CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE BATTLE OF THE GENERALS.
"They're coming down!" cried Alzura excitedly, rushing into our tent.
It wanted two hours to sunset; we had done nothing all day, and tiredof watching the enemy on the opposite heights, most of us had gone tosleep.
Alzura's announcement woke us up, and running forward, we glancedeagerly at the hill, which a battalion of infantry was descending.
"Skirmishers, nothing more," said Plaza quietly. "They fancy we mightattempt a night attack. Take my word for it, they won't be foolishenough to meet us on the plain."
"Unless they try a rush in the dark."
"That's just possible, but not probable; they're sure of us withoutthat."
"There goes a battalion of our light infantry in extended order,"remarked Cordova; "but there won't be any real fighting to-night. I'mgoing back to bed."
"A very sensible proceeding, too," exclaimed a genial voice; andturning round we beheld General Miller. "I should advise all of younot on duty to do the same," he added.
"Are we going to fight, general?" I asked eagerly.
"Hullo, Crawford! I've been so busy that I've lost sight of youlately. Well, I hardly know. Perhaps the viceroy would be better ableto tell you; he knows more about it than I do."
"I don't think he'll abandon his strong position just to give us abetter chance, sir," remarked Plaza.
"Perhaps not," replied the general. "But you mustn't think he's inclover up yonder. His men are as hungry as ours, and that's sayingmuch. If it is a fight, however, 'twill be a fight to the finish, andthe Hussars of Junin won't be missing!"
"Take us with you, sir!"
"That's just what I've come to see the colonel about. I intend to getall the regiment together and use it as a battering-ram."
"He thinks the Royalists will attack," said Alzura, as the generalpassed on. "He has heard something important, you may depend. And whyshouldn't they? they're two to one, and have no end of guns."
"I like his idea of using all the regiment," laughed Cordova. "Nearlya half of the third squadron are mounted on baggage mules; their horsesare all dead."
"They must get fresh ones from the enemy," I suggested.
"Come," said Plaza; "there's nothing more to see here." And wereturned to the tent.
Anxious to have a good long night, Cordova soon fell asleep; but Alzuraand I sat up chatting till within an hour or two of dawn. We couldhear the hostile skirmishers peppering away at each other at intervals,and somehow the sounds seemed to be the prelude to a coming battle.
Fortunately the morning dawned fair, but there was a nip in the airwhich impelled us to move about smartly. Then the sun rose gloriouslyover the eastern peaks, and its genial warmth raised our droopingspirits. I cannot account for the feeling, but somehow the whole armyfelt that a battle was imminent, and the faces of the troops wore alook of excited expectancy.
Directly after breakfast, or what we were pleased to call breakfast,the men began moving to their positions, each corps being formed inclose column. For the better understanding of what happened, I musttry to describe our position. We were drawn up on a nearly squaretableland known as the Plain of Ayacucho, a league in circumference,and flanked right and left by rugged ravines. We had the village atour backs, and the only road by which we could retreat was effectuallyblocked. The Royalist army was perched just below the summit of agigantic ridge called Condorcanqui, which formed the eastern boundaryof the plain.
At seven o'clock our regiment moved out, and the men of the thirdsquadron, of whom Cordova had spoken, provoked much humour andgood-natured chaff as they rode past on their baggage mules. It wasthought that they would help to make a show, but no one suspected thatlater on, when ordered to remain in the rear, they would answer firmly,"No, we will conquer or die with our comrades!"
The cavalry, consisting of four regiments, was stationed in the centre,with an infantry division on either side, and a third in the rear as areserve.
About nine o'clock a great cheer rose from all parts of the plain: theRoyalists were descending the craggy side of Condorcanqui. Between theinfantry of each division appeared the cavalry, the riders leadingtheir horses and advancing with difficulty. It was an impressivescene, and we stood watching with breathless interest.
Then our fellows renewed their cheering as General Sucre, riding alongthe line, addressed a few rousing words to each particular corps.
"A tough nut to crack," remarked Plaza, watching the Royalists form,"but we'll get at the kernel before the day's over."
