The cunning of Lamadrid
General Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid was a brave man who was said to have more wounds on his body than holes in an English lace.
On May 20, 1817, he was marching on Charcas with the intention of seizing the city, when a patrol intercepted a message from the Governor of Potosí to President Vivero, informing him that he was sending a reinforcement of 300 men.
Shortly after, when going up the Cachimayo slope, Captain Lugones, head of the patriot vanguard, warned that a large party of horsemen was advancing along the same path, but in the opposite direction to the one they were taking.
General Araoz de Lamadrid
Aware of the case, the then sergeant major Lamadrid called a halt and went ahead to meet the captain, who upon arrival told him:
—There is no doubt, my elder, they are Goths (Spaniards).
-Better. Do you see, captain, that force? Well, know that in a few minutes it will be ours without costing us a shot or a drop of blood,” he told her, as he continued walking.
And he kept advancing until very close to the royalists to whom he shouted:
"Hey, comrades! We are the help sent by the Governor of Potosí."
Convinced, the Spanish officers advanced about 100 meters from their troops to where the Argentines were and one of them approached the famous Tucuman smiling, saying:
— How are you doing, Ostria? It's been ages since I last saw you!
"I am not Ostria," replied Lamadrid.
—Excuse me, but the resemblance is so great!
"Who is your commander?" Colonel López, head of the royalists, then intervened. Lamadrid, seeing that the Captain
Lugones and his men surrounded the king's officers, he answered:
—The commander is Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid here, and you are talking to him, but keep talking calmly, because your life is at stake.
As the Spaniards saw that they were in the power of the audacious Argentine, they continued the march in the midst of their captors followed by the troops that, moments later, found themselves surrounded by the bulk of Lamadrid's forces.