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, 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 sent 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 Gen. Manuel Belgrano, who by decree of 4 September had been invested with the office of governor and captain general of the Banda Oriental.

The battle

Because Royalist Paraguayans had removed all boats on the River Paraná along its borders, Belgrano's forces had to build boats from leather, some canoes and large wooden rafts suitable to carry 60 men and four cannon, as the crossing was expected to be opposed. The river was 1000 meters wide at the crossing point, and the current would carry them a league and a half downstream, to El Campichuelo mountain. The passage started at 11:00 pm on 18 December, when a force of 12 men surprised the enemy, taking two prisoners and some weapons. The main crossing took place from 3:00 am until 6:00 am on 19 December under the command of Maj. Gen Machain, forcing the enemy to abandon their position.
Belgrano was operating from the former capital mission of Santa Maria de la Candelaria 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 cannon. They faced a 500-man Royalist force led by Pablo Thompson. Belgrano issued a proclamation asking the Royalists to join the revolutionary ranks; on their refusal he attacked and defeated the Royalist forces.