Battle of San Lorenzo

Battle of San Lorenzo
Part of the Second Banda Oriental campaign
Painting of the battle by Ángel Della Valle.
Date 3 February 1813 Location San Lorenzo, Santa Fe 32°44′45″S 60°43′45″W / 32.74583°S 60.72917°W / -32.74583; -60.72917 Result Patriot victory
Belligerents
Provinces of Río de la Plata	Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
José de San Martín (WIA)	Militia Capt. Antonio Zabala
Strength
140 mounted grenadiers 70 militia[1]	250 Montevideo militia 2 cannons[1]
Casualties and losses
16 killed 22 wounded[1]	40 killed 14 wounded & captured 2 cannons[1]

The Battle of San Lorenzo was fought on 3 February 1813 in San Lorenzo, Argentina, then part of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. The royalist troops were composed of militiamen recruited in Montevideo under the command of militia captain Antonio Zabala, who were defeated by the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers under the command of José de San Martín. This battle was the baptism by fire for this military unit, as well as for San Martín in the Spanish American wars of independence.

Montevideo, a royalist stronghold during the Argentine War of Independence, was under siege by José Gervasio Artigas. Those in the city raided population centres along the nearby rivers for supplies. San Martín, who shortly before had arrived in Buenos Aires and formed the regiment, followed the royalist ships to San Lorenzo. The area around San Lorenzo formed a large empty plain, so the regiment hid inside the San Carlos Convent during the night and San Martín studied the battlefield and the enemy ships from the tower. The battle started at dawn, when the grenadiers made a surprise pincer movement to trap the enemy forces. One column was led by San Martín, and the other by Justo Germán Bermúdez. San Martín fell from his horse, and was nearly killed, but Juan Bautista Cabral and Juan Bautista Baigorria intervened and saved him. The royalists were defeated, but continued to raid villages for some time afterwards.

This battle was the only one that San Martín fought in the modern territory of Argentina. The city of San Lorenzo keeps historic memorials of the battle and it is referenced in the San Lorenzo march.