Dreams of freedom - Part 2 from 1819 to 1820 Manuel Dimas Del Corral
End of 1819. Manuel Dimas Del Corral, advances with the Antioquia Battalion towards Rionegro.
Lieutenant Manuel Dimas, we must successfully complete this journey to present our battalion to the governor of the province, Mr. Jose Manuel Restrepo.
Have full confidence, General Córdova, that on the fourth day of the march we will be entering the plaza of Rionegro.
Soon the battalion receives news of the deeds of Chocó and Zaragoza:
Last September Juan María Gómez manages to liberate Chocó. ¡We're free!
Carlos Robledo, with only thirty men , attacked the town where tolrá was waiting for him with two hundred men
In October, Carlos Robledo victoriously fought the faithful soldiers of Carlos Torlá and Faustino Martínez, in Zaragoza.
Hard was the combat, but Robledo, still wounded in an arm, completely defeated the royalists.
This news should encourage us. ¡Let's continue to Rionegro to receive the governor's consent and let's join the Battalion to all those who want to join our force of freedom!
Go ahead guys, there is little left to get to Rionegro.
Those are Manuel Dimas, Córdova and his men,
¡let's join them to achieve our freedom!
Welcome guys, the more we are, the stronger we will walk the path to our freedom.
Well said, long ¡live Córdova!
¡let's unite for our Liberty.!
Rionegro, December 1819. The Second Battalion of hunters of New Granada, is now a force of about three hundred men from Marinilla, Medelln, Santa Fe de Antioquia and Rionegro. They are received by Governor Jose Manuel Restrepo in the main square and are credited as the main military force in the province. From this moment they will be recognized as the Antioquia battalion.
They have walked a long way to get here, but the march will become heavier, on their shoulders weighs the hope of freedom of an entire people.
We trust in the plans of our General Bolívar. Trust in the command of General José María Córdova and may the Lord protect and guide this Battalion of patriots along the path of freedom.
Thank you for the words Don Jose Manuel, now only determination and courage can lead us to happy victory.
Don José María Córdova, I am pleased to receive you and your lieutenants in my house. I hope that here you will recover your strength for the road that awaits you.
I'll send Carlos Robledo to confirm the location of the royalists.
They confirm the presence of the Spaniards near Yarumal, Angostura and Campamento.
Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Governor, my men and I are very grateful.
The next day.
my brave battalion: Francisco Warleta's forces are approaching, first thing in the morning we will leave to stop them. But first, I must say goodbye to my beloved Manuelita Morales.
I must inform that we know of the advance of Francisco Warleta and his royalist army on our territory. We are in grave danger.
¡General, news coming from the front!
Be careful, General Córdova, gunpowder makes the horses very spirited.
¡hooray!
¡Oh! ¡holy virgin!
¡Ole! ¡oh, my dear!!
¡Call the doctor!
We must help him, prepare everything to go to Barbosa, there his aunts will take care of him.
Where I am?
Barbosa, January 1820.
Carlos and Manuel Dimas, our plan to stop Warleta's advance cannot be late while I stay at my aunts' house.
Our soldiers Gómez and Jaramillo are exploring the path of Cáceres and Yarumal. The meeting with Warleta is very close.
With our convalescent general, it is my duty to take the initiative and plan the actions that will allow us to stop the Spanish.
Carlos, I don't feel vital enough to lead the attack from the front, you with the help of Manuel Dimas and Salvador, my brother, will lead the frontal attack. I trust you, the freedom of our country is in your hands.
¡Count me in general! For my honor and for my people, we will defeat Warleta.
I'm no general but I feel strong and ready to take momentarily the leadership of our battalion.
¡I am confident that our force of 400 armed soldiers, several lancers and 200 volunteer infantrymen will push back Warleta's army! Santa Rosa de Osos, february 1820.
Manuel Dimas sends a man to spy on Warleta's movements in Alto de Canaveral.
