The Battle of Ochomogo

 

 

 

Ochomogo Hill, Costa Rica

           Following New Spain’s defeat in the Mexican War of Independence, a Mexican council and representatives from the Kingdom of Guatemala (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica) declared independence from Spain.  In the years that followed, the Costa Rican people were fiercely divided with respect to the political direction of their country and civil war ultimately broke out due to conflicting political visions.  Those from Cartago and Heredia as well as some Nicaraguans (imperialists collectively) tended to align with self-appointed emperor Agustín I and the newly established Mexican empire.  Those from San José and Alajuela (republicans) sought to join the vision of “The Liberator” Simon Bolívar and join the Republic of Colombia or “Gran Colombia”.

Municipality of Heredia, Costa Rica

            More than fifty years after the Spanish arrived in the “new world,” Cartago was pronounced the capital of Costa Rica, which at the time was considered a colony of New Spain.  While Cartago represented the highest concentration of governmental influence during Spanish rule, the Spanish government chose San José as the location for a tobacco factory in 1784, granting San José monetary influence through its lucrative industry during New Spain’s waning years.  San Jose’s industrial infrastructure would later play a key factor in Costa Rica’s decision to move its capital following a stretch of political instability near the beginning of the 19^th century.  After Spain’s direct, political imposition was lifted in 1821 due to its defeat in the Mexican Civil War, the Costa Rican government declared that the country would have “freedom from any power.”  However, the manner in which government officials exercised their political power next would prove that it was a hollow statement fueled by the emotion of liberation from Spain.  Just four days later, the government declared that Costa Rica would become part of the Republic of Colombia.  Outraged at the personal disadvantages of the situation, the imperialists launched a coup d’etat with the goal of forcibly aligning with Iturbide’s Mexico.  Emboldened to defend their national vision to join Gran Colombia amidst political unrest, the republicans took up arms in response to the imperialist coup.

Father Miguel Hidalgo and his followers march towards Mexico city

            A week following the official declaration of civil war, republican and imperialist forces fought in the Battle of Arroyo near Alajuela.  The few Republicans who remained, under the leadership of mayor José Ángel Soto, fought to defend themselves from the onslaught of a militia from Heredia.  However, without substantial numbers and only a single canon at their disposal, the Alajuelans were overrun by the Heredian army and many of the houses in Alajuela were destroyed and looted.  With its new inhabitants forcibly taking control, Alajuela became a temporary stronghold for the imperialist cause.    

            Simultaneously, sizeable forces from both armies converged at the hill of Ochomogo, located in a valley sandwiched between the Irazú Volcano and the La Carpintera hills near Cartago 75 miles to the southwest.  The republicans were lead by general Gregorio José Ramírez y Castro and field general Antonio Pinto Soares while the imperialists were lead by Salvador Oreamuno, Félix Oreamuno y Jiménez, and Joaquín de Oreamuno y Muñoz de la Trinidad.  According to historian Ricardo Fernández Guardia, Joaquín de Oreamuno y Muñoz de la Trinidad did not make an appearance at the battle, but rather “stayed in bed relaxing for a few more hours”  (Rafael Obregón Loría "Hechos Militares y Políticos de Nuestra Historia Patria", Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría, Costa Rica, 1981).  Despite apparent attempts to negotiate a truce, shots rang out, sending both sides into violent confrontation.  The volcanic terrain provided great cover for soldiers on each side to fire their muskets and reload.  When republican field general Antonio Pinto Soares ordered the firing of his cannons, several imperialist leaders left the battlefield with the realization that they were being overpowered.  When the fighting ended, dozens of soldiers lost their lives and hundreds sustained injuries.  Due to the slow nature of international news in those times, it took weeks for the imperialists to learn that the Mexican empire fell two weeks after the Costa Rican civil war– essentially, their fight was in vain.  The country decided to join the United Provinces of Central America. 

Donkey with Cannon

 

            It wasn’t until the 1950s that a donkey’s actions in the decisive battle of Ochomogo were examined and brought to the surface by a Cartago scholar named Fernando Runebaum Leiva according to one source (although I am having trouble finding more details about him and his research on the internet, including scholarly databases).  What exactly transpired went un-publicized by both sides because the donkey’s actions were regarded a military farce that diminished the patriotism of efforts in battle.  The story of the donkey comes in with regard to the firing of the cannons.  According to one narrative, it was the imperialists who had the only cannons because they hailed from the colonial capital Cartago, which harbored such weapons left over from Spanish rule.  Hauled by donkeys, when the weapons were primed and pointed towards the republicans, one of the donkeys suddenly turned, pointing the canon back at the imperialist army!  The cannon fired, causing immense damage to its own soldiers and severely wounding the imperialist war effort in the battle of Ochomogo.  While the exact details regarding what occurred are up for speculation, some believe that this curious instance granted the battle and ultimately the civil war victory to the republicans and contributed greatly to the decision to make San Jose the new capital of Costa Rica. 

The National Theatre of Cost Rica, San José