Vicente Benavides

Life as soldier

He initially sided with the patriots but later changed sides to fight with the royalists. He then led the royalist bands during the so-called Guerra a muerte. This was a time of irregular warfare. Benavides obtained the aid of many Mapuche chiefs to combat the Chileans and pillage the countryside. He became known in this period for cruelty towards prisoners and breaking faith during truces. The Pincheira brothers, a future outlaw group, served Benavides in the Guerra a muerte by defending the Cordillera.

In March 1821 Perseverance was anchored at St Mary's (37°03′S 73°31′W / 37.050°S 73.517°W) when a boat belonging to Benavides captured her; she was later burnt in the Tubul River (37°13′59″S 73°26′35″W / 37.233°S 73.443°W). Benavides murdered her master, two mates, and part of her crew.

On 14 May Benevides seized the American merchant vessel Hersilia, also at Santa Maria island, and later destroyed the vessel.