Battle of Pichincha
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| Battle of Pichincha | |
|---|---|
| Image:Pichincha desde Itchimbia.jpg Quito and the Pichincha volcano | |
| Conflict: Wars of Independence of Latin America | |
| Date: 24 May, 1822 | |
| Place: Pichincha volcano | |
| Outcome: Patriot Forces Victory | |
| Combatants | |
| Combined Patriot Forces | Spain |
| Commanders | |
| Antonio José de Sucre | Melchor Aymerich |
| Strength | |
| 2,971 men | 1,894 men |
| Casualties | |
| 200 killed 140 wounded | 400 killed 190 wounded 1,260 prisoners |
| Image:W21-1a.png | This article is actively undergoing construction. However, you are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well. If it appears that active construction has stopped, please remove this message. The person who added this notice will be listed in its edit history should you wish to contact him or her. |
The Battle of Pichincha took place on 24 May, 1822, on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, 3,500 meters above sea-level, right next to the city of Quito, in modern Ecuador.
The encounter, fought in the context of the South American Wars of Independence, pitted a Patriot army under General Antonio José de Sucre against a Royalist army commanded by Field Marshall Melchor Aymerich. The defeat of the Royalist forces loyal to Spain brought about the liberation of Quito, and secured the independence of the provinces belonging to the Real Audiencia de Quito, also referred to as Presidencia de Quito, the Spanish colonial administrative jurisdiction from which the Republic of Ecuador would eventually emerge.
Contents |
Background
The military campaign for the independence of the Presidencia de Quito could be said to have begun on October 9, 1820, when the port-city of Guayaquil proclaimed its independence from Spanish rule after a quick and almost bloodless revolt against the local colonial garrison. The leaders of the movement, a combination of Venezuelan and Peruvian pro-independence officers from the colonial Army, along with local intellectuals and patriots, set up a governing council and raised a military force with the purpose of defending the city and carrying the independence movement to the other provinces in the country.
By that time, the tide of the wars of independence in South America had turned decisively against Spain: Simón Bolívar's victory at the Battle of Boyacá (August 7, 1819) had sealed the independence of the former Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada, while to the south, José de San Martín, after landing with his army on the Peruvian coast on September, 1820, was preparing the campaign for the independence of the Viceroyalty of Perú.
First Campaigns in the Real Audiencia de Quito (1820-1821)
- Main article: Ecuadorian War of Independence
There were three military attempts to liberate the territory of the Real Audiencia. The first campaign was carried out by the new independent government of Guayaquil, which raised an army with local recruits and in November of 1820, sent it towards the central highlands, with the purpose of encouraging other cities to join the independentist cause. After some initial successes, which included the declaration of independence of Cuenca, on November 3, 1820, the Patriots suffered a series of defeats, which destroyed the Army and brought the campaign to an end.
By February, 1821, Guayaquil began to receive reinforcements, weapons and supplies, sent by Simón Bolívar, President of the fledling Republic of Colombia. In May of that year, Brigadier General Antonio José de Sucre, Commander in Chief of the Southern Division of the Colombian Army and Bolívar most trusted military subordinate, came to Guayaquil. He was to take overall command of the new Patriot army, and begin operations aimed at the liberation of Quito and the entire territory of the Real Audiencia de Quito. Bolívar's ultimate political goal was the incorporation of all the provinces of the Real Audiencia into Colombia, including Guayaquil, still undecided whether to join Perú or Colombia, and with a strong current of opinion towards setting up its own Republic. Time was of the essence, as it was vital to force the issue before General José de San Martín, still fighting in Perú, could come up to bring forward any Peruvian claims to the important port-city. Sucre's advance up the Andes began in July, 1821. As had happened in the first campaign, after some initial successes, Sucre was defeated by the Spanish colonial army on September 12, 1821 (Second Battle of Huachi). This second campaign came to an end with the signing of an Armistice between the Patriots and the Spanish on November 19, 1821.
The Final Campaign of Quito (1822)
UNFINISHED...