Yarumal, february 1820. Warleta arrives in Yarumal with hundreds of armed soldiers and takes to the roads while waiting for the patriots. he has men in Angostura, Carolina del Príncipe and the entire San Andres Valley in Cuerquia.
The soldier sent by Manuel Dimas runs agitated to inform his superiors about him i must hurry up, my General Córdova must know what Warleta is up to.
General, the soldier I sent in advance informs me that warleta is near the hill of Boquerón. he is located there with more than 300 men.
Let's stay tuned, the guides in this region are not to be trusted.
Manuel Dimas we will head towards the northeast. We are a strong troop and we will have victory. February 11, 1820. Located at the intersection between Angostura, Yarumal and Campamento, the Antioquia battalion splits in two and advances from the site of La Culebra through the Llanos de Cuivá. move cautiously, we´re gonna try to surround Warleta.
February 12, 1820. Seeing the advance of the patriotic forces, Warleta and his army retreated to the basin of the Chorros Blancos ravine, where they surprisingly encountered the bulk of the Antiochian forces under the command of José María Aguilar. The royalists are forced to retreat to the slopes of Morro Chimborazo, in Alto de Cañaveral, where they are attacked headon by Manuel Dimas and more than a hundred of his men.
¡We took the high top, now we go for our freedom!
The Spanish forces, seeing themselves surrounded, flee towards flatter terrain, approaching closer to the basin of the Chorros Blancos ravine. The remaining Antioquian troops, led by Córdova, surround the Spanish and defeat them.
¡Soldiers, head on and with force against them! ¡Liberty!
February 13, 1820.
My lieutenant, I must inform you that the few Spanish forces that survived the battle are fleeing along the road to the Nechí River.
My general Córdova, Warleta and the Spanish forces flee trying to reach Cáceres. His brother Salvador and I are going to stop them no matter what it takes.
Thank you soldier, I will inform General Córdova.
Thank you Manuel Dimas, you have proven your commitment to our cause.
Manuel Dimas, I declare you captain of the Company of Grenadiers of our Battalion. Your bravery will take us a long way. The Republic is in your debt. Your Courage has sealed this great victory.
the victory in Chorros Blancos prevented the Spaniards led by Sebastián de la Calzada, who were advancing from the south, and the troops led by Francisco Warleta, who advancing from the north, join forces in our beloved Antioquia.
The freedom of Antioquia is sealed.
Some rumors say that Warleta flees to Jamaica and that his henchmen retreat to lower Cauca.
Rionegro. late february 1820. By order of our general Bolívar, the Antioquia and Cauca battalions must meet to confront the Spaniards through the rivers and swamps of the Magdalena region.
I feel confident to report our progress to General Bolívar.
General, we cannot leave the Magdalena if the remnants of Warleta's forces flee towards Zaragoza. Let me and your brother salvador to get them.
April 1820. Expelling the Spanish from Zaragoza with few ships and without boats made the actions of Manuel Dimas and his companions difficult.
Manuel Dimas, together with Salvador Córdova, and 40 men under his charge, occupy Remedios and expel the Spaniards from there.
Hold your courage, don't be afraid.
May 1820. Although our position is disadvantageous, we must find a way to defeat our new enemy: lieutenant and sailor Joaquín del Campo, who rests with his artillery fleet next to the Nechí River.
Quebrada la Llama, Cuturrí hill, surroundings of Bagre, Antioquia. Mid may 1820.
Without boats we are lost, let's capture Spanish boats to ambush our enemies.
Hunger and difficulties will not be able to stop us. We are less, but more intelligent.
We need provisions, these grilled fruits are not enough.
The Spanish, with their artillery fleet control this region, we must be more skillful in the attack.
With the help of the oarsmen from Cauca we will equip some rafts with lanterns, we will let them run down the river so that the Spaniards believe that unarmed and weak we are heading north.
The Spanish will pursue the empty rafts and move away from Nechí. Leaving the town, we will occupy it. ¡be aware!
