The Hussars of Junín , officially the “Glorious Húsares de Junín” Cavalry Regiment No. 1 Libertador del Perú, is a historical unit of the Peruvian Army and since its creation, as a member of the Peruvian Guard Legion , it has never been deactivated having been present in the most important events of Peruvian national history.
Due to their historical significance they were designated to be present at the reincorporation of Tacna into the territory of Peru on August 28 , 1929 .
They were the Mounted Guard of the President of the Republic from March 5, 1987 to July 27, 2012 , date on which they were relieved by the “Mariscal Domingo Nieto” Cavalry Regiment in compliance with the provisions of Ministerial Resolution No. 139 -2012/DE/EP of February 2 , 2012 , signed during the government of President Ollanta Humala .
Its headquarters were located in the “Barbones” Barracks, in the historic center of Lima, returning to the Army Education and Doctrine Command – Chorrillos, where it was stationed until 1987 . His current mission is to appear at all official ceremonies, with his War Flag and Escort and his Regimentary War Band of Clarines.
Summary
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- 1 Historical review
- 1 Origin of the name
- 2 Baptism of fire and military campaigns
- 2.1 War of Independence
- 2.2 War against Gran Colombia
- 2.3 Guano and saltpeter war
- 2.4 The 20th century
- 3 Weapon Actions
- 4 Presidential escort
- 2 Uniform
- 3 Vision
- 4 Mission
- 5 Current composition
- 6 Barracks and Garrisons
- 7 See also
- 8 References
- 9 Bibliography
- 10 external links
Historical review
Name’s origin
In June1821, the liberatorJosé de San Martíncreated on the basis of a squadron of the Cazadores a Caballo de los Andes regiment, a mounted unit of theArgentinearmy that was created in 1817 and that had distinguished itself in theliberation campaign of Chile, the squadron Hussars of the General’s Escort , which initially had sixty-four men under the command of Frenchcaptain Pedro Benigno Raulet.
This squadron was one of the first to enterLimaonJuly 6,1821andthe one that accompanied the official delegation on the day of the Declaration of Independence of Peru. Then he was incorporated into the troops besieging Real Felipe, until September of that year when its defenders capitulated.
OnAugust 18,1821, the Peruvian Legion of the Guardwas created by Protective Decree , a unit of the Peruvian Army, which would be composed of:
- An infantrybattalion , made up of six companies (one of grenadiers, one of chasseurs, and four of riflemen).
- Two squadrons of lightcavalryand
- to flyartillery company.
San Martín arranged for Captain Raulet’s squadron to serve as the basis for the creation of the two squadrons of Hussars of the Peruvian Legion , which would be under the general command of Lieutenant Colonel Guillermo Miller.
In1822, these hussar squadrons gave rise to the Hussar Cavalry Regiment of the Peruvian Guard Legion with four squadrons of approximately one hundred seats each. The fourth squadron of this unit was organized inTrujillounder the orders ofColonelAntonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente, with an initial force of one hundred and eight men.
During the Second Intermediate Campaign the first three squadrons of the regiment were commanded by ColonelFederico de Brandsen. On the basis of the fourth squadron that had remained in the north of Peru in1823 , the Cuirassiers Regiment of Peru was created , which after being merged with the remains of the hussars of the guard in1824, was renamed Hussars of Peru . Under the command of Colonel Antonio Placencia took part in theBattle of Junín, in 1824 it was called “Hussars of Peru” is changed to “Húsares de Junín” , to finally fight in the decisiveBattle of Ayacucho, obtaining the Hussars of Junín after the end of the battle the title of Liberator of Peru , on this occasion under the command of the Argentine commander Manuel Isidoro Suárez.
Baptism of fire and military campaigns
war of independence
In October1822, the second squadron of Hussars of the Guard was sent to Chincha Alta to carry out a reconnaissance. The Royalist Army, under the command ofGeneralJosé Ramón Rodil y Campillo, had arrived there. The troops clashed and it was for the hussars the opportunity to show their worth.
The following year the regiment was part of the patriot army that participated in the Second Intermediate Campaign, having a leading role in the Battle of Zepita, under the command of French Colonel Federico de Brandsen . However, after the failure of the campaign and while returning to Lima , a good part of the regiment was captured on the high seas by a Spanish ship, which meant that it had to be reorganized again, henceforth being called Hussars of Peru .
In the Battle of Junín , the Húsares del Perú regiment had an outstanding participation, distinguishing itself in particular the first squadron, under the command of ArgentineColonel Manuel Isidoro Suarez, thanks for the sagacity ofSergeant Major José Andrés Rázuri, who, appreciating the magnificent opportunity to fall on the flank and rear of the enemy, he deliberately changed the order of withdrawal to that of attack.
