The infantry advanced with
equal fortitude and energy, and early in February the combined forces
descended the mountains and struck the royalist army at the foot with such
energy that it was soon fleeing in a total rout. So utterly defeated and
demoralized were the royalists that Santiago, the capital, was abandoned
and was entered by San Martin at the head of his wild gauchos and host of
refugees on the 15th of February. His funds at this time consisted of the
two doubloons remaining in his pocket, while he had no military chest, no
surgeons nor medicines for his wounded, and a very small supply of the
indispensable requisites of an army. About all he had to depend on was the
patriotism of his men and their enthusiasm over their brilliant crossing
of the Andes and their easy victory over their foes.
For the time being Chili was free. The royalists had vanished and the
patriots were in full possession. Thirty or more years before, a bold
Irishman, bearing the name of O'Higgins, had come to Chili, where he
quickly rose in position until he was given the title of Don Ambrosio, and
attained successively the ranks of field-marshal of the royal army, baron,
marquis, and finally viceroy of Peru.
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