Battle of Las Queseras del Medio: Symbol of the fierceness and courage of the Venezuelan people

On April 2, 1819 , General José Antonio Páez, commanding 153 lancers, confronted 1,500 soldiers from the forces of the Spanish Empire and inflicted an exemplary defeat on the Las Queseras del Medio camp, located in the state of Apure.

This feat, which is a symbol of the fierceness and courage of the Venezuelan people's warrior, had as its first-rate witness the banks of the powerful Arauca River, which was crossed by Páez and his riders.

Faced with the attack of Páez, the realist Pablo Morillo moved his army with the cavalry at the front (about a thousand horsemen), so the “Centaur of the Plains” began to retreat in the direction where the Liberator Simon Bolivar had stationed an infantry unit.

This apparent retreat of the republican forces causes Morillo to order a squad to encircle the liberation army. For his part, Páez ordered Juan José Rondón to attack to make him assemble his squad in a single column. When this happened, the general of the laneros laneros shouted “Come back expensive!” return and carry out the attack on the forces of the realist Narciso López.

The effect of this spectacular and shrewd maneuver of the cavalry commanded by Páez was to sow chaos and confusion in the realist army, which as a result of this action the police set foot down to make use of their rifles, so they were overwhelmed by the realistic cavalry that undertook a hasty flight.

The balance of the confrontation between patriotic and realistic forces is estimated at 400 casualties for the realists, against 2 dead and 6 wounded for the Republicans.

205 years after this demonstration of the iron with which the hearts of patriots are forged, the Venezuelan people are raising their glorious spears that covered a thousand battle fields, seeding the freedom of six nations and giving the enemy an example of the gallantry and ferocity of the sons of Guaicaipura and Simon Bolivar, who are still stoic fighting empires with the conviction of victory.

Mazo News Team