Battle of Buin

Part of the "Chilean-Confederation war"

Date	January 6, 1839
Location	Buin, Huaylas province; Peru
Result	Indecisive

Belligerents

United Chilean-Peruvian Restoration Army

Peru-Bolivian Confederation

Commanders and leaders

Manuel Bulnes

Agustin Gamarra

Andrés de Santa Cruz

Strength

1,500 men:
3 infantry battalions

6,000 men:
9 infantry battalions
two cannons

Casualties and losses

319 casualties.

65 casualties.

The Battle of Buin was fought on January 6, 1839, during the Chilean second expedition of the War of the Confederation. The Restoring Army rearguard led by General Manuel Bulnes successfully held the bridge over the Buin River in the North Peruvian territory from the attack of the Confederacy Army commanded by Marshal Andres de Santa Cruz, yet retreated to San Miguel leaving the field before Santa Cruz could engage him again.

Both countries consider this action as a victory. In Chile, a regiment was named "Buin" 1st Line Regiment on 1851, in commemoration of the soldiers who fought and died in this encounter. This Unit still preserves its name.

South America had been in turmoil since the War of the Confederation broke out on 1836. Chile, feeling threatened by Andres de Santa Cruz' growing influence in the continent and his intentions to create a Peru-Bolivian Confederacy, declared war on 1837. Chile sent an expedition under Manuel Blanco Encalada, but the latter failed in his task, and surrounded and outnumbered at Arequipa was forced to sign the Treaty of Paucarpata on November 17, compromising to resume trade relations with the Confederacy. This treaty was widely rejected by the Chilean government and public opinion, so a new expedition was sent, led this time by General Manuel Bulnes Prieto, a veteran from revolutionary wars during Jose Joaquin Prieto's Presidency.

The army assembled by Chile for the second expedition was formed by seven infantry battalions, two cavalry regiments, plus six artillery pieces; having a nominal strength of 5,400 men.

Santa Cruz' army was strong in about 6,000 men divided into four Corps, made up by Peruvians and Bolivians, all veterans of internal wars in their respective countries.

The Restoring Army lands at Ancon on August 7, 1838. Bulnes believed that Orbegoso had abandoned the Confederacy, but the latter refused to authorize Bulnes' forces disembark. This tense situation led to a confrontation and a subsequent engagement at Portada de Guias on August 21, where Bulnes obtains his first victory in this campaign and enters in Peru's capital city. Four days later, Peruvian Marshal Agustin Gamarra is appointed as a provisional President of Peru.

This caused Santa Cruz to march over Lima. In the ensuing combat of Matucana, Bulnes results triumphant again. This setback diminishes Santa Cruz' army morale. Before these events, General Brown had defeated the bulk of the Argentinean Army at the Battle of Montenegro on June 24, 1838. On November 12, General Heredia is assassinated, ending the participation of Argentina in the war.

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Wikipedia