conducted such an effective guerrilla warfare against the victorious Spanish army, that they were unable to derive the full benefit of their great victory. [Illustration: LA BAHÍA DE MONTEVIDEO EN 1825 _Navarro y Lamarca, Historia general de America_] The fortunes of the Revolution had never sunk so low as after the battle of Sipe-Sipe. Yet, it was immediately after this disaster that the Congress of Tucumán, on the 9th of July, 1816, proclaimed officially the independence of the United Provinces of the Plata. This was an artificial way of reviving the hopes of the Revolution, for what was wanted then was action, not words. Withal it did serve to rouse the failing enthusiasm of the people. Moreover, to substantiate the rhetorical enthusiasm of the Declaration of Independence, there soon came from an unexpected quarter deeds of such magnitude as to destroy for all time the power of Spain in America. A few months after the meeting of the Congress of Tucumán, San Martín started on his great liberating campaign of Chile, after more than two years of patient preparation. Left to his own resources in the province of Cuyo (to-day, Mendoza, San Luis, and San Juan), unaided for a long time by the central government, who saw in him only a mediocre soldier (mistaking his modesty, his stoic disregard for the glamour of popularity, and above all his stanch insistence on systematic and careful preparation, for lack of military genius and dash), San Martín never lost heart, but bided his time till the rise to power in Buenos Aires of Pueyrredón assured him of support. On the 17th of January, 1817, the Army of the Andes set out by the now historic passes of Los Patos and Uspallata on the expedition which was to win for democracy half a continent. [Illustration: EL PASO DE LOS ANDES _Navarro y Lamarca, Historia general de América Fortuny_]