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The loss of the enemy was considerable, they had a great number wounded and killed, among the latter. General Nang, one of their best and bravest generals; he was shot by one of our legionaries. Besides this we gained a large booty in cattle, so that we returned to Montevideo with joy and hope in our hearts.

The result of this coup-de-main was my proposing another to the Government. This was to embark the Italian legion on board the flotilla, to ascend the river, concealing my men as much as possible, as far as Buenos Ayres, and, on arriving there, to land in the night, direct our course to the house of Rosas, carry him off, and bring him to Montevideo. This expedition succeeding, the war would be terminated at a single blow; but the Government refused to sanction it.

During the intervals of repose taken by our land army, I embarked on board our little flotilla, and, in spite of the blockade, the vigilance of which I deceived, got out, went and threw my grappling-irons over a trading vessel, and, under the very nose of Admiral Brown, I brought it a prize into port. At other times, by well-combined manœuvres drawing upon myself all the blockading forces, I opened the port for merchant vessels, which brought all sorts of comforts to the besieged city.

Still further, frequently embarking by night, with a hundred of my most resolute legionaries, I endeavoured to attack the enemy's vessels, which I did not dare attack by day, on account of their heavy guns ; but this was almost always attempted uselessly, as the enemy, suspecting my surprises, never remained during the night on their anchorage, but removed to a distance from the place where I hoped to find them.

At length, one day, determining to absolutely put an end to the matter with them, I went out with three small vessels, the least bad of our tiny squadron, and in open day resolved to attack them, at their anchorage in the road of Montevideo. Rosas' squadron

was composed of three ships: the 25 Mars, the General Echaque, and the Magpie.

These three ships carried forty-four pieces of cannon. I had eight, and those of small calibre; but I knew my men, and was certain that if we could but come to boarding, the enemy would be lost. I advanced towards the squadron in line of battle. We were already almost within cannon-shot; one mile more, and the fight would be inevitable. All the terraces of Monte

video were covered with the curious; the masts of the ships of war and merchantmen stationed in the port were, so to say, swarming with men; all these spectators awaited with anxiety the issue of a fight which every instant seemed to render more inevitable.

But

at that moment the commander of the Argentine fleet became unwilling to incur the risks of the contest; he put out to sea, and we returned into port, very ill repaid for our disappointment by the universal applauses which saluted us.

CHAPTER XLVI.

AN ANGLO-FRENCH INTERVENTION.

In the meantime, affairs were going on as badly as they could in Montevideo, when an Anglo-French intervention put an end to the blockade: the two Powers took possession of the enemy's fleet, and divided it

between them.

Then an expedition upon the Uruguay was determined on. The object of this expedition was to gain possession of Isle of St. Martin Garcia, of the city of Colonia, and some other points, principally of Salto, by which a communication would be opened with Brazil, whilst, at the same time, a nucleus of an army might be formed to replace the one that had been destroyed.

I embarked two hundred volunteers on board my

flotilla, and directed my course towards the fort of St. Martin Garcia. We found it abandoned by the enemy, and took possession of it. The city of Colonia was abandoned in the same manner, when the AngloFrench squadron and our little flotilla presented themselves before it. The Italian legion landed, fought and repulsed General Montero, who was, with superior forces, on the other side of the city. The squadrons, in the meantime I cannot tell with what objectopened a very warm fire against the abandoned city. They landed their troops, and formed our reserve in the attack upon General Montero.

About two o'clock in the afternoon we made our entrance into the city. The Italian legion was quartered in a church, and I gave the strictest orders that even the smallest things belonging to the inhabitants who had been forced to abandon their houses should be respected. I need not say that the legionaries religiously obeyed my orders.

The city was occupied and fortified by our people, who left a garrison there. The English and French fleets entered the Panara, and destroyed, in a fight which lasted three days, the batteries which command the course of the river. The resistance of the enemy was heroic.

I then proceeded with my little flotilla, composed of a brig, a goëlette, and several small vessels, to ascend the river.

During all the time we had sailed in company, the French admiral and the English commodore had evinced the warmest sympathy towards me, of which Admiral Lainé, in particular, continued to give me proofs. Both frequently came and took their seats at our bivouac, and partook of the grilled meat, which constituted our only food.

Anzani, who accompanied us in our expedition, shared this honourable sympathy. He was one of those men who require only to be seen to be loved and esteemed.

Whilst our fleet was ascending the Uruguay we were joined by a small party of cavalry, commanded by Captain de la Cruz, a real hero that is to say, a man of the finest character and great courage. These few men followed the flotilla along the banks of the Uruguay, and were of immense service to us-at first as explorers, and afterwards as providers of provisions. They took possession of different places-Las Vacas, Merude, &c.—and attacked the enemy wherever they fell in with them. Paysanda, a strong place on the banks of the Uruguay, thought to crush us with its artillery; but, after all, did us no great harm.

Above Paysanda we took up a position in an estancia called the Hervidero, where we remained several days. General la Valleya made a night attack upon us with infantry, cavalry, and artillery; but he was repulsed with considerable loss by our invincible legionaries.

From the Hervidero I wrote to the Government by the hands of Captain Montaldi, who was returning to Montevideo in a trading goëlette. It was attacked when passing before Paysanda, surrounded by the enemy's vessels, and taken after a vigorous resistance made by Captain Montaldi, who was left alone upon the deck. He was made prisoner.

A crowd of barks, sailing under the enemy's flag, fell every day into our hands. I left the greater number of the people on board of them at liberty to return to their homes or their service. Gualeguachu, a city situated on the right bank of the Uruguay, and upon the Gualaguay, in Intro Rios, fell by surprise into our power.

It was there I took that same Leonardo Milan, who formerly, whilst I was his prisoner, gave me the strappado. I think I need not say I gave him his liberty without doing him any injury, leaving him as his only punishment the fright he experienced on recognising me.

Gualeguachu was abandoned as not a tenable posi

tion; but it paid a large contribution in money, and an enormous one in clothes.

At length, after innumerable fights and adventures, we arrived with the squadron at the place called the Salto, because the Uruguay there forms a cataract, and is no longer navigable below this cataract, but for very small vessels.

General la Valleya, who occupied the country, abandoned it upon our arrival, forcing all the inhabitants to follow him. The country proving perfectly. suited to the object of the expedition, being not too far from the frontier, I determined to establish ourselves there.

My first operation was, consequently, to march against La Valleya, encamped upon the Zapevi, an affluent of the Uruguay. I set out at night at the head of our infantry and our handful of horse, commanded by De la Cruz. At daybreak we were close to the camp, which we found defended on one side by the carriages, on the other by the Uruguay, and having the Zapevi behind it.

I formed my men into two small columns, and with the cavalry on my wings, marched to the charge. After a contest of a few minutes we were masters of the camp, and the enemy, in full flight, was crossing the Zapevi. The first result of this operation was the prompt return to Salto of all the families who had been violently dragged away from their homes.

We took from the enemy near a hundred prisoners, many horses, much cattle, munition, and one piece of artillery—the same that had fired upon us in the attack upon the Hervidero. It was of Italian foundry, and bore upon its bronze the name of the founder, Cesuno Canni, and the date of 1492.

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This expedition did much honour to the legion, and produced great consequences. As many as three thousand inhabitants returned to their domestic. hearths.

Under the direction of Anzani, my legionaries im

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