16/06/2026 03:56 - Actualidad
Vigilia nocturna con velas en plaza, banderas argentinas, silueta de gaucho a caballo con montañas del norte argentino al fondo, cielo estrellado
The city of San Francisco (in Córdoba province) prepares for a historic moment on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, when it will hold the first-ever "Guardia Bajo las Estrellas" (Watch Under the Stars) vigil in honor of General Martín Miguel de Güemes and his sister María Magdalena "Macacha" Güemes. The event, organized by Proyecto Arquitectos Sociales, begins at 4:00 PM at the Arquitectos Sociales square, located along the former Ferrocarril Mitre railway lines, between Garibaldi and Perú streets.
During the ceremony, the "Guardia de Honor a las Glorias del Norte" (Honor Guard to the Glories of the North) will be officially presented—an initiative to keep alive the memory of those who defended Argentina's northern territory and consolidated national independence. The ceremony draws inspiration from the traditional annual event in Salta province commemorating the hero's final hours.
Martín Miguel de Güemes (1785-1821) was an Argentine military leader and governor of Salta who played a crucial role in the wars of independence against Spain. He is famous for leading "Los Infernales"—a cavalry militia of gauchos (skilled rural horsemen of the South American pampas) who used guerrilla warfare tactics.
María Magdalena Dámasa Güemes, affectionately known as "Macacha", was far more than just the sister of the Salta caudillo. Her role in the independence was fundamental, though often overlooked in traditional history:
On June 7, 1821, during the night, a force of approximately 400 royalist infantrymen commanded by Colonel José María Valdés (nicknamed "El Babarucho") silently entered the city of Salta. Güemes, who was with an escort of only 50 men, had been alerted by his sister Macacha about enemy movements, but ignored her advice to escape through a hidden exit.
At the corner of Balcarce and Belgrano streets, facing the old stone bridge over the Tagarete de Tineo, Güemes confronted a group of royalist fusiliers. In the battle, a bullet entered through his right hip and lodged in his groin. Seriously wounded, he managed to gallop away until he was aided by one of his patrols near the Arias River.
He was transferred to the Quebrada de la Horqueta, where he remained surrounded by his loyal followers. Colonel Jorge Enrique Vidt swore to continue the fight to the end. The Spanish offered medical attention in exchange for his surrender, but Güemes rejected it categorically: "Tell your chief that I thank him for his offers without accepting them: you are dismissed."
He died on June 17, 1821 and was buried the following day in the chapel of El Chamical. His remains now rest in the Panteón de las Glorias del Norte (Pantheon of the Glories of the North) in the Cathedral of Salta.
María del Carmen Puch y Velarde was 18 years old when she met Güemes, introduced by Macacha. They married on July 15 at the Cathedral of Salta and had three children: Martín (who would become governor), Luis, and Ignacio.
After her husband's death, Carmen locked herself in her room, cut her hair, and stopped eating. She died on April 3, 1822, at age 25, only 10 months after him. Tradition holds that Güemes had predicted her death: "My Carmen will not take long to follow me; she will die of my death just as she lived of my life."
San Francisco (Córdoba province):
Salta:
Monday, June 15, 2026 is a movable public holiday in Argentina commemorating the 205th anniversary of the passing of General Martín Miguel de Güemes, who died on June 17, 1821. The holiday was established in 2010 to honor the only general killed in combat during the independence wars.
Iconic phrase: "The only struggle that is lost is the one that is abandoned", attributed to Güemes, summarizing his unbreakable fighting spirit.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
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