dence of Chili was
to be severely tried.

In fact, on the first meeting of the armies it seemed overthrown. On the
19th of March San Martin's army, while in camp near Talca, was
unexpectedly and violently attacked by the royalist troops, the onslaught
being so sudden and furious, and the storm of cannon and musket shot so
rapid and heavy, that the patriot troops were stricken with panic, their
divisions firing at each other as well as at the enemy. Within fifteen
minutes the whole army was in full flight. The leaders bravely sought to
stop the demoralized troops, but in vain, O'Higgins, though severely
wounded, throwing himself before them without effect. Nothing could check
them, and the defeat became in large measure a total rout.

When news of this disaster reached Santiago utter consternation prevailed.
Patriots hastily gathered their valuables for flight; carriages of those
seeking to leave the country thronged the streets; women wrung their hands
in wild despair; the funds of the treasury were got ready to load on
mules; the whole city was in a state of terrible anxiety.

Several days passed before it was known what had become of San Martin.
Then news arrived that he was at San Fernando at the head of the right
wing, three thousand strong. These had escaped the panic on account of two
divisions of Osorio's army mistaking each other for the enemy and firing
into their own ranks. In the confusion that ensued the right wing was led
unbroken from the field. Also a dashing young cavalry officer named
Rodriguez had done good work in checking the flight of the fugitives, and
in a brief time had organized a regiment which he named the "Hussars of
Death."

Six days after the defeat General O'Higgins made his appearance in
Santiago. He was badly wounded, but was at once named dictator of the
republic. The next day San Martin, with a few of his officers, entered the
city. Wearied and dusty with travel as he was, his cheery cry of "_La
patria triunfa_" gave new heart to the people. For several days fragments
of the routed army came pouring in, and ten days after the battle Colonel
Las Heras arrived with the three thousand of the right wing. The patriot
cause seemed far less hopeless than had been the case a week before.

Yet it was evident that liberty could come only from strenuous exertion,
and the people of wealth freely subscribed of their money, plate, and
jewels for the cause. It was not long before a new army five