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Battle of Cancha Rayada (1818)

The Battle of Cancha Rayada (March 19, 1818), (also known in Chile as the Second Battle of Cancha Rayada or Surprise of Cancha Rayada) was fought in Chile between South American patriots and Spanish royalists, during the Osorio's campaign in the South American wars of independence. The result was a defeat for the patriot forces, weeks later the patriots take their rematch at the Battle of Maipú.

Second Battle of Cancha Rayada
Part of the Chilean War of Independence and the Argentine War of Independence
DateMarch 19, 1818
Location
Result Royalist victory
Belligerents
Chile
United Provinces
Spanish Monarchy
Commanders and leaders
José de San Martín
Bernardo O'Higgins  (WIA)
Mariano Osorio
José Ordóñez
Strength
7,000 5,000
Casualties and losses
150 killed
300 injured
2,000 dispersed
c. 200 killed
and captured

Background edit

In March 1818, the royalist forces concentrated and fortified in Talca with around five thousand men under Brigadier Mariano Osorio, while the independentist forces of around seven thousand men formed by the United Army were taking positions at the Cancha Rayada plains, about seven kilometers away. Argentine general José de San Martín, fearing an attack on his flank, ordered a change of position of the troops.[1]

Knowing their disadvantage in number and cavalry, the Spanish General Osorio was not eager to engage in battle either, remaining content with fortifying Talca. However, after a suggestion from Colonel José Ordóñez a confrontation was decided upon, under Ordoñez' command.

The battle edit

The Spanish attacked at 19:30, when the last thing the patriots expected was a battle. In a bold move, Ordoñez made the kind of attack San Martín had most feared: circumventing the city and making a surprise attack at night behind the vanguard where the patriot forces were still taking positions. The surprise attack happened before the patriot army had re-positioned itself, and was a directed at the battalion under General Bernardo O'Higgins command, near San Martín's position. Soon, the vanguard soldiers dispersed, leaving O'Higgins in a bad position; his horse was shot dead and he was wounded in one arm.

In an uncharacteristic move, instead of ordering retreat San Martín held the position, which made more patriot soldiers flee under enemy fire, leaving their weapons and supplies behind. After the initial disorder, however, he ordered retreat. The rear and reserves had already re-positioned, somewhat withstanding the attack, but had no-one in command, since their chief, Colonel Hilarión de la Quintana, had left for headquarters to receive orders after the re-position and had not yet returned. Colonel Juan Gregorio de Las Heras took command, and led the men during the retreat, while trying to recover as much artillery and weapons as possible. San Martín and O'Higgins (who were also retreating at full speed) were being closely chased by royalist forces.

Aftermath edit

By March 21, the decimated patriot forces of around three and half thousand men reunited in San Fernando, while news of the defeat reached Santiago. Rumors of deaths of O'Higgins and San Martín were spreading, and an exodus from Santiago to Mendoza began. Regarding the battle, San Martín sent the following message: Camping the army under my command in the outskirts of Talca, it was attacked by the enemy, and suffered an almost generalized disbanding which forced me to retreat. I'm reuniting the troops right now, with happy results, as I'm already counting 4,000 men from Curicó to Pelequén.

The battle (which was the only defeat the campaign had suffered) resulted in around 150 killed, and two hundred taken prisoner. Several hundred had deserted, the whole artillery of the Argentine side was lost along with considerable numbers of horses, mules, and weapons from both the Chilean and Argentine parts of the army. Despite the royalist victory, the action proved devastating to their side: two hundred soldiers had been killed, three hundred men captured and around six hundred had deserted, a total comprising more than half the two thousand men that had charged into the battle.

References edit

  1. ^ (in Spanish) La Guía 2000

External links edit

  • (in Spanish) Historia de Chile
  • (in Spanish) Chillán Viejo, Chile
  • (in Spanish) Julio Mario Luqui-Lagleyze[Luqui-Lagleyze, Julio Mario (2006). Por el rey, la fe y la patria: el Ejército Realista del Perú en la independencia sudamericana, 1810-1825. Madrid: Ministerio de Defensa de España, Secretaría General Técnica.
  • García Camba, Andrés (1846). Memorias para la historia de las armas españolas en el Perú (in Spanish). Madrid.
  • Scheina, Robert L. (2003). Latin America's Wars: The age of the caudillo, 1791-1899. Brassey.


