Osprey, Men-at-Arms #232 The Armies of Bolivar and San Martin (1991)_ OCR 8.12

~ MILITARY

MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES

232

THE ARMIES OF BOLIVAR ·AND SAN MARTIN

TERRY HOOKER RON POULTER

EDITOR: MARTIN WINDROW

"'~ UTA"

MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES

232

THE ARMIES OF BOLIVAR AN D SAN MARTIN Text by T. HOOKER AND R. POULTER Colour plates by R. POULTER

Dedication To both our wi\'L'S, Roslyn and Dori311l

Publishctl in 1991 h} Ospri:")" Publishi", I.ld 59 Gros,-enor SUIT', Lonoon \\.X I)DI\ l Copyrigh. Ilj'l' o"l)l'l:} l'ohlishing L.d

Admowlcdgcments Both of us \\ish to thank those \\'ho h3\'c helped us with our researches o\·er many years. as wcll as those who ha\'c been of diroct assistance during the preparation of this book; these former arc ~ II'. J. Hefter, and ~ II'. R. I3elmOOl-Maitland of'Tradition·. Among the Janel' wc should mention Snr. Jose BaJaguer, SOl'. C. Fcrnandez, Mr. C. A. Norman. j\lr. Rene Chartrand, Snr. M. Dini Bruno, Snr. C. Perez Jurado, Col. A. rto larquez Allison. HE The Spanish Ambassador to Hondur:lS Don Julio Albi, 501'. J. l\1. Ricardes; thc Colombian Embass}" London; staff al the British Embassy, Caracas, and Snr. Ah'aro Montana for photographs taken in l}ogota; Ihe slaffat Hull Central Library (Rcference Section) who ha,'c aidcd 1'DI-I's quest for foreign sources over Ihc years; and Doriam Poull'er for innluable translations and frequent help. Lastly, thanks to Manin Windro\\, whom RP has pestercd with this subject e\'cry lime they mct O\'cr a number ofrcars. If any reader has any enquiries on South American military history wc will be happy t'O try to help: 1'. D. Hooker, 27 Hallgat'c, Coningham, North Humberside HU,6 4DN; R. Poultcr. 36 Warwick A\·cnuc. Soulh Harrow, Middx, HAl SRD.

All rights n.:scnctl. Ap~n from ~n) f~ir dealing for Ihe purpose of prj, ~l<." SHod). r"""'".Irch. criticism or re, ie.... IS penniuctl un
Brmu, lAr.ry C.I./~.'qI. PfIM,ullI••

Hoolcr. T 1ltc ~rmies o(Uol;'n ~nd San \bnin.

IJ",. ("bn_~._

~nm;§cries, 2J2). 1.

Sou.h American

~rmio.. bi~tor}

I.Ti.k II. I'ouhcr. R. 1II.Scric:s Jjj.Q98

Film§Ct in Gn:11 Hrit~jn l'rimctl 'hroogh lIoolboiltk,.,; 1.• .1, lIon! Kong

I)hotograph crcdits; notc thaI abbreviations apl)car in captions: Musco Nacional, Bogota. Colombia; BihliOlhcque dc .Musce de I' Armce, Paris; Musco HiSlorico Nacional, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Banco Cenlral de Rcscrva del Pcru, Lima, Peru; Palacio Federal, C.'Hacas, Venezuela; Quinta de Bolivar, Bogota, Colombia; Musco Nacional de l3ellas t\rtes, l3uenos Aires, Argentina.

r or ~ l":1I3Ingul' (If 311 huo~s publ ishcel b} Osprc} l}k~ISC II ritc to:

The ~I:.rkel ing "In linger•

Consumer Cnlalugue DepUrlmenl. Osprc}· Publishing LuI, J\lichclin Iiousc. H. Fulhnm Road. Lumloll SW J 6R B

J\ I itit3rr

BOLIVARAND SAN MARTIN

INTRODUCTION The Spanish colonial empire in South America consisl(:d, during the firsl decade of the 191h century, of Ihrcc Viccroyallics: thai of New Gr.1nada (combining the Audicncia of Quiro, the Audicncia of Santa Fe, and the C:1puincy-GcncT;11 of Venezuela); Ihar of Peru (with the Presidency of Cuzeo and the Caplain<.:y-Gcncral of Chile); and rh:lt of La Plata (consisling of the Presidem:)' of Charcas, the Presi-

dency of Chuquisaca, and Ihe Audicncia of Buenos Aires). These administrative entities had grown our ofrhe tcrrilmics seized by the 16th century Conquis[;Idorcs (sec MAA 101, The CfJllf/llisllldores, by Terence Wise). Spain's policy towards these colonies:lt the turn of the century was one of complete mcrclIuilc and politic:ll control. While tradc between colonies was open to local commerce, all goods passing in either direction bct\,ccn South America and Europe had to be handled b) Spanish merchants. !)olirkal acti\"i,}' was dictatcd by Ihe Spanish go\"Crnment, who scm out Sp:mish officials 10 cxecutc their policics; Ihc prospects of the Amcrican-born intclligentsia were thus limited to minOt" gO\'ernmental posts. The two gre:1.I late 18th century rcvolutions, in Francc and Nonh Americl, caused the spread of new ideas which proved atlracti\'e to some clements among the American-born Spaniards or 'Criollos'. One of these leaders of opinion was Francisco de J\'liranda, who formed contacts wilh the go\'ernments of Britain, France, and the United Stales. He informed Ihe I3ritish Prime Minister William Pitt thaI Sp:lIlish-Americans were eager to throw off the Spanish yoke md instilUte self-government, and also to open up their ports to foreign commcrce (this al a timc when Spain was 311ied to Remlutionary Franee). I-Ie estimated the total population of Spanish America at some 11,000,000; and the Spanish military presence 3t IJ,OOO regulars and 20,000 colonial militia, to protect the wholc cOnlinenl from Louisiana lhJ\\lIlo Pata~onia.

Simon /kli .... r,

,S~j.

b.1

Josc Gil (k CnStro, noll' in PIJ1/.do Fcdet7f/. Ca ... CIIS.

The unifornl !>'hoM'n is 'hc

S;'Imc '.lpl..· us rhl..· oue /klil~.r is

lI"(':lrintr i'l PIMI..' dlJrJ. bluc eml' ,,-;,h gold I:.ee. 8~;

I-Ie was tireless in his attempts to secure Europe:l.ll support for his revolutionary pl:ms. A scheme to im'adc Vene-.wela wilh the aid of Toussainr l'Ou\'enure's troops from Santo Domingo (see ALAA 211, Napoleon's Oursetls Army) came to nothing; two attempts to land in Venezuela in 1805 ,Ind 1806 f:liled; and two I3ril'ish expeditions to l311cnos Aircs and Montevidco in 1806--07 were also defeaTcd. Nc\'crtheless, lhey heightened the nationalistic feeling among the Criollos of La Plata, and :llerlcd I3ritish merchants 10 lhe potential of South American trade-both central factors during the later Wars of Independence. When in 1808 t\apolcon replaced the Spanish king with his brother Joseph Bonaparte, bringing Spain into the Napoleonic Wars as an ally of Britain, IOCII jlllllos (go\'crning commillccs) apPC".Jrcd not unl) on the mainland but also throughout the colonies, 10 maintain Spanish authorit~. In America J

many of these juntas were led by wealthy and ation with the sale aim of independence. I-lis dream of influential South Americans who came to favour what would supplant Spanish imperialism in these newly liberated countries would be disappointed in indepen~lence from Sp:lin. By the time of the reinstatement of the Spanish King Ferdinand VII in his own lifetime; bUI at le:1St he left behind him 1814- the American colonies had seen four years of nations shaped and governed 'by Arneric:llls, for war bel\\ccn Royalist and Republican factions Americans'. JNLUY"bwJ Jbr prOlWt:cs. Dctcrmjncd ro (crain his absolute sovereignty O\'er his American colonies, rhe king despalched British-trained Spanish veteran Iroops nf Ihe war againsl France to rhe Vicernphic.
CHRONOLOGY

.-

1812

_.-

9 March

2;July

2+ Sept.

San Martin returns from Peninsular War to Buenos Aires. Caracas raken by Spanish troops; Francisco de Miranda captured and sent to Spain, dying in prison at Cadiz in July t816. Battle ofTucuman (Alto Peru): Royalist defeat.

Left: The area oflJolil'..,ri.- first b""lcs.

•

181 3 II Jan. IsJune

14 Nov.

18q January IsJune 10Jul),

10 Aug.

1-2 Oct.

181S 16 Feb. 9 May 29 Nov.

Spanish government issues orders w execute insurgenrs and their sympalhisers. Bolivar remliates with his decree of '\Var to the Death'. He advances on C1ra<.
'9 March sApril

7 Aug.

18 Sept, 1820 I Jan. 20

Aug.

8 Sept.

1821 24 June

12July 3 Aug. 7 Sepl.

1822 7 April 24 May 16June

,6-27 July

1816 9.1uly I Aug.

28 Dec.

181 7 <) Jan. T2 Feb.

United Provinces of La PlaIa (Argentina) declare independence. 5,111 Marrin appointed cornmander-inchief of Anny of the Andes. Bolivar returns from Haiti to Venezuela. San Martin b<''g'ins the crossing of lhe Andes. l3altle of Chaclbuco (Chile): Spanish defeat.

20

Sept.

182 3 Sept. 6 Sept. I

182 4 6 Aug. 8 Dec. 182 5

18.8 16 Man;h

l3attlc of Semen (Venewela): RepubliC'dn defeat.

3 Feb,

Battle of C.1l1cha-Rayada (Chile): Republican defeat. BailIe of Maipu (Chile): Spanish defeat. Lord Cochrane, Republican na\'al COIllm~lllder, captures port of Valdivia from Spanish, Banle of Boyad (Colombia): Spanish defeat. Bolivar enters Sant':!. Fe de Bogota. Spanish reinforccmems mutiny at Cadiz and refuse 10 be sent In South America. ArgeminejChilean force under San MaTlin sail for Peru. San Martin lands at I)isco; the libcralion of Peru begins. Bailie of Carabobo (Venezuela): Spanish de(<.-d" Republicans enter Lima, Peru. San Marrin proclaimed Protector of Peru. Boli\':lT eleeled President of Gran Colombia (Venewela, Colombia and Ecuador). Battle of Bombona (Ecuador): Spanish defeat. Battle of Pichincha (Ecuador): Spanish defeat. Bolivar enters Q!.lito. Bolivar and San Martin meet at Guayaquil, Et.:U:IUUr. San Martin resigns as Protector ofreru. Bolivar enters Lima. Last Spanish troops surrender.

III

Venezuela

Battlc ofJunin (Peru): Spanish defeat. Battle of Ayacucho (Peru): Spanish defeat. Brilain recognises the indq'cndent states of Gran Colombia, Ihe United Provinces of La 1)lata (Argentina), and 5

BOLIVAR'S FIRST CAMPAIGNS Bolivar's first viclories wcrc lIon on the Lo\\cr Magdalena in New Granada (modern Colombia). During Ihis campaign he caplured scvcral important towns including 1ompox, EI Banco, Chiringuana and Ocana. Ncar CUCUt::l he dcfcalcd Ihc Spanish Col. Ramon Correa, taking possession of this stralcgic centrc on 28 February t8t). Thc 'Admirable' Campaign, 1813-14

•

Gerlt'rnlJose A"ro"io l'Il(.·z. IH2~,

artisl unknOlnl. 'The Lion of,lpurc', Lcmh'r of the Llilnt·m.... one Offill: 1rcrHcsr J'lIIdoll'lIcr... in Vcnc7.lId" lInd her first

Presidem. !'"ez is ...holl'lI ill II d'lrk bll/e hus!mr's do/m,," lI'ilh gold 11IC:c. n'd

lind red and gold ~Irrcl SiiSh. He is holding a C:Wpk,,; this;s black, with gold cords lllld finings and

red :lIIfl ",hite plume. This uniForm "'Qlliel a/l be

lid/i.-oll-supplied, possibly Irom Col. lVi/SOli ~ 'rc.'ti 11II!>"s
frOl/sers wilh gold stripcs,

Mexico; Peru and Chile would be recognised in the latc ,8305.

1826 22

Jan.

,830

Surrender of Rrig. Rodil's garrison at Callao, an imporlant port ncar Lima, Peru, marks final Spanish defeat.

17 Dec.

Death of Simon Bolivar al Santa Marta while awaiting passage inro voluntary exile in ":urope.

18 50 Ii Aug.

Death of Jose de San Martin al 80ulagne, Fmncc.

6

Whilc in Cucuta Bolivar reech'cd authorisation and help from thc Granadinc government to start operations in Venezuela; the congress conferred on him the citizenship of Ncw Granada and thc mnk of brig;J.dier. On 14 May 181) he advanced into VenC'"Luela with a small force of some 550 men mainly officered by New Granadans, four )-pdr. and four 4pdr. guns, five mortars, and 1,400 extra muskets with 100 rounds per muske!. The officers and men wcre well disciplined and determined; and just thrcc months la[er, on 7 August, Ihe 30-year-old Boli,'ar entered Caracas in triumph, 10 be named CaptainGeneral of the Armies of Venezuela and 'Liberator'; he was later elected president, with dictatorial powers to prosecute the war. Bolivar went on to further victories at 'Barbula', La Victoria, San J'vlalcu, and finally the first battlc of Carabobo on 18 May 1814. But rebel dcfeats at La Puerta on 15 June, al the hands of Gen. Boves, and at Aragua on Ii August, at the hands of Gen. Francisco Morales, crushed the Republican cause in Venezue];l and forced Bolivar to return to New Granada. In November he presented himself to the congress at Tunja (Colombia) and gave a report of his victories and defeats. The president interrupted him, saying: 'General, your country has not perished while your sword survives', and promised him further aid lO liberate Vcnezuela. The arrival of Bolivar and of Gen. Rafael Urdancta's division at TUllja prompted the New Granadine government (0 strike a blow at Bogota. Boli,'ar was promoted to general of division and gi"cn command of the expedition. Urdanera's di"ision consisted of the Battalions Barlovenlo. Valencia and

Guaira and a clvalry squadron; Bolivar's recruiting campaign brought in about 1,000 men, and another 2,000 horsemen were raised ncar Bogota. On 27 November Boli\'ar set out from Tunja; and on 12 December he enl'ered Bogota for the first lime, this \'iewry bringing him the rank of Captain-General of the Armies of New Granada. His greatest ambition remained the liberation of Venezuela. The gO\'ernment, now installed at Bogota, ga\'C him arms, equipment and funds for an advance on the strategic pon of Santa Mana (Colombia), and thence on Maracaibo (Venezuela). But in March 1815 the refusal of suppo~t by the gO\'ernor of Cartagena led Bolivar to choose exile rather than becoming embroiled in a civil war between South Americans-nol the last rime he would display an admirable lack of personal ambition. In May he sailed for Haiti. With the support of Presidellt Alexander Petion he continued to mount expeditions to Venezuela, howevcr; and by July 1817 he had forced the Spanish out of Angostura on the Orinoco in the province of Guayana, cstablishing there his military headquarters and the provisional capital of Venezuela. By midAugust he was able 10 begin rc-organising his army.

