Battle of San Carlos (1813) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The battle of San Carlos |
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| Part of the Chilean War of Independence | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Chilean patriots |
 Royalists |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| José Miguel Carrera |
Juan Francisco Sánchez |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 4,036 | 6000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 100 killed | 70 killed | ||||||
The Battle of San Carlos was an important fight during the Chilean War of Independence. This war was when Chile fought to become free from Spain. The battle happened on May 15, 1813, near a town called San Carlos, Chile. It was a key moment in the early part of Chile's fight for freedom.
Why the Battle Happened
In May 1813, the Spanish forces, known as the Royalists, were trying to get back to their main base in Chillán. These Royalist soldiers were having a really tough time. Their supplies were far ahead of them, and the soldiers at the back of their group had almost no food or equipment.
The Chilean leader, José Miguel Carrera, had a chance to avoid a direct fight. He could have just gone around the Royalist army and taken Chillán easily. But instead, he decided to attack the Royalists directly. He wanted to stop them near San Carlos.
The Battle Itself
General Carrera planned to attack the Royalists. He put his foot soldiers, called infantry, in the middle. His horse soldiers, called cavalry, were placed on the sides to attack the enemy from the flanks. This way, they hoped to avoid the Royalists' big cannons.
But things went wrong for the Chilean side. The Chilean infantry were told to charge forward quickly with their bayonets (knives attached to rifles). However, they were hit by a strong blast from the Royalist cannons. This made them break their lines and run away from the battlefield.
Without support, the cavalry attacks also failed. Later that day, another Chilean general, Juan Mackenna, brought more soldiers. But even he couldn't make a big difference against the Royalist foot soldiers. By the time night came, the Chilean army had completely scattered. The next morning, neither Carrera nor Mackenna had enough soldiers left to keep fighting.
What Happened Next
General Carrera's failure to win a clear victory at San Carlos had big consequences. It led to the Siege of Chillán later that year. A siege is when an army surrounds a city to try and capture it.
The siege happened in the middle of winter and was a disaster for the Chilean patriots. It was also very bad for Carrera personally. Because of this failure, he was later removed from his position as leader.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de San Carlos (1813) para niños
