When the Pacific War started, Commander Villavisencio had the responsibility to transport a cargo of weapons from Panama to Peru, and he succeeded with his fragile ship to deliver the valuable cargo to several ports, evading the persecution of the Chilean warships that navigated in Peruvian waters. In early 1880, in recognition of his performance, Captain Villavisencio was given command of the 1,600-ton corvette Union, which at that time was the main ship of the weakened Peruvian Navy. The Chilean fleet had almost total control of the sea, and the Peruvian garrisons in the South were isolated and blockaded by the Chilean army and navy. One of those garrisons was Arica, under command of Rear Admiral Lizardo Montero.
Peru already had lost to the Chileans most of its Southern ports, such as Iquique, Ilo and Pisagua. But Arica was a strong position, defended by nineteen heavy guns placed in land, plus the two XV-inch Dahlgren's from the monitor Manco Capac. The port was suffering from a blockade by several Chilean warships, including Peru's former Huascar. American, British, German and French warships were also anchored at a prudent distance from the bay. Their task was to observe the development of the siege and the combats that may occur between the Chilean fleet and the port defenses.
During the first days of March, 1880, President Nicolas de Pierola summoned Captain Villar and told him that he had special orders for him:
"You know that Arica is being blockaded by the Chilean fleet, but it is imperative to break the blockade and deliver to the garrison reinforcements, weapons and supplies".
Villavisencio replied:
"Mr. President, during the last ten months aboard the Chalaco I have fulfilled my duties, and even if several times I have been chased by enemy warships I had been successful. Now that I am in command of a faster ship, you may rest assure that by God I will, despite the blockade, get into Arica. I can't assure you that I am coming back, but I will do what I can".
Over the next days, Villavisencio loaded his ship with tons of supplies and even the torpedo boat Alianza, which was intended for the defense of the port. On March 12th, 1880, President Pierola went to Callao to personally bid farewell to the intrepid Captain and his crew. At 11:00 hours, the Union sailed into what many thought was a suicide mission.
After five days of navigation through a sea controlled by Chilean warships, at 2:00 a.m. of March 17th, the corvette reached the waters of Arica, which at that moment was being blockaded by three ships: The Huascar, the Matias Cousiño and the Loa. The Union started her advance, slowly, straight into the port. At 4:00 a.m., at a prudent distance, Villavisencio sent a boat to inform the commander of the Manco Capac that his ship was going to enter port.
It was 5:00 a.m. when Villavisencio did the impossible, by slipping his vessel trough the enemy fleet and anchoring his ship side by side with the Manco Capac. The arrival of the ship was received with joyful manifestations not only from the Peruvians, but also from the crews of the foreign warships that witnessed the incredible incursion. The amazed Chileans only realized what was happening during the first light of the day after they saw the Union unloading the supplies for the Peruvian army. Immediately the commander of the Huascar, in a state of rage, requested reinforcements from other units of the fleet in order to attack the corvette. In a short time, the battleship Cochrane and the Amazonas arrived at Arica.
At 9:00 a.m. the Chilean squadron fired simultaneously against the Union with the intention of blow her into pieces. A total of 48 grenades hit the Peruvian ship, including a 250-pound projectile. The other grenades destroyed a gun, blew up the Command Bridge, sunk one of the ship's charcoal-supply boats and caused severe damage to the deck. The attack also killed a sailor and left many more injured. At 4:00 p.m. the Chileans ceased the bombardment, considering that the corvette had suffered severe damage and was completely ruined. For the time being the Chilean commanders were satisfied. One of them wrote:
"Villavisencio has fallen into a trap and has no escape."
But Villavisencio was a man not used to defeat. At about 4:20 p.m., after realizing that the Chilean commanders were converging into the Cochrane for a conference, Villavisencio decided it was time to leave. It was a very difficult decision because at that time the port was being blockaded not by three but by five ships, including one fast battleship. The Union was in very bad condition and the crew had suffered several casualties. Villavisencio knew that at any moment the Chileans would resume their attack and if such was the case, his corvette would be completely destroyed. The Peruvian Captain was not wrong, because Chilean commander Latorre was discussing with the captains of the other four ships the maneuvers to be taken during that evening to sink once and for all the Peruvian corvette as an example of what could happen to other Peruvian ships that dare to defy a blockade.
At about 16:30 hours, the Union's Executive Officer asked the crew:
"Men, do you want to die at land or at sea?”
The unanimous answer was: “At sea!”
And so the order was given to lift anchors and leave. At 17:00 hours, in broad daylight, under enthusiastic cheering from the Peruvians and the foreign sailors alike, the Union moved to the Alacran Island, and instead of sailing towards the North, the corvette advanced first to the South, sailing deep into Chilean waters. Commander Latorre could not believe his eyes and ordered his squadron to follow the Peruvian corvette.
But Villavisencio was an excellent navigator, and despite a fire in his ships and other mishaps, he managed to avoid his persecutors by recurring to the most incredible maneuvers.
Villavisencio arrived in Callao on March 20 and was received with the greatest honors. He had accomplished once more a difficult mission -the most difficult of all-, and the Government in recognition of his extraordinary feat conferred upon him the “Cross of Iron”.
jdelcampo@mail.com
Perú