THE BRITISH LEGION On q April 1817 Luis LOpC'"1: Mendez, the newly appointed p,nriotic agent in London, had an interview at the roreign Office; it is thought that he was sounding out the British government's view on the question of volunteer enlistment. At the same time the Duke of Wellington arrived on a visit from France to discuss the problem of disbanding his large army of occupation. One cannot but think these two discussions-one on Ihe rcduClion of an army, and the other on the recruitment of another-an odd coincidence. (One of the first officers who subsequentlyoffered to raise troops for the patriots, one Gustavus .Mathias Hippisley, a C3\'alry lieutenant on Ihe Irish half-I>:!y list, is thought to have been a personal friend of the Duke,) While the patriots' aeti\'itics in Britain were well known carly in 1817, it was not until August 1819 that the Foreign Enlist-

Gencralj.1mcs l"o ..'crs EJlldish, ,8,8,IJrfist unk"oM'n; reproduced b." kind pcrmi,'>Sion ofMr and !lIrs Hugh Barn.'r, Gcncral English proba bl." s:u for this painting "'hen hc ClImc bad to Engl:lnd to raise thc Sct:Ond British LC!{ion in ,818. /-Ic i!>' i,,:. d,1rk blu~' dolmall ..-ith red cuffs, :lnd red rrousers; a./l lilce js gold; he II'C:'rs thc ordcr prt.."S~·IIU'd to him by

lJolil":lr, '£Srrell:1 d~'IQ!j LiberWtlorcs', Also shOlm is the J:lnCC prt:SCII'cd to him b." Gencrnll"ICZ. '/-Ie prescnted me Illso ..-jrh thc lance belonging to himself. "'ith "'hich in thc l"st IIcrio" he kill~-d fort." ofth~' cncmy in thc~ullrscoffollr hours', ThcshaJ.oin,h~' bottom righr h:md corner is black with l!old I:,CC "nd fittings :md ,,-n·tl :lIItl hlm:J.· plume.

ment Bill, forbidding service in foreign :lrmies, began its passage through Parliamem. Spain was a recent wartime ally of Great IJrirain and a friendly power; it is difficult 10 imagine that a cynical view of the commercial opportunities for Britain's merchants in a liberated South America, and of the advantages of easing the o\'crseas employment of thousands of near-destitUle ex-soldiers, did not playa large part in thcse cvents. From those mcctings, in less than two and a half years some 5,500 volumcers would leave Britain and Ireland for South America, along with quantities of 7

lSI Velle::'lIeltlll Lallcers (Col. R. Skccnc)- 20 officers,

NCOs (this rcgimcnt was lost with c\"cry man aboard whcn Ihcir ship foundercd in a SlOrm olr Ushant a few days out from England). These units were planned ro recruit rank and file locally on arrival, thus thc preponderance of NCOs. In fact-as so often with British cxpeditions lO South Amcrica-things startcd to go badly wrong as soon as the troops landcd. Bad food and rhe fc,'crriddcn swamps of the Orinoco tool; thcir lOll; some mcn wcre murdcred by Indians on their way to Bolivar's headquartcrs; onc was takcn at night by a 'tiger', another by a crocodile; disciplinc brokc down amid much quarrelling, and Ihere were many duds. A measure of disciplinc was restored by LI. Col. James English of the 1St Vcnezuelan Ilussars, who then lOok a detachment forward to join Boli":Ir :Il his hcadquarters. I-lis unit fought in the b:lItle ofVill:l de Cura, and was cut 10 picces; of 12 officers who wCnt into action cight wcre killed and two wounded. Bolivar complimentcd English on his men's gallantry, and promoted him coloncl. In t818 Bolh-ar commissioncd his Guard of Honour, and Vawell states that 'a good many officers and soldiers lately arrivcd from England had becn formcd into a regiment which was callcd Boli\·ar's Dragoon Guard, undcr the command of Colonel Rookc'. In this unit, also namcd thc 'Sacred Squadron', servcd Capt. Charles Smith, Samuel Collins, and Lt. Pcter Jamcs I-lope. In March 1819 Boli\'ar re-organised the entire force, and placed it under command of Col. Jamcs Rooke, who had been ADC to the Prince ofGrangc at Watcrloo. 200

C'Ipmin Mory;:m O'Connell ofthe Ilu!iSar GU:Jrds urthC' Iri•.;h Lq:iun, 1&0, b_1 John Gubbins; nOM':lf I)~'rr-, II:lnc J Jous~.. Co. Kcrr.l. In his hlmd is " broM"n rur busb,1 M·ifh:l M-hitc Ii.-:It her lI,ith :I Ifold ring, lit tl't' fl.'1St' "lfilt socl.:et M'ith uprilfht I"" \"(:s; :I rell bllsb.\ ""If ...itll:1 g"lel rill!! h"/f- ".",' du..-" its Jellgth, ,md 111f1!/el 'WOSt"!; IhI..' t'h;"-.""":I k.; are Kold, wi/" 11;,R~'lx;"r;llg1111 dlig.l'

ur" s:.uyr. The dolnmn is darl.: billt' ...if h rC'd erJllar :md eu/fs.· the pclissc is rC'd with brolill ti,,.; all /:ICC is gold." ...:d IUlIlgoM oorrel ,'imih is 11·0,.11 :I00I'C':1 bbel.: swurd bdt II ith gold c/IlSp "nd !ittin!:s, The trousers :Ire rC'd Idthom 111I." "IC'(: and :lppcllr to be of ·CO$.'i:lel.:' srylt-, ,." rller filII II"d 101".'('; ,11".1 "'ou/d be the .'.://lle ror 1111 IJritish 1I11S:'i<,r rL'g;tIIC;I1U ill Smllh :11l1.'ri~·".

the war-sul'plus al'ms, clothing, and other supplies which Brimin W:1S no\\' only ron happy rosell 011". The first major detachment embarked fol' Venezuela in December 1817: Artillery IJrtgtule (Col. J. A. Gillmorc)-Tcn officers, 80 NCOs; fi\'e 6-pdr. guns, one sf in, howitzer 1St V~l1t::::'lIe/(H/ fI/I;!Stlrs (Col. G. M. IlippislcY)-30 officers, 160 NCOs 2nd VentZlu/(m fllISJim (Col. I-I. Wilson)-20 officcrs, 100 NCOs Ilt Vme::;/Iela" Rifle Regl. (Col. D, Campbell)~37 officcrs, 198 NCOs 8

Thc Sccond British Legion

Cot. English was sent back to England to raise a second British contingent at £so a he;ld; he 1\';tS promised gcncral's rank, and command of the whole British Lcgion. English's cxpedition returncd in Fcbruary and April 1819,2,172 strong: 'a tolerable band, yet nothing in comparison 10 that \\hich had comc out with thc 1st Rifles Corps', This forcc included I-Iano\'crian \·ctcrans of thc King's German Legion; and a brigadc of foot artillcry with 90 NCOs and men, five 6-pdrs. and a sf in. howit"Lcr under command of CaPl. Charles Brown, as wcll as large supplies of spare \\ I,.~dpons.

Gen. English led a brigade of 1,400 men in an attack on CUlllana, an important city, nUl was def<:ated; many of the sun'ivors perished of their 1I"0unds, or of hunger and disease; English himself died of a brain haemorrhage on the island of Santa Margarita. After his de:lIh Ihe British Brigade was given to Col. Elsom, who waS succeeded by Col. Ferrier, who lell al Ihe bailie ofC1.rabobo on 26 June 182t. In Ihe meanlime onc Gen. John D'E\·crcux, 'the Lafayelle of South America'. miscd an Irish Legion of 1,700 officers and men. Thcse were incorporated with thc 800 British sun'i\'ors under the command of Gen. Jose Antonio !)aez and Bolivar. In May 1821 Boli\'ar was al the head of some 15,000 men who included about 2,000 EuropC'.lns; Ihe Anglo-Irish Legion numbcn:d onl) t,IOO. so heavy had been the mortalil) in their ranks. This book dOl'S not allow space for more detail on the Brilish Legiunaries. bUI we think il worth noting Ihe grC'.lt importance of Ihe British 10 Boli\'ar by pointing out Ihat from 1815 until his dealh he was rarel\' without a Brilish or Irish i\OC. These were Capt. Kent, 1815; Ihe Irish officer Charlcs Chamberlain, 1815-17; Ihen James Rooke, followed by Daniel Florence O'Leary, 18l<}-28; the Irishman William Ferguson, 18:2~-28; and Belford I-linton Wilson, 182~-28. Their int ....g ril) and loyalty 10 Bolil'ar were abO"c repro.1ch; they were given positions of nust far above Ihe normal rlln of AOCs, and often entrusted II ith delicate :Iml dillicult missions.

horsemen, with unlimited remounts and canle for rations; he laded only arlllS and ammunition, which he asked Bolivar 10 supply, while declining to concentrate his men with Bolivar's in Oriente. Various meetings in carly IRd~ led 10 Paez heing givcn the rank of Captain-General of the Army. His Guard ofl-lonour. 600 strong, wcre supplied with the British uniforms of Co1. Wilson's 2nd Venezuelan Hussars in September 18t8. The "'lIIews werc fashioned inlo a vcry effectivc I..':l\·alry forcc. but Pacz would on!~ fighl on Ihe p1:lins and his \'aluc to Boli\'ar was therefore limiled. Hc did, however, tie down large numbers of Spanish troops i-:a this area. Boli\'ar ordered Col. Raben !)igotT, now in command of the remnant of the 1St Rifle Bn., to mO\'c along the Orinoco 10 Ihe Clroni Alissions near San Miguel to recruit and t.....lin Indians for his unit. After Til..• G"'7J('mJ$llJliform Qf D:mi(,/ FIQrl.'IIct' O'/~"':Ir-,", 18~Q; JlIusco

Nadona!,

d:lrl. hll/('II'ithgold fQ!i:llt: Itlct', :IS ll-Qm during rhe I"st YC:U'S ofthe ""tlr.

fJot!QC". The IIni(Qnn ;10'

BOLIVAR'S CAMPAIGNS 1817-21 During 1817 Bolivar not only re-organised his own army, but also attempted to co-ordinate the efforts of other patriot kaders illside Venczuela. One of [hc most sun:essful and powerful was the 26-year-old Jose Antonio Paez. leader of the lillI/eros or 'plainsmen'. lie had won a numbcr of viClOrics over Spanish troops in the "ital central p1:lins, which boosted huge herds of canle and horses. Paez had some 4,000

,

four monlhs some 400 had been enlisted and trained; and this was the beginning of the Rifle Balt'alion which, under command of Col. Arlhur Sandes, would later become famous. Another 350 British '"olu!lleers "ere subsequentl~ formed into the 2nd Rifle Bn. under Maj. :\Iadinrosh. Rn1ivar nnw ahandnned his originally planned ad\"ance on Barinas in the central plains; Paez was well able to maimain the pressure there. Instead he planned to respond to news of newly organised Republican forces in New Granada under Gen. Fr.tnciscu de Paula Santander. \\ ho reportedly faced only -+.000 Spanish lroops. Bolivar assigned Gens. Bermudez and Urd::met:l In :mack Calabozo and Barcelona respccti,·cly; under eo,·er of these di"ersions Bolivar would lead a VeneZllcl:lIl army to Casanare in New Gr'lIlada to join forces with Santander, and would then eross the Andes tow:lrds Bogota. The first leg oflhe march, which began from Mantee:ll on 26 May, was hard enough, as the rainy season had begun. l.
After a few days' rest rhe combined force marched infO Ihe mountains. There were two possible passes across the Andes: Bolinr chose the shorter bUI sleeper route by the pass of Pisba. The crossing was terribly punishing; some 100 men died of exposure, oxygen stan"arion, drowning in mountain torrents or f311ing from the palh. and all the horses were losl. By 6 july tSt9 Boli"ar had reached Ihe ,·illage of Socha, 9,000 feet abo,·c sea level, and paused 10 search for replacement horses while his stragglers caught up. Pantano de Vargas, 25 july 1819 After a few minor dashes Boli"ar's army confronted the Spanish force led by Gen. jose j\\aria Barreiro on 25 july. The Spanish force eonsisred of: IlIfll1llry Battalions 1St :md 2nd Rey, 2nd and 3rd Numancia, :lnd CazadOl'es de Tambo; Cavl/b)1 Hussars of Fernando VII, Dragoons, and MoutHcd Gremldiers. Bolivar's army was composed of: Illft/Ilfry Dall:lliolls 1St Line, Cazadores, Barcelona, Rifles. Drams de Paez, and the British Legion; Ca'lit/lry Two squadrons Guides of Apme, Lancer Regt. Llano Arriba, and 3rd Sqn. Dragoons Carabineros" The Spanish held strong positions, and Bali'·ar was obliged 10 a!tack beforc their reinforcemcnts came up. The spearhead ,r:l;S provided by the Rifles under Col. Rooke (and Maj. J\1ackimosh. afler Rooke fell wounded); they dislodged the Spanish infantry with threc charges, and drO\-e them back, A dangerous flank allack by Barreiro's ea\"alr~ was foiled, initially by Col. Rondon wilh JUSt 18 men. as the Spanish werc at Ihat point crowded si:..: :Ibrcast on a path through swampbnd. The 2nd Bn. of Numancia formed an effective rearguard which pre\"cnted Coloncl F",,,,,·il>·'>o

Urd,metn. IJmgf/OI/S of Colombia. 18:ZQ,.llrti,~t IIl/knoWII; /\""S''O l\'lIf;ioll:l I.

Bogota. ThissplclJdid psl;,,,i,,g shows tile colollel in a blue shallo Wifh siJl·er laee :md ehinsCll/cs: fhe discs :Ire gold. tiS is the centrol P.1rt of the C:Ip plate; II l/jrge red fl":.tlll"r. :md blue lind gold cords. The dolmnn is red "-j,h blue coll/jr IJnd cuffS; the eplJukttl:s IJnd 111/ lace :Ire sih-er. CrimS(JIl "":list s:lsh; 10

blue breedl"S; IliJ:h bl"eI.. boot.~ with si/l·t:r 5/JUrs; Mack sll"orel bdt. sted 5'71bb.1rd. Thl' .<;/liI/)",'qU'· is d'lrll bille Idth si/l"t'r I:t(."(: and red piping roulld the edge :md siln:r ':lssd. The horse 'nlppings 'Ire fJlllck; note the ICllther or strin/[ hcad fringe 10 kcrp 'he IliDi our of'he horse:.. CYN lind nose. The Ilwee pcnn:mt is in Ill(,: Iw';ull:J/.:uluurs uf u.,lombit.l • .'"e/loll". blue

and red.

the POint where lhat road entered the pl.lin of C.uabobo. The hill slopes, densc thickets and a number of streams constricted rhe opportunities for manoeuvre, but Bolivar sent his 3rd Division on a flanking movement through this difficult wooded terrain, La Torre spotted Ihis movemenl and sent three battalions to block it. The first Republican unit to cut its way through the cover were rhe Bravos de Apure; Iheir immediate charge was repulsed by Boyaca, 71\ugust 1819 concentrated fire, and Ihe survi\'ors fell back through A cle,'er flanking march and a night river crossing the ranks of the British Legion, who were following which won him control ofTunj:J allowed Doli,"ar lO them forward. When the confusion was resolved the catch up wilh Oarreiro before Ihe Spanish reached Legion formed up and dro,'e the Spanish baltalions Bogot3. The Spanish 3d,'anee guard, sent ahead lO back by a withering fire; bUI wcre unable to ad"ance secure thc strategic bridge :11 lJoyacJ, crossed it 3nd until more ammunition was broughl up, which was took up position on the far side. The main army was accomplished with difficulty due to the terrain. Gen. Pac"L's Lancers and his Guard of Honour 3110wed to h3lt for a meal before crossing; and Boli\'ar, bringing his troops up under cover ofa ridge, came up with thc ammunition, bUI his subsequenl \'as able w cut the Spanish force inlwO by a surprise cavalry charge was repulsed at hea,')' COSI. The attack, The Riflcs again played a leading part, remaining men of the tWO infantry battalions, now blocking Spanish movement loward the bridge, supported by twO companies from the Tiradorcs which was att:Jd:ed by Sanrander while the rest ofthe battalion, attempted 3 final assauh, which was sucRepublican army attacKed Ihe main Spanish force. cessful; they forced a gap in the Spanish positions Barreiro was forced 10 surrender with 1,600 men, through which Paez led his COlvalry, f:alling on the after losing some 200 killed; Bolivar's losses were 13 Spanish rear. The collapse of Ihis flank forced La killed and 53 wounded. Wilh this engagemenl New Torre to withdrnw his troops from the road where they had been successfully holding ofr Bolivar's Granada's liberntion was assured, attempts to ad'·ance. A general retreat followed. 1820--2 I Spanish losses al Car.Ibobo were 122 officers and A new governmenl in Madrid walUed peace \\ith the 2,786 other ranks killed, wounded or taken; Bolivar American colonies; and the expected reinforcements lost some 200 men, mosl1y during the flank attacks. ne,'er sailed from Cadiz. Gen. Morillo, the Spanish This victory, which scaled the fate of the Spanish commander-in-chief in Venauela, was ordered to forces in Venezuela, was described in a lener from a conclude 'Ill armistice with Bolivar. A treary was surviving British officer: 'As soon as they discovered our intention they agreed, which lasted from 27 November t820 to 28 April 1821. Murillu retul'lleu lU Spain leaving Gen. made the best preparalion to receive us-their La Torre in command, with 12,000 troops of whom Artillery was opened on us, and the Infantry got a second position before we gained lhe pbin, the rO~ld less than half were Spanish regulars from Europe. When the armistice ended Bolivar nrdered his to which was ahoullwO miles. The Al'tillery did lin1c generals lO begin the final phase of lhe liberation of execution; the Bravos de Apure which were the first Venezuela. Bermudez was gi\'en the eastern flank, regiment oflnfantry of the Vanguard, were forced lO adv:Jncing towards C.uacas; Paez, coming from retire with great loss-broke on us, and a little Achaguas, and Urdanelil, from Maracaibo, were to confusion ensued. Then was the critit'3l momentunite with Bolivar's troopsatlhe town of San Carlos. our small regiment reduced to 300, had the choice of the Spanish Infantry, about 3000, firing on us in the Cantbobo, 26Junc 1821 centre and both f1:Jnks, and seemed to threaten us From San c.,rlos Bolivar marched towards Valencia; with annihilation. ROlh officers and men, with \'ery hut La Torre hild cstablished a defensive position at little hopes but honour, determined, with one accord, Bolivar's truops exploiting their success to the full. Spanish losses were somc 500 dC~ld, wounded and captured; the Republicans losl 140 dead and wounded, 1\llost of Ihe wounded died, including Col. Rooke. Bolivar, his ranks reduced lO some 1,800 men, ordered forced enlislment of 1QC;l1 men bel ween the ages of 14 and .J.O, on pain of death; Ihe conscripts were given a hasty training on the spo!.

