The Naval Battle of Abtao took place on February 7, 1866, between a Spanish naval squadron and a combined Peruvian-Chilean fleet, at the island of Abtao in the Chiloé Archipelago of central Chile. A Peruvian battery during the Battle of Callao The Chincha Islands War (in Spanish, Guerra Hispano-Peruana) (1864-1866) was a series of coastal and naval battles between Spain and its former colonies of Peru and Chile. ... Image File history File links Abtao. ... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Chilo Island (Spanish: Isla de Chilo , or Isla Grande de Chilo ) is an island off the Pacific coast of South America, part of Chile. ... Manuel Manny Bamba Villar, Jr. ... A Peruvian battery during the Battle of Callao The Chincha Islands War (in Spanish, Guerra Hispano-Peruana) (1864-1866) was a series of coastal and naval battles between Spain and its former colonies of Peru and Chile. ... The Battle of Papudo was a naval engagement fought between Spain and a combined Peruvian-Chilean fleet on November 26, 1865. ... Combatants Spain Peru and allies Commanders Casto Méndez Núñez Mariano Ignacio Prado; various commanders Strength 14 ships several ships, infantry, cavalry, townspeople Casualties around 50 dead, 83 wounded around 200 The Battle of Callao (in Spanish, sometimes called el Combate del Dos de Mayo) occurred on May 2... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Chiloé Island Location of Chiloé in Chile Chiloé Island (Spanish: Isla de Chiloé), also known as Isla Grande de Chiloé Big Island of Chiloé, is a South American island off the coast of Chile, in the Pacific Ocean. ...

Background

Chiloé in Chile

Sent by Peruvian president Mariano Ignacio Prado, who had rallied the South Americans in defense against Spanish aggression, the allies had sailed in convoy from the town of Ancud to the island of Abtao. There they waited. Chiloe Island, Chile Created from other Wikipedia maps of Chile File links The following pages link to this file: Chiloé Categories: GFDL images | NowCommons ... Chiloe Island, Chile Created from other Wikipedia maps of Chile File links The following pages link to this file: Chiloé Categories: GFDL images | NowCommons ... Mariano Ignacio Prado was twice president of Peru Mariano Ignacio Prado (1826-1901) was twice the President of Peru, from (1865-68, 1876-79). ...

The Spanish commander Casto Méndez Núñez, after learning of the location of the Peruvian-Chilean fleet, lifted the blockade on Valparaiso and sailed towards Abtao. Casto Méndez Núñez (July 1, 1824 — August 21, 1869), Spanish military naval officer. ... Valparaiso is the name of at least three cities and a village: Valparaíso, Chile Valparaiso, Florida Valparaiso, Indiana Valparaiso, Nebraska This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

On January 16, 1866, the combined Peruvian-Chilean fleet, composed of the Peruvian frigates Apurimac and Amazonas and the recently captured and refurbished Chilean schooner Covadonga, had convoyed from the port of Ancud towards the shipyards on the little island of Abtao, at the head of the southern Chiloé Archipelago. On Abtao island, the Chileans had also built some military fortifications, which were strategically located at the end of a shallow and treacherous channel. January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Chiloé Island Location of Chiloé in Chile Chiloé Island (Spanish: Isla de Chiloé), also known as Isla Grande de Chiloé Big Island of Chiloé, is a South American island off the coast of Chile, in the Pacific Ocean. ...

Battle

The Spanish steam frigates Villa de Madrid and Reina Blanca appeared off the inlet of Abtao on February 7, 1866, but did not enter, fearing the shallow water.

Manuel Villar, Commander of the Peruvian First Naval Division and commander of the combined fleet, ordered the attack when the Spaniards began to proceed through the widest channel. The allied ships included Apurímac, América, Unión, and Covadonga.

The fleets engaged shots; the Spanish had 96 guns in total, the allies 57. Spanish fire remained ineffective against the determined allies, as the Spaniards feared proceeding further into the channel and the unknown hydrography in the environs of Abtao Island. The Spanish fleet began to withdraw, suffering the worst of the battle, and retreated to Valparaiso. The battle raised morale amongst the South Americans -raising men like to the level of heroes-, who had proven to themselves and to the world that they could demonstrate their courage and military capacity against a European power. They were to demonstrate their abilities again at the Battle of Callao, in which the Spaniards were forced to withdraw once again after bombardment of the Peruvian port of Callao. Combatants Spain Peru and allies Commanders Casto Méndez Núñez Mariano Ignacio Prado; various commanders Strength 14 ships several ships, infantry, cavalry, townspeople Casualties around 50 dead, 83 wounded around 200 The Battle of Callao (in Spanish, sometimes called el Combate del Dos de Mayo) occurred on May 2... Callao (Spanish: El Callao) is the largest and most important port in Peru. ...

Aftermath

When Rear Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez learnt about the results of Abtao, he travelled south with the Numancia, Resolución and Reina Blanca to try to force a new combat with the allies. But all his efforts were unsuccessful. The Allied fleet had moved to Huito, a position of much more difficult access than Abtao. Huito is a South American fruit growing in the jungle. ...

On March 25, the Peruvian corvettes Unión and América were sent to the Strait of Magellan to intercept the Spanish frigate Almansa, that according to intelligence reports had been dispatched from Spain to reinforce the Pacific fleet. The Peruvian ships remained in the area for over a month, but were not able to locate it. The Almansa didn't arrive to the Pacific coast until the end of April. The chilean government also sent steamer Maipú to the strait to intercept the spanish steamers Odessa and Vascongada.

The rest of the Allied fleet remained on the defensive in southern Chile, awaiting the arrival of the irconclads Huáscar and Independencia, destined to become the factor that would change the force equilibrium. Both ships had departed from Brest the 26th of February, in what would be a long and difficult travel. They were accompanied by the Britanic vapor Thames, which transported carbon and other provisions. The 30th of March of 1866, in front of Brazilian waters, the Peruvian ironclads caused a new turn to the Spaniards by intercepting the Peninsula's bergantines of Dorotea and Paco. The first was destroyed while the second, by moving quickly, was able to escape capture.

Trivia

Sub-lieutenant Patricio Montojo y Pasarón, later to become an Admiral and commander-in-chief of the Spanish Navy in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, participated in this battle from the frigate Almansa. Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón (1839-1917) was the Spanish naval commander at the Battle of Manila Bay (May 1, 1898), a decisive battle of the Spanish-American War. ... Combatants United States Republic of Cuba Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Casualties 3,289 U.S. dead (only 432 from combat); considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino casualties Unknown[1] The Spanish...

Lieutenants Arturo Prat (Chilean) and Miguel Grau (Peruvian), who were later to battle each other at the Naval Battle of Iquique, were comrades in this battle. Commander Arturo Prat Agustín Arturo Prat Chacón (April 4, 1848, near Ninhue - May 21, 1879, Iquique) was a Chilean naval officer and martyr of the War of the Pacific. ... Miguel Grau Seminario Rear Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario (July 27, 1834 - October 8, 1879) was a renowned Peruvian naval officer and hero of the Naval Battle of Angamos during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884). ... The Battle of Iquique took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru. ...

External links

• El Combate Naval de Abtao (includes an animated reenactment of the battle) (Spanish)
• Abtao (Spanish)