Battle of Piribebuy

Part of the Paraguayan War

Date	12 August 1869
Location	Piribebuy, Cordillera Department, Paraguay
Result	Brazilian victory

Belligerents

Paraguay

Empire of Brazil

Commanders and leaders

Pedro Pablo Caballero

Count of Eu
João Mena Barreto †

Strength

1,600 men
12 guns^[1]^: 103

20,090 men
47 guns^[1]^: 103

Casualties and losses

1,600:^[1]^: 103
730 killed
700 wounded
170 captured

610:^[1]^: 103
68 killed
542 wounded

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

The Battle of Piribebuy was fought on 12 August 1869 in the Paraguayan town of Piribebuy, which was then serving as a temporary capital of the Paraguayan government. The Paraguayan defenders, who were poorly armed and included children, fought the attacks of the Allied forces, led by French-born Brazilian general prince Gaston of Orleans, the Count of Eu, son-in-law of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil. The town refused two peace envoys calling for surrender, sent by the Count of Eu. At 0400, the Brazilian batteries surrounding the town started a bombardment which lasted until 0800, when the infantry charged. General João Manuel Mena Barreto was mortally wounded leading a cavalry charge against the Paraguayans.^[1]^: 103

The battle lasted for five hours, with the Allies, who had overwhelming numerical advantage, capturing the town. The town's hospital was burned and official documents were lost in the resulting fire.^[2]

Gallery

Sketch of the battle of Piribebuy.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Hooker, T.D., 2008, The Paraguayan War, Nottingham: Foundry Books, ISBN 1901543153
^ Margaret Hebblethwaite (2010). Paraguay. Guilford: Bradt Travel Guides, pp. 138. ISBN 978-1-84162-315-3.