Batallón de Pardos y Morenos
Disbanded1816
CountryArgentina
Allegiance Spanish Empire - until 1810
Argentina United Provinces of the River Plate
BranchArgentine Army
TypeInfantry
EngagementsBritish invasions of the River Plate
Battle of Las Piedras
Battle of Tucumán
Battle of Salta
Battle of Vilcapugio
Battle of Ayohuma
Battle of Sipe-Sipe

Batallón de Pardos y Morenos was an Argentine military unit formed with soldiers of African and indigenous descent.[1] The unit had its combat debut during the first British invasion of the River Plate.[2] From 1810 onwards, this military unit was part of the Patriot forces that fought against the Spanish in the War of Independence.[3]

History

The Batallón de Castas (Castes Battalion) was based on Compañía de Granaderos de Pardos Libres de Buenos Aires and Compañía de Granaderos de Morenos Libres de Buenos Aires.[4] This unit was made up of former slaves, mostly of Angolan and Guinean roots, also including pardos and natives of Guaraní origin.[5]

During the first British invasion of the River Plate, the battalion was under the command of Colonel José Ramón Baudrix, and consisted of two companies of grenadiers and seven companies of riflemen.[6] The Casta battalion also had a slave corps, made up by four companies of slaves from Buenos Aires, which would be supplied with armaments during times of conflict.[7]

From 1810 the Battalion was elevated to the rank of regiment, taking part of the Argentine forces during the First Upper Peru campaign. Later the regiment participated in the expedition to Paraguay of Manuel Belgrano.[8]

The Battalion also participated in the expeditions to the Banda Oriental del Uruguay, taken part in the Battle of Las Piedras.[9] The Castas Regiment had an active participation of the Second and Third expedition to Alto Perú, integrating the ranks of the Army of the North, participated in the battles Tucumán, Salta, Vilcapugio, Ayohuma and Sipe-Sipe.[10]

Among the patriots who were part of this military unit was Ramón Odocio, a lieutenant,[11] who was a descendant of African slaves introduced into the Río de la Plata during the 18th century through the Asiento.

See also

References

  1. Historia de la nación argentina, Academia Nacional de la Historia (Argentina), 1939
  2. Las invasiones inglesas al rió de la Plata (1806-1807), Juan Beverina, 1939
  3. Indice del Archivo del Gobierno de Buenos Aires, correspondiente al año de 1810, Archivo General de la Nación, 1860
  4. La sociedad colonial, José Torre Revello, 1970
  5. Historia Argentina, Volume 2, José María Rosa, 1965
  6. Cedulario de la Real Audiencia de Buenos Aires, Río de la Plata (Viceroyalty). Real Audiencia (Buenos Aires), Ricardo Levene, 1938
  7. Historia de la nación Argentina, Academia Nacional de la Historia (Argentina), 1944
  8. Todo es historia, Todo es Historia, 1988, 1988
  9. Historia marítima argentina, Volume 5, Argentina. Departamento de Estudios Históricos Navales, 1987
  10. Manuel Belgrano: los ideales de la patria, Instituto Nacional Belgraniano, 1995, ISBN 9789509517639
  11. Archivo Artigas, Volume 5, Uruguay. Comisión Nacional Archivo Artigas, 1963
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