Battle of Angaco

Part of Argentine Civil Wars

Date	16 August 1841
Location	Angaco Department, San Juan Province, Argentina
Result	Unitarian victory

Belligerents

Federal Army of the West

Unitarians

Commanders and leaders

José Félix Aldao

Mariano Acha

Strength

Total: 1.947-2.297
(c. 2.200 men)

700 infantry
1.127-1.477 cavalry
120 artillery
4 cannons

Total: 629
(c. 500-600 men)

250 infantry
340 cavalry
39 artillery
2 cannons

Casualties and losses

Over 1,000 dead, 157 prisoners

170 dead, 144 wounded

Total: 1.947-2.297
(c. 2.200 men)

Total: 629
(c. 500-600 men)

The Battle of Angaco (16 August 1841), was a clash in the Argentine Civil Wars between Unitarian and Federalist forces at Angaco, about 23 kilometres (14 mi) NNE of San Juan, Argentina, that gave an ephemeral advantage to the Unitarians. The federal leader was General José Félix Aldao and the Unitarians were led by Mariano Acha. This was the bloodiest of all battles of the Argentine civil wars. The Unitarians won a transitory victory, because soon after Federalists retook the city of San Juan and defeated, captured and killed Acha.

In May 1840 La Rioja Province separated from the Confederation of Argentina and joined the Northern Coalition. This made the Cuyo provinces launch a campaign against La Rioja. In 1841 the dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas had managed to end the support that the French were supplying to the Unitarians, repulsed Juan Lavalle in Buenos Aires Province and resolved the situation in Montevideo. Rosas now began to take a grip in the contest.

Federal troops took La Rioja Province, but did not destroy the Unitarian army. In Sañogasta the Governor of San Juan, Nazario Benavídez, beat La Rioja governor Tomás Brizuela and forced him to take flight. Brizuela, wounded in the back, was taken prisoner and died shortly after. The Unitarian General Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid marched on the city of La Rioja, which was unprotected, and took it. Meanwhile, Ángel Vicente Peñaloza (Chacho Peñaloza) reassembled his army in the plains, threatening San Juan, and harassing the border towns between the two provinces. Benavidez, leading troops from San Juan, and Aldao, with troops from Mendoza and San Luis, planned to meet and take the city of La Rioja.

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Wikipedia