Thus, the Peruviancavalrycharged the royalists and in a resolute and surprising action, they transformed the hither to defeat into victory. For this remarkable action,Simón Bolívarchanged the name of the Húsares del Perú Regiment to the Húsares de Junín Regiment . OnDecember 9,1824, the Junín Hussar Regiment stood out for its bravery in theBattle of Ayacucho, which deserved to carry the inscription “Libertador del Perú” on its war flag in accordance with the decree dated in Lima, onDecember 27desde1824, being the current name of the unit: Glorious Cavalry Regiment «Húsares de Junín N° 1» – Libertador del Perú.
War against Gran Colombia
in theWar against Gran Colombia, in the Battle of the Portete de Tarqui, which occurred on February 27, 1829, after the Gran Colombian army under the command of Marshal Antonio José de Sucre took possession of the Portete de Tarqui, GeneralJosé de la Marordered the strategic withdrawal of the Peruvian army towards Girón, meanwhile the Gran Colombian cavalry of Colonel Daniel Florencio O’Leary tried to cut the withdrawal of the Peruvian infantry, in view of this theArgentineGeneral Mariano Necochea commanded the Junín Hussars commanded a cavalry charge that managed to disrupt the grancolombian cavalry ( “Manuel Cedeño” squadron ) and stop the advance of the infantry of Gran Colombia, made up of two companies of hunters, protecting the withdrawal of the Peruvian infantry, it was in this battle that the famous spear duel took place between Lieutenant Colonel of the Peruvian ArmyDomingo Nieto, head of the first squadron of the Hussars of Junín , and Venezuelan Colonel José María Camacaro, 1st Spear of the cavalry of Gran Colombia, who commanded the “Cedeño” squadron and who sent a parliamentarian with a white signal to make a challenge, to in order “that they save the blood of their regiments and that he would fight anyone who answered the duel and whoever won would stay with the victory”, Nieto triumphed, Camacaro was killed with a lance and the Peruvian arms remained with the victory.
Seeing their leader dead, the Gran Colombian soldiers of the “Cedeño” squad did not accept the defeat of their leader and attacked the “Húsares de Junín”, but they managed to defeat them and stabbed almost all of their troops, reducing them to approximately 6 or 7 men. getting the “Húsares de Junín”, with their action, to prevent the arms of Gran Colombia from obtaining a total victory over the Peruvian arms.
For the Grancolombianos, the death of Camacaro caused deep sorrow in their comrades-in-arms who had to suffer the affect of the defeat of the chief of “Cedeño” that obviously affected the morale of the Grancolombian troops who no longer dared to face the army again. From Peru.
War of guano and saltpeter
During theGuano and Saltpeter War,thirty-two hussars under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Belisario Suárez entered the Chilean lines on a reconnaissance mission, obtaining a victorious combat in their retreat. in Quillagua against the Chilean cavalry.
In November1879, a combined force of Peruvian and Bolivian hussars of about ninety men, which constituted the rearguard of the allied army, was destroyed by two squadrons of the Cazadores a Caballo regiment of the Chilean Army (one hundred and seventy-five men) perishing during the action its commander José Sepúlveda. In May1880a picket of hussars attacked, in the desert north ofTacna, a Chilean army supply column capturing sixty mules loaded with water.
During the battle of Tacna, one hundred and six hussars fought as part of the allied cavalry, having fifty-three casualties during the action, including their second and third chiefs.
the 20th century
Mounted soldiers of the Cavalry Regiment “Glorious Húsares de Junín” Nº 1 – Libertador del Perú.
In 1985 and 1986, with a cavalry squadron from the Junin Hussars, in addition to an infantry company and an artillery battery, the 18th counter-subversive battalion was formed. Armored Division. In January 1992, given the intensification of subversive actions in Lima, the unit carried out night patrol operations.
weapon actions
In the war conflicts that involvedPeru, the Hussars have participated in the following battles:
- 1822- Battle of Caucato.
- 1823- Battle of Zepita.
- 1824–Battle of Junín.
- 1824–Battle of Ayacucho.
- 1825- Sucre campaign in Upper Peru.
- 1829- Battle of Portete de Tarqui.
- 1836- Battle of Undercover.
- 1838- Battle of Portal Guide.
- 1838- Battle of Pisco.
- 1838- Battle of the Cerro de la Sierpe.
- 1841- Battle of Ingavi.