"There's the beginning!" cried Alzura, as the infantry on our rightslowly advanced. "Hurrah! we're to help!" for an aid-de-camp fromGeneral Sucre had just dashed up to Miller with orders.
We waited eagerly for the word to mount, but our turn had not yet come.Two cavalry regiments moved off with Miller, and left us gazing at thedrama being unfolded before our eyes.
Our infantry columns marched to the attack like so many automaticmachines; the Royalists waited firmly, as if confident of victory. Westood holding our horses, and quivering with excitement. Much woulddepend upon the result of that first encounter.
"They're stopping to fire," cried Alzura. "Now they're moving again.Viva! they're going to charge. Look at the sun on their bayonets."
Would the Royalists give way? No; they stood firm as the rocky heightsbehind them--not a man moved. It seemed to me that there was not evena tremor in the whole mass. If our fellows charged and failed, theywould be cut to pieces. We were like spectators in a theatre, only thedrama was a real one.
A mighty "Viva!" floated back to us as our men broke into the charge.It was neck or nothing now--decisive victory or stern defeat.
"The Royalists will run," muttered Plaza; "they must."
But they did not, and the next instant bayonet crossed bayonet indesperate conflict.
Excitement drove us well-nigh crazy. We cheered and shouted and wavedour sabres, as if by so doing we could help in the fight. Our troopshad met their match, and seemed to make no impression. Unless theywent forward shortly they must retreat.
"If they're driven back," remarked Plaza, "they are lost."
How the struggle would have ended I cannot tell, but just then we brokeinto a cry of relief. The two cavalry regiments which had made a widedetour were seen bearing down on the Royalists' flanks. They sweptalong at hurricane speed. Nothing could stand against the shock oftheir long lances. A portion of the Royalists, facing about, delivereda telling volley at short range. Men and horses went down with acrash, but the survivors were not checked. A second volley crashedinto them, making wide gaps, and then, with the force of a roaringtorrent, they literally swept away the barrier of men and steel.
"That settles it," said Plaza, breathing deeply; "the bravest troops inthe world couldn't recover from such a smashing blow. It's a case ofcomplete rout, in that part of the field at all events."
He was right too. The enemy would not, indeed could not rally. Hereand there small groups stood at bay, fighting desperately but vainly tostem the onset of their pursuers. All they could do was to diefighting, in the hope that the sacrifice might save their comrades.Even those who reached the heights were not out of danger. Whiz, whizsped the bullets; and numbers of the fugitives rolled down the mountainside till their bodies were caught by crag or brushwood.
So greatly was our attention absorbed by the scene that we had scarcelynoticed what was happening on our left. Suddenly, however, a heavyfire broke out, followed by the quick reports of hundreds of muskets.Our colonel glanced in the direction uneasily. His orders were strict.He was on no account to move his regiment, and yet--
"Crawford," said he, looking round, "see what that firing means."
I sprang to the saddle and galloped off. But for our success on theright, I should have felt inclined to take a gloomy view of things: ourleft had given way.
Two Royalist battalions were advancing in pursuit, while still fu
rtheron the left a cavalry regiment was swooping down on one of our reservebattalions sent in support. The crafty enemy had crossed a deepravine, on the farther side of which a whole division was stationed.
A mounted officer, with cap gone and cloak flying in the wind, pulledup on seeing me, and said rapidly, "Where is your regiment? Take me toyour colonel quickly. We want cavalry; we must have cavalry, or ourwhole left will be rolled up!"
"This way," I replied, and together we galloped towards the Hussars ofJunin, reaching the colonel just as General Miller dashed up from theright.
"What is it?" he asked hastily.
"We are overpowered, sir. The enemy have four field-guns across aravine; our division has suffered terribly, and the troops are givingway. The general requires a regiment of cavalry immediately."
"Tell him it's coming," replied Miller.--"Now, colonel, here's a chancefor your men to show their mettle. We've smashed the enemy on theright; let the 'Hussars of Junin' do the same on the left."
How we did cheer as our colonel led us out! General Miller's face worean anxious expression as he glanced over the field. Everywhere thevictorious Spaniards were driving back our left wing; we should only bejust in time to repair the mischief.
