Summary of La Guerra del Pacífico - Ep. 3: Las Correrías del Huáscar

00:00:00 - 00:20:00

The video discusses the Peruvian navy's ship, the Huáscar, and its captain, Miguel Grau. The ship was successful in attacking and sinking four Chilean ships in late August 1879. Grau was then pursued by the white encalada, but managed to elude her by swimming deep into Chilean waters. In the end, on September 14, 1879, Grau captures a number of small boats without much resistance en route to his home port of Antofagasta.

• 00:00:00 The video discusses the naval battle of Iquique, in which the Chilean navy destroyed several Peruvian ships. The Chilean navy's commander, Miguel Grau, decided to attack the Peruvian shipping in Cobija Bay, but his ships ran out of fuel and were forced to retreat. Grau then decided to attack the Peruvian forts at Callao, but was unsuccessful. He was ordered to return to Iquique, but was intercepted by the Chilean warship Blanco Encalada and the Chilean cruiser Magallanes. Grau was able to evade them and return to the port. The Peruvian navy then sent the Coqueta and the Emilia to capture the huáscar, but Grau was able to recapture them and send them back to their port.
• 00:05:00 The video discusses the experience of one of the ship's original crew, who was new to the war situation. The crew was particularly alarmed by the lack of safety in the two main cannons due to the urgent need to ensure shots were as accurate as possible to solve the situation. The government's rhetoric about searching for and capturing 30 artillerymen was also worrisome to the crew, as it risked involving more troops than necessary. The work also included the removal of the main trinquete mast and shortened castle of bow that impaired and reduced the cannon angle of the main turret's rotating gun. The commander, Grau, would also make requests for weapons and accessories, including laser-guided munitions and high-quality coal. These were essential resources for maintaining the Huáscar's comparative advantage over Chilean armored ships. However, the crew's lack of appropriate clothing and wages was a pressing issue that Grau took up with the government. He was eventually successful in getting some of these requests fulfilled, though many others were left unfulfilled. The Huáscar's second voyage to the south ended with its capture of the transport Matías Cousiño on July 6. Grau ordered Ton to take possession of the transport, but when the crew of the Magallanes saw them
• 00:10:00 The video discusses the war in the Pacific, focusing on the Huáscar, a Peruvian warship. The ship's escuadra ( squadron ) resulted in being a hard hit to its personal prestige, already diminished from its failed incursion into the Callao harbor and the subsequent loss of the Emerald. Add to this the certainty of knowing that the Peruvian port of Iquique would not capitulate, and the ship maintained a strong garrison well provisioned thanks to the temporary interruption of the blockade frustrated by the situation, and critically criticized for the lack of results. Against this backdrop, the ship's captain, Admiral William Williams, decided perhaps the most questionable decision of his command when he bombed Iquique night of 16 July without notifying the population beforehand, thus resulting in the city's encalada (caldera). The Magallanes and Gran Chilena naval forces opened fire on the city for nearly two hours, killing and wounding many civilians and generating considerable material losses. The war then showed its brutal face when news of the attack on Iquique reached Lima, President Prado dispatching the huáscar immediately to rescue civilians, and uniting with the objective of causing the greatest possible damage to enemy waters, achieving three merchant vessels
• 00:15:00 In this video, the Huáscar, a Peruvian warship, is successful in attacking and sinking four Chilean ships in late August 1879, with the help of a subterfuge by the Peruvian government. The ship's commander, Grau, is then pursued by the white encalada (oceanic white-sided dolphin), but manages to elude her by swimming deep into Chilean waters. In the end, on September 14, 1879, Grau captures a number of small boats without much resistance en route to his home port of Antofagasta. At the same time, the Chilean navy's Magallanes and batteries at Antofagasta free the second battle of Antofagasta, in which the Huáscar damages the Fao before withdrawing. The campaign ultimately results in seven ships captured and three sunk, as well as 62 boats captured or destroyed in 26 raids on Chilean ports. The value of Grau's operations is also demonstrated by the fact that, even without achieving his ultimate objective of sinking the Huáscar, he managed to terrorize the population of Point Arenas and other Peruvian ports with his presence. Grau requests to be relieved of his command and be allowed to retire with the rank of captain,
• 00:20:00 In this third episode of "La Guerra del Pacífico," viewers follow the journey of two bulls, the Huáscar, as they run free in the Chilean countryside. Those who want to help produce more content can sign up for a account on Vidrio, which has the link listed in the description.