The memory of Maipú, the decisive battle to strengthen the independence of South America

After Rayed Field, General Osorio, still hesitant, summoned a military junta to decide what to do after this partial success of operations. Brigadier Ordoñez, a man of temperament, urged to persecute the United Army in order to prevent its reorganization, but Osorio decided to return to Talca to reorganize his army and authorized Ordonez to take the best available horse and surrender the persecution of the enemy. Later, he would lie on his side to Viceroy Pezuela (who was his father-in-law), claiming that the triumph of Cancha Rayada had been so resounding that it was not necessary to persecute the patriots.

The colonel Las Heras he had managed to remove his battlefield division (3,500 men and 12 pieces of artillery), walking silently and disciplined all night and camping 25 kilometers from the battlefield. At that time, he traveled the distance that corresponded to a day's walk. On the basis of this division, the united army will be restored for the battle of Maipú. Bartolomé Miter will say later: "Las Heras has not only saved a division after the Scratched Field, but also the independence of all South America."

The meeting of the Las Heras Division and many other latecomers in San Fernando gave General San Martín the opportunity to harangue his troops, cheer up his troops and give the Chileans the hope that nothing was lost. This calmed the panic caused by the news of this battle because, remembering the outcome of Rancagua, many had already begun the exodus towards Mendoza.

In the 16 days between Cancha Rayada and Maipú, we can see the temperament of two real leaders such as San Martín and O. Higgins, so as not to falter after a crisis and prepare what would be the final battle. O & # 39; Higgins, despite his injury and health condition, did not hesitate to prepare the defense of Santiago and recruit more people to replace the losses suffered.

Las Heras not only saved a division after the Striped Court, but the independence of all South America, Bartolomé Miter.

San Martín and Fray Luis Beltrán have worked tirelessly to replace the lost artillery, its ammunition and the armament of the new units.

When on April 2, 1818, Osorio and his army crossed the Maipo River at the ford of Lontué, San Martin guessed what was the plan of his enemy and moved his army to Loma Blanca, south of Santiago, because he could attack the royalists, regardless of their direction to get to Santiago.

On the morning of April 5, Osorio understood the magnitude of the army he was facing and, instead of attacking, occupied a defensive position on Errázuriz Hill and a triangular height north of Lo Ranch. Espejo, the two heights dominating the plains of Maipú.

Around noon and after rearranging your device, San Martin launched the attack on a realistic position.

The battle was fiercely fought by both armies, with advances and setbacks of patriots and a great waste of courage from Argentines and Chileans. After almost five hours of fighting, the royalist army withdrew to Estancia Lo Espejo. General Osorio, considering the lost battle, left the battlefield and it is Brigadier Ordoñez who pursued the defense in his new position. There, the fight was fierce until the humanity of Las Heras managed to surrender before it was a mbadacre for the royalists.

The Chilean general said: "Glory to the savior of Chile" and San Martin replied: "Chile will never forget its sacrifice by presenting itself on the battlefield with its glorious open wound".

Before the end of the battle, General O. Higgins was present at the scene. There, there was the historic embrace that the painter Pedro Subercaseaux immortalized in his painting. The Chilean general said: "Glory to the Savior of Chile" and San Martin replied: "Chile will never forget its sacrifice, presenting itself on the battlefield with its glorious open wound".

Battles are always a tactical fact, but what makes them decisive are the strategic effects they produce. Chacabuco has been a brilliant battle in its strategic design, but it is not decisive.

The battle of Maipú was decisive because it marks the end of the primacy of Peru in the spread of the Spanish conquest in South America. After that, the Viceroy of Peru lost the initiative and had to start worrying about how to survive in this part of the world.