SAN MARTINIANO NATIONAL INSTITUTE

Julio Olmos Zarate

THE SIX SAN

MARTINIAN ROUTES
 NATIONAL INSTITUTE Ministry of Culture
H"IM SAN MARTINIANO
#2 READ 1933-90th ANNIVERSARY-2023
5 Argentina
 Julio Olmos Zarate

THE SIX SAN MARTINIAN ROUTES

 Captain General D. José de San Martín
(Oil painting by anonymous artist, Brussels, 1827)
 Julio Olmos Zarate

THE SIX ROUTES

SAN MARTINIANAS
 PRESIDENT OF THE NATION

Dr. Alberto Angel Fernandez

HEAD OF THE CABINET OF MINISTERS

Eng. Agustín Oscar

RossiMINISTRY OF CULTURE OF THE NATION

Prof. Tristan Bauer

SECRETARY OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

Lic. Valeria Roberta Gonzalez

NATIONAL
ASSET MANAGEMENT DIRECTORATE

Dr. Viviana Gilda Usubiaga

PRESIDENT OF THE
SAN MARTINIANO NATIONAL INSTITUTE

Mr. Eduardo Emanuel Garcia Caffi

 SAN MARTINIAN ACADEMY

Numbered Members

1. Dr. Rodolfo Ernesto Argañaraz Alcorta

2. Dr. Isidoro Jorge Ruiz Moreno
3. Dr. Miguel Angel De Marco
4. Gen. of Brig. VGM Diego Alejandro Soria
5. Dr. Julio Mario Luqui-Lagleyze
6. Chap. by Nav. Dr. Guillermo J. Montenegro
7. Prof. Florence Grosso De Andersen
8. Prof. Emilia Edda Menotti
9. Mr. Antonio F. Grand
10. Chap. of Nav. Dr. Guillermo Andrés Oyarzábal
11. Lic. Marcos de Estrada
12. Col. Dr. Jose Raul Buroni
13. Dr. Olga E. Fernandez Latour de Botas
14. Dr. Rodolfo Hector Terragno
15. Dr. Jorge Gabriel Olarte
16. Col. Juan Lucio Torres
17. Lt. Col. Dr. Claudio Morales Gorleri
18. Dr. Miguel Angel Licciardi
19. Gen. of Brig. Dr. Enrique Rodolfo Dick
20. Chap. of Nav. Dr. Jorge Rolando Bergallo
21. Gen. of Brig. Rafael Jose Barni
22. May. Mag. Dr. Diego Gonzalo Cejas
 INTRODUCTION WORDS

On the ninetieth anniversary of the founding of the Institute

originally called Sanmartiniano on April 5, 1933 - which would
acquire its current name on July 27, 1945 - the legacy of the Liberator
remains in our memory and his values serve as a constant example.

The Father of the Nation insisted, with categorical

conviction, that libraries were even more powerful than armies in
consolidating free, independent, just and sovereign nations.

For this reason, creating what he called "establishments of

enlightenment" in which science, arts, letters and trades were taught
was the best way to combat ignorance as the central pillar of
despotism and to build another one based on a solid culture, on the
liberating knowledge of peoples.

Times change, technology advances, but there are guiding

principles that never die.

For this reason, I salute, with true satisfaction and joy, the
efforts of the staff of this House who, with their successful
commitment, hard work and collaborative spirit, actively and
enthusiastically got involved in making this digitalization project a
reality, which will make fundamental works opportunely published by
our institution, of great documentary and historical-graphic value,
available to everyone.

The digitalization includes a set of publications that allow us

to know General San Martín in different facets: his public and private
life, his achievements, frustrations, joys and sorrows. The
documentation includes the most varied written testimonies that make
it possible to visualize the magnitude of his career.

This virtuous confluence of individual efforts, channeled

institutionally, will make it possible for those interested in knowing
the Liberator's personal letters, his battle reports and other important
documents to have free access to them anywhere in the world in order
to learn about the thoughts of someone who was always willing to
sacrifice his existence for freedom and was a firm believer in the ideal
of universal independence.

Eduardo Emanuel García Caffi President —

Sanmartiniano National Institute
“What keeps me awake at night is not the opposition my
enemies may give me, but crossing these immense mountains.”
(Letter from San Martín to Guido, June 14, 1816).

