Siege of Humaitá

The Siege of Humaitá (Spanish: Cerco de Humaitá) was a prolonged operation of encirclement that occurred at the Fortress of Humaitá, on the Paraguay River. Humaitá was surrounded by land on 2 November 1867, by water on 19 February 1868, and surrendered on 25 July 1868.

Siege of Humaitá
Part of the Paraguayan War
Graphic scheme of the Siege of Humaitá, that was a military operation, which was formed in order to encircle the Fortress of Humaitá
Date 2 November 1867 – 25 July 1868 (8 months, 24 days) Location Paraguay River, Humaitá Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Paraguay	Empire of Brazil  Argentina
Commanders and leaders
Solano López Francisco Martinez Colonel Pedro Hermosa	Bartolomé Mitre Marquis of Caxias General Osorio
Strength
2,500+ soldiers	8,000 Brazilian and Argentine soldiers
Casualties and losses
250 dead 100 wounded	400 dead 1,200 wounded

Fortress Defences

The Fortress of Humaita was built on the strategic bend of the Paraguay River that would force ships to steam head first into artillery fire. The Allied Command assumed that because of that and the chains installed, the fortress as impassible.[1]

Encirclement

Plan of fortress of Humaitá, detail. The red arrow indicates the position of chain boom; the blue arrow, of the church (seen in next image).

On 1 August 1867, the Argentine general Bartolomé Mitre commanded the Brazilian imperial fleet to secure a passage through Curupaiti and Humaitá. On 15 August, two divisions of five battleships passed Curupaiti without incident but the artillery fire forced them to stop at Humaitá.[2]^:73 This news caused conflict in the Allied high command. The Brazilian commanders were determined that attacking the fortress from the river would be futile and withdrew their fleet, pending a land-based attack that began on 18 August.

From Tuyucuê, the Allies headed north and took the villages of São Solano, Tayi and finally laid siege to Humaitá itself, isolating it from Asunción by November 1867.[2]^:73–75 On 19 February 1868, Marshal Caxias and Vice Admiral Baron de Inhauma ordered the fleet up the River Paraguay past Humaitá. There were few casualties and minimal damage caused to any of the ships.[2]^:80 On 24 February, the Bahia, Barroso and Rio Grande do Sul shelled Asunción, which had been evacuated earlier.[2]^:82

Paraguayan President Francisco Solano López decided to evacuate Curupayti and Humaita. He crossed the Paraguay River to the Chaco side on 3 March 1868. Solano López left Colonel Francisco Martinez in charge of a force of 3,000 men and 200 cannons. General Argollo attacked Sauce on 21 March, resulting in the Paraguayans retreating to Paso Pacu. Curupayti was abandoned the next day. The Bahia, Rio Grande and Para bombarded Humaitá on 23 and 24 March 1868. At the end of April, Allied forces had troops on the Chaco side of the river.[2]^:83–84

Battle of Acayuazú

Recognition of Humaitá by General Osório on 16 July 1868.

The Allied army advanced on 16 July 1868, when it appeared Curupayti and Humaitá were abandoned. General Osório and 6,000 troops led an attack on the northeast side of Humaitá, unaware of the 46 concealed Paraguayan guns and over 2,000 men under the command of Colonel Pedro Hermosa.

At the command of "Muerte a los cambas", the Brazilians retreated. The Brazilian casualties consisted of 279 dead, 754 wounded and 100 captured, while the Paraguayan casualties were 89 killed and 104 wounded.[2]^:86

General Rivas ordered an attack on the Paraguayan Cora redoubt on 18 July, (year). An allied force of Argentinian and Brazilian infantry men were ambushed by a force led by Colonel Caballero. The Argentinian losses amounted to 90 killed, 87 wounded and 35 captured, while the Brazilians had 67 killed, 221 wounded and 2 captured. The Paraguayans suffered 120 casualties.[2]^:86

Evacuation of Humaitá

The Rev. Father Esmerata, chaplain of the Brazilian Squadron, exhorting the Paraguayans to surrender.

Col. Martinez asked Solano López for permission to start evacuating Humaitá on 19 July. Solano López ordered Martinez to hold out five more days, but the first wave of Paraguayan withdrawal started on the 24th with 1,200 men. The remainder left on the 25th after spiking their guns. The Allied force entered Humaitá ten hours later.

Aftermath

Col. Martinez, along with 1,228 men, 96 officers, and women and children, were caught trying to cross Laguna Vera on 5 August 1868 where he finally surrendered. Lopez branded Martinez a traitor and sought vengeance by murdering his wife.[2]^:86–87 The allies captured 146 iron guns and 36, but most were unserviceable. A few men, Col. Alen among them, managed to escape the encirclement and make it back to Paraguayan lines via the jungle. However Col. Alen wasn't received with much adulation and was instead arrested for desertion.[3]

Gallery

• 
  Fortress of Humaitá
• 
  The Londres battery in 1868
• 
  Brazilian Navy forcing passage through the fortress Humaitá
• 
  Topographic plant showing the fortifications of Humaitá, the passage of the armored division and the position of other ironclads that protected the passage.
• 
  Passage of Humaitá by an armored division of the Brazilian fleet (P. Blanchard, after a sketch of Mr. Paranhos).
• 
  During the passage of Humaita, Paraguayans tried to occupy the monitor "Alagoas".
• 
  Passage of Humaitá, by Admiral Trajano Augusto de Carvalho
• 
  Passage of Humaitá, by Angelo Agostini (A Vida Fluminense, 1868).
• 
  Passage of Humaitá, by Victor Meirelles.
• 
  Brazilian Navy in Humaitá
• 
  Cigarette card to honour Maurity, the "brave of the Passage of Humaitá".
• 
  Admiral Delfim Carlos de Carvalho, Baron of the Passagem, and scene of the Passage of Humaitá.
• 
  Lieutenant Colonel Gaspar Campos, chief of Battalion "Cazadores de la Rioja", surprised at Acayuazú, saves the flag of his battalion, throwing it into the river.
• 
  Battle of Acayuaza.
• 
  Engagement at Chaco (Harper's Weekly, 1868).
• 
  Death of Colonel Martinez de Hoz in Acayuazú.
• 
  Recognition of Humaitá by General Osório on 16 July 1868.

References

Notes

1. Burton, p. 296. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBurton (help)
2. Hooker, T.D., 2008, The Paraguayan War, Nottingham: Foundry Books, ISBN 1901543153
3. Kohn, Roger (2008). Weep, Grey Bird,Weep, p. 239. Author House, Milton Keynes. ISBN 978-1-4343-1979-1.

Bibliography

• Donato, Hernâni. Dicionário das Batalhas Brasileiras. São Paulo, Editora Ibrasa, 1987.