| Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo General San Martín | |
|---|---|
|
The "Upper Peru" Fanfare Brass Band of the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers playing the San Lorenzo march during a Guard Mounting ceremony at the Casa Rosada. | |
| Active | March 16, 1812 - Modern day |
| Country |
 Argentina |
| Branch | Argentine Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Honor guard |
| Nickname(s) | Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo |
| Patron | José de San Martín |
| March | San Lorenzo march |
| Anniversaries | March 16 (creation), February 3 (baptizm of fire) |
| Engagements | Battle of San Lorenzo |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Julio Néstor Junco |
| Notable commanders | José de San Martín |
General San Martín Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers (Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo General San Martín) is the name of two Argentine Army regiments:
- The Mounted Grenadiers 1812–1826: A historic regiment first commanded by Argentine national hero José de San Martín in 1812. The regiment fought in the Argentine War of Independence and the Cisplatine War. The regiment became the Presidential escort unit in 1825. Disdaining to renew its numbers with soldiers who had not fought in the independence war, the Regiment disbanded in 1826.
- The Mounted Grenadiers 1903–today: A modern regiment in the Argentine Army which acts as the presidential guard of honour and national ceremonial unit. This regiment claims the heritage of the original regiment of 1812 but has no direct link or lineage.
The original Mounted Grenadiers of 1812–1826[]
The regiment was founded by Argentine national hero José de San Martín in 1812. The first military action of the regiment was the Battle of San Lorenzo (1813). The regiment also played a key role as part of the Army of the Andes (Spanish language: Ejército de los Andes ) in the battles of Chacabuco (1817) and Maipú (1818) in Chile. And later in Perú, Ecuador and Bolivia at the Battles of Riobamba, Pichincha (1822) and Ayacucho (1824), and in the Cisplatine War. The regimental strength had fallen to 120 men (troop size) and the regiment was disbanded in 1827, at the height of its final actions.
Raising of the Regiment[]
By the time then Lt. Col. of Cavalry Jose de San Martin arrived on March 9, 1812, the First Triumvirate recognized him and his services as a Cavalry officer. He then knew about the Argentine War of Independence, and the Argentine Army's organizational and strategy problems that he was ready to put his experiences in the Peninsular War to good use.
On March 12, the Superior Provisional Government gave the order that recognized and confirmed his services. The letter that was written by the Triumvirate's members to the Government specified that Commander of the Horse Grenadiers Squadron about to be raised was one of his then titles, then given to him by the Triumvirate aside from his rank as a Lieutenant Colonel of Cavalry in the Spanish Army. It was necessary for him to form a new cavalry corps, and that also included having parameters of personality and conduct, the rigorous training duties, and the unit's uniforms, pattered after that of the Swiss Army's Horse Grenadiers, among others.
His objective for the formation of the cavalry unit is that to become the fully trained unit helping the Argentine Army fulfill its tasks and win its battles, with the unit composed of native soldiers and officers trained in cavalry tactics and mounted combat skills.
On the same day, Lt. Col. San Martin began to raise the Horse Grenadiers Squadron. The job of raising it took a few months to complete.
Composition of the Horse Grenadiers Squadron (June 1812)[]
The unit was composed of:
- Officers
- 2 Commanders and 8 Officers of Horse
- Non-commissioned Officers and Enlistees
- 9 Sergeants of Horse
- 3 Corporals of Horse
- 31 Horse Grenadiers
- 1 Cavalry Trumpeter
Officers and commanders of the Squadron
- Squadron Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Jose de San Martin
- Squadron Corporal Major: Carlos Maria de Alvear
- Adjutant Major: Francisco Luzuriaga
- Guidon Bearer: Manuel Hidalgo
1st Cavalry Troop
- Captain of Horse Jose Matias Zapiola
- Lieutenant of Horse Justo Bermudez
- Cornet Hipolito Bouchard
2nd Cavalry Troop
- Captain of Horse Pedro Vergara
- Lieutenant of Horse Agenor Murillio
- Cornet Mariano Necochea
Organization and Recruiting new Horse Grenadiers[]
In line with other armies of the era, Jose de San Martin's Horse Grenadiers Regiment became a model of the Argentine Army due to its strict training regimen and exemplary conduct expected of a Horse Grenadier. Rigorous military discipline, especially in maneuvers, training and parade drill became commonplace for the squadron, a model for modern armies of today.
In recruiting new members of the unit, the San Martin Code of Honor, still used today by the Regiment, was a guide for strict military discipline at all times for every Horse Grenadier, either trooper, NCO and officer to follow. San Martin used it in every recruitment activity he led in order to form the Horse Grenadiers as a large full-time military unit.
Summary of the Regimental Code of Honor[]
The Regiment's "lead as a example" way of life was what San Martín envisioned for the Horse Grenadiers; a example set by being good citizens of the nation and great soldiers of the Argentine Army, ready to fight for the nation.
Iron discipline, the cult of courage and rigorous training; all these were to be made evident in a list of "Offenses for which Officers Should be Cast Out". It was also meant as an example, to inspire the NCO's and enlisted personnel. It has fourteen points.
It is unbecoming an officer:
- To show cowardice in battle. Even lowering one's head will be considered as such.
- To not accept a challenge, whether it is just or unjust.
- To not demand satisfaction when he has been insulted.
- To not defend, at all costs, the honor of his unit when it has been defamed in his presence or elsewhere.
- To cheat like a tradesman.
- To lack integrity in the management of his unit's interests; such as not paying his troops the money that has been provided for them.
- To speak ill of his comrades to soldiers or officers from other units.
- To publicize the discussions held by the officers in their secret meetings.
- To fraternize with sergeants, corporals and privates.
- To lay hands on a woman, even if she has insulted him.
- To not come to the relief of a comrade who is in danger, when he is able.
- To be seen in public with women who are known prostitutes.
- To gamble outside of the officer class, with low and bawdy people.
- To drink immoderately, in a way that would be prejudicial to the honor of his unit.
Some time later, San Martín wrote a short poem in honor of the values that had been instilled in his Grenadiers:
De lo que mis Granaderos son capaces, |
Of what my Grenadiers are capable, |
Development from Squadron to Regiment[]
San Martin's training and capacitance for the Horse Grenadiers worked, and on September 11, 1812, the 2nd Horse Grenadiers Squadron was decreed to be raised and so was for the 3rd Squadron in December, not all done by the 1st Triumvirate as it had been forced to resign as a result of the Revolution of October 8, 1812, in which the Horse Grenadiers were a part of.
San Martin was now called by the authorities in Buenos Aires as the Commander of the Mounted Grenadiers, and on December 7 the Horse Grenadiers Regiment was officially raised, and he was promoted to Colonel. That same year would see it move to more better stables. It was on that month when the 3rd Squadron was finally formed, and the 4th Squadron would not be formed until 1815.
Baptism of fire: the Battle of San Lorenzo (February 2, 1813)[]
Main article: Battle of San Lorenzo for the full account
Feb. 2, 1813 was the very day that the Regiment won the only battle of the Argentine War of Independence led by San Martin in the country. On Feb. 1 , On orders of the national government the Regiment proceeded to the town of San Lorenzo in Santa Fe to stop an advance landing party of 250 Spanish troops from marching to the capital and environs. The Regiment was joined by a militia company led by Celedonio Escalada, and moved to the town convent where they stayed silent for the night while the planning was being done.
The next day at dawn, the Regiment assembled at the convent facade. San Martin, after a brief return to see the march on of the Spanish battalion led by Antonio Zabala, got mounted, gave an address, and ordered the 140 men from the squadrons to ride off in two columns of 60-man troops, with San Martin and Captain Justo Bermudez from Uruguay leading them. 12 from the unit were to form a reserve platoon. As the cavalry trumpet sounded the gallop, the battle started.
