In Argentina, after Rivadavia's resignation, Dorrego, leader of the federalists in Buenos Aires, became Director. The chief names until 1829, date of the advent of Rosas, are La Paz and Lavalle, as unitarians; Dorrego and the _caudillos_ from the various provinces, as federalists. Lavalle, who had been the hero of Ituzaingó, put himself at the head of the unitarians and forced Dorrego to flee, capturing him later and putting him to death. It is now that Rosas comes to the fore, although Quiroga and the other _caudillos_ all joined forces to help defeat Lavalle, who retired to Uruguay. La Paz, however, more than managed to hold his own in the provinces of the interior, defeating Quiroga twice with terrific slaughter. But he, too, was finally defeated and taken prisoner in 1831. Since 1829, Rosas had become the provisional governor of Buenos Aires, that is, the head, in so far as there was any head, of the Argentine government. One of his first acts as governor of Buenos Aires was to carry on an expedition against the Indians to the south of Buenos Aires, and extend the frontiers of the whites down to the Río Negro. And now for a few words on Rosas himself. He is referred to as the Argentine tyrant and has been compared to Nero for his wanton cruelty. True it is that he committed many deeds of cruelty, yet the times and conditions in which he lived were such that stern measures were necessary. He was of noble family and one of the wealthiest men in Argentina. From his own _estancias_ he could raise a cavalry corps of _gauchos_ and keep it in the field. He made it a point to afford shelter to outlaw _gauchos_, and gathered about him a band of adventurous spirits ready to dare anything. His victories against the Indians increased his prestige, and in 1835 he was given supreme power by the Legislature in Buenos Aires. His control of the supreme power lasted until 1852. Immediately upon his assuming command, federalists were put in office everywhere instead of unitarians, who were forced to flee into exile. In the course of his long career, Rosas waged war for the re-annexation of Uruguay, which had become independent in 1827, after the battle of Ituzaingó. He incurred the enmity of France and England, and had to put down many revolts against his power. Lavalle played an important part in one of these and met his death at the hands of Oribe, who had aligned himself with Rosas. Throughout Rosas' reign, for such was his administration, Argentine exiles kept alive the hope of overthrowing the tyrant. Sarmiento founded a newspaper, _El Progreso_, in Copiapó, Chile, which had for its object a campaign against Rosas. In it Sarmiento published for the first time in serial form his _Facundo_, selections from which are given in this book.