Battle of Buin

Battle of Buin
Part of the War of the Confederation
DateJanuary 6, 1839
Location
Buin, Huaylas province; Peru
Result Restorative victory
Belligerents
ChilePeru Restoration Army Peru–Bolivian Confederation Peru–Bolivian Confederation
Commanders and leaders
Chile Manuel Bulnes Peru–Bolivian Confederation Andrés de Santa Cruz
Strength
1,500 men:
3 infantry battalions		 6,000 men:
9 infantry battalions
2 cannons
Casualties and losses
319 casualties[1] 65 casualties

The Battle of Buin was fought on January 6, 1839, during the Chilean second expedition of the War of the Confederation. The Restoring Army rearguard led by General Manuel Bulnes successfully held the bridge over the Buin River in the North Peruvian territory from the attack of the Confederacy Army commanded by Marshal Andres de Santa Cruz,[2] yet retreated to San Miguel leaving the field before Santa Cruz could engage him again.

Both countries consider this action as a victory. In Chile, a regiment was named "Buin" 1st Line Regiment[3] on 1851, in commemoration of the soldiers who fought and died in this encounter. This Unit still preserves its name.

  1. ^ La Campaña al Peru en 1838, p. 370
  2. ^ Historia del Ejército de Chile, Vol. III; p. 224
  3. ^ Reseña histórica del Regimiento de Infantería Nº 1 "Buin" Archived March 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine