Uruguayan War
Encyclopedia
The Uruguayan War also known as the War against Aguirre, (August 10, 1864 – February 20, 1865) was fought between Uruguay
and an alliance between the Empire of Brazil and Uruguayan Colorados
.
For centuries the region that is nowadays Uruguay
was disputed between Portugal
and Spain
, the two foremost colonial powers in South America
. The first Portuguese settlement, was Colónia do Sacramento
, founded in 1680 in violation of the Treaty of Tordesillas
. Since the beginning, the survival of the most distant colony of the southern Brazil
border, was at stake. The Spaniards from Buenos Aires
attacked it countless times, and managed to conquer it in 1704. The Treaty of Utrecht
, signed in 1715, that ended the War of the Spanish Succession
, returned Colónia do Sacramento to Portugal.
To stop further Portuguese advances, Spain
founded Montevideo
in 1726, 160 km (99 mi) east of Sacramento. The Portuguese colony was attacked again in 1735 and 1737. In accordance with the Treaty of Madrid
, from 1750, Portugal was supposed to exchange it to Spain for what is today the western part of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul
. But the Portuguese refused to accomplish the agreement. A major Spanish invasion took Sacramento, and other Portuguese villages and forts, in 1762, but they were soon retaken. Finally, the Treaty of Saint Ildefonso
from 1777 definitively delivered the Portuguese colony to Spain.
The Portuguese however returned to retake its former colony in 1811, without success. A new invasion in 1816
conquered all the region known as Banda Oriental
, and renamed it Cisplatina
. When Brazil became independent from Portugal, in 1822, Cisplatina was incorporated into the Brazilian Empire. In 1825, a small group of orientals
rebelled against Brazil with the support of the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata (now Argentina
). After a war that lasted three years
, by the 1828 Treaty of Montevideo
, Emperor Pedro I recognized the independence of Cisplatina, that became Uruguay
.
As the other Latin American republics, Uruguay since its independence was plagued with rebellions and coups d’état. Around 1830 the two political parties that would dominate the political affairs of the country for much of its history emerged: the Colorados
and the Blancos
. A long civil war between the two factions attracted the attention of its two closest neighbors. Argentina under the dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas
supported the Blancos, with intention of annexing Uruguay. Brazil tried to stop the republican separatism in its southern regions, supporting the Colorados and dragging the country to the war. After twenty years of intermittent conflict in Uruguay, the Brazilian Empire (with the decisive contribution of Argentine rebels
) defeated the Argentine Confederation
in the Platine War
of 1852.
, as plenipotentiary
to Uruguay. Saraiva’s main objective was to end the crisis between both countries by peaceful means. In 12 May 1864 he presented his credentials
to the Uruguayan government and four days later formally delivered the Brazilian demands. The demands were implicitly an ultimatum
, and were rejected by Aguirre in 24 May 1864.
Both the Blanco and Brazilian governments were intransigent. The Uruguayans erroneously believed that their alliance with Paraguay would protect them from a Brazilian attack and that, in the event of war, slave rebellions would occur in Brazil, preventing effective mobilization. In turn, the Brazilian government had no genuine desire for dialogue.
In addition, Saraiva's arrogant and authoritarian attitude, caused irritation among the members of the Blanco government, and hindered the search for a peaceful solution. The Brazilian Conservatives cautioned the liberal cabinet, arguing that the war could spread onto Brazilian soil. This warning later proved prophetic, when Paraguayan troops invaded the Brazilian province of Mato Grosso
in December.
Meanwhile, Saraiva had made a secret alliance with the Argentine government. Immediately afterwards, he began conversations with the rebel leader Flores, who had accepted the Brazilian demands. Aguirre signed a decree in 10 June inviting Solano López to serve as an arbitrator in the crisis between Uruguay and Brazil. The Paraguayan government accepted the invitation in 17 June 1864. The Brazilian government simply ignored the proposal, as it knew of the secret alliance between Uruguay and Paraguay, and of the inevitable support that López would grant to the Uruguayan cause.
British ambassador Edward Thornton
, together with Saraiva and the Argentine Rufino de Elizalde
, made a peace offer on 17 June, which Flores accepted. The peace accord implicitly allowed Flores to nominate a new cabinet that would accept the Brazilian demands. With the exception of this clause, the Uruguayan government accepted the proposal on 23 June. Flores, however put aside the accord on 2 July, and resumed military operations four days later. On 4 August, Saraiva presented an ultimatum to the Uruguayan government, stating that there would be a formal declaration of war
, if it did not accede. The Uruguayan government refused to accept the ultimatum, and on the 10th August, Saraiva informed Aguirre that the Brazilian commanders would receive orders to begin retaliation.
