The Siege of Paysandú occurred during the Uruguayan War

Uruguayan War

The Uruguayan War , also known as the War against Aguirre, was fought between Uruguay and an alliance between the Empire of Brazil and Uruguayan Colorados....

, during which the Brazilian Armed Forces, under Marquis of Tamandaré

Marquis of Tamandaré

Joaquim Marques Lisboa, the Marquis of Tamandaré , was a military officer and member of the Liberal Party. His long military career expanded from the Brazilian War of Independence to the Paraguayan War .In the year 1936–1938 Brazil published a coin with his portrait....

 and Colorado forces under Venancio Flores

Venancio Flores

Venancio Flores Barrios was a Uruguayan political leader and general. Flores was President of Uruguay from 1854 to 1855 and from 1865 to 1868.-Background and early career:...

 attempted to capture the city of Paysandú

Paysandú

-Transportation:The city is served by Tydeo Larre Borges International Airport.-Climate:Paysandú has a humid subtropical climate, described by the Köppen climate classification as Cfa. Summers are warm to hot and winters are cool, with the occurrence of frosts and fog...

 in Uruguay

Uruguay

Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...

from its Uruguayan Army defenders. The siege lasted from 3 December 1864 until 2 January 1865, finally ending when the Brazilian and Colorado forces successfully conquered the town.

The siege

The Brazilians had 1,695 infantrymen, 195, artillerymen, 320 navy personnel (for a total of 2,210 men) and 30 cannons. The Colorados had from 600 men and 4 cannons to 800 men and 7 cannons. The besieged Uruguayans had 1,254 men and 15 cannons.