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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message The Battle of Cancha Rayada March 19 1818 also known in Chile as the Second Battle of Cancha Rayada or Surprise of Cancha Rayada was fought in Chile between South American patriots and Spanish royalists during the Osorio s campaign in the South American wars of independence The result was a defeat for the patriot forces weeks later the patriots take their rematch at the Battle of Maipu Second Battle of Cancha RayadaPart of the Chilean War of Independence and the Argentine War of IndependenceDateMarch 19 1818LocationNear Talca ChileResultRoyalist victoryBelligerentsChile United ProvincesSpanish MonarchyCommanders and leadersJose de San Martin Bernardo O Higgins WIA Mariano Osorio Jose OrdonezStrength7 0005 000Casualties and losses150 killed300 injured2 000 dispersedc 200 killedand captured Contents 1 Background 2 The battle 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 External linksBackground editIn March 1818 the royalist forces concentrated and fortified in Talca with around five thousand men under Brigadier Mariano Osorio while the independentist forces of around seven thousand men formed by the United Army were taking positions at the Cancha Rayada plains about seven kilometers away Argentine general Jose de San Martin fearing an attack on his flank ordered a change of position of the troops 1 Knowing their disadvantage in number and cavalry the Spanish General Osorio was not eager to engage in battle either remaining content with fortifying Talca However after a suggestion from Colonel Jose Ordonez a confrontation was decided upon under Ordonez command The battle editThe Spanish attacked at 19 30 when the last thing the patriots expected was a battle In a bold move Ordonez made the kind of attack San Martin had most feared circumventing the city and making a surprise attack at night behind the vanguard where the patriot forces were still taking positions The surprise attack happened before the patriot army had re positioned itself and was a directed at the battalion under General Bernardo O Higgins command near San Martin s position Soon the vanguard soldiers dispersed leaving O Higgins in a bad position his horse was shot dead and he was wounded in one arm In an uncharacteristic move instead of ordering retreat San Martin held the position which made more patriot soldiers flee under enemy fire leaving their weapons and supplies behind After the initial disorder however he ordered retreat The rear and reserves had already re positioned somewhat withstanding the attack but had no one in command since their chief Colonel Hilarion de la Quintana had left for headquarters to receive orders after the re position and had not yet returned Colonel Juan Gregorio de Las Heras took command and led the men during the retreat while trying to recover as much artillery and weapons as possible San Martin and O Higgins who were also retreating at full speed were being closely chased by royalist forces Aftermath editBy March 21 the decimated patriot forces of around three and half thousand men reunited in San Fernando while news of the defeat reached Santiago Rumors of deaths of O Higgins and San Martin were spreading and an exodus from Santiago to Mendoza began Regarding the battle San Martin sent the following message Camping the army under my command in the outskirts of Talca it was attacked by the enemy and suffered an almost generalized disbanding which forced me to retreat I m reuniting the troops right now with happy results as I m already counting 4 000 men from Curico to Pelequen The battle which was the only defeat the campaign had suffered resulted in around 150 killed and two hundred taken prisoner Several hundred had deserted the whole artillery of the Argentine side was lost along with considerable numbers of horses mules and weapons from both the Chilean and Argentine parts of the army Despite the royalist victory the action proved devastating to their side two hundred soldiers had been killed three hundred men captured and around six hundred had deserted a total comprising more than half the two thousand men that had charged into the battle References edit in Spanish La Guia 2000External links edit in Spanish Historia de Chile in Spanish Chillan Viejo Chile in Spanish Julio Mario Luqui Lagleyze Luqui Lagleyze Julio Mario 2006 Por el rey la fe y la patria el Ejercito Realista del Peru en la independencia sudamericana 1810 1825 Madrid Ministerio de Defensa de Espana Secretaria General Tecnica Garcia Camba Andres 1846 Memorias para la historia de las armas espanolas en el Peru in Spanish Madrid Scheina Robert L 2003 Latin America s Wars The age of the caudillo 1791 1899 Brassey Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Cancha Rayada 1818 amp oldid 1135542558, 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