Battle of Arica
Part of the War of the Pacific
The Battle of Arica by Juan Lepiani depicts Bolognesi's final moments. Oil on canvas, Lima, Peru.
Date July 7, 1880 Location Morro de Arica, Peru (present-day Chile) Result Chilean victory
Combatants
Chile	Peru
Commanders
Pedro Lagos	Francisco Bolognesi †
Strength
4,000	2,000
Casualties
474 dead or wounded	~1,000 dead or wounded 1 monitor lost

The Battle of Arica or the assault and capture of the Morro de Arica (Arica Cape), took place on July 7, 1880, between the forces of Chile and Peru. The Chileans were led by Coronel Pedro Lagos, while the defending Peruvian forces were under the command of Coronel Francisco Bolognesi. Combatants Republic of Peru Republic of Bolivia Republic of Chile Commanders Juan Buendía Andrés Cáceres Miguel Grau Manuel Baquedano Patricio Lynch Arturo Prat Strength Peru-Bolivian Army Peruvian Navy Army of Chile Chilean Navy The War of the Pacific, sometimes called the Saltpeter War in reference to... Oil Painting by Juan Lepiani currently in the Aricas combatants museum in Lima, Peru. ... Lima is the capital and largest city in Peru, as well as the capital of Lima Province. ... July 7 is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 177 days remaining. ... 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Morro de Arica Arica is a port city in northern Chile, located only 18 km (11 miles) south of the border with Peru. ... It was born in Chillán in 1832, the family formed by Manuel Lagos y Jara Quemada, and Rosario Marchant . ... Francisco Bolognesi was a Peruvian military hero. ... Combatants Republic of Peru Republic of Bolivia Republic of Chile Commanders Juan Buendía Andrés Cáceres Miguel Grau Manuel Baquedano Patricio Lynch Arturo Prat Strength Peru-Bolivian Army Peruvian Navy Army of Chile Chilean Navy The War of the Pacific, sometimes called the Saltpeter War in reference to... Combatants Chile Bolivia Commanders  ? Ladislao Cabrera Strength 554 soldiers 135 soldiers Casualties {{{notes}}} The Battle of Topáter was fought on March 23, 1879 between Chile and Bolivia. ... Combatants Chile Peru Commanders Juan Jose Latorre Aurelio Garcia Strength 1 corvette 2 corvettes Casualties none none {{{notes}}} The Naval Combat of Chipana took place on April 12, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. ... 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. ... ... Combatants Chile Peru, Bolivia Commanders Erasmo Escala Strength 2,100 1,150 The Battle of Pisagua was fought on November 2, 1879, between Chile and the combined forces of Peru and Bolivia. ... Combatants Chile Peru, Bolivia Commanders Erasmo Escala Strength 6,000 7,400 The Battle of San Francisco was fought on November 19, 1879, between Chile and the combined forces of Peru and Bolivia. ... Combatants Peru Chile Commanders Andrés Avelino Cáceres Eleuterio Ramírez Strength at least 4,000 at least 3,000 The Battle of Tarapacá was fought on November 27, 1879 between Chile and Peru. ... This article is for the Bombardment of Callao during the War of the Pacific, for the conflict during the Chincha Islands War see Battle of Callao. ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... Arica is a port city in northern Chile, and is the capital of Arica Province in Tarapacá Region. ... July 7 is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 177 days remaining. ... 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... It was born in Chillán in 1832, the family formed by Manuel Lagos y Jara Quemada, and Rosario Marchant . ... Francisco Bolognesi was a Peruvian military hero. ...

Naval Bombardment

On February 27 the Chilean Navy began bombarding the city's defenses in preparation for the ground attack. The Chilean Huáscar fought an ongoing and inconclusive duel with the remaining Peruvian ironclad, the Manco Cápac. Though outclassed, the Peruvian monitor managed to hold the Chilean fleet at bay for 4 months, until the Chilean Army closed in on the city from the rear. February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... A bombardment is an attack by artillery fire directed against fortifications, troops or towns and buildings. ... Huáscar is a small armoured turret ship, similar to the monitor type. ... Ironclad warships, frequently shortened to just ironclads, were ships sheathed with thick iron plates for protection. ... // [edit] USS Oneota USS Oneota, a harbor and river monitor built at Cincinnati, Ohio, by Alex Swift & Co. ... A monitor was a special form of warship, little more than a self-propelled floating artillery platform that could move close inshore and give its support to military operations on land. ...

The Battle

Coronel Lagos had been given orders by the Chilean high command to take the Peruvian port of Arica, and left to decide on his own the way to do it. He decided on a frontal assault with only 4,000 infantry, divided into three groups. The targets were the 3 main defenses of the city: the East fort, the Ciudadela (Citadel) fort and finally the Cape fort. Morro de Arica Arica is a port city in northern Chile, located only 18 km (11 miles) south of the border with Peru. ...

The Peruvian defenders at these first two forts, caught by surprise, were very quickly defeated. The Peruvians then retreated towards their main defense, up the cape, fighting back and trying to reorganize their lines. At that point, Lagos' idea was to wait for reinforcements before finally storming the Cape fort.

Nevertheless an unidentified soldier shouted "¡Al morro muchachos!" ("To the Cape, boys!"), causing the mass assault. Chilean infantry had to run up the hill facing the allied men commanded by Colonel Bolognesi. Also recently discovered the chileans also had to climb the cape. Francisco Bolognesi was a Peruvian military hero. ...

The final Chilean assault was directed by Major Juan Jose San Martín (who died in battle) and Sergeant Major Felipe Solo de Zaldívar who was the first to reach the summit.

Aftermath

Chileans taking possession of Arica Cape after the battle

The Chileans won the battle and Coronel Bolognesi was killed. Some other high ranking Peruvian officers who also perished were Colonel Alfonso Ugarte (who purportedly jumped off the cliff on his horse to mislead pursuing Chilean troops down into the underlying Pacific ocean), and Colonel Mariano Bustamante, his Chief of Detail. Image File history File links Captura_arica. ... Image File history File links Captura_arica. ... Francisco Bolognesi was a Peruvian military hero. ... Alfonso Ugarte (born 13 July 1847, died ?) was a Peruvian hero of the War of the Pacific, between Peru and Bolivia against Chile. ... Mariano Ernesto Bustamante, A native of Arequipa, Peru who incorporated into the army to fight as a colonel during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. ...

These three Peruvian officers belonged to the group that on the eve of the battle had gallantly rejected an offer to surrender the garrison to the Chilean army, and prompted Colonel Bolognesi to vow to the Chilean emissary that he was to defend the garrison to the last shot.

Another very high ranking officer who survived the battle and its aftermath was Lieutenant Coronel Roque Saenz Peña, a volunteer officer of the Peruvian Army, who later went on to become President of Argentina. Roque Sáenz Peña Lahitte (1851 - 1914) was President of Argentina from 12 October 1910 to 9 August 1914, day when he died in office. ...

The feat was heroic, but it was marred by the lack of control over the assaulting troops, that led to a widespread killing of the surviving and surrendered Peruvian soldiers and the citizens of the already captured city, which was looted.

With the fall of the city, Manco Cápac found herself short on supplies and the nearist suitable friendly port was four days away at Callao. Faced with an impossible trip she was scuttled to prevent her capture by the Chilean military. Callao (Spanish: El Callao) is the largest and most important port in Peru. ...

Since the Morro de Arica was the last bulwark of defence for the allied troops standing in the city, its occupation by Chile has been of utmost historical relevance for both countries. The city to this day remains part of Chile, and is a constant symbol of friction with his neighboors Peru and Bolivia (whose main port remains to date.)

See also

• War of the Pacific

Combatants Republic of Peru Republic of Bolivia Republic of Chile Commanders Juan Buendía Andrés Cáceres Miguel Grau Manuel Baquedano Patricio Lynch Arturo Prat Strength Peru-Bolivian Army Peruvian Navy Army of Chile Chilean Navy The War of the Pacific, sometimes called the Saltpeter War in reference to...

References

• navsource.org: USS Oneota