The Battle of Acosta Ñu or Campo Grande (Guarani: Acosta Ñu ñorainõ) was a battle during the Paraguayan War, fought on 16 August 1869, between the Triple Alliance and Paraguay. The 3,500 poorly armed Paraguayans, mostly boys between nine and 15 years old, old men and wounded combatants, confronted 20,000 Brazilian and Argentine veteran soldiers.[3][1]: 104
In the middle of 1869, the Paraguayan Army was on full retreat and Asunción was under allied occupation. Francisco Solano López, the Paraguayan president, refused to surrender and retreated to the hills, vowing to keep fighting to the end. The commander of the allied forces, Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, the Duke of Caxias, suggested that the war was militarily over. Pedro II, the Brazilian emperor, refused to stop the campaign until López surrendered. Caxias then resigned and was replaced by the Emperor's son-in-law, prince Gaston of Orleans, the Count of Eu.
The Count of Eu and the main Allied troops advanced and took Caacupé on August 15, though López had already moved to Caraguatay. In an attempt to block the Paraguayan Army from retreating to Caraguatay, the Count of Eu sent the 2nd Corps via Barrero Grande, while the 1st Corps pursued López.[1]: 103
Battle
The Allied troops met the rearguard of the Paraguayan forces at Acosta Ñu on August 16. The battle started at 0800. Acosta Ñu (which means "Acosta's Field", "Acosta" being a popular last name) is a vast plain of roughly 12 km2 (4.6 sq mi), ideal for the Brazilian cavalry. The initial charge was led by the Allied 1st Corps infantry, supported by artillery. As the Paraguayans retreated across the Yagari River, the 4th Cavalry Brigade made a right flanking movement. Meanwhile, the 2nd Corps reached the Paraguayan rear, which left them no means to retreat. Children were said to cling to the legs of Brazilian soldiers amidst the raging battle, pleading for mercy, only to be decapitated without hesitation. Once all flanks collapsed, the wounded children tried to flee the battlefield alongside their relatives. Yet the Brazilian commander ordered his cavalry to cut the retreat and set the battlefield ablaze, including the field hospital. Large numbers of children died because of these actions.[1]: 104 [4]
Legacy
The battle of Acosta Ñu is depicted in the famous painting Batalha de Campo Grande by Pedro Américo, and in the book Recordações de Guerra e de Viagem by famous Brazilian writer Alfredo d'Escragnolle Taunay, who took part in the battle.
In Paraguay, Children's Day is celebrated on August 16. It is a national holiday to commemorate the memory of the children who lost their lives in the battle.
References
^ abcdefgHooker, T.D., 2008, The Paraguayan War, Nottingham: Foundry Books, ISBN1901543153
^Gabriele Esposito (20 March 2015). Armies of the War of the Triple Alliance 1864–70: Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay & Argentina. Osprey Publishing. p. 19. ISBN978-1-4728-0725-0.
^Chiavenato, José Julio (2011) Genocidio Americano. La Guerra del Paraguay ISBN9789000039562
^Rosa, José María(1964) "La Guerra del Paraguay y las Montoneras argentinas" A.Peña Lillo, Editor, Buenos Aires
January 07, 2023
battle, acosta, campo, grande, guarani, acosta, ñorainõ, battle, during, paraguayan, fought, august, 1869, between, triple, alliance, paraguay, poorly, armed, paraguayans, mostly, boys, between, nine, years, wounded, combatants, confronted, brazilian, argentin. The Battle of Acosta Nu or Campo Grande Guarani Acosta Nu noraino was a battle during the Paraguayan War fought on 16 August 1869 between the Triple Alliance and Paraguay The 3 500 poorly armed Paraguayans mostly boys between nine and 15 years old old men and wounded combatants confronted 20 000 Brazilian and Argentine veteran soldiers 3 1 104 Battle of Acosta NuPart of the Paraguayan WarBattle of Campo Grande by Pedro Americo DateAugust 16 1869LocationEusebio Ayala ParaguayResultAllied victoryBelligerents Paraguay Paraguayan Army Empire of Brazil Imperial Army Argentina Argentine ArmyCommanders and leadersBernardino CaballeroCount of EuStrength3 64612 cannons 1 103 1st and 2nd Corps 1 103 more than 20 000 Brazilian and Argentine soldiersCasualties and losses3 500 2 1 104 2 000 killed1 500 wounded and captured602 1 104 182 killed420 wounded Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Legacy 4 ReferencesBackground EditIn the middle of 1869 the Paraguayan Army was on full retreat and Asuncion was under allied occupation Francisco Solano Lopez the Paraguayan president refused to surrender and retreated to the hills vowing to keep fighting to the end The commander of the allied forces Luis Alves de Lima e Silva the Duke of Caxias suggested that the war was militarily over Pedro II the Brazilian emperor refused to stop the campaign until Lopez surrendered Caxias then resigned and was replaced by the Emperor s son in law prince Gaston of Orleans the Count of Eu The Count of Eu and the main Allied troops advanced and took Caacupe on August 15 though Lopez had already moved to Caraguatay In an attempt to block the Paraguayan Army from retreating to Caraguatay the Count of Eu sent the 2nd Corps via Barrero Grande while the 1st Corps pursued Lopez 1 103 Battle EditThe Allied troops met the rearguard of the Paraguayan forces at Acosta Nu on August 16 The battle started at 0800 Acosta Nu which means Acosta s Field Acosta being a popular last name is a vast plain of roughly 12 km2 4 6 sq mi ideal for the Brazilian cavalry The initial charge was led by the Allied 1st Corps infantry supported by artillery As the Paraguayans retreated across the Yagari River the 4th Cavalry Brigade made a right flanking movement Meanwhile the 2nd Corps reached the Paraguayan rear which left them no means to retreat Children were said to cling to the legs of Brazilian soldiers amidst the raging battle pleading for mercy only to be decapitated without hesitation Once all flanks collapsed the wounded children tried to flee the battlefield alongside their relatives Yet the Brazilian commander ordered his cavalry to cut the retreat and set the battlefield ablaze including the field hospital Large numbers of children died because of these actions 1 104 4 Legacy EditThe battle of Acosta Nu is depicted in the famous painting Batalha de Campo Grande by Pedro Americo and in the book Recordacoes de Guerra e de Viagem by famous Brazilian writer Alfredo d Escragnolle Taunay who took part in the battle In Paraguay Children s Day is celebrated on August 16 It is a national holiday to commemorate the memory of the children who lost their lives in the battle References Edit a b c d e f g Hooker T D 2008 The Paraguayan War Nottingham Foundry Books ISBN 1901543153 Gabriele Esposito 20 March 2015 Armies of the War of the Triple Alliance 1864 70 Paraguay Brazil Uruguay amp Argentina Osprey Publishing p 19 ISBN 978 1 4728 0725 0 Chiavenato Jose Julio 2011 Genocidio Americano La Guerra del Paraguay ISBN 9789000039562 Rosa Jose Maria 1964 La Guerra del Paraguay y las Montoneras argentinas A Pena Lillo Editor Buenos Aires Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Acosta Nu amp oldid 1130167250, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
