Convicted of insurrection,
some of these prisoners had their noses or right hands amputated, while others, including Galvarino, had both hands removed.
Remarkably, since he no longer had hands, Galvarino rushed headlong into the fray armed only with his teeth
and a knife strapped to each wrist.
Overmatched, the Mapuche eventually succumbed in the battle, and when the smoke cleared, reportedly about 3,000 Mapuche
had been killed, and another 800 captured, including Galvarino.
Rewarded for his bravery, Galvarino was placed in command of a squadron of men,
and in order to fight effectively, knives were fastened to the stubs of his wrists.