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Preface.
xxiii

whom were Federals, nominated Don Manuel Dorrego, who began to rule in August, 1827. He was driven out by Juan Lavalle in December of this year. Dorrego fled to the country, but was beaten and shot by Lavalle. Rosas, partisan of Dorrego, fled to Santa Fé, from whence he returned with Lopez, its governor. Lavalle was beaten by Lopez at the Puente del Marques, in 1828. Don J. José Viemont was appointed Governor, and in 1829 was succeeded by Rosas. The Unitario forces, who, with their leaders, had emigrated from Buenos Ayres, occupied the Province of Cordoba, under the orders of General Paz, who was caught by a lasso at the head of his army, and thus made prisoner. Facundo Quiroga triumphed over Castillo, another Unitario chief, and this was the Occasion of his appearing on the general scene of action.

He was the most celebrated of all those chiefs, representing no party, but a gaucho of gauchos; his characteristics brought him an influence, baleful though it was, which made him aspire to the first place in the Republic. Rosas, whose most distinguishing traits were his atrocious cruelty and malice, was jealous of him, and caused his assassination at Barranca-yaco. All the accomplices of the crime were subsequently arrested and executed. Lopez died soon after under circumstances that pointed almost unmistakably to poison. Cullen, Governor of Santa Fé, who had bathed his