Battle of Curuzú


The Battle of Curuzu occurred between September 1 and 3, 1866 during the Paraguayan War.
After the first Battle of Tuyuti, won by the Allies on May 24, 1866, an Allied council of war decided to use their navy to bombard and capture the Paraguayan battery at Curupayti.

Battle

On September 1, five Brazilian ironclads, Bahia, Barroso, Lima Barros, Rio de Janeiro and Brasil began bombarding the batteries at Curuzu, which continued the next day. That is when the Rio de Janeiro hit two mines and sank immediately along with her commander Américo Brasílio Silvado, and 50 sailors.
Simultaneously, 8,391 men of the Brazilian 2nd Corps, under the command of Gen. Baron de Porto Alegre, attacked the Paraguayan batteries at Curuzu, south of the main stronghold of Humaitá on the shores of Paraguay River.
On September 3, the fort, commanded by Colonel Jimenez, was stormed. The defenders relied on the advantage of the wetlands and bushes around the fort. The fort was conquered after a heavy bombardment, and the Paraguayan army was pursued until the vicinity of Curupaiti.
The ironclad "Rio de Janeiro" had a hole blown in her bottom by a torpedo, and sank almost immediately – the greater part of her crew, together with her captain, being drowned. This was the only ironclad which was sunk during the war.

Aftermath

President Francisco Solano López decimated the 10th Infantry Battalion on September 10, 1866, killing 63 men.

Gallery