Occupation of Coxim

Occupation of Coxim was a Paraguayan military operation led by Colonel Francisco Isidoro Resquín that resulted in the capture of the village of Coxim, now Mato Grosso do Sul, during the Paraguayan War. Colonel Resquín detached 300 soldiers and some cannons from Miranda, the base camp for the invaders, and headed for the village. The column advanced on horseback and encountered great difficulties in the 120 kilometers of almost impassable terrain. On April 24, 1865, Resquín's column reached the village and found it almost abandoned. Coxim's defense was in charge of only seven Brazilian squares,^{[clarification needed]} under the command of retired captain Antônio Pedro dos Santos. The fight was fast and without casualties on the Paraguayan side. The resisters withdrew to Cuiabá and the invaders looted and burned the village. On their return, Paraguayan troops lost 50 soldiers to diseases and injuries from the march.

Occupation of Coxim
Part of the Paraguayan War
Date April 24–25, 1865 Location Coxim, Empire of Brazil Result Paraguayan victory
Belligerents
Paraguay Paraguayan Army	Empire of Brazil Imperial Army
Commanders and leaders
Isidoro Resquín	Antônio Pedro dos Santos
Strength
300 soldiers	7 soldiers (local garrison)
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown
50 Paraguayan soldiers died of disease and injuries from the march.

Panic started in Cuiabá when the news of the fall of Coxim arrived. It was said that the Paraguayans were marching to the capital with 8,000 soldiers and a large number of cannons and horses, which never occurred.^[1][2]

References

1. Donato, Hernâni (1996). Dicionário das Batalhas Brasileiras [Dictionary of Brazilian Battles] (in Portuguese) (2nd ed.). Ibrasa. p. 268. ISBN 8534800340.
2. Maestri 2015, p. 122.

Bibliography

• Maestri, Mário (2015). "A invasão paraguaia do sul do Mato Grosso". Contraponto: Revista do Departamento de História e do Programa de Pós-Graduação em História do Brasil da Universidade Federal do Piauí. 4 (2). ISSN 2236-6822.