¡Look, They are the Antioquians. Come on, let's attack them!
may 14 , 1820. The Spaniards fall into the trap led by Manuel Dimas, undock their ships and leave the place. The evil Del Campo loses position and deceived goes to Majagual.
Manuel Dimas and his men occupy Nechí, and celebrate a victory without confrontation. Captain, will we continue in pursuit of the Spanish?
The inhabitants of Majagual are our brothers and we will not leave them at the mercy of the Spanish.
We have orders not to leave the borders of Antioquia, even though I want to. For now, let us enjoy this meal and this victory today.
Captain Manuel Dimas, letter from General Córdova.
¡We will not give truce to the enemy! We must fall back towards the mouths of La Mojana.
Ih Gener ave just r e a surp l Santand ceived or de as e If by sed de bo r. You mus rs from r a t not with ny means ders of t he pr your you d o head isobe . y you vince. ´ll pa José y María Córd ova
may 17, 1820. Despite the prohibitions, Manuel Dimas and his soldiers headed for Majagual. They are well received by the settlers, they settle in the outskirts and appoint Martín Aguirre as Captain of War there, as well as new Chiefs and Inspectors. We will unite the freedom-loving villagers to our cause.
We know that some inhabitants of Majagual have reported our presence to our enemies, I am sure that they will try to attack us.
del campo and his men came to attack us just as I predicted, I am sure they will return in the night, we must prepare.
Let our cavalry picket run down town to warn us of the Spanish advance.
During the night the Spanish return and attack the patriots with more force.
The attack from the artillery ships forced Manuel Dimas, his soldiers and the citizens loyal to his cause, to retire in canoes to the edge of town. ¡We will make contact with the enemy, prepare and take cover!!
¡Watch out!
I must find more men, I will leave, but I will release them again. Manuel Dimas del Corral has never broken a promise.
The Cavalry settled in the place of Achí manages to cover the withdrawal of the patriotic forces. Manuel Dimas and his soldiers receive support from Cáceres to reorganize and plan a new attack.
I will provide new oarsmen and supplies so you can fight Lieutenant Carcafio, second in command of the Spanish Navy, who rests with his forces in the arms of the Lathe, in los brazos del Torno.
Thank you Father Uribe, the contributions of the Algarrobo parish will never be forgotten.
May 18, 1820. Now we are ready and recovered to fulfill our promise of freedom to the inhabitants of Majagual, whatever it takes. Remember the letter from General Córdova where he insists on not leaving behind the borders of our province.
My honor is compromised. I fully assume my responsibility. Our freedom deserves everything. ¡Troops prepare to sail!
¿who´s there?
Save ammo, use your sabers and machetes, attack.
After a new confrontation, Manuel Dimas and his companions manage to defeat the enemy. Only Lieutenant Carcafio was able to flee, heading towards Majagual to notify his superior.
Lieutenant Carcafio will notify our enemies of our victory, we will no longer be able to take them by surprise, I must devise another plan: continue with my troops by land, while the canoes, full of oarsmen dressed as soldiers, will descend the river in line of battle while with their trumpets they make war blasts.
Manuel Dimas and his men receive reinforcements from Cáceres, while the indigenous Zenúes, skilled connoisseurs of the territory, also join the patriots.
We are all united by ties of brotherhood We will guide you along the paths that will ensure your victory.
Surroundings of Caño Cachimbero, Sucre.
Everyone run to the warships, the patriots are coming.
Let's split up, some on ships and others on land.
May 19, 1820. Place of la ladera, three kilometers from Majagual.
Target the officers and pilots in glittery dress who they're on the boats, they can't miss.
let The Spaniards finished off their ammunition by firing at the boats while my men attack by ground.we will deceive them again.
may 20, 1820.
