Pikysyry maneuver: Difference between revisions

| conflict = Pikysyry maneuver

| partof = the [[Paraguayan War]]

| image = [[File:AmericoPedro Américo -chaco-MHN Estudo para Passagem do Chaco.jpg|300px]]

| caption = ''Passagem do Chaco'', oil on canvas by [[Pedro Américo]]

| date = 21 December 1868

| place = [[Formosa province]], [[Argentina]]

| territorycasus =

| result = Allied victory

| combatant2 = {{plainlist |

The '''Pikysyry maneuver''' was a tactic used by Brazilian marshal [[Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias]], during the [[Paraguayan War]] to outflank the Paraguayan southern defense line along the stream of Pikysyry consisting of 142 gun platforms along a line 9.1 &nbsp;km long, built by the British engineer Lt. Col. [[George Thompson (Military Engineer)|George Thompson]]. Just to the north were the batteries of Angostura, protecting the [[River Paraguay]]. Marshal Caxias