Battle of Estero Bellaco

The Battle of Estero Bellaco was one of the bloodiest battles of the Paraguayan War (1865–1870), with the Republic of Argentina, the Empire of Brazil and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay banded together against the Paraguayan government of Marshal Francisco Solano López.

Battle of Estero Bellaco
Part of the Paraguayan War

Detail from a painting by Cándido López
Date2 May 1866
Location
Ñeembucú Department, Paraguay
Result Allied victory
Belligerents

Paraguay

Argentina


 Empire of Brazil


Uruguay

  • Uruguayan Army
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. José E. Diaz
Lt. Col. Bruguez		 General Venancio Flores
General Osorio
Strength
4,500 infantry
1,000 cavalry
mixed battery		 At least 11 battalions of infantry
two artillery batteries
two cavalry regiments
Casualties and losses
2,300
330 captured[1]:53		 1,555
8 captured[1]:53

This battle took place on 2 May 1866, in which the Allied army repulsed a surprise Paraguayan attack.

Setting
Combat of 2 May 1866 at Estero Bellaco: Attack of the vanguard of the Allied Army by the Division of the paraguayan Lieutenant-Colonel Don José E. Díaz.
Battle of Estero Bellaco, 2 May 1866(L'Illustration: journal universel, Vol. XLVIII, nº 1.227, 1º/09/1866).

On 16 April 1866, Allied troops under the command of Marshal Osorio, crossed the River Paraguay and attacked Fort Itapirú and Paso de la Patria.[1]:51 By the 23rd, the Paraguayans had retreated behind the great marsh of Estero Bellaco. The Allied vanguard, under the command of General Flores, was camped on the southern edge of the marsh, with four Uruguayan battalions and their artillery battery, six Brazilian infantry battalions including artillery battery, a Brazilian cavalry regiment, and further behind, elements of an Argentinian infantry battalion and a cavalry regiment. Flores forces included: the Brazilian 5th, 7th, 3rd, 16th, 21st and 38th Voluntarios da Patria, the Uruguayan 24 de Abril, Florida, Independencia and Libertad, the Argentinian Rosario. Nearby was the main Allied army camped north of Paso la Patria. On 2 May 1866, President Lopez sent 4,500 Paraguayan infantry against this Allied vanguard.[1]:52

The battle

The surprise attack started at 1130, the Paraguayans soon overwhelming the Brazilians and Uruguayans, and capturing the Allied artillery. It took the main Allied army, arriving an hour later, to force Colonel José Hedwig Diaz to retreat.[1]:53

Aftermath

Gen. Flores wrote his wife, "In the future my vanguard will be composed of Argentines."[1]:53

Location of Estero Bellaco
positions of the belligerent forces on 2 May in Estero Bellaco.

This estuary is located in the Ñeembucú Department, Paraguay, bordering the river of the same name.

References
  1. Hooker, T.D., 2008, The Paraguayan War, Nottingham: Foundry Books, ISBN 1901543153

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