Twenty-four Years in the Argentine Republic

IN THE

ARGENTINE REPUBLIC;

EMBRACING THE

AUTHOR'S PERSONAL ADVENTURES,

WITH THE

CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY,

AND AN ACCOUNT OF ITS POLITICAL CONDITION, BEFORE

AND DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF

GOVERNOR ROSAS;

HIS COURSE OF POLICY; THE CAUSES AND CHARACTER OF HIS

INTERFERENCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTE VIDEO, AND THE
CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH LED TO THE INTER POSITION OF

ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

ohn

COL. J. ANTHONY KING,

AN OFFICER IN THE ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC,

AND TWENTY-FOUR YEARS A RESIDENT IN THE COUNTRY.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR

LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS,

PATERNOSTER Row.

Reprinted from the edition of 1846, London

First AMS EDITION published 1971

Manufactured in the United States of America

International Standard Book Number: 0-404-03691-0

Library of Congress Catalog Number: 71-161042

AMS PRESS INC.

NEW YORK, N.Y. 10003

PREFACE.

In presenting this work to the public, I have been impelled by a sense of duty, rather than a desire to place myself before the eyes of the world. There is a manifest necessity for information respecting the Argentine Republic at the present time, not merely for the satisfaction of the public mind, but also for the use both of European and American statesmen; and as it is not probable that (save the natives of the country) another person lives who has been so long and familiarly identified with the public affairs of that country as myself, I have determined to lay before the world a true statement of occurrences which took place during my residence in the country.

I have witnessed with pain the apparent want of information evinced by some of our statesmen on this subject, and the headlong course which they seem willing to pursue towards England and France in the matter of the intervention between Rosas and the Banda Oriental; and while I would earnestly deprecate European interference in the

affairs of the republics of this continent, I should be equally unwilling to see the peace of our country endangered on behalf of a despot, under whatever name he may appear.

The true position of those contending powers will be explained in the following pages, and should that explanation have the effect of improving the political, and consequently the moral condition of the people of the Argentine Republic, the object of this work will be accomplished.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Departure from New York-First Commission in the Army of the

Argentine Republic-Introduction to Governor Lopez, of Santa Fé,

and General Ramarez-Battle with General Artegas, near the Rio

Negro-His defeat, flight, and imprisonment by Governor Francia

CHAPTER II.

March to Buenos Ayres-Flight of the Supreme Director, Pursedon—

General Carrere's Expedition towards Chili-Battle between Car-

rere and Ramarez-Rout of the latter-Treachery of General

Echagua-Battle near the Villa de los Ranchos-Death of General

Ramarez