The original Mounted Grenadiers of 1812.E2.80.931826 Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers

1 original mounted grenadiers of 1812–1826

1.1 raising of regiment
1.2 composition of horse grenadiers squadron (june 1812)
1.3 organization , recruiting
1.4 development squadron regiment
1.5 baptism fire: battle of san lorenzo (february 3, 1813)
1.6 eastern bank , army of north

the original mounted grenadiers of 1812–1826

the original regiment founded argentine national hero josé de san martín in 1812. first military action battle of san lorenzo (1813). regiment played key role part of army of andes (ejército de los andes) in battles of chacabuco (1817) , maipú (1818) in chile. traveling perú, ecuador, , bolivia, grenadiers took part in battles of riobamba, pichincha (1822) , ayacucho (1824), , in cisplatine war. size of regiment fell 120 men , disbanded in 1827.

raising of regiment

when lt. col. of cavalry jose de san martin arrived on march 9, 1812, first triumvirate recognized him services cavalry officer in spanish army. after studying argentine army s organizational , strategic problems, offered put experiences peninsular war use in assisting argentine war independence.

on march 12, superior provisional government gave order recognized , confirmed san martin s services. triumvirate had written government asking san martin appointed commander of mounted grenadiers squadron, raised. san martin set out form new cavalry corps patterned after swiss army s mounted grenadiers. goal create unit made of native soldiers trained in cavalry tactics , mounted combat skills support argentine army. on next several months, built became known mounted grenadiers squadron .

composition of horse grenadiers squadron (june 1812)

the new unit led 2 commanders , 8 officers of cavalry. non-commissioned officers , enlisted troops numbered 9 cavalry sergeants, 3 cavalry corporals, 31 cavalry grenadiers , 1 cavalry trumpeter.

officers , commanders of squadron

squadron commander: lieutenant colonel jose de san martin
squadron corporal major: carlos maria de alvear
adjutant major: francisco luzuriaga
guidon bearer: manuel hidalgo

1st cavalry troop officers

cavalry captain jose matias zapiola
cavalry lieutenant justo bermudez
cornet hipolito bouchard

2nd cavalry troop officers

cavalry captain pedro vergara
cavalry lieutenant agenor murillio
cornet mariano necochea

organization , recruiting

the strict training regimen , rules of conduct established jose de san martin mounted grenadiers regiment became model argentine army. rigorous military discipline, in maneuvers, training , parade drills defining characteristic of regiment. san martin code of honor, still used today regiment, set out rules expected followed each member of mounted grenadiers. san martin used code of honor in recruiting, training, , leading became effective fighting force.

based on concept of leading example , in private life military life, regiment s code of honor included discipline, courage, , commitment training. code incorporated fourteen specific points, stated unbecoming of officer in regiment:

sometime later, san martín wrote short poem honoring grenadiers:

development squadron regiment

after period of recruitment , training, second mounted grenadiers squadron decreed ready on september 11, 1812, , third mounted grenadiers squadron followed in december 1812. time, first triumvirate had been disbanded result of revolution of october 8, 1812, had been supported second squadron.

san martin given title of commander of mounted grenadiers. when mounted grenadiers regiment officially came existence on december 7, 1812, san martin promoted colonel , unit relocated improved quarters , better stables. fourth squadron raised 3 years later, in 1815.

baptism fire: battle of san lorenzo (february 3, 1813)

on february 3, 1813, regiment won battle of argentine war of independence led san martin. regiment had proceeded town of san lorenzo in santa fe on previous day stop advance landing party of 250 spanish troops marching on capital. regiment joined militia company led celedonio escalada. setting camp @ convent in town, remained overnight.

at dawn next day, regiment assembled in front of convent. san martin mounted, addressed troops, , ordered squadrons set off in 2 60-man columns. san martin led 1 column; captain justo bermudez, uruguay, led other. 12 remaining men regiment formed reserve platoon.

san martin s troops charged spanish battalion, followed bermudez bringing second charge. san martin fell horse after wounded, rescued juan bautista cabral , juan bautista baigorria, 2 men regiment. cabral mortally wounded in process , san martín reported cabral s dying words (in guarani) were: die happy, have defeated enemy . moments later, lieutenant bouchard killed spanish flag bearer, completing rout of spanish forces.

the battle lasted 15 minutes, left 40 spanish dead , 16 wounded or captured, , 16 argentine dead , 22 wounded. argentine force seized 2 cannons.

san martin ensured spanish wounded , captured treated humanely. after having breakfast spanish commander, antonio zabala, on february 4, san martin persuaded spanish force defect argentine cause. on return, san martin congratulated eastern bank independence leader josé gervasio artigas on first victory.

the second triumvirate promoted san martin general , gave him command of buenos aires garrison forces.

eastern bank , army of north

the next assignment regiment defense duties in area modern day montevideo, uruguay along supporting army of north. first , second squadrons joined argentine army in tucuman in january 1814, remaining in northern upper peru until 1816, while third , fourth squadrons involved in campaign of liberation in banda oriental, becoming part of forces took city in june 1814.

in performance in battles upper peru, 1st , 2nd squadrons witnessed events of yatasto relay within days after arrival.

on august same year, 1814, san martin assumed office of provincial governor of cuyo province fronting chilean border, , regiment set new home in province next year 3rd , 4th squadrons moving there, followed in next year 1st , 2nd squadrons. assisted lieutenant colonel mariano necochea, regiment prepared liberation of chile spanish rule , thus, newly formed mounted rifle squadron necochea commanding officer, raised 300 horse grenadiers, formed part of army of andes san martin himself commanding general. rode towards chilean border part of crossing of andes in late summer of 1817, , upon reaching chile, fought bravely in battle of chacabuco in february, later distinguishing following year in second battle of cancha rayada , battle of maipú. regiment, thus, witness chilean declaration of independence in santiago on 12 february 1818, 1 year after victory in chacabuco fields.