Battle of Pichincha facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Pichincha
Part of Ecuadorian War of Independence
Representative painting of the battle of Pichincha
Date 24 May 1822 Location Slopes of Pichincha near the current-day "La Cima de La Libertad" in La Libertad, Quito Result Rebel victory
Belligerents
Gran Colombia British Legions Free Province of Guayaquil República del Perú Provincias Unidas del Río de la Plata	Spain Hispanic American royalists
Commanders and leaders
Antonio José de Sucre	Melchor Aymerich
Strength
2,971 men	1,894 men
Casualties and losses
200 killed 140 wounded	400 killed 190 wounded 1,260 prisoners

The Battle of Pichincha happened on May 24, 1822. It took place on the side of the Pichincha volcano. This spot is very high up, about 3,500 meters (11,500 feet) above sea level. It's right next to the city of Quito in what is now Ecuador.

This battle was a key part of the Spanish American wars of independence. It was fought between a Patriot army, led by General Antonio José de Sucre, and a Royalist army. The Royalists were loyal to Spain and led by Field Marshal Melchor Aymerich. The Patriots won, which meant Quito was freed from Spanish rule. This victory also secured independence for the areas known as the Real Audiencia de Quito. This was a Spanish colonial region that later became the Republic of Ecuador.

Why the Battle of Pichincha Happened

The fight for independence in the Presidencia de Quito (the Spanish name for the region) began on October 9, 1820. On that day, the port city of Guayaquil declared its freedom from Spain. This happened after a quick and mostly peaceful uprising. Leaders in Guayaquil, including officers and local thinkers, formed a government. They also created an army to protect the city and spread the idea of independence.

By this time, the independence wars in South America were going well for the Patriots. Simón Bolívar had won a big victory at the Battle of Boyacá in 1819. This secured independence for the area that became Gran Colombia. To the south, José de San Martín had landed in Peru in 1820. He was getting ready to fight for Peru's independence.

Early Fights for Freedom (1820-1821)

There were three main attempts to free the Real Audiencia de Quito.

The first attempt was by the new government of Guayaquil. They gathered an army of about 1,800 men. In November 1820, they marched towards the central highlands. Their goal was to encourage other cities to join the independence movement. They had some early successes, like Cuenca declaring independence on November 3, 1820. However, the Patriots lost a tough battle at Battle of Huachi on November 22, 1820. This forced them to go back to the coast.

By February 1821, Guayaquil started getting help. Simón Bolívar, the President of the new Republic of Colombia, sent soldiers, weapons, and supplies. In May, Brigadier General Antonio José de Sucre arrived in Guayaquil. He was a trusted leader under Bolívar. Sucre took charge of the Patriot army. His mission was to free Quito and the entire Real Audiencia de Quito.

Bolívar wanted all these areas to join Colombia. Guayaquil, however, was still deciding if it should join Peru, Colombia, or become its own country. It was important to act fast. General José de San Martín was still fighting in Peru. Bolívar wanted to make sure Guayaquil joined Colombia before San Martín could claim it for Peru.

Sucre's army began moving up the Andes in July 1821. Like the first campaign, they had some early wins. But Sucre was defeated by the Royalist army on September 12, 1821. This happened in the same place as the previous battle, leading to the Second Battle of Huachi. This second campaign ended with a peace agreement between the Patriots and the Spanish on November 19, 1821.

The Last Push for Quito (1822)

Planning the Final Attack

Back in Guayaquil, General Sucre decided on a new plan. He realized that trying to march directly to Quito from Guaranda was too hard. Instead, he planned to go south first, to the highlands and Cuenca. Then, he would turn north and advance towards Quito. This plan had several benefits. Taking Cuenca would cut off communication between Quito and Lima (where the Spanish were). It also allowed Sucre to wait for more soldiers from Peru, which San Martín had promised.

Moving slowly from the lowlands up to the highlands would also help his troops get used to the high altitude. Most importantly, this plan would help them avoid another direct fight with the Royalist forces coming from Quito.

