Battle of the Retiro (Spanish: Combate del Retiro) was a battle produced during the second British Invasion of the Río de la Plata, between the Spanish troops, led by

Santiago de Liniers Santiago Antonio María de Liniers y Bremond, 1st Count of Buenos Aires, KOM, OM (July 25, 1753 – August 26, 1810) was a French officer in the Spanish military service, and a viceroy of the Spanish colonies of the Viceroyalty of the River ...

, and the British forces under

John Whitelocke John Whitelocke (1757 – 23 October 1833) was a British Army officer. Military career Educated at Marlborough Grammar School and at Lewis Lochée's military academy in Chelsea, Whitelocke entered the army in 1778 and served in Jamaica and in S ...

History

The combats took place on July 5, 1807, in the

Plaza de Toros A bullring is an arena where bullfighting is performed. Bullrings are often associated with the Iberian Peninsula, but they can also be found through Iberian America and in a few Spanish and Portuguese ex-colonies in Africa. Bullrings are o ...

del Retiro, current

Plaza San Martín (Buenos Aires) Plaza San Martín (English: ''San Martín Square'') is a park located in the Retiro neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Situated at the northern end of pedestrianized Florida Street, the park is bounded by Libertador Ave. (N), Maipú St. ( ...

. The Spanish forces had fighters belonging to the

Spanish Navy The Spanish Navy or officially, the Armada, is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces and one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Spanish Navy was responsible for a number of major historic achievements in navigation, ...

, commanded by the Captain Juan Gutiérrez de la Concha, and the Lt. Juan Ángel Michelena. It also counted on the participation of Creole militias, among them the

Regiment of Patricians The 1st Infantry Regiment "Los Patricios" (''Regimiento de Infantería 1 "Los Patricios"'') is the oldest and one of the most prestigious regiments of the Argentine Army. The title is often shortened to the Patricians' Regiment (''Regimiento de ...

, and Grenadier Corps of the Third of Galicia, commanding Jacobo Adrián Varela. The British troops were in command of the Generals Samuel Auchmuty and William Lumley, who advanced towards the Plaza de Toros on July 4, 1807. The Battle of the Retiro was the bloodiest battle produced during the English Invasions, with 400 prisoners, 80 dead, 144 wounded and 21 missing on the Spanish side, and 60 casualties on the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

, who won the battle after 3 hours of fighting.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle of the Retiro Retiro History of South America Retiro Retiro Retiro