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Siege of Chillán

The siege of Chillán occurred July 27 to August 10, 1813, as patriot forces attempted to dislodge a determined band of royalist defenders. The failure of José Miguel Carrera to take the city would contribute to his removal from office by the junta later in the campaign.

Siege of Chillán
Part of the Chilean War of Independence

Plaza marking the site of the Siege of Chillán
DateJuly 27 to August 10, 1813
Location36°37′5.44″S 72°8′8.23″W / 36.6181778°S 72.1356194°W / -36.6181778; -72.1356194
Result Royalist victory
Belligerents
Chilean patriots Royalists
Commanders and leaders
José Miguel Carrera Juan Francisco Sánchez
José Antonio Pareja
Strength
unknown unknown
Casualties and losses
Over 500 casualties and prisoners unknown

Background edit

The city of Chillán was held by royalist troops under the command of Juan Francisco Sanchez, backed by forces under the command of Ildefonso Elorreaga and the Valdivian troops of Juan Nepomuceno Carvallo. Juan Francisco Sanchez had sent a message to Antonio Pareja for reinforcements as José Miguel Carrera began his siege. As a result, the governing body at Santiago instructed Carrera to try to take the city before these new royalist forces could arrive.

 
Plate located in the plaza marking the site of the siege of Chillán, on the corner of the Luis Arellanos and Velasquez streets, remembering the deaths in the battle of Maipón on August 5.
 
Sketch compiled by the patriots in the siege of Chillán, in 1813 July

The siege edit

The patriot forces surrounding Chillán consisted of some of their best soldiers, but the siege was to occur in the midst of winter and in a difficult location. Old Chillán[1] was a city of 4,000 inhabitants, now increased to 9,000 with Sanchez's royalist forces. It was located on an easily defensible hill between the rivers Paso Hondo, Maipón and Chillán.

By the time that Carrera arrived to take command of the siege, Joel Roberts Poinsett and Juan Mackenna had already compiled a plan showing the enemy fortifications and for the location of the artillery. Although the patriot troops were equipped with waterproof ponchos, the winter weather was so unpleasant and the patriot supplies so limited that Carrera was concerned about the timing of the campaign.

The assault edit

As the days drew on, the patriot force began to suffer increasing numbers of deserters, and Carrera decided that a direct attack was needed before the entire patriot force disintegrated in the harsh winter conditions. The first attack, the battle of Maipón, occurred on August 3, with the second attack following two days later. The assaults were marred by the massacre of many of the civilian inhabitants of Chillán and numerous atrocities. The assaults failed, however, to take the city, where the royalist forces held on staunchly.

Aftermath edit

Carrera had taken many casualties during these assaults, with his casualties and men taken prisoner numbering more than 500 men. His militia cavalry and some of the infantry had fled altogether, and without food and ammunition it was not going to be possible to hold the city perimeter. The only choice was to raise the siege on August 10 and retreat to Quirihue and Concepción. The failure of the siege of Chillán would begin to undermine the credibility of Carrera in the eyes of the leadership in Santiago.

References edit

  1. ^ The city of Chillán was moved to its current location in 1835. [1]

siege, chillán, siege, chillán, occurred, july, august, 1813, patriot, forces, attempted, dislodge, determined, band, royalist, defenders, failure, josé, miguel, carrera, take, city, would, contribute, removal, from, office, junta, later, campaign, part, chile. The siege of Chillan occurred July 27 to August 10 1813 as patriot forces attempted to dislodge a determined band of royalist defenders The failure of Jose Miguel Carrera to take the city would contribute to his removal from office by the junta later in the campaign Siege of ChillanPart of the Chilean War of IndependencePlaza marking the site of the Siege of ChillanDateJuly 27 to August 10 1813LocationChillan Viejo36 37 5 44 S 72 8 8 23 W 36 6181778 S 72 1356194 W 36 6181778 72 1356194ResultRoyalist victoryBelligerentsChilean patriotsRoyalistsCommanders and leadersJose Miguel CarreraJuan Francisco Sanchez Jose Antonio ParejaStrengthunknownunknownCasualties and lossesOver 500 casualties and prisonersunknown Contents 1 Background 2 The siege 3 The assault 4 Aftermath 5 ReferencesBackground editThe city of Chillan was held by royalist troops under the command of Juan Francisco Sanchez backed by forces under the command of Ildefonso Elorreaga and the Valdivian troops of Juan Nepomuceno Carvallo Juan Francisco Sanchez had sent a message to Antonio Pareja for reinforcements as Jose Miguel Carrera began his siege As a result the governing body at Santiago instructed Carrera to try to take the city before these new royalist forces could arrive nbsp Plate located in the plaza marking the site of the siege of Chillan on the corner of the Luis Arellanos and Velasquez streets remembering the deaths in the battle of Maipon on August 5 nbsp Sketch compiled by the patriots in the siege of Chillan in 1813 JulyThe siege editThe patriot forces surrounding Chillan consisted of some of their best soldiers but the siege was to occur in the midst of winter and in a difficult location Old Chillan 1 was a city of 4 000 inhabitants now increased to 9 000 with Sanchez s royalist forces It was located on an easily defensible hill between the rivers Paso Hondo Maipon and Chillan By the time that Carrera arrived to take command of the siege Joel Roberts Poinsett and Juan Mackenna had already compiled a plan showing the enemy fortifications and for the location of the artillery Although the patriot troops were equipped with waterproof ponchos the winter weather was so unpleasant and the patriot supplies so limited that Carrera was concerned about the timing of the campaign The assault editAs the days drew on the patriot force began to suffer increasing numbers of deserters and Carrera decided that a direct attack was needed before the entire patriot force disintegrated in the harsh winter conditions The first attack the battle of Maipon occurred on August 3 with the second attack following two days later The assaults were marred by the massacre of many of the civilian inhabitants of Chillan and numerous atrocities The assaults failed however to take the city where the royalist forces held on staunchly Aftermath editCarrera had taken many casualties during these assaults with his casualties and men taken prisoner numbering more than 500 men His militia cavalry and some of the infantry had fled altogether and without food and ammunition it was not going to be possible to hold the city perimeter The only choice was to raise the siege on August 10 and retreat to Quirihue and Concepcion The failure of the siege of Chillan would begin to undermine the credibility of Carrera in the eyes of the leadership in Santiago References edit The city of Chillan was moved to its current location in 1835 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Siege of Chillan amp oldid 1088280132, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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