Capture of Valdivia

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Capture of Valdivia
Part of the Chilean War of Independence
View of the fort in Niebla involved in the fall of Valdivia
Date From 3 to 4 February of 1820 Location Corral, near Valdivia (Chile) Result Fall of the Spanish stronghold of Valdivia and incorporation into the Chilean Republic
Combatants
Spanish troops	Chilean troops
Commanders
Colonel Manuel Montoya	Admiral Thomas Alexander Cochrane
Strength
1.606 (118 canons)	350
Casualties
~100 killed and 106 prisoners	7 killed and 19 wounded.

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.

Contents 1 Background 2 Fortifications 3 Battle 4 Reason for the loss 5 Aftermath

[edit] 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 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.

[edit] 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. Manzanera Island in the centre of the habour was also heavily garrisoned.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.