Battle of Ytororó
On the morning of 6 December 1868, marshal of the Imperial Brazilian Army, Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Marquis (later Duke) of Caxias, moved with 16,999 infantrymen, 926 cavalrymen and 742 artillerymen, to take Villeta, a Paraguayan city, as a plan to make further attacks on the Paraguayan Army rear. Nevertheless, Paraguayan president and commander-in-chief of the army Francisco Solano López was aware of the landing the Allies had made in the rear of his army.: 91
| Battle of Ytororó | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Paraguayan War | |||||||
Caxias leading the Brazilian Army | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Empire of Brazil | Paraguay | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Marquess of Caxias | Bernardino Caballero | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 18,667 soldiers: 91–92 | 5,000 soldiers: 92 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
1,862:: 92 285 dead 1,577 wounded |
1,446:: 92 330 dead 1,116 wounded | ||||||
Taking advantage of the Allies' slow march, he sent colonel Bernardino Caballero with 5,000 men and 12 guns, to stop the enemy at a narrow passage over a stream called Ytororó. Caballero deployed his troops so that Caxias would have to cross the only passage at disposal (a bridge) under heavy fire.: 92
The battle started by late morning and was characterized by attacks and counterattacks for control of the bridge. By nightfall, after a fierce fight, the bridge was taken by Brazilian volunteer battalions led personally by marshal Caxias shouting "Follow me, those of you who are Brazilians", and the Allies could advance towards Villeta.: 92