BATTLE OF ALLIANCE HEIGHTS

SUMMARY:
The Battle of Tacna, also known as the Battle of Alliance Heights (Spanish: Batalla del Alto de la
Alianza), effectively destroyed the Peru-Bolivian alliance against Chile, forged by a secret treaty signed
in 1873. On May 26, 1880, the Chilean northern operations army led by General Manuel Baquedano
Gonzlez, defeated a Peru-Bolivian army commanded by Bolivian President, General Narciso
Campero, after almost five hours of fierce combat. This battle took place at the Inti Urqu (Intiorko) hill
plateau, a few miles north of the Peruvian city of Tacna. As a result, Bolivia was knocked out of the
war, leaving Peru to fight the rest of the war alone. Also, this victory consolidated the Chilean domain
over the Tarapac Province, territory definitively annexed to Chile after the signing of the Tratado de
Ancn (English: Treaty of Ancon), in 1884, which ended the war. Tacna itself remained under Chilean
control until 1929.
THE BEGINNING:
Being aware of a secret pact between Bolivia and Per, a war was declared from Chile to Both
countries on 5 April.
The battle began on May 26, 1880 with useless artillery cross-fire, because the projectiles were buried
in the sand and didn't explode. According to Velzquez' plan, around 10 a.m. Both divisions advanced
under heavy fire, but failed to hit the Allies at the same time.
Both divisions advanced covered by the closer artillery fire, the Allies were forced back to their initial
positions.
The Chileans kept pushing forward. When both armies were close, the Chilean divisions assaulted the
defensive line. One of the bigger allied units, the Victoria Battalion, gave under the pressure and
withdrew, breaking the Allied line.
Meanwhile, the Allied left and center were being broken. Chilean troops encountered light resistance
and the position was outflanked. Once the Peruvians were outmaneuvered and forced back, the
artillery batteries on the sector were captured. Baquedano sent in the reserve, which engaged the
Allied right flank combined with the remains of the Atacama Battalion. With this final move, the
defensive front collapsed, and the Allies fled from the battlefield after 5 hours. While the Allies retreated

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to Tacna, they were chased until reaching the city. Later, Tacna was forced to surrender, and finally Col.
Santiago Amengual entered into the city around 18:30.
THE END:
The Allies had casualties estimated between 3,500 and 5,000 men. The Bolivian Army lost 23 officers
from Major to General. The "Colorados" Battalion had only 293 survivors, while the Aroma Battalion
also known as "Amarillo" lost 388 soldiers, since these units chose to fight to the end instead of
retreating. The Peruvian army lost 185 officers, and more than 3,000 soldiers were killed, only 400
Peruvian men escaped from the battle.
Adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tacna

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