Page:A history of Chile.djvu/191

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THE RE VOL UTIONAR Y PERIOD 1 75 of securing the emancipation of all Spanish-America. While thus engaged at Mendoza, he once set out to recross the plains to Buenos Ayres, but was obliged to return on account of a band of outlaws, headed by Jose Miguel Carrera, which at that time was scouring the Pampas. Carrera had raised a body of Montoneros > and with them had carried on a guerrilla war for several years in revenge for the death of his brothers, who had been condemned to death at Mendoza by Monteagudo a day or two after the battle of Maypo (April 8th). Once this bold restless leader had even captured Buenos Ayres. He was in time defeated and taken to Mendoza, where he was executed, September 5th, 1821, upon the spot where his younger brothers had met their fate some time before. In 1827, the bodies were disinterred and buried in Santiago with military honors. There were several political intrigues in both Chile and Buenos Ayres about this time, which caused San Martin to put aside his sword for a while and don citi- zen's clothes. But it was not his disposition to retire to private life while there were still worlds to conquer. It was not long after this that the energetic general received the command of the army in Chile and began the invasion of Peru. The execution of the younger Carrera brothers at Mendoza created considerable excitement for a time, as their family was still strong in Chile. Monteagudo was blamed for his severity. But the sensation fol- lowing this circumstance was hardly equal to that caused by the death of the brave Manuel Rodriguez, who had so greatly distinguished himself at San Fer- nando prior to San Martin's march over the mountains, and afterward in the capital after the rout of the pa- triot forces at Talca, A few days after the battle of Maypo he was placed under arrest, charged with enter-