:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/RIIAMJIPHZFMBEQVQTBBEZDFN4.jpg "“Give a day of glory to South America”: the battle that ensured the independence of Chile and consecrated San Martín")
On March 25, 1818, the Liberator of America José Francisco de San Martín entered the city of Santiago de Chile, after laborious days since the defeat suffered by the patriot army in Cancha Rayada. Once in the capital, before the expectant and fearful crowd, he proclaimed: “The army of the Homeland stands proudly in front of the enemy. The tyrants have not advanced a point of their entrenchment. The country exists and will triumph, and I pledge my word of honor to give a day of glory to South America”.
With his eyes on the horizon of freedom, the American leader inspired the peoples in his footsteps and pledged his word of honor to the culmination of the work that he had begun when he launched “the great company of Cuyo” from Mendoza and to which He has decided to consecrate his life.
After March 19, the days became feverish and preparations for a decisive confrontation accelerated. The United Army managed to regroup and thanks to the efforts made by San Martín himself, O’Higgins, Las Heras, Freire, Guido, Rodríguez and other chiefs, officers and troops They managed to gather a force of more than 5,000 men and 21 cannons with which the General in Chief planned to advance on the enemy and fight the decisive battle. The liberator considered that the enemy should not be given time to capitalize on the victory obtained at Cancha Rayada.
When saying of Miter: “Counting on the triumph, The general of the Andes knew how to instill confidence in everyone, he gave detailed instructions to his chiefs on the eve of the battle. Among them, he recommended that cavalry commanders always take the offensive, since this is the nature of the American soldier, and bring a platoon of twenty-five men to their rear to cut down those who turned their faces and pursue the enemy.”
Lastly, he told them:This battle will decide the fate of all America, and an honorable death on the field of honor is preferable to suffering it at the hands of our executioners. I am sure of victory with the help of the army chiefs, whom I charge to keep these observations in mind”.
At dawn on April 5, San Martín, informed of the enemy’s tactics, wanted to “ascertain with his own eyes the strategic error and coordinate his tactical movements, (for this) he dressed in a poncho and a peasant hat and, accompanied by his inseparable assistant O’Brien and engineer D’Albe, followed by a small escort, galloped to the truncated corner of the White Hill. From there, he was able to observe at a distance of 400 meters with the help of his spyglass, the flank march that the Spanish columns executed in perfect order with beating drums and unfurled flags, when they took possession of the triangular border hill extending their left over the road from Valparaiso. ‘What brutes these Goths are!’” he exclaimed with that mixture of resolution and good humor that characterized him.
And he added: “Osorio is more clumsy than I thought.” Then addressing his companions, he told them: “The triumph of this day is ours. The Sun as a witness!”, according to the same Miter.
At mid-morning the Argentine-Chilean army broke march and shortly before noon the patriotic artillery opened fire and shortly after the attack began. The fight lasted several hours and finally the royalist army was completely decimated. Maipú meant the first decisive victory of the struggle for Independenceand just as the Battle of Tucumán on September 24, 1812 saved the May Revolution, without a doubt Maipú opened the door to future patriot triumphs throughout the continent. At that time, the figure of San Martín as a strategist reached one of his sublime moments, but above all, the qualities of a leader stood out: one who manages to capitalize on the vicissitudes and sees in the obstacles and crises the opportunity to resurface and play everything for the everything. Let us remember that this victory was achieved just two weeks after the surprise at Cancha Rayada, where the patriot army was reduced to almost half its strength, and yet the decision, activity and work displayed in the days that followed made it possible to obtain the results of that victory. April 5, 1818.
The difficulties and vicissitudes hit the Liberator, however his preparation, impetus, courage, skills and competencies developed during the years of preparation in Spain and those of leadership in America forged his character and prepared his mind to make key decisions, at the right time. , with the clarity and vision that the circumstances demanded. Thus, San Martín proved to be “the right man at the right time”.
On April 27, from Salta, Martín Miguel de Güemes, like many others, upon learning of Maipú’s triumph, wrote to José Francisco in the following terms: “This is not the first time that I address my just respects to Your Excellency, although with the disappointment that the pen and not the language is the interpreter, when that is not enough to explain the concepts of a grateful soul. The weapons of the new Nation handled by the dexterous hand of Your Excellency, repeat their triumphs giving a greater stamp to American courage, and serving as terror and fright to the proud peninsular. Very soon he will see that the banner of freedom still flies on his own walls, which he supposes are impenetrable.. Now, then, that fate has not wanted my sword to have a small part in the happy glory of the 5th day of the present, at least to welcome the love and respect with which I have the honor to congratulate Your Excellency and accompany you from here, in the object of your pleasure, may God keep Your Excellency for many years”.
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