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He Passage to the Immortality of General Don Martín Miguel de Güemes is commemorated every June 17 in memory of the Argentine politician and military man who fought alongside the army of The Infernals during the war of independence. His participation on and off the battlefield is honored today, which is why he is considered one of Argentina’s heroes. Despite his short life, his heroic tasks helped stop the Spanish advance on the country’s border.
In 1999, the Argentine National Congress issued Law 25,172, which declared this date as the National Latin American Freedom Day, in honor of Güemes, the only Argentine general who died in combat. On August 22, 2006, Law 26,125 was passed, in which he was named Hero of the Argentine Nation, Numen Tutelar of the National Gendarmerie.
Martín Miguel Juan de Mata Güemes Montero de Goyechea and the Court He was born on February 8, 1785 in Salta, into an aristocratic family. From an early age he dedicated his education to military instruction, until he enlisted at the age of 14 in the Fixed Infantry Regiment. In 1806 he was part of the Reconquest of Buenos Aires, one of the most important events of his career. According to the orders of Santiago de Liniers, he managed to lead the capture of the English ship Justinewhich had run aground on the banks of the Río de la Plata.
In 1810 he was sent by the First Junta to Alto Perúwhere he was part of the Northern Army and coordinated the gaucho squad, one of his most remembered tasks. On November 7 of that same year he managed, together with his troops, to triumph in the Battle of Suipacha. This made him one of the references of the gaucho fight for the national territory.
The feats of Güemes They made a great contribution to the country’s independence. Pudor stop the advance of the Spanish army in different parts of the northern territory and worked tirelessly to educate, assist and train all people who wished to contribute to this cause. One of his most remembered phrases was: “I do not claim glories or tributes, I only “I work for the freedom of my country.”
In 1815 he was elected as the first governor of the province of Saltaa position he held until 1821. He managed to interact with different figures of the time, as was the case with Manuel Belgrano, to whom he wrote in a letter: “In reward for so much heroism, the gratitude that we emulate from patriotic feelings demands that they contribute with their help to remedy their affliction and misery.”
On June 7, 1821, while at his sister’s house, Magdalena Güemes de Tejadabecame aware of a threat to the province of Salta. It was about Jose Maria Valdes, a colonel from Salta who responded to the orders of the Spanish, who had invaded the territory. Without hesitation, Güemes set out on a journey to respond in combat.
However, he was surprised by an ambush and was shot in the back. His agony lasted 10 days, until he died. June 17, 1821at 36 years of age, and after exclaiming: “I’m going to leave you, but I’m leaving calmly, because I know that you are behind me, who will know how to defend the country with the courage that you have shown.”
THE NATION