The change of strategy devised by Manuel Dimas to persecute Carcafio and reattack the Spaniards in Majagual is successful. The Spanish ships without pilot run uncontrollably by the current of the river, while they are confiscated by the patriots.
may 25, 1820. Majagual is liberated from Spanish oppression. the evil lieutenant Joaquín del Campo. Major José Guerrero, Marine Lieutenant Carlos Ferrer y Xiques, Francisco Trespalacios, a momposino, 500 soldiers, 40 chiefs and officers, are captured and sentenced under a leafy campano tree.
¡we´re free! ¡thank you Antioqueños!
¡thanks rowers from cauca !
You have defeated me, I surrender to you. I have suffered the fate of war.
¡thanks zenú people!
may 27, 1820. up the cauca river, on the way to zaragoza. After informing Colonel Hermógenes Maza of the victory at Majagual, Manuel Dimas and his companions seek to meet again with General Córdova. They prepare their boats to go up the river and meet their companions in the middle of the way.
Look comrades, here come Córdova and our friends.
I must confess I was furious with you, Manuel Dimas, I excuse you. you are a true hero
YOUNG AND BRAVE Manuel DimaS DEL CORRAL..
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June 2, 1820. The rest of the Antioquia battalion, coming from Cáceres, Zaragoza and Nechí, met with Manuel Dimas and his men to go to Magangué to establish a new command post, while the patriotic forces commanded by Colonel Hermógenes Maza settled in Tamalameque. The redoubts of the Spanish forces meet with Governor Valbuena in Mompós seeking to assault Tenerife.
Mompós, early june 1820. The Spanish ships that survived Majagual, commanded by Colonel Vicente Villa, retreat to Mompós where they are received by the Spanish Governor Miguel Valbuena.
The Americans have won the battle, but not the war. Governor, let us unite, recover and prepare to attack the patriots again in the area of Tenerife.
This is Don Vicente, in Tenerife the patriots will know the true Spanish power.
Outskirts of Mompós, june 1820. The momentary Spanish retreat towards Mompós lifted the Spanish blockade on the river, allowing the patriotic forces under Maza to obtain a more advantageous position on the Magdalena River.
I am sure that the Spaniards are taking refuge in Mompós, the land of my ancestors, we must stop them, my general Córdova.
You are right Manuel Dimas, our friend Maza informs us that a hundred Honda riflemen have joined their ranks, let us take advantage of that advantage to move quickly towards Mompos and thus prevent Colonel Villa and his men from continuing to recover their strength, we mustassault them there with all our might.
Mompós, june 18, 1820.
Our spies on the river tell us that the Antioquenos are approaching Mompos. Tenerife offers us a more advantageous position to defeat them, order my soldiers to leave the town to head in that direction, in that place we will easily defeat the patriots.
Mompós, june 19, 1820. Learning in advance that Córdova, Manuel Dimas and their companions from the Antioquia Battalion are heading upriver, the Spaniards leave Mompós, an occasion that Manuel Dimas and his men take advantage of to settle soldiers and public employees related to freedom in the town.
Let's claim Mompós as a town free from Spanish oppression, finally, the land that my grandfather Ramón ruled for so long and where my father, Juan, was born, is free thanks to my effort.
The cowardly Vicente Villa and his henchmen have fled. Our freedom is getting closer.
Free, the inhabitants of Mompós, thank Manuel Dimas and his companions.
¡we are free! ¡Manuel Dimas, liberator! ¡thanks Córdova, thanks Antioquia battalion!
¡Welcome to the land of his ancestors!
¡long memory to ramón, juan and manuel!
¡our hero is his homeland!
¡Mompós is Manuel Dimas´s home!
We have seen victory after victory how Manuel Dimas consecrates himself as a soldier of the freedom, he has proudly freed the cradle of his ancestors, but he still has a tough battle to fight: with the help of Córdova and his companions, stop the evil Vicente Villa who is heading with his men towards the dangerous area of Tenerife. Will Manuel Dimas be able to extend freedom along the Magdalena River and achieve the liberation of Cartagena with the patriots?