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150 A HISTORY OF CHILE sion of Talcahuano, meeting with little resistance. He then advanced to Concepcion, where the garrison joined his force, swelling his army, which originally consisted of 2,100 men obtained principally from Val- divia and Chilod, to 4,000 men. With this augmented force he deemed himself strong enough to put down the rebellion and compel Chile to recognize the autho- rity of Spain and the viceroy of Peru; he began his march toward the capital. At Talcahuano, and after- ward at Chilian, the Peruvian general seems to have won over some Araucanian allies. Extraordinary efforts were made in Santiago to raise and equip a force with which to oppose the Spaniards; donations were received, contributions levied, and arms procured. To oppose Pareja, Josd Miguel Car- rera, leaving his brother, Juan Carrera, in his place at the head of the government, marched south with the Chilean army, consisting of 12,000 badly drilled and poorly equipped men, and advanced to meet the enemy at Talca. There were engagements by the ad- vanced forces at a place called Yerbas Buenas and be- fore San Carlos, April 27th and May 15th. The attacks met with success and Pareja was compelled to fly with his troops in great confusion. After the rout succeed- ing the first attack, however, the royalists had rallied, and the next morning a severe action ensued in which the patriot losses were heavy, but the enemy was driven back and compelled to take refuge in Chilian, where Pareja was obliged to shut himself up and erect forti- fications for his defense in the siege which was begun against him. Here he afterward died, and was suc- ceeded by Colonel Juan Francisco Sanchez in command, who long maintained the siege, until bad weather set- ting in, the patriots retired. The garrisons he had left for the defense of Concepcion and Talcahuano were