II

lose their lives for this Country and the British name, and never show their backs. 'At Ibis time I received ,I shot in my head, dose by Ihe right lelllple-I lust .. lillie blood; at the same time my comrades were f,llling in all directions. At last a small parly ofthirlY nfus charged bayoners on Ihe Ieli flank, against above one hundred of Ihe Enemy; finding what was coming they retired in confusion. We killed a number, and following up our success wilh fresh spirirs, and by the most daring While thesc c,'entS unfolded in Ihe north, Olhcr efforts, alarmed Iheir whole Army. A Creole regiment juntas to the south had also declared for independcoming up al lhe same lime, complcled Iheir con- ence. While the United Provinces of La Plata fusion. They relrl:.lted :lnd Iefl us complele maslers (modern Argentina) had nOI formally declared for of the day, ,\hieh we had so honorably gained. independence rhey made a determined stand againsl 'The action was most complere and dccisi'·e. Our the re-establishment of Spanish control, forcing the regimen! losl one-Ihird of irs number. Our Colonel Spanish back into pper I)eru (modem Bolh'ia) and was killed; Ihe second in command W:lS wounded in Uruguay, Chile had proclaimed for independence, SCH:r.l1 pla.......-s; ill :-hurt, of 27 "meers thai weill into leaving the main thrC".1t to rhe Republic-.ms of rhe action, scveral were killed and se,'cl"".11 were wounded. United Provinces rheir northern border with Upper Wc followed up our success to Valencia, rook about Peru. Here Republican and Spanish forces clashed repeatedly. The defcal ufGen. Bclgrano al :\yohuma 1000 prisoners, wilh all Iheir artillery, etc. The British were Icli in Valencia; :lnd the President in NO"embcr 1813 obliged rhe RepubliClns to fall followed up the viclory by the taking of this City, La back from Upper Peru into the Argentine province of Guaira, elC, On his immedi:lIe rClUrn to Valencia, I Salta, which then came under Spanish pressure. was presented with a C:tplain's Commission. The The mo,'ing force in Ihis area was Jose de San regimen! was ordered 10 bear the name of the Martin, who was appointed to replace Bdgl"".1no in "Batulinn of C1rahnhn" and every man and officer January d~ q as commander of the Army of the prescnted with the inscription of Conquerors of North. His slmtegic plan was built around Ihe central Cambobo.' importance of Peru-the most conscrvati"e, mosr Spanish, and most dangerously garrisoned part of the American colonies, through whose Pacific ports rcinfun,:clllcnts cuuld illcrc:lsingly ani I'e from Spain. San "'lartin realised that attempts [Q mon through rhe highlands {If Upper Peru were pointless. He envisaged building a joint Republic:ln ,Irmy from Chile and Argentina, and then moving up the coastal slrip neutral ising the ports before striking inland at the Spanish heartland around Lima. Ciring ill-health he resigned his command; secured appointment as governor of lhe province of Cuyo; and between mid1814 and late 1816, from his he:Hlcluarter~ at Men· doza close to the Chilean/Argentine border, strove to build up the joint force which would become his Gt'll. i\f'ln"" JltigucJ de GlIenJt's. b,' EdU;lrt/O Army of the Andes,

ALTO PERU AND NORTHERN ARGENTINA, 1810-21

to

Selli,. mno;.\1I1sco

Nllcioml! c/e Bel/liS Aries, /111, The It-m/er ufl.he ~aucho army is showll ill hi!>· ,,'hire t,."ditionaJ IInifurm.

12

The Gnucho Wnr Meanwhile he had 10 buy time, and freedom from Spanish inlerference, The \'iral task of defending

Salta province was ellIrusted 10 an inspiring commander ofloeal irregular cavalry, Col. Miguel Marrin de Guemes. Guemes led a most successful campaign with whal were essentially mounted guerrilla troops, and enjo~ed great local popularilY. He was clected as provincial gO\·ernor in J\la~· 1815. and thenceforth he organised a more formal SI'rUClure of resistance. District commanders .....ere gi\·en four groups each of IWO officers and 20 men, trained 10 fight both mounted and dismountcd. Thegfll/cho army enjoyed the tradilional advantages of such tTOOpS: they were highly mobile. able 10 assemble rapidly 10 exploit local Spanish weakness, and equally swift to disperse in the face of superior remliation. The Spanish Gen. Garcia C.1mba wrole: 'The gal/chos were people of the land with good horses, all being armed with knivcs or sabres, guns or cav;lIry carbines, which they used ahermllely without dismounling. Of surprising s\\'iflness, lhey would encircle our troops with so much confidencc, grace and gallanlry lhat our European soldiers could not hclp btl( admire these extraordinary horsemen ... They One o(GllenlC$' survivjng uniform!>; I\lU!>("(J I-li!>wrico

;":lciom,l. UA.lt is ",hite "-ith hlu.. coJl:lr and cuffs

and gold lace. the trousers

are indh'idually courageous, and lheir horsemanship is ... perfecI , ... One of the most dangerous tactics consists in their ability 10 disperse and reform again for a fresh attack, sometimes moun led, sometimes on foot, taking CO\'er behind their horses and firing like the best inf:mtr~ troops.' The gfllldlOS were adepl al the warfare of ambush, raid, rtlu dr gtlurr and stockrustling which one would expect from such troops. AnOlher Spanish commander \\TOle that 'This irregular war COSt us so much that our armies, without e\'er being :tble 10 fight a decisi\"e batde, just mehed away like snow in the summer sun.' The years 18/5-16 were the lowest point of the Wars of I ndependenee for the Republicans: Chile was re-occupied by the Spanish in late 18f.l., Oo]i\'ar had been forced 10 lea\"e for Haiti, Morclos had b(.'Cn executed in Mexico. Only the River PI:lle pro\"inct.'S stood bet ween Spain and victo!'y; and only rhe gauchos of Salta defended those provinces. Their frustration of the Spanish offensivc of spring 1816 was 10 have viral consequences. In January ofthar year Gen. La Serna launched an ad\'ancc with the object of destroying S:tn ),1anin at Mendoza. His army was attacked constantly by the gauchos; foraging parties were ambushed. supplies ran short, and morale sank. On 28 Fehruar~ a force of

perh.." ps in M:lnlcluke sfyk

Guns in thc MUN/UA colloction, thought foh:l"c bee" "",de .mel uM:J b. the: gaucho arm." in

,a,.,..

Il

THE ARMY OF THE ANDES

_0.,

,v

, ..,..

IJmtinl!on /hcchiripa.II... worn b.l· rhe gaucho ,.rmy. (Dmll'ing R. Poulter)

150 gtlllChos under Manuel Eduardo Arias aHadel.! a Spanish position and took 95 prisoners, arms, ammunition, artillery, and :I large herd uf sheep and cat tlc
Whcn San Martin arri\'cd at Mendol"" he found in place just 28 ill-equipped militiamen. With the new threat of Spanish invasion of the United Provinces the govcrnment sent immcdiatc rcinforeelllelHS of two companies of artillery, and 220 of the Horse Grenadiers. This regiment is worth a brief digression. Shortly aCler his arri\'al in Bucnos Aires in spring 1812 the young Peninsular War \'ctcran was authorised 10 form a Corps of Mountcd Grenadiers (later 'Horse Grcnadicrs') from 300 Indians, 'tall and of good appearance', brought in from the interior, officered by the best families of Buenos Aires. San lvlanin fostered a level of discipline and training unknown e1sewhcrc in South America. Funds for thc purchase of horses and equipment were raised by public subscription. San Martin founded an officers' academy, whose syllabus included mathematics and othcr sciences which hc considered essential, and those failing to meet his high standards were dismissed: 'I only want lions in my regiment,' he declared. Jn two years four squ:ldrons wcre raised. The first test of the regiment, and of San Martin himself, came at the battle of San Lorenzo 011 the I)arana Rivcr on t2 February 1813. Thrce hundrcd Spanish lroopS St."Cling to occupy a cOn\-cnl were charged from shon range by San Martin's Ilorsc Grenadiers, and only about 50 men sUf\·i\"cd. This triumph carned San Martin promotion to colonclmajor, and C\"cntually the command of the Army of the North. To return to chronological sequence: The Spanish reconquest of Chile by Gen. Gavino Gainza culminated in the capturc of Sallliago and the successful siege of Rancagua in OClober ISq. The Rcpublican commander at Rancagua, Brig. Bernardo O'Higgins, managed t'O fight his way oul and crossed thc Andes into the nited PrO\-inces; other RepubliCln stragglcrs also crossed by \'arious passes, as did the remnant of [he Argentine 11th Inf3ntr)' Bn. which had been senl to help the Chileans. Most of these clements joined S3n Martin at Mendoz3, where O'Higgins look command of the Chileans.

Relics orS:m Marlin held b.l'lheM/-INIOII. The PeTtJl'iatJ pDncho is lhollghl ro h,,,,c been ",om 11.1' him during the crossing oflhe Ilmies. Olher items

,

181 ~

San Martin ordered a general conscription of males bctween the ages of 14 and 45; and also ordcrcd rhat all blaek slaves betwecn 17 and 20 belonging to Spanish owners should be sent to Mendoza to enlist, on pain of large and immediate fines. These draconian measurcs produced the manpower he needed; feeding, c1mhing and equipping them was anmher matter. San i\'1anin energetically set about improving communication by rood and water; irrig;ttion schemes to impro\'e local food production; the establishment of textile factories where local ,,'omen

arc his !>purs:cstribos Slirrups; SII'Ord se:lbb:lrdb1:Jek II-ith gold fiffjngs ,md knot; ,lnd hllt. "itll

unu!>·twl gold I:ICC:lf tile side.

made uniforms. and a gunpowder filctory: the manufacture of horseshoes for the planned crossing of the mounuins (horseshoes were not used on the pl:lins); and the simultaneous eonstnlelion of defences against possible anack O\'er the passes from Chile. A number of locally resident foreigners volunteered to join his forces. Among rhe mosr imercsting were a compan~' of some 100 British 'Chasseurs', under the elected Capt. John Young. A proponion of these men were former soldiers captured during the aboni\'e British expeditions of ,806-07. who had preferred to remain in the interior. IS

plans to cross the Andes and carry the fight into Peru, In May PlIeyncdon sent him the -+5o-strong jlh Infantry BIl .. and as much war material as he could obtain in Buenos Aircs. 1\ number of misleading reports werc circulated among The Spanish. leading Ihem 10 concenlraTe uoops in areas which would in fact be Ihreatened onh, by small guerrilla-style dinrsions. The act ual plan of campaign was kept secrc[; as the day approached commanders \,'cre gi\'en Iheir objecli,'cs ::Ind routes only j2 hours in advance, and (heir subordinales were kepI in igllor.Jnce until aClually on Ihe march. 181j In January, after two ycars' planning and prcparation, the Army of Ihe Amles was finally ready to begin its asccnt of the Gran Cordillera ;\nd the liberal ion of Chile. R:lIion strengTh appe:lrs to h;lve heen 5,200 men with 1,600 horses, j.J59 saddle mules and 1,1)22 baggage mules; these figures are fmlll the mcmoirs of thc British suR' officer Col. William Miller. I'le lists 2,800 infantry with 200 officers, with six mules for every fi\'e men and four mules for e\"(:ry two officers; 1)60 officers and men of cavaln' and artillery. with three saddle mules for e\'cry two men, fiw baggage mules per compan~. and Ihe S-1me officers' allowance as for infanuy; 1,200 militia mulclcers and anillery labourers; a staff, a hospital, a Lt. Gl/.Jos/: Thum;,s Ihc St:amli; rct/":Iisl s;,sh; company ofartificers and wort.men, an artillery fieldII-hile sword 1x.'1, ",,-ilh ~old Guido. IlfI/t~e",iflitlll ~niornmc-X'rIlIId 1,/:l/c. Ilif!h bllld boou train wilh 110 rounds per gun, half a million rounds Sccretllr.' ofll:lr. ,8,8; wit h 1;ft'~:1 sIJlln-' .. ol/lel be of muskel canridgc, 180 loads of spare wcapons, a .\lNNjBA. 111",' ;:1(;1;,'1; IInrll. 11IId 1,/"0 II bl"t'" Irdin l.;arr~ ing a I.-able-bridgc, etc. (Thi... Ii... t did nut II-hiu la'Jt"!J;. flJrnlmd:s bi,.'ornl: lI'ith gn/el!:/t'" and :md brct:eht-s; "lIl:let· ,,,,o;sds. "lid I:uct"de ill include the forces led by Ll. Col. Freirc or LI. Col. golcl-II"u'I1/(: II,rgt· gofd ll:uio/l" 1 enlours (Jf lI'hitt; Lemus. totalling aboul 500 men.) rifteen days' ..llIstri:m i "',ts 0/1 I be :lIIelligllf blllt,. brCt'Cf,t·.•· :lIIcf 1:1t'1: ,,/rllll[ provisions wcre carried for the whole forcc, consisting of jerked beef, toUTed Indian corn, biscuit, whcrc they had heen sen! for the dur:lIion. r;llher cheesc, and plentiful onions and garlic. The arlllv than accept rcpatri'lIiCln. (Some ex-prisoners in Salta marched dispersed: had also enlistcd under Gen. GlIcmcs.) The presence 9Jal/llflry LL Col. Cabol left Mendoza fot' La Serena, of these volunteers-and of a number of individual via San Juan and the Awfrc Pass (J,6oom): 200 men. officers who had already enlisted under San Martin- militia and Patriotic Legion. Maj. Zel:lda left Rioja was good for Republican morale; it was felt, howc\'cr for OJpiapo "ia Come Caballos Pass (,,160m): 200 mislakenly, Ihat they reprc.o;;ented an extension of men. militia and Chileans. British official support. '4 January Lt. Col. Frcire left Mendoza for Talca, Curico and San Fernando \'ia Planchon Pass 1816 (-+,09om): 380 men. With the clection of Juan Manin dc Pueyrredon as 18.7a"uary Col. Las Berns left ,\Icndoza for the Supreme DireclOr, San Manin found an ally for his Uspallala Pass (5,02 I m): 11th Infantr)' Bn. (j:;o men),

30 Horse Grenadiers. 20 art illerymen with t\\'o 4-pdr. guns. /9 ]tIIItUII]' / ,[. Co!. /.el11os left San Clrlos for the Portillo Pass: l:lO mounted men. On Ihe same (by Gen. San Martin beg~lll w lea\'e l\·lendoza heading for the Los PalOs Pass (J,565m) with the main body in 1\\0 divisions: Val/guard Gen. Soler: Infantry Bn. Cazadores de los Andes; mixed bn., four (:umpanies. flank companies of 7th and 8th Inf. Bns.; 1\\0 sqns. Ilorse Grenadiers; 55 artillerymen with 6\'e 4-pdrs.: 101':11, I.JI5 men and 1,750 mules. Cmlrr Gen. O'lliggins: 71h Inf. Bn. less flank companies (468 men); 81h Inf. Bn.• as 7th; general's escorl; 1\\0 sqns. Ilorse Grenadiers; 22 artillerymen with twO 4-pdrs.; medie..1 personneL tOI..I, 1,430 men, 2,000 mules. 11 look ncarJ~ a month for the columns to complete Ihe crossing of the Andcs, fighting small actions against Spanish outposts on Ihe way. They finally united on Ihe plains al the end ofthe first week in February, well aware Ihat Ihey could nOI afford a defeat. At Chaeabueo on 12 February Ihe)' came up againsl the Spanish force of Brig. Rafael Maroto. Sari ,\lartill 'II rhe b;Hlle of Ch,u:"bllctJ. ,S'7. Stlben~ls/"~III.\";

IJ.\

IJ/,."tiro

1\11 I.V/fJJl.

