As we have explained in our previous article on the st martin strategy for him Andes Crossingthe base of the expedition was the region of Whosein the west of the United Province of the River Platewhose capital was the city of Mendoza. under the position of Governor of Whose which requested the central government, San Martin he carefully planned the expedition.
The central point was certainly the creation of a military force to carry out the campaign. Thus was formed the Army of the Andes, made up of volunteer local soldiers, emigrated Chilean soldiers and troops recruited through a compulsory levy. The Cuyo population actively accompanied the mission, through the manufacture of supplies for the army, from weapons to ponchos.
Through the high steps of the Mountain range, many of them at more than 4,000 meters high, Jose de San Martin went through the Andes mountains with an impressive army:
- 5423 men,
- 18 artillery pieces
- 9,280 saddle mules and to load belongings,
- 1,500 fighting horses reserved for battle,
- 600 live cattle that were slaughtered along the way to feed the troops
- 900 rifle and carbine shots,
- 2000 cannon shots to bullet,
- 2000 shots of shrapnel
- 600 grenades.
Depending on the strategy of San Martinthe Army of the Andes was divided into 6 columnseach of them crossing the Mountain range through a different place, on a front more than 2,000 kilometers long. The first departed in January 9, 1817 and they were doing it in stages until finally, on January 25, he left San Martin.
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The map below details the route of each of the 6 columns of the Army of the Andes:
- the thickness of army under the command of San Martin crossed the Andes for him Duck Pass. It was composed of different divisions under the command of the senior brigadier Miguel Estanislao SolerGeneral Bernardo de O’Higgins, tea. col. Mariano Necochea and tea col. Pedro Regalado of the Plaza.
- the division in command The Heras crossed the Uspallata Pass.
- the division commanded by Juan Manuel Cabot crossed from San Juan through the Portezuelo de la Ramada.
- a contingent of Northern Armyunder the command of Col. Francisco Zelada crossed from The Rioja for him vinchina pass.
- the division commanded by captain freyre crossed the Step of the Slab.
- the division commanded by Lemos crossed by the portillo pass
Following the plan, the troops of the army of the andes they arrived at Chili between February 6 and 8, 1817. The various columns attacked their different objectives of the royalist army in Chili. The battle main will take place on February 12, 1817 on the slope of Chacabucoin which the Spanish are defeated.
As a result of that, San Martin occupies the Santiago, the Chilean capital. It is the first big step towards Independence of Chileand a great advance in the continental plan that would lead to the end of the Spanish colonial empire.
Sources:
elhistoriador.com.ar
PIGNA, Felipe. The myths of Argentine History II. From San Martín to “the granary of the world”. Planet History and Society, Buenos Aires, 2005.
Wikipedia
Video:
randyish on youtube
Images
The Army of the Andes leaving the Plumerillo camp, sketch by José Bouchet., in Wikipedia
Illustration of San Martín leading the army of the Andes, on Youtube
Columns of the Army of the Andes, on Youtube.