- 1858- Siege and Assault of Arequipa.
- 1879- Battle of Quillagua.
- 1879- Battle of Germany.
- 1880–Battle of Alto de la Alianza.
presidential escort
In February 1987 , then President Alan García ordered that the presidential guard be given a “Peruvian character”, which since 1904 had been made up of the “Mariscal Domingo Nieto” Cavalry Regiment, created at the suggestion of the First French Military Mission that in 1896he reorganized the Army of Peru, and whose uniforms Garcia considered similar to those used by the Dragoons of the French Republican Guard. For this, he chose the Glorious Cavalry Regiment “Hussars of Junin No. 1”-Liberator of Peru as his presidential escort.
However, through Ministerial Resolution No. 139-2012/DE/EPof February 2,2012, signed during the government ofOllanta Humala, the reactivation of the “Mariscal Domingo Nieto” Cavalry Regiment was approved and authorized as an escort for the president, giving it the main mission of guaranteeing the security of the same and of the Government Palace, returning the Hussars of Junín to the Chorrillos Army Education and Doctrine Command where they were stationed until 1987.
Uniform
The original uniform, designed by theEnglishcommander Guillermo Miller, differs considerably from the current one, as it resembled that of the English hussars of the time, whose main distinctive feature was a fur hat on their heads, with a feather duster and red sleeves instead of from today’s French-styleshako. The trousers were blue on campaign and white on parade, the dormán (short cavalry coat) was a scarlet color and the pelliza (jacket with a fur lining that the hussars wore slung over the shoulder) was blue. This was, with minor later modifications, the uniform the regiment wore until the mid-19th century.
However, the English researchers T. Hooker and R. Poulter point out in their book The Armies of Bolivar and San Martín that the Peruvian hussars wore, in the campaigns of Junín and Ayacucho , a uniform with the reverse colors of the original, that is, maroon pants. and they sleep blue. The current uniform, which is a modern representation, is made up of Prussian blue trousers, a burgundy jacket with blue trim, frogs of the same color for the soldiers and gold for the officers. red. They are armed with a lanceandsaber with a curved blade, a white weapon that is used by all light cavalry corps.
Vision
The “Glorious Hussars of Junin” No. 1 Libertador Cavalry Regiment of Peru aspires to be an increasingly efficient Historical, Ceremonial and Combat Unit, organized and integrated with officers, non-commissioned officers, specialist troops and quality military service troops. optimal, motivated and trained to fully guarantee their participation in the training and improvement of the personnel of officers, cadets of the cavalry weapon as well as in the training of cavalry auxiliaries who graduate from the Technological Higher Education Institute of the Army – Technical School of the Army (IESTE – ETE).
Mission
The Hussars of Junín have as their mission to present themselves at all official ceremonies, with their War Flag and Escort and their Regimentary War Band of Clarines, forming the group of historical units of the Peruvian Army, together with the Motorized Infantry Battalion “Peruvian Legion ” Nº 1 and the Flying Artillery Battery of the Peruvian Guard Legion, in addition to collaborating with the instruction in the Education and Doctrine Command of the Army, as it was formerly, participating in the training and improvement of the personnel of Officers, cadets of the cavalry weapon as well as in the training of cavalry auxiliaries who graduate from the Army Technological Higher Education Institute – Army Technical School (IESTE – ETE).
current composition
The Regiment is composed of 4 squadrons:
- squad a
- B squad.
- C squad.
- squad d
The regiment is also made up of the Clarines War Band and the Command Platoon.
Barracks and Garrisons
In 1879 the Hussars of Junín had their headquarters in Trujillo, but before being in that northern city their headquarters was the “Barbones” Barracks in Lima.
In 1929, on the occasion of the reincorporation of the heroic city of Tacna in Peru, the Hussars of Junín were sent to that border department, the first Chief being Colonel EP José Ricardo Luna.
In 1951, the Hussars of Junín are transferred to Lima where they occupy the facilities of the “San Martín” Barracks on Army Avenue in the District of Miraflores.
Later, in November 1963, the Junín Hussars came to occupy the facilities of the Military Instruction Center of Peru (CIMP), today the Army Education and Doctrine Command (COEDE).
Since March 5, 1987, the “Glorious Húsares de Junín” Cavalry Regiment No. 1 occupies the facilities of the “Barbones” Barracks in the district of El Agustino – Lima.
On May 14, 2012, the Cavalry Regiment “Glorioso Húsares de Junín” No. 1 was relocated to the facilities of the Army Education and Doctrine Command (COEDE).
