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1 64 A HISTORY OF CHILE a distinguished Spanish officer who had been sent by the viceroy of Peru to replace Osorio. On the 8th, Colonel Nicochea routed a body of royalist hussars. Great was the enthusiasm in the patriot army. The workmen brought fresh horses for the officers and men, and united themselves into a militia company. Women and children cheered the troops as they passed along, and thrust provisions into their hands. Aconcagua and Santa Rosa were occupied. A force of cavalry was dispatched under Colonel Nicochea by the pass of Ta- von to join the main body of troops when it should arrive on the other side of the cuesta. At night the army encamped upon the summit and on the following morning descended the rnountain toward the enemy which had taken up a well chosen position, with hills on each of the flanks, commanded by artillery. Marco had arrived with about one thousand reinforcements during the night, so that the royalist forces now num- bered two thousand men at this point, with about the same number stationed in other parts of Chile. The Spaniards had carelessly permitted the patriot army to come through the passes without taking the trouble to ascertain its strength. They took it for granted that only cavalry could traverse the mountains within the time spent by the army in crossing. De- ceived by this, they formed for battle, drawn up in a square. As the morning was foggy, it was some time before it was discovered that San Martin was upon them with his whole army. O'Higgins ordered a charge. The Spanish officers, discovering their mistake, sought to deploy their men into lines, but the enthusiastic patriot cavalry led on by Colonel Solar, dashed into their ranks and threw them into confusion. Hardly firing a musket, the roy- alists followed their fleeing commander in a total rout.