regiment was also ordered to march on foot, to mislead the enemy about the real strength of the republicans. The engagement lasted for about five and a half hours, according to the official report sent to General Manuel Belgrano, commander in chief of the army. The royalists eventually gave up, leaving Pequereque in the hands of Zelaya and his men. Three soldiers were killed "...in cold blood after surrender", according to Zelaya's report, and 10 men were injured. He put Olañeta casualties at up to 10 dead and 20 wounded. Royalist sources seem to acknowledge that they suffered a number of casualties, without elaborating further. After holding Pequereque during a few hours, Zelaya decided to fall back to Ancacato. Aftermath The troops of Olañeta took back Pequereque three days after the battle. The Dragoons retreated to the plain of Vilcapugio to avoid a further contact with the enemy, who by that time had gathered the bulk of their forces around Ancacato. Two days later Zelaya set his headquarters further south, at Las Leñas. Zelaya was later replaced by Colonel Juan Ramón Balcarce and sent by Belgrano to Cochabamba to recruit a bigger cavalry force from local volunteers. He would eventually join the main expeditionary force after the defeat of Vilcapugio. Notes References Araóz de la Madrid, Gregorio: Obsebvaciones [sic] sobre las Memorias póstumas del brigadier general d. Josè M. Paz, por G. Araoz de Lamadrid y otros gefes contemporaneos. Imprenta de la Revista, Buenos Aires, 1855. García Camba, Andrés: Memorias para la Historia de las armas españolas en el Perú. Sociedad tipográfica de Hortelano y compañia, 1846. V. II. Levene, Ricardo (1944).Historia de la nación argentina (desde los orígenes hasta la organización definitiva en 1862). Volume 6, Part 1. Academia Nacional de la Historia. Mitre, Bartolomé: Historia de Belgrano. Imprenta de Mayo, Buenos Aires, 1859. V. II. Paz, José María: Memorias Póstumas. Imprenta de la Revista, Buenos Aires, 1855. See also Battle of Vilcapugio Action of Tambo Nuevo Battle of Ayohuma Battles of the Spanish American wars of independence Battles of the Argentine War of Independence Conflicts in 1813 Battles of the Bolivian War of Independence Battles involving Bolivia 1813 in Bolivia June 1813 events History of Oruro Department