s accordingly. Placing his _llaneros_ and _gauchos_
in front and the infantry in the rear, he advanced resolutely to the
attack; and though it is contrary to rule for light cavalry to charge
infantry, this order, considering the quality of the rebel foot, was
probably the best which he could adopt.

On the other hand, the Spanish position was very strong, Griscelli massed
his infantry in the throat of the _quebrada_, the thickets on either side
of it being occupied in force. The reserve consisted exclusively of horse,
an arm in which he was by no means strong. Mejia was thus encompassed on
three sides, and had his foes reserved their fire and stood their ground,
he could not possibly have broken through them. But the Spaniards opened
fire as soon as the rebels came within range. Before they could reload,
the _gauchos_ charged, and though many saddles were emptied, the rebel
horse rode so resolutely and their long spears looked so formidable, that
the Spaniards gave way all along the line, and took refuge among the
trees, thereby leaving the patriots a free course.

This was the turning-point of the battle, and had the rebel infantry shown
as much courage as their cavalry the Spaniards would have been utterly
beaten; but their only idea was to get away; they bolted as fast as their
legs could carry them, an example which was promptly imitated by the
Spanish cavalry, who instead of charging the rebel horse in flank as they
emerged from the valley, galloped off toward San Felipe, followed _nolens
volens_ by Griscelli and his staff.

It was the only battle I ever saw or heard of in which both sides ran
away. If Mejia had gone to San Felipe he might have taken it without
striking a blow, but besides having lost many of his brave _llaneros_, he
had his unfortunate infantry to rally and protect, and the idea probably
never occurred to him.

As for the Spanish infantry, they stayed in the woods till the coast was
clear, and then hied them home.

Griscelli was wild with rage. To have his well-laid plans thwarted by
cowardice and stupidity, the easy victory he had promised himself turned
into an ignominious defeat at the very moment when, had his orders been
obeyed, the fortunes of the day might have been retrieved--all this would
have proved a severe trial for a hero or a saint, and certainly Griscelli
bore his reverse neither with heroic fortitude nor saintly resignation. He
cursed like the jackdaw of Rheims, threatened dir