Independence War: The Constitución Goes Privateering in the Pacific

The Schooner Constitución and Preparations for the Pacific Expedition (1814–15)

The Constitución was a medium-sized schooner, similar to the vessel shown in the image. She was American-built, but belonged to an Italian resident in Chile, Andrés Barrios, or Andrea Bario, who leased her to the United Provinces as the campaign against Montevideo was drawing to a close.

Preparations for the expedition to the Pacific began with this small vessel. Unfortunately, the Constitución was wrecked in Antarctic waters and there were no survivors.

Following the disaster at Rancagua and the fall of Chile into Royalist hands, many patriots from Santiago fled to Mendoza, capital of the Governorate of Cuyo in Argentina, the last territory to remain free from Spanish control. Among them was the priest Julián Uribe, a member of the governing Junta and an ally of the Carrera brothers.

José Miguel Carrera’s conduct forced General José de San Martín, who by then governed Cuyo and was working to raise the Army of the Andes, to disarm Carrera’s followers and send them to Buenos Aires, Uribe among them. On their arrival they received assistance from Carlos María de Alvear, who shortly afterwards became Supreme Director of the United Provinces. While Carrera sought support for recognition as the legitimate government of Chile and obtained resources to mount an expedition to Coquimbo and resume the struggle, Father Julián Uribe proposed a plan to attack the Spanish in Chile by disrupting Spanish shipping and trade along the coasts of Valparaíso, Coquimbo, Atacama, Arequipa, Callao and Guayaquil.

The project had originally been devised by Andrés Barrios. Following Brown’s successful 1814 naval campaign against Montevideo, Barrios transported 200 soldiers from that city to Buenos Aires aboard the Constitución free of charge. He subsequently offered the vessel to the state for only $4,000, despite its estimated value of $6,200. Brown recorded that “this individual [Barrios] offered his vessel and his personal services for an undertaking of such importance to the country, for an insignificant sum”. Since, of the $4,000, he “had received only $1,950, guaranteed by Miguel de Irigoyen”, Barrios returned the money and recovered possession of the vessel.

The schooner, or ketch, Constitución was American-built, displaced 235 tons and measured 28 m in length, 8.75 m in beam, 5.60 m in depth and had an average draught of 2.90 m. She belonged to the patriot Andrés Barrios, also known as Andrea Bari, a native of Pisa who, after living in Concepción, had settled in Buenos Aires. Barrios was also the owner and captain of the Carmen, with which he had been trading between Chile and Buenos Aires for at least fifteen years.

After the proposed sale of the Constitución to the state fell through, Barrios offered her for privateering service in mid-1815, and the proposal was accepted on 23 May. Uribe eventually raised sufficient funds among his compatriots to acquire a share in the vessel alongside Barrios and sought the support of the commander of the Argentine squadron, William Brown. Brown agreed to join the expedition with the frigate Hércules, which had been presented to him in recognition of his services, and persuaded the authorities to contribute the brig Trinidad.

To adapt the vessel for the campaign, her owner and commander Andrés Barrios stated that “her hold has been subdivided into several compartments and various other works have been carried out”. The recruited crew numbered around one hundred men, mainly Chileans but also including Irishmen, Americans, Swedes, Italians and Englishmen.

Following Alvear’s fall from power, and while José Miguel Carrera departed for the United States, Uribe continued with the project with Brown’s support. On 20 September 1815, Andrés Barrios received from the government the corresponding Letter of Marque No. 27 of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, with Miguel de Irigoyen acting as guarantor. Barrios was initially listed as commander, but at the last moment he was replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel of Marines Oliver Russell, Brown’s right-hand man during the Battle of Montevideo.

The government supplied the weapons and stores required not only for the privateering campaign but also for recruiting and arming a patriot army in Chile. The List of Artillery, Sets of Arms, Ammunition and Other Military Stores Delivered by Superior Order to Andrés Barrios, Commander of the Ketch Constitución recorded, among other items, one bronze 16-pounder gun, two iron 8-pounders and four 4-pounders; 210 canisters of grapeshot; 100 16-pound shot, 200 8-pound shot and 400 4-pound shot; 30 rounds of 16-pound bar shot; 12 quintals of gunpowder; two quintals of slow match; 1,000 musket cartridges; 100 pistol flints; 50 musket flints; and other supplies. The quantity and weight of the material loaded aboard were so considerable that they caused the vessel serious difficulties during the voyage and probably contributed to her tragic fate.

To give Uribe considerable freedom of action, his instructions were deliberately broad: to harass, capture or burn any vessel sailing under the Spanish flag; blockade Spanish-held ports on the Pacific; gather information on the general situation in Chile and Peru and on the Royalist and patriot land and naval forces operating there; ascertain the views of the insurgents and encourage and support their activities and military operations; clandestinely introduce proclamations and revolutionary writings; and undertake other similar activities.

Within a few months the squadron was ready. It consisted of the frigate Hércules, commanded by Brown’s brother-in-law Walter Dawes Chitty; the brig, or sumaca, Trinidad, commanded by Miguel Brown; the brig Halcón, under Captain Hipólito Bouchard, whose military commander was Ramón Freire, the future head of state of Chile; and the schooner Constitución, also known as the Uribe, under Oliver Russell.

The rest of the story has already been told. The Constitución sank near the South Shetland Islands while attempting to reach the Pacific in the midst of a violent storm. Uribe, Russell, Barrios and the entire crew were lost.

