# Battle of Orurillo

The Battle of Orurillo or Surprise of Orurillo was the last confrontation between the Bolivian occupation forces and Peruvian militias within the framework of the Peruvian and Bolivian in April 1842. The Peruvian victory finally allowed the last Bolivian troops to be expelled from Peruvian territory.

## The surprise and battle

On the afternoon of April 2, Bolivian troops arrived at Orurillo, finding the town completely peaceful, with no signs of resistance, since its inhabitants were at that time working in the fields. They took the municipal building, where Colonel Landívar arranged the location of his command and the disposition of the members of his army.
Meanwhile, Captain Macedo, in a hidden and stealthy manner, together with the Sergeants Major of the National Guards Pablo Pimentel and Francisco de Artajona, Sergeants Cataño and Ávila, Don Hipólito Valdez, Claudio Miranda, Manuel Valderrama and other neighbors; make strategic agreements, to surprise the Bolivians at night and it is thus that they are thoroughly informed about the enemy movement and resolve to attack them in the early morning of April 3, divided into 04 sections, arranging the closure of the streets, by men who only had pistols, rifles, slings, sticks and other objects, provided as bugles and bombards, and in the upper part that is Santa Bárbara, they supply themselves with small boxes that detonate to give the impression of cannons.
The Peruvian troops commanded by Lt. Col. Pablo Pimentel and Capt. Mariano Macedo came to house around 250 cavalry, infantry and local population who volunteered to defend their territory; they faced just over 300 Bolivian soldiers who had occupied the town of Orurillo.
Given the order to attack by Captain Macedo, voices of command are heard from different places (Who armed themselves with various strategies to jointly defeat the Bolivian troops), the constant ringing of bells, the sound of bugles, the explosion of bombards and camaretas, a desperate confusion is created in the Bolivian army , being the tenacious and violent attack by the Peruvian militia and Orurilleños. Both sides exchanged crossfire and later faced each other hand to hand, in the heat of the fight the Bolivians were quickly dominated and almost decimated, having escaped some members of the cavalry. Having obtained the triumph and already at dawn, the leaders and officers of the defeated army were taken prisoner, among them Colonel Landívar and the bodies of Bolivian soldiers were buried in the square and in different places of the town.
Nearly 100 troops, several chiefs and officers, more than 100 rifles and the invaders' baggage were captured. Before the confrontation in Orurillo, a picturesque scene took place, worthy of a painting or a novel, when about thirty of the famous Posoconi's wild bulls attacked the Bolivian horsemen and the Peruvian infantry.
Likewise, along the road in the Ajnuiri ravine, a long line of decorated llamas carrying cans that looked like armed soldiers were coming down.
The weapons and supplies seized from the enemy were taken to the town of San Antón, set on fire by the peasants, to be delivered to the barracks of Colonel Rudecindo Beltrán in the town of San Antón.
In this surprise battle, it is said that dramatic moments occurred, such as the meeting of Captain Macedo with a Bolivian officer, with whom they had been together when the Peru-Bolivian confederation existed, the officer was usually wounded, they hug each other farewell. There is also an anecdote about the moment when Sergeant Francisco Ávila tied the hands of a Bolivian Colonel, who said: "No aprietes mucho Sargento" and he replied: "Es hora de apretar Coronel" Likewise, it is said that the Bolivians who managed to escape, from the town of Carmen Alto saw a long row of cacti growing at the exit of the town, they stated that many were Peruvian soldiers, due to the green color of these plants.
The news of the defeat was a bitter pill for General Ballivián and all his troops; only a peace agreement would stop the advance of the Peruvian forces. At the Orurillo Camp, during the celebration of the victory, the honor of "Éramos menos, aún así vencimos".

## Consequences

This battle was decisive, sealing the fate of liberating the last troops of General Ballivián from Peruvian territory by forcing them to cross the border.
José Casimiro Ulloa has stated that the Orurillo uprising had a decisive influence on the success of the peace negotiations of June 7, 1842.
The contemporary official homage to the heroes of the resistance in 1842 was not sparing. The victors of Motoni and Orurillo received gold medals from the national government, with the motto and inscription: "A los defensores de la Nación en el heroico departamento de Puno" In a proclamation addressed to the people of Puno on May 18, 1842, the general in chief of the Peruvian Army, La Fuente, told them when he took charge of his command: "Habéis combatido por la independencia de la patria; nadie pue de disputaros la gloria de vuestra heroica resistencia. Vuestros generosos pechos han suplido la falta de elementos para rechazar al enemigo; en vuestras al mas nobles habéis encontrado recursos inesperados".

## Tribute

It is concluded that before the conflict situation between Chile and Peru occurred, to raise the patriotic spirit of the southern peoples who always fought for national integrity and sovereignty, the military historical documents were reviewed, finding the Orurillo Surprise and its consequences; Therefore, the Law of January 3, 1879, by President Mariano Ignacio Prado, is dictated and promulgated; which indicates: The town of Orurillo is elevated to the category of “VILLA”, in fair recognition of the valuable actions in defense of the Homeland; thanks to the brave intervention of the soldiers and children of that town, who risked their lives, to whose memories we pay a fair and reverent tribute.