The New Campaign Begins in 1822

In January 1822, Sucre started his new campaign. His army had about 1,700 men. These included experienced soldiers and new recruits. There were men from Guayaquil, volunteers from the highlands, Colombians sent by Bolívar, and even some Spanish officers who had switched sides. There was also a full battalion of British volunteers called the Albión.

On January 18, 1822, the Patriot army marched to Machala. On February 9, after crossing the Andes, Sucre reached Saraguro. There, he was joined by 1,500 men from Peru. This group included cavalry and artillery, led by Colonel Andrés de Santa Cruz. This was the help San Martín had promised. With about 3,000 men, Sucre's forces were much larger than the 900 Royalist cavalry covering Cuenca. The Royalists pulled back north. Sucre took Cuenca on February 21, 1822, without a fight.

During March and April, the Royalists kept moving north. They tried to avoid battle with the Patriot cavalry. However, on April 21, 1822, a fierce cavalry fight happened at Tapi, near Riobamba. The Royalists left the field, and Sucre's main army took Riobamba. They stayed there until April 28 before moving north again.

Getting Close to Quito

By May 2, 1822, Sucre's main army reached Latacunga. This city is about 90 km (56 miles) south of Quito. Sucre rested his troops and added new volunteers. He also waited for more soldiers, mainly the Colombian Alto Magdalena Battalion. He also needed more information about the Royalist army. Aymerich, the Royalist commander, had set up strong defenses and artillery in the mountain passes leading to Quito.

Sucre wanted to avoid a direct attack on this difficult ground. He decided to march around the Royalist positions. He moved along the slopes of the Cotopaxi volcano to reach the Chillos valley. This would put him behind the Royalist defenses. By May 14, the Royalist Army realized Sucre's plan and started to retreat. They reached Quito on May 16. Two days later, after a very tough march, Sucre arrived at Sangolquí with most of his soldiers. He declared it part of independent Colombia.

Climbing Pichincha Mountain

On the night of May 23-24, 1822, the Patriot Army began to climb the slopes of Pichincha. There were 2,971 men. The first group was 200 Colombians from the Alto Magdalena battalion. Sucre's main army followed them. At the very back were the Scottish and Irish soldiers of the Albión battalion. They were protecting the ammunition.

The climb up the volcano was very difficult and slow. It had rained during the night, making the paths muddy. By dawn, Sucre was worried. His army had not gone very far. They were only halfway up the mountain, at 3,500 meters (11,500 feet) high. They were in full view of the Royalist guards in Quito.

At 8 o'clock, Sucre ordered a stop. His troops were tired and suffering from altitude sickness. He told his commanders to hide their soldiers as best they could. He sent part of the Cazadores del Paya battalion (Peruvians) ahead to scout. The Trujillo battalion, another Peruvian group, followed them. About an hour and a half later, the Paya soldiers were suddenly hit by musket fire. The battle had begun.

The Battle at 3,500 Meters High

Sucre didn't know that the Royalist guards in Quito had seen his troops climbing the volcano at dawn. Aymerich, the Royalist commander, realized Sucre's plan. He ordered his army of 1,894 men to climb the mountain right away. He wanted to fight Sucre there.

The battle started in a very unexpected place. Both commanders had to send their troops into the fight bit by bit. There was not much space to move on the steep slopes of Pichincha. There were deep ditches and thick bushes everywhere. The Paya soldiers, recovering from the first attack, took positions under heavy fire. They waited for the Trujillo battalion to arrive. Sucre was surprised. He hoped the Spanish troops were even more tired than his own. He sent the Yaguachi Battalion (Ecuadorians) into the fight. The Colombians of the Alto Magdalena tried to attack from the side, but the rough ground made it impossible. Soon, the Paya, Barrezueta, and Yaguachi battalions were losing many men and running out of ammunition. They began to fall back.

Everything now depended on the British Legions bringing up the needed ammunition and more soldiers. But no one knew exactly where they were. As time passed, the Royalists seemed to be winning. The Trujillo battalion had to retreat. The Piura Battalion (Peruvians) ran away before even fighting. In desperation, the remaining part of the Paya battalion was ordered to charge with bayonets. Both sides lost many soldiers, but the Patriots managed to hold their ground.

