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The reaction that had followed the restoration of Ferdinand VII to absolute power crossed the ocean and split the royalists into opposing factions. Quick to seize the chance thus afforded, Bolivar marched over the Andes to the plain of Junin. There, on August 6, 1824, he repelled an onslaught by Canterac and drove that leader back in headlong flight.
Canterac was advancing with twenty thousand men; his troops had mutinied, and declared for the Patriots; he was retreating hot-foot for Cuzco; he was a prisoner in the hands of the mountain tribes. Every man suggested the event he fancied most, and seemed quite annoyed if one expressed any doubt of its accuracy. "Just our luck," grumbled Alzura. "I did think we should have had a little rest."
Canterac, in his retreat, was forced to cover 450 miles of very rough country, and lost a large part of his army. A festivity following this success was the occasion of generous words exchanged between the victor of Bombona and the conqueror of Pichincha. Sucre said: "Led by the Liberator, we can expect nothing but victory!"
Many things have happened, however; let me be your chronicle. Where shall I start?" "From the day that Canterac swooped down on Lima." "That was nothing. He sat down in the capital; we hugged the guns at Callao and looked at him. When he got tired he took himself off, and we returned to our quarters." "Nothing very exciting in that." "You are right, my boy. Your judgment is marvellous.
If Canterac escapes, the war may drag on for months, and will cost thousands of lives. The mountains will kill more than a pitched battle would." "Canterac can't escape if we follow him up properly," said the major, "and Colonel Miller seems the man to do that." "That is so; but he can't move without orders; and there's more than one man in high places who will prefer Lima to a pursuit."
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