Battle of the Retiro

The combats took place on July 5, 1807, in the Plaza de Toros del Retiro, current Plaza San Martín (Buenos Aires). The Spanish forces had fighters belonging to the Spanish Navy, commanded by the Captain Juan Gutiérrez de la Concha, and the Lt. Juan Ángel Michelena.^[3] It also counted on the participation of Creole militias, among them the Regiment of Patricians, and Grenadier Corps of the Third of Galicia, commanding Jacobo Adrián Varela.^[4] 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.^[5]

The Battle of the Retiro was the bloodiest battle produced during the English Invasions,^[6] with 400 prisoners, 80 dead, 144 wounded and 21 missing on the Spanish side, and 60 casualties on the British Army, who won the battle after 3 hours of fighting.^[7]