Recapture of Corumbá

Recapture of Corumbá
Part of the Paraguayan War
Date June 13, 1867 Location Corumbá, Empire of Brazil Result Brazilian victory
Belligerents
Paraguay Paraguayan Army	Empire of Brazil Imperial Army
Commanders and leaders
Cap. Hermónegones Cabral †	Antônio M. Coelho
Strength
300 soldiers	1,000 soldiers
Casualties and losses
150 casualties	36 casualties

Corumbá was under the control of Paraguay since the beginning of 1865, in the first phase of the Paraguayan War. José Vieira Couto de Magalhães (the president of the province of Mato Grosso at that time) undertook an operation to retake Corumbá in 1867.

The Battle

At this point, Corumbá was protected by a small Paraguayan garrison of 300 soldiers, as the troops were diverted to other fronts.

After the preparations made in Cuiabá, the 1st Provisional Battalion of the Brazilian Army departed for Corumbá with 1,000 men, under the command of colonel Antônio Maria Coelho, on May 15, 1867, in boats across the Cuiabá River. On June 12, troops land in a region close to the village about 25 kilometers away. At dawn on June 13, colonel Coelho set up camp and started his march to the city and as he approached he began preparations for the attack.

At fourteen the battle began with Brazilian troops attacking from different points, taking Paraguayans by surprise. The battle lasted until eighteen hours, with victory for the empire. Brazilian casualties totaled 36 among those killed and wounded. On the Paraguayan side there were about 150, most of them executed, including commander Hermónegones Cabral, shortly after the end of the fight.

This victory raised the morale of the population of Mato Grosso, and began a period of expulsion of the Paraguayan invaders, which took place in 1868.