title: Siege of Chillán
text: # Siege of Chillán
  
  vteChilean War of Independence :
  
  Patria Vieja 1812–1814
  
  Yerbas Buenas
  
  San Carlos
  
  Chillán
  
  El Roble
  
  Cucha-Cucha
  
  Talca
  
  El Quilo
  
  Membrillar
  
  1st Cancha Rayada
  
  1st Quechereguas
  
  Las Tres Acequias
  
  Rancagua
  
  Reconquista 1815–1817
  
  Juncalito
  
  San Fernando
  
  Crossing of the Andes
  
  Picheuta
  
  Chacabuco
  
  Patria Nueva 1817–1823
  
  Curapalihue
  
  Cerro Gavilán
  
  Talcahuano
  
  2nd Quechereguas
  
  2nd Cancha Rayada
  
  Maipú
  
  Biobío
  
  Valdivia
  
  El Toro
  
  Guerra a Muerte 1819–1826
  
  Mesamávida
  
  Los Ángeles
  
  Curalí
  
  Píleo
  
  Yumbel
  
  Pangal
  
  Tarpellanca
  
  Vegas de Talcahuano
  
  Alameda de Concepción
  
  Hersilia
  
  Vegas de Saldías
  
  Chiloé 1820–1826
  
  Agüi
  
  Mocopulli
  
  Pudeto
  
  Bellavista
  
  Naval battles
  
  Grenadine coast
  
  Callao :
  
  The siege of Chillán occurred July 27 to August 10, 1813, as patriot forces attempted to dislodge a determined band of royalist defenders. The failure of José Miguel Carrera to take the city would contribute to his removal from office by the junta later in the campaign.
  
  ## Background
  
  The city of Chillán was held by royalist troops under the command of Juan Francisco Sanchez, backed by forces under the command of Ildefonso Elorreaga and the Valdivian troops of Juan Nepomuceno Carvallo. Juan Francisco Sanchez had sent a message to Antonio Pareja for reinforcements as José Miguel Carrera began his siege. As a result, the governing body at Santiago instructed Carrera to try to take the city before these new royalist forces could arrive.
  
  ## The siege
  
  The patriot forces surrounding Chillán consisted of some of their best soldiers, but the siege was to occur in the midst of winter and in a difficult location. Old Chillán was a city of 4,000 inhabitants, now increased to 9,000 with Sanchez's royalist forces. It was located on an easily defensible hill between the rivers Paso Hondo, Maipón and Chillán.
  
  By the time that Carrera arrived to take command of the siege, Joel Roberts Poinsett and Juan Mackenna had already compiled a plan showing the enemy fortifications and for the location of the artillery. Although the patriot troops were equipped with waterproof ponchos, the winter weather was so unpleasant and the patriot supplies so limited that Carrera was concerned about the timing of the campaign.
  
  ## The assault
  
  As the days drew on, the patriot force began to suffer increasing numbers of deserters, and Carrera decided that a direct attack was needed before the entire patriot force disintegrated in the harsh winter conditions. The first attack, the battle of Maipón, occurred on August 3, with the second attack following two days later. The assaults were marred by the massacre of many of the civilian inhabitants of Chillán and numerous atrocities. The assaults failed, however, to take the city, where the royalist forces held on staunchly.
  
  ## Aftermath
  
  Carrera had taken many casualties during these assaults, with his casualties and men taken prisoner numbering more than 500 men. His militia cavalry and some of the infantry had fled altogether, and without food and ammunition it was not going to be possible to hold the city perimeter. The only choice was to raise the siege on August 10 and retreat to Quirihue and Concepción. The failure of the siege of Chillán would begin to undermine the credibility of Carrera in the eyes of the leadership in Santiago.
  
  