the liberator army. Because of the extremely harsh conditions in the Andes, both armies felt the effects of disease and desertion. The royalist commanders positioned themselves in the heights of Kunturkunka, a good defensive position but one they couldn't hold for long, given that they had food supplies for less than five days. This would mean certain defeat upon the arrival of the expected Colombian reinforcements. The royalist army had to make a desperate decision: the Battle of Ayacucho was about to begin. Battle disposition Debate exists regarding the number of troops on each side, but both armies initially had similar forces (8,500 independents vs. 9,310 royalists), however these numbers dropped over the next weeks until the day of the battle, when there were perhaps 5,780 independentists vs. 6,906 royalists. United Liberation Army Commander: Marshal Antonio José de Sucre Chief of High Command – General Agustín Gamarra Cavalry – General William Miller First Division – General José María Córdoba (2,300 men) Second Division – General José de La Mar (1,580 men) Reserve – General Jacinto Lara (1,700 men) Before the battle began, de Sucre addressed his troops assembled in the field: Marshal Sucre does not mention in this part the mounted grenadiers of Río de la Plata. General Miller in his Memoirs of General Miller: in the service of the republic of Peru described the composition of the armies under Sucre: Miller's assertion that the Junín Hussars were in his division contradicts what Sucre said in the part. Royalist Army of Perú Commander: Viceroy José de la Serna Chief of the High Command – Lieutenant General José de Canterac Cavalry Commander – Brigadier Valentín Ferraz Vanguard Division – General Jerónimo Valdés (2,006 men) First Division – General (2,000 men) Second Division – General Alejandro González Villalobos (1,700 men) Reserve Division – General José Carratalá (1,200 men) Battle The plan, devised by Canterac, envisaged that the vanguard division would flank the enemy force, crossing the river Pampas to secure the units to the left of Sucre. Meanwhile, the rest of the royalist army would descend frontally from the Condorcunca hill, abandoning its defensive position on the high ground and charging against the main body of the enemy, which they expected to be disorganized. The 'Gerona' and 'Ferdinand VII' battalions served as reserves, deployed in a second line to be sent in wherever they were required. Sucre immediately realized the risky nature