Second Battle of Tuyutí

The Second Battle of Tuyuti was fought on November 3, 1867 between the Paraguayan Army and a larger allied Brazilian-Argentinian force. The Paraguayans lost twice as many soldiers as the allies and were defeated.

Background
With the capture of Tayi on November 2, 1867 in the Paraguayan War, the Allied forces had the Paraguayan encampments of Humaita and Curupayti along the Paraguay river encircled. Gen. Jose Barreto had 5,000 men at Tayi, Gen. Andrade Neves had a Brazilian division at Estancia San Solano, Marshal Caxias had 25,000 troops at Tuyucue, and Gen. Porto Alegre had 16,000 men at Tuyuti. Additionally, the Brazilian Navy had 18 steamers at Curuzi and 5 ironclads opposite Humaita. President Francisco Solano López decided to attack the Allied supply bases at Tuyuti and Itapiru on the River Parana.

Battle


The Paraguayan force of 9,000 men were under the command of Brig. Gen. Vicente Barrios. They included two infantry divisions under Cols. Gimenez and Gonzalez and a cavalry division under Col. Caballero. The Paraguayan infantry were to attack from the east (from the area of Paso Yataiti-Cora) in three columns at 04:30 on November 3. The cavalry was to make a wide sweep to the port of Itapiru and then charge the Allied rear.

The Paraguayan infantry quickly took the outer Allied entrenchments and pushed back the second line into the supply camp. The Paraguayans set about pillaging when they were attacked in the supply camp by an Allied artillery redoubt under the command of Gen. Porto Alegre, which consisting of 1,800 men and 14 guns. By the time the Paraguayan cavalry reached Tuyuti, their infantry was in retreat, and an Argentine cavalry brigade of 800 men, under the command of Gen. Hornos, had arrived from Tuyucue. The fighting was over by 21:00.

Aftermath
Brig. Gen. Barrios was promoted to General of Division.