Battle of Las Piedras

Part of the Spanish American wars of independence

Surrender of Posadas at Las Piedras, by Juan Manuel Blanes.

Date	May 18, 1811
Location	Near Las Piedras, Uruguay
Result	Revolutionary victory

Belligerents

Spain

Royalist Army of Montevideo

Criollos Orientales allies of the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata

Commanders and leaders

José Posadas (POW)

José Gervasio Artigas

Manuel Francisco Artigas

Strength

Official Report: 668: 600 cavalrymen; 350 infantrymen; 64 gunners with 4 pieces; 2 4 inch cannons; 2 64 mm mortars
Acevedo's Estimation: ~1,004: ~500 infantrymen; ~450 cavalrymen; ~54 gunners with 4 pieces

Official Report: 1,076: 600 cavalrymen (250 mounted regiment and 296 gauchos in two squadrons); 454 infantrymen (108 militia, 250 from the Patricios' Regiment and 96 Blandengues); 20 gunners; 2 cannons
Acevedo's Estimation: ~1,770: ~1300 cavalrymen; ~430 infantrymen; ~40 gunners with 4 pieces

Casualties and losses

638

97 killed

61 wounded

480 prisoners

negligible

Spain

638

The Battle of Las Piedras was fought on May 18, 1811 as part of the Uruguayan struggle for independence.

In 1810, the May Revolution had forced the Spanish to abandon Buenos Aires, but they held on to the Banda Oriental (present-day Uruguay), as Spain moved the headquarters of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata to Montevideo. At the beginning of April 1811, the revolutionary José Gervasio Artigas returned to the Banda Oriental with approximately 180 men provided by the Government of Buenos Aires. On April 11, he issued the Mercedes Proclamation, assuming control of the revolution.

The Governor of Montevideo and new Viceroy of Río de la Plata, Francisco Javier de Elío, appointed frigate-captain José Posadas () at the head of the forces loyal to Spain. Posadas installed his headquarters at San Isidro Labrador de Las Piedras near Montevideo, to provoke a decisive battle against the revolutionaries.

Meanwhile, José Artigas was camped near Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe with an army of a thousand men. The army of Posadas counted 1230 men, of which some 200 would defect to Artigas in the midst of battle.

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