(the Baron of Tamandaré and commander of the Brazilian naval forces in Uruguay) the orders to initiate the war operations. Tamandaré had under his command twelve steamships: the frigate Amazonas; corvettes Niterói, Belmonte, Beberibe, Parnaíba, Jequitinhonha and Recife; and gunboats Mearim, Araguaia, Ivaí, Itajaí and Maracanã. The Brazilian admiral created a naval division to patrol the Uruguay River
under the command of Francisco Pereira Pinto (later Baron of Ivinhema) that consisted of the ships Jequitinhonha, Araguaia and Belmonte.
In 25 August the officer Pereira Pinto sighted the Uruguayan steamship Vila del Salto and despite the warning shots to surrender, it managed to escape to Argentina after a desperate run away from the Brazilian warships. The first battle of the war resulted in the end of the diplomatic relations by the Uruguayan government in 30 August. In 7 September Pereira Pinto met once again with the Vila del Salto while sailing from Salto
to Paysandú
. The corvettes Belmonte and Jequitinhonha attacked it as it tried to escape next to Argentine shore. The combat only ended when the Uruguayan ship ran aground next to the city of Paysandú where its crew set it on fire to prevent it from falling into Brazilian hands.
Tamandaré turned the alliance with Flores into a formality in 20 October in Santa Lucia, establishing the cooperation between the Brazilian forces and Uruguayan rebels. The Brazilian ships made the blockade
of the cities of Salto and Paysandú. After four days of siege
, Colonel José Palomeque, commander of the Uruguayan troops in Salto, surrendered in the afternoon of 28 November. Admiral Tamandaré personally commanded the Brazilian naval forces in the blockade of Paisandú that began in 3 December 1864 with one corvette and four gunboats. The city was garrisoned by 1,274 men with 15 cannons under the command of Colonel Leandro Gómez. Flores besieged it by land
with 800 infantrymen and 7 cannons and received in 4 December the support of 560 Brazilians.
Tamandaré sent a message to Gómez to surrender and avoid unnecessary bloodshed. The Brazilian envoy, however, was repelled by shots by order of Gómez. Despite the several attacks, the Brazilian and Colorado forces were incapable of taking the city. Tamandaré opted to wait for the Brazilian army that had entered Uruguayan territory in 1 December. Aguirre sent the Argentine general Juan Sáa with 2,000 men to help the besieged forces forcing the Brazilians to briefly lift the siege and depart to face the new threat. Sáa gave up from his objective and ran away to the other side of the river Negro
.
The Brazilian army with 6,000 men and 12 cannons that invaded Uruguay was commanded by Field Marshal João Propício Mena Barreto, the Baron of São Gabriel. It was followed by 1,200 militia cavalrymen at service of the tatter Antônio de Sousa Neto
. In 29 December the Baron of São Gabriel camped next to Paysandú with two infantry brigades and an artillery regiment raising the Brazilian forces to 2,210 men. The cavalry commanded by Brigadier General Manuel Luis Osório
(later Marquis of Erval) remained some kilometers away to protect the besiegers from any unsuspected attack. Gómez excecuted a young Brazilian sailor who had been taken prisoner and put his head in a pole infuriating the Brazilian troops. In 31 December the Brazilians and Colorados recommenced the attack and conquered the city in 2 January 1865. Gómez was captured with 700 of his own men and had his throat cut by colorados.
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...
and an alliance between the Empire of Brazil and Uruguayan Colorados
Colorado Party (Uruguay)
The Colorado Party is a political party in Uruguay.- Aims :It unites Conservative, Moderate and Social democratic groups. It was the dominant party of government almost without exception during the stabilisation of the Uruguayan republic....
.
From Sacramento to 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...
was disputed between Portugal
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
and Spain
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
, the two foremost colonial powers in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. The first Portuguese settlement, was Colónia do Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the oldest town in Uruguay and capital of the departamento of Colonia. It has a population of around 22,000.It is renowned for its historic quarter, a World Heritage Site...
, founded in 1680 in violation of the Treaty of Tordesillas
Treaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Tordesillas , signed at Tordesillas , , divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal along a meridian 370 leagueswest of the Cape Verde islands...