"Push those two infantry battalions across the ravine while I rally thefugitives," said Miller. But he had barely spoken when the Royalistcavalry dashed down on the right flank.
"Here's Crawford's friend again!" said Plaza. "We might have guessedhe had a hand in this business."
Santiago made a handsome picture as he tore along well in front of hisregiment, and enemy though he was, I could not help feeling proud ofhim. We turned to meet this vigorous onslaught, and though Santiagofought with all the traditional valour of his race, his men, alreadytired by their great exertions, could not stand against us.
Stopping their flight, our own infantry rallied, and advanced insupport, while their loud cheers proclaimed the arrival of a secondcavalry regiment. Nothing daunted by his repulse, Santiago led histroopers against the new enemy, while we bore down on the hostileinfantry.
"Gallop!" cried our colonel; and neck by neck the horses flew over theground, the men waving their sabres and cheering lustily. We could seethe glittering steel of the bayonets now, could almost look down thebarrels of the muskets, when there came a blinding flash, the thud offalling bodies, and hoarse shrieks of pain.
"Forward!" thundered the colonel, "forward; remember the 'Hussars ofJunin!'"
Crash we went right into them before they could fire another volley,and then it was horseman against footman, sabre against bayonet. Toand fro we surged, striking parrying, thrusting, till at last the braveenemy, unable to continue the struggle longer, fled to the ravine,hotly pursued by our victorious regiment.
In a calmer moment we should have pulled up, but there was no stoppingnow. Some one raised a warning cry: it came too late. Down the ravinewe went, the horses slipping and scrambling--some rolling over andcrushing their riders; the majority, keeping their feet somehow,reached the opposite bank. A small detachment of the enemy halted tofire a scattering volley, which did some mischief. A man close to mefell forward on his horse's neck.
"Good-bye, Crawford!" said he faintly; "I am done for."
It was Cordova; but there was no time to help him. On we dashedstraight at the guns, which the gunners dared not fire, so mixed upwere friend and foe. A cry of "Viva el Rey!" arose in our rear.Santiago was galloping back.
The Royalists could not stand. Miller had brought up three battalionsin double-quick time; the guns were ours; horse and foot we swept overthe plain, driving the enemy pell-mell in all directions. Only theregiment led by the undaunted Santiago endeavoured to cover theretreat, and at last it too fled.
Not so their brave leader; he remained on the field. I found himlater, with a hole in his side and a nasty gash across the face. Hewas not dead, however, and with assistance I carried him to thevillage, where a surgeon dressed his wounds. Then I returned to myregiment.
"It's all over!" cried Alzura exultantly. "The viceroy is takenprisoner, and Canterac has come to sue for terms. He is with Sucrenow."
"Where is Plaza?"
"Just gone to find poor Cordova. It's hard lines to drop off in themoment of victory. And the war is over now; the Royalists will neverlift their heads again."
This was not quite correct, as a few still held out in other parts ofthe country, but they were powerless to do any real mischief. Thisbattle of Ayacucho--or Battle of the Generals, as we called it--securedthe independence of Peru. Fourteen Spanish generals, some of them themost famous in South America, gave up their swords; nearly six hundredofficers and most of the rank and file became prisoners of war.
Late that evening I went to see Santiago. He lay on a bench in amiserable hut, where several wounded officers had been brought forshelter. Two small earthen lamps gave a feeble light, barelysufficient for us to see each other's faces. I bent over him, andchoked back the sob that would rise in my throat. We neither of ustried to gloze over the truth. He was dying, and we both knew it.
"I am glad you have come," he whispered. "It will soon be over, and Iam not sorry; I have tried to do my best."
"Indeed you have, old fellow; friend and foe alike are loud in yourpraise."
"I have been loyal to my king; I have done my duty," he continued, notheeding the interruption. "Life is precious, Juan, but honour is thefirst thing. My name is unstained. I die as I have lived, a cavalierof Spain!"
That thought cheered him as he took his last and long journey. He wasyoung and handsome and well beloved; he had fair estates and hosts offriends; he might have risen high in the councils of his nation; butdeath, stern and unyielding, claimed him, and he braced himself to meetit.