However, Aymerich had a secret plan. During the climb, he had sent his best Aragón battalion to the top of the volcano. His plan was for them to attack the Patriots from behind and break their lines. The Aragón battalion was a very experienced Spanish unit. They had fought in Europe and South America. They were now above the Patriots. Luckily for the Patriots, just as the Aragón battalion was about to charge, they were stopped. The English, Scots, and Irish veterans of the Albión battalion suddenly appeared and joined the battle. The Albión had actually climbed higher than the Spanish. Soon, the Magdalena battalion also joined the fight. The Aragón battalion suffered heavy losses and was defeated. The Colombians from the Magdalena then took the place of the Paya battalion, which had to pull back. They charged the Royalist line, which finally broke.

At midday, Aymerich ordered his troops to retreat. The Royalist army was now disorganized and exhausted. They went down the slopes of Pichincha towards Quito. Some units ran into Quito in a mess, chased by the Magdalena battalion. Others retreated in an orderly way. The Colombians reached the edge of Quito but did not enter the city. Their commander wisely decided not to let his soldiers go into the city. The Battle of Pichincha was over. From the first shot to the order to retreat, it had lasted no more than three hours.

Sucre's Report After the Battle

General Antonio José de Sucre, Commander In Chief, División del Sur

The day after the battle, on May 25, Sucre wrote his report:

"The events at Pichincha have led to our army taking over this city [Quito] and its forts on the afternoon of the 25th. This means the entire Department is now ours and peaceful. We have captured 1,100 prisoners, 160 officers, 14 artillery pieces, and 1,700 rifles...Four hundred enemy soldiers and two hundred of our own are dead on the battlefield. We also counted 190 Spanish wounded, and 140 of our own...Among our wounded are Captains Cabal, Castro, and Alzuro; Lieutenants Calderón and Ramírez, and Second Lieutenants Borrero and Arango...I want to especially mention Lieutenant Calderón. He was wounded four times but refused to leave the field. He will probably die, but I am sure the Government of the Republic will reward his family for the brave service of this heroic officer."

This is how the story of Abdón Calderón Garaycoa began. He was from Cuenca and, along with Sucre, became a symbol of the Battle of Pichincha for the new nation of Ecuador.

What Happened Next

The Battle of Pichincha was not a huge battle in the overall Wars of Independence. It was short, and not many soldiers were involved. However, its results were very important.

On May 25, 1822, Sucre and his army entered Quito. He accepted the surrender of all Spanish forces in the area. The Colombian government called this area the "Department of Quito." They considered it a part of the Republic of Colombia since 1819.

Earlier, when Sucre took Cuenca on February 21, 1822, the local council there had declared that the city and its province would join the Republic of Colombia.

Now, with Quito's surrender, the Spanish resistance in the northern province of Pasto ended. This allowed Bolívar to finally come to Quito. He entered the city on June 16, 1822. Everyone was very excited, and the former Province of Quito officially became part of the Republic of Colombia.

One more piece of the puzzle remained: Guayaquil. It was still undecided about its future. Sucre ordered the Peruvian division, which had helped win at Pichincha, to stay out of the port city. With Bolívar and the victorious Colombian army present, the people of Guayaquil finally made their choice. Their governing council declared the Province of Guayaquil part of Colombia on July 31, 1822. This happened without any claims or negotiations, even though President Olmedo had asked San Martín about it at the Guayaquil Conference in July 1822.

Eight years later, in 1830, the three southern Departments of Colombia—Quito (now called Ecuador), Guayaquil, and Cuenca—left Colombia. They formed a new country, which took the name Republic of Ecuador.

The Summit of Liberty

The place where the battle happened now has a large monument. It also has a parade ground and a museum. People often call it "La Cima de la Libertad," which means "The Summit of Liberty." Every May 24, a military parade is held there. This day marks Armed Forces Day and celebrates the victory of the independence forces.

Images for kids

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  Royal Infantry Guards

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  Representation of the Battle of Pichincha

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Pichincha para niños