Battle of Cotagaita

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Cotagaita
partof=Argentine War of Independence


date=October 27, 1810
place=Santiago de Cotagaita, Bolivia
result=Undecided
combatant1=flagicon|Argentina|alt United Provinces of South America
combatant2=flagicon|Spain Spanish Empire
commander1=flagicon|Argentina|alt Antonio González Balcarce
Juan José Castelli
commander2=flagicon|Spain Joaquín de la Pezuela

The Battle of Cotagaita was fought on October 27, 1810 during the Campaign of Alto Perú in the Argentine War of Independence when the troops of the Army of the North were sent by the Primera Junta government in Buenos Aires to the Alto Perú to fight the Royalists. It was the first skirmish of the Army of the North in this theatre. The battle was fought near the town of Santiago de Cotagaita, in Potosí Department in Bolivia.

General José Manuel de Goyeneche was appointed by the viceroy of Perú to command the royalists forces in Alto Perú, whom in along with the president of the Real Audiencia of Charcas, Vicente Nieto, decided to establish a forward post in Cotagaita under the command of Frigate Captain José de Córdova y Roxas. These forces were left isolated after the pronouncement of Cochabamba (September 14) and later of Oruro (September 24) in favor of the Junta in Buenos Aires.

The royalist forces comprised the provincial battalion of Potosí, under commander Indalecio González de Socasa; the Puno battalion; veterans of Borbón; the King's Volunteers; dragoons of Chichas and lancers of Cinti. The revolutionary forces included the first battalion under commander Gregorio Perdiel; sixth battalion under commander Carlos Forest, Hunters battalion under commander Manuel Dorrego; Blandengues battallion under commander Abraham González; and the Husars Regiment under commander Martín Miguel de Güemes.

The attack started in the early hours of the morning and ended at 2pm the same day. Not having been able to dislodge the royalists from their trenches, Balcarce effected and orderly retreat without being chased.

After the Cotagaita action, the revolutionary forces were obligated to retreat towards Tupiza and then Suipacha, to await reinforcement, where later they achieved the ir first victory at the Battle of Suipacha.

References

*es icon [http://www.camdipsalta.gov.ar/INFSALTA/cotagaita.htm History of Salta]