By May 2, 1822, Sucre's main force had reached the city of Latacunga, 90 km south of Quito. There he proceeded to refit his troops and fill up the ranks with new volunteers from the nearby towns, waiting for the arrival of reinforcements, mainly the Alto MagdalenaBatallion (Colombian), and new intelligence on the whereabouts of the Royalist army. Aymerich had meanwhile set up strongpoints and artillery positions on the main mountain passes leading to the Quito basin. Sucre, bent on avoiding a frontal clash on unfavorable terrain, decided to advance along the flanks of the Royalist positions, marching along the slopes of the Cotopaxi volcano in order to reach the Chillos valley, on the rear of the Royalist blocking positions. By May 14, the Royalist Army, sensing Sucre's intentions, began to fall back, reaching Quito on the 16th. Two days later, and after a most difficult march, Sucre's main body occupied Sangolquí.
Climbing up the Pichincha
On the night of 23-24 May, 1822, the Patriot Army, 2,971 men-strong, began to climb up the slopes of the Pichincha. On the vanguard were the 200 Colombians of the Alto Magdalena, followed by Sucre´s main body. Bringing up the rear were the Englishmen of the Albión, protecting the ammunitions train. In spite of the strenous efforts made by the troops, the advance up the slopes of the volcano was slower than anticipated, as the light rain that fell during the night turned the trails leading up the mountain into quagmires. By dawn, to Sucre's dismay, the army had not been able to make much progress, finding itself literally halfway along the mountain, 3,500 meters above sea-level, and in full view of the Royalist sentries down in Quito. At 8 o'clock, anxious about the slow progress of the Albión, and with his troops exhausted and struck with altitude sickness, Sucre ordered a stop, ordering his commanders to hide their battalions as best they could. He sent part of the Cazadores del Paya Battalion (Peruvians) forward in a reconnaissance role, to be followed by the Trujillo, another Peruvian Battalion. One and a half-hours later, much to their surprise, the men of the Paya were suddenly struck by a well-aimed musket volley. The battle had started.
Battle, 3,500 meters above sea-level
Unknown to Sucre, when dawn came, the sentries posted around Quito had indeed got sight of the Patriot troops marching up the volcano. Aymerich, aware now of the young General's intention to flank him by going up the Pichincha, ordered his army -1,894 men- to ascend the mountain at once, intent on facing Sucre then and there.
Having made contact in the most unlikely of places, both commanders had no choice but to throw their troops piecemeal into the battle. There was little room to maneouvre on the steep slopes of the Pichincha, amid deep gullies and dense undergrowth. The men from the Paya, recovering from the initial shock, took positions under withering fire, waiting for the Trujillo to come up. A startled Sucre, hoping only that the Spaniards would be even more exhausted than his own troops, began by sending up the Yaguachi Battalion (Ecuadorians). The Colombians of the Alto Magdalena tried to make a flanking move, but to no avail, as the the broken terrain made it impossible. Soon, the Paya, Trujillo and Yaguachi, suffering heavy losses and lacking enough ammunition, began to fall back.
Everything now semed to depend on the Albión, bringing up the much needed reserve ammunition, but whose exact whereabouts were unknown. Would the English arrive on time? As time went by, the Royalists seemed to gain the upper hand. The Trujillo was forced to fall back, while the Piura Battalion (Peruvians), fleed before making contact with the enemy. In desperation, the part of the Paya held in reserve was ordered to make a bayonet charge. Both sides suffered heavy losses but the situation was somehow stabilized for the Patriots.
Nevertheless, Melchor Aymerich had an ace up his sleeve, so to speak. During the march up the Pichincha, he had detached his crack Aragón Batallion from his main force, ordering it to make it for the top of the volcano, so as to fall upon the rear of the Patriots and break their lines with an attack on their rear when the time came. The Aragón -a veteran Spaniard unit that had seen plenty of action both during the Peninsular War and in South America- was now on top of the Patriots. As luck would have it, just as it was about to charge down onto the faltering Patriot line, it was stopped dead on its tracks by the Albión, which made a surprise entry into the battle. As it was, the Albión had actually advanced to a position higher than the Spaniards. Soon, the Magdalena joined in the fight, and the Aragón, after suffering heavy losses, was put out of action. The Colombians from the Magdalena then went up to the line to replace the Paya, and charged upon the Royalist line, which was finally broken.
At midday, Aymerich ordered the retreat. The Royalist army, now disorganized and exhausted, retreated down the Pichincha, towards Quito. Although some units descended to Quito in disarray, harassed by the Magdalena charging after them, others retreated in orderly fashion. The Colombians reached the outer limits of Quito, but did not go any further, acting on orders from their commanding officer who prudently decided against letting his soldiers enter the city. Thus, the Battle of Pichincha had ended. From the moment of first contact to the order of retreat, it had lasted no more than three hours.
Sucre's After-Action Report
Image:AJSucre.jpg The day after the battle, May 25, Sucre wrote down his report of the action: "The events at Pichincha have brought about the occupation of this city [Quito] as well as its forts on the afternoon of the 25, the possession and peace of the entire Department, and the taking of 1,100 prisoners, 160 officers, 14 artillery pieces, 1,700 rifles...Four hundred enemy soldiers and two hundred of our own lie dead on the field of battle; we have also counted 190 Spanish wounded, and 140 of our own...[A]mong the later are Captains Cabal, Castro, and Alzuro; Lieutenants Calderón and Ramírez, and Second Lieutenants Borrero and Arango...I make a special mention of Lieutenant Calderón's conduct, who having suffered four wounds in succession, refused to leave the field. He will probably die, but I am sure the Government of the Republic will compensate his family for the services rendered by this heroic officer."
Thus was born the legend of Cuencan-born Abdón Calderón Garaycoa, who along with Sucre came to symbolize the memory of Pichincha for the new Ecuadorian nation.
Aftermath
Order of Battle
PATRIOT ARMY
- Supreme Commander:
- Brigadier General Antonio José de Sucre, Colombian Army
- Commander in Chief, 'División del Sur de la República' (Southern Division of the Republic)
- División de Colombia (Colombian Division)
- Commander in Chief: General José Mires
- Chief-of-Staff: Col Antonio Morales
- Cavalry Commander: Col Diego Ibarra
- Albión Battalion (British, Irish): Lt Col Mackintosh (British)
- Cazadores del Paya Battalion (Peruvian): Lt Col Leal
- Alto Magdalena Battalion (Colombian): Col Córdova
- Yaguachi Battalion (Ecuadorian): Col Ortega
- Dragones del Sur (Peruvian, Argentinian): Lt Col Rasch (German)
- División del Perú (Peruvian Division): Colonel Andrés de Santa Cruz
- Trujillo Battalion: Col Olazábal
- Piura Battalion: Col Villa
- Granaderos a Caballo de los Andes, 1st Squadron: Col Lavalle
- Cazadores Montados, 1er Escuadrón: Lt Col Adrenales
- Compañía de Artillería: Capt Klinger (German)
- (The Peruvian Division was composed of Peruvian, Argentinian, Chilean, and European personnel)
ROYALIST ARMY
- Supreme Commander:
- Field-Marshall Melchor Aymerich, Spanish Army
- Capitán General, Kingdom of Santa Fé
- Divisional Commander: Colonel Nicolás López
- Chief-of-Staff: Col Manuel Martínez
- Cavalry Commander: Colonel Carlos Tolrá
- 1st Aragón Battalion (Spanish): Col Valdez
- Tiradores del Cádiz Battalion: Col de Albal
- Cazadores Ligeros de Constitución: Col Toscano
- Dragones de la Reina Isabel, 1st Squadron: Col Moles
- Dragones de Granada, 1st Squadron: Col Vizcarra
- Dragones de la Guardia Presidencial, 1st Squadron: Lt Col Mercadillo
- Húsares de Fernando Séptimo, 1st Squadron: Col Allimeda
- Compañía de Artillería: Col Ovalle
References
- Salvat Editores (Eds.), Historia del Ecuador, Vol. 5. Salvat Editores, Quito, 1980. ISBN 84-345-4065-7.
- Enrique Ayala Mora (Ed.), Nueva Historia del Ecuador, Vol. 6. Corporación Editora Nacional, Quito, 1983/1989. ISBN 9978-84-008-7.
