Possession of the fleet allowed the congressional side to obtain outside support, arms, veterans, and an army despite beginning as a political opposition with limited land power. Estanislao del Canto took command while Prussian officer Emil Körner served as chief of staff, organizing roughly 10,000 men into three combined-arms brigades and training their officers. Naval mobility and supply supported the advance south toward Valparaíso and Santiago before new warships arriving from Europe could shift the balance toward Balmaceda. The subsequent victories at Concón and Placilla demonstrate the navy's role as the enabler of operational mobility, professional training, and supply rather than an isolated force fighting only at sea.
Notable Point · 2:32:51-2:38:23
A fleet gives Congress the logistics to win
Congress turned its naval advantage into outside supply, troop movement, and a campaign that defeated Balmaceda's forces.