e two armies met at _"Cancha
Rayada,"_ where, on San Martin's birth day, in 1819, the Spaniards
attacked his army at night, signally defeated and dispersed them. The
only division that retired unbroken, was that commanded by General Don
Gregorio de las Heras, and the army of the Andes left on the field its
whole artillery, excepting only one piece which was saved by the
personal exertions and cool intrepidity of Captain Miller, of that army,
now H. B. M. Consul General for these Islands. After that unexpected
defeat, the greatest consternation prevailed in the Capital of Chile,
the cause of the Republic was considered desperate, but the Supreme
Director, General Don Bernardo Ohiggins, made immense exertions to
reunite the scattered army and to strengthen it, by new levies; the
patriotism of the Chilians roused itself with an energy equal to the
emergency; resident foreign merchants, wishing well to the country and
alarmed by a report that it was the intention of the Spanish Commander
in Chief to shoot them all and confiscate their property (it being then
contrary to the laws of Spain that foreigners should reside in or trade
with her Colonies without special license), supplied money, arms and
accoutrements. An army was thus reformed with extraordinary expedition;
its confidence was restored by a troop of cavalry sent to reconnoitre,
headed by Major Vial, a brave French officer, who gallantly charged and
routed a superior force of the enemy, and, under the command of General
San Martin, on the 5th of April, 1850, on the plain of _Maypu_, it
defeated the Spanish army so completely, that only a few of the
fugitives reached Talcahuano.

But experience having shown that the independence of Chile could never
be considered secure so long as the Spaniards retained their hold on
Peru, it was resolved to make an attempt to liberate that Vice-Royalty.
Colonel Miller, whose promotion after the affair of _Cancha Rayadu_ had
been rapid, was sent with a small but active force to land at _Arica_
and operate in the Southern Provinces, where by astute strategy and
several brilliant successes he confirmed his high reputation. San Martin
soon after followed with the main army, escorted by the Chilian squadron
under command of Lord Cochran; in running down the coast, he took in
Colonel Miller with his troops, and knowing the powerful diversion that
the latter had made in the South, he proceeded northward to Pisco, where
a force was landed u