Chaeahuco, 12 Febnw.r:y 1817 Alerted by clashes with the Las Ileras column al Santa Rosa de los Andes, the Spanish Royalisl gO\'ernor, Marshal MarC(} del Pont, knew that he f.'lced an invasion through the passes; bUl San i\hnin's campaign of disinformation confused the intelligence as to the main axis of anack. On 10 February Ihe gO\'ernor sent .\!arow towuds Chacabuco with as many men as were available in Santi<1go, <1nd the promise of reinforccmcnl within 48 hours. A day's forced march broughl l\larolO to Ihe farm <11 Chacabuco, held by about 600 men; his IOta Istrength was now about 2,000, and he began preparing defences on Ihe ridge above the farm and Ihe Santiago road. San Martin's patrols and prisoner interrogation ga\'e him a clear idea of the force he faced, and of the immediate threal of enemy reinforcement. forcing him lochoosc to attack the following day. (lIe was nOl to know that the Spanish rcinforcements would reach Santiago 100 tired 10 continue at once to Chacabuco.) His plan was to send Gen. Soler with one di\'ision round to the enemy's left flank, \\ hile the second. led by O'Higgins, engaged Ihe Spanish line but did nor press its atl<1ck until Soler arri\'ed in posilion. O'Higgins dro\'e in Ihe Spanish outpoSIS. and all was going to plan-excepl that there was no sign of50ler. The fbnking di\'ision had come upon a broken bridge

17

on

it~

route through the foothills, and was seriously were higher than San Martin's 120 casualties. San dcla~cd. Ulllil after midda~ O'Higgins was smiled, Martin pu11ed b;lek to Santiago!O regroup, and less facing the fmin Spanish line across a steep-banked Ihan three weeks later met Osorio on thc field of creek at a range of some Joo yards \\ hile the Royalist Maipu (5 April), A hard-fought cngagement in\'oh'ingal! arms lastcd from about II a.m_ 105 p.m. until a ;lrtiller~ and the Rel>ublican marksmen traded fire, O'Higgins consulted his staff (nmably Lt. Col. dccisi\'c ad"anragc was won; :and "iclory was SC"Jlcd CrJmer, a ,eteran of i\apoleon's army); and decided by thc arri"al of O'Higgins and thc final rCSCf\'CS lcft ro risl. a fronlal aHack in IWO French-SIde :Issault to defend Santiago in Ihc C\·cnt of failure. Thc columns limned b~ the ]th and 8rh Infantry. Afreran Spanish suAcred some I,Joo killed and 2,.H2 capinitial check the' faltering arrack was rallied and turcd; San Martin, somc 800 killed :lnd JOo pressed home, and Col. Zapot:1 led rhe Horse wounded-high 'butcher's bills' by rhe sfand:m!s of Grenadiers through Ihe resuhing gap to defcat the these campaigns. Spanish cavalry and silence their arlillcry, San Although RoyaliST outposts srill held (Jut, this !\Iarrin, in his fruslratiun, h:l(l fin:llly ridden to join battle finally secured Chilean independencc. Soler and led the e\ c11lual allad of the flanking dhision. The Spanish \\ere routed, losing some 600 The R Imal.'~Ir.J l"'"I"iell', :md blad: IeIl/heT dcad and 550 ("",1prured, ag'Jinsl reporled Republican dbo. h.I). .\1. IJI:lIIcs; r(>infnn;c'J1cnt, ://Id hl:lei .\lH.V/fJA, SIUI.\larrin is hellS. The sh:lhr.lqlle is losses of just II dead and 110 \\ounded. San J\lanin shm.-n follollTd bl' his gr.-en with TNI edging; in rode into Santiago de Chile on 15 Februar~. escorf o(J\loumcd t"lleh evrnt'T:I \I hite hll/de Chllssellrs, If".''Cting the 8th (or troopers, ,,-hilt- offit'Crs Anolher year's t.:';lnlpaigning followed before Il.-utillion ofFrcc Negroes. hlUl si/l-c:r /:icc ://Id bugk', Chilean independence lIas formally conceded. The Th" Chllsseur uniform hilS The8th 8:ltlll/;(III, "" ,he r;/fh, of,he pietlln" hi' \"t' " Republicllls sullcred set hal.:ks at T alcahuano and, on :I sh:llm eOI'/,:n.:(1 with bIfid fi'T, Irirh 1/ Ted bllg ",/ling bl:ld: sImko with n'(l 16 t\l:lrch ISIS, al Cnndla-Rayada. Ilere the ((J the kft NhUlJlda. The IIlllIlIe; n;d t ....:1/ Ii it" II hite Spanish Gen. Osorio, sent down from Peru with grn·" j;/(;ket "Wi red colll/T, collil r, ClifT..; :l1Il1 pitli,,!! Oil clIHs, :/Ild /lImlmcks, whit(, Ihe wrllIJ:lcks, :mel !l'M't, 9,000 men, beat Ihe 6,000-odd Republicans :mu or sih'er ':ICl', greell I ,'OUSC"S, e:lptured 22 arti11ery pieces; but his own losses in men IrOW;;t'rN wit II whitt' st ri,JC$, •

IS

THE PERUVIAN CAMPAIGN, 1820-22 San Martin's fin:1l and most ambitious campaign would take two years 10 prepare. While he did so his naval commander. the remarkable ex-Royal Navy frigate <::.lpf;.lin Lord Cochrane, carried out a daring and successful campaign al sea 10 help isolate Peru from Spanish 113,·.. 1 support, laking shipping :wd capturing shore inslall:lIions. Finally, on 20 August 1820, San 1\ lanin embarked a force of... .J30 troops on a transport and supply flcct esconed by eight warships (more than a third of the 1,500 seamen being British or North Amcri<.....n mlunlccrs). The army landed al Pisco. 140 miles south of the port of Callao, on 8 September. The Viceroy of Peru, Joaquin de Ia j)czucla, had about 17,000 troops dispersed o\·cr some 1,200 miles: some 8,200 al Lim,l; 2,~OO on the coast under Gen. Ricafort; and 6,500 in Upper Peru under Gen. La $erna. San Marlin bq.r;m 10 recruit 10(.,>\1 inhabitants and sla\'cs in the I)isco area, using the same methods as had been employed in euyo province; and scnt Gen. Arcnales with 1,000 men into thc intcrior, to keep the Viccroy guessing. lie then sailed 10 Huacho; and negOliated an agrecmelll with the governor of Trujillo province, thc Marques de Torre-Tagle, who declared Peruvian independence on 24 December. This gavc San Nhtrtin's army thc charactcr of an allied force supporting Peruvian Republicans rather than an invading army. San Martin \ras \'ery conscious of the impOl't,lnee of local support, givcn his small numhers. In 1821 the onieers of the Spanish garrison army replaced the Vit.;eruy \I ilh Gen. La Serna. He cvacuated Lima to COlllinue the war from the highlands; .1Ild on 12 July San ~'bnin entcrcd thc capital. A new government was formcd under San Martin, who was granted the title ProteL10r of Peru in August. Ilc immediately bcgan raising a national army, the first corps formcd being the PerU\,ian Legion ofthc Guard. Ilowcvcr, the politic-.l1 and ci\·il burdcns of his new authority pro\·cd heavy, and thc

Gel/er..l Jose de Sim Marri". by Jose Gil de C... stro, 1827; ,uN.\'fllll. The 'Gre-,J( Litx'mtor' is pielUrc<1 ill fhe uniform of his OIm (olile Horse

Grclll.dicr regiment-dar! bluc, goM IlIct, IIl1d "11110"-"" Jillhl blu(' si/l·t'r bell bud..k \I·ith gold prcmuk II !Jitc {,c/t.

military suffered; in a period of inacti\'ity factional quarrels broke oul. The Spanish forces in the hintcrland avoided major confrontations, ,md although \'arious garrisons capituhlled San j\lartin's forces were insufficient for him to bring the main army 10 banle in lhe eastern highlands. I Ie thus naturally considered co-ordinalion with Bolivar's forces in Ecuador; and the two liberatOl's met at Guayaquil on 26-:Z7 July 1822, The detJil of their cOIl\'ersation~ remains unknuwn, but it is dear thill the) \\ere un;lu!c tn agree on c(}-operation. Rcturning disappointed, San Martin found that his politic'll aide had been dismi~scd and that politic.1I support for his plans had been withdrawn. On 20 September San J\lartin prO\'ided unquestionable proof that personal ambition played little part in his mori\'arion: hc resigned as Protector of Peru, and left the country. He was taciturn in his explanation: he said that thcre was no room for either

himself or Bolivar (presumably me:llling himself or Bolivar as sole leader of a combined mO\'ement) in Peru. ') ,ct him come if he can, taking ad vantage ofmy absence. Ifhe succceds in consolidal ing whal we h:l\'e won in Peru. and a linlc more, I shall be quite satisfied: S:lll ~Iarlin e\'enrually retired 10 Fr.lIlcc, where he li\ed out his life as a pri\Oltc indi\'idualproud. stoic, and dignified, he was one of the most imprcc;si\ e men nfhis age.

BOLIVAR'S WESTERN CAMPAIGNS, 1821-24 In Janu
1822

Bolivar had the !lns. Bogma and Vargas in the \"anguard (Gen. Torres); Gen. Valdes commanded the British \"Olunll.'er Rifles of the Guard; and the rcscn"e consisted of the Bn. Vcncedor de Boyaca, and a cavalry squadron from the Cazadorcs ~lontados and Lancers of the Guard. The \anguard alladed the Spanish positions but was repulsed with heavy 20

loss; meanwhile the Rifles pushed ahe:HI along the flank of the Galeras \'okano, and dislodged the Spanish Bn. ArJgon. The Spanish began to fall back on Pasl'O, but confusion follo\\'ed. Unaware of the success of the Rifles, Bolivar ordered a retreat; t .500 \\capons \\ere destroyed and munitions and equil>ment were burnt. Both sides left the field, lea\'ing only the Rines in lonely and determined possession of the captured Spanish entrenchmenrs all night long. It was only on the next morning that Bolivar learned lhat vierory was his. The Spanish IOSI some 2':;0 dead and wounded; the patriots 115 dead and 3-13 wounded. Piehincha,:q May

1822

Gen. Sucre h:ld me,lnwhile marched from Gll:lyaquil on 14 April, leading towards Q!.lito an international arm y of palriots froln 1\ rgelliina, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela. l\rriving on the plains of TUl11b:ll11ha on the ourskins of the cin', he found Spanish troops entrenched: he therefore made a night march to :1 position l10rlh of Quito, euning enemy links \\'ith Pasto and obliging the Spanish force to 1110\'e to unprepared l>osilions facing him. In mist and o\'ereonfusing terrain Sucre sent the Bns. Paya, Trujillo, Yaguachi and Piur.t forward on the left wing; but this flank was now threatened by the Spanish nn. ArJgon. whose three companies h:1(1 somehow managed to outflank the four patriot battalions in the mist. Sucre quid.. l~ ordcn:d up Ihe Albion Bn. (former British Legion), who had been defending the munition park in the rcaI'; they 'enlered Ihe fight Wilh their usual bra\'ery and plltthe Aragon comp:mies ro total retreat'. Sucre then ordered the right wing-the Bn. Alro j\ lagdalen:l and Dragoons of the South, under Col. Cordoba-to attack the Spanish left flank, and the tinal patriot victory in the struggle to liberate Ecuador was \\'011. The Paya and Alto Magdalena Ons. were both honoured for their conduct with the tille '!)ichinch'I'. The Spanish losl some .fDa dead and 200 wounded; Sucre's army, 91 dead and 67 wounded. When news Oflhis defea! reached Col. Garcia on his arrival at I)asto from his o\\n re\"ersc at Boli\'ar's hands, it became clear that further resistance in this region was vain. On 25 1\'lay the Royalist authorities in Quito capitulated to Sucre, who took t ,260 prisoners. t,7OO muskels, and q cannon apart from

•

other booty. Bolil'af negotialed a treaty, and Ecuador was fi·ce.

I

San Martin's replacement as ProtcclOr of Peru, Riva Aguero, \\,.IS defeated al Toram and J\loqucgua, and was pressed 10 ,15k Bolivar's help in the fight 10 lihcnllC l)cTLI, Ilnli"af senl 6,000 men under Gen. .\'!anucl Valdes, wilh Gen. Sucre as head of a diplomatic mission, while he himself remained in Ecuador 10 organise the newly g".Iincd territory and 10 put down a revolt at Pas[O. 182:3

The Spanish

fOTCl".'S

in I'eru. under Gen. Cantcrac,

now began an advance on Lima; the patriOls were forced to Ike the capital, and the Congress and army fell hack tn Callao, where Sucre was vored dictatorial

powers. A force under Gen. Sama Cruz, scnt southwards inlo the highlands, nc-Jrly succeeded in forcing Gen. Cmter-Ic 10 IC:l\c Lima to support the Viccroy, bUI was defeatcd. On I September Boli\'ar landcd at Callao; the grJlcful Congress grJnled him supreme polit ical and milirary powers on the lorh. 182 4

CamerJc, as commander in chief, had his headquarrers ar l-Iuanca~ll. Jlrig. Rodil held all the country as far as Chincha; the Vicero\" La Serna, had [,000 mcn at Cuzco; this Northern Army Corps totalled 9,000. Gen, J. Valdes commanded Ihe Southern Army Corps frolll Arequipa, where he had 3,000 men; Gen. Olanera had 4,000 in Upper Peru beyond lhe Ri\'er Desaguadcro, and anolher 2,000 out in mobile columns. The Spanish c.luse was wca~ened by internal rebellion in Fehruary when Ohmet'a, receiving news of political dcvelopments in Spain, dcc1:lred himself 'Protector of Religion alld Absolutism' with a reactionary manifcslo. Ilis troops wcre lost 10 the fight ag.linst lhc Rcpublicans; and Gen. J. V'Ildcs was tied down trying to crush Ihis rebellion. I-Ie was successful against Olaneta in two actions, almost destroying the rcbel InlOps .11 1,<1 Lava, before lie" s uf lhc Spanish Sh:lJ.o :lIIcl .'<:1 hn: IIr f Ill: Norse Grt'lI;u!iers; rlUfJ\.'/IJA. The sh:lko i... Silid lQ h;u'c belongcd to

Col. M,mtJd m' f:;SCII!:ul:l.

commlmc/in,!! oflict'r

orthe

defeat at Junin in Augusl brought his recall 10 the fight against Bolh'ar. Hearing ofOlal1eta's mutiny and Ihe despatch of Valdes' division 10 crush it, Boli\'ar lhrew himself into preparations for a campaign, Despite poor heahh, he showed his genius for energetic org;.\Ilisalion by transforming an ill-CS. By April the arm)' numbered 10,000 men, of whom the English Gen, Willi:lm ~Iillersaid: 'I :Issure ,\'Ou Ihat the Colombian Inf:lntrv . as \\ell as the Ca\'alry could hold a parade in 51. James' I)ark and would anracl allcnrion,' 'I don't ~now where Boli\'ar got so much moner, SO many horses. mules and c\'erything eI"C necessary 10 equip a large army from this depleted country,' said anot her foreign obsen·cr. Boli\'ar first met ,\-tiller in j\lay 1~:l24 al HuarJs, and ga\'C him command of the !)eru\'ian ca\'alrr, as well as the command of all the Alollfolleros-some 1,500

IllJrsl: GrclII,dias; the !J'llbre. 9O(.'m /Ollg, 1H..·/OllgL'd to 1/ soldier

(110. 8t})Qfthe Jrd Sqwldron.

11

Peru via n gueni 11:1 s, whose acti \' it y i11 the cou ntryside around Ccrro de Pasco Bolivar greatly appreciated. Miller says of them thm 'They were principally composed of men of some respectability whose habitations had been razed to the ground by the Spanish and although they received no salary rhey beha\'e thcmsel\es properly.' By mid-June the divisions ofCordO\'a, Lara and La MH werc marching to unilc on the high plains of Ccrrode Ilasco. On 3 Augusllhe patriot army began a march 10 Lake Lauricocha. \\ ilh SUl.:rc, as commander of Ihe infanlry, taking Ihe mountainous roule while Boli"ar look Ihe L'3"alry O\'cr the plains towards Condocancha. Canterac enL'3mped al Tarma-Tambo before Ihe lake wilh eight infanlry battalions, 1,300 C3\'alry and eighl guns. On 5 Augusl he heard that Boli\'ar was on the far side of the lake threatening his base Clnlp at Jauja. and he was forced 10 fall back hastil} in order 10 forestall this threat. The patriot

ca\'alry was no\\' approaching the plains of Junin; Camerae separated his force. ordering his cavalry to contain the Republican horse while his infantry and :lrlillcry pressed on for J:lUja. Junin, 6 August 18:q While Bohar's cavalry were emerging on to the plains from a narrow defile Canterac ordered a general charge on them. Denicd time or space 10 deploy properly, Gen. Miller and 250 riders were forced into S\\:1mp) ground, \\hile Gen. Nt."Cochea and the remainder of the patriot horse were forced back into the defile. A PerU\'ian squadron under Lt. Col. Isidro Suarez managed to push forward from the rear and bypass the confusion, attacking the Spanish units which were engaging Miller. The Republicans rallied; the Spanish horse wa\·ered. and Ihen broke, closely followed by the Colombian lancers, This .t5minute action, foughl emirely with cold steel and reputedly wilhoUl a single ShOI being fired, L"OSt lhe Spanish 19 officers and 345 men killed and 80 Clplured; patriot losses were three officers and .t2 men killed and eight oRkers amI 91 men wounded. This defeat led Camerae 10 abandon Ihe prO\'ince of Jauja and withdraw 10 Cuzeo. Boli\'ar returned 10 Lima. on 7 October. 1C'.l\·ing Sucre as commander in chief. The forces of the Viceroy, Canterae and Valdes regrouped al Cuzco. and marched our to face Ihe Republicans. The Viceroy commanded 9,310 men, with Canterac as chief ofstaffand Gens. Valdes. Monet and Villalobos as divisional commanders. Seeking to cut Sucre oil' from Lima, the Viceroy brought the Republicans to banle al Ayacllcho at the foor of Ihe CondorclIlqui Mountains, Ayaeucho, 9 December 1824 Gen. Valdes' division :lttackcd rhe patriot lell flank, forcing Sucre 10 despatch Ihe Ons. Vargas and Gt:n. WilliaJII Miller, 18~~; clIgr.I,'illg by C. TllrllU from:l pietllre by Sh"rpe, A fJrilish officer ,din sen'cd IInder both S,11l JlIartin and Bofil'lIr, he 1\71$ commissioned clIptt,ill ill the Arm.I' ofthe Alldes in

lktoocr 181;, :/Ild brig-:,dier-gellcl'ld ill ,8JJ. .lIill"r comnmndnJ 11

fioli "1/ r Ii CIII':I fry Imd I hc 'JHm"o"~,,,u$'durin,: f hc A.17Icllehoclllllf'"igll. He II'''S "/llmill/cd gn "crnnr or POlosi lib.;, His IIl1iform shQu'n II'QIl/cI lx' b/:/{.:I.' hll/. red Imcl "hit,· f'eru,'iilll l.Y1CI;:ICIc, gctld fllce; hille ('Qill, .....cJ ,y,fhr ,mel cuff..~: gu/clf"ce; red trousers Wilh !JQfd Illce do.nl the sicks.