. Since the beginning, the survival of the most distant colony of the southern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
border, was at stake. The Spaniards from Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
attacked it countless times, and managed to conquer it in 1704. The Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
, signed in 1715, that ended the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
, returned Colónia do Sacramento to Portugal.
To stop further Portuguese advances, Spain
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
founded Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
in 1726, 160 km (99 mi) east of Sacramento. The Portuguese colony was attacked again in 1735 and 1737. In accordance with the Treaty of Madrid
Treaty of Madrid (1750)
The Spanish–Portuguese treaty of 1750 or Treaty of Madrid was a document signed by Ferdinand VI of Spain and John V of Portugal on January 13, 1750, concerning their empires and status of their territories in what is now Brazil....
, from 1750, Portugal was supposed to exchange it to Spain for what is today the western part of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
. But the Portuguese refused to accomplish the agreement. A major Spanish invasion took Sacramento, and other Portuguese villages and forts, in 1762, but they were soon retaken. Finally, the Treaty of Saint Ildefonso
First Treaty of San Ildefonso
The First Treaty of San Ildefonso was signed on October 1, 1777 between the Spanish Empire and the Portuguese Empire, shortly after the crowning of Mary I of Portugal and dismissal of Sebastião de Melo, Marquis of Pombal as de facto ruler of Portugal....
from 1777 definitively delivered the Portuguese colony to Spain.
The Portuguese however returned to retake its former colony in 1811, without success. A new invasion in 1816
Luso-Brazilian invasion
The Luso-Brazilian invasion of the Banda Oriental, also known as the Portuguese Invasion of 1816 and the War against Artigas , was an armed conflict between the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and the people of the Banda Oriental and the Misiones Province...
conquered all the region known as Banda Oriental
Banda Oriental
The Banda Oriental del Uruguay was the South American territory east of the Uruguay River and north of the Río de la Plata, coinciding approximately with the modern nation of Uruguay, the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul and some parts of Santa Catarina...
, and renamed it Cisplatina
Cisplatina
The Cisplatina Province was a Portuguese and later a Brazilian province in existence from 1815 to 1828...
. When Brazil became independent from Portugal, in 1822, Cisplatina was incorporated into the Brazilian Empire. In 1825, a small group of orientals
Thirty-Three Orientals
The Treinta y Tres Orientales was a militant revolutionary group led by Juan Antonio Lavalleja against the Empire of Brazil. Their actions culminated in the foundation of modern Uruguay...
rebelled against Brazil with the support of the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata (now Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
). After a war that lasted three years
Argentina-Brazil War
The Cisplatine War or the Argentine–Brazilian War was an armed conflict over an area known as Banda Oriental or "Eastern Shore" in the 1820s between the United Provinces of River Plate and the Empire of Brazil in the aftermath of the United Provinces' emancipation from Spain.-Background:Led by...
, by the 1828 Treaty of Montevideo
1828 Treaty of Montevideo
Treaty of Montevideo : In a treaty signed on August 27, 1828, after British mediation, Brazil and Argentina recognized the independence of Uruguay....
, Emperor Pedro I recognized the independence of Cisplatina, that became 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...
.
As the other Latin American republics, Uruguay since its independence was plagued with rebellions and coups d’état. Around 1830 the two political parties that would dominate the political affairs of the country for much of its history emerged: the Colorados
Colorado Party (Uruguay)
The Colorado Party is a political party in Uruguay.- Aims :It unites Conservative, Moderate and Social democratic groups. It was the dominant party of government almost without exception during the stabilisation of the Uruguayan republic....
and the Blancos
National Party (Uruguay)
The National Party , also known as the White Party , is a major right-wing conservative political party in Uruguay, currently the major opposition party to the ruling Frente Amplio government....
. A long civil war between the two factions attracted the attention of its two closest neighbors. Argentina under the dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas , was an argentine militar and politician, who was elected governor of the province of Buenos Aires in 1829 to 1835, and then of the Argentine Confederation from 1835 until 1852...
supported the Blancos, with intention of annexing Uruguay. Brazil tried to stop the republican separatism in its southern regions, supporting the Colorados and dragging the country to the war. After twenty years of intermittent conflict in Uruguay, the Brazilian Empire (with the decisive contribution of Argentine rebels
Unitarian Party
Unitarianists or Unitarians were the proponents of the concept of a Unitary state in Buenos Aires during the civil wars which shortly followed the Declaration of Independence of Argentina in 1816. They were opposed to the Argentine Federalists, who wanted a federation of independent provinces...
