Battle of San Lorenzo island
| Battle of San Lorenzo Island | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the War of the Confederation | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Peru-Bolivian Confederation | Republic of Chile | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Miguel Balareso | Roberto Simpson | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1 ironclad[1] | 1 brigantine | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 ironclad slightly damaged | 1 brigantine damaged | ||||||
The Battle of San Lorenzo Island was a naval skirmish fought around the waters of San Lorenzo Island, where the confederate ironclad Yanacocha fought against the Chilean brigantine Águila, before promptly withdrawing to Callao.
Background
Admiral Blanco Encalada was in pursuit of part of the Confederate squadron that had taken refuge in the Ecuadorian port and capital of Guayaquil.
In order not to violate the neutrality of Ecuador, the Admiral left the brigantine "Orbegoso" and the frigate "Monteagudo" under the command of the commander Manuel Díaz, waiting for the departure of the Confederate ships so that they could be captured, while he returned to block the port of Callao with the corvette "Valparaíso" and the brigantine Águila.
During the blockade, on January 21, 1837, there was a skirmish with several gunboats, which ended with no losses on either side.
Blanco Encalada ordered the commander Roberto Simpson to maintain the blockade of the Callao in front of San Lorenzo Island with the Águila, while he elected to travel with the corvette "Valparaíso", where he promptly went to Huacho where he made a water. He immediately put a bow to the south, bound for Valparaíso, where the government contacted him.
The Battle
When the brigantine Águila was alone in front of the port, on February 5 the ironclad "Yanacocha" under the command of Miguel Balareso went out to engage the Águila.[2] Simpson accepted the challenge and the "Águila" went to his enemy while the two ships exchanged cannon fire. After a lengthy cannon fire exchange, the "Yanacocha" returned to the port of Callao in a feigned retreat, in an attempt to lure the Águila into a position where they could not withdraw without sustaining grievous damage, to which the "Águila" at first moved pursue it, but soon realized the enemy strategy, and chose to withdraw.[3]
Consequences
Later, despite efforts to maintain the blockade, the "Yanacocha" gout would manage to break it to head to the coasts of Ecuador on the Guayas River.
As for the brig "Aquiles", with the arrival of the brigantín "Napoleón" to Callao, his return to Chile was decided.
On December 8, 1836, the "Libertad" corvette arrived in Chile to surrender to the General Navy Command, because the crew rebelled against the Confederate authorities. This was headed by Lieutenants Leoncio Señoret, French, and Juan Manuel Uraga.