Vencedor to mcet the threat, though he kept the Rifle Bn. in reserve. On the othcr flank Sucre noted that the divisions of Villalohos and Monet, debouching on to the plain from the hills, were not yet properly positiom:d; he sent Gen. Cordoba's division into the attack to rake advantage of this opportunity. The Spanish units in this area, including the Imperial Battalion and 1st Bn., Infantry Reg!. No. I, seeing Valdes gaining ground on the right, thought that it had achie\'ed a break-through and initiated a general ad\·ance. They, and Gen. Monet's division, then came under altack by the Colombian cavalry under Col. Silva. Cordoba's infantry made progress, and Sucre sent the Rifles to exploit the advantage. The Spanish troops on the Republican right were pushed back up the slopes, making easy practice for the patriot riflemen and sharpshooters. On the Republican Icfi the Spanish infantry of Gen. Valdes' di\'ision now also gave way, and Viceroy La Serna was captured leading the Bn. Fernandinos forward. The battle had lasted just two hours, but its outcome decided the fate of a continent. The Spanish lost 1,400 dead and 700 wounded; the patriots, 309 dead and 670 wounded. The patriots captured the Viceroy, 15 generals, 16 colonels, 552 officers and more than 2,000 men, with I..J. field pieces. Nearly all were enlisted in the Republican army. (Gen. Miller recalled Ihat during Ihe pursuit of the beaten Spanish army the sih'er helmets of the Alarhaderos del Rcy squadron, many of which were discarded in their flight, became a prized souvenir among the patriolS.)

UNITS AND UNIFORMS i\rgcntinu From 25 May 1810 the United Prm'inces Armed Forces consisted of the follo\\-ing: I nfantry battalions one to fi\"e; Grenadier Regiment of Fernando \"II; baualion of Pardos and l\lorenos (and Indios); Infantr), Regiment Fijo of Buenos Aires. From :2 ,\Iarch ISI2 thc Royal Corps of Artillery and the Volunteer 'Regiment of Light Artillery' formed' the artillery. Ca\'alry was pro,'ided by the Regiment 'Ilussars del Key', Dragoons of Bucnos Aires and the Illandenqucs ofthc fromier. Infantr)'

On 29 May ISIO all Line banalions were expanded into Regiments of 1,116 men levied from the male populalion between IS and 40 years of age. Regiment No. I from ISl Battalion Patricios; Regiment No. :2 from 2nd Battalion Patricios; Regiment NO.3 from Corps of Arribenos and Indios Naruralcs companies; Regiment No. 4 from the Battalion !\ lonraneses; Regiment No. 5 from the Battalion Andaluces; Regiment No.6 created 3 November ISIO; Regiment NO.7 created 21 Nm'ember 1810; Regiment No, S created 13 July 1813; Regimcnt No, 9 created 3 March ISq; Regiment No. 10 created 29 March ISq; Regiment No. II created 1 June ISq; Regimcnt No. 12 created 26 July ISI5. One battalion of Cazadores was created on 21 July ISI6 . Bya decree of 21 October IS I6 each regiment was The city ofCuzco was captured after a siege on 24 to consist of two or more hattalions, each of six December [824. A cautious advance into the high- companies. Fol' the Inf.'lmry of the Line, companies lands of Upper Peru was finally c.-owned by the were designated as Grenadier, First, Second, Third, defeat of the rebel Royalist Gen. Olometa at Tumusla Fourth and Cazadorcs (light). The Lighl Infantry on I April [S25. With this victory the province of designations were the same except the Grenadiers were replaced with a Carabineros company. ComAho Peru won independence as the state of Bolivia. The lasl Spanish stand in the Wars of Liberation panies contained fi\'e officers and t 20 enlisted men. was made by the tenacious Brigadier Jose Ramon In the Cazadores companies the Fifer and Drummers RadiI, commanding the garrison of the forrs at were replaced by Buglers. Insignia of rank were specificd in two decrees Callao, the important port 15km from Lima. I-Ie ne\'er accepted the capitulation of Ayacucho, and datcd 5 May ISI3 for officers and 22 March ISI7 for fought on behind his strong walls. The patriol army NCOs. Rank insignia for a Lt. Colonel was two laid siege; and on 22 January IS26 RadiI was finally epaulctlcs with a sih"er strap and gold fringe or obliged to raise the \\-hite flag, re\'crscd depending on the colour of the regimental

•

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13

lace. j\ J'Vtajor wore two epau leltes which matched the regimental buttons ill colour. Captains, Lieutenants and Sub Lieutenants wore three. two and one stripe, respectively, along the top edge of their cuA's. First Sergeants wore two che\'rons, half:1ll inch ,'part, in the n:giment'al hutton colour sewn on scarlet cloth and worn on lhe upper arm. Second Sergeants worc a single chevron in the same style. First Corporals wore two lace stripl.'S at till oblique angle half an inch apart from scam 10 scam on Ihe right forearm. Second Corporals only wore;\ single stripe. C'lvalry The Corps of I3landengucs were renamed twice; firstly in 1810 \\hen they beeame Volunteer Regiment of the F:llheriand and again in 1812 as C.1\·alry \'olunteers ofthe Frontier. In 18 I 0 the Hussars of rhe King and the Dragoon Regiment became the Dragoons of the Fatherbnd. a unit of four squadrons of three companies. Each company consisted of t7 NCOsand 103 Troopers until November 18q when this \\as ehangcd ltJ four ofliccrs, 18 NCOs and 8) Troopers. Horsc Grenadier Regiment creatcd 16 March t811; Ci\'ic Lancers (Militia) created September 1812; Civil Guard C.walr) (from the Ch·ic Lancers) created 8 September 1813; Liberty Hussars created 16 SeplCmber 1813; Light Cavalry Squadron (in Uruguay) created 17 J:muary 18q; Hussars of the Guard Squadron crcated 13 July 1814; Guides of the Escort created 15 February 1815; I-Iussars of the Guard renamcd llllssars of the Union 21 February 1815; I lussars of TUCUIll:lIl (one squadron) created October 1816; Dragoons of the Nation crea[ed 3 September 1816; Blandengues of the Frontier reorganised 6 Dcccmher 18dl; regiment of Horse Ct;.;adores (four squadrons) created 26 February 1817; 1st Regiment of Lancers creatcd 24 December 18'9; Hussars of Buenos Aires crcated [ October 1820; Hussars of lhe Order cre;lIe(1 r October 1820; 1st Regiment of Line Cavalry created 1822; 2nd RegimeIlt of Linc C. \";llry l;rcatcd .822. Gaucho Arm)' These units constituted part of the Gaucho Army betwecn 1814 and 182 I: Regimenl Gauchos de Salta (five squadrons); Regiment Gauchos de Jujuy (smaller than Ihe Regiment de Salta); Regiment

Infernales dc Glballeria de Linc:! de Salt:! (one squadron of Carabinicrs) (the Infernalcs wcre made up of three divisions, Bermejo. San Lorenzo. and Salinas, all of which were deployed on the northcrn frontier); Regiment Partidarios Veteranos de Salta; Regimen! Gauchos de Oran; Regimen! Santa Vicloria; Regiment San Andres y Ia Puna; Regiment Gauchos de la Quebrada de J-1umahuaca; Rcgiment Gauchos de la Frontera del Rosario: Rcgimcnt Horse Grenadiers of Salta (formed from soldiers of the Line); Battalion Peruano (c. 1,000 men of Ihe Line); Coroncla unit (garrison al Salta cit~). Thcre \\crc also eight Corsarias units: La Coronela. La Corsaria. Valor; Pirata, Nazareno, Guemes, Carmen. Gohcrnador. The three squadrons of Gucmes Guard consisled of Gauchos de Salta, G:mchos de Oran and Gauchos de Ia Frontera. Olher regimen IS of the army included the Squadron of Saltenos. Coraceros de Salta, Dragoncs de Vanguardia, Artilleria de Salta and the Rcgimienlo de Dccididos. This force totalled octween 7,000 and 8,000 men under 3H \'ariolls officcrs fighling between Tarija and Tuculllan. a front of8oo kilometrcs. Province of Salt:\. C.walry units thai were organised in and around rhe town of Jujuy belween 1817 and 1822: lSI Squadron of Gauchos (Lt. Col. de la Corte) ten comp,lIlies; 2nd Squadron of Gauchos (Lt. CoL de la Q!,linl'ana) four companies; 3rd Squadron of Gauchos (Capt. Carrillo) two companies; .. th Squadron of Gauchos (Glp!. I r:llmlin) ol1e COlllpan). Gauchos of the Q!.Icbrada district, at J-1umahu:lea: 1St Squadron (LI. Col. Prado) twO companies; 2nd Squadron (Lt. Col. Pastor) two companies; 3nl Squ:ldron (Lt. Col. BelmontI..') t\\'ocomp:lni('s. Gauchos of 01',10, Santa Victoria :lncl La Puna: 1St Squadron (Lt. Col. Arias) two companies; 1st Squadron 'GaudlOs of Santa Victoria' (Lt. Col. Ruiz) two compamcs. Uniforms In Gran Colombia during the period 1810-2" Bolivar succeeded in achieving a rchuivcly high degree of standardisation in uniforms and equipment. In Argcntina, howc\'cr, the practice was for each unit 10 have its own uniform, rcsuhing in a large number of ,·ari:llions. We ha\'e not attempted 10 cO"er all troops

I; Batallion Cazadores Dc Vaoguardia 2;Jose Antonia Paez, 1818 3: Uaneroofthe Guard of Honour ofPaez, 1818

A

2

1

3

I: Sergeant, 1st Battalion, Venezuelan Rifles (Brilish),1818 2: General Simon Bolivar, 1816 3: Bolivar's Guard ofHonour (Mompox),1815

B

I: Private, British Legion, 1821 2: Officer, British Legion 3: Private, Grenadier Company, Venezuelan Anny,I821 ~---.. 4: Gunner, Venezuelan artillery (British Legion), 1821

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1

•

c

I: Officer ofHussars, General English Expedition, 1817 2: Hussar Officer, 2nd V~n~zu~lan Hussars, 1821

D

2

I: Trooper, squadron ofSaltenos, 1814

2: General Miguel Martin de Guemes

E

I: Trooper ofGucmes, Regiment of Horse Grenadiers, 1814 2: Gaucho ofthe Infcmalcs Regimenl, 181S 3: British Gaucho in the Squadron ofGuemes Guard

1

F

2

3

1: Private Cazador, 11th Infantry Banalion, 1816 2: Sub-lieutenant, Banalion Cazadores De Los Andes, 1816 3: GeneralJose de San Martin, 1816

4: Trooper, Horse Grenadiers, 1816

2

3

•

1

,/

G

I: Trooper, Hussars ofthe Peruvian Legion,l824 2: Trooper, Hussars ofColombia, 1824

H

3: Officer, Grenadiers ofColombia 4: Private, Grenadiers ofthe Peruvian Legion, 1824

of this period, but have instead concentrated on the luer wars of liberation in Chile and Peru, and included a rcprcscrll'ation of the units engaged in the northern theatre. While at Mendoza the original 8th Infamry Battalion had increased in considerable size and was thus divided into two battalions numbered Ihe 8th and 71h, the original 71h Baualion ha\'ing been disbanded in Montevideo in 18"1.. In a painting by Alfredo Villegas Ihe 8th Battalion arc shown in dark blue lunie with brass bUllons, dark blue collar and cuffs piped red, long red IUrnbacks, dark hluc shoulder straps piped red and a black shako with red cords and tassels. The shako plate was of brass and consisted of Ihe National coat of anns surrounded by three flags with a scroll beneath them. Above the plale was the National cockade and the shako was surmounted by a red plume \dth a yellow base pompon. Parade dress included a red cloth side bag with a yellow tasseL The rcst of the uniform consisted of white breeches, black g-aiters and shoes and white leather crossbehs. Officers wore Ihe same but "'ith gold lace on the upper band of the shako. The pompon and the chinscales were ofgilt metal. There was also gold lace on the seam of Ihe shako bag and Ihe tassel. Epaulenes were of gold bce on a black board, a gold bee sun on crescent ofboord. BUllons were gold not brass and the pouch belt was black leather with gilt fittings. Boots were black hessian with red Irim and fillings. In a painting by T. Vandorse on Ihe bailIe of Chacabuco, however, Ihis unil is shown in dark blue shell jacke!. The collar is red wilh a brass No.8 and no piping. The cufts arc red wilh a red flap with three brass buttons. Shoulder straps of dark blue, dark blue fatigue hat with rcd sweat h.llld, white trousers and spats, black shocs, red side arm knot, white crossbelts and pack str.lps. A Gl'enatlicr oflicer in the 7th Infantry Battaliun; black shako with gold lace cap lines and upper band, gilt plate, chinsc.des, and visor edging. The pla[C was in the same style as the 8th Battalion. The shako was decorated with the National cockade and lOpped by a gilt metal pompon with a white carrot-shaped plume surmounting that. Tunic was of dark blue piped red, with gold bUllons and red collar and cuffs edged in gold lace. Turnbacks of dark blue piped red, and

epaulenes of gold lace with red board. Waistcoat was white and pouch belt was whilc with gilt finings. Overalls werc dark blue wilh blad leather inside legs and ankles and red stripe and gilt bUllons down the outside leg scam; white spatS, black shoes, steel sword scabbard with gilt fillings. The I nh Infanlry Battalion; blue shell jacket piped white along the front and bottom scams, with red collar and cuffs piped red and blue shoulder straps piped whitc. There was a single white lace strip around the centre line of the collar. Trousers were white, black shoes, standard shako. A dark blue fatigue cap with a scarlct band could be worn. 'Chasseurs of the Andcs' Battalion; Officers wore a long-tailed coat, other ranks a short tailed. Tunic of dark blue piped green with brass bUllons (gold for officers), collar and poimcd cuffs dark blue piped green, pockets piped green, turnbacks green with yellow or gold lace hunting horn. Officers' epaulenes gold lace with black boards, with gold lace de\'ices on board and edging, other ranks werc green. Sto\'c pipe shako with unit plate of a gilt hunting horn, green cords and plume. Officers' shakos were decorated with a gold lace upper band. They also wore white waistcoat, black waistbeh and sword sling, dark blue trousers with a grecn stripe. Officers could also wear a bicorne with a green plume. Artillery of the Andes; dark blue tunic with collar, pointed cuffs and turn backs of yellow. Chest butt.onholes were piped with white lace, officers also had pocket buttonholes piped. Black shako with brass plate, National cockade and yellow carrOl-shaped pompon. Trousers were dark blue with a yellow stnpe. In 18t7 all artillery units of the Army of thc Andes were combined in the ]rd Battalion of Artillery, composed of IWO companies of FOOl Artillery, two companies of Horse Anillery, a company of Siege Artillery and a company of Artificers. t-Iorse Grenadiers organisation, J\-tay 1813 Staff Corps: One colonel, one Lt. Colonel, one major, thrce adjutants, two standard bearers, one chaplain, one trumpeter. 1st Squadron; 1st Company (Capt. del Rio) 105 men all ranks, 2nd Company (Capl. Albarino) 112 men all ranks. 2nd Squadron; 1st Company (Capt. Luzuriaga) 110 men all ranks, 2nd Company (Lt. Jl

Soler) 109 men all ranks. 3rd Squadron; 1st Company (Lt. Castro) 110 men all ranks, 2nd Company (Lt. de Arellano) 107 men all ranks. A fourth squadron was added on 28 August 18 I 3. Gnm Colombia Information on early RepubliclO Battalions is very scarce and as such I ha,'e produced only a selection of organisation details which may be of interest. Ca"alry Regiment of Nuevo Reino de Granada (Militia); raised 26 July 1810 by Junta of Santa Fe de Bogota. Oy No\'embcrconrained four squadrons with three companies in each. Volunteer Regiment ofInfanrr)'; raised 5 August 1810, stationed al Bogota; twO battalions, one Grenadierand eight Fusilier companies in each (1,615 men all ranks). Compania de la Guardia del Virrey (essentiall) a ceremonial unit) became Guardia de Corps de la Junta. The ballalion called Granaderos de Cundinamarca, which had been the only unit in Santa Fe de Bogota at the time of Ihe revolt, had scveral earlier titles; Battalion Auxiliar, Battalion Provincial, Battalion de Defensores and in January 1813 Granaderos de Cundinaman:a. Other units of the Army of Gran Colombia included Infanlry B.1ttalion Volunrarios de la Guardia Nacional, raised 23 Jul) 1810, five companies of 80 men. Two artillery companies were raised 13 October 1810 and a Milit'ary Academy was created I December 1810 with a Spanish officer LI. Col. de Leyva as its DireclOr. On 3 October 1812 the Army was rc-organised under the Commander-in-Chief, Brigadier Leyva. The Ballalion Provincial (exAuxiliar) ami the DaualitJll de Nacionals consisted of one Grenadier company ,ll1d four Fusilier companies; an engineer company of 30 men; ,Ill Artillery Corps of 130 men in a 'Brigadc' of tWO companies; a 'Maestranza' (Artillery foundry) and a cavalry squadron of two companies. Intcrestingly the cavalry were supposed to fight in a mixed unit with infantry armed with halberds. Later Infantry Battalions tried 10 mainlain six companies, four of Fusiliers, one Grenadier and onc Cazadorcs. The 'Rifles of Gombona' had eight rifle companies and the 'Vohigeros of the Guard' had six Light companies. C.walry regimenls consisted of three squadrons of t\\'o companies.

