Battle of Avay
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Avaí was fought by the stream
of the same name in Paraguayan territory in December 1868 during the War of the Triple Alliance
, between the forces the Triple Alliance
and the Paraguay
.
It was one of the battles fought during the conflict known as December
, when it recorded a series of victories achieved by Caxias
in that month, to move toward the south to take Piquissiri behind, namely: the battles of Itororó
, Avai, Valentinas Lomas and Angostura.
On the night of December 10, 1868, 9,000 men of the Brazilian Army
camped at Ipanema Porto, Paraguayan territory. At dawn, Caxias
ordered to march toward the town of Villeta, Paraguayans, in equal numbers, standing at the bridge south of the creek Avai. After the victory, the Brazilian troops came to rest in Villeta, the river Paraguay.
During the melee, the Paraguayan forces fought tenaciously, but was surrounded by a flank movement and shattered. Only 100 Paraguayans, including Gen. Bernardino Caballero
, managed to escape. The oral tradition refers to the Paraguayan participation of hundreds of women between the combatants.
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
of the same name in Paraguayan territory in December 1868 during the War of the Triple Alliance
War of the Triple Alliance
The Paraguayan War , also known as War of the Triple Alliance , was a military conflict in South America fought from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay...
, between the forces the Triple Alliance
Triple Alliance
Triple Alliance may refer to:* Aztec Triple Alliance - Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan; better known as the Aztec Empire* Triple Alliance - England, France and the Dutch Republic...
and the Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
It was one of the battles fought during the conflict known as December
December
December is the 12th and last month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days.December starts on the same day as September every year and ends on the same day as April every year.-Etymology:...
, when it recorded a series of victories achieved by Caxias
Caxias
Caxias is a Portuguese name that can refer to:* Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, a Brazilian military leader, nobleman and statesman-Brazil:*Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul*Caxias *Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro...
in that month, to move toward the south to take Piquissiri behind, namely: the battles of Itororó
Battle of Itororó
On the morning of December 6, 1868, Marshal of the Brazilian Army, Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Marquis of Caxias, moved with 13,000 men in two columns to take Villeta, a Paraguayan city, as a plan to make further attacks on the Paraguayan Army rear....
, Avai, Valentinas Lomas and Angostura.
On the night of December 10, 1868, 9,000 men of the Brazilian Army
Brazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
camped at Ipanema Porto, Paraguayan territory. At dawn, Caxias
Caxias
Caxias is a Portuguese name that can refer to:* Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, a Brazilian military leader, nobleman and statesman-Brazil:*Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul*Caxias *Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro...
ordered to march toward the town of Villeta, Paraguayans, in equal numbers, standing at the bridge south of the creek Avai. After the victory, the Brazilian troops came to rest in Villeta, the river Paraguay.
During the melee, the Paraguayan forces fought tenaciously, but was surrounded by a flank movement and shattered. Only 100 Paraguayans, including Gen. Bernardino Caballero
Bernardino Caballero
Bernardino Caballero Melgarejo was the President of Paraguay from 1881 until 1886 and founder of the Colorado Party....
, managed to escape. The oral tradition refers to the Paraguayan participation of hundreds of women between the combatants.