Having declared war against the Spaniards, Vilumilla set out immediately at the head of an army to attack the Spanish settlements:  Yet before commencing hostilities, he requested the missionaries to quit the country, that they might not be injured by his detached parties.  Vilumilla signalized the commencement of this new war by taking the fort of Tucapel by storm.  Being apprehensive of a similar fate, the garrison of Arauco abandoned that place.  After destroying these two forts, Villumilla directed his march for Puren, of which he expected to gain possession without resistance.  But the commander made so vigorous a defence that he was under the necessity of besieging it in form.  In a short time the garrison was reduced to extreme distress, both from scarcity of provisions and want of water, the aqueduct which brought water to the fort being destroyed by the enemy.  During a sally made by the commander to obtain supplies, he and all his followers were slain.  In this critical situation, Don Gabriel Cano, who had succeeded Concha in the government, arrived with an army of five thousand men.  As Vilumilla expected an immediate attack, he chose a strong position for his army which he drew up in order of battle behind the deep bed of a torrent:  But, though repeatedly challenged to battle by the enemy, Cano thought it more prudent to abandon the place, and accordingly withdrew the remainder of the garrison.  The war was afterwards reduced to skirmishes of small importance, and was soon terminated by a peace concluded at Negrete, a place situated at the confluence of the Biobio and the Laxa, by which the provisions of the treaty of Quillan were renewed, and the odious title of captains of the friends abolished.

After a mild and harmonious government of fifteen years, Don Gabriel Cano died at St Jago, and was succeeded by his nephew Don Manuel de Salamanca, who was appointed by the viceroy of Peru, and who conducted the government in conformity with the excellent maxims of his uncle.  Don Joseph Manso, who was sent from Spain as his successor, brought orders to collect the Spanish inhabitants who were dispersed over the country into cities.  For this purpose, in 1742, the new governor founded the cities of Copaipo, Aconcagua, Melipilla, Rancagua, San Fernando, Curico, Talca, Tutaben, and Angeles.  In reward for this service, he was promoted to the high dignity of viceroy of Peru.  His successors continued to form new establishments, and in 1753, Santa Rosa, Guasco-alto, Casablanca, Bellaisla, Florida, Coulemu, and Quirigua were founded by Don Domingo Rosas; but these have never flourished like the former.  This governor likewise sent a colony to occupy the larger island of Juan Fernandez, or Isola de Tierra, which had remained uninhabited till that time, to the great injury of commerce, as the pirates found there a secure retreat whence they could easily annoy the trade of Peru and Chili.  In 1759, Don Manuel Amat, who was afterwards Viceroy of Peru, founded the cities of Santa Barbara, Talcamavida, and Gualqui on the Araucanian frontier.