Battle of Yungay: Difference between revisions

| place = [[Yungay,Santo PeruDomingo de Yungay|Yungay]], [[AncashDepartment Regionof Huaylas (Peru–Bolivian Confederation)|Huaylas]], Peru

| result = [[United Restoration Army]] victory<br>

*[[Dissolution (law)|Dissolution]] of the [[Peru–Bolivian Confederation]] declarated by [[Agustín Gamarra]]

| combatant1 = '''[[United Restoration Army]]:'''<br>{{flagicon|Peru-Bolivian ConfederationChile}} [[Peru-Bolivian ConfederationChile]]<br>{{collapsible list

The '''Battle of Yungay''' (or '''Yungai''') was the final battle of the [[War of the Confederation]], fought on January 20, 1839, near [[Yungay,Santo PeruDomingo de Yungay|Yungay]], Peru. The [[United RestorerRestoration Army]], led by Chilean General [[Manuel Bulnes]], consisting mainly of Chileans and 600 [[Republic of North Peru|North Peruvian]] dissidents, attacked the [[Peru-Bolivian Confederation]] forces led by [[Andrés de Santa Cruz]] in northern Peru, {{convert|200|km|sp=us}} north of [[Lima]].

The decisive battle ended with a complete Restorer victory afterAfter six hours of fighting, andthe effectivelyRestorers dissolveddestroyed the Peru-BolivianConfederate Confederacy. ItArmy, endedbringing the War of the Confederation, andto its end. Santa Cruz exiled himself toin [[Guayaquil]], Ecuador. The new Peruvian government paid its debt with Chile from the liberation expedition from a decade ago, and gave awards to Chilean and Peruvian officials.<ref>[{{Cite web |url=http://www.congreso.gob.pe/ntley/Imagenes/LeyesXIX/1839085.pdf |title=Peruvian decorations awarded to Chilean Army] |access-date=November 8, 2008 |archive-date=September 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901130800/http://www.congreso.gob.pe/ntley/Imagenes/LeyesXIX/1839085.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Peruvian officers who served under the Confederation, including [[William Miller (Peruvian general)|Guillermo Miller]], [[Mariano Necochea]], [[Luis José Orbegoso]], and [[Domingo Nieto]], were banned from the [[Peruvian Army]].

AfterChile declaringdeclared war on the Peru Bolivian Confederacy on 1837, Chileand sent an expedition ledto Peru byunder Admiral [[Manuel Blanco Encalada]]. AvoidingSanta Cruz avoided an engagement, Santaand Cruzskillfully wassurrounded skillfulBlanco enoughEncalada toat encirclePaucarpata. Blanco Encalada andwas forced him to sign thea [[Treaty of Paucarpata|treaty]] on November 17. By this pact, Chile agreed to resume commercial trade and the Confederation would recognize and pay the Chilean efforts in the Peruvian independence war.

The second Chilean campaign had far more success than the first one. Bulnes defeated Confederate General Orbegoso at the [[Battle of Portada de Guías|battle of Portada de Guias]] on August 21, 1838, and entered into Lima. Also, the Chilean Fleet secured sea domination in the [[Battle of Casma]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Historia de la Marina de Chile |author= Carlos López Urrutia |publisher= El Ciprés Editores|year= 2007}}</ref> Despite the victory, Bulnes left the city by November, and marched to Huacho in the North Peruvian territory, forced by local animosity, lack of supplies and diseases. Also, news had arrived indicating that Santa Cruz was closing in with an outnumbering army. Afterwards, Santa Cruz entered into Lima under popular ovation, then proceeded to follow Bulnes.

Santa Cruz occupied [[Yungay,Santo PeruDomingo de Yungay|Yungay]], trying to cut Bulnes' supply lines and strangle the Restorers. His intention wasn't to obliterate the Restorer Army, but rather to force Bulnes to surrender to a superior Confederate force. Bulnes had other plans however, realizing that returning empty-handed was not an option after Blanco Encalada's failure.

{{Main|BattleOrder formationsof battle for the Battle atof Yungay}}

The [[Confederate Army (Peru–Bolivian Confederation)|Confederate Army]] was made up of veterans of internal battles from both [[Peru]] and [[Bolivia]]. It was generally supported by the population of Peru and possessed strong supply lines thanks to the site of the battle. Its commanding officer, General [[Andrés de Santa Cruz]]; was regarded as a resourceful tactician and a capable leader. His army had about 6,000 men divided into three divisions, adding up nine infantry battalions and two cavalry regiments.

Both forces were separated by a short valley formed by the Santa River and the mountains, with the Punyán, Ancash and Pan de Azúcar hills at the far end of this site,. behindBehind these heights lay the deep Ancash GlenValley, followed by the Confederate trenches.

Having witnessedWitnessing the Chilean retreat, Gen. Bulnes took command of the Valparaíso Battalion and crossed the Ancash sowith strengtheninga Col.battalion Garcia'sand unit.reinforced LikewiseGarcia, followed by the Santiago battalion and half theof Huaylas battalion reinforced the Chilean right wing, allowing the relieved unitsBattalion. toThe regroupChileans uprallied and resumeresumed the attack. A few Confederate battalions managed to get back to their trenches.

Perez de Urdinea's cavalry crossed the river and clashed with Baquedano's Cazadores, a Caballo Cavalry Regiment. In fighting so near to the Confederate lines, Baquedano was wounded and was forced to retreat. However, the Chilean cavalry attacked again with full force, obliging Perez de Urdinea to regroup with the Confederate infantry trying to retreat to their trenches. In a massive third charge, Baquedano broke Santa Cruz's left flank and the entire Confederate front collapsed.

This was a decisive defeat for the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy. Santa Cruz had around 3,000 dead, including 2two generals, 9 colonels, 100 officers and 2,500 soldiers, around half of its effective force. The Restorer Army lost 1one general, 39 officers and 622 soldiers.

The Battle of Yungay brought the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy to an end. The Chilean Expeditionary Force reoccupied [[Lima]] on April. On 25 August 1839. General [[Agustín Gamarra]] assumed the Presidency of Peru, and officially declared the dissolution of the Confederation and the Unionreunification of the North and South Peru. Santa Cruz was exiled, first to [[Guayaquil]], [[Ecuador]], then to Chile and finally to Europe,<ref>[http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/s/santa_cruz.htm Biografía de Andrés de Santa Cruz en Biografías y Vidas]</ref> where he died in [[Beauvoir, Manche|Beauvoir]], France, on 25 September 1865. He was 72.