Candelaria Pérez
Chilean soldier

Candelaria Pérez

The basics
Quick facts
Intro
Chilean soldier
Gender:
Female
Places:
Work field:
Birth:
1810(Santiago, Chile)
Death:
28 March 1870(Santiago, Chile)
The details
Biography

Candelaria Pérez (1810 – 28 March 1870) was a Chilean soldier, who served in the War of the Confederation (1836–39) against the Peru–Bolivian Confederation. Initially, she was a cantinière, but she took up a rifle and fought alongside the men she served with. She was considered the hero of the Battle of Yungay, during which when she led an assault against the entrenched Confederate troops. She was given official recognition and the rank of sergeant after the battle.

She was made a commissioned officer before she left the army in 1840, with the rank of Alférez (translated as ensign).