River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-03-03
Graphic Description of the Great Battle
of ChOriilOs.

Inc IanaIla iSt(tf ana I1efuEI mas an
account of the battles Of Chorillos and
Mirafores. All accounts concur that
the CHILEAN attack on the 18th of Janu.
airy was a complete surprise. The losses
which. the double engagement occa-
stoned to both parties were large. The
Chilians acknowledge having $500 men
placed hors de combat. The first di-
vision suffered most, about 40 per cent
of its number being killed or wounded
| Lynch, its commander, acknowledges
that his attack, although well planned
and though it was as impetuous as the
| enthusiasm of the men could make it,
would have been repulsed had the Pc
ruvian reserve been brought up prompt
| ly. There were 10000 soldiers of the
Peruvian army who, on the first day at
! Chorillos, never saw CHILEAN.
The Peruvian force engaged the 18th
numbered about $4,000 men. Halt
that number should have held the
Nights of San Juan against any force
the Chilians could have brought into
action. 1t was generally expected that
if the Gillian force proved successful
at Mirafores, they would follow their
| beaten and demoralized enemy to the
capital and complete their victories by
its destruction. The diplomatic body,
with a view to averting calamity,
visited the the Gillian camp at Mira
flores and begged a guarantee for the
safety of the city, and at the same time
solicited the Gillian army to occupy it in
such force as to restrain the lawless
within its limits, who had already COM
menced operations by sacking and
burning the Chinese quarter. The
Gillian commander said, if he was al
lowed a peaceful entrance and occupa-
ton of the city, he would be response
BILE for the safety of life and property
but, if resisted by as much as one shot,
he could not trust tho temper of his
troops in their present condition, exas-
perated as they were by concealed
mines, automatic grenades, etc. On
the 9TH the CHILEAN brigade marched
into Lima. An immense throng lined
the street, but was profoundly quiet.
The troops marched to Santa Catalina
Quartet, where the CHILEAN flag was
hoisted for the second time over the
Peruvian capital. The Peruvians fought
well, but there was no head to direct
the movement of so large body of
men.
Pierola, from place called Los Ca
cos, addressed a note to the authorities
of Lima, advising them that his gov
eminent was still i'll existence, and its
centre of authority would be wherever
he and his chief secretary could be
found. He announced purpose to
continue the war, and is supposed to
rely on the only Peruvian army now in
existence, that of the south at Are
quipa. The forces at Callao, as well as
the remnant of active and reserve
forces engaged in the battles of the
18th and 18th, dispersed in all directions,
and their pathway was marked by pill
lage and murder. MOntero, comman-
der of the army of the north, was at
Chimbote when the steamer passed,
and announced his intention of raising
an army of 80, 900 men and annihilating
the Chilians. When the result of the
battle of Chorilla was known in Lima,
thousands fled. Three thousand took
refuge at Ancon, where a neutral fleet
was stationed. Many were without
means of subsistence. About 200 men
were sent on shore from the neutral
ships, and patrol was set around the
town night and day. Struggling soldiers
as they came, were disarmed, and or
der was strictly maintained. Food was
sent on shore for the needy. The peo-
pie subsequently returned to their
homes at the request of the CHILEAN
commander at Lima. In Callao the
Peruvian judicial authorities refused to
continue their duties, and there was a
refusal, also to form provisional gov
eminent, with which the Chilians could
treat This last refusal was followed by
proclamation placing Gallo under
martial law and imposing the death
penalty and upon either Peruvian or
CHILEAN soldiers, numbering, robbing
or maltreating the residents, and all
found with arms who had no authority
to carry them. The populace in Callao
initiated their brethren In Lima and
sacked many stores, some of which
were owned by foreigners. Many
Italians suffered severely. The Urban
Guard composed of foreigners had q
lively fight with the mob killing num-
Der, and suffering some losses, before
the pillage was stopped. The foreign
ers in Lima had to protect that city
during the 18th and 10th of January
and had stiff fight with the party
which sacked and burned the Chinese
quarter. The Chilians, occupying the
valley and nights around Lurin, moved
forward "a 900 strong the afternoon of
the 10Th of January, and took up q
position within sight ftheir opponents
| and almost within range. Here the
Arflo Nf hot Ero
| instructions for attack were issued to
| the different commanders. The troops
rested on their arms during the night
of the 18th in the order in which they
were instructed to advance the follow
ing morning. The first CHILEAN division
under command of Col. Lynch, occu-
pied the left wing, and was ordered to
open attack on the Peruvian right wing
strongly situated on a ridge to the
southwark Of Chorillos. The second
| division, Gen. SOtomayor was destined
to attack the centre, and the third
division, Col. Lagos operated against
the Peruvian left, under Col. Davil
The field and mountain artillery fol-
lowed their respective divisions, while
the cavalry was held in reserve on a
ridge little to the east of the Peruvian
line. In the early dawn of the 18th
the first division advanced, and when
within 500 or 600 yards of the Peruvian
right was received with murderous
fire. The Chilians, still advancing, re-
turned the fire. Firing rapidly extend
ed alone the whole line, as the second
division had advanced simultaneously
with the first. Smoke and fog shut in
the struggling thousands from the sight
of the anxious watchers in the rear OF
both armies. At 6 a. m., after an
hours hard fight, the first division turn
ed the extreme Peruvian right, and it
was driven upon the centre. The sec
ond division, delayed by the difficulties
Of the ground, had gained strong po-
sition in the centre, in front of San
Juan, the key of the Peruvian position
The first brigade. of this division adj
vanced in skirmish order in three lines,
supported by artillery, and opened a
CALLING fire on the Peruvians. Two
regiments of Chilians here made a
charge and carried the nights OF San
Juan At the same moment the first
division had driven the Peruvian fight
wing from its fortified nights, and the
Peruvian left wing, thrown into disor-
der by the impetuous attack of two
regiments of the second division, aban-
doned its position, and the whole Peru
Wan line retired, leaving on the field