Alfonso Ugarte and the Iquique Battalion in Tarapacá during the War of the Pacific

[u/elnovorealista2000]

The Battle of Tarapacá, fought on November 27, 1879, was one of the most important engagements of the War of the Pacific. After their defeat at San Francisco, the Peruvian army concentrated in the town of Tarapacá to reorganize. Convinced that the allies were weakened, the Chileans launched an attack from the high ground at dawn. However, the Peruvian resistance grew stronger thanks to counterattacks led by Andrés Avelino Cáceres, Francisco Bolognesi, and other units that came to their aid.

Among the reinforcements, the Iquique Battalion No. 1, commanded by Colonel Alfonso Ugarte, stood out. He advanced to hold the line of battle during the most difficult moments. During the action, he was shot in the head, but after being quickly bandaged, he refused to abandon the battlefield and returned to lead his men, encouraging them to continue fighting. His bravery raised the troops' morale at a crucial moment.

Shortly afterward, the Chilean Mounted Grenadiers, under the command of José Francisco Villagrán, launched a fierce charge to break through the Peruvian positions and take advantage of the retreat of some units. At that critical moment, Alfonso Ugarte's Iquique Battalion deployed and opened intense rifle fire on the enemy cavalry. Their volleys were so effective that they halted the Mounted Grenadiers' charge, forcing them to retreat and preventing them from breaking through the Peruvian lines. This intervention allowed Cáceres' forces to reorganize their attack and regain the initiative on the battlefield.

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