) defeated the Argentine Confederation
Argentine Confederation
The Argentine Confederation is one of the official names of Argentina, according to the Argentine Constitution, Article 35...
in the Platine War
Platine War
The Platine War, also known as the War against Oribe and Rosas was fought between the Argentine Confederation and an alliance consisting of the Empire of Brazil, Uruguay and the Argentine provinces of Entre Ríos and Corrientes...
of 1852.
Uruguayan Civil War
Antônio Saraiva
The Brazilian government nominated a member of the ruling Liberal party, councilor José Antônio SaraivaJosé Antônio Saraiva
José Antônio Saraiva, also known as Counsellor Saraiva , was a politician, diplomat and lawyer during the period of the Empire of Brazil ....
, as plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
to Uruguay. Saraiva’s main objective was to end the crisis between both countries by peaceful means. In 12 May 1864 he presented his credentials
Diplomatic credentials
Diplomatic credentials are documents presented by foreign ambassadors and ministers to the chief of state of the host government. The documents, which follow a standard text, identify the diplomats as representatives of their governments and empowered to speak for them.According to diplomatic...
to the Uruguayan government and four days later formally delivered the Brazilian demands. The demands were implicitly an ultimatum
Ultimatum
An ultimatum is a demand whose fulfillment is requested in a specified period of time and which is backed up by a threat to be followed through in case of noncompliance. An ultimatum is generally the final demand in a series of requests...
, and were rejected by Aguirre in 24 May 1864.
In addition, Saraiva's arrogant and authoritarian attitude, caused irritation among the members of the Blanco government, and hindered the search for a peaceful solution. The Brazilian Conservatives cautioned the liberal cabinet, arguing that the war could spread onto Brazilian soil. This warning later proved prophetic, when Paraguayan troops invaded the Brazilian province of Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso do Sul
Mato Grosso do Sul is one of the states of Brazil.Neighboring Brazilian states are Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Paraná. It also borders the countries of Paraguay and Bolivia to the west. The economy of the state is largely based on agriculture and cattle-raising...
in December.
Meanwhile, Saraiva had made a secret alliance with the Argentine government. Immediately afterwards, he began conversations with the rebel leader Flores, who had accepted the Brazilian demands. Aguirre signed a decree in 10 June inviting Solano López to serve as an arbitrator in the crisis between Uruguay and Brazil. The Paraguayan government accepted the invitation in 17 June 1864. The Brazilian government simply ignored the proposal, as it knew of the secret alliance between Uruguay and Paraguay, and of the inevitable support that López would grant to the Uruguayan cause.
British ambassador Edward Thornton
Edward Thornton (diplomat)
Sir Edward Thornton KCB was a prominent British diplomat, who held posts in Latin America, Turkey, Russia, and served for fourteen years as Minister to the United States.-Early career:...
, together with Saraiva and the Argentine Rufino de Elizalde
Rufino de Elizalde
Rufino de Elizalde was a Argentine politician who was Foreign Affairs Minister of Argentina, from October 15, 1862 to September 6, 1867....
, made a peace offer on 17 June, which Flores accepted. The peace accord implicitly allowed Flores to nominate a new cabinet that would accept the Brazilian demands. With the exception of this clause, the Uruguayan government accepted the proposal on 23 June. Flores, however put aside the accord on 2 July, and resumed military operations four days later. On 4 August, Saraiva presented an ultimatum to the Uruguayan government, stating that there would be a formal declaration of war
Declaration of war
A declaration of war is a formal act by which one nation goes to war against another. The declaration is a performative speech act by an authorized party of a national government in order to create a state of war between two or more states.The legality of who is competent to declare war varies...
, if it did not accede. The Uruguayan government refused to accept the ultimatum, and on the 10th August, Saraiva informed Aguirre that the Brazilian commanders would receive orders to begin retaliation.
Conquest of Paysandú
In 11 August 1864 Saraiva delivered to the Vice Admiral Joaquim Marques LisboaMarquis 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....
