Battle of Ytororó

Battle of Itororó (Ytororó)

Caxias leading the Brazilian Army

Date	December 6, 1868
Location	Paraguay
Result	Brazilian victory

Belligerents

Empire of Brazil

Imperial Army

Paraguay

Paraguayan Army

Commanders and leaders

Marquis of Caxias

Bernardino Caballero

Strength

18,667 soldiers

2,000 soldiers

Casualties and losses

330 dead
1,577 wounded

330 dead
1,116 wounded

On the morning of December 6, 1868, Marshal of the Brazilian Army, Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Marquis (later Duke) of Caxias, moved with 16,999 infantrymen, 926 cavalrymen and 742 artillerymen, to take Villeta, a Paraguayan city, as a plan to make further attacks on the Paraguayan Army rear. Nevertheless, Paraguayan president and commander-in-chief of the army Francisco Solano López was aware of the landing the Allies had made in the rear of his army.

Taking advantage of the Allies' slow march, he sent Colonel Bernardino Caballero and 5,000 men with 12 guns, to stop the enemy at a narrow passage over a stream called Ytororó. Caballero deployed his troops so that Caxias would have to cross the only passage at disposal (a bridge) under heavy fire.

The battle started by late morning and was characterized by attacks and counterattacks for control of the bridge. By nightfall, after a fierce fight, the bridge was taken by Brazilian volunteer battalions led personally by Marshal Caxias shouting "Follow me, those of you who are Brazilians", and the Allies could advance towards Villeta.

The Imperial Brazilian Army received a new order: the 48th Corps Volunteers of the Homeland, under the command of Major Secundino Filafiano Melo Tambourine, passed the 9th to the 5th Infantry Brigade of Colonel Fernando Machado de Sousa.12 From then on, this detachment had the 1st and 13th Infantry Battalions and the 34th and 48th Corps Volunteer.

The Brigade of Colonel Fernando Machado, who was reunited with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Colonel Domingos Rodrigues Seixas, formed the 2nd Infantry Division of Colonel Salustiano Jerome dos Reis, the 2nd Army Corps Marshal Alexandre Gomes de Argolo Stinger Son 13 would be responsible for ensuring security so the army Guard disembark at St. Anthony, more precisely in the rut of the left margin.

On December 4, 1868, gave up boarding Infantry and Artillery who were housed in the Chaco region. The cavalry, under the command of Brigadier José Luis Mena Barreto, followed by land to the border town of St. Helena, 14 located in the state of Paraná, chosen point for landing on the left bank of the river.

The Paraguayan army was commanded by General Bernardino Caballero, with a force of five to six thousand men, divided into sixteen battalions of infantry, six regiments of cavalry, and twelve guns. In command of the infantry was Lt. Col. Herman Serrano, the cavalry was divided into two wings under its command of Colonel Valois Rivarola and Major Juan Lanson. At the top of the hill, just beyond the bridge over the creek was the artillery, commanded by Major Moreno

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