Desert Campaign ( 1833 – 34 ) The Desert Campaign ( 1833 – 34 ) was a military campaign in Argentina led by Juan Manuel de Rosas against the indigenous people of the southern Pampas and northern Patagonia . The campaign was later followed by the Conquest of the Desert , which took place in the 1870s and 1880s . Context . Juan Manuel de Rosas ' s first term as governor of Buenos Aires ended in 1832 . He had defeated the Unitarian League of Argentina . With a lull in the Argentine Civil Wars , Rosas ' s focus shifted to securing the frontier from the indigenous population . Juan Ramón Balcarce , who succeeded Rosas as governor , allowed him to embark on the military campaign , despite receiving proposals to deny Rosas authorization for it . Campaign . Harsh terrain played a significant factor in the military campaign , as there were no European settlements on the route Rosas ' s army travelled , and his force had to transport all of its provisions from Buenos Aires . Because of the remoteness of the theatre , messages had to be relayed between multiple couriers back to the city of Buenos Aires . Additionally , Rosas needed a substantial number of horses , which were difficult to obtain due to the ongoing Argentine Civil Wars . The campaign spanned from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes , and had several sections of attack . Félix Aldao from the Mendoza Province attacked the Mapuche in the south of his province and in Neuquen . Ruiz Huidobro , under the command of Facundo Quiroga , faced the Ranqueles in San Luis and Córdoba . Rosas led the section in the Buenos Aires province . Although de Rosas organized the overall campaign , the primary commander in the field was Quiroga . It was expected Chile would contribute additional military support ; however , the nation was unable to do so , due to a mutiny , and assassination attempts , against Diego Portales . De Rosas ' s command left Buenos Aires on March 22 , 1833 . Rosas divided the indigenous populations into three groups : friends , allies , and enemies . " friends " were allowed to settle within the territories of the Buenos Aires province , and even on Rosas ' s farm . " allies " were allowed to retain their own territories , and remained independent . De Rosas provided both of these groups with cattle and other goods . He personally interviewed the " cacique s , " learning the Puelche language , and would later compile " La gramática y diccionario de la lengua Pampa " ( " Grammar and Dictionary of the Pampa Language " ) . The " enemies " group , which was composed of Ranquel and Mapuche , refused to negotiate with the Spanish colonial administration , and attacked rural villages and property in raids known as " malones . " The Ranquels were led by the famous warrior Yanquetruz , skilled in hit and run tactics . Rosas led the military campaign against the " enemies " by building upon earlier campaigns by Martín Rodríguez and Bernardino Rivadavia . In doing so , Rosas was able to make much deeper incursions than his predecessors , and destroyed several indigenous settlements . Rosas later claimed his army had killed 3 , 200 indigenous peoples during the campaign , captured 1 , 200 prisoners , and rescued 1 , 000 captives . Consequences . Rosas ' s campaign resulted in a brief period of peace with indigenous communities and brought an end to the " malones , " until he was ousted at the Battle of Caseros . Despite having been at war with the Argentine forces since 1821 , the " enemies " led counter - attacks during the Battle of Caseros . They continued to lose control of their territories , however , and gradually retreated to the south . The final defeat of the " enemies " came during the Conquest of the Desert , led by Julio Argentino Roca .