ENO--CORRUPTION OF PARTIES
IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

Having provided for the safety of the city and province of Valdivia, by
establishing a provisional government, and left Major Beauchef with his
own troops to maintain order--on the 16th of February, I sailed with the
_Montezuma_ schooner, and our prize the _Dolores_, for the island of
Chiloe, taking with me two hundred men, under the command of Major
Miller, my object being to wrest Chiloe from Spain, as I had done
Valdivia. Unfortunately, the services of the flag-ship, the _O'Higgins_,
were not available, there being no way of rendering her seaworthy,
without tedious repairs, for which there was no time, as our success
depended on attacking Chiloe before the Governor had leisure to prepare
for defence. Neither of our vessels being armed for fighting, I
depended altogether upon Major Miller and our handful of soldiers to
oppose a thousand regular troops, besides a numerous militia; but having
been informed that the garrison was in a mutinous state, I calculated
that by judicious management, they might be induced to join the patriot
cause.

Unluckily, our design had got wind, and the Spanish Governor,
Quintanilla, a judicious officer, had managed to conciliate them. On
coming to an anchor on the 17th, at Huechucucay, we found a body of
infantry and cavalry, with a field-piece, ready to dispute our landing;
but drawing off their attention by a feigned attack upon a distant spot,
and thus dividing them into two parties, Major Miller got on shore, and
soon routed them, capturing their field-piece.

A night attack being decided upon, the troops, a hundred and seventy in
number, moved on under the direction of a guide, who, wilfully or
treacherously, misled them, the men thus wandering about in the dark
throughout the whole night. At dawn, they found their way to Fort
Corona, which, with a detached battery, was taken without loss. Halting
for a short time to refresh the men, Major Miller bravely, but too
precipitately, moved on Fort Aguy, in broad daylight; this fort being
the stronghold of the enemy, mounting twelve guns, with others flanking
the only accessible path by which entrance could be gained, and being
garrisoned by three companies of regulars, two companies of militia, and
a full proportion of artillerymen. The fort stood on a hill, washed on
one side by the sea, and having on the other an impenetrable forest, the
only access being by a narrow path, whilst the