Juan Bautista Cabral
Encyclopedia
Juan Bautista Cabral was an Argentine
soldier
of the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers who died in the Battle of San Lorenzo
, while he was aiding then Colonel
José de San Martín
, whose horse had fallen to enemy fire. The action of Cabral in this first military confrontation of the Argentine War of Independence
gave him lasting fame and a prominent place among Argentine patriots.
, Corrientes
. He joined the second squadron of the newly formed Granaderos in 1812. According to Pastor Obligado
, Cabral's diligence and leadership led to corporal
's stripes in December of the same year, and to promotion to sergeant
the next year. On the other hand, Bartolomé Mitre
(in his Historia de San Martín y de la Emancipación Americana) states that he was a private
("soldado raso") on the date of the battle.
Regardless of his rank
, his action took place just after the battle started. The royalist forces (loyal to the Spanish Crown
) had sailed up the Paraná River
and landed on San Lorenzo
, Santa Fe
. Enemy fire overturned San Martín's horse, trapping the colonel beneath it, while the royalists drew close charging with bayonet
s. Cabral dismounted and assisted San Martín. The exact details have been embellished to the point that it is impossible to say how much risk he took. Some versions have Cabral placing himself between the bayonets and San Martín, which is doubtful. In any event, Cabral was critically wounded, and he died in the refectory
of the neighboring San Carlos Convent, which was used as a field hospital
. On his deathbed he said "I die happy, General; we have beaten the enemy."
According to Mitre, the rank of sergeant was given him posthumously due to meritorious actions in the battle. Argentine history has made him a national hero
, and there are many monuments erected in his honor. The March of San Lorenzo, by C. J. Benielli, is dedicated to him, and is taught in primary school. The famous Paraguayan composer and guitar virtuoso Augustin Barrios Mangoré
composed a piece dedicated to the memory of him called Sargento Cabral. The Argentine Army
's school for NCOs is named in his honour.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
of the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers who died in the Battle of San Lorenzo
Battle of San Lorenzo
The Battle of San Lorenzo was fought on February 3, 1813 in San Lorenzo, Argentina, then part of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. A Spanish Royalist army under the command of Antonio Zabala was defeated by the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers, under the command of José de San Martín...
, while he was aiding then Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
, whose horse had fallen to enemy fire. The action of Cabral in this first military confrontation of the Argentine War of Independence
Argentine War of Independence
The Argentine War of Independence was fought from 1810 to 1818 by Argentine patriotic forces under Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli and José de San Martín against royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown...
gave him lasting fame and a prominent place among Argentine patriots.
Biography
Little is known about the life of Cabral. He was possibly from the neighborhood that now bears his name in city of SaladasSaladas, Corrientes
Saladas is a town in Corrientes Province, Argentina. It is the head town of the Saladas Department.The official date of establishment was November 19, 1732....
, Corrientes
Corrientes Province
Corrientes is a province in northeast Argentina, in the Mesopotamia region. It is surrounded by : Paraguay, the province of Misiones, Brazil, Uruguay, and the provinces of Entre Rios, Santa Fe and Chaco.-History:...
. He joined the second squadron of the newly formed Granaderos in 1812. According to Pastor Obligado
Pastor Obligado
Pastor Obligado was an Argentine lawyer and lawmaker who served as Governor of the secessionist State of Buenos Aires from 1853 to 1858.-Early life and career:...
, Cabral's diligence and leadership led to corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
's stripes in December of the same year, and to promotion to sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
the next year. On the other hand, Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre Martínez was an Argentine statesman, military figure, and author. He was the President of Argentina from 1862 to 1868.-Life and times:...
(in his Historia de San Martín y de la Emancipación Americana) states that he was a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
("soldado raso") on the date of the battle.
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
, his action took place just after the battle started. The royalist forces (loyal to the Spanish Crown
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) had sailed up the Paraná River
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
and landed on San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo, Santa Fe
San Lorenzo is a city in the south of the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, located 23 km north of Rosario, on the western shore of the Paraná River, and forming one end of the Greater Rosario metropolitan area...
, Santa Fe
Santa Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
. Enemy fire overturned San Martín's horse, trapping the colonel beneath it, while the royalists drew close charging with bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
s. Cabral dismounted and assisted San Martín. The exact details have been embellished to the point that it is impossible to say how much risk he took. Some versions have Cabral placing himself between the bayonets and San Martín, which is doubtful. In any event, Cabral was critically wounded, and he died in the refectory
Refectory
A refectory is a dining room, especially in monasteries, boarding schools and academic institutions. One of the places the term is most often used today is in graduate seminaries...
of the neighboring San Carlos Convent, which was used as a field hospital
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
. On his deathbed he said "I die happy, General; we have beaten the enemy."
According to Mitre, the rank of sergeant was given him posthumously due to meritorious actions in the battle. Argentine history has made him a national hero
Folk hero
A folk hero is a type of hero, real, fictional, or mythological. The single salient characteristic which makes a character a folk hero is the imprinting of the name, personality and deeds of the character in the popular consciousness. This presence in the popular consciousness is evidenced by...
, and there are many monuments erected in his honor. The March of San Lorenzo, by C. J. Benielli, is dedicated to him, and is taught in primary school. The famous Paraguayan composer and guitar virtuoso Augustin Barrios Mangoré
Agustín Barrios
Agustín Pío Barrios , an eminent Paraguayan guitarist and composer, was born in the department of Misiones, Paraguay and died in San Salvador, El Salvador...
composed a piece dedicated to the memory of him called Sargento Cabral. The Argentine Army
Argentine Army
The Argentine Army is the land armed force branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic and the senior military service of the country.- History :...
's school for NCOs is named in his honour.