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 THE RE VOL UTIONAR Y PERIOD 1 89 San Martin and the viceroy, while the liberating army was still in Pisco. Eight days were consumed in diplo- matic efforts made by the viceroy, Pezuela, to compro- mise in favor of retaining some of Spain's authority; but to none of these propositions would San Martin agree, nor would he consent to anything short of the independence of Peru. The army remained at Pisco until October 26th, 1820, when it was again embarked and arrived off Callao on the 29th. Not deeming it advisable to disembark at Callao, which was strongly garrisoned, San Martin proceeded to Ancon, a port a few miles north of Callao, where he remained a few days. In the meantime Cochrane planned an attack upon the Spanish frigate "Esmeralda," lying in the harbor of Callao. The harbor was guarded by extensive bat- teries, and the anchorage by a boom made of spars chained together. The "Esmeralda was moored under the guns of the batteries within the boom and sur- rounded by gunboats. With two hundred and forty volunteers from the different ships, commanded in divisions by Captains Guise and Crosbie, the attacking force proceeded toward the warship in fourteen boats. At ten o'clock at night the expedition reached the line of gunboats. To the guard's challenge of "Who's there!" Cochrane presented a pistol and gave him the alternative of "silence or death." Pushing on, the frig- ate was reached and boarded on all sides by the men in the boats. The "Esmeralda's crew sprang up and defended the vessel obstinately for several moments, but were finally driven into the forecastle, where, after a short, stubborn resistance, they yielded, but only to jrally again upon the deck where a momentary stand was made. But finally the cables were cut, sailors mounted the rigging, and the ship was sailed out of