Bernardo O'Higgins accepted the position instead, and became the leader of an independent Chile. He was granted dictatorial powers as Supreme Director on 16 February 1817. On 12 February 1818, Chile proclaimed itself an independent republic. Throughout the war with the royalists, O'Higgins had engaged in an ongoing feud with José Miguel Carrera. After their retreat in 1814, O'Higgins had fared much better than Carrera, who found little support forthcoming from San Martín, O'Higgins' political ally. Carrera was imprisoned to prevent his involvement in Chilean affairs; after his escape, he ended up taking the winning side in the Argentine Federalist war, helping
San Bernardo Unido the clashes with Deportes Provincial Osorno stand out, in which I finish last with 10 points, having to play the Liguilla de Permanencia. In that instance, the end was dramatic, in which San Bernardo Unido arrived at the bottom of the table to the last confrontation, where he faced in the Municipal Stadium of San Bernardo Juventud Puente Alto, with whom he disputed the permanence, the party ended 6 to 2, in favor of San Bernardo Unido, that result made it difficult for him to return to his Association of Origin. I finish finally second of that phase with 7