As the trumpeter sounded the charge, San Martin's troop column charged the battalion armed with spears and sabers followed by that of Cpt. Bermudez which charged further, just as San Martin fell off his horse after it was gunned down, trapping him in the process thus threatening him from an attack by an officer of the Spanish battalion resulting in him being wounded. As this was happening two Horse Grenadiers, Juan Bautista Cabral and Juan Bautista Baigorria saw this and saved their commander and the former later became mortally wounded as a result of enemy gunshots. San Martín reported that after Cabral was hit his dying words (in Guarani) were: "I die happy, we have defeated the enemy". Now Lieutenant Bouchard killed the flag bearer of the Spanish flag capturing it in the process.
The battalion was routed as a result and fled the battlefield that morning after just 15 minutes leaving 40 dead, 16 wounded or POWs and two abandoned cannons. At the cost of 16 dead and 22 wounded, the Regiment won this small but important battle of the Argentine War of Independence.
In the aftermath, he told the townsfolk to reconcile. The Spanish unit was later given assistance by the Regiment, and San Martin's visits to the soldiers and his breakfast with the Spanish commander on Feb. 4 resulted in their defection to the patriotic forces. He was greeted by Eastern Bank independence leader José Gervasio Artigas on his first victory.
The Second Triumviate soon awarded him a General's promotion and assigned him command of the Buenos Aires garrison forces.
Eastern Bank and the Army of the North[]
The next assignment for the regiment was defense duties in what is now Uruguay especially the Montevideo area and forming part of the Army of the North to free the Upper Peruvian departments from Spanish rule. Thus, the 1st and 2nd Squadrons joined the patriotic forces in Tucuman in January 1814 while the 3rd and 4th Squadrons were involved in the campaign of liberation in the Banda Oriental, finally liberating the area in June of the same year. The 1st and 2nd Squadrons represented the regiment in the many conventional battles and guerrilla actions in Upper Peru until 1816.
The Mounted Grenadiers of 1903–today[]
In 1903, the Regiment was reinstated, and after 4 years it returned to the role of a Presidential honor guard escort.
Role[]
At the present day, the regiment acts as the presidential guard and also fulfills ceremonial protocol functions. It is the caretaker of the Casa Rosada, the Argentine Presidential Palace at the eastern end of the famous Plaza de Mayo, nearby some historical and cultural landmarks like the Buenos Aires Cabildo, in which the Regiment of Patricians serve as caretakers, the Buenos Aires City Hall, and the Buenos Aires Cathedral. They also take ceremonial and security duties at the various residences of the President of Argentina nationwide.
Full dress uniform and ceremonial weapons[]
Officers
- Blue Shako with a Red/Blue Pompom
- Blue polo dress/battle uniform and pants
- Gold Grenade badge
- 9 gold Buttons
- Epaulette (blue with red piping)
- Black Leather boots
- Cavalry sabre belt
- Cavalry sabre with scabbard
Enlisted and NCOs
- Red Shako with a Violet pompom
- Blue polo uniform with gold buttons and a Yellow grenade badge and pants
- Epaulette (scarlet with red piping)
- Black leather boots
- Sabres with scabbards, cavalry Carbines (optional), lances
Alto Peru Mounted Fanfare Band[]
Established in 1929 as the musical support unit of the Mounted Grenadiers Regiment, this is one of the many military bands in the service of the Argentine Army, and one of the Army's few cavalry mounted bands. Like the bands of the British Army's Royal Armoured Corps and Household Cavalry, and the French Army's Cavalry Branch and the French National Gendarmerie's Republican Guard Cavalry Regiment, the band plays not just as a regular military band but also as a mounted band.
When mounted on horseback, it has trumpet, helicons, tubas, euphoniums, baritones, 4 timpani and 1 glockenspiel, and the band is led by two Directors of Music. But when on the ground, the instrumentation is of trumpets, valve trombones, mellowphones, tubas, baritones, euphoniums, 1 snare drum, 1-2 bass drums, cymbals, 1 glockenspiel, and field snare drums, and is led by not just the two Directors of Music but by the band's Drum Major.
See also[]
External links[]
- Official Site (Spanish)
The original article can be found at Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers and the edit history here.