Battles & Campaigns · 1823
Battle of Torata
Torata, Moquegua, Peru
What happened
A patriot army under Argentine general Rudecindo Alvarado fought a Spanish royalist force under Jerónimo Valdés. After San Martín left Peru, Alvarado's army sailed south to take the Spanish-held ports. It met Valdés's smaller force on the heights around Torata and was beaten, the page says mainly because of quarrels among the officers and poor discipline.
Why it matters
The patriot campaign in southern Peru began to fall apart.
What came next
Two days later the patriot army was almost wiped out at Moquegua.
Did you know?
Alvarado's expedition had sailed from Callao and landed at Arica in December 1822.
Timeline
- Sep 1822San Martín leaves Peru.
- 6 Dec 1822Patriot army lands at Arica.
- 19 Jan 1823Battle of Torata.
- 21 Jan 1823Battle of Moquegua.