First Battle of Talca
Encyclopedia
First battle of Talca
, also called the 'Taking of Talca
' occurred on 3rd March, 1814, during the War of Chilean Independence.
, held by the Patriotic forces under the command of Carlos Spano
, had sent a military force Juan Rafael Bascuñán to the aid of Bernardo O'Higgins
. This left the town relatively exposed, with only 300 men defending it. Gabino Gaínza
, commanding the Royalist army had left a small force on the other side of the Maule river
under the command of Ildefonso Elorreaga
, but with orders not to attack Talca
. Elorreaga
, realising the Patriots' true situation, seized the opportunity and crossed the river, surprising the Patriots guarding the crossing points. He then advanced on Talca
.
sent an ultimatum to Spano
to surrender Talca
within fifteen minutes, or face destruction. Spano
concluded he might be able to hold out long enough for Bascuñán's force to return and defend the town; sending an urgent message to Bascuñán, he arrayed all his forces, including his three artillery pieces, to defend the location. Elorreaga
, knowing he had to take the town before Patriot reinforcements arrived, launched a ferocious attack.
The fighting went on all morning, but by noon the Royalist forces had managed to take and position themselves on the roof of the house of Vicente de la Cruz Bahamondes; a substantial and well positioned building, this enabled them to dominate the town. With this, the battle became a massacre. Spano
was killed in the fighting and by the time Bascuñán arrived, the Royalists were in control of Tulca
.
had sent with him originally, sending it to Curicó
by the way of the coast. With the loss of Talca
, O' Higgins and Mackenna
had lost their key supply base, with both commanders divided and now surrounded by the enemy.
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
, also called the 'Taking of Talca
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
' occurred on 3rd March, 1814, during the War of Chilean Independence.
Background
The town of TalcaTalca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
, held by the Patriotic forces under the command of Carlos Spano
Carlos Spano
Carlos Spano was a Spanish Army officer and hero of the Chilean War of Independence.Spano began his military career in 1786 as a soldier in the Spanish Army, and fought in the campaigns of Ceuta, Spanish Morocco and Aragon . He was sent to Chile with the Battalion of Infantes de Concepción...
, had sent a military force Juan Rafael Bascuñán to the aid of Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme was a Chilean independence leader who, together with José de San Martín, freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile , he is considered one of Chile's founding fathers, as he was the first holder...
. This left the town relatively exposed, with only 300 men defending it. Gabino Gaínza
Gabino Gaínza
Gabino or Gavino Gaínza y Fernández de Medrano was a Spanish military officer and politician in Spain's American colonies. During the Latin American wars of independence, he initially fought on the royalist side, in Chile...
, commanding the Royalist army had left a small force on the other side of the Maule river
Maule river
The Maule river is one of the most important rivers of Chile and is inextricably linked to this country's pre-Hispanic times, the country's conquest, colonial period, wars of Independence, modern history, agriculture , culture , religion, economy and politics...
under the command of Ildefonso Elorreaga
Ildefonso Elorreaga
Ildefonso Elorreaga was a Spanish Army officer who participated in the Chilean War of Independence....
, but with orders not to attack Talca
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
. Elorreaga
Ildefonso Elorreaga
Ildefonso Elorreaga was a Spanish Army officer who participated in the Chilean War of Independence....
, realising the Patriots' true situation, seized the opportunity and crossed the river, surprising the Patriots guarding the crossing points. He then advanced on Talca
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
.
The Attack
At 0700 on 3rd March, ElorreagaIldefonso Elorreaga
Ildefonso Elorreaga was a Spanish Army officer who participated in the Chilean War of Independence....
sent an ultimatum to Spano
Carlos Spano
Carlos Spano was a Spanish Army officer and hero of the Chilean War of Independence.Spano began his military career in 1786 as a soldier in the Spanish Army, and fought in the campaigns of Ceuta, Spanish Morocco and Aragon . He was sent to Chile with the Battalion of Infantes de Concepción...
to surrender Talca
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
within fifteen minutes, or face destruction. Spano
Carlos Spano
Carlos Spano was a Spanish Army officer and hero of the Chilean War of Independence.Spano began his military career in 1786 as a soldier in the Spanish Army, and fought in the campaigns of Ceuta, Spanish Morocco and Aragon . He was sent to Chile with the Battalion of Infantes de Concepción...
concluded he might be able to hold out long enough for Bascuñán's force to return and defend the town; sending an urgent message to Bascuñán, he arrayed all his forces, including his three artillery pieces, to defend the location. Elorreaga
Ildefonso Elorreaga
Ildefonso Elorreaga was a Spanish Army officer who participated in the Chilean War of Independence....
, knowing he had to take the town before Patriot reinforcements arrived, launched a ferocious attack.
The fighting went on all morning, but by noon the Royalist forces had managed to take and position themselves on the roof of the house of Vicente de la Cruz Bahamondes; a substantial and well positioned building, this enabled them to dominate the town. With this, the battle became a massacre. Spano
Carlos Spano
Carlos Spano was a Spanish Army officer and hero of the Chilean War of Independence.Spano began his military career in 1786 as a soldier in the Spanish Army, and fought in the campaigns of Ceuta, Spanish Morocco and Aragon . He was sent to Chile with the Battalion of Infantes de Concepción...
was killed in the fighting and by the time Bascuñán arrived, the Royalists were in control of Tulca
Tulca
Tulca is a commune in Bihor county, in the Western Plains of Romania. It is located 12 kilometers from the city of Salonta and is composed of two villages, Căuaşd and Tulca. Most of the population is Romanian, but there are small minorities of Hungarians and Roma....
.
Aftermath
Bascuñán managed to save the money and materiel which SpanoCarlos Spano
Carlos Spano was a Spanish Army officer and hero of the Chilean War of Independence.Spano began his military career in 1786 as a soldier in the Spanish Army, and fought in the campaigns of Ceuta, Spanish Morocco and Aragon . He was sent to Chile with the Battalion of Infantes de Concepción...
had sent with him originally, sending it to Curicó
Curicó
Curicó , meaning "Black Waters" in Mapudungun , is the capital city of the Curicó Province, part of the Maule Region in Chile's central valley....
by the way of the coast. With the loss of Talca
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
, O' Higgins and Mackenna
Juan Mackenna
Brigadier Juan Mackenna was an Irish-born, Chilean military officer and hero of the Chilean War of Independence. He is considered to have been the creator of the Corps of Military Engineers of the Chilean Army....
had lost their key supply base, with both commanders divided and now surrounded by the enemy.