The Road to Maipo
Encyclopedia
The Road to Maipo describes the events in the process of Chilean Independence
between the Second Battle of Cancha Rayada and the Battle of Maipú
in 1818.
March 20 am
After the Battle of Cancha Rayada, Colonel Las Heras marched north reaching Camarico with the Army's 1st Division which saved from the action. The rest of the Army were disbanded.
March 20 pm
The Royalists pursued the enemy up to the Lircay river
. The bulk of the disbanded Patriots were gathering in the north at San Fernando as Las Heras arrived at Quecherebuas by 5pm.
March 21
Las Heras resumed his march north to Chimborango. Brigadier General Mariano Osorio
returned to Talca with his Army sending Brigadier Ordoñez in pursuit up to Quechereguas. General José de San Martín
inspected the troops gathered at San Fernando.
March 22
The First Division arrives at San Fernando where it is inspected by San Martín. The 8th Battalion is reorganizing at Pelequen
as the artillery marched to Santiago. Ordoñez forces stop at Quechereguas where they wait to the rest of the Army.
March 23
The First Division marches to Pelequen while Colonel Bueras with two cavalry squadrons covers the rearguard.
March 24
Osorio leaves Talca with his army reaching Camarico. Las Heras continues to march north. Meanwhile the Fatherland Infantry Battalion marches from Valparaíso
to Santiago.
March 25
Las Heras reaches Graneros while Bueras with two cavalry squadrons protects his back. The royalists advance only 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) but their cavalry reaches Qechereguas. General Gonzalez Balcarce assumes command of the Liberation Army's column.
March 26
The Libertation Army's column bivouacs at Hospital Ranch. The reinforcements from Valparaíso arrive at Santiago.
The whole Royalist Army resume its march reaching the Lontue river.
March 27
San Martin occupies the Maipo plain with the Fatherland Infantry Battalion. General Balcarce reaches the Maipo river, while Osorio moves north up to Chimborango.
March 28
The Liberation Army's column crosses the Maipo river
gathering with San Martín's forces at the Maipo plain. Bueras continues to patrol the Pelequen area. Osorio arrives at San Fernando with his Army where he gets news that the enemy is reorganized.
March 29
Osorio continued his march north but at a slower pace.
The United Army's command was not aware of the enemy's position, but suspecting they were retreating south.
March 30
A clash of cavalry took place between the rearguard commanded by Colonel Bueras and the Royalists' advanced parties. Bueras reported San Martín the enemy's position.
Osorio camped with his army at Rancagua
.
March 31
Osorio continued his march cautiously.
April 1
Osorio continued his march without any resistance and camped at the Mendoza Ranch. He was informed that the enemy was gathered south of Santiago.
April 2
Osorio deployed his strategy marching north to Lonquén
, where he crossed the Maipo river to reach the Mirador del Tagle.
April 3
The Royalist Army marched to La Calera
where the scout parties of both armies exchanged fire.
Osorio received a report of the enemy's position and decided to march north to secure the road to Valparaíso
as a retreat route.
San Martín sent cavalry parties commanded by General Balcarce to slow down the enemy's advance.
April 4
Osorio put in action his plan advancing under the fire of the enemy's patrols. His army arrived to the Lo Espejo Ranch where a war council was celebrated. A decision to combat San Martín forces there was arrived and instructions were dispatched to the artillery train to join the army as it have been advancing at a lower pace.
The Battle of Maipú
was about to begin.
Chilean Independence
Chilean War of Independence was an armed conflict between pro-Independence criollos who sought political and economic independence from Spain and royalist criollos, who supported the continued allegiance to and permanence within the Spanish Empire of the Kingdom of Chile...
between the Second Battle of Cancha Rayada and the Battle of Maipú
Battle of Maipú
The Battle of Maipú was a battle fought near Santiago, Chile on April 5, 1818 between South American rebels and Spanish royalists, during the Chilean War of Independence...
in 1818.
March 20 am
After the Battle of Cancha Rayada, Colonel Las Heras marched north reaching Camarico with the Army's 1st Division which saved from the action. The rest of the Army were disbanded.
March 20 pm
The Royalists pursued the enemy up to the Lircay river
Lircay River
-References:*...
. The bulk of the disbanded Patriots were gathering in the north at San Fernando as Las Heras arrived at Quecherebuas by 5pm.
March 21
Las Heras resumed his march north to Chimborango. Brigadier General Mariano Osorio
Mariano Osorio
Mariano de Osorio was a Spanish general and Governor of Chile, from 1814 to 1815.-Early career:Osorio was born in Seville, Spain. He joined the Spanish army and as many of his contemporaries, his military career began during the Spanish Peninsular War in 1808 as an artillery general, as well as...
returned to Talca with his Army sending Brigadier Ordoñez in pursuit up to Quechereguas. General 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...
inspected the troops gathered at San Fernando.
March 22
The First Division arrives at San Fernando where it is inspected by San Martín. The 8th Battalion is reorganizing at Pelequen
Pelequén
Pelequén is a Chilean town located in the district of Malloa, O'Higgins Region. Pelequén is 41 km southwest of the city of Rancagua. The town's economy is based mainly on wine production and handicrafting. Pelequén is famous for the religious festivity in honor of Saint Rose of Lima, whose...
as the artillery marched to Santiago. Ordoñez forces stop at Quechereguas where they wait to the rest of the Army.
March 23
The First Division marches to Pelequen while Colonel Bueras with two cavalry squadrons covers the rearguard.
March 24
Osorio leaves Talca with his army reaching Camarico. Las Heras continues to march north. Meanwhile the Fatherland Infantry Battalion marches from Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
to Santiago.
March 25
Las Heras reaches Graneros while Bueras with two cavalry squadrons protects his back. The royalists advance only 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) but their cavalry reaches Qechereguas. General Gonzalez Balcarce assumes command of the Liberation Army's column.
March 26
The Libertation Army's column bivouacs at Hospital Ranch. The reinforcements from Valparaíso arrive at Santiago.
The whole Royalist Army resume its march reaching the Lontue river.
March 27
San Martin occupies the Maipo plain with the Fatherland Infantry Battalion. General Balcarce reaches the Maipo river, while Osorio moves north up to Chimborango.
March 28
The Liberation Army's column crosses the Maipo river
Maipo River
Maipo River is the main river flowing through Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile. Its headwaters are on the west slope of Maipo volcano, in the Andes. Its most famous tributary is Mapocho River. The Maipo River is by far the major source of irrigation and potable water for the region.-Course:In...
gathering with San Martín's forces at the Maipo plain. Bueras continues to patrol the Pelequen area. Osorio arrives at San Fernando with his Army where he gets news that the enemy is reorganized.
March 29
Osorio continued his march north but at a slower pace.
The United Army's command was not aware of the enemy's position, but suspecting they were retreating south.
March 30
A clash of cavalry took place between the rearguard commanded by Colonel Bueras and the Royalists' advanced parties. Bueras reported San Martín the enemy's position.
Osorio camped with his army at Rancagua
Rancagua
Rancagua is a city and commune in central Chile, part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located south of the national capital of Santiago. It had a 2002 population of 214,344...
.
March 31
Osorio continued his march cautiously.
April 1
Osorio continued his march without any resistance and camped at the Mendoza Ranch. He was informed that the enemy was gathered south of Santiago.
April 2
Osorio deployed his strategy marching north to Lonquén
Lonquén
Lonquén is a town in Chile, located between the communities of Talagante and Isla de Maipo, within the Metropolitan Region of Santiago.-History:...
, where he crossed the Maipo river to reach the Mirador del Tagle.
April 3
The Royalist Army marched to La Calera
La Calera, Chile
La Calera is a city and commune in the Quillota Province of central Chile's fifth region of Valparaíso.-Geography:La Calera is located from Valparaíso, and from Santiago. Its area is...
where the scout parties of both armies exchanged fire.
Osorio received a report of the enemy's position and decided to march north to secure the road to Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
as a retreat route.
San Martín sent cavalry parties commanded by General Balcarce to slow down the enemy's advance.
April 4
Osorio put in action his plan advancing under the fire of the enemy's patrols. His army arrived to the Lo Espejo Ranch where a war council was celebrated. A decision to combat San Martín forces there was arrived and instructions were dispatched to the artillery train to join the army as it have been advancing at a lower pace.
The Battle of Maipú
Battle of Maipú
The Battle of Maipú was a battle fought near Santiago, Chile on April 5, 1818 between South American rebels and Spanish royalists, during the Chilean War of Independence...
was about to begin.