Page:A history of Chile.djvu/207

THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 187 Since the battle of Maypo, Chile had been making herculean efforts to aid San Martin in his long contem- plated invasion of Peru. For two years little had been accomplished, save the brilliant exploits of Blanco En- calada and Lord Cochrane at sea. Spanish war vessels had been secured and put in readiness, Valdivia had been taken these achievements cleared the way and enabled the exhausted republics of Chile and Buenos Ayres at last conjointly to prepare for the final denoue- ment in the struggle for South American independence. The government of Chile now became active, and the resources of the country were industriously called forth ; troops were collected and drilled ; the executive depart- ment was removed to Valparaiso to be able the more effectively to cooperate with San Martin and Lord Coch- rane, the former having repaired there with what troops and equipments he had been able to raise at Mendoza, the latter from Valdivia with the fleet. The difficulty attending this enterprise was stupen- dous, owing to the poverty of the country. But the unremitting efforts of San Martin and Lord Cochrane went far to remove all obstacles. The expedition was in readiness by the 15th of August, 1820. The navy of Chile was put to active use and transports hired for the occasion. On the i8th, the army marched into Valparaiso, and, superintended b5' General Las Heras, embarked from the arsenal. There were 4,400 men and a corps of supernumerary officers intended for the work of recruiting in Peru. At Coquimbo five hundred more troops were taken aboard. Fifteen thousand stands of arms, with ammunition, clothing and stores, were shipped for the purpose of equipping the patriots of Peru, who, it was expected, would revolt and come to San Mar- tin's standard. San Martin was named commander-in- chief of the troops, who were designated as the "United