Battle of Vargas Swamp

Battle of Vargas Swamp (Spanish: Batalla del Pantano de Vargas) was a battle that occurred near Paipa, on July 25, 1819. A joint Venezuelan and New Granadan army commanded by Simón Bolívar was trying to prevent Spanish forces from arriving at Santafe de Bogotá, which was lightly defended, before they did. Bolívar's army successfully bested the royalist army in spite of the exhaustion of the troops after climbing the Páramo de Pisba, and crossing the swamp. This battle and the next victory over the Spanish by the Boyacá Bridge secured the independence of New Granada.[1]

Battle of Vargas Swamp
Batalla del Pantano de Vargas
Part of Bolivar in New Granada

Vargas Swamp Lancers memorial near Paipa, Boyacá.
DateJuly 25, 1819
Location
Colombia
Result

Revolutionary victory

Belligerents
Spanish Monarchy

Venezuela
Neogranadians

Commanders and leaders
José María Barreiro Simón Bolívar
Francisco de Paula Santander
Strength
+1,800 regular forces ~2,600 regular forces
Casualties and losses
140 to 500 dead 183+ dead

Battle

During the action the left flank of the Patriot army was outflanked and withdrew in disorder. The British Legions played a decisive role in recovering the situation when their commander James Rooke led the 2nd Rifles in a bayonet charge against the Spanish defenses on the hills, gaining the position at great cost.[2] A cavalry attack by a force of Venezuelan Lancers then decided the outcome of the battle, turning defeat into victory.[3]

The battle is commemorated in the Vargas Swamp Lancers memorial.[4]

References
  1. "Batalla del Pantano de Vargas". Toda Colombia. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  2. "Bolivar's British Legion". Ian Fletcher Battlefield Tours. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  3. "Dictionary of Irish Latin American Biography: Rooke, James". Society for Irish Latin American Studies. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  4. "Celebración de la batalla del Puente de Boyacá". Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, Republica de Colombia. August 7, 2004. Retrieved 2009-05-09.

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