The Battle of Lomas Valentinas (also known as the Battle of Itá Ybaté) was fought in the Central Department of Paraguay on December 21–27, 1868. The

Paraguayan Army To win or to die , march= Marcha al Mariscal Lopez , mascot= , equipment= , equipment_label= , battles= War of the Triple AllianceChaco WarParaguayan People's Army insurgency , anniversaries= 24 of July (Mariscal Lopez Birthday) , decorations= , ba ...

, led personally by

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Francisco Solano López Francisco Solano López Carrillo (24 July 1827 – 1 March 1870) was President of Paraguay from 1862 until his death in 1870. He was the eldest son of Juana Pabla Carrillo and of President Carlos Antonio López, Francisco's predecessor. ...

, were decisively defeated, though López managed to escape. On 30 December 1868, the Paraguayan garrison at Angostura, with 1,907 men, surrendered to the Allies.

Battle

Marshal Caxias had left

Villeta Villeta is a city of Paraguay in the Central Department, on the banks of Paraguay River. It is an important industrial center and port. Toponymy The city was founded on March 5, 1714, by Juan Gregorio Bazán de Pedraza, with the original name ...

at 02:00 on the 21st, and was ready to storm the Lomas Valentinas range by noon. Two columns of infantry, one under general

José Luís Mena Barreto José Luís Mena Barreto (24 October 1817 – 10 October 1879) was an army officer, politician and monarchist of the Empire of Brazil. He came from a wealthy family with a tradition of military service. José Luís entered the army in 1836, du ...

attacking the western defenses at Itá Ybaté, and another under general aided by cavalry under general Andrade Neves attacking the northern defenses at Loma Acosta, where the hill of Cumbarity was located. The hill was taken by sundown. On December 22, Argentine and Uruguayan troops advanced towards Lomas Auxilio. Marshal Caxias spent the 23rd reorganizing his battalions. On the 24th, Caxias demanded the surrender of López, which he refused. The Allied assault commenced again with dawn on the 25th and the 26th. The Paraguayan defenses were finally taken on the 27th.

Women

Nurse Ramona Martínez was enslaved by López, but due to her work fighting and encouraging troops at the battle, became known as "the American Joan of Arc".

Aftermath

López made his escape with the Aca Vera cavalry acting as his escort. Generals Resquín and

Bernardino Caballero Juan Bernardino Caballero de Añasco y Melgarejo (20 May 1839, Ybycuí, Paraguay – 26 February 1912, Asunción) was a Paraguayan War veteran, the President of Paraguay from 1880 until 1886 and founder of the Colorado Party. He was the leadin ...

also escaped. This meant the war would continue.

Gallery

File:Carga de la infanteria argentina en Lomas Valentinas.jpg, Charge of the Argentine infantary at Lomas Valentinas

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lomas Valentinas Conflicts in 1868 Battles of the Paraguayan War Battles involving Paraguay Battles involving Uruguay Battles involving Brazil Battles involving Argentina December 1868 events