The Batallón de Castas (
Castes Battalion) was based on Compañía de
Granaderos de Pardos Libres de Buenos Aires and Compañía de Granaderos de Morenos Libres de Buenos Aires. This unit was made up of former slaves, mostly of
Angolan and
Guinean roots, also including
pardos and natives of
Guaraní origin. During the
first British invasion of the River Plate, the battalion was under the command of Colonel
José Ramón Baudrix, and consisted of two companies of grenadiers and seven companies of riflemen. The Casta battalion also had a
slave corps, made up by four companies of slaves from Buenos Aires, which would be supplied with armaments during times of conflict. From 1810 the Battalion was elevated to the rank of regiment, taking part of the Argentine forces during the
First Upper Peru campaign. Later the regiment participated in the expedition to
Paraguay led by
Manuel Belgrano. The Battalion also participated in the expeditions to the
Banda Oriental del Uruguay, taken part in the
Battle of Las Piedras. The Castas Regiment had an active participation of the
Second and
Third expedition to Upper Peru, integrating the ranks of the
Army of the North, participated in the battles
Tucumán,
Salta,
Vilcapugio,
Ayohuma and
Sipe-Sipe. Among the patriots who were part of this military unit was
Ramón Odocio, a lieutenant, who was a descendant of African slaves introduced into the
Río de la Plata during the 18th century through the
Asiento. ==Gallery==