Battle of Cancha Rayada (1818) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Second Battle of Cancha Rayada |
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| Part of the Chilean War of Independence and the Argentine War of Independence | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Chile United Provinces |
 Spanish Monarchy |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| José de San Martín Bernardo O'Higgins (WIA) |
Mariano Osorio José Ordóñez |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 7,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 150 killed 300 injured 2,000 dispersed |
c. 200 killed and captured |
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The Battle of Cancha Rayada happened on March 19, 1818. It is also called the Second Battle of Cancha Rayada or the Surprise of Cancha Rayada in Chile. This important battle took place in Chile during the Chilean War of Independence. It was part of a larger fight for freedom in South America.
The battle was fought between two main groups. One group was the South American patriots, who wanted independence. The other group was the Spanish royalists, who wanted to keep control for the King of Spain. The royalists won this battle. However, the patriots got their revenge just weeks later at the Battle of Maipú.
Why the Battle Happened
In March 1818, the Spanish royalist army gathered in Talca, Chile. They had about 5,000 soldiers and were led by Brigadier Mariano Osorio. They built strong defenses in the city.
Meanwhile, the patriot army, which wanted independence, had about 7,000 soldiers. This army was called the United Army. They set up their positions on the Cancha Rayada plain, about seven kilometers away from Talca.
General José de San Martín, a leader of the patriot forces, was worried. He feared the Spanish might attack his army from the side. So, he ordered his troops to move to a new position.
General Osorio knew his Spanish army had fewer soldiers and less cavalry (soldiers on horseback). He wasn't eager to fight a big battle. He was happy just to stay fortified in Talca. But Colonel José Ordóñez suggested they attack. Osorio agreed, and Ordóñez was put in charge of the attack.
The Battle Begins
The Spanish army attacked at 7:30 PM. This was a complete surprise because the patriots did not expect a battle at night. Colonel Ordóñez made a very brave move. He went around the city of Talca and attacked the patriot army from behind.
The surprise attack happened while the patriot army was still moving to its new positions. The attack hit the part of the army led by General Bernardo O'Higgins. His position was close to General San Martín's.
Soon, the soldiers in the front of the patriot army scattered. This left O'Higgins in a very dangerous spot. His horse was shot and died, and he was wounded in one arm.
Usually, San Martín would order a retreat in such a situation. But this time, he held his ground. This caused even more patriot soldiers to run away under enemy fire. They left their weapons and supplies behind. After the first moments of confusion, San Martín finally ordered a retreat.
The soldiers in the back and the reserve troops had already moved to their new spots. They managed to hold off the attack somewhat. But they had no one in charge. Their leader, Colonel Hilarión de la Quintana, had left to get orders. Colonel Juan Gregorio de Las Heras quickly took command. He led the men during the retreat. He also tried to save as many cannons and weapons as possible. San Martín and O'Higgins were also retreating very fast, with royalist forces chasing them closely.
What Happened After
By March 21, the patriot army was much smaller. About 3,500 soldiers gathered in San Fernando, Chile. News of the defeat reached Santiago. Rumors spread that O'Higgins and San Martín had died. Because of this, many people started leaving Santiago and moving to Mendoza, Argentina.
San Martín sent a message about the battle. He said that his army was attacked near Talca and many soldiers ran away. This forced him to retreat. But he added that he was bringing his troops back together. He was happy to report that he already had 4,000 men from Curicó to Pelequén.
This battle was the only defeat the patriot campaign suffered. About 150 patriot soldiers were killed, and 200 were taken prisoner. Several hundred soldiers had also run away from the army. The patriot army lost all its cannons from the Argentine side. They also lost many horses, mules, and weapons from both the Chilean and Argentine parts of the army.
Even though the royalists won, they also suffered heavy losses. About 200 of their soldiers were killed, and 300 were captured. Around 600 royalist soldiers also ran away. This meant more than half of the 2,000 royalist soldiers who attacked were lost.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Cancha Rayada (1818) para niños
