Siege Umaity - an episode of the Paraguay War , a siege by Brazilian and Argentine troops of the Paraguayan fortress on the Paraguay River . Umaita was besieged on November 2, 1867 by land, and from November 2, 1868 also by water. The fortress surrendered on July 25, 1868.
| Siege of Umaity | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Main conflict: Paraguay war | |||
 Siege Map of the Umaity | |||
| date | November 2, 1867 - July 25, 1868 | ||
| A place | Paraguay River, Umaita | ||
| Total | Allied victory | ||
| Opponents | |||
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| Commanders | |||
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| Forces of the parties | |||
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| Losses | |||
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Content
Background
On August 1, 1867, the Argentine general Bartolome Mitra ordered the Imperial fleet of Brazil to ensure passage through Kurupaiti and Umaita. On August 15, five battleships passed the Kurupaiti, but artillery fire caused them to stop near the Umaity [1] . This news caused controversy in the Allied High Command. The Brazilian command considered the attack of the fortress from the water a waste of power and withdrew its ships in anticipation of an attack on land, which began on 18 August.
From Tuyukue, the Allies headed north and took the villages of San Solano, Tayi, and finally laid siege to Umaita in November 1867, cutting him off from Asuncion . On February 19, 1868, Marshal Caxias and Vice Admiral Baron de Inhiaum ordered the fleet to climb the Paraguay River above the Umayti. Damage to ships and human casualties were minimal. On February 24, Bahía , Barroso and Rio Grande do Sul shelled Asuncion, who had previously been evacuated [2] .
The President of Paraguay, Francisco Solano Lopez, decided to evacuate Curupaiti and Umaita. March 3, he crossed the river and moved to the side of the Chaco. Lopez left Colonel Francisco Martinez at the head of 3,000 men and 200 cannons. March 22 Paraguayans left Kurupaiti. On March 23 and 24, Bahia , Rio Grande and Para fired upon Umaita. By the end of April, the Allied forces occupied the other side of the river [3] .
Battle of Acaihuaz
On July 16, 1868, 6,000 Allied forces under the leadership of General Osorio attacked Umaita from the northeast, unaware of the Paraguayan ambush. 46 guns and 2,000 soldiers commanded by Colonel Hermoso met the attackers. Brazilians lost 279 dead, 754 wounded and 100 captured. From the side of Paraguay, 89 were killed and 104 were injured. [4]
On July 18, General Rivas ordered the Paraguayan redoubt of Cora to be attacked, but the Allied forces were again ambushed by Colonel Caballero. Argentine casualties were 90 dead, 87 wounded and 35 prisoners, while the Brazilians lost 67 dead, 221 injured and 2 captured. Paraguayan losses amounted to 120 people [4] .
Umaita
On July 19, Colonel Martinez asked Lopez for permission to begin evacuating the Umaity. The president ordered Martinez to hold out for another five days. The first wave of Paraguayan evacuation began on July 24th. The rest of July 25 left their weapons. Allied forces entered Umaita ten hours later.
Implications
Colonel Martinez and 1,228 men with 96 officers, women and children were captured by the Allies while attempting to cross Laguna Vera. On August 5, 1868, he surrendered. President Lopez declared Martinez a traitor and ordered his wife killed in retaliation [5] .
Gallery
Fortress of Umaita
Brazilian fleet forces passage near Umayti
Topographic map showing the fortifications of Umaity.
Paraguayans are trying to capture the monitor "Alagoas".
Umaita Pass, Admiral Trahano Augusto de Carvalho
Umaita Pass, Victor Meireles .
Brazilian fleet in Umaita
Admiral Delfim Carlos de Carvalho , Baron Passage.
Lieutenant Colonel Gaspar Kampos, commander of the Rioja Hunters battalion, rescues the battalion’s flag by throwing it into the river.
Battle of Acaihuaz
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 Hooker TD The Paraguayan War. - Nottingham: Foundry Books, 2008. - P. 73. - ISBN 1901543153 .
- ↑ Hooker TD The Paraguayan War. - Nottingham: Foundry Books, 2008. - P. 82. - ISBN 1901543153 .
- ↑ Hooker TD The Paraguayan War. - Nottingham: Foundry Books, 2008. - P. 83-84. - ISBN 1901543153 .
- ↑ 1 2 Hooker TD The Paraguayan War. - Nottingham: Foundry Books, 2008. - P. 86. - ISBN 1901543153 .
- ↑ Hooker TD The Paraguayan War. - Nottingham: Foundry Books, 2008. - p. 86-87. - ISBN 1901543153 .
Literature
- Donato H. Dicionário das Batalhas Brasileiras. - São Paulo: Editora Ibrasa, 1987.
- Hooker TD The Paraguayan War. - Nottingham: Foundry Books, 2008. - ISBN 1-901543-15-3 .