed
most valor. The enemy being superior in numbers, and in the excellence
of their horses, drove back ours upon our infantry, and soon measured
our lances with their bayonets. The latter, having reformed, with the
aid of their numbers, drove them back, fighting them hand to hand. The
young Italians then performed their feats to admiration; and I remember
them, and the 20th of May, with peculiar pleasure. Compact as a redoubt,
exceedingly active, they ran to every point where their assistance was
needed, always putting the assailants to flight. The enemy fired very
few muskets, but those few were deliberate and sure.
At last the enemy, having become disordered by numerous charges, became
only a deranged mass; while, on the contrary, our troops, supported by
the infantry, were always able to reörganize for fighting well. The
engagement had lasted about half an hour, in that manner, when, being no
longer approached by organized forces, we were drawn up anew and made a
decisive charge. The enemy then broke, disbanded, and took to flight. A
cloud of "_bollas_" whirled about in the air, and presented a curious
spectacle.
The _bolla_ is one of the most terrible weapons used by the South
American horsemen. It consists of three balls, covered with leather, and
fastened to three leathern cords, which are connected. One of the balls
is held in the hand, while the other two are flourished in the air over
the head, when the order is given to charge. When a horse is struck in
the leg with one of them, it stops him, and sometimes makes him fall;
and in this way many captures are made. The South American cavalry
soldier is second to none in the world, in any kind of combat; and in a
defeat, they retain their superiority in pursuing their enemy. They are
stopped in their course by no obstacles in the field. If a tree does not
allow them to pass while sitting erect, they throw themselves back upon
the crupper of the half-wild horse, and disappear among the trappings of
the animal. They arrive at a river, and plunge in, with their arms in
their teeth; and sometimes wound their enemy in the middle of the
stream. Besides the bolla, they carry the terrible _Coltelo_, or knife,
which, as before has been mentioned, they keep with them all their
lives, and manage with a dexterity peculiar to themselves. Woe to the
soldier whose horse tires! "Bollado," or struck with the bolla, he
cannot defend himself from the knife of his pursuer, who dismounts to
strike him with it in the throat, and then mounts again, to overtake
others. Such customs prevail among them, that sometimes, when men of
courage meet, even after a victory, scenes occur which would shock a
reader if they were described.
One of those encounters I witnessed. It occurred at a short distance
from a line, between a party of our soldiers and one of the enemy, whose
horse had been killed. Having fallen to the ground, he rose and fought
on foot, first with him who had dismounted him, whom he treated very
roughly. Another then came to his assistance, then another; and at
length he was engaged with six, when I reached the spot, in order to
save the life of the brave man—but too late.
Our enemy was now entirely routed, and the victory complete. The pursuit
was continued several miles. The immediate result, however, was not what
it might have been, for the want of good horses, as many of the enemy
escaped. But, notwithstanding this, during the whole time that the
troops remained at Salto, we had the satisfaction of seeing that
department free from the enemy.
The action of the 20th of May has been described at length, because of
its remarkable success,—the fine, open field on which it was fought, and
the fine climate and sky, which reminded me of Italy. The struggle was
with a practised enemy, superior in number, and better provided with
horses, which are the principal element of that kind of warfare; and
several single combats took place on horseback, with great valor. Our
cavalry performed wonders that day, considering their inferiority. Of
the infantry, it will be sufficient to mention the case of Major
Carvallo, who was my companion at San Antonio and Dayman, and in both
actions fought like a brave man, as he was. In each of them, also, he
had the misfortune to be wounded in the face by a musket-shot. One
struck two inches below his right eye, and the other, in the same spot
on his left cheek, forming a strange symmetry in his face. He was
wounded the second time in the beginning of the battle of Dayman; and
after its close, he asked leave to return to Salto, to have his wounds
dressed. Passing under the battery of the city, he was asked what was
the fate of the day, when he replied, although he was able to speak but
little: "The Italian Infantry are more solid than your battery."
The names of the dead and wounded in the engagement, as has before been
said, are given in Anzani's "Journal of the Italian Legion."
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