02 January 2012

General Orozimbo Barbosa

was a Chilean military officer of outstanding participation in the campaigns of reconquest of Araucania, the Pacific war and the revolution of 1891 . Nacido en Chillán el 5 de marzo de 1838 , se incorporó en 1856 al Ejército de Chile , realizando una ascendente carrera y recibiendo su bautismo de fuego en la revolución de 1859 , donde combatió a favor del gobierno del presidente Manuel Montt . Born in Chillán on March 5th of 1838 , he joined in 1856 the Army of Chile , making a rising career and receiving his baptism of fire in the revolution of 1859 , where he fought for the government of President Manuel Montt .

Barbosa, accused of being one of the main perpetrators of these bloody events, took command of the divisions gathered in Santiago and Valparaiso (8,000 men) to address Congressman revolutionary army of 9,000 troops. The decisive battle took place in Concón (20 km north of Valparaiso) on August 21, 1891. Barbosa and the government army were completely crushed, falling back to Valparaiso to defend this port city, while the revolutionary army of Congress, their numbers increased with many deserters from government forces, moved to the outskirts of this city in the east.

Barbosa, complicated by the defeat of Concón and a worsening of diabetes, was unable to effectively lead his troops in the final battle of the Placilla ( August 28 of 1891 ), fought on the outskirts of Valparaiso. After a struggle, the government army was totally defeated, fleeing his remains to the port.

Barbosa, helpless before the collapse of his army and seeing all was lost, tried to withdraw to the city, but was cornered by a group of cavalry congressman and brutally murdered along with his bodyguards. His body, stripped naked by his enemies, was sent to Valparaiso along with Brigadier General José Miguel Alcerreca also killed by the Congress.

It is noteworthy that the corpse of Commander in Chief of the Chilean army, hero of the Pacific War, Orozimbo Barbosa, was dragged naked (after the Battle of Chile's low Placilla where more than 10,000 lives) by the "Prussian black hair" through the streets of Valparaiso. Hasta el día de Hoy  no se sabe el paradero de su cuerpo. To this day no one knows the whereabouts of his body.

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