(the Baron of Tamandaré and commander of the Brazilian naval forces in Uruguay) the orders to initiate the war operations. Tamandaré had under his command twelve steamships: the frigate Amazonas; corvettes Niterói, Belmonte, Beberibe, Parnaíba, Jequitinhonha and Recife; and gunboats Mearim, Araguaia, Ivaí, Itajaí and Maracanã. The Brazilian admiral created a naval division to patrol the Uruguay River
Uruguay River
The Uruguay River is a river in South America. It flows from north to south and makes boundary with Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, separating some of the Argentine provinces of the Mesopotamia from the other two countries...
under the command of Francisco Pereira Pinto (later Baron of Ivinhema) that consisted of the ships Jequitinhonha, Araguaia and Belmonte.
Salto
Salto may refer to:*Salto, a Latin word for "to leap/jump", and in gymnastics refers to a somersault* Glasflügel H-101 "Salto" -Organisations:...
to 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...
. The corvettes Belmonte and Jequitinhonha attacked it as it tried to escape next to Argentine shore. The combat only ended when the Uruguayan ship ran aground next to the city of Paysandú where its crew set it on fire to prevent it from falling into Brazilian hands.
Tamandaré turned the alliance with Flores into a formality in 20 October in Santa Lucia, establishing the cooperation between the Brazilian forces and Uruguayan rebels. The Brazilian ships made the blockade
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
of the cities of Salto and Paysandú. After four days of siege
Siege of Salto
The Siege of Salto occurred during the Uruguayan War, during which the Brazilian Armed Forces, under Marquis of Tamandaré and Colorado forces under Venancio Flores attempted to capture the city of Salto in Uruguay from its Uruguayan Army defenders...
, Colonel José Palomeque, commander of the Uruguayan troops in Salto, surrendered in the afternoon of 28 November. Admiral Tamandaré personally commanded the Brazilian naval forces in the blockade of Paisandú that began in 3 December 1864 with one corvette and four gunboats. The city was garrisoned by 1,274 men with 15 cannons under the command of Colonel Leandro Gómez. Flores besieged it by land
Siege of Paysandú
The Siege of Paysandú occurred during the Uruguayan War, during which the Brazilian Armed Forces, under Marquis of Tamandaré and Colorado forces under Venancio Flores attempted to capture the city of Paysandú in Uruguay from its Uruguayan Army defenders...
with 800 infantrymen and 7 cannons and received in 4 December the support of 560 Brazilians.
Tamandaré sent a message to Gómez to surrender and avoid unnecessary bloodshed. The Brazilian envoy, however, was repelled by shots by order of Gómez. Despite the several attacks, the Brazilian and Colorado forces were incapable of taking the city. Tamandaré opted to wait for the Brazilian army that had entered Uruguayan territory in 1 December. Aguirre sent the Argentine general Juan Sáa with 2,000 men to help the besieged forces forcing the Brazilians to briefly lift the siege and depart to face the new threat. Sáa gave up from his objective and ran away to the other side of the river Negro
Río Negro (Uruguay)
The Río Negro is the most important river in Uruguay. It originates in the southern highlands of Brazil, just east of Bagé, and flows west across the entire width of Uruguay to the Uruguay River. The course of the Río Negro across Uruguay effectively divides the south of the country from the north...
.
The Brazilian army with 6,000 men and 12 cannons that invaded Uruguay was commanded by Field Marshal João Propício Mena Barreto, the Baron of São Gabriel. It was followed by 1,200 militia cavalrymen at service of the tatter Antônio de Sousa Neto
Antônio de Sousa Neto
General Antônio Neto, was a Tatter Revolutionary leader. On September 20, 1836, Neto declared the independence of the Piratini Republic....
. In 29 December the Baron of São Gabriel camped next to Paysandú with two infantry brigades and an artillery regiment raising the Brazilian forces to 2,210 men. The cavalry commanded by Brigadier General Manuel Luis Osório
Manuel Luís Osório, Marquis of Erval
Manuel Luís Osório, Marquis of Erval , was a Brazilian military officer, monarchist and politician.-References:* Carvalho, José Murilo de. D. Pedro II: ser ou não ser. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2007....
(later Marquis of Erval) remained some kilometers away to protect the besiegers from any unsuspected attack. Gómez excecuted a young Brazilian sailor who had been taken prisoner and put his head in a pole infuriating the Brazilian troops. In 31 December the Brazilians and Colorados recommenced the attack and conquered the city in 2 January 1865. Gómez was captured with 700 of his own men and had his throat cut by colorados.
Fall of Montevideo