Battle of Junín
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Junín was a military engagement of the Peruvian War of Independence, fought in the highlands of the Junín Region
on August 6, 1824. The preceding February the royalists had regained control of Lima, and having regrouped in Trujillo
, Simón Bolívar
in June led his rebel forces south to confront the Spanish under Field Marshal
José de Canterac
. The two armies met on the plains of Junín, northwest of the Jauja Valley.
Bolivar (with 8,000 soldiers), in a hurry to try to cut the royalist retreat (8,000 soldiers) towards Cuzco, sent out his cavalry (1,000) to delay the movement of Spanish troops out of the Junin Plain. The Spaniards sent out their cavalry (1,300) to disrupt the incoming patriot cavalry to give Canterac time to withdraw his infantry from the plain.
The plain is a marshland close to the Junin lake and the patriot troops were trying to form for battle when they were struck by the charge of the Spanish cavalry and sent back in confusion.
However, the Spanish charge missed one squadron of the Columbian Grenadiers under Felipe Braun
, which managed to form and charge the Spaniard cavalry's rear. The surprise caused the Spanish cavalry to drop their weapons, turn tail and run for the protection of their infantry, which had already vacated the plain. The battle lasted about one hour, and it involved hand-to-hand cavalry clashes with lance
and saber.
As solely a cavalry battle, no firearms were used. About 250 royalist and 150 independentists were killed.
Although in actuality this battle would qualify as little more than a skirmish, this military engagement greatly enhanced the morale of the victorious independentists, with a first win in Perú. The retreat of Canterac's troops after the defeat in Junin was relentless and defections from the Peruvian royalist troops to the patriots increased considerably. Eventually the Viceroy of Peru, José de la Serna e Hinojosa
, had to step in as commander of the Spanish forces to try to restore morale. Felipe Braun
became the "hero of Junín".
Junín Region
Junín is a region in the central highlands and westernmost Amazonia of Peru. Its capital is Huancayo.-Geography:The region has a very heterogeneous topography. The western cordillera located near the border with the Lima Region, has snowy and ice covered peaks. On the east, there are high glacier...
on August 6, 1824. The preceding February the royalists had regained control of Lima, and having regrouped in Trujillo
Trujillo, Peru
Trujillo, in northwestern Peru, is the capital of the La Libertad Region, and the third largest city in Peru. The urban area has 811,979 inhabitants and is an economic hub in northern Peru...
, Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
in June led his rebel forces south to confront the Spanish under Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
José de Canterac
José de Canterac
José de Canterac was a Spanish general of French origin who fought in the Spanish American wars of independence. As Field Marshal, he took command of the Spanish Army in South America in 1822. His defeats at the Battle of Junín and the Battle of Ayacucho led to his capitulation to the Patriot forces...
. The two armies met on the plains of Junín, northwest of the Jauja Valley.
Bolivar (with 8,000 soldiers), in a hurry to try to cut the royalist retreat (8,000 soldiers) towards Cuzco, sent out his cavalry (1,000) to delay the movement of Spanish troops out of the Junin Plain. The Spaniards sent out their cavalry (1,300) to disrupt the incoming patriot cavalry to give Canterac time to withdraw his infantry from the plain.
The plain is a marshland close to the Junin lake and the patriot troops were trying to form for battle when they were struck by the charge of the Spanish cavalry and sent back in confusion.
However, the Spanish charge missed one squadron of the Columbian Grenadiers under Felipe Braun
Otto Philipp Braun
Otto Philipp Braun . Born 13 December 1798 in Kassel, Principality of Hessen-Kassel . Died on 24 July 1869 in Kassel, a province of the kingdom of Prussia. Braun was one of the most successful foreign volunteers participating in the independence war of South America...
, which managed to form and charge the Spaniard cavalry's rear. The surprise caused the Spanish cavalry to drop their weapons, turn tail and run for the protection of their infantry, which had already vacated the plain. The battle lasted about one hour, and it involved hand-to-hand cavalry clashes with lance
Lance
A Lance is a pole weapon or spear designed to be used by a mounted warrior. The lance is longer, stout and heavier than an infantry spear, and unsuited for throwing, or for rapid thrusting. Lances did not have tips designed to intentionally break off or bend, unlike many throwing weapons of the...
and saber.
As solely a cavalry battle, no firearms were used. About 250 royalist and 150 independentists were killed.
Although in actuality this battle would qualify as little more than a skirmish, this military engagement greatly enhanced the morale of the victorious independentists, with a first win in Perú. The retreat of Canterac's troops after the defeat in Junin was relentless and defections from the Peruvian royalist troops to the patriots increased considerably. Eventually the Viceroy of Peru, José de la Serna e Hinojosa
José de la Serna e Hinojosa
José de la Serna e Hinojosa, 1st Count of los Andes was a Spanish general and colonial official. He was the last Spanish viceroy of Peru to exercise effective power .-Background:...
, had to step in as commander of the Spanish forces to try to restore morale. Felipe Braun
Otto Philipp Braun
Otto Philipp Braun . Born 13 December 1798 in Kassel, Principality of Hessen-Kassel . Died on 24 July 1869 in Kassel, a province of the kingdom of Prussia. Braun was one of the most successful foreign volunteers participating in the independence war of South America...
became the "hero of Junín".