The strcngths of all Patriot and Royalist units varied with sickness and desertions during these wars. On 17 Octobcr 1813 Bolivar issued a decree standardising ran~ insignia and uniforms as follows: General in Chief: blue coat with gilt bunons; scarlet collar, cuffs and lapels with gold leaf pauern lace; gold epauleucs with Ihree silver stars on each. Scarlet waistcoat and trousers and a scarlct sash with gold fringes. General of Division: searlct coat with gih buttons, blue collar, cuffs and lapels with lace decoration as for General in Chief. Epaulettes as for General in Chief but with only n\'o Stars. Blue waistcoat and trousers and a blue sash with gold fringes. General of Brigade: blue coat with gilt butlons; buffcollar, cufts and lapels with lace decoration as for General in Chief. Epaulellcs as for General in Chief but u-ith only one star. Buff w-aistcoat and trousers and a buff sash wilh gold fringes. ADC to the General in Chief: scarlet coat with buff collar, cuffs and lapels; gold lace to bunonholes. Epaulettes according to rank. Buff waistcoat and trousers and a buff sash with silk fringes. ADC to Gencral of Division: same as abo,'e bUI with blue facings, waistcoat, trousers and sash. No gold lace. ADC to General of Brigade: same uniform as General of Brigade but with no gold lace on facings and no gold fringe on sash. Colonels, Lt. Colonels and Majors wore a scarlet sash with silk fringes and two epaulettes, Colonels had both epauletlcs with bullion fringes, Lt. Colonels only the right and Majors only the left. Caplains '\"Ore ['1'0 cpaulctlcs, Liculenants Olle 011 thc right shoulder, Sub Lieutenants onc 011 the left. The rank of Cadet was abolished and replaced with volunteers. Rank for 1st and 2nd Sergeants was indicated by silk laces on the arms, two and onc respectively. Corporals 1St and 2nd Class wore laces on Ihe cuffs, two and one respectively. The uniform of the Army was to be ,1 singlebreasted lunic and trousers of blue wool, collar, cufts and piping in scarlet. Certain adjustments were made to this for different units. Infantry of the Line, the Corps of Artillery and the Corps of ":ngineers had gold buttons. Artillery wore two grenades on their collar, Engineers two castles. Engineer corporals had

white late insignia. The Light Infantry, Light Cavalry and Dragoons wore a jacket instead of the lunic. Light Infantry corporals had gold lace insignia, Light C.walry sih'er lace. Dragoon jackets were decorated with silk lace. Uniform linings were Ihe same colour as collar and cuffs, excepl for garrison troops. Garrison troops wore a blue coat with gilt buuons, Sf..":lrlel collar and cuffs, white lapels and turn backs, while lace on Ihe collar, white waistcoat and while trousers with gold lace on Ihe outer scams. Infanlry wore shoes and ca\'alry high boots. On 15 February 1815 at Mompox in Colombia Boli\'ar organised his Guard of Honour. This consisted of a General Staff, a company of Grenadiers (99 men all ranks), a company of Sappers (i9 men all ranks), a squadron of cavalry in t\l'O l.:ompanies (a lotal of 92 men all ranks) and a baltery of Light Artillery (26 men all ranks). Their uniform was to be a red coal with green collar and cuffs and gold lace edging the lapels and cuffs. Trousers were green or white with a blacL: stock. Infantry wore a chasseur's hal with gold trimmings and Grenadiers black fur hats with a metal plate bearing the words 'Guardia de I-Ionor'. ea\'alry wore hussar hats wilh sih-er lace. Infantry were anTled with musket and bayonel. the first company of cavalry wilh carbine, sabre and pouch belt, Ihe second wit h pistol, sabre and lance. Peru

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I

l'clJczucl:m und C%mb;,m ,IDCs, ,S.2B, b." Va/mom; J\lu!>i-c dc /ilrm&-, Puris. Th,> 1'C"C"/'Uc1I'" officcr follQ\n; /Jo/imrs lSI) On'SS Rcgu/,uiolls: rcd ''O'u ,,-jth blln-fut'illgs. guM Im:c, buntrousers, tIJe Iwt witl':l I"rgr: red Ilm/ll'hitc p/umc. Tllc CololII/Jiml oflicer hus

shon red j.1d.,-t 11 itl. blu,coll:lr, cuns, I:I/)C/s '"ll/ wrnbacks. ,,'ith white trousers. III his h:H ii" h'ls" high plume ofth,' Colombia" mnim",1 colours. yellow. bluc'lIId r'1/: !fold /",·c 011 tllc /1011; goM blltums IIml CP'III"-lt~·S; b/m:1.: sll"ord :I

The uniform for general officers was a blue lunic with lapels, collar and cuffs also blue. Lining and piping were white. White waistcoat and breeches and blacL: stock. J\v1:lrshals had a border of gold lace on the collar, tuffs and lapels, a sash of sky blue with gold tassels and a bicorne WiTh sky hlue plume. Brigadier belt. Generals wore lhe same exccpl with silver lace insTead of gold. Staff Corps officers were distinguished by their epaulettes which, for colonels and uscd the Argcntine syslem ofcufrJacc in regimental above, were sky blue boards wiTh gold lace in Ihe colour. centre and around the edge; ADCs had silvcr lace. By a decree of 30 OclObcr 1821 Ihe following The lace dc...ign was of palm and laurel inlcrtwincd alterations were made. Colonels had an embroidered down lhe ccnrre oflhc epaulelle, fonning a cirele on sun in the centre of the epaulette crescent in the lhe creseen!. Lt. Colonel r.mk was indiC3ted by a opposilc colour to Ihe fringe, and also wore a red and single gold fringed epaulene wilh the Dlher in silver. while plume. Brigadier Generals' epaulcllcs were as This could be re\'crsed depending on Ihe colour of Colonels bUI Ihe sun was in gold lace and lhe bicomc Ihe rcgimentallace. 1\lajors' epaulellcs hoards wcrc plume was whitc. Di\'isional Generals had all in branch of service colour, and l.":lptains and below cpaulene dccor,aion in gold and wore a sky blue

plume. Marshals worc a scarlet tunic with collar, lapels, culfs, lining and piping of white. Bicorne plume wa... red and white and the sash was red with gold tassels. The painring of the Marques de Torre Tagle by Jose Gil de Castro illustrates this uniform and decoration. Captain Generals wore a white coat with collar, cuffs, lapels, and linings of crimson. The collar, cuffs, lapels and edges were bordered with gold lace. Epaulencs were gold lace with scarlet board as with Marshals. The waist sash was twO scarlet stripes either side of a ccnrral white band with gold tassels. The bicorne was decorated with three plumes, two scarlct either side of a whitc. Mariano Carrillo illustrated the epaulettes and plumes of this uniform in his painting of San Martin in 1822, although the uniform is blue as worn in Chile. This rank and uniform was abolished on It AprillS23. Accordingtoa decree Of20AugliSl 1821 theADC 10 the Peruvian head of Slate wore dark !trecn tunic

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with gilt buttons and coHar, lapels, ellA's and turnbacks of crimson piped in white; gold lace 011 buttonholes. The uniform of the officers and men of the 3rd Infantry Battalion of Peru was laid down by decree of 23 May 1822 as follows. Coat and trousers of Turkish blue; cuffs and collar of p:l.le blue; lapels, turnbacks and pocket piping of 'Grana' (orange/red); white piping and buttons; shako plume half sky blue. half scarlet. In a similar decree on 13 September 1822 the 2nd Infantry Battalion was unifonned in COOl and trousers of Turkish blue, cuffs in the same colour, collar and piping in scarlet, white lapels and brass buttons. The Peruvian Legion formed on 18 August 182 I was composed of one infantry batt:tlion, two squadrons of cavalry and a lOo-man company of ~lrtillcry. Commander in Chief was Marshal lhe Marques de Torre Tagle; Colonel William MilicI' commanded the infantry and Major Eugenio Necoehea the cavalry. The infantry battalion eonsisled of six Fusilier companies, one Grenadier company, and one Cazadores company. Each company consisted of a staff corps and 150 and 120 men in Fusilier and Cazadores companies respecli\·ely. In January 1822 the composition of Fusilier companies was four officers and 160 other ranks. The Cazadores had 155 other ranks. A second and third battalion were also raised in 1822 and 182} under the command of Lt. Col. \fidela and Lt. Col. de Zela. Theyappcar to ha\'e been raised with only four Fusilier companies rather than lh~~ usual six. Due to losses on the pl:tins of Peru they were combined into a single battalion for the final campaign. By March 182} the cavalry of the corps consisted of three squadrons of two companies, each of four officers and 90 trOOpers. It was the Hussars of this unit which fought at the battle of Junin and was later honoured by General Bolivar as 'Hussars ofJunin'. Two decrees from February md March 1825. although after the battle of Ayacueho, illustrate the preferred organisation at this time. Infantry rcgi-

InF:..nt(:rhl dt: jUllrjnll, ,&23. by I'. AJjri\"l:1Jr~ MIlSCO

Nacional. Bogota. He is carryin/: the Colombian 16

fl,'g "·jtn rhrec

M

hire Slars.

possibly the SlUrs of Gr.m Colombia.

ments were of two battalions of 1,000 men, named 1st from the Corps of Grenadiers and composed of six and 2nd respectively. Each battalion was of eight Fusilier companies and one Grenadier company each companies, one to six being Fusilier and the others of 120 men. The other four battalions consisled of Grenadier and Cazadores. Each company consisted Infantry Battalion No.2 'Concepcion', Infantry of four oflicers and 127 other ranks (I2S in Battalion NO.3 'Auxiliaries of the Fatherland and Cazadores). Volunteers', Infantry Battalion No. 4- 'Infanres de la Cavalry regiments were of four squadrons of two Patria (composed from the Corps of I)ardo encompanies numbered one to eight. Companies con- gineers), Infamry Battalion 'Valparaiso' (a Veteran sisted offour officers and 77 other ranks. A brigade of Baualion of six companies of 77 men). The Ca\'alry artillery consisted ofthrcc companies of Foot and one Regimen! 'Hussars of the Grand Guard National' of Horse. The 1"001 companies consisted of four consisled of two squadrons of six companies. each of officers and 108 other ranks, Horse of five officers and 84 men. The Corps of Artillery was composed of a 91 other ranks. Brigade with four companies in the Capital (IWO Horse Artillery), one at Valparaiso and one at Chile Coquimbo, each of 100 men. The following is a list of Chilean units and Ihe dales The Army was further organised into three on which they were raised. 1nf.1ntry battalion 'Grena- divisions: 1St Division (Brig. O'Higgins); Inf.1ntry diers of Chile' raised II December 1810, cavalry Battalion No.2 (Col. Calderon), Infantry lJattalion regiment 'Dragoons of Chile' raised I I December NO.3 (Lt. Col. Elizalde), Dragoons (Col. del Al1810, two squadrons 'Hussars of Santiago' raised cazar), militia cavalry of Rancagua, artillery. Total 1810, four companies ofartillery raised 18 I 0, infantry 1,055 infantry, cavalry and artillery, 100 militia. 2nd batallion raised in Peneo 1810, infantry battalion Division (Brig. Carrera); Infantry Battalion No. I, 'Patriotas Voluntarios de Santiago' (black uniforms Cavalry of Aconcagua (Col. Portus), artillery. TOlal with red facings) raised 12 October lSI I, infantry 791 infantry and artillery, 1,200 militia cavalry. 3rd battalion '))ardos' raised October IS I I (only coloured Di\,ision; Infantry Battalion No. 4- (Sub-inspector frcc men wcre admitted), l..'3valry regiment 'Hussars Rodriquez), Hussars Nationals (Col. Benavente), of the Grand Guard' raised 13 January 1812 (this artillery. Total 502 infantry and arlillery, 4-64regiment was composed of 500 men in two squadrons hussars. of three companies). Infantry battalion 'Commerce' There were, in addition, 576 infantry and artildisbanded 5 o\'ember 181 J. lery and 500 militia based at Santiago; at !\lc1ipilla The Dragoons of Chile were disbanded on 120 infantry and arlillery, 200 militia; at Valparaiso I April 18 I 3, being dispcrsed into the 'H ussars of the 193 infantry and artillery, 100 militia. General's Guard' (one squadron) with the remainder In 1817 the Chilean Army was re-org'Jnised using bcl..'Oming the nueleus of the cavalry regiments 'EI the various troops and volunteers that had managed Principe', 'La Princesa', 'Dragoons of Sagunto' and to reach Cuyo province in lhe United I)rovinces. 'Dragoons of San Fernando'. In 1813 anOlher ea \'alry Units raised included cavalry 'Compania Sueha de regiment, the' Victory Hussars', was raised. Plaza' (20 February). On 4 March the following units On 25 August 1814 the infantry battalion 'In- were raised: 1st Infatllry Banalion of Nadonal genuos dela Patria' was raised. This unit was made up Guards U. A. Bustamatlle), 1St Line Inf.1tl1ry Batofslavcs who received their freedom in exchange for lalion (Col. de Dios Vial). The Corps of Artillery was enlisting for a number of years' service. The price of re-organised wilh 329 men (Col. Prieto). In late these men was paid to their owners in instalment's, March, 2nd Line Infantry Battalion (LI. Col. Caceres), and Infantry Battalion 'Infantes de Linea' halftheir monthly pay being used for this purpose. On 12 Seplember 18'4 with Ihe Royalisl forces (Lt. Col. Rondizzoni) were both raised. In August, under General Mariano Osorio having landed on 3rd Line Infantry Battalion 'Arauco' (LI. Col. Chilean soil President Jose Carrera laid down the Bocdo) and lSI Infantry Battalion 'Cazadores de orpnisalion of his army. The infantry was organised Chile' (Col. de la Cruz) were organised, the former into fi\'e baltalions. Infantry Battalion No. I created incorporating two companies from Talca in southern J7

Chile. On 18 September 1817 two squadrons of 'Cazadores dc Ia Escoha DireclOrial' (Col. Freire) were raised. In 1823 they were renamed 'uzadores a uballo'. Dy 30 November 1817 the Army strength stood al 1st Inf.1.ntry D:lttalion (591 men), 2nd Infantry B:malion (736 mcn), Jrd Infantry Baualion 'Arauco' (603 men), Infantry Ballalion 'Nacionales dc Concepcion' (300 mcn), Infantry Baualion 'Cazadores dc Coquimbo' (535 men), Infantry Battalion 'Infantes de b P:llria' (':;:23 men), C3\'alry 'Compania de Plaza' (100 men), ('"':J.\'alry 'Cazadotcs de la Escolla' (119 men), 'Lanceros' (51 men), artillery (705 men), ,\tiIit'lry l\cademy (160 men); total strength was ~,i65 men. The uniforms worn during the liberation of Chile \n~re based on the pallerns worn during 1810-1 -1-. For the inf:antry Ihis was a blue shon-t:ailed lunic :and trousers with red collars, cuffs, lurnbacks and piping (round cuffs with two bUllons). The Grenadier Company h:rd n-d epaulcllcs, brass bullons :md \\ hile equipment str:rps. The sh:rko W:lS bl:rck with a br.1sS plate (with the battalion number) and chinscalcs. i\ national cockade of blue, white :rnd red from the centre out w:rs :al.so \\orn. Plumes were in national

,

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.;'.'

',~

colours for officers, plain red for othcr ranks. On campaign a blue for:agc cap wilh a red SWC:1l b:and could be worn and whilc lrousers and shirts were worn during Ihe summer months. The Battalion 'Ctzadores de Coquimbo' wore bluc tunics with green collar, pointcd cufts, turnbacks and epaulcltcs. The sh:rko had grccn plumc, cords and upper band; the platc was a br:rss horn. The forage ('"':J.p had a grecn band rathcr th:rn red. 'uzadorcs de I:t Escoha DircclOri:rI' wore a green short-tailed runic with brass bUllons and red collar. turnbacks, cpauleHes and piping; thc cuffs \\erc green with red piping. A badge of a brass hunting horn was worn on Ihe eolia I' :and turnbacks. Shako was blad leather with a yellow upper band, grecn cords and plumc, brass hunting horn plate :lnd chinscalcs, and a national cock:lde undcr the plumc. The forage cap was green with :I white band, aU belts were in white leather, the shabraque W:lS green edged in red. L:lnccrs had a short-tailed blue runic with red collar. cuffs. turnbad:s and piping. and grey o\·crJ.lIs with a red stripe. Sh:ako was black wilh red upper band and pompon, brass chinscalcs and unit platc :and a n:ational cockade. The sh:abraque was whitc sheepskin with a blue \·:rlisc. The Arlillery had dark blue tunics with rcd collar, tumbacksand piping. On the collar was worn a brJ.SS flaming bomb. The cufts wcre blue piped in red with a red \'crtical cuff flap with three ycllow horizolllal lace bars. Trousers were blue \\ itlt Ihrce red stripes. Shako w:rs bl:rck with red cords, raqueltcs and plume. The sh:ako plate was of two crossed cannon surmountcd by:r flaming bomb, this dcsign :also bcing worn on Ihc cartridge pouch. Foragc cap was blue with a ycllow band. Drummers worc grccn tunics and NCOs wore ycllow and green epaulcttcs Cadets:rl lhe M ilitar)' Acadcmy wore short-tailed tunics with red collar, light onmgc cuffs and l:rpcls, and white epaulencs and aiguillcues. Trousers wcrc blue wilh bl:ack knee-length g:riters. Thc shako had A minifilUrCQfI]oJivar, by Jose AI'lri" f~pinOSIl;

Quinta dc &1J"l'llr. llogotl,. This is thought toshoM' lJoli"lIr lit Ihe hlltlle of Car.lbobo, 1821, wilh in[;mrry offhe British

Legion (boltom lefl) lind men oflhe lIenezuelan J8

.'Irtifler.'" IJofil':Ir is wCl/ri"l! II si"gJr-bre,utcll COIIt wit" rell collilr ,mel (:11/"1>': 80fe/l:,ce, but tons IHlel t"I>IIIIft'Ut'S: II hire brt..-chcs: hil!h blIld: boots. gold spurs. The Imist sasll SCl'roS to be oflhe IIl/tiomll coJoursofGnm Colombi".

