Battle of San Roque

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict = Battle of San Roque
partof = Argentine civil wars


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date = 22 April 1829
place = Córdoba Province, Argentina
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territory =
result = Unitarian victory
status =
combatant1 = Federalists
combatant2 = Unitarians (Central Government)
combatant3 =
commander1 = flagicon|Liga Federal Juan Bautista Bustos
commander2 = José María Paz
commander3 =
strength1 =
strength2 =
strength3 =
casualties1 =
casualties2 =
casualties3 =
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Battle of San Roque was part of the Argentine civil wars, fought between the Federalist forces of Córdoba Province governor Juan Bautista Bustos and general José María Paz by the Primero river, near the city of Córdoba, Argentina, on 22 April 1829. As a result of Paz's victory, he assumed the post of provincial governor.

Prelude

General Bustos had governed Córdoba since the days of de Arequito Revolt, in 1820. His confronting Paz, who had fought with him at the revolt, had started a few months after: Paz thought Bustos had betrauyed the rebel group, not carrying his army to the front of the war of independence (from the Spanish Empire) in Upper Peru.

After a lackluster career in Salta Province, Paz had made a name for himself at the war with Brazil, where he was promoted to the rank of general after the Battle of Ituzaingó. He then declared himself to be against Buenos Aires governor Manuel Dorrego who had been forced to sign a peace treaty with the Empire of Brazil granting the independence of Uruguay and its separation from the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. Paz supported the a revolution against Dorrego, organized and fought by the forces of Juan Lavalle.

While Lavalle had not yet been able to vanquish the dissidents in his province, Paz gathered his troops in the interior of the country and marched north, with the excuse to return his men to their provinces. Instead, when he reached Córdoba's provincial capital city, que demanded Bustos's resignation, whose mandate had expired, and to elect a new governor (the provincial constitution had term limits and prohibited a third mandate), while everybody at the time knew that who Paz had in mind for a candidate was himself.

Paz entered Córdoba city with his powerful army, but Bustos run away to a ranch at San Roque, on the foothills near the city. Bustos tried to negotiate an agreement by which the new governor would be neither of them. Paz disagreed, broke relations, and accused Bustos of delaying tactics while awaiting reinforcements. That was entirely true as Bustos had sent a message to Juan Facundo Quiroga, caudillo and militia commander in La Rioja Province, asking for help.

Battle development

Before Bustos could receive reinforcements, Paz advanced towards San Roque. Bustos made a last effort, sending his son-in-law Arredondo to negotiate peace. Paz attacked without answering. It is possible, judging by the lack of movements or preparations on the part of Bustos, that Arredondo had not yet arrived with a response, so the federalist commander would have thought they were still within a period of truce. Paz's behavior the next year at the Battle of Oncativo supposes this was the case.

Bustos was not very experienced in battle, and the few he had won were from defensive positions. He therefore just waited for the unitarians, protecting his position with artillery. Paz simply divided his forces and commanded his lieutenants to just walk over anybody on their front. The order was followed in each of his groups, after a severe bombardment over the federalist positions by commander Arengreen's artillery. The divisions commanded by Román Deheza, Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid and Juan Esteban Pedernera displaced the enemy's forces before them with ease.

The federalist troops, on their side were severely affected by the unitarian bombardment, and after the capture of their artillery and heavy loses of their men, they simply ran. The unitarian cavalry slaughtered the running enemy causing miore than 100 dead in a few minutes. In a little more than a half hour of combat, Bustos ordered a retreat of his remaining forces.

Consequences

Bustos was forced to leave, running for refuge within Quiroga's troops, therefore abandoning his province. Only a month later, Bustos and Quiroga tried again for revenge: invaded the province of Córdoba, occupied most of the western hills and marched on the provincial capital. They confronted Paz at the Battle of La Tablada but ultimate victory was again on Paz's side.

Córdoba province remained under Paz's and unitarian control, joined with the federalists that had left Bustos plus the young class of city lawyers and merchants. He then set to make at least a tacit alliance with the unitarian governments of the provinces of Tucumán and Salta, and after the next battles he could formalize the Unitarian League (a.k.a. "Liga del Interior")

San Roque was the first of four battles commanded by general Paz. He won all four decisively, distinguishing himself as the best Argentine general of the time.

The Battle of San Roque's field is today under the waters of San Roque Lake

Bibliography

* cite book | last = Bischoff | first = Efraín | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Historia de Córdoba
publisher = Ed. Plus Ultra | date = 1989 | location = Buenos Aires | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =
* cite book | last = Bischoff | first = Efraín | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Por qué Córdoba fue invadida en 1829
publisher = Ed. Plus Ultra | date = 1975 | location = Buenos Aires | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =
* cite book | last = Paz | first = José María | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Memorias Póstumas
publisher = Ed. Emecé | date = 2000 | location = Buenos Aires | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =