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Battle of Pisagua

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The Battle of Pisagua was fought on November 2, 1879, between Chile and the combined forces of Peru and Bolivia. The Chileans, led by Erasmo Escala, launched an amphibious assault on the port of Pisagua, and successfully drove back the Peruvian-Bolivian forces, allowing a force of 10,000 Chileans to land.

Prelude

After Chile took control of the Pacific with the victory at Angamos on October 8th, a landing became imminent in order to start the terrestrial campaign to gain control of the Tarapaca province. The allies had two strongholds at that time in the province, Tacna and Iquique, so it was pretty clear for the Chilean command than the landing had to isolate and interrupt the communications between this two important emplacements. In order to achieve this goal, was decided to attack the port of Pisagua, located 500 km north of Antofagasta, because it had a bay which was suitable for the landing of troops and supplies. There were programmed two attacks; the main would be made at Pisagua, and a secondary one at Junin. Pisagua was defended by 1700 troops, the Independencia and Victoria battalions commanded by Pedro Vargas y Juan Granier. In addition of this force were 400 Peruvian soldiers commanded by Isaac Recabarren. Besides, there were two forts armed with 100 pounds Parrot cannons.

The Battle

For this task, it was decided a combined operation between the Chilean fleet and the army, with the navy destroying the forts protecting the bay, and once this defences were silenced, the landing waves could start.

On November 2, the navy initiated the bombardment at 07:00. The ships Cochrane and ''O'Higgins, commanded by Juan Jose Latorre and Jorge Montt, respectively, attacked the southern fort. Meanwhile, the Magallanesand the Covadongadid the same on the northern fort. The accurate fire of the Chilean ships destroyed the defenses almost immediately, in fact, the northern fort was able to fire only one shot before being obliterated.

After these defences were silenced, the landing operation began. Four companies - two of the Atacamaregiment and two of the Zapadores'' regiment - set foot on the sand and started to retaliate the fire made upon them by the Peruvian and Bolivian troops defending the port. After a while, the Peruvians withdraw in order, but the Bolivians couldn't refold as the same as their allies, breaking formations. Due to some disorganization, the second wave was delayed, but the troops in the shore were able to move inland and took the first line of trenches. In the second wave, the rest of the Atacama, plus three companies of the Buin 1 de Linea regiment, commanded by Lt. Colonel Jose Maria del Canto, got on the beach and began to engage combat and reinforce the first companies, meanwhile the ships were shelling constantly the defenses where the allies were deployed. These defenses were made with bags of saltpeter and coal, and because of that, the fire started pretty soon.

The troops in the beach, climbed in order to reach the top of the hill. This ascent was very difficult due to the terrain and the strong defenses in this sector. But in the end, the vehemence of the Chilean attack made possible to reach the summit and engage the allies, vanquishing all of them and forcing them to retreat abandoning their positions.

At 15:00, Rafael Torreblanca of the Atacama regiment raised the Chilean flag at Alto Hospicio. The defenders retreated leaving the field to the Chilean army.

Since Pisagua was conquered, the second landing at Junin was made with low resistance. Here where deployed the 3 de Linea regiment and the Naval and Valparaiso battalions.

The Aftermath

The Chilean Army had 56 men dead and 124 wounded.The Allies lost 200 troops between dead and wounded. This victory allowed the Chilean forces to gain a port where to land troops, weapons and supplies. The Campaign of Tarapaca had begun.

This action is considered the first amphibious military operation of modern warfare.