José Bernardo de Tagle y Portocarrero, Marquis of Torre Tagle resided in Spain between 1813 and 1817. On his return to Peru, now being a brigadier, he was appointed inspector of the army, and also named Governor of Trujillo. On the arrival of José de San Martín in Peru, he was the first Peruvian officer to hoist the national flag in the north of Peru, and on 24 December 1820 proclaimed Trujillo independent. On 26 July 1822, he was appointed provisional president by San Martin when the latter went to meet Simón Bolivar in Guayaquil. After the departure of San Martin for Chile, on 20 September, Torre Tagle was elected
José de San Martín Freire captured Talca. Las Heras routed royalist outposts in Juncalito and Potrerillos. Bernardo O'Higgins, who came from Los Patos pass, defeated the royalists at Las Coimas. This allowed the main columns to gather at Aconcagua valley, meeting at the slopes of Chacabuco. Royalist commander Rafael Maroto converged his armies on that location as well. Maroto had 2,450 men and 5 pieces of artillery, San Martín had 3,600 men and 9 pieces of artillery. The misdirection that concealed the path of the bulk of the Army allowed San Martín this advantage, as other royalist forces were scattered in other regions of