Battle of Tuyutí

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Battle of Tuyutí
Part of the War of the Triple Alliance

Detail from larger painting by Cándido López
Date May 24, 1866
Location Tuyutí, a few miles north of Paraná River
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Paraguay Uruguay,
Argentina,
Empire of Brazil
Commanders
José E. Díaz,
Isidoro Resquin,
Vicente Barrios		 Bartolomé Mitre
Strength
23,000 to 24,000 men 32,000 to 35,000 men
Casualties and losses
6,000 dead, 6,000 to 7,000 wounded 996 dead; 2,935 to 3,068 wounded
 
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

The Battle of Tuyutí was a Paraguayan offensive in the War of the Triple Alliance. The allied victory added to the Paraguayan troubles that began with a failed offensive and continued with the loss of its fleet in the Battle of Riachuelo.

In early May 1866, a Paraguayan attack at a marsh called Estero Bellaco failed. As the allies camped for over two weeks before resuming their advance, Paraguayan leader Francisco Solano López ordered a May 24 surprise attack on Tuyutí, a "a swampy, scrub-brush savannah"[1].

The Paraguayans attacked in three columns, and soon the battle turned into "a series of charges and countercharges, a Latin American version of Waterloo"[2]. The Paraguayan columns continued to attack, but never could overcome the allied firepower.

Tuyutí was the last major Paraguayan attack. Ultimately, it was a devastating Paraguayan defeat: Of the 6,000 men wounded after the battle, a large percentage would die subsequently. The Paraguayan military was decimated.

The May 24, 1866 battle of Tuyutí is known as the First Battle of Tuyutí; the second battle occurred on November 7, 1867, and was an indecisive and less consequential battle in which each side lost about 2,400 men.[3]

[edit] Battle description

From a small hill, with President Lopéz himself commanding the troops, the Paraguayans prepared for a decisive battle. Twenty-four thousand Paraguayans, hoping for the destruction of the allied forces, attacked at midday on May 24 after a rocket announced the order, and the battle began. Lopéz tried to circle the allies with two strong wings as his center forced them to hold positions. His left faced the Argentinians, while the Uruguayans were in the center with the Brazilians and engaged the right wing. The terrain was not suitable for movement.

The attack began in the center, where the Uruguayans were forced back by surprise with some Brazilian Volunteer Battalions. On the left of the allied encampment, Captain Emilio Mallet had ordered the construction of a large moat in front of his artillery pieces. When the Paraguayan onslaught reached it, they were in grapeshot range and unable to cross the obstacle. The Paraguayans tried to circle the artillery, avoiding the incoming fire, but encountered Antonio Sampaio's 3rd Infantry Division. This unit fought desperately in the muddy terrain with its commander dying in the process, having fought stubbornly. At this point, Osório ordered his reserves to attack and repelled the Paraguayan center.

On the allied left, the Paraguayans forced back the few Brazilian units, almost reaching the Allied camp. Osório reinforced the Brazilian lines with various units, finally committing the 2nd Cavalry Division, commanded by General Mena Barreto. The Paraguayans continued to attack until they were encircled and annihilated. In the Argentinian sector, the Paraguayan cavalry routed the dismounted Argentinian cavalry that faced them. Soon, the Argentinians had to engage all of their units and even then barely held the enemy.[citation needed]

The Paraguayans fled, losing about 12,000 or 13,000 men, while the allies took about 4,000 casualties, mostly wounded. The largest battle ever fought in South America had just ended. Lopéz's flanking maneuver had failed, but it had been very close to succeeding. In fact, the Allies were unable to pursue the enemy due to the few horses they had remaining. They needed to regain strength and rebuild.[4]

Entrenched Uruguayan troops and their backing artillery were devastating in the battle of Tuyuti
Entrenched Uruguayan troops and their backing artillery were devastating in the battle of Tuyuti

[edit] Notes

  1. ^  Williams, The battle of Tuyuti: "A swamp of blood".
  2. ^  Williams, The battle of Tuyuti: "A swamp of blood".
  3. ^  Byron Farwell, The Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Land Warfare: An Illustrated World View, New York: WW Norton, 2001. Page 831.
  4. ^  Fragoso, Augusto Tasso. História da Guerra entre a Tríplice Aliança e o Paraguai, Vol II. Rio de Janeiro: Imprensa do Estado Maior do Exército, 1934.
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[edit] Sources