•

red cords and plume, yellow upper band, brass chinscalcs and a bronze s[ar as shako plale. On '] July [821 a Dragoon regiment was raised 10 help fight the las[ Royalist ou[posts. II wore a dark blue hussar jacket wilh sky blue collar and pointed cuffs, piping and lacc was white, and the cufflace was a crow's fool (an Austrian knot with three cireles). Ovef'llllls were grey wi[h a yellow stripe. Shako was black wilh sky blue cords, white pompon and brass chinSC
ORDERS OF BATTLE Chacabuco,

12

February 18q

Royalisl Troops: Brigadier MarolO Infantry Ballalion 'Valdivia'. Infantry Battalion 'Tala\'cra' (It. Col. Marqueli). Infantry Battalion 'Chiloc' (ll. Col. Elorriaga). Two Squadrons 'Carabineros de Abascal' (Ll. Col. Quinranille). Onc Company of Hussars de la Concordia (LI. Col. Bananco), 50 men all ranks. 20 Artillerymen, armed with 2 x 4 pounders. Republican [roops: General San Marlin lSI Division; General Soler. l!th Infantry Banalion, Col. Las Ileras. Infan[ry Battalion 'Cazadores de los Andes' LI. Col. Akarado. Mixed Battalion, Grenadier and Cazadore companies from the 71h and 81h Infantry Ball':llions. 4th Squadron 'Horse Grenadiers'. General's Escort Squadron, LI. Col. Necothea. Seven t\rtillery pieces, Capl. rrutos. 2nd Division; Gencralll O'Higgins. 7th Infantry Battalion, IFusilier companies onlyl (Ll. Col. Cramer). 8th Infantry Battalion [as above 1(Ll. Col. Conde). Three squadrons of 'Horse Grenadiers' (Col. Zapiola). Two artillery pieces. Maipu 5 April 1818 Royalist Troops: Commander General Osorio lSI Brigade (Col. Ordonez). Infantry Hamlion 'Con-

cepcion' (Major Navia). Infantry Battalion 'InEmte Don Carlos' (LL Col. La Torre). Royal Corps of Sappers, [' I company) Capt. C'lscana. Squadron 'Lancers del Rey' (LI. Col. J. RodriguC'"i.). Squadron 'Arequipa Dragoons' (LI. Col. A. Rodriguez). Four Artillery pieces. 2nd Brigade (Colonel Marla). Infantry Ballalion 'Arequipa' (LI. Col. Radii). 2nd Infantry Battalion 'Burgos' (Col. Moria). Squadron 'Chillan' (LI. Col. Palma). Squadron 'Frontier Dragoons' [2 Sql (Col. Mongado). Four Artillery pieccs. Reserve or 3rd Brigade (Col. de Rh·era). ~Iixed Banalion [Grenadier and Cazadore cOIllI>anics from the four Infantry Battalions; Burgos, Concepcion, Infante and Arequipa]. Four Artillery pieces. Republican Troops: Commander General de San M.artin 'Las Heras' Division (Col. Las Heras). 11Ih Infantry Battalion (Major Guerrero). Infanlry B;\lUlion 'Cazadores de Coquimbo' [ChileanJ (M:ljor Thompson). Infantry Battalion 'Infantes de la Patria' [Chilean} (Ll. Col. Bustamante). Four Squadrons 'Horse Grenadiers' (Col. Zapiola). Eight Artillery pieccs (LI. Col. Blanco Encalada). 'Ah'arado' Division (Col. Ah·arado). 2nd Infantry Battalion [Chilean} (LI. Col. Caeef3s). 8th Infantry Battalion 'Los Andes' (LI. Col. ,\Iartinez). Infantry Battalion 'Cazadorcs de los Andcs' (~lajor Sequeira). Four Squadrons 'Cazadorcs a Cabello de los Andes' (Major Arellano). Nine Artillcry pieces (Ll. Col. Burgoyne). 'Rescrve' Division (Col. de la Qyintalla). lSI Infantry Battalion, [Chilean} (Lt. Col. Rivcra). 3rd Infantry Balt'alion 'Los Andes' (LI. Col. Conde). Two squadrons 'Escort to San Martin' (Col. Freire). Four Artillery pieces (LL Col. Plaz;\). Boyaca, 7 August 1819 Royalisl Forces: Commander General Barreiro Vanguard Division (Col. Jimenez). 2nd Battalion Numancia (Col. Tolra), 500 men. ]rd Battalion Numancia (Col. Lono), 350 men. Regiment of Dragoons (LI. Col. Salazar), ,60 men. Rcarguard Division (General Barreiro). 1St Battalion Del Rey (LI. Col. Lopez), 640 men. 2nd Battalion Del Re)' (Major Figueroa), 400 men.

Battalion Cazadon.-s de Tambo (Col, Diaz), 480 men. Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers (Col. Sierra), 320 men. Artillery Lrwo howitzers, one field piece] (LL Coleles), 90 men. Bolivar's Forces Vanguard Division (Santander) lADe Col. Morales]. B:malion ofCazadores (Col. Paris), -+00 men. 1st Line Banahon (Lt. Col. Obando), -+10 men. 1st Squadron Guides of Apure (Capt. Ibarra), 200 men. Centre Division (Genel':!l Anzo:ltegui) [ADC Lt. Col. Condobaj.l3:malion of Rifles (Lt. Col. Sandes), 220 men. British Legion (Major Mackintosh), 120 men. Battalion Barcelona (CoL Plaza), 300 men. Ballalion BraHlS de Paez (Col. Cruz), 300 men. 2nd Squadron Guides of J\pure (Col. Mujica), 100 men. RC3rguard Division (Genen.1 Bolivar). Batrlliion !\lililia of Tunja (Comnunder Lugo), 500 men. Battalion Mihria ofSOl."Orro (Commander Soler), 300 men. Regiment of Lancers 'U:mo de Arriba' (Col. Rondon), 300 men. 3rd Squadron Dragoons, 'Carabineros' (Capt McHan), 90 men.

Regiment Lancers de Honor (Col. Farfan). Regimenl Cazadores Valienrcs (Ll. Col. Gomez). Regimenl la Venganza ("'lajor Escalona). Resen'e (Col. ROS:1les). II Division (General Cedeno). llanalion Vargas (Lt. Col. Gra,·cte). Battalion Boyaca (Lt. Col. Flegel). Banalion Tiradorcs (Ll. Col. dc las I-ICTas). Squadron Segrado (Col. Aramendi). III Division (Col. Pl:lza). Battalion Anzo.·l1cglli (Col. J\rguindegui). Battalion Vencedor en Boyaca (Col. Uzlar). Haualion Grenadiers (Col. de P. Velez). Ballalion Rifles (Lt. Col. Sandes). Regimel1l lSI de l:1 Guardia (Col. Rondon). Squadron of Dragoons (Ll. Col. MeHao). Squadron of Hussars (Col. Figueredo). AyaclIcho,9 Decembcr 182-+

Royalist Troops: Commander I.a Torre 1St Division (Col. Garcia). 1st Battalion de Valencey (LL Col. Riesco). Lighl Bamlion del Barbaslro, (Lt. Col. Monrero). Lighl Rallalion del I-Iostalrich (Lt. Col. Ilias). Regimem Ilussars de Fernando VII (LL Col. Calderon). Vanguard Division (General Morales). 2nd Batlalion del Burges (Lt. Col. Dalmar). Light Battalion de Infanle don Francisco de Paula (LL Col. Sicilia). Regimenl Lancers del Rey (I.t. Col. Renovalcs). ~int;l Division (Col. Herrera). Light Battalion del Principe (LI. Col. de Casuo). Regiment Dragoons Leales a Fernando VII (Ll. Col. Morales). Regiment del General (Ll. Col. Lopez). Artillery consisted of 62 men and 1\\"0 field picces of Horse Artillery commanded by Capt. Vicent.e MerCOldillo.

Royalist Forces: Comm;mder in Chief Viceroy de fa Serna, Second in Command General Camcrac Vanguard Division (General Valdes). 1st Infantn Baualion 'Imperial Alejandro'. lsr Infantry Bau:llion 'Caslra'. tst Infantry Banalion 'Ccntro'. 1st Infamry Battalion 'Cantabria'. 1st Division (General Monet). 2nd Infantl"\• Baltalion '1St Regiment'. 2nd Infamry Batt'alion 'Burgos'. 2nd Infaml'Y B.malion 'Guias' I Legion Tacnena). 2nd Infamry Banalion 'ViCIori:l'. 2nd Infantr). Battalion 'lnf::ante'. 2nd Di,'ision (General Villalobos). lSI Inf:mtr~ Banalion 'Gerona'. 2nd Infamry Banalion 'Gerona'. 1st Infantry Battalion 'lSI Regimenr'. 2nd Inf:mtr~ Battalion 'Imperial Alejandro'. Infamry Ba((::alion 'Fernando VII'. Cavalry Di\'ision (General Ferraz). 'Grenadiers of Ihe Guard', two squadrons. 'Hussars of Fernando VII'. three squadrons. 'Dragones of the Union', three squadrons. 'Dragones from Peru', lWO squadrons. 'San Carlos', one squadron. 'Halberdiers of Ihe Viceroy', one squadron. 14 pieces of Artillery under the command of General Cacho, while the J-:ngincers \\-erc commanded by General Atero.

Republican Troops: Commander General Boli"ar I Dh ision (General Ilacz). Battalion Bra,·os de Apure ILl. Col. Conde). Battalion Cazadores Britanicos (Col. Ferriar) [British Legion]. Regiment de Honor (Col. Munoz). Regimem Hussars de Pac-J. (Col. Iribarren). Regiment de la t\-Iuerte (Col. Borras).

Republican Forces: Commander General de Sucre. Peruvian Division (Grand .\'larshal de la ~Iar). Infantry Battalion 'PcrU\'ian Legion' (Col. Plaza). lSI Infantry Battalion (Lt. Col. Bermudez). 2nd I nfanln Banalian (Ll. Col. Gonzales). 3rd Infantry Barralion (Ll. Col. Benavides).

Carabobo, 24Jlllle 1821

.,

1St Division IColombian I (General Lara). Inf
Also a Company ofSappcrs were taken. This h,ld three Officcrs and 50 Sappers. This Army amounted 10 299 Officcrs and 4,168 men, excluding the trool)S il1\'ol\'cd with the Slaff Corps, Quarter Mastcr and Mcdical Staff. Taken with this force wcre 35 field pieces, 15,000 muskets, 2,000 sabres and -l,OOO sets of equipment.

THE PLATES Nunez mentions a prophecy wrinen by:t priest on the ancient temple oflhe Sun at Cuzco, that the dclh'en' ofSouth America would be affected by a nation C'Jlled 'English'. Such a prophecy was destined 10 be fulfilled under the guidance of Simon Bolivar and

20

General de San Martin. Adjmam General: Col. de Castillo. Generals of Di\'ision: Col. Alvarez de Arenalcs, Col. de Luzuriaga 'Argemine Division' 7th Infamry OmaHon (Col. Conde), -l57 men all ranks. 8th Infantry Ilattalion (Col. Martinez), 478 men all ranks. 11th Infimtry Battalion (Ma; Deheza), 583 men all ranks. i\rtillery Omalion (1\'lajor Luna), 213 men, all ranks. Rcgt Ilorsc Grenadiers (Col. Alvarado). -lIS men all r:lIlks. Regiment of Horsc Cazadores (Col. Neeochcta). 283 men all ranks. 'Chilean Division' 2nd Infamry Battalion (Col. Aldunatc), 630 mcn all ranks. 4th Infantry Battalion: (Lt. Col. Sanchez), 678 men all ranks. 5th Inf:mtry Battalion (Col. Larrazabal), 343 men all ranks. Artillery Baltaliotl (Lr. Co!. Borgono), 230 mcn all ranks. 6th Infantry Battalion (Col. Campino), 52 men all ranks. 2nd Dragoon Reg! (Ll. Col. Guzlllan), 30 men all ranks. Gc"cml Fr~ltIci.~CQdt.· 1':Il//:! S:lnf:l1I(lcr. IH~(I. al/ ributc(1 to ja.,,/: J\1:Jri" f.s!)inos:!; ,\I w;co ''':1(:;0111I/. BogOl". 'The l\1:11J or,lle [_"M'S',:lS he ,,':1." k"u"''' for his gre:l I arlministr:l f i I'C IIllem.". Ihis Co/ombi"" gener-J/"·:J.." \,;ct....{·r(.'$id'·/U orGmn eo/ombill ,8~1-38. Presidetlt urNell' Gr(.·l!;u/"

18J~-.I7. S~IIII:/II(Jcr

is I.hc u"irortn of" G""er:l I in O,icf"ceonlinl! ((J t hc I H'.Il)rI.-'5S Rq:lll:uiuns: bluc eo:u, red eol/:lr, cuRs. hlpcls; gold hlce, bill lOllS :lnd "!XIU/c/fCS; red breeches, galel stripes IlIJd knQlS; red :IIIelgo/el b~Jrre! $:ISh. 'l"'~lrilll!

41

The hilt. :mel red lind ~old shabr..qllc, orGcn. SlInrandc'r. /IfuSCf) Sacion.... f. fJogot:l. The hilt is bfacl \I'ith gof,IIIIct",

coel.mlc orGr:m Colombia in goltll:u;C; :md plUlllC rcurhers in natiOrlll1 r:ololJrs.

..-hirt: rc-.lthcrs.. nlltirm:.1

San Martin. Although the contribution of the British soldier to the freedom of South America has been mentioned, I h;1\'e always felt that they ha\'e not recei\'cd enough credit for what they really did. That is why I ha\'e emphasised the British in my uniform plates. All have been based on contemporary material, ie drrmings, paintings and journ3ls, di3ries, letters written by the men \\ ho participated in the war. Some of these uniforms have ne\'er been seen before. I hope that I can ~llrer the general belief still held in some South Americ:ln countries that during the early part of the war the soldiers were 'naked'. I haw found proof to the contrary. As in any war there arc always times of hardship, but in the letters of the British soldiers ~Ilotle we find that most of {he time there was a good supply of uniforms and equipment. Bolivar always liked a well-turned out army and he seems TO have succeeded in rhis in spile of the odds. Some of the details of the uniforms ha ve been the result of educ:lted guesswork. I do not intend w apologise for this. I only hope that this first try at this vast subject brings more unknown information to light. AI:

n...,mJlioll (;:,;wdol"cS de VlInguardi:l, 1819

This simple uniform is taken from a contemporary engraving of the battle of Boyaa. It shows the men in a type of high cylindrica I hat possihl~' made of straw.

a short white jacket, white trousers and black belts. This Regiment fought in many early battles such as Paya, GameZ:t, Pantano de V:trgas, Boyaa, Pirayo and Bombona. Az:Josc AnlOllio PlICZ, 1818

Paez is shown in the t)'pie31 dress worn by a Venezuelan caudillo of the llanos and thc type of dress worn at his first meeting with Bahar and the British Legion as Richard Vawetl (a British Officer in the 1St Venczuelan Hussars) dcscribes in his journal: 'His dress was similar to that of his companions in arms, being simply a shin, open at thc collar and breast, with remarkably wide slce\'cs, made of English handkerchief-pieces of a red cross barred pattern; and loosc white cotton drawcrs reaching a little below the knee. His legs :llld feet wcre barc; but he wore massive silver Spill'S, with sharp rowels of about four inches in diameter. On his he;ld was a lowcrowned sombrero, made of palm leaves split and plaited; with a broad blue riband tied under the chin for a barbiqucxa. His lance was light and easily manageablc; the pole being made or a rough and clastic black cane, found in SC\'cral parts of the pbins. It was carried by a boy about 12 years of age, mounted on a full sizcd and high mettle horse.' Vawell then goes on to describe !)aez lancc b3nner 'distinguished from the rest. by beitl!l' l\\-ice as large.

as well as by being edged wirh iI deep black fringe, a black banner, ha\'ing embroidered on it a white skull and crossed bones, wirh rhe motto 'Libertad 0 ,\1uerte'. It was customary at this period for each chief 1'0 display a distinguishing sW:Jllow-tail banner at his lance. This \\as also Clrried by Bolivar in his early campaigns.

or

ltJ: A LIt,m..'ro Qr Ihe Gu:trd or Honour Pacz, 1818 P:Jez and his GU:Jrd of Honour were supplied with British uniforms by Boli\':Jr on 29 September 1818, this W:JS part of Ihe dress uniform of Colonel Henrv Croosdalc Wilson's 2nd Venezuel:Jn Hussars, Red Hussars. We find in J. I-I. Robinson's Journ:Jl (a surgeon in thc army of Boli\',lr) a (lcscription of Pac". Guard ofl IOllour: 'This Guard consists of full three hundred men, picked from the whole army and mounted on lhe best horses the counlry Clm alford. They have every appearence of English troops. Thcy were the same kind of cap used by the English dr:Jgoons, a red jacket turned up with yellow, blue cuffs and collar :Jnd blue pantaloons with yellow scams,' In a few contemporary pictures a \\ hite linen cover is shown worn on campaign o\'er the shako. Paez' Guard also included some British Troops, HI:

Serge_'wl.

