María Remedios Del Valle was born in the city of Buenos Aires between 1766 and 1767.
    Of African-American origin, during the Second English invasion of the Río de la Plata, María Remedios del Valle helped the Tercio de Andaluces, one of the militia forces that successfully defended the city.
     When the revolution of May 25, 1810 occurred and the first Auxiliary Expedition to Upper Peru was organized, María Remedios joined the march accompanying her husband and her two children, who would not survive the campaign.
    In 1812, learning that Belgrano was preparing to give the battle of Tucumán, on the eve she appeared and begged her to allow her to participate assisting the wounded; and although the general refused, María Remedios managed to go to the front and assist the troops, which were victorious.

    The soldiers began to call her "Mother of the Nation" and after the victory of Salta, due to her courage, Belgrano named her captain.
    Then came the two important defeats of Vilcapugio and Ayohuma, where María Remedios was wounded and taken prisoner. However, even in such a scenario, she helped several patriotic officers escape, which angered the royalists. The fierce reprimand did not take long: she was subjected to nine days of public flogging that left indelible scars; but she managed to escape and rejoin the forces of Miguel de Güemes and Juan Álvarez de Arenales, with whom she continued to battle and assist the wounded until the end of the war.

    After the struggle for independence, María Remedios returned to Buenos Aires, where she found herself forgotten and reduced to begging.

    On the streets of the city, near churches, she offered cakes and begged for alms. When she showed her scars and related where they came from, she was called insane or senile.

     She remained in this situation until, in 1827, when General Juan José Viamonte recognized her on the street and managed to get a pension grant for María Remedios.

    On November 21, 1829, she was promoted to Sergeant Major of the Cavalry. However, it was the Governor of Buenos Aires Juan Manuel de Rosas who claimed María Remedios, incorporating her into the active staff of the army as a sergeant major and substantially increasing her pension, which she would maintain for life.