Capture of Valdivia

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Capture of Valdivia
partof=the Chilean War of Independence


caption= A painting of the fall of Valdivia in the Chilean naval and maritime museum
date=From 3 to 4 February of 1820
place=Corral, near Valdivia (Chile)
result=Fall of the Spanish stronghold of Valdivia and incorporation into the Chilean Republic
combatant1=
combatant2=flagicon|Spain|1785 Royalists coastal defenses
commander1=flagicon|UK Thomas Cochrane
flagicon|France|1820 Jorge Beauchef
commander2=flagicon|Spain|1785 Fausto del Hoyo
flagicon|Spain|1785 Manuel Montoya
strength1=350
strength2=1.606
118 canons
casualties1=7 killed
19 wounded
casualties2=~100 killed
106 prisoners The Capture of Valdivia was a battle in the Chilean War of Independence between Spanish forces commanded by Colonel Manuel Montoya and the Chilean forces under the command of Lord Thomas Cochrane, held on 3 and 4 February of 1820.

Background

After failing to capture the Spanish fortress of Real Felipe in El Callao Thomas Cochrane decided to assault the city of Valdivia, one of the most fortified places in America by the time. Valdivia was considered a threat to Chilean independence as it was a stronghold and supply base for Spanish troops.

Valdivia was isolated from the rest of Chile by native Mapuche territory, and the only entrance to Valdivia was via the mouth of Valdivia River; Corral Bay. The bay was fortified with several forts built to prevent pirate raids or any attack from a foreign nation.

Fortifications

The defenses at Valdivia consisted of a number of forts and defensive positions. On the South side of the habour were four forts - Fort Ingles, Fort San Carlos, Fort Amargos and Fort Chorocomayo. Further inland was Corral Castle to defend against a landward assault. On the Northern side was the stone walled Fort Niebla. Mancera Island in the centre of the habour was also heavily garrisoned.

Battle

Facing these powerful fortifications, Thomas Cochrane decided to attack the forts from the land in an amphibious nighttime operation. The troops landed south of the bay on the Aguada del Ingles (the English Beach). Taken by surprise, the Fort Ingles was captured quickly, with the fugitives running towards the next fort, Fort San Carlos. The attackers got in among the fleeing Spanish troops and in the confusion were able to capture San Carlos and subsequently the other two forts on the south side of the habour, with only Fort Chorocomayo showing brief resistance before capitulating.

After the success of the attack on the forts of the southern shore, Thomas Cochrane called a halt for the night. He anticipated an altogether grimmer fight in the morning to capture the remaining fortifications, as he had lost the element of surprise. Surprisingly, in the morning the commands of the other forts decided to surrender without a fight, with the garrisons of Fort Niebla and Manzanera Island retreating upstream. The town of Valdivia surrendered soon after.

Reason for the loss

The overwhelming reason for the loss was the appalling morale of the Spanish troops in Chile, eroded by corruption and the sense that the war against the rebels in Chile was lost. They also held a deeply superstitious belief that Cochrane was a 'devil' and therefore could not be defeated.

Aftermath

The Spanish troops inside Valdivia itself sacked the city and then went to Osorno. These troops later moved to reinforce Chiloé Island which was the last Spanish possession in Chile. Lord Thomas Cochrane tried to conquer the island without success.

The capture of Valdivia effectively ended the last vestiges of Spanish power in mainland Chile and opened up the way for Chilean and Peruvian independence.

Additional information

External links and sources

* [http://turcorral.blogdiario.com/1206974580/ History of the fortifications of Valdivia] es
* [http://www.nuestro.cl/chilecronico/valdivia_oses5.htm Capture of Valdivia] es

Bibliography

*Gonzalo Contreras. "Lord Cochrane bajo la bandera de Chile". Santiago, Editorial Zig-Zag, 1993, ISBN 956-12-0812-1
*Francisco Encina. "Historia de Chile". Santiago, Editorial Nascimiento, 1949.
*Jaime Eyzaguirre. "O'Higgins". Santiago, Editorial Zig-Zag, 1982, ISBN 9561210223
*Renato Valenzuela Ugarte. "Bernardo O´Higgins. El Estado de Chile y el Poder Naval". Santiago, Editorial Andrés Bello, ISBN 9561316048
*Estado Mayor del Ejército de Chile. "Historia Militar de Chile". Memorial del Ejército de Chile Nº 351. 1969