Battle of Ituzaingó

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Ituzaingó
partof=Cisplatine War, Argentina-Brazil War or War of Independence (for Uruguayans)
date=February 20, 1827
place= near Santa Maria River, south Brazil
result=Allied tactical victory
Inconclusive strategic results
combatant1=
combatant2= (by that time a rebel province of Brazil)
commander1=
commander2= General
strength1=6,000 to 10,500
strength2=6,200 to 9,500
casualties1=800 to 1,300 (200 killed)
casualties2=400 to 560 (141 killed)

The Battle of Ituzaingó (Passo do Rosário for Brazilians) was fought in vicinity of Santa Maria river, in a valley of small hills where a stream divide the valley in two.

A combined Uruguayan-Argentine Army, of some 6,200 to 9,500 men, faced in combat a Brazilian Army of same number as result of continuous two years of sundry skirmishes inside Uruguay and along the border of this country with Brazil.

Uruguay was incorporated as a Brazilian Province in 1822 when Brazil became independent from Portugal.

The centralized government under Brazilian emperor Pedro I led to many revolts inside Brazil.

Seeing a chance to break the rule of a foreign nation over their country, some Uruguayans raised the flag of rebellion against the Brazilian government in 1825.

At first, the fight did not attract great attention from the Brazilian government, which was dealing with revolts even in Rio de Janeiro by that time. Nevertheless, as the rebellion spread fast, D. Pedro I had to gather an army any way he could to send to "Cisplatine" (as Uruguay was then called).

The Army was, at first, led by D. Pedro I, himself. Due to political problems, he had to return to the capital without getting close to the battlefield. By December 1826, the command was given to General Felisberto Caldeira Brant, Marquis of Barbacena.

By this time, the appeal the Uruguayans sent to Buenos Aires brought Argentina into the conflict. The Buenos Aires leadership saw a chance to bring Uruguay into the Argentine Confederation as a province. General Carlos María de Alvear was appointed as commander of the combined Argentine-Uruguayan army (the Republican Army).

On January, 20, 1827, Alvear moved to the border with Brazil. He attacked some small towns and villages in order to bring Barbacena onto him. He succeeded in his plan.

By February 18, the Republican Army reached a stream of Santa Maria river. Alvear had previously chosen this position in order to maximize his advantage in cavalry. The Imperial Army arrived in the battlefield the following day. Refusing some objections over the exhaustion of the army, Barbacena prepared his forces for action as soon as possible the next day. Some historians say that Alvear misled Barbacena to believe that he was pursueing only the rear of the Republican Army. That is why he was anxious to take care of this part of Republican Army and then fight Alvear's main force in another battle.

Believing so, Barbacena took the offensive and sent his cavalry and infantry toward the 1st Corps of the Republican Army under command of Uruguayan leader Juan Antonio Lavalleja.

The Imperial Forces crossed the stream as if to encircle Lavalleja's men. At first, the Uruguayan cavalry tried to block the passage of the 1st Imperial Army Division. Soon they were pushed back by the enemy, which managed to take control of the artillery pieces under colonel Felix Olazabal.

Alvear counterattacked with his cavalry at this moment. While he would take care of the 2nd Division on the center of the Imperial Army, Colonel Julian Laguna would attack the extreme left of the Brazilian forces (which were formed only by volunteers). Colonel Soler would lead his men onto the 1st Division. As Alvear planned, the open fields proved to be more suitable for cavalry units than for infantry.

Only the center of the Imperial Army kept its position. The infantry here formed squares to repel any attempt made by 2st Corps of the enemy cavalry to subdue them. Only when it was clear that the Republican Army could encircle the 2nd Division, did it withdrew from battlefield.

The Republican Army could not pursue the enemy. The lack of proper means made Alvear order his men to put fire onto the battlefield and leave the scene.

The battle ended with a tactical victory for the Republicans since Barbacena could not move to Buenos Aires as he had planned, but with no strategic gain for either side.

The war went on for one year more with inconclusive frays between small groups of men on each side.

Nevertheless, it seems that only Uruguay gained something. In 1828, a treaty was signed between Brazil and Argentina which granted Uruguay its independence.

Sources

CARNEIRO, David. "História da Guerra Cisplatina". São Paulo: Companhia Editora Nacional, 1946.

DUARTE. Paulo de Q. "Lecor e a Cisplatina 1816-1828". v. 2. Rio de Janeiro: Biblioteca do Exército, 1985