This brilliant march, written by Captain and Band Conductor Cayetano Silva (Uruguay 1868-Argentina 1920), was probably composed in 1892, and was first performed in public on October 30, 1902, at the inauguration of the monument to General de San Martín in the city of Santa Fe.
Silva was also the author of other pieces, although none of them attained the degree of popularity of San Lorenzo, both in the country and abroad.
The march evokes the combat that took place in February 3, 1813, in the grounds of the San Carlos Convent, on the banks of the Paraná River and close to the town of San Lorenzo, in the province of Santa Fe. This was the baptism of fire of the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers and the first battle fought on Argentine land. The Triumvirate that was in charge of the Executive, had ordered then Colonel José de San Martín to protect the coasts of the Paraná River from the raids by Spanish troops that, from their base in Montevideo, were ravaging the inland waterways.
The disembarkation troops, with artillery support, were attacked by two squadrons of the Regiment, one of them led by San Martín. Several cavalry charges blandishing sabres and lances, forced the Spanish infantry to retreat, loosing men and their flag.
