Battles & Campaigns · 1813
Battle of Yerbas Buenas
Yerbas Buenas, Maule, Chile
What happened
Chilean patriots under Colonel Juan de Dios Puga attacked a Spanish army under Brigadier Antonio Pareja. Chilean troops attacked the Spanish soldiers camped in the village at night, causing confusion. At daybreak the Spanish saw they had more men and counter-attacked, and the patriot force was beaten. Survivors escaped to warn the patriot army.
Why it matters
It was the first real battle of the Chilean War of Independence, more than a skirmish.
What came next
The survivors reached Talca to warn General Carrera that the Spanish were coming.
Did you know?
Pareja spent the night before the battle in a house that is now the village's history museum.
Timeline
- 27 Apr 1813Battle of Yerbas Buenas.
- 17 Oct 1813Patriot victory at El Roble.
- 1818Chile wins independence at Maipú.