 |
| Battle of Locumba | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Tacna and Arica campaign of the War of the Pacific | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Peru |  Chile | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Gregorio Albarracín | Diego D. Almeyda | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 150 Infantry | 30 Cavalry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | 8 killed, 18 captured | ||||||
The Battle of Locumba was a battle of the Tacna and Arica campaign of the War of the Pacific that took place on April 1, 1880, between the Chilean cavalry and the Peruvian garrison at the town.
After the Chilean landing in Ilo and Pacocha, the Chilean command ordered to take positions towards the interior of Moquegua and Tacna, in order to ensure communication routes with the interior and to guard against movements of the Peruvian army, as well as disorienting its command over the immediate objective of the Chilean expeditionary army. [1] In March 1880, Baquedano sent 60 men to Chironta, 30 to Locumba, and 60 to Cinto.
In November 1879, Rear Admiral Lizardo Montero took command of the Peruvian army in Tacna and once the Chilean landing was known, he sent Colonel Gregorio Albarracín in command of the Flankers of Tacna to carry out reconnaissance and harassment actions against the Chilean troops. [1]
According to the diary of Alberto del Solar:
The following data were known, however, in the headquarters -and even we knew them-: the famous Albarracín, well mounted and with not inconsiderable cavalry forces, prowled around the surroundings: his main objective was to destroy the elements that could be us of some use; their desire, luring us into ambushes and attacking us by surprise... [2]
After the Battle of Los Angeles, an outpost composed of 30 men, under the command of Commander Diego Dublé Almeyda, left Pacocha on March 31. In Camiara, he met some Chinese workers who had risen up and it was reported that Albarracín was east of Locumba. [3]
He then arrived at a neighboring farm to Locumba and meets an Italian who tells him that there were no Peruvian forces in the town and that they could occupy it without resistance, which was later verified by Captain Rojas Almeida. [1] [3] This allowed the men of Dublé Almeyda to initially enter the town.
The Chilean author Vicuña Mackenna states that they agreed to have lunch with an individual who called himself the local priest, and some neighbors who also verified that the Chileans were free to occupy the town. [3] [1] They left their horses in the plaza in the charge of a sergeant, and having lookouts posted, they entered the house. Shortly after entering, shots were fired at the officers and soldiers who were residing in the square. [3]
Colonel Gregorio Albarracín's report indicates that on April 1 Juan McLean informed him that a Chilean column was in Chironta and that Celestino Vargas had been captured, so Albarracín decided to go to the town of Locumba where he attacked the Chileans that stationed in the town. [1] [3]
Dublé Almeyda and three soldiers managed to mount and evade the confrontation, managing to reach Moquegua. [3] Eight Chileans were killed and the rest were prisoners of war who were sent to Tacna and then La Paz. [1]
On April 10, a force of 750 Chileans set out to look for Gregorio Albarracín, but couldn't find him in Locumba. Other battles were fought with the local guerrillas. On May 2, 1880, the town of Locumba was set on fire by Colonel Lisandro Orrego, head of the Santiago regiment. [3]
Commander Dublé surrendered to the Chilean high command to be tried in a court martial but got acquitted of the charges thanks to the efficient defense made by his brother Baldomero. [3]
Tacna is a city in southern Peru and the regional capital of the Tacna Region. A very commercially active city, it is located only 35 km (22 mi) north of the border with Arica y Parinacota Region from Chile, inland from the Pacific Ocean and in the valley of the Caplina River. It is Peru's tenth most populous city.
Tacna is the southernmost department and region in Peru. The Chilean Army occupied the present-day Tacna Department during the War of the Pacific from 1885 to 1929 when it was reincorporated into Peruvian soil.
Francisco Bolognesi Cervantes was a Peruvian military general. He is considered a national hero in Peru and was declared patron of the Army of Peru by the government of Peru on January 2 of 1951.
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The Battle of Los Ángeles was a military action fought on 22 March 1880 between the Chilean and Peruvian armies during the Tacna and Arica Campaign of the War of the Pacific. The Chilean forces under Commander in chief Manuel Baquedano assaulted and defeated the Allied stronghold guided by Andrés Gamarra garrisoned at Los Angeles hill top.
The Tacna and Arica campaign is known as the stage of the War of the Pacific after the Chilean conquest of the Peruvian department of Tarapacá, ending with Chilean domination of the Moquegua department in southern Peru. During this campaign Bolivia retired from the war after the Battle of Tacna, and Peru lost the port of Arica. Also, Manuel Baquedano assumed command as the new Commander in Chief of the Chilean Army, and the Allied Presidents were thrown out of office and replaced by Nicolas de Pierola in Peru and General Narciso Campero in Bolivia.
Tarapacá was a Department of Peru, which existed between 1878 and 1884, when it was unconditionally ceded to Chile after the War of the Pacific under the Treaty of Ancón.
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The Peruvian Civil War of 1843–1844 was the second internal conflict in 19th century Peru. It was fought between the government forces of Vivanco and Echenique against the revolutionaries led by Domingo Nieto and Ramon Castilla. A battle was fought at Pachia in Tacna on August 29, 1843. A clash occurred at San Antonio, Moquegua on October 27, 1843. Domingo Nieto died on February 17, 1844. From June 17 to June 29, 1844, fighting occurred in the capital Lima between the government and supporters of Domingo Elías. A final clash occurred at Carmen Alto on July 22, 1844.
The Tacna Province was a territorial division of Chile that existed between 1884 and 1929. It was ceded by the Treaty of Ancón in 1883 and placed under military administration, and then created on the 31st of October 1884, incorporating the former Peruvian provinces of Tacna and Arica of the also former Tacna Department, as well as a contested claim over Tarata, and was returned to Peru at midnight on the 28th of August 1929, under the terms agreed upon in the Treaty of Lima of the same year.
The Lima campaign is the third land campaign of the War of the Pacific, carried out by Chile between December 1880 and January 1881. The campaign ended with the Chilean occupation of the Peruvian capital and the establishment of the Chilean authority in it and other surrounding territories, which would extend until 1883, with the end of the war.
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Sofanor Parra Hermosilla, was a Chilean military officer who served in the Chilean Army, in the cavalry branch, and who reached the rank of divisional general.
Gregorio Albarracín Lanchipa was a Peruvian Colonel and War Hero who participated in the Peruvian-Bolivian War of 1841-1842, the Peruvian Civil War of 1843–1844, the Peruvian Civil War of 1856–1858 and the War of the Pacific. He is known as El Centauro de las Vilcas as he was notable for using a vilca, a typical tree from Tacna, as a pole to raise the Peruvian flag during the Chilean administration of the area.
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