Saturday, August 5, 2023

Conquest of the Desert: Battle of Paragüil

Battle of Paragüil

Monolith commemorating the Battle of Paragüil

On March 1, 1876, Colonel Salvador Maldonado faced and defeated 2,500 lancers in Horquetas del Sauce. Despite this setback, the indigenous people regrouped and launched further attacks on the towns. However, they were once again defeated by Colonel Victoriano Rodríguez and Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Dónovan at the Paso de los Chilenos. The fierce battle saw the savage warriors fighting fiercely on foot and horseback, as exemplified in the combat of La Tigra, where thousands of cattle, sheep, and mares were driven to the toldería. After two days of intense fighting, commanders Vintter and Freire managed to seize 250,000 head of livestock.

The decisive battle that marked the climax of this series of terrorizing raids was the Battle of Paragüil. From March 16 to 18, a brutal wave of 3,000 horsemen, led by caciques Manuel Namuncurá, Juan José Catriel, and Pincén, unleashed havoc in Juárez, Tres Arroyos, and Necochea. Colonel Levalle was entrusted with the grave responsibility of confronting them. The fiercest battle of the "big invasion" series unfolded near the Paragüil lagoon. The Indians fought with untamed fury, determined to win or die in combat. For five hours of bloody engagement, the numerical superiority of the aborigines seemed to prevail, and the resistance of Colonel Levalle's forces was on the verge of collapse, encircled by a narrow circle of spears and shouts. However, providentially, Colonel Salvador Maldonado, renowned as "the best spear in the army, a disciple of Sandes," intervened like a cyclone of gleaming steel. The sight of Maldonado overwhelmed the Indians with terror, causing them to flee, abandoning everything and never returning (1).

In a letter to the Minister of War and Navy, Colonel Alsina, Colonel Nicolás Levalle reported the victory at Laguna Paragüil on March 19, 1876. He informed the minister that he had completely defeated the Indians at that location. However, pursuit of the retreating Indians was limited as they dispersed in defeat, some heading south between Libertad and Lamadrid, while others moved southwest between Aldecoa and Defensa. Exhausted and with a horse that had covered more than 40 leagues, Levalle and his forces had to rest for the night, preventing them from engaging in further pursuit to protect their gear.

"Mr. Minister, I cannot calculate at this moment the immense herds that there were, having to remind you that the Indians had many flocks of sheep and many other objects. Mr. Minister, the Indians that were at this point would be 1,500, which makes me suppose that there are Indians inside, and I am afraid that many of them could collect the immense amount of property that was here that was withdrawn inland. Not being able to give V.E. exact data up to this moment, since such a dense fog has dawned and lasts until this moment, which is 10 in the morning, that it cannot be seen from a block away, however I have sent the three Cavalry Regiments to explore the field in different directions, looking for the rakes, which until now I have no part of, however, I harbor the hope that something else can be done, because groups of Indians have been sighted by some firefighters that I have just received.

"Mr. Minister, at the end of this, I must point out the brilliant behavior of the Regiments that have collided, which are the 1st and the 11th, not having had such a fate for the 5th Regiment for having started its charge supported by infantry, in view of which , the Indians withdrew at half rein, having followed the Regiment as far as they could, and completely closed the night, I ordered to ring a meeting in order to organize the forces and that groups of soldiers who had remained behind with the tired horses join us. ”.

"Mr. Minister and friend: I congratulate you with deep regret that this day has not been as complete as I wished, the Indians have left thirty-something dead, taking many wounded, for our part we have only two wounded from the 1st Cavalry Regiment and a soldier from my escort, a picket of 20 men from the 5th Battalion, which a part of it also charged. –Nicolas Levalle”

". Mr. Minister, among the Indians there were, for the most part, those of Catriel, those who fought bravely, firing at us with many carbines, Remingtons and revolvers, Juan José (Catriel) being found dead and the one supposedly wounded. Colonel Plácido López's horse was shot in the head by Remington. OK".

This combat had enormous consequences in the course of the campaign. The feeling of inferiority before the effective organization of the Christian (as the White man) took root with greater force in the conscience of the enemy. From then on things went from bad to worse for the ambitious and cunning chieftain of the last great Indian confederation to rule the plains. Hence, he began to retreat inland, forever leaving the initiative in the hands of the national troops.

The government men were aware of their unquestioned superiority, although they continued to negotiate as "power to power."

In most cases, however, the fruits of diplomacy were spoiled by subordinate executors. Dr. Alsina tried to exclude violence for reciprocal benefit, eliminating reasons for reprisals by the aborigines; but these occurred fatally. Sometimes it was because the offered grass or sugar did not arrive, or because the agreed cows were skinny and old, others because some Indian was mistreated, thus violating the solemn stipulation. As a result of all this, the indigenous people attributed a lack of seriousness to the government of the Huincas, which did not deserve their credit or confidence. This and the lack of resources often led them to join the raid.

Such a state of affairs made one fear the renewal of the secular struggle. Namuncurá tried to avoid open warfare, as long as it did not discredit him or undermine the confidence of the tribes in their political and military hierarchy.

Informed, already by the firemen who spied on the movements of the government troops, already by the reading of the Buenos Aires opposition press, which indiscreetly denounced the supposed errors of the ministerial plans, and still, in the last instance, by the direct impression of their skillful "foreign ministers" who interviewed the Argentine authorities to negotiate about any end of their relations; In short, aware of Dr. Alsina's designs, he arranged isolated and distant attacks to dismantle the enemy device. Knowing the effects of the Remington, he would scatter and move away immediately after the assault, dodging any sustained, formal clash when it didn't come under cover of shadows. Considering that the adversary's military plans could endanger him, he organized a series of raids with the idea of masking his true purpose, which was to carry out an attack on the city of Buenos Aires itself, for which he had summoned up to 6,000 spears. The dispersed actions brought him considerable booty.

Fifteen kilometers north of the Paragüil railway station is a monolith that recalls the place where the battle took place.