Battle of Ica

The Battle of Ica or Disaster at Macacona was a battle during the Peruvian War of Independence, which occurred on 7 April 1822 at the Hacienda Macacona near Ica, between the Liberation Army of Peru under command of Peruvian General Domingo Tristán, and the Royalist Army under Gen. Brigadier José de Canterac. The army of the Patriots was almost completely destroyed.

Prelude
On 21 August 1820, a Liberation Expedition from Chile set sail from Valparaiso and landed on 7 September 1820 south of Lima. The expedition was composed of 4,118 Patriot soldiers and was led by José de San Martín. In the following months, the central coastline provinces were conquered and Lima fell in Patriot hands in June 1821.

The Spanish Viceroy José de la Serna fled to Cuzco, but his General José de Canterac remained in the mountainous Jauja Province, some 150 km from Lima. José de San Martín appointed Domingo Tristán, a Spanish general who had just defected to the Patriots, as commander of a force to monitor the movements of the Royalist troops. Tristán was instructed not to engage the enemy, but to withdraw in the event of a Royalist advance. Domingo Tristán positioned his battalions at Ica.

The Battle
Canterac decided to attack the Patriot troops at Ica and advanced from Jauja on 26 March at the head of some 1500 infantry, 600 cavalry and 3 fieldguns. He arrived in the area of Ica on 6 April, where Tristán was completely taken by surprise. As instructed, he prepared his troops to withdraw, but Canterac positioned his troops at Macacona, cutting off the retreat route of Tristán. Tristán was not aware of this last movement and marched his battalions straight into the trap that Canterac had set.

At 1 a.m., but under a moonlit sky, the Royalist troops opened fire on the retreating column. Many Patriots were killed or wounded and the column dispersed almost immediately. By 3 a.m., the battlefield was covered with dead and wounded Patriots. 1000 soldiers and 50 officers were taken prisoner, of which many defected to the Royalists. The Royalists also captured 4 cannons, 2 flags 2000 rifles, 200 gunshots and 100 sabers. Tristán, Gamarra and some 125 men managed to escape. José Santiago Aldunate was taken prisoner. Spanish commander Juan Loriga was sent to occupy Pisco.

Aftermath
Upon his arrival in Lima, Tristán was tried by court-martial for his responsibility in the disaster and, although he was acquitted, he never returned to active service in the army.

The outcome of the battle increased the material and morale of the Royalists. From now on, the Patriots in Southern Peru were on the defensive. After inflicting further defeats in January 1823, The Royalist general José Canterac would reoccupy Lima on 18 June 1823.