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THE CIVIL WAR OF 1891 363 filled with hopeful enthusiasm, had taken all their pro- visions with them from their ships, and felt that the}' must win, for they could not return. Barbosa held a strong position on the heights overlooking Placilla, his artillery in the center, his infantry posted on the slopes below the artillery and also back on the high ground. Other artillery protected his right, and cav-' airy were in reserve. The latter part of his force, however, appears to have had opposition leanings. They neglected their duty, and- just before the battle, four hundred of them went over to the northern army. Owing to the hilly nature of the country the opposi- tion troops, without being seen, had been able to get into position, having started from the Las Cadenas farm before daylight, the whole army excepting one bri- gade. Early in the morning, as the latter was ad- vancing across the plain, Balmaceda's troops opened an artillery fire upon it. The brigade advanced rapidly and got into position. The oppositionist's right and left wings then advanced and opened fire, which brought on the battle. Step by step Canto's troops advanced up the hill toward Barbosa's artillery, his right wing all the time engaging Barbosa's left, which, after an hour and a half's severe fighting, was in such danger that the artillery in the center was turned about to force back the enemy's right. Korner, however, made a detour and turned the government's left, the opposi- tion centre and left pressed forward, shaking the whole line in front of them ; their cavalry clambered up the hills, assailing the wavering infantry on all sides, until an utter rout of the Balmaceda army began. The battle had lasted three hours; upward of one thousand men had been killed on the government side and fifteen hundred wounded; and four hundred killed