CHAPTER XIV.
FRIAR JOSÉ FELIX ALDAO, BRIGADIER-GENERAL AND GOVERNOR.
On the 4th of February, 1817, the following incident happened in a deep, narrow valley of the Andes, through which the river Aconcagua rushes from rock to rock in its sudden descent. It was near sunset as the vanguard of the division, commanded by Colonel Las Heras, marched silently down the mountain towards Chili, by the rough, rocky road leading through Uspallata. The fort, known by the name of "La Guardia Vieja," was visible far down in the valley, and had the appearance of being entirely unoccupied, but a detachment of Spanish soldiers was concealed within, watching the approach of the insurgents, and prepared for a combat. Presently two discharges were fired from the fortifications; a company of the eleventh rebel regiment immediately advanced, firing, from the bank of the river to within twelve paces of the fort, while another defiled along the mountain side to prevent all possibility of the escape of the Spaniards. A moment afterwards they carried the walls at the point of the bayonet, and wherever the contest was most desperate, were seen flashing the swords of thirty grenadiers, under Lieutenant José Aldao. Among these was a strange figure dressed in white, like some
