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Antecedents
The First Chilean Expedition sent to Peruvian territory during the war against the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy retreated after being surrounded by Santa Cruz.
Chilean Admiral Manuel Blanco Encalada, leader of the Chilean Expedition was forced to surrender and sign the Treaty of Paucarpata, effectively a Peace Treaty with Santa Cruz, on November 17, 1837
After his return to Chile, the Treaty was repudiated by the Chilean Parliament, and a Second Expedition was soon organized.
General Manuel Bulnes was in charge of the Chilean troops with Peruvian battalions of General Agustín Gamarra and many other exiled generals as reinforcements. Andrés de Santa Cruz, who was in charge of the Confederate Army, attempted to pursue the invaders.
After a favorable Battle in the Buin River, Santa Cruz was trying to finish with the Chilean Expedition in order to stabilize the internal situation in the country and to avoid any more uprisings against him.
The Armies and their Comparative Situations
Both armies had approximately 6,000 men, although the numbers favored slightly the side of Santa Cruz because the Chilean expedition had been decimated by plagues during its stay in Lima. Comparably equipped, the main difference was in the preparation of the troops, the knowledge of the terrain, and the obvious differences between invaders and defenders.
While the army of the Confederate Protector was made up of veterans of internal battles and was supported by the population, besides counting on adequate supplies provided by the vicinity, the Chilean Army met with the antipathy of the inhabitants and was on the run, with part of the troops ill and little prepared.
In favor of the Chileans was the experience and ability of many Peruvian Generals that fought at their side, in order to dissolved the Confederation and reestablish an independent Peru.
The battle
After combat in Buin (January 5,1839) Santa Cruz advanced on its enemies and occupied Yungay with the intention to cut the provisions and to strangle the Chilean Recovery Expedition. Here in where the boldness of Bulnes could be observed, who, instead of retiring and looking for a more suitable position, turned around against Santa Cruz ready to attack.
At that time, the Navy of Chile dominated the seas, and it would have been easy for the expedition to find an exit. In addition, Santa Cruz was not looking to launch a battle, but to force a peace taking into account his advantageous situation. Bulnes had decided the opposite, trusting in the drive of his soldiers, symbolized in heróic actions on the part of soldiers of indigenous origin. On the other hand, Bulnes knew that a return with empty hands (understood as 'only with peace') was inconceivable after the experience of the previous expedition led by Manuel Blanco Encalada. The Battle of Yungay developed January 20, 1839. The Confederates, having moved out from their positions at the base of Cerro Pan de Azúcar (Sugar Bread hill), were forced upwards. In spite of the advantageous positions, a massive attack with hand-to-hand combat decided the battle in favor of the Chileans, who cleared the hill and put the Confederate Army to flight. One hour before the end of the battle Santa Cruz had given it up for lost, seemingly influenced by spirits. While the Chilean forces were under the command of a professional general (formed at base by fighting with indians and mountain people to the south of Chile), sent by a congress, the confederate troops worked under leadership. The lack of the latter turns out to be clearly pernicious for its behavior.
Consequences
The Battle of Yungay brought as a consequence the end of the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy, the cessation of Santa Cruz' influence in Bolivia - in spite of up to six subsequent uprisings in his name in Bolivia - and the restoration of both nations as separate, as was the intention of the Recovery Expedition.
1839 | Battles of Bolivia | Battles of Chile | Battles of Peru | Battles of the War of the Confederation
"Battle of Yungay"