Armies of the War of the Triple Alliance 1864–70: Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay & Argentina (Men-at-Arms Book 499)

Between 1864 and 1870 four nations fought in an extraordinarily bloody war - the largest in the history of South America. The powerhouses Argentina and Brazil alongside tiny Uruguay on one side, and the small but increasingly-powerful Paraguay on the other, fought a conflict that was almost contemporary with the American Civil War and Franco-Prussian War, and rivalled their very high casualty rates. The aftermath of the war saw defeated Paraguay's territory diminished, its total population reduced by a staggering 70 per cent, and its economy ruined for generations, while victorious Brazil was established as the predominant military power on the continent. Despite the extraordinary ferocity of the fighting and the significant historical consequences thereafter, little has been published in English on a war that shaped the political map of Latin America to this day. This title book in some crucial gaps by telling the story of the men who fought on both sides, using contemporary paintings, prints, and rare early photographs combined with detailed research and engaging analysis. ARMIES OF THE WAR OF THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE 1864–70 3 INTRODUCTION 3 THE ROAD TO WAR 5 CHRONOLOGY 7 MILITARY OPERATIONS 10 First phase: Paraguayan incursions into Brazil, winter 1864–65 10 Uruguay enters the war, January 1865; Paraguay attacks Argentina, March 1865 10 Second phase: the Triple Alliance, and operations May–September 1865 11 Autumn–winter 1865: Paraguayan retreats 11 April–September 1866: Estero Bellaco, Tuyutí, and Curupaytí 12 Pause in operations, October 1866–August 1867 16 Third phase: invasion of Paraguay, August 1867–January 1869 17 The 1869 Cordillera campaign: Peribebuy and Acosta Ñu 19 Battle of Riachuelo 21 AFTERMATH 22 THE PARAGUAYAN ARMY 23 Organization 23 Militia 24 Tactics and performance 24 Weapons 33 THE BRAZILIAN ARMY 34 Organization 34 The National Guard 35 The Voluntários da Pátria 36 Tactics and performance 37 Weapons 37 THE ARGENTINE ARMY 38 Organization 38 The National Guard 38 Tactics and performance 38 Weapons 40 THE URUGUAYAN ARMY 41 Organization 41 Tactics and performance 41 Weapons 42 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 43 PLATE COMMENTARIES 44 The War of the Triple Alliance is the largest single conflict in the history of South America. Drawing Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay into conflict the war was characterized by extraordinarily high casualty rates, and was to shape the future of an entire continent – depopulating Paraguay and establishing Brazil as the predominant military power. Despite the importance of the war, little information is available in English about the armies that fought it. This book analyzes the combatants of the four nations caught up in the war, telling the story of the men who fought on each side, illustrated with contemporary paintings, prints, and early photographs.