Battle of Chacabuco

Rancagua - Chacabuco - Chalchuapa - Cancha Rayada - Maipú

The Battle of Chacabuco was held on 12 February to 14 February 1817 in the vicinity of the town of Colina, Chile instead. Here defeated Argentine and Chilean independence fighters, the Spanish royalists.

Prehistory

Since the Battle of Rancagua Chile in 1814 was brought under Spanish control. The period from 1814 - 1818 is called the time of the Reconquista.

The leaders of the independence movement Bernardo O'Higgins and Jose Miguel Carrera had to flee. In exile in Argentina in Mendoza José de San Martín and Bernardo O'Higgins were planning a new campaign against the Spaniards.

Crossing of the Andes

In January 1817 crossed 4,000 man of José de San Martín the Andes to surprise the Spaniards. The extremely high Andean passes took their toll; about half of the horses died and many soldiers. The army consisted partly of Argentines and partly from Chileans.

Battle Record

Bernardo O'Higgins had its own division. In a risky maneuver, he attacked the Spanish forces at Chacabuco, these were commanded by Colonel Rafael Maroto. The Spaniards had around 1,500 soldiers. The first attacks were able to successfully fend off the Spanish. Finally, O'Higgins and General Soler attacked with cavalry and infantry with bayonets.

The Spaniards had the superior force defeated. The road to Santiago de Chile was free and José de San Martín was able to move into the city on 14 February 1817.

Another way to independence of Chile

Nevertheless, the Spaniards were not yet completely defeated. The former Spanish governor Mariano Osorio introduced to new troops, beating 1818 Bernardo O'Higgins in the Battle of Cancha Rayada. O'Higgins was injuring the arm. The Battle of Maipú on April 5, 1818 brought the final victory for the Chilean independence fighters.

  • History of Chile
  • Battle of the South American wars of independence
  • 1817
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