Battle of Carabobo

From Freepedia

Battle of Carabobo

Image:BatallaCarabobo02.JPG
Shot of La Batalla de Carabobo, as represented by Martín Tovar y Tovar

Conflict: Venezuelan War of Independence
Bolivar's War

Date: June 24, 1821

Place: Carabobo, Venezuela

Outcome: Decisive Republican victory

Combatants

Venezuelan patriots

Spanish royalists

Commanders

Simón Bolívar

Miguel de La Torre

Strength

4,000 infantry
2,500 cavalry

2,566 infantry
1,651 cavalry

Casualties

approximately 200 dead

2,908 dead or wounded

Campaign of Carabobo (1821)
Carabobo

The Battle of Carabobo was fought between South American independence fighters, led by Simón Bolívar, and royalist forces seeking to preserve Spanish's American empire. Bolívar's decisive victory led to the independence of Venezuela.

Over 4,000 royalist occupied the road leading from Valencia to Puerto Cabello under the command of Miguel de La Torre. As his force of 6,500 approached the royalist position, Bolívar divided his force and sent half on a flanking maneuver through rough terrain and dense foliage. La Torre likewise split his force and sent half to deal with this flank attack. Hitting the patriots with artillery fire, the attack was held back for a while. The Irish, Welsh and English and Venezuelans of the "British Legion" fought hard and sustained about 50% of Bolivar's casualties. The patriots eventually broke through the royalist lines on the flank and were marching towards the rear of La Torre's force. All royalist fronts gave way and fled, leaving behind several artillery pieces. The rout was so bad that only 400 of the original royalist force reached safety at Puerto Cabello. With the main royalist force in Venezuela crushed, independence was ensured.

The final battle for Venezuela's independence was fought in Lake Maracaibo, known as the Battle of Lake Maracaibo.

June 24 is still celebrated as Battle of Carabobo Day in Venezuela.