Battle of Itororó

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Battle of Itororó(Ytororó)

Date	December 6, 1868
Location	Paraguay
Result	Brazilian victory

Belligerents

Brazilian Empire

Paraguay

Commanders

Marshal of the Army Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Marquis of Caxias

Colonel Bernardino Caballero

Strength

13,000

5,000

Casualties and losses

3,000

1,200

War of the Triple Alliance

Mato Grosso – Rio Grande do Sul – Corrientes – Riachuelo – Jataí – Tuyutí – Curupaity – Piquissiri – Itororó – Avaí – Campaign of the Hills – Cerro Corá – Acosta Ñu

On the morning of December 6, 1868, Marshal of the Brazilian Army, Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Marquis (later Duke) of Caxias, moved with 13,000 men in two columns to take Villeta, a Paraguayan city, as a plan to make further attacks on the Paraguayan Army rear. Nevertheless, Paraguayan president and commander-in-chief of the army Solano López was aware of the landing the Allies had made in the rear of his army.

Taking advantage of the Allies' slow march, he sent Colonel Bernardino Caballero to stop the enemy at a narrow passage over a stream called Ytororó. Caballero deployed his troops so that Caxias would have to cross the only passage at disposal (a bridge) under heavy fire. On each side of the crossing, he located four guns. Another battery of four guns was put on the top of a nearby low-lying hill.

The battle started by late morning and was characterized by attacks and counterattacks for control of the bridge.

By 1 P.M., after a fierce fight, the bridge was taken and the Allies could advance towards Villeta.