THE CIVIL WAR OF i8^ 341 went north and took possession of most of the ports, without opposition. It was thought advisable by the congressional lead- ers not to proceed too rashly against Iquique, as the place might offer decided resistance to the fleet, which would have at the outset a demoralizing effect upon the revolutionary cause. Therefore, the first serious move was made against Pisagua, forty miles north of Iquique, and an important nitrate port. After a short bombardment, the town yielded. Though a primitive place where goods are carried from the shore to light- ers on old Indian balsas paddled by boatmen with double-ended paddles, it was still of great importance to the congressionalists, because of its nitrate trade. Some twenty-five or thirty miles inland from Pisa- gua, on the railroad running east and then south to Iquique through the nitrate regions, is the town of Zapiga. Here a detachment of congressional troops, badly disciplined and poorly armed, was opposed to a body of government troops, by whom they were routed. The latter then advanced and retook Pisagua after a hotly contested fight. The congressional fleet subjected the port to a terrific bombardment, inflicting great damage and suffering upon the town and inhabi- tants. They recaptured the place. At San Francisco, a village below Zapiga on the rail- road, a body of government troops pushing forward to Pisagua under Colonel Robles, was met by the revo- lutionists, and after a desperate encounter defeated. Two-thirds of the Balmacedist troops were left dead upon the field, both sides fighting with fierce despera- tion. With the shattered remnant of his little army Colonel Robles joined the garrison from Iquique, which had been sent forward to his support at San Francisco, and
