Battle of Lomas Valentinas

Battle of Lomas Valentinas
Part of the Paraguayan War
The Marquess of Caxias leading the troops in Lomas Valentinas
Date December 21–27, 1868 Location Itá Ybaté, Central Department, Paraguay Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Paraguay	Empire of Brazil  Argentina  Uruguay
Commanders and leaders
Solano López	Marquess of Caxias
Strength
over 3,000[1]: 95	19,415[1]: 95
Casualties and losses
3,000[1]: 98  1,500 killed 1,500 captured	3,270:[1]: 97–98  Argentina: 64 killed and 283 wounded Brazil: 382 killed and 2,461 wounded Uruguay: 80 casualties

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Paraguayan War

Mato Grosso campaign
Marquês de Olinda 1st Corumbá Fort Novo de Coimbra Feio River Dourados Nioaque Anhambaí Fort Miranda Coxim Laguna Apa River 2nd Corumbá Alegre
Corrientes campaign
Corrientes San Lorenzo River Rio Grande do Sul São Borja Butuí Uruguaiana Riachuelo Salto Paso de Mercedes Paso de Cuevas Yatay Pehuajó Jaguarí
Humaitá campaign
Purutué Bank Paso de Patria Laguna Sirena Itapirú Estero Bellaco Paso Cidra 1st Tuyutí Yataytí Corá Boquerón Sauce Palmar Curuzú Curupayty Arroyo Hondo Hacienda Laguna Tuyú Cué 1st Passage of Curupayty Pilar Ombú Estero Rojas Perecué Tatayibá Potrero Obella Humaitá Passage 2nd Tuyutí Paso Ipohy 2nd Passage of Curupayty Laguna Cierva Cabral and Lima Barros 1st Iasuií 2nd Iasuií Poí Island Barroso and Rio Grande Acayuazá Fortín Island
Pikysyry campaign
Yacaré Paso de Tebicuarí Surubí Pikysyry Dezembrada Ytororó Avay Lomas Valentinas Angostura San Fernando Asunción
Cordilleras campaign
Manduvirá River Concepción Ybytimí Tupí-hú Sapukái Diarte Piribebuy Acosta Ñu Piribebuy River Hondo River Itapytangua Tacuaty Curuguaty Hucuratí Loma Rugua Caguijuru–Caraguataí Iguatemi Río Verde Cambaceguá Lomaruguá Cerro Corá Miranda

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The Battle of Lomas Valentinas (also known as the Battle of Itá Ybaté) was fought in the Central Department of Paraguay on December 21–27, 1868. The Paraguayan Army, led personally by president Francisco Solano López, was decisively defeated, though López managed to escape. On 30 December 1868, the Paraguayan garrison at Angostura, with 1,907 men, surrendered to the Allies.^{[1]: 95–99}

Battle

Marshal Caxias had left Villeta at 02:00 on the 21st, and was ready to storm the Lomas Valentinas range by noon. Two columns of infantry, one under general José Luís Mena Barreto attacking the western defenses at Itá Ybaté, and another under general Jacinto Machado de Bittencourt [pt] aided by cavalry under general Andrade Neves attacking the northern defenses at Loma Acosta, where the hill of Cumbarity was located. The hill was taken by sundown.^{[1]: 95–96}

On December 22, Argentine and Uruguayan troops advanced towards Lomas Auxilio. Marshal Caxias spent the 23rd reorganizing his battalions. On the 24th, Caxias demanded the surrender of López, which he refused. The Allied assault commenced again with dawn on the 25th and the 26th. The Paraguayan defenses were finally taken on the 27th.^{[1]: 97–98}

Women

Nurse Ramona Martínez was enslaved by López, but due to her work fighting and encouraging troops at the battle, became known as "the American Joan of Arc".^[2]

Aftermath

López made his escape with the Aca Vera cavalry acting as his escort. Generals Resquín and Bernardino Caballero also escaped. This meant the war would continue.^[1]: 98

Gallery

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  Charge of the Argentine infantary at Lomas Valentinas

References