1St

B:Htalion,

Rifles(IJrilislJ),1818

lSI

lIcnczuc.lan

time. There arc little or no document's on the armaments oflhe Rifles but probably they had the old Baker riflc; this soldier is shown carrying his in a red CO\'er taken from a contemporary watercolour of a rifleman on campaign. B2: General Simon Bo/i"ar, 1816 Boli\'ar's dress is taken from a contcmporary painting showing him discmbarking with British Officers in Oeumare. All the officers arc wearing large white ·sombreros'. Boliv:Jr has his General coat buttoned over with a risc and fall collar with gold lace on the collar and cuffs, Buffbrccches, high boots, and a cape with a possible \'cl\'ct collar. I-lis Saddle cloth is of General, dark blue with gold lace. B3: lJoJil'ar's GWlrd orJ-lonour (J\Ilompox), 181., (See text for details of uniforms.) An eye witness Jose Maria C.1ballero said in his 'Diary of thc Independence' thai this uniform was worn by the 'Guardia de Honor' for the first time in Bogota on 20 July 1815.

CI: Pri""ltc, British Legion, 1821 Thc uniform shown is the one worn by the British or Anglo-Irish Legion at the banle of Carababa. It is taken from a miniature painting of Boli\'ar thought to show him at thc battle with men oflhe British Legion and Venezuelan Artillery Brigade in Ihe background. This painting was made by Jose ~Iaria Espinosa, a friend of Bolivar and also a soldier. It shows the type of uniform worn by the British Infantry just after Waterloo, A Prussian-type shako with an oilskin CMer, a short red jacket with possibly light blue f.1cings, white trousers of cotton or linen. Armamcnt would be a Brown Bess musket with old Peninsular equipment. These articles of uniform ;ll'e also described in General English papers, in a bill for equipment and conveyance of troops from London to Margarita about the same date, 1821.

The uniform shown is 'similar [() that of the Rifle Brig:Jde in the British scn'ice' states J:Jmes I-Iacket in his Journal (a British sef\'ing officer of the VenC'LUelan Artillery Brigade). This is also backed up by Alexander, a serving soldier with the Rifles. A great coli was t;lken on the uniforms while campaigning with Bolivar. But there were always replacements made available under his command. Alexander often states 'lhcrc waS plenty of dOlhing in the stores however, J gOI at one time a pair of shoes being literally barefoot, and at anOlher a new rifle uniform coat and cap and being in good health al the time, I cut no despicable figure', In fact some ofthc British soldiers said they were better equipped than in the 0: Of1iccr, Bridsh Legion, /8z1 Peninsular War. Concessions of course werc made as The officer is wearing a shan red double breastcd in any war, to dress. I ha\'e shown the scrgeant in j:Jckct buttoned across a crimson w-aist-sash. white 'alpargates' (or sandals); these wcrc madc by the trousers and oilskin cover; we can find no e\'idcnce as troops from the fibre of the aloe plant plaited. The)' to the cap badge worn by the Legion. One of the flags were worn hy Bolivar and most of his army at some carried by the Legion was that of Gran Colombia.

CJ: Pril'atc, Gn:wlc/icr CO/npany, VClJczuelan Army, 1821 The dress worn by the Grenadiers of the Venezuelan Army at the baltic of C.1rabobo is the one laid out for the Dress Rcguhllions of the Army which was signed by Bolivar in Caracas on 17 OclOber 1813; again there arc no known derails as to the Clp platl..'S worn, The cord worn would he red, as would the plume and epauletles; white trousers were worn for summer campaIgns, They would be :armed with the Brown Bess. (4: Gunner, VClJczuelan Artillery (British Legion},I821 This dress like the infantryman is taken from the same painting. An oilskin OO\'er, a short dark blue jacket piped in red, this may be an old cut down jacket, white trousers. D,: Officcr of J-luss:Jrs, Gener:11 English Expedition, ,817 The Hussar uniform is taken from Charles Brown's Journal (a Captain of the Venezuelan Brigade of Light Artillery). I Ie nates: 'The equipments of the officers were elegant, yet not expensive; their uniform was a light-blue jacket and trousers in the hussar style, with red or black facings, the front was worked with silk: and their sh,u;(ls or caps were also of the same materials, with a bushy yeUow or green plume. The cap was ornamented with a silver plate, with an appropriate device explanatory of the sen'ice in which they had cng,lged, Their aecountrements were black, with a neat s;lbrc; upon lhe whole, this dress

,

was more calculated fOI' the climate (being of a light and cool teXiure) than had hitherto appeared in South America, and evinced great judgement on the pan of him who had ordered it.' 'And a finer body of troops for its number, was perhaps ne\'er seen' so wrote a seaman from England who came to servc with Bolivar; hc goes on to say 't he elorhing and allpnintmellls were exactly on the British style, and exceedingly well supplied',

D2: Hussar Officer, 2nd lIcnczuel:m Huss.'1rs, 1821 Colonel Henry Crousdale Wilson's 2nd Venezuelan Hussars uniform is taken from a narrative by Colonel GUSI:t\'US Hippisley (of the 1st Venezuelan Hussars). He Slates: 'Colonel Wilson chose a scarlet jadet with light blue cuffs and collar, mOSt richly and expcnsi\'ely ornamented with gold lace, searlel pantaloons, &c. as his full dress; whilst a hlue jadet, with broad gold lace, overalls &c. conslituted the morning or field uniform. The non-<:ommissioned officers and pri\'atc hussars were 10 ha\'c corresponding suits.' I have shown a sabrctachc, although thcre is no mention ofone being worn. The design I ha\'e shown is of the stars of Great Colombia as it was used b\' other British Regimenls serving wilh Boli\'u. The shabraque would probably have been red with gold lace with white sheepskin or jaguar skin saddle doth. This regiment also had many names-the 'Red Hussars', 'Squadron Sagr:ldo' and 'Los Colorados' as they were called by the Spanish who were impressed with their uniforms and discipline. It was not just the Spanish they impressed but Bolivar himself who formed them into his own Guard of Honour in 1818, They also played an impormnt role in the battle of Carabobo, It is thought thaI this corps of about 200 men rode while or grey horses supplied by Paez, they were under the command of Colonel Fr:1l1cisco Aramendi, £1: Trooper, squ.'1drolJ Q{S.'1Jtenos, 1814

This Regiment of Militia W;lS raised in the town of

Thc sohticr tlml his Rabona; II'lItcrcolour: OCR dePcru. This pielUre sho",s ",hllr is rhought 10 be 1I so/dier orthe RiflC$ during the I.'ltcr part orthe wtlr. Note the Rifle'S shako. and

hil,' boot!> lIIekcd ill/o thc poncho licc/ round hili Imist-fhis seem!> 10 h:n'c been II I)'pic:d/y Pcruvi,m \0'11')' or ",c/lring thc poncho, The muskel or rifle h
Salta (Argentina). One ofthe major shops of the town had a large quantity of red woollen material in stock as it was in f.1shion at the time with the wealthy and upper classes; its owners wished to collaborate with Guemes, so this material was given over to make his troops, uniforms, AJthough the troops had a simple uniform the officers' were more sumptuous, their jackets being ofa hussar panern and their hats were a red sleeve cap (or undress cap) laced in gold hanging O\'er their lefl shoulder. Guemes their commander in chief wore the same uniform but with a white furlined pelisse embroidered with gold lace and a brown hussar busby; the saddle had a sumptuous sheepskin saddle cloth and could be used by the men as a bed. Guemes, trappings and saddle had costly silver and gold finings and he rode a Palomino horse to sel off this uniform. £2: GcncrallHigucl Martin de Gucmes See E I for uniforms details.

F,: Troopcr of Gucnlcs' Regiment of Horse Grenadiers, 1814 This regiment was formed from men of the regular army. The uniform was of a colourful hussar style. Shako with a gold grenade, sky-blue dolman with red lace, collar and cuffs, Dark blue pantaloons with a red stripe and high boots, the saddle cloth was dark blue edged with red. They were armed with a sword and carbine, Fz:Gaucho ofchc lnfernales Regiment, c8c5 The 'Infernales' (men from hell) were named in contrast to the Spanish Regiment 'Angelicos' (angels), The men all wore beards and long hair, their dress was a short red jacket and 'chiripa' (inherit::ance from the Indians:::a large piece of coarse cloth tied at the waist corning down at the b,lek and drawn up in front bel ween the thighs and fastened by a broad leather bcll or tirador adorned with silver coins if the gaucho were wealthy), red sleeve cap, g/lucho boots (botas de potro-Indian, coming h::alf way up their legs, made of the skin stripped from the legs of horses or cows), large iron spurs and a poncho (Indian: a square piece of wO\'en material with opening in the middle to pass the head through-it is used as a blanket) red or blue. The gauchos had around therr necks a handkerchief prefernbly of silk, for the

Gen. Ikrnardo O'Higgins, rhe hero ofChikand S:m l\fartin s second in COJTInJ:llld in the Arm.' of lhe Andes; he bee:-.lme· Supreme Director of Liberated Chi/e. His uniform is a blue co."!l; n'tl collar, cuffs 1Iml lilpclS; gold l:lce. buttolls and epauJeUt's: sm,'" ;fllhe

Chilcan nal;omll colours of red, ,,-hire and blue as is the "-:I;st s:Jsh. OrecchC!>' "'ould be white ,,-ith gold

Austri."!n knots, >forn ,,-irh shorr bl:lck lHJor$. The h:u would be a b/:ld: biconlt, with gold lace, lilrge nat;omll-colourcd codmdc. and large fe:uher Illso of the mlliol1:JI colours,

utilitarian purpose ofserving as dust screen and water filter. They were armed with a lance, carbine, sabre and lasso and the famous 'boleadol'::as', also called 'las tres Marias', (The gaucho adopted this from the Pampa Indians-it consists of three rounded stones or metal balls fastened by leather thongs to a long leather strnp; let loose these will wind up round the victim's leg, smashing the boncs,) The)' also carried a 'facon' (one of the most essential pans of g:J.ucho dress, this q inch knife was worn behind in a leather sheath. He protected himself wilh it in arguments. He killed and ate his meat supply with ii, he made other tools by using it and he cven sha\'ed \\-ith it).

The saddle was of gal/ell/) type with a white sheepskin uvcr a bluc shabraquc pointcd al bOlh ends (note plate), Icather horse harness with iron bit. The reins were twisted leather with bronze rings. To protect their legs the specracular-looking 'Guardamonte' was used. (A wide piece ofleather fastened in from of the saddle protecting the rider from the thorny bushes of the region.) II is known that the regiment rode mules. Guemes was the Infemales chief until his death when it was disbanded,

F3: Br;{'islr Gaucho in IlrcsquadrolJ ofGuemcs Guard The dress and armament of the three squadrons of Guemes Guard was the same as the Infemales except for a red poncho and green beige 'chiripa'. II is known that among the gauchos were some English and Irish made prisoners from Ihe Beresford expcdition~ the mosl well knO\\ll was Peler Campbell described by the Scottish wriler Robertson: 'lie was a thin bony man, and his aspect was grim. He worc gaucho's dress

and carried two cavalry pistols and a sword in a rusty scabbard which hung from a dirty raw leather belt. His whiskers and moustache were red, as was his tangled hair which was matted with sweat and dust. His sunburned face seemed quite black, and it was co\"ered with blislers, while the o\"erdq' skin around his mouth seemed 10 be peeling away. I-Ie wore earrings, a military cap, a tatlered poncho and :1 blue jacket with red lapels worn with use. He made a show of a great knife in a leather sheath; calfskin boots and iron spurs with rowels an inch and a half in diameter,'

G,: Private, C.'1zador, IItlr Inr.'wlry BauaJion. 1816 The soldier is shown wearing his old undress jacket and while brin trousers, This was the dress worn by this Battalion during all their sen'ice duties, An unusual featurc of his dress is the old fatigue cap with a skin 'cuff', By mid-1815 the)' wcrc supplied with leather parade cap with cords, badges and plumes. lhe officers were gi\'en shako with national cockade Gcn. Anron;o Jose dc Sucre, (Irt;st un,lmO"'n: ,\INNIBA. This ,,";IIt;ng shQI4"'S Suen':H thc b,lUlc ofAmelleho with Grc;lIIdicrs Qfthc Perlll'i'ln LqiOlI to hi!, (ront ,mel olliccrs ofhis st" II' bch;nd him: II IJr;rish ADC C;III oc St'CII,

u/so II CQlombil1ll

Norsc Grcll,ulia olliecr. Sec Ic.n pl:It" NJ. SlIcn's uni(orm is II retl CO;It with billt, collllr, Illpt'ls. t'lIn;,. wrllb"eks :mel troust'rs;:/I/ his !:Icc is goM, witll goM grcnmks 011 thc (urll/Jlleks :md gold slri",· Otl tIl(' {rousers. I-Ie hlls:/ wide blue Imis/ ,.'lIs/, ",ith guld tm'st'ls. Thc slmbmc/lle is Mut' wi I II !told lacc :lIld grCI/I/(/C. Tile lIorse's IIIIl'IICSS;s recl. TI,c h:II, bot/olll right. ;!o' bl:u:k 11';/11 gold J:lce ilIlll /Jt':lr.~ /1Ie t'OCklidc ilIlll (cathers of Grilli Colombi:l.

black and white photograph. In the ccntre of the picture arc shown Hussars, the rest of the picture shows Infantry of the Pcruvian Lcgion all in great detail. The organisation of Ihis regiment was a G2: Sub-licutcIJJlnt, IJiltl':Jlion C.-,z..,dores de Los favourite object with General l"liller who endea\'oured to givc it a national character and an esprit Andes, 1816 See text for uniform det.lils. The uniform was one of de corps. Thc Hussars, Miller states, were 'composed the most simple and sober of thc war, the shako was of4 squadrons or eight troops; each troop consisted of the same as the British Light Companies. Named one hundred rank and file. The uniform was similar No. 12 ofChasseursofthc Andcs on 18 August 1816, to that of thc English Hussars'. it took part in the crossing of thc Andes and the H2: Trooper. HUSSi'rs ofColombia, 1824 Chilean Campaign. The uniform for this Regiment was Ihe same as for the Colombian 'Guias dc la Guardia' (sec black and GJ: Gencr.I1 Jose de San M.'Jrrin, 1816 San Martin is shown how he may havc looked when whitc photograph) so the watercolour by Aliri,·cnt"L he made the crossing of thc Andes. The uniform is st:l.tcs. The only difference is that the Hussars had no that of an officer ofthc Horse Grenadiers-sec black sabretache. For a winter campaign the men would of and white photograph for dctails ofl3cc. Note square course wear boots and not the 'alpargatcs'. The end at top of the cuffs pattcrn, this is not shown on the regiment was armcd with carbines, swords and troopers of the Ilorse Grenadiers. The poncho, lances. thought to be I)eruvian, is whitc with a black pattern down thc front and sides also in the black and white HJ: Officer, Grenadiers ofColombia This uniform is put together from a painting of photos, as is his other equipment used. General Sucre with his staff at Ayacucho, and whal may be an original coat in Bogota; the coat is dark G4: Trooper, Horse Gremldiers, 1816 This trooper is shown not in his usual uniform of a blue with red collar, cuffs and turnbacks with gold dark blue tail coat with red piping but as he may have grenade on the collar and turnbaeks, whire piping on looked when he made the crossing of the Andes and the top ofthc collar and edges of the rurnback, white possibly in othcr winter campaigns, such as Aya- piping on the pockets at the back. And white piping cucho. It is thought by Argentinian sourccs that a red from the top of the turnback to top of thc pockct. pclissc was issued to the Ilorse Grenadiers before the NOl.e must be made to the odd lacing on the cuffs of crossing. The pelissc was known to be worn by the the COal; this has not been seen on any other elite company of C.,r;lbineers of the Horse Grena- regiments in Somh America but it has appearcd on diers. The high boOis of the Grenadiers were some Mexican uniforms ohhis period. As I think Ihis replaced by San Martin on 18 March t815 for must be an officer coat I have given him gold Russian boots and blue saxon type trousers with epaulcttes as he has gold bunons, the soldiers leather reinforcements. They were sometimes armed probably have red for Gren.Hliers. We know they with lances as at the baffles of Junin and Ayacucho. were armed with the lance in the Ayacllchocampaign They also carried a carbine and heavy sword. This and would have had a carbine and sword. famous Regiment fought in all the major campaigns of the war; as S,tn Martin proudly said oflhem, 'some H4: Privatc, Grcn.'Jdicr.'i of the Pcrll\'i.'JlJ will equal them, none will surpass them'. Legion, 1824 Sec Fig. I, Phue 1-1, for the Peruvian Legion HI: Trooper, Hussars of rhc Peruvian Legion, references, again we turn to Miller: 'The uniform was blue with red facings, whitc edging and red lace. The 1824 The Hussar of thc Peruvian Legion is taken from a Grcnadier Company had high bearskin parade ops; contemporary painting in Argentina by an unknown the Light Company had caps similar to those worn by artist. The painting is of the battle of Ayaeueho, sec English rinemen, and the other coml>anies the and while plumes. This unit fought lhrollghom the Chilean (;al11paign and San Martin's expedition to Peru.

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