_Junín, a Battle of Centaurs. The Continent's Freedom Sealed in Ayacucho_
(1822-1824)
After the victories of Bomboná and Pichincha Bolívar again evidenced
his disinterestedness and his generosity in praising his officers. He
reiterated his desire to resign his power. He expressed in a letter the
need he felt for rest, and a belief that a period of repose might restore
his former energy, which he felt slipping away from him.
Writing to a friend about Iturbide, he said:
"You must be aware that Iturbide made himself emperor through the grace
of Pío, first sergeant.[1] ... I am very much afraid that the four
boards covered with crimson, and which are termed a throne, cause the
shedding of more blood and tears and give more cares than rest.... Some
believe that it is very easy to put upon one's head a crown and have
all adore it; But I believe that the period of monarchy is pass
and that thrones will not be up-to-date in public opinion until the
corruption of men chokes love of freedom."
[Footnote 1: Augustin de Iturbide was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico as the
result of a mutiny led in Mexico City by a sergeant called Pio Marcha.]
Regarding the battle of Pichincha, he said: "Sucre is the Liberator of
Ecuador."
No better praise could be given his worthy lieutenant.
Once in Quito, he received the alarming news from Perú, which province had
been left by San Martín, that several serious defeats had been suffered by
the independents. He immediately made ready to free the viceroyalty from
Spain, realizing that while Perú remained under Spain the independence
of Colombia would be in danger. The viceroy of Perú had 23,000 European
soldiers and all the resources necessary to carry on war.
Perú was the last South American country to proclaim its independence.
Although there had been some movements of insurrection in 1809 in Alto Perú
(now Bolivia), they were soon quelled and the country once more placed
under the dominion of Spain. As a result, Perú was in position to send
reinforcements to the royalists in Chile and was a constant menace to
Colombia. The patriots of Chile, after obtaining their freedom, organized
San Martín's expedition to invade Perú. When San Martín entered Lima early
in July, 1821, the viceroy (Pezuela) was deposed by an assembly, and
Laserna was appointed to take his place. Once in Lima, San Martín entered
upon a period of inactivity which resulted in heavy losses to the
independents. He was even ready to communicate with the Spaniards in order
to arrange for the establishment of a regency in Perú, awaiting the arrival
of a European prince to govern the country. He even appeared ready to go to
Spain, himself, to beg for a prince.
The viceroy established his residence in Cuzco, the old capital of the
Incas, and the Spanish officers obtained several partial victories.
The defeats of the independent forces brought about the dissolution of a
_junta_ which had taken charge of the government. At that time, Bolívar
decided to intervene to help Perú gain her independence. He decided to send
3,000 men at once and to follow himself with 3,000 more to undertake this
last part of his important work. As we have said, his decision in this
matter was based, among other things, on the realization that the freedom
of Colombia was in constant danger while the royalists occupied Perú. While
making preparations for the campaign, he received news from Santander,
the vice-president of Colombia, that the Spanish general, Morales, was
advancing from Mérida to Cúcuta with a powerful army. He decided to send
Sucre to Lima to handle the situation there and to go, himself, to Bogotá
to defend his own country. He would have been unable to go to Lima
immediately anyway, for he had not yet obtained permission from the
Colombian government to do so. On his way to Bogotá he learned that the
reports of the movements of Morales were very much exaggerated and that his
forces were not so large as at first thought. Meanwhile, the Perúvians were
insisting that Bolívar come to assist them, and the Constitutional Congress
of Perú even instructed the President to ask the Libertador Presidente to
inform his home government that the government of Perú ardently besought
him to lend his assistance. Aware of the inefficient organization of the
Peruvian forces, Bolívar strongly advised that attacks should not be made
at once in order to see whether negotiations could bring about the desired
results, or to allow time in which to improve the condition of the army.
He argued that no movement should be made until it was certain that
independence could be gained only through the success of arms.
While Bolívar was still undecided, a powerful royalist army approached
Lima, and the insurgents had to leave the capital and take shelter in the
near-by port of Callao. Sucre, to whom the command of the united army
had been offered, but who had not accepted this commission, directed the
retreat. In Callao he assumed power, organized the insurgents of the city,
and undertook other military operations. The royalists remained in Lima for
a short while only, and then their opponents reoccupied the city.
Once more Bolívar was obliged to leave Guayaquil, this time to go to Quito
to defend the city against the _pastusos_, who had again rebelled. After
punishing them, he sent men to the city of Pasto to finish the work of
pacification, and he returned to Guayaquil in January, 1823, where he was
met by a commission sent from Perú to insist upon his taking command of the
Perúvians. Upon receipt of authorization from the Colombian government,
he proceeded to Callao, where he arrived on the first of September, 1823.
Congress conferred upon Bolívar the title of Libertador, and placed in his
hands supreme military authority over all the forces of the country. In
order to insure close coöperation between the civil administration and the
military operations, he was vested with political and executive authority.
Bolívar accepted these powers with great modesty, and remarked:
"I do for Perú more than my ability permits, because I count upon the
efforts of my generous fellows-in-arms. The wisdom of Congress will
give me light in the midst of the chaos, difficulties and dangers in
which I see myself.... I left the capital of Colombia, avoiding
the responsibilities of civil government. My repugnance to work in
governmental affairs is beyond all exaggeration, so I have resigned
forever from civil power so far as it is not closely connected with
military operations. The Congress of Perú may count, nevertheless
on all the strength of Colombian arms to give the country unlimited
freedom. By protecting national representation I have done for Perú the
greatest service a man could do for a nation."
There were elaborate festivities in honor of Bolívar, and his moderation,
as well as his other personal qualifications, was recognized and admired.
General O'Higgins of Chile was present on that occasion. At one of the
banquets, Bolívar proposed a toast voicing the hope that the children of
America might never see a throne raised in any of its territories, and
that, as Napoleon was exiled in the middle of the ocean, and the new
emperor, Iturbide, thrown out of Mexico, all usurpers of the rights of the
people might fall, and that not one of them might remain throughout the New
World.
Bolívar had many difficulties to overcome in the work of organizing the
elements of the country for the final struggle. Perúvians had not been
hardened by constant fighting as had Venezuelans and New Granadians, and
although they were patriotic and anxious to obtain their freedom, yet they
lacked the ardor that only Bolívar knew how to kindle in men's hearts. He
decided to hasten the advance of the Colombian reinforcements, knowing that
he could trust them to form a strong nucleus around which he could organize
the Peruvian campaign. In the midst of his incessant work, he would say:
"We must conquer or die! And we will conquer, for Heaven does not want
us in chains."
In January, 1824, Bolívar became very ill with fever. Before he had fully
recovered he began to direct the preparations for the campaign, and while
convalescing displayed remarkable energy in his work.[1] At times, though,
he showed some signs of discouragement. He had already said he felt that
his energy was diminishing, and in a letter to General Sucre he wrote:
"I am ready to meet the Spaniards in a battle to end war in America,
but nothing more. I feel tired, I am old, and I have nothing to
expect."
He had something to expect: the last and final victories, and then the
ingratitude of his fellow citizens. Perhaps at that time he was beginning
to feel the advances of the illness which caused his death.[2]
[Footnote 1: When he was still very weak, sitting ghost-like in an
armchair, his friend don Joaquín Mosquera, who had been his ambassador to
the countries of the South, asked him, "And now, what are you going to do?"
"To conquer," answered Bolívar.]
[Footnote 2: Tuberculosis.]
Then an event occurred which almost destroyed all of Bolívar's well-made
plans. Some troops sent from the River Plata started a rebellion in Callao,
and, before anything could be done to correct the situation, the Spanish
flag was hoisted over the fortress and messages had been sent to the
viceroy offering to deliver the city. Laserna sent General Rodil,
appointing him governor and military commander of the province of Lima, and
placing him in full command of the fortress and the treacherous soldiers.
This was a severe loss for the Repúblican cause. Congress at once suspended
the constitution and the law and appointed Bolívar dictator, for it
realized that he was the only man to cope with the situation. The royalist
army had 18,000 men, 12,000 to fight Bolívar, who was then in the city
of Trujillo, and 6,000 to keep Upper Perú (now Bolivia) and the southern
coast, subject to Spain. Bolívar had from 4,000 to 6,000 Colombians and
about 4,000 Perúvians, all in poor condition. He gathered all the resources
available in Lima, but desertion and treachery had left very little of use.
At that time, to be disloyal was a fashionable thing for the insurgents of
Lima. However, Bolívar would not despair. In a letter written at that time,
he said:
"This year will not come to a close without our having gained Potosí."
His chief hope had been in the army of Colombia; but, while in Trujillo,
he learned that the government of Colombia would not send any troops or
resources without express authorization from Congress, which meant a long
delay. Meanwhile, the Spaniards under command of Canterac were advancing
against Trujillo. Bolívar set to work again with that feverish activity
which seemed to enable him to create everything from nothing--men,
uniforms, arms, horses, even horseshoes. The smallest detail, near or at a
distance, was the object of his care, and he attended to everything with
that precision and accuracy which form a great proportion of what we call
genius.
The city of Pasco was selected by Bolívar as the meeting place of all the
independent forces, and the month of May chosen for the general movement.
In June the Andes were crossed, and on August 2nd, the army was assembled
on the plain of Sacramento, near Pasco. There he arranged his soldiers for
battle and decided to attack on the 6th the royalists, who were near
by. Canterac was approaching with an army of 9,000 of which 2,000 were
cavalrymen.
On August 6, 1824, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the two armies met on
the plain of Junín, near the lake of that name, the source of the Amazonas.
This battle was one of cavalry only, and was in appearance and in results
one of the most terrible. Throughout the whole combat not one shot was
fired. Only the horsemen fought, but the defeated royalist cavalry on
retreat, drew the infantry with them. The battle of Junín ranked in
importance with those of Boyacá, Carabobo and Bomboná, as well as that of
Pichincha, and had a marked effect on the ultimate success of the Peruvian
campaign. The morale of the royalists was destroyed. Canterac, in his
retreat, was forced to cover 450 miles of very rough country, and lost a
large part of his army.
A festivity following this success was the occasion of generous words
exchanged between the victor of Bomboná and the conqueror of Pichincha.
Sucre said:
"Led by the Liberator, we can expect nothing but victory!"
to which Bolívar answered:
"To know that I will conquer, it is enough to know who are around me."
At another time, Bolívar reiterated his feelings in the following way:
"Let the valiant swords of those who surround me pierce my breast a
thousand times if at any time I oppress the countries I now lead to
freedom! Let the authority of the people be the only existing power on
earth! Let the name of tyranny be obliterated from the language of the
world and even forgotten!"
Bolívar then left the army in the command of Sucre and departed for the
seaboard to continue his work of organization.
The royalists had left Lima as soon as they learned of the defeat of Junín.
Rodil was in the fortress at Callao. The viceroy in Cuzco gathered all the
soldiers he could, forming an army of 11,000 men, and started out to avenge
the defeat of Junín.
On December 9, 1824, the two armies met on the plain of Ayacucho, and at
noon began the final battle of the Wars of Independence on the American
continent. At first the Spaniards had some success. Then General Córdova
of the army of Sucre, jumped from his horse, killed it with his sabre, and
exclaimed to his soldiers: "I do not want any means of escape. I am merely
keeping my sword to conquer. Forward, march of conquerors!" The royalists
could not resist Córdova. They put all their reserves into action, but the
soldiers of the independent army were determined to triumph, and Córdova,
himself, had the glory of taking the viceroy prisoner. It is said that in
the afternoon of that day the insurgents were fewer in number than their
prisoners. A capitulation was proposed and was accepted, Canterac signing
on account of the capture of the viceroy. The generals and officers
promised not to fight any more in the War of Independence nor to go to any
place occupied by royalists. Callao was included in the capitulation, but
Rodil did not accept.
Bolívar possessed the virtue of creating heroes by his side: Anzoátegui in
Boyacá; Páez in Carabobo; Torres in Bomboná; Sucre, commander-in-chief in
Pichincha and Ayacucho; and Córdova, under Sucre's command, in the last
fight for independence.
The War of Independence of Latin America began in Caracas on April 19,
1810, and ended in Ayacucho on December 9, 1824. Writing about this battle,
Bolívar said:
"The battle of Ayacucho is the greatest American glory and is
work of General Sucre. Its arrangement was perfect; its execution
superhuman. Swift and clever maneuvers destroyed in one hour the
victors of fourteen years, and an enemy perfectly organized and ably
commanded."
He conferred the highest honors on Sucre, and bestowed the titles of Grand
Marshal and General, Liberator of Perú, on him. In a letter to Sucre, he
wrote:
"The ninth of December, 1824, when you triumphed over the foe of
independence, will be remembered by countless generations, who will
always bless the patriot and warrior who made that day famous in the
annals of America. So long as Ayacucho is remembered, the name of Sucre
will be remembered. It will last forever."
The battle of Ayacucho practically put an end to the War of Independence of
America, which began with the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775.