Battle of Las Tres Acequias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Las Tres Acequias |
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| Part of the Chilean War of Independence | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
.svg){kind=small} Carreristas |
O'Higginistas |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Luis Carrera |
Bernardo O'Higgins |
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| Strength | |||||||
| estimated 600 infantry, 200 cavalry, 800 mounted militia, no numbers for artillery |
400 infantry, 200 cavalry, 4 guns |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Few losses | 26 dead, 2 guns captured, 37 hurt | ||||||
The Battle of Las Tres Acequias was a fight during the Chilean War of Independence. It happened near San Bernardo on August 26, 1814. This battle was unusual because it was fought between two groups of Chilean patriots. One group followed José Miguel Carrera, and the other followed Bernardo O'Higgins. Carrera's side won, which weakened the patriots. This defeat later led to a bigger loss against the Spanish forces at the Battle of Rancagua.
Why the Battle Happened
On July 23, 1814, José Miguel Carrera took control of Chile again. He had been arguing with the leader, Francisco de la Lastra, for two months. Carrera did not agree with the Treaty of Lircay that Francisco's government had signed. This treaty would have undone many changes made by the patriots. For example, it would have removed the Chilean flag created by Carrera. It also asked for loyalty to King Fernando VII of Spain.
Carrera himself had been a prisoner of the Spanish. He escaped and joined other patriots in Mendoza, Argentina. The treaty did not include a way to exchange prisoners. This made Carrera even more upset.
Meanwhile, Bernardo O'Higgins was the army chief for Francisco's government. He had agreed to the treaty. O'Higgins believed Carrera was to blame for earlier military problems. He also thought Carrera was wrong for overthrowing O'Higgins's mentor, Juan Martínez de Rozas. So, O'Higgins marched his troops from Talca towards Santiago to remove Carrera from power. The night before the battle, O'Higgins camped near the Maipo River.
The Fight Begins
On the morning of August 26, O'Higgins crossed the Maipo River. He wanted to quickly reach Santiago and defeat Carrera. At first, he didn't fully understand how many soldiers Carrera had or where they were placed.
Around 1:00 PM, O'Higgins's first soldiers, led by Ramon Freire, met Carrera's troops. These forces were commanded by José Miguel Carrera's younger brother, Colonel Luis Carrera. Luis Carrera had placed his soldiers carefully. His foot soldiers were on the right, cannons in the middle, and horse soldiers on the left. Behind them were 800 horse-riding militia from Aconcagua. These militia were not well-trained or equipped. They only joined the fight at the very end.
O'Higgins decided to attack without checking the enemy's positions more closely. He was hopeful after an early small win by Freire. At 4:00 PM, O'Higgins launched a strong attack. He put his foot soldiers in the middle, supported by four cannons. His horse soldiers were on both sides.
After an hour of fighting, O'Higgins's forces had lost many men. They had not done much damage to Carrera's side. O'Higgins's troops began to retreat in a messy way. Luis Carrera saw this chance. He ordered his cavalry, led by Diego Jose Benavente, to surround O'Higgins's right side. This made O'Higgins's line even more disorganized. Then, the Aconcagua horse militia charged the middle of O'Higgins's line. They broke through, capturing many soldiers and four senior officers.
O'Higgins's men ran away, mostly heading south. They tried to cross the Maipo River to find safety. O'Higgins's own horse was hurt, so he rode away on a borrowed horse. He led about 100 men to safety. Meanwhile, José Miguel Carrera's main group of soldiers was in Santiago. They marched quickly but did not arrive in time for the main battle. When Carrera's cavalry arrived, they joined the chase. But as the sun set around 6:30 PM, Carrera's men stopped pursuing.
What Happened Next
Luis Carrera did not chase his enemies further that night. He stayed in his position. He sent some forces to distract O'Higgins's men, using the cannons they had captured. Carrera's main army then moved two kilometers north to a place called Ochagavia.
The next day, O'Higgins gathered his men south of the Maipo River. He planned to join his other units and attack again. But then, news arrived from Talcahuano. A Spanish army, led by General Mariano Osorio, was coming quickly. This news made both O'Higgins and Carrera realize they needed to work together. They had to defend their country from the Spanish.
O'Higgins sent a message to José Miguel Carrera. He explained the situation and his plan to unite. After more talks, the two leaders settled their differences. They signed an agreement in Santiago on September 4. The next day, O'Higgins left the capital. He took command of his old forces, which became the 1st division. All patriot forces were now under the overall command of José Miguel Carrera. These united forces would then face the Spanish in the terrible Battle of Rancagua.
See also
In Spanish: Combate de Las Tres Acequias para niños
