Battle of Campichuelo

The Battle of Campichuelo was a battle fought on 19 December 1810 between revolutionary forces led by Manuel Belgrano and Royalist troops on the right bank of the Paraná river, as part of the Paraguay campaign of the Argentine War of Independence. It ended with a victory for the forces of Belgrano.

Antecedents
The Primera Junta determined to send an expedition to Paraguay in response to the belief that there was great party supporting the Revolution, who were oppressed by the Governor, Bernardo de Velasco. On 24 September, they agreed to send General Manuel Belgrano, who by decree of the 4th September, had been invested with the office of governor and captain general of the peoples of the Banda Oriental.

The battle
Because Royalist Paraguayans had removed all boats on the River Paraná along its borders, the forces under Belgrano's command had to cross with a large number of rafts, boats and canoes assembled for the purpose, carrying large loads of leather skins. The crossing took place on December 19, 1810, from the former capital mission Santa Maria de la Candelaria (Misiones Province today) and nearby sites located in the Argentine province of Corrientes. Belgrano led a small force: 800 men, half cavalry and infantry, with six small-caliber guns. They faced a 500-man Royalist force led by Pablo Thompson. Belgrano issued a proclamation between advocates for the cause of freedom of peoples and an invitation to join their ranks; upon their he refusal attacked and defeated the Paraguayan Royalist guard.