In 1817, an army scaled the Andes to liberate South America from Spanish rule
General José de San Martín led a massive army across the treacherous, frozen peaks of the Andes Mountains in a daring military maneuver that fundamentally shifted the tide of South American independence.
In January 1817, General José de San Martín began an audacious trek across the Andes with over 5,000 soldiers and 10,000 mules to surprise Spanish forces in Chile. To ensure success, he employed a sophisticated 'war of nerves,' sending false maps to the Spanish to keep them guessing about his route across the 12,000-foot peaks.
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