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Independence War: The Schooner "Constitución" goes as Corsair to the Pacific

The schooner "Constitución" and the preparations to go to the Pacific (1814/15)

The "Constitución" was a medium schooner, similar to the one in the image. It was American-made, but its owner was an Italian living in Chile (Andres Barrios or Andrea Bario), who leased it to the United Provinces when the campaign against Montevideo ended. On the basis of this small ship, preparations for the Pacific Expedition began. Unfortunately, the ship was wrecked in Antarctica and there were no survivors.




After the disaster of Rancagua and the fall of Chile into the hands of the royalists, many patriots from Santiago emigrated to Mendoza, capital of the Cuyo governorate in Argentina, the last emancipated territory. Among them was the priest Julián Uribe, member of the Governing Board and ally of the Carrera brothers.

José Miguel Carrera's attitude forced General José de San Martín, who already governed Cuyo and was working on the formation of the army of the Andes, to disarm his followers and send them to the city of Buenos Aires, Uribe among them. Upon his arrival, they were helped by Carlos María de Alvear, who shortly assumed the position of Supreme Director of the United Provinces. While Carrera was gaining support to be recognized as the government of Chile and obtaining resources to mount an expedition to Coquimbo and thus restart the fight, the priest Julián Uribe proposed a plan to attack the Spanish in Chile, harassing Spanish navigation and commerce along the way. throughout Valparaíso, Coquimbo, Atacama, Arequipa, El Callao and Guayaquil.

The project had been outlined by Andrés Barrios. After Brown's successful 1814 Naval Campaign on Montevideo, Barrios transported 200 soldiers with the Constitution free of charge from that plaza to Buenos Aires. Subsequently, Barrios lent the Constitution to the state on the condition that he be given only $4,000 despite the fact that its value was $6,200, of which Brown recorded: "this individual [Barrios] donated his ship and personal services for an incident so interesting to the country, for a tiny amount". Since of the $4,000, "he had only received $1,950 with the guarantee of Miguel de Irigoyen," Barrios returned the money and recovered the ship.

The schooner or ketch Constitución was of North American origin, displaced 235 tons and was 28 m long, 8.75 m wide, 5.60 m deep and 2.90 m medium draft. It belonged to the patriot Andrés Barrios (Andrea Bari), originally from Pisa, who after residing in Concepción had settled in Buenos Aires. Barrios was also the shipowner and captain of the Carmen, with which he had been trading for at least fifteen years between Chile and Buenos Aires.

After seeing the sale of the Constitution to the state frustrated, in mid-1815 Barrios offered it to be used for privateering, a proposal that was accepted on May 23. Finally, Uribe raised among his compatriots the necessary funds to join Barrios in the ownership of the ship and requested the support of the commander of the Argentine squadron, Guillermo Brown, who agreed to join with the frigate Hércules (which had been gifted to him for his services. ) and convinced the authorities to provide the brig Trinidad.

In order to adapt it for the campaign and according to its owner Commander Andrés Barrios, "its winery has been subdivided into several parts and various other works have been carried out." The recruited crew numbered a hundred men, mainly Chileans but also Irish, North Americans, Swedes, Italians and English.

After the fall of Alvear, while José Miguel Carrera left for the United States, Uribe, with the support of Brown, continued with his project. On September 20, 1815, Andrés Barrios received from the government the corresponding Patent of Marquee of the PURP No. 27, with guarantee from Miguel de Irigoyen. Initially, Barrios was listed as commander, but he was replaced at the last minute by Marine Lieutenant Colonel Oliverio Russell, Brown's right-hand man at the Battle of Montevideo.

The government provided the necessary weapons and supplies for the privateering campaign, but also to recruit and arm a patriot army in Chile. The List of the artillery, sets of weapons, ammunition and other war supplies that by Superior Order have been delivered to the Commander of the Constitución Andrés Barrios detailed, among other things, the provision of 1 bronze cannon of 16, 2 iron cannons of 8 and 4 cannons of 4, 210 jars of shrapnel, 100 bullets of 16, 200 of 8, 400 of 4, 30 crowbars of 16, 12 quintals of gunpowder, 2 quintals of match rope, 1000 cartridges of rifle, 100 flintlock stones for pistol, 50 rifle stones, etc. The quantity and weight of what was loaded was so considerable that it caused great difficulties for the ship during its journey and probably influenced its tragic end.

To give Uribe freedom of action, the instructions were broad: harass, seize or set fire to any ship flying the Spanish flag, blockade Spanish places in the Pacific, acquire information about the general situation in Chile and Peru and about the land and naval forces there. possessed by the royalists and patriots, to know the opinion of the insurgents and to encourage and support their activities and operations, to clandestinely introduce revolutionary proclamations and writings, etc.

In a few months the fleet was ready. It was made up of the frigate Hércules, commanded by Brown's brother-in-law Walter Dawes Chitty, the brig or Sumaca Trinidad under the command of Miguel Brown, and the brig Halcón, commanded by Captain Hipólito Bouchard, whose chief of arms was the future head of state of Chile, Ramón Freire. and the schooner Constitución, also known as Uribe, commanded by Oliver Russell.

We already saw the rest. The Constitution sank near the Shetland Islands when she sought to access the Pacific in the midst of a fierce storm. Uribe, Rusell, Barrios and the entire crew died.



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