Battle of El Roble
Battle of El Roble | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Chilean War of Independence | |||||||
The Battle of El Roble by Manuel Tapia | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Chilean patriots |
Royalists | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
José Miguel Carrera Bernardo O'Higgins (WIA) | Luis Urrejola | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
800 men 5 guns | 1,200 men | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
30 killed | 80 killed |
The Battle of El Roble was fought on the Itata river, 17 October 1813, between the Chilean patriot general José Miguel Carrera and Spanish royalist forces under the command of
Background
General
Having discovered Carrera's plans, Juan Francisco Sanchez, the royalist commander in Chillán, decided to destroy the patriot army in a surprise attack. He ordered his officers to send a force across the Itata river at night, moving it into position on the south bank of the river, to the east of the patriot forces. To the north, the royalist placed a force of 400 men under the control of Juan Antonio Olate, with the task of preventing the patriots from crossing the river.
The battle
At dawn on the 17 October, the royalist forces launched their surprise attack on
"Lads! To me! Live with honour, or die with glory! The one who is brave is the one who follows me!"
The troops, encouraged by the example of O'Higgins, charged forward with him and drove the enemy into rapid retreat. Although injured in the leg, O'Higgins continued to lead the pursuit of the enemy on foot, until the royalists had crossed back over the river in total confusion.
The aftermath
The royalists left more than 80 dead in the battlefield, whilst the patriots had suffered thirty casualties. The greatest impact, however, was off the battle field. For the patriot army, this was their first victory against the royalist forces, which would be well remembered. For
References
- ^ The 'oak tree crossing'.