Conquest of the Desert: The last raid on Bahia Blanca

The last raid on Bahía Blanca

In the early morning of May 19, 1859, Bahía Blanca was invaded by three thousand spears belonging to the cacique Calfucurá, in what meant the last great raid.

Oscar Fernando Larrosa


It is assumed that Calfucurá orchestrated this raid, called 'malón' in Spanish, a tactic employed by the Araucanian people in their incursion into colonizing populations. The motivation behind this action is believed to be the recent death of his son-in-law Yanquetruz, who was killed in a hardware and bar store in Bahía Blanca.



Argentine Protective Fortress

The notorious cacique, Yanquetruz, gained infamy for his atrocities, which included murder and the plundering of captives and cattle, later sold in Chile. To grasp the magnitude of these Pampas pirates' activities, consider that four years prior, during a raid in the Tandil area, they rustled 20,000 cows and took numerous captives, leaving behind a trail of death and devastation.

In approximately 1857, Yanquetruz made a peace treaty with the Army, vowing to cease raiding activities. However, his reputation for reckless, alcohol-fueled binges, inevitably resulting in violence and bloodshed, endured.

During one of these inebriated episodes, at Silva's hardware store, located near the Argentine Protective Fortress in Bahía Blanca, a fierce brawl erupted. Tragically, National Guard officer Jacinto Méndez fatally stabbed Yanquetruz.


The Return of the Malon: Angel Della Valle

Calfucurá's deep-seated hatred for Yanquetruz led to several confrontations and betrayals between the two, but it was Yanquetruz's demise that provided him with the perfect pretext to launch an assault and conquer the Bahía Blanca Fortress.

On the morning of May 19, 1859, Calfucurá, accompanied by his formidable captains Guayquil, Antelef, and a fierce contingent of 3,000 battle-hardened Indians, stealthily entered the Giménez marsh (now known as Mayo Park) and effectively encircled the Fort.

Although a vigilant neighbor, "Gallego" Mora, alerted the Fort of the impending attack, the Fort's leader opted to retreat inside the stronghold, taking only a portion of the population with him. Seizing the opportunity, a large group of the indigenous forces launched an aggressive assault, setting fire to Francisco Iturra's grocery store and plundering all the alcohol they could find. Their triumph seemed certain, and they indulged in drunken revelry to celebrate their anticipated victory.



Bahía Blanca around 1860

A swift and courageous defense led by Commander Juan Charlone of the Italian Legion and the National Guards, stationed in front of the Iturra grocery store, caught the Indians by surprise, ultimately disrupting the attack after several hours of intense combat.

The outcome was a staggering toll of approximately 200 fallen Indians, their bodies solemnly laid to rest on a pyre in the plaza by Colonel José Orquera, the head of the Fortress. For the remaining India troops (indiada), they withdrew several kilometers away and sought solace in indulging in a barbecue feast, utilizing some cows they had managed to conceal.

This marked the final raid on Bahía Blanca carried out by the so-called "original peoples," who were essentially bands of looters that traded stolen goods in Chile, pillaging from those who toiled to civilize the land.


Yanquetruz

Testimonies from individuals who experienced that dreadful night provide chilling accounts:

Bernardo Mordeglia, a resident, recalls,

"It was a calm and bitterly cold night, without a breath of wind, when the news arrived, brought to the town by soldiers and Mr. Mora, warning of an impending Malón Indian invasion. Unfortunately, little attention was paid to the warning... The town was abruptly awakened at 5 in the morning by the bloodcurdling cries of Calfucurá, rallying nearly three thousand Indians to attack the town."

He goes on to recount that the Indians ransacked the Iturra premises and indulged in drunkenness, a circumstance he believes ultimately saved the city. Despite putting up a heroic resistance, the attackers eventually decided to retreat. Mordeglia reflects,

"By 9 at night, the Indians were feasting on roasted meat and leather in Saladillo, meat they barbarically stole from Bahía Blanca. The town was engulfed in mourning, cries of despair, desolation, and terror."

Andrea Laborda de Mora, the wife of the person who raised the alarm about the raid, recollects,

"The fury of the battle reached its pinnacle at the corner of Zelarrayán and [what is today]19 de Mayo streets. Later, when the town had calmed down, Commander Orquera, responsible for the fort where we had sought refuge, ordered the collection of the indigenous bodies, which were piled up in today's Plaza Rivadavia. At noon, the bugle sounded, drawing the neighborhood to the barracks, where a solemn bonfire blazed, consuming the bodies of the fallen indigenous warriors, victims of a savage chief's wrath."