Battles & Campaigns · 1865
Siege of Uruguaiana
Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
What happened
Allied armies of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, with Emperor Pedro II present, besieged a Paraguayan force under Colonel Antonio Estigarribia. Paraguayan troops took the Brazilian town of Uruguaiana without a fight. After the defeat at Yatay, they dug in. The allied armies surrounded the town and the Brazilian navy held the river. Short of food, the Paraguayans surrendered.
Why it matters
It ended the Paraguayan occupation and led Paraguay to pull its forces out of Brazil and Argentina.
What came next
Paraguayan forces left Corrientes, and the war moved into Paraguay itself.
Did you know?
By the end, the Paraguayan soldiers had eaten everything except sugar.
Timeline
- 5 Aug 1865Paraguayans take Uruguaiana.
- 17 Aug 1865Battle of Yatay.
- 11 Sep 1865Pedro II arrives.
- 18 Sep 1865Paraguayans surrender.