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Battle of Maipú

 
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The Battle of Maipú was a battle fought near Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile

Santiago , is the Capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of 520 m Above mean sea level....
 on April 5 1818 between South America
South America

South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere....
n rebels and Spanish royalists, during the South American wars of independence. Victory came to the rebels commanded by José de San Martín
José de San Martín

Jos? Francisco de San Mart?n Matorras, also known as Jos? de San Mart?n , was an Argentina general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain....
, leader of the resistance to Spain
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
 in southern South America, and it completed the independence of Chile from Spanish domination.

817, the Argentine
Argentina

Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic , is a country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city....
 General José de San Martín
José de San Martín

Jos? Francisco de San Mart?n Matorras, also known as Jos? de San Mart?n , was an Argentina general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain....
 led an army across the Andes
Crossing of the Andes

The Crossing of the Andes was one of the most important feats in the Argentine War of Independence and Chilean War of Independence, in which a combined army of Argentina soldiers and Chilean exiles liberated Chile from Spain rule, in order to protect their country from possible Spanish incursions....
 and defeated the Spanish
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
 at the battles of Chacabuco
Battle of Chacabuco

The Battle of Chacabuco, fought during the Chilean War of Independence, occurred on February 12, 1817. The rebel army led by Jos? de San Mart?n defeated the Spanish force led by Rafael Maroto....
 and Chalchuapa and captured Santiago
Santiago, Chile

Santiago , is the Capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of 520 m Above mean sea level....
.






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The Battle of Maipú was a battle fought near Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile

Santiago , is the Capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of 520 m Above mean sea level....
 on April 5 1818 between South America
South America

South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere....
n rebels and Spanish royalists, during the South American wars of independence. Victory came to the rebels commanded by José de San Martín
José de San Martín

Jos? Francisco de San Mart?n Matorras, also known as Jos? de San Mart?n , was an Argentina general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain....
, leader of the resistance to Spain
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
 in southern South America, and it completed the independence of Chile from Spanish domination.

Background

In 1817, the Argentine
Argentina

Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic , is a country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city....
 General José de San Martín
José de San Martín

Jos? Francisco de San Mart?n Matorras, also known as Jos? de San Mart?n , was an Argentina general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain....
 led an army across the Andes
Crossing of the Andes

The Crossing of the Andes was one of the most important feats in the Argentine War of Independence and Chilean War of Independence, in which a combined army of Argentina soldiers and Chilean exiles liberated Chile from Spain rule, in order to protect their country from possible Spanish incursions....
 and defeated the Spanish
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
 at the battles of Chacabuco
Battle of Chacabuco

The Battle of Chacabuco, fought during the Chilean War of Independence, occurred on February 12, 1817. The rebel army led by Jos? de San Mart?n defeated the Spanish force led by Rafael Maroto....
 and Chalchuapa and captured Santiago
Santiago, Chile

Santiago , is the Capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of 520 m Above mean sea level....
. The Spanish viceroyalty sent a Spanish army to Santiago under General Mariano Osorio
Mariano Osorio

Mariano de Osorio was a Spanish general and Royal Governor of Chile from 1814-1815....
, which defeated San Martin at the Second Battle of Cancha Rayada. The drive for independence never diminished, however, and the following year San Martin launched a final offensive, which was to decide the outcome of the war.

The battle

In April 1818, marched his army out from Santiago and scaled the Andes Mountains, some rising as high as 13,000 feet (4,000 m). Near the Maipú River high in the rugged terrain of the Andes, San Martin caught the Spanish army under General Osorio off guard. The Royalists formed up on a ridge, but with their left flank separated from the main body. San Martin attacked this flank, driving off the Royalist cavalry with his own elite Horse Grenadiers, and isolated it, securing his right flank. He then attacked the Royalists in the centre, and was initially repulsed, but a Royalist counter-advance was met by effective artillery fire, and also driven back. At this point, General Osorio deserted the field, leaving the Royalist army under the command of Colonel Ordonez. San Martin committed his reserve to the attack, and the Royalists retreated, some making a stand at a nearby farm.

Results

The victory produced tremendous results. The victory ended the struggle for Chile
Chile

Chile, officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow coastal strip wedged between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean....
an independence and so demoralized the Spanish army in South America
South America

South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere....
 that San Martin was able to easily sweep through and liberate Peru
Peru

Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. The battle left 2,000 Spaniards dead and 3,000 captured; the patriots lost about 1,000 men.

Order of Battle


Patriots Commander: General José de San Martin
José de San Martín

Jos? Francisco de San Mart?n Matorras, also known as Jos? de San Mart?n , was an Argentina general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain....
  • Las Heras' Division (Colonel Las Heras)
  • 11th Infantry Battalion (Argentinian)
  • Cazadores de Coquimbo (Chilean)
  • Battalion Infantes de la Patria (Chilean)
  • 4 Squadrons of Horse Grenadiers (Argentinian)
  • 8 Field Pieces


  • Alvarado' Division (Colonel Alvarado)
  • 2nd Infantry Battalion (Chilean)
  • 8th Infantry Battalion (Argentine)
  • Cazadores de los Andes (Argentine)
  • 4 Squadrons Cazadores a Caballo de los Andes
  • 9 Field Pieces


  • Reserve Division (Colonel de la Quintana)
  • 1st Infantry Battalion (Chilean)
  • 3rd Infantry Battalion (Argentine)
  • 7th Infantry Battalion (Argentine)
  • 2 Squadrons Escort Cavalry
  • 4 Field Pieces


Total: 5,000 men with 21 guns

Royalists Commander: General Mariano Osorio
Mariano Osorio

Mariano de Osorio was a Spanish general and Royal Governor of Chile from 1814-1815....
  • 1st Brigade (Colonel Ordoñez)
  • Battalion Concepción
  • Battalion Infante Don Carlos
  • 1 Company Sappers
  • Squadron Lances del Rey
  • Squadron Arequipa Dragoons
  • 4 guns


  • 2nd Brigade (Colonel Morla)
  • Battalion Arequipa
  • Battalion Burgos
  • Chillan Horse Dragoons
  • 2 Squadron Frontier Dragoons
  • 4 guns


  • 3rd Brigade (Colonel de Rivera)
  • Amalgamated battalion (Grenadier and Cazadores Companies from Battalions Burgos, Concepción, Infante and Arequipa)
  • 4 guns


Total: 5,000 men with 12 guns

Sources

  • Compton's Home Library: Battles of the World CD-ROM


External links