Young, at the head of Mina's infantry, advanced close to the enemy, gave them one volley, and then charged with the bayonet, while the cavalry, under Major Maylefer, (a Swiss, who was killed in the action,) after breaking that of the enemy, turned upon the infantry, already in confusion, and actually cut them to pieces. Căstăñōn himself was killed, with three hundred and thirty-nine of his men: two hundred and twenty more were taken prisoners, and not above one hundred and fifty effected their escape. A more destructive engagement (considering the smallness of the numbers on both sides,) is not, perhaps, on record. Castañon's division was annihilated, and its fate was celebrated by the exultation of the whole Baxio, which had so long groaned under the inexorable tyranny of its chief.
Mina, after striking this blow, returned to Sombrero, from whence he again set out in a few days, on an expedition against the Hacienda of Jărāl, accompanied by a small detachment. This Hacienda, of which a more particular description will be found in another part of this work,[1] belonged to Don Juan Mŏncādă, (Marques del Jărāl, and Conde de Săn Mătēŏ,) a Creole nobleman of immense wealth, but thought to be devoted to the Royal cause. His estate was fortified, and garrisoned by a Royalist detachment, which, in conjunction with the number of his own immediate dependants and retainers, had
- ↑ Vide Personal Narrative, Book V.
