Page:A history of Chile.djvu/170

154 A HISTORY OF CHILE Despite his reverses, General Gainza attempted to carry out his plan of marching directly upon Santiago, which had at this time neither army nor defences. Advancing by rapid marching, he crossed the river Maule on balsas, protected by the royalists from Talca. O'Higgins followed and encamped for the night on the opposite side of the river within sight of the royalist army. Leaving a considerable force at the encamp- ment to deceive the royalists, he crossed the river by a ford, and, securing an advantageous position in Quechereguas, prepared to attack the enemy early in the morning. Surprised at this manoeuvre, and twice repulsed, Gainza retired to Talca which was still held by Elorreaga, and gave up his plan of marching to the capital (April yth and 8th). This left O'Higgins free to open communications with Santiago and to cut off Gainza's line with Chilian. / Carrera had been both liked and disliked. At times ' he had been patriotic and brave; he was courteous and commanded respect. But his temper was passionate and tyrannical, and his brothers, much given to excess- es, exerted an influence over him not altogether of the best. For these reasons, he had fallen in the popular estimation, so that all eyes were now turned toward O'Higgins at this critical period, and well worthy of the trust imposed upon him, did he prove himself. But the fall of Talca, despite O'Higgins' partial suc- cesses, was sufficient to bring about new political changes; the Carrera party still had influence in San- tiago. The loss of Talca was attributed to the lack of cour- age in the members of the junta, who had taken away a large part of the garrison and retired to the capital upon the approach of the enemy from the south. This, it was alleged, had been done for their own personal