"Thank God!" he murmured; "I die with a clear conscience."
I stayed with him till nearly midnight, when he became unconscious.Then having work to do, I sorrowfully went away. Next morning, on myway to the hut I met General Miller.
"Poor fellow!" he said, when I told him of Santiago's state. "I willcome with you. I remember him well."
Just as we were moving on, we met General Sucre accompanied by aSpanish officer, who on seeing Miller ran forward and embraced him.
"I know you!" he cried. "I am Valdes. You and I must be friends."Then turning to General Sucre, he added, "This Miller has often kept uson the move. I am called active; but he was a regular wizard--here,there, everywhere, without giving a clue to his intentions until hedealt us some sly blow."
I looked at this celebrated Spanish general with a great deal ofinterest. He was a small, spare man, with keen eyes and rough,weather-beaten face. He wore a broad-brimmed beaver hat, a coarse graysurtout, and long brown worsted leggings. He stooped slightly, and tojudge by appearances, one would never have thought he was perhaps thefinest soldier in the Spanish service.
Sucre left the two chatting, and presently Miller said, "I was justgoing to visit one of your men, a Colonel Mariano. Do you know him?"
"Mariano? He was my best cavalry officer. It was he who helped me tocut up your rearguard some time ago, and to drive back your left wingyesterday. I'll come with you."
"He will be very pleased to see you, no doubt.--You go first and showus the way, Crawford."
Santiago lay with closed eyes, breathing so faintly that at first wethought he was dead.
"Santiago," I softly whispered, "do you know me? I have brought you avisitor."
His eyes opened slowly, and there was a fleeting smile in them, but hedid not speak.
"Colonel!" said Valdes, stepping to the side of the bench. The soundof that voice brought the poor fellow for a short time from the Valleyof the Shadow. By some extraordinary means he managed to sit upwithout assistance, raised his hand to the salute, and in a clear,ringing voice exclaimed, "At your service, general!"
It was the last act of his life. On placing my arm round him toprevent him from falling, I found he was dead.
/> "A fine fellow," said General Miller quietly.
"A thorough soldier to the end!" cried the Spanish general.
I said nothing, but mourned none the less the true friend I had foundin the ranks of our enemies.
We were very quiet in camp that day. The excitement of battle hadpassed, and we were counting the cost of our triumph. Many familiarfaces were missing, and the death of Cordova especially affected us.We had been through many perils together, had endured many hardships,and it seemed a pity that he should not have lived to taste the sweetsof victory.
Shortly before sunset that same day I received a message from GeneralMiller asking me to go to his quarters. I found him expecting me, andhe at once plunged into the subject upon which he wished to speak.
"The war is now over, Crawford," said he, "and General Sucre is able torelease a large part of his force. I am proceeding to Cuzco, but thereis no need for you to do so. You have done your share, and I intendsending you on special service to Lima."
"Oh, thank you, general!" I answered, my eyes sparkling and my cheeksflushing with pleasure.
"The regiment will return in a few weeks at the most," he continued."Be ready to start in the morning, and don't forget to remember mekindly to your parents. Some day I hope to call upon them."
"I am sure you will receive a very warm welcome when you come,general," I replied, taking the hand held out to me.
"Well, dear boy," said Alzura, on my return to our quarters, "what isthe news?"
"Good," said I, "though perhaps it's a bit selfish to say so. I startto-morrow for Lima. The regiment proceeds to Cuzco, but it will returnto the capital in a few weeks."
"All right, old fellow. I'm glad to hear of your good fortune, thoughI shall miss you awfully. Mind you hunt up my people and tell them I'mall right and hoping to see them soon."
Of course I promised to do so, and then went to wish the othersgood-bye.
"I hope you will find all your people well," exclaimed Plaza on hearingthe news. "After all, you're only a sort of advance courier, and weshall soon meet again."
"We shall expect you to give a ball to the officers of the regiment,and a feast to the men, when we reach the capital," cried Alzuramerrily.
"Meanwhile," said Plaza gravely, "take my advice, and have a good rest."
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