Batallón de Pardos y Morenos

Batallón de Pardos y Morenos was a military unit formed with soldiers of African roots and indigenous natives. This military unit had its baptism of fire during the first English invasion of the Río de la Plata, From 1810 this military unit was part of the Argentine troops that served in the War of Independence.

History
The Batallón de Castas (Castes Battalion) was based on Compañía de Granaderos de Pardos libres de Buenos Aires and Compañía de Granaderos de Morenos libres de Buenos Aires. This unit was made up of former slaves, mostly of Angolan and Guinean roots, also including pardos and natives of Guaraní origin.

During the first of the English Invasions, the battalion was in command of the Colonel José Ramón Baudrix, and had a force of two companies of grenadiers and seven of riflemen. The Casta battalion also had a slave corps, conformed by 4 companies of slaves of the city, to those that would be supplied armament in case of being necessary.

From 1810 the Battalion was elevated to the rank of regiment, taking part of the Argentine forces during the First Upper Peru campaign. Later the regiment participated in the expedition to Paraguay of Manuel Belgrano.

The Battalion also participated in the expeditions to the Banda Oriental del Uruguay, taken part in the Battle of Las Piedras. The Castas Regiment had an active participation of the Second and Third expedition to Alto Perú, integrating the ranks of the Army of the North, participated in the battles Tucumán, Salta, Vilcapugio, Ayohuma and Sipe-Sipe.

Among the patriots who were part of this military unit was Ramón Odocio, a lieutenant, who was a descendant of African slaves introduced into the Río de la Plata during the 18th century.