"After having carried out the commission which you gave me, and fulfilled my duty toward you, be good enough to permit me to think of myself for a moment.

"You will agree, General, that a man who lacks sufficient dignity to fill a position must not have it, and less still live in a company guided by honor and glory. I have been removed from the head of the army to carry out a commission which anywhere else would be given to an assistant general, at most. I have been sent to the rear at a time when we are advancing against the enemy. Consequently, public testimony has been given of the fact that I am incapable of active operations, and my companions have been led to consider me as an imbecile or a useless man.

"I believe, sir, that in using these words I shall not be accused of undue pride or ambition.  p103 After having sincerely refused the highest position in Peru, which was once offered me by the national Congress, it seems that I have the right to expect that compatriots will believe that I am not merely possessed with the desire for public esteem. But this disregard of position does not deprive me of the consideration I owe my present place, nor have I the authority to debase the dignity of such a place.

"It is true that I have accepted the title of commander‑in‑chief of the army, a position to be filled in a vague and informal way. But I always knew this, and have not been ignorant of the criticism of other officers regarding my empty office. I continued in it, however, to please you and to serve the army of Peru, without ever presuming on the title. But it so happens that, as the result of ignoring such things, one goes from one evil to another; and I have seen with sorrow that after suffering small blows (and perhaps not all of them small), the worst blow that I ever expected has been given me: I have been demoted before the united army to the rôle of a caretaker for the sick and the men left behind.…

"From all this you will gather that my situation is one of actual conflict. I am separated from the army by the distance existing between honor and disgrace; and my heart is united to you, to the army, and to the glory of Colombia in the undertaking of giving freedom to this country. If you will permit me, I shall adopt the resolution dictated by my military conscience and the purpose of justifying myself. But still I shall be submissive and I allow  p104 you yourself to decide this delicate matter. . . .

"I have fulfilled my obligations with all devotion, until our army, acquiring an absolute superiority over the enemy in all respects, presages and even insures a happy and early success. And then a most unexpected and shameful event separates me from the army. . . .

"After this frank exposition, I believe, Sir, you will not consent to my humiliation before the whole army. You will not wish an honorable soldier to resign himself to blame and content.… I shall remain a few days in Huancayo and Tarma (doing whatever may be most useful for the army), while you have the kindness to send me such orders as in my unfortunate position you shall deem most fitting. I dare suggest as most advisable such orders as well save me from new and unjust humiliations; for as I have told you on other occasions, I wish to be and can be a good private citizen of Colombia, since fortune has not favored me sufficiently to make me a good soldier. Long ago I became convinced that I am not fitted for public office. I know it, and confessed it freely; and that is all that can be expected of me.

"Be good enough, General, to accept my constant sincere wishes for your prosperity and happiness. I shall always desire keenly that fortune and victory follow you everywhere. I do not know how to end this letter; my sorrow hardly permits me to ask you to preserve some remains of esteem for me, and that whatever may be my condition may always wish to consider me your faithful friend and humble servant."

"… This is the only thing in your life you have done without talent. I believe you were entirely out of your senses when you thought that I could offend you. I am full of sorrow on the account of your own sorrow, but I do not feel in the least that I have given you cause for offense.

"I had wished to attend myself to the commission I gave you; but, thinking that you could attend to it better on account of your tremendous activity, I entrusted it to you, rather as a proof of regard than as a humiliation. You  p106 are aware that I do not know how to lie and you also know that my soul is high enough not to degrade itself with pretenses. Consequently, you must believe me.

"Day before yesterday, (knowing nothing whatever of your feelings), I told Santa Cruz that he and I would remain here to take charge of that same rearguard whose leader­ship dishonors you, and that you should go ahead with the army to the vicinity of Cuzco or Arequipa, depending upon the position of the enemy. And in all this I was not considering and do not consider anything but service; for glory, honor, talent and dignity, all are concentrated on the single aim — victory of Colombia's army and the freedom of America.

"I did not have such a poor opinion of you as to believe that you would be offended at occupying different offices in the army and in doing anything useful. If you wish to know if your presence in the rear guard was useful, examine our treasury, our ammunition, our supplies, our hospitals and the column of Zulia; all destroyed and almost lost in an enemy country, unable to act. And what about the vanguard? Colonel Carreño has led it. General Santa Cruz has advanced six days before me. The enemy could not face us and they are not going to face us for a month. The army needed and still needs all that you are going to get, and more besides. If to save the army of Colombia is dishonorable, I do not understand words or ideas.

"I shall end, my dear General, by telling you that your sorrow should be changed to repentance  p107 for the damage that you have done yourself in considering yourself offended by me.

"This sensitiveness, this gossip of the common people, is unworthy of you. Glory consists in being great and being useful.​3 I have never paid attention to small things and I have always thought that what was not unworthy of me was not unworthy of you.

"Finally, I want to tell you that I am so positive of the selection that you yourself are going to make between your going on with your present position and your returning to Colombia, that I do not hesitate to allow you freedom of choice. If you go away you will not agree with the opinion which I have of your heart.

"If you wish to come to place yourself at the head of the army, I shall go to the rear, and you will march forward so that all the world will see that I myself do not despise the position I gave to you. This is my answer."

"Bolívar's letter honors him as much as Sucre is honored by his own. With such souls could anyone doubt the success of their undertakings?"

p108 "This example of authority on the part of Gen. Bolívar and of subordination on the part of general Sucre not only enhanced the morale of the army, and especially of the Peruvian division, which was accustomed to do what it wanted; but it also served general Sucre himself when the Liberator returned to Lima to besiege Callao and to move the reënforcements of men and ammunition arriving from Colombia. Then Sucre, left in charge of the campaign, was obeyed without opposition by all the officers of the army. I have never heard further mention of this incident, though at the time it was quite sensational."