1817-18 Chilean Project: Phase 1 Battle of Chacabuco 12 Feb 1817

Phase 1 of my 1817-18 Chilean Project is the Battle of Chacabuco (12 Feb 1817).

Phase 1a: Patriot

The Patriot army at Chacabuco is Argentine in origin. All the major Argentine units appear and will be used throughout the rest of the campaign.

Origin Name Flag Stands Figures Figures Comments
Men Horses Guns Total
Argentine General San Martin 1 3 3 6 PS-015 Patriot General San Martin
Division Commander 3 6 6 12 Fantassin, Battle Honours, or AB
Argentine Artillery (4lb) 6 18 6 24 PS-020 Argentina Artillery Crew
PRNS-012 4lbr Field Gun (Long Barrel) (2 guns)
Argentine Cazadores a Caballo de la Escolta del General 6 12 12 24 PRNS-006 Cavalry in Braided Jackets w/sabers 2 Squadrons
Argentine Granaderos a Caballo 12 24 24 48 4 x PS003 Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (shako/command) 4 x PS002 Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (shako/saber) 4 Squadrons of 3 stands. All with Sabre.
Argentine 7th Infantry Regiment 8 24 24 PSU-004 Argentina Infantry 1813-1823 UNIT PACK Formed from freed black slaves
Argentine 8th Infantry Regiment (8th Battalion of Free Negroes) 8 24 24 PSU-004 Argentina Infantry 1813-1823 UNIT PACK Formed from freed black slaves
Argentine 11th Infantry Regiment 8 24 24 PSU-004 Argentina Infantry 1813-1823 UNIT PACK
Argentine Cazadores de los Andes
(Cazadore Infantry Regiment #1)
8 24 24 3 x Fantassin UN-31 British Rifles Marching 1 x Fantassin UN-30 Command Light Infantrymen Officers should not wear pelisse. Need a standard bearer.
Argentine Grenadier Battalion 1 3 3 Just need an extra command stand with officer, drummer, grenadier
Argentine Cazadore Battalion 1 3 3 Just need an extra command stand with officer, drummer, cazadore

I am using a slightly different Orbat to Fletcher (2005) based on thoughts on the Cazadores a Caballo:

Current Orbat Suggested replacement
1 Squadron Escolta del General (150-elite) 1 Squadron Argentine Cazadores a Caballo de la Escolta del General (150-elite)

Phase 1b: Royalists

This is the first army to face, and be defeated by, San Martin. The infantry wore the old style double breasted blue jacket. Historically many of the units ceased to exist. Although they only appear once in the campaign I’ve opted to build both this army, with the blue jackets, and the subsequent white uniformed guys for several reasons:

  1. They look different. Obvious but had to be said.
  2. So I have a total force roughly equal to the total Patriot force.
  3. Which means I can do a campaign game.
Origin Name Flag Stands Figures Figures Comments
Men Horses Guns Total
General 1 3 3 6 RS-006 Royalist General Osorio The commanders were Maroto (Chacabuco), Ordoñez (Talcahuano, Cancha Rayada), and Osorio (Maipo).
Division Commander 3 6 6 12 Fantassin, Battle Honours, or AB Ordoñez as a sub-commander at Maipo but dominated the field.
American Artillery (4lb) 8 24 8 32 RNS-009 Royalist Artillery Crew
PRNS-012 4lbr Field Gun (Long Barrel) (2 guns)
American Carabineros de Abascal 3 6 6 12 PRNS-006 Cavalry in Braided Jackets w/sabers Supposedly 2 Squadrons, but do 1.
American Concordia Hussars 6 12 12 24 PRNS-006 Cavalry in Braided Jackets w/sabers 2 Squadrons
American Frontier Dragoons 6 12 12 24 PRNS-004 Cavalry in Short Coats w/sabers (although really should have lapels) 2 Squadrons
American Chiloe Battalion 8 24 24 Fantassin EN-17 Spanish Infantry with French Style Shako
Fantassin EN-22a Spanish Infantry Command (shako)
Blue uniform with red facings. Use two stands for the Valdivia Battalion.
Spanish Talavera Regiment 8 24 24 Ditto Blue uniform with buff and red facings.
American Los Angeles Regiment (Chillan Regiment) 8 24 24 RNSU-001 Royalist Infantry 1818-24 UNIT PACK White uniform. Appears in phase 1 as part of Chacabuco What if from the Liberators Supplement. Was key part of Talcahuano garrison.

Royalist Ad Hoc Skirmisher Battalion (250-regular)

John Fletcher says …

At the historical battle the Royalists formed a screening detachment who started the battle on the heights from which the Patriot army descends. O’Higgins’s division chased this detachment down the slopes, so quickly that they lost their 2 gun artillery section. What became of this detachment is a mystery as they simply vanish from accounts after O’Higgins cleared the heights and ran into the main Royalist line (the start of the game scenario). Did they keep on running, did they take a position in the line or did they rejoin their parent unit(s)? Anyhow, I thought I’d give players the option of having it or not as they desired.

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