Battle of La Chincúa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of La Chincúa
Part of the Mexican War of Independence
A portrait of Mariano Matamoros who commanded the Mexican rebel forces in the battle.
Date 19 April - 28 May 1813 Location Tonalá, Chiapas, Mexico Result Mexican rebel victory
Belligerents
Mexican Rebels	Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
Mariano Matamoros y Guridi	Miguel Dambrini
Strength
1,000 soldiers

The Battle of La Chincúa was an important fight during the Mexican War of Independence. It happened from April 19 to May 28, 1813, at a ranch near Tonalá, in Chiapas, Mexico. This battle was between the Royalist forces, who were loyal to the Spanish king, and the Mexican rebels, who wanted Mexico to be free from Spain. The Mexican rebels, led by Mariano Matamoros y Guridi, won this battle.

Why the Battle Happened

Mariano Matamoros y Guridi was a leader of the Mexican rebels. He had fewer than 1,000 soldiers. They were preparing to face the Royalist forces. The Royalist army was led by General Miguel Dambrini.

General Dambrini knew that the rebels were planning an attack. Because of this, he started to move his troops back towards Guatemala. The two armies finally met about 6 kilometers (about 3.7 miles) from Tonalá, Chiapas. The first small fights, called skirmishes, happened there. The rebel forces did well in these early clashes.

The Battle of La Chincúa

After the first skirmishes, the Royalist forces continued to retreat. The rebel cavalry (soldiers on horseback) chased after them. The Royalist soldiers were forced to find shelter at a ranch near Tonalá.

When Matamoros and his main army arrived, General Dambrini had no choice but to give up. He surrendered all his weapons, ammunition, and supplies to the rebels. The Spanish soldiers who were captured were taken prisoner.

During the battle, Matamoros himself was hurt in the leg. He had to stay at the ranch for a while to recover. Soon after this important victory, he was given a higher rank. He was promoted to Teniente General, which is like a Lieutenant General.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de La Chincúa para niños