An exploration of women's involvement in the Latin American Wars of Independence

La Federala Josefa de Rosa (Pepa la Federala)

Click on the image below to see the full-size image

Buenos Aires, 1834

Gender:Female

Ethnic origen: Unknown

Events:

Connections:

Biography:
The widow of Sergeant Raimundo Rosa, who died in 1820. She supported independence from the outset, working as a fireman in Lavelle's trenches. She was discovered and sentenced to death, but managed to escape. She took part in the battle of Sauce Grande for Lavalle and Pascual Echagüe's forces. She was injured and taken to Paraná and on to Buenos Aires where she joined Vicente González's regiment and took part in the Oribe campaign against Lavalle. She was injured at Quebracho Herrado, and was put in charge of the hospital at which she was convalescing. She continued in the campaign against Lavalle until his defeat at the battle of Famaillá. She was then worked as a nurse in Coronda, Santa Fe and Oribe before moving to Buenos Aires. In 1844 she presented a note to Rosas asking for wages arrears and awards for services to the ranks. She pointed out she had served the country since 1810, she had been in action in Chascomús in 1839 and was under Pascual Echagüe's orders in Entre Ríos in 1840 with 26 volunteers under her command. She signed the petition Doña Pepa la Federala. (Sosa de Newton, 325)

References:

Sosa de Newton, Lily (1986) Diccionario biográfico de mujeres argentinas