“The Paso de los Andes is, as a strategic combination, a

compound of daring, observation and calculation, which as a
whole is astonishing, and when analyzed is admired and
imposed by the concreteness of its conception and the precision
of its execution.”
MITRE.

“My troops are on foot and tired, but say what you want and we
will march.”
(Words of Las Heras in correspondence to San Martín).
 PLANCHON PASS ROUTE

Head of the Expedition: Lt. Colonel D. Ramon Freire.

Objective: To operate on the Planchón Route and take Talca and Curicó and stir
up rebellion in southern Chile.
Departure date: January 14, 1817 from “El Plumerillo" 1.
Strength: 80 Infantrymen belonging to Battalions Nos. 7, 8, 11 and 25
Grenadiers of the Horse Grenadier Regiment.
On the 15th at 11:30 he arrived in Lujan de Cuyo567.
The next day he resumed his march and continued through Carrizal, the San
Carlos and San Rafael Forts.
No information could be obtained regarding the route and dates. The first
report sent by Freire, after the encounter with the enemy in Chile, is dated
February 4, so it is assumed that he crossed the mountain range on February 1.
The action of Cumpeo (a hamlet located northeast of Talca) took place at
dawn on the 4th and after two hours the royalist force was defeated, abandoning
the fighting field 3, but was not pursued due to the poor condition of the
Expedition's cattle.
Freire learned that about 400 men were advancing from Curicó towards
Talca and did not think it prudent to expose himself to a disadvantageous battle;
he retreated to the Veguilla ravine (4 leagues southeast of Cumpeo), where he
remained under observation until the 9th.
Meanwhile, the arbitrary actions of the royalists in the south of Chile
allowed Freire to receive the support of many Chilean patriots and thus increase
his force to 600 men.
On the 8th he sent advance parties towards Talca and was able to verify that
that afternoon the enemy troops had evacuated that town, Quechereguas and
Curicó, heading towards San Fernando.
Freire sent Captain Francisco Javier Molina at the head of 50 well-armed
men to make contact with the Talca garrison that was marching north, and from
Quechereguas on the 9th, where he was besieging them, he asked for
reinforcements. Freire came to prevent the retreat, but he arrived too late.
Freire had the royalists informed through false agents that his withdrawal
from Cumpeo, which he carried out later, was due to the fact that he had to wait
there for O'Higgins, who would arrive at any moment with the bulk of his army.
This news further hastened the enemy's retreat to the north. On the same night of
the 9th the Expedition rested in Quechereguas and resumed the march towards
Pilares the following day. Following news received on the 11th announcing a
new advance of royalist troops, Freire then decided to retreat to Cumpeo.

5 "The Passage of the Andes", G. Mirror. P. 490.

6 “Documents from the San Martín Archives”. Volume III. P. 252 and 253.
7 “The Passage of the Andes”, G. Mirror. P. 522.
5
 When it was discovered that this news was false, efforts were made to stir
up rebellion in the various towns, and he was able to quickly increase the number
of his expedition to approximately 2,000 men.
From the Cumpeo estate, Freire contacted San Martín, informing him of the
progress of the commission.
This advance by Freire forced Marcó del Pont to divert a force of
approximately 1,000 men, which he could not gather in time when he fought the
battle of Chacabuco.

PORTILLO PASS ROUTE

Head of the Expedition: Cavalry Captain D. José León Lemos.

Objective: To distract the attention of the enemy forces concentrated in the
Capital and make people believe that other enemy forces were following
that Pass.
Departure Date: From Fort San Carlos in September 1816 4.
Strength: 25 Blandengues and in November it was reinforced with 30 -
militiamen.

Captain Lemos was the commander of the San Carlos Fort and in
September 1816 he was ordered to march with the garrison and settle in the
Chacayes Valley; and since in November, due to the melting of the snow, traffic
between Mendoza and Santiago began, the Expedition was reinforced with 30
militiamen from the same fort.
In this case, too, it has not been possible to know the exact day on which
the Expedition crossed the mountain range. The first communication received by
the Intendant of Cuyo89 is dated February 7 in Peñón Rajado, near Laguna Negra
on the Cajón del Río Yeso, in which he reported that that same day he had tried
to surprise the San Gabriel Guard and that he had failed in his attempt due to a
storm; the royalist guard had abandoned the post and fled.
Lemos then camped in Los Piuquenes (Chilean territory) and later joined
San Martín.

USPALLATA PASS ROUTE

Head of the Expedition: Colonel D. Juan Gregorio de Las Heras.

2nd. Chief: Sergeant Major Mr. Enrique Martínez.

8 “The Passage of the Andes”, G. Mirror. P. 499 and 500.

9 “The Passage of the Andes”, G. Mirror. P. 526.
6
Objective: To work in combination with the Vanguard of the main body of the -
Army, to attack the Aconcagua Valley.
Departure date: Colonel Las Heras' Division left the "El Plumerillo 10" Camp on
January 18, 1817.
Captain Fray Luis Beltrán followed the same route at the head of the
Maestranza and the Park, leaving on the 19th.
Strength: Battalion No. 11 (consisting of 35 personnel, including officers and 683
troops. 30 Horse Grenadiers and 20 Artillerymen.
The march began from the historic Camp "El Plumerillo" on January 18,
1817 at 11:30 a.m. and arrived at the Cañota Estancia on the same day at 8:30 11
p.m., resuming the march on the 20th at 8:45 a.m. and after crossing the Cañota
ravine and plain, it continued along the Santa Elena ravine to arrive at the
Uspallata Estancia on the same day at 6:45 p 12.m. He remained there until the
29th.
During this period the actions of Picheuta and Potrerillos took place.
A royalist detachment under the command of Major Miguel Marquelli,
made up of three officers and fifty soldiers, surprised the position of Picheuta in
the early hours of the 24th, garrisoned by a corporal, 5 line soldiers and 8
militiamen. The surprise was complete and the patriots had to surrender.
According to the data recorded in the diary of Sergeant Major Martínez, the
guard consisted of 14 men, 7 of whom arrived in Uspallata13.
After this action the royalists retreated and decided to occupy a waiting
position in the place called Potrerillos to the west of the Río de las Vacas.

Battle of Potrerillos.
Upon learning of the events that had occurred in Picheuta, Las Heras
ordered a detachment under the command of Sergeant Major Martínez to
immediately set out in pursuit of the enemy.
The Detachment was made up of 83 men from the N9 11 Battalion under
the command of Francisco Aldao and 30 Horse Grenadiers.
Sergeant Major Martínez advanced to meet the enemy and on the 25th they
fought an action that was successful for the patriotic weapons, since the royalists
abandoned the battlefield and began retreating past Summit 10.

The march resumes.

10 "The Passage of the Andes." G. Mirror. P. 490 and 491.

11 “Documents from the San Martín Archives”. Volume III. P. 259.
12 “Documents from the San Martín Archives”. Volume III. P. 259.
13 “Documents from the San Martín Archives”. Volume III. P. 260.
7
 On the 29th, the Las Heras Division resumed its march at 8:45 a.m. and
advanced, reaching Picheuta on the same day at 3:15 p.m.
On the 30th the march begins at 7:45 and Polvaredas is reached at
15:30.141516171819
On the 31st, camp was raised at 8:30 a.m. and the march continued with
great difficulty until 4 p.m., when the Santa María Creek was reached.
On February 1st, the shortest day was completed. The Division was just set
in motion at 2:10 p.m. and in three and a half hours they reached the eastern
slope of Paramillo de Cuevas, resting to undertake the rough ascent of the 14
peaks.
On the 1st the march was resumed at 12.30 and the summit was reached at
dawn on the 2nd, arriving at Juncalillo; the journey lasted 5 hours, covering 15
km. In order to take advantage of the two existing passes, Las Heras divided his
forces into two parts, one of which, the most important and under his command,
passed through the Bermejo Pass and the other, under the command of Sergeant
Major Martínez, did so through Iglesias Pass 15.

14 “Documentsof theArchive ofSaint Martin". Took III. P. 260.

15 “Documentsof theArchive ofSaint Martin". Took III. P. 261.
16 “Documentsof theArchive ofSaint Martin". Took III. P. 261.
17 “Documentsof theArchive ofSaint Martin". Took III. P. 261.
18 “Documentsof theArchive ofSaint Martin". Took III. P. 261.
19 “Documentsof theArchive ofSaint Martin". Took III. P. 262.
8
 On February 3, Las Heras receives orders from San Martín to regulate the
march and delay two days on the 16th.

Combat of the Old Guard

A reconnaissance detachment that had reached the vicinity of the Guardia
Vieja hamlet was able to confirm the presence of an enemy guard of a hundred
men, and three royalist soldiers who had strayed from the guard were captured
and sent to Juncalillo with the information obtained.
Las Heras decided to attack the guard and ordered Sergeant Major Martínez
to march to meet them at the head of 150 mounted riflemen and 30 Horse
Grenadiers.
Despite the resistance put up by the royalists, they were completely
defeated. After this action, Martínez and his troops retreated to Juncalillo.

Follow the progress

On the 6th the march was resumed, reaching Santa Rosa de los Andes in
three stages: the first on the indicated day to Guardia Vieja; the second to Puente
del Río Colorado and on the 8th entering the indicated Villa, at 11:18.
The meeting of the Army in the Aconcagua Valley was a fact, since the
columns that were advancing through the Paso de los Patos that same day had
made their entry into San Felipe. From this point, Las Heras' column was once
again under the command of General San Martín.
He participated in the Battle of Chacabuco on the 12th and then the entire
army, once assembled, advanced on the 13th to Portezuelo de Colina and on the
14th entered the city of Santiago.

DUCK PASS ROUTE

General in Chief: Captain General Don José de San Martín.

Chief of Staff: Major General Brigadier D. Miguel Estanislao Soler.
Major General: Brigadier D. Bernardo O'Higgins.

THE SIX SAN MARTINIAN ROUTES 1

INTRODUCTION WORDS 11
PLANCHON PASS ROUTE 5
PORTILLO PASS ROUTE 6
USPALLATA PASS ROUTE 7
1
2
 Battle of Potrerillos. 8
The march resumes. 8
Combat of the Old Guard 12
Follow the progress 12
DUCK PASS ROUTE 12
Battle of Las Achupallas 23
Combating Bribes 15
The Patriot Army 15
Guana Pass Route 15
Head of the Expedition: Lt. Col. Mr. John Manuel Cabot. 15
Battle of Barraza 16
Capture of Coquimbo and La Serena 17
Horse-Coming Pass Route 17
16

Objective: To act in conjunction with the Las Heras Division and attack the
Aconcagua Valley.

Departure dates and effective dates:

On the 19th: A Vanguard Division composed of the 49th Squadron of the
Mounted Grenadier Regiment and 4 Companies of Grenadiers and Volteadores,
all under the orders of Commander D. José Melián.
Day 20: Another Vanguard Division under the command of Lt. Colonel D.
Rudecindo Alvarado, composed of the 1st Battalion of Hunters, 39th of
Grenadiers and 50 artillerymen.
Day 21: The four rifle companies of the N9 7 Battalion have left with their
Commander D. Pedro Conde and 20 artillerymen, all under the command of
Brigadier D. Bernardo O'Higgins.
Day 22: The four Companies of the N98 Battalion have left with their
Commander D. Ambrosio Cramer and 100 Horse Grenadiers commanded by
their Commander D. Mariano Necochea, who form the escort of the General in
Chief. The General Staff accompanies this Division; Major General, Brigadier
Soler will force his marches to take command of the Vanguard.
Day 23: The 19th and 29th Mounted Grenadier Squadrons will set out under
the orders of Colonel D. José Matías Zapiola and the Army Hospitals.

1
3
 Day 24: The remaining 100 artillery men will leave under the command of
their Commander D. Pedro Regalado from the Plaza, the General Park and the
Army Maestranza.
Day 25: A small party is set in motion under the command of Lt. Paulino
Amaya and Ensign Juan Gregorio Martínez, in charge of following the Army and
collecting any horses or mules that were returning or dispersing, as well as any
soldier who fell ill along the way.
On the same day, General leaves the city of Mendoza. San Martín to join the
Army on March 19.
To follow the progress of the bulk of the Army, there is not as complete
documentation as in the case of the Las Heras column.
The route can only be specified as follows up to the Las Achupallas Guard
(Chile): El Plumerillo, Jagüel, Cañota, Las Higueras, Carrizal, Las Cuevas,
Yalguaraz, Cerro Tigre, Arroyo Uretilla, Río San Juan (Paso San Martín), Los
Hornillos, Manan-

17 “The Passage of the Andes”. G. Mirror. P. 491, 492 and 508.

1
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tials. The Espinacito, Patillos River, . Mercedario Camp, Llaretas Pass, Los
Piuquenes and El Portillo Pass, Cuzco Peak, Maitén Hill and the Achupallas
Guard.
There is fragmentary news about this march: on January 25, the first
echelon marched from Las Cuevas to Yalguaraz, and on the 29th it was in
Manantiales.
On February 19, O'Higgins informed San Martín that he was near the
Ramada mountain range and had not been able to reach the Vanguardia camp
because its charges, by obstructing the descent of the Espinacito, made him lose
several hours of marching. That day the Vanguard was bivouacking in Los
Patillos20.
On February 2, direct news was received from Soler, who was camped in
Campos del Mercedario, who reported that he had learned from two countrymen
that there were no troops in Santiago and no enemy guard in Leiva, but there was
in Las Lagunas (Chilean territory); that the advance of the patriotic Army through
Los Patos was also unknown.
Following this news, Soler accelerated his advance and ordered O'Higgins
to do the same in order to take possession of the Putaendo Valley as soon as
possible.
On the 3rd, after crossing the peaks at the Paso de las Llaretas, Soler
reached the Los Piuquenes camp and from there he sent Major Arcos with a
group of 200 men to advance and fortify themselves in the Las Achupallas
gorges. This measure was ordered by General San Martín as a precaution against
the royalists, following the battle of Potrerillos, hindering the union of the two
columns east of the Andes.

Battle of Las Achupallas

The royalists, numbering 100 men, who had heard of Arcos' advance, lay in
ambush in the Chalaco Valley north of Las Achupallas, and Arcos, unaware of
this maneuver, advanced along a winding road, entering the Valley on February
4. In this battle, which was a success for the patriotic forces, Lt. Juan Lavalle,
who would charge with his 25 Grenadiers against a much larger force. The
royalists fled and were pursued for more than two leagues. A grenadier went so
far as to dismount and charge, sabre in hand, at a Spanish soldier who was fleeing
up the hill. At 12 midnight, Major Arcos sent the Chief of the Vanguard the
report of the victory and let him know that the Putaendo Valley was in his power.

20 “Documents from the San Martín Archives”. Volume III. P. 287.

Y
O
*
Combating Bribes
The commander of the royalist forces defending the Aconcagua Valley,
Colonel Miguel María de Artero, was in Santa Rosa when he received news of
the defeats at Guardia Vieja and Las Achupallas and, believing that the
withdrawal of the forces from Las Heras to Juncalillo was due to the fact that
they would once again cross the mountain range, he decided to go north to meet
the patriotic forces advancing through the Putaendo Valley; thus, Artero and his
forces arrived at Las Coimas in the early hours of February 7.
Soler, informed of the presence of the enemy, advanced the 3rd. and 4th.
Squadron of Horse Grenadiers to reinforce Necochea, but this leader did not wait
for the arrival of reinforcements and using a stratagem managed to defeat the
royalists 21.
On the 9th, after the action, the General Headquarters was already in Villa
de Los Andes.

The Patriot Army

On February 10, the Army of the Andes was gathered at the Cuestas de
Chacabuco. On the 12th, the battle that brought glory to the Liberation Army
took place; on the 13th, it advanced to Colina and on the 14th, San Martín entered
Santiago amid the acclamations of the inhabitants.

Guana Pass Route

Head of the Expedition: Lt. Col. Mr. John Manuel Cabot.
Objective: Follow the Pismanta trail, operate in the Province of Coquimbo, take
Coquimbo and La Serena and provoke the movement favorable to the
Revolution.
Departure date: January 9, 1817 from Camp "El Plumerillo2122." Strength: 3
Officers, 60 men (1 Officer and 20 men from the Battalion)
No. 8; 1 Officer and 20 men from Battalion No. 1 and 1 Officer and 20
soldiers from the Horse Grenadier Regiment).
He left Mendoza on the indicated date and in San Juan he was joined by a
contingent of 80 militiamen under the command of Captain D. Juan Agustín
Cano, troops that had been mobilized by Governor D. José Ignacio de la Roza.

On the 12th he continued his march from San Juan, arriving at Pismanta on
the 25th, passing through Las Tapiecitas, Talacasto and Gualilán, and remained
there until! day 27 23.

21 "The Passage of the Andes." G. Mirror. P. 524.

22 "The Passage of the Andes." G. Mirror. P. 490,
1
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 Continuing west, he passed through Anticristo and in search of the Agua
Negra, Blanco and San Lorenzo passes, Valle de los Patos and Cañada de los
Patillos, he continued south; he reached the peaks of the Guana Pass on February
5 and on the 6th he surprised the Cañada de los Patos Guard, composed of a
sergeant and 8 soldiers, taking 24 of them prisoner.
The expedition remained there until the 9th; on the 7th Cabot went ahead of
Captain Patricio Ceballos with a party of 100 men and the rest resumed the march
on the 9th following the route ordered by the General. San Martín; along the way
he was joined by Chilean patriots, including in Valdivia, taking this town and
then Monterrey. On the 10th he advanced on the Sotaquí Valley. Once the Cabot
Expedition's progress was known and the roads linking Coquimbo to Santiago
were intercepted, the authorities of La Serena fled towards the capital. On the
10th, Cabot ordered his aide Eugenio Hidalgo and 100 men to advance to
reinforce Captain Ceballos' party and occupy the roads by which the enemy could
flee to Santiago232425.
Along with the Spanish emigrants from La Serena marched a garrison of
100 men with two pieces of artillery.

Battle of Barraza

The enemy column arrived at Barraza, a village located south of the Limari
River on the 11th, followed by the forces of Ceballos and Hidalgo, and the
fighting became generalized. On the 12th, Cabot received a report informing him
that the enemy had retreated to Salala, three leagues from Barraza, where they
were completely defeated2627.
From Sotaquí, where he was camped, Cabot commissioned the Sergeant
Major of the State of Chile, Don Diego Guzmán, to head 25 men to the town of
Yllapel in order to contain the excesses committed by the royalists with whom
they expressed their [Link] the cause ofthe patriots 27.
Capture of Coquimbo and La Serena

On February 25, Cabot took possession of Coquimbo and La Serena, being

enthusiastically received by the authorities and people.
The same day Cabot received a communication from Yllapel informing him

23 “Documentsfrom the Archive of“Saint Martin”. Volume III. P.

308 and 311.
24 “Documentsfrom the Archive of“Saint Martin”. Volume III. P. 315.
25 “Documentsfrom the Archive of“Saint Martin”. Volume III. P. 316.
26 “The Passage of the Andes”. G. Mirror. P. 528.
27 “Documents from the San Martín Archives”. Volume III. P. 318.
1
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that the Liberation Army was in possession of the capital of Chile282930.
It was not until the 20th that news was received from Zelada that they had
taken the town of Copiapó on the 17th; 29 as a result of this communication and
the instructions received, Cabot ordered Zelada to join his Expedition.
In this way Cabot managed to dominate the entire province of Coquimbo at
the same time that the bulk of the Army of the Andes invaded central Chile.

Horse-Coming Pass Route

Head of the Expedition: Lt. Colonel D. Francisco Zelada.
Objective: Invade Chile via the Come-Caballos route and take possession of the
towns of Huasco and Copiapó and provoke a movement favorable to the
Revolution, having to join Cabot once the mission was accomplished.
Strength: 50 Infantry. In Guandacol he was reinforced by 80 men recruited in La
Rioja, under the command of Captain D. Nicolás Dávila3132.
Departure date: Left Tucumán, there is no record of the exact departure date.
Gen. San Martín had requested General Belgrano, who commanded the
Army of Upper Peru, contributed to the liberation effort with a contingent of 50
infantrymen. This contingent was sent to La Rioja under the command of Lt. Col.
Zelada and would be reinforced there with 80 cavalry militiamen that the
Governor of that Province, Lieutenant Colonel D. Benito Martínez, had prepared
following orders from San Martín, who were under the command of Captain D.
Nicolás Dávila 32.
There is no exact news of the departure and given the arrival in Copiapó, it
must have been simultaneous with that of Cabot. This Expedition would pass
through the Come-Caballos Pass and invade the northern area of Chile with
Huasco and Copiapó as its objectives.
From La Rioja, Zelada continued through Chilecito and Cuesta de Miranda
and in Guandacol he was joined by the forces of La Rioja under the command of
Captain Dávila. On February 1, they left that place following the Quebrada del
Zapallar, Leoncito, Laguna Brava and crossing the Paso de Come-Caballos,
arriving at the junction with Turbio through the Cajón del Río Cachitos, 11 days
after leaving Guandacol, a place where an enemy guard was usually stationed,
which had withdrawn. There Zelada ordered Captain Dávila to go forward and
surprise the guard that existed in the place called Castaño, who was taken
prisoner.
On the 13th he ordered Dávila to advance to Copiapó, where he arrived at
dawn on the 14th after a very difficult march in which they managed to cross the

28 “Documents from the San Martín Archives”. Volume III. P. 321.

29 “Documents from the San Martín Archives”. Volume III. P. 322.
30 “Documents from the San Martín Archives”. Volume III. P. 324.
31 “Hist, of the Liberator General. “Saint Martin”. Dr. [Link] II. P. 331.
32 “Hist, of the Liberator General. “Saint Martin”. Dr. [Link] II. P. 331.
“The Passage of the Andes”. G. Mirror. P. 501.
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Cuesta del Carrizalillo and camped in the suburbs and then invaded the town,
taking prisoner the Commander of Arms and troops that garrisoned it.
Following the route that runs along the Copiapó River, Zelada and the rest
of his troops entered Copiapó on the 17th, immediately communicating with
Cabot and then under his command, in accordance with the instructions given by
General. San Martin 33.
On February 21, the ships that had been rejected by Cabot at Coquimbo
were sighted in Huasco and were also rejected at this Port 34.
In this way and according to what was planned, the entire north of Chile
remained in the hands of the patriots.

33
“Documents from the San Martín Archives”. Volume III. P. 324.
34
“Documents from the San Martín Archives”. Volume III. P. 323.

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 LITERATURE

1. —“Campaign of the Andes”, by Colonel D. Leopoldo R. Ornstein.

2. — “History of the Liberator Don José de San Martín”, by Dr. José Pacífico Otero.
3. — “History of San Martín and the American Emancipation”, by Gen. Bartholomew
Mitre.
4. — “The Passage of the Andes”, by Gen. Geronimo Mirror.
5. — “The Passage of the Andes by the Six Routes”, by Sita. Rosario Vera Peñaloza.
6. — “The Andes Pass, a path through four mountain ranges”, by Dr. Eduardo Acevedo
Díaz.
7. — “The Province of La Rioja in the Andes Campaign. Auxiliary Expedition to
Copiapó", by Col. (R) Mr. Roque Lanús.
8. — “Documents from the San Martín Archives”.
9. — “Andes Campaign, march of the Uspallata and Patos columns, until their junction
in the longitudinal Chilean valley”, by Captain D. Juan J. Uranga Imaz.
10. — “San Martín, his ideas and his actions in the epic of freedom”, by Lt. Col. Mr.
Jose Maria Menendez.
11. —“Don José de San Martín and the Independence of Chile”, by Prof. Alfredo Barros
Errázuriz.
12. — “Saint Martin, the Liberator”, by C. Galvan Moreno.
13. — “Chronology of San Martín”, by C. Galvan Moreno.
14. — “The military genius”, by Col. Mr. Leopoldo R. Ornstein, published in “La -
Nación” on August 13, 1950.
15. — “Sanmartiniana Documentary Synthesis”, by Mr. Antonio Tonelli and Alberto
Bembihy Videla.
16. — “General History of Chile”, by Diego Barros Arana.
17. — “San Juan and the Army of the Andes”, by Dr. Juan Pablo Echagüe.
18. — “The Passage of the Andes by the Southern Auxiliary Expedition”, by Lt. Col.
(R.) D. Augusto Marco del Pont.
19. — "O'Higgins", by Mr. Jaime Eyzaguirre.
20. — “Córdoba and the Andes Campaign”, by researcher D. Efraín U. Bichoff.

CONSULTED CARTOGRAPHY

—Provisional Charter of the Argentine Republic. Esc. 1:500.000.

—Aeronautical Chart of the Argentine Republic. Esc. 1:1.000.000.
—Map of the Argentine Republic, prepared for the National Education Council by
the Military Geographic Institute. Esc. 1:2.500.000.
—Maps of the Provinces of Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca and Tucumán.
Esc. 1.500.000.
—Map of the Argentine Republic. Main Road Network. Publication of the Argentine
Automobile Club. Esc. 1:3.500.000.

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— NATIONAL INSTITUTE 2 LEME
- 2023e
1933 - 90th ANNIVERSARY

liIIIEiF SANMARTIN IANO

Ministry of Culture
Argentina