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 THE PERUVIAN WAR 299 place, which is situated on one of the spurs of Mount Torata, Colonel Gamarra, having abandoned Moquegua, took up his position with about two thousand men. Here were precipitous heights situated in a triangle formed by the river Ilo, a deep ravine on the left, im- passable mountains on the right, a ravine and sandy slope in front to be passed before the steep incline could be reached by an attacking force. It was an important position for the allies, as it covered the line of retreat to the north for the main army at Arica. General Baquedano ordered a thousand men under Colonel Munoz to make a long detour by way of Tu- milca to the rear of the enemy. At daylight on the morning of the 22nd of March, Munoz attacked in the rear, while at the same time a force began to scale the heights in front of the enemy's position, and two bat- teries of artillery under Lieutenant Colonel Novoa opened fire. The Peruvians being enfiladed and at- tacked in front and rear, with a shower of shells, mus- ketry and furious bayonet charges, fell back in some disorder to Ilubaya, leaving twenty-eight killed and a number wounded upon the field. The Chileans imme- diately occupied Yacango and Torata. About the time Baquedano's army had advanced from Ilo, (March 12th,) Colonel Silva, commanding a body of Bolivians at Viacha, had revolted against Cam- pero's government. Though the insurrection was easily put down, it was owing to this fact that the large body of Bolivians, consisting of four battalions, had not supported Colonel Gamarra at Los Angeles. Active preparations were now made by Baquedano to attack the allied armies assembled at Tacna, from 10,000 to 14,000 strong. On the 19th of April, General Campero arrived from Bolivia and assumed the com- mand in chief of the allied armies, the second in com-