Yerbas Buenas Surprise, 1813

The Yerbas Buenas Surprise was the first battle for Chile's independence during the 1813 campaign. The Realists who advanced without resistance through the south of Chile find themselves confronted in the morning against a force of 500 patriotic men under the command of Juan de Dios Puga who at dawn commands a load on horseback against the more than 3 thousand Realists stationed in the town advancing towards Santiago. Initially the combat was advantageous for the Patriots who with surprise managed to capture prisoners, weaponry and even part of the enemy artillery but after the past few minutes the Realists manage to carry out an organized defense and expel the Patriots, the Patriota retreat was extremely disorganized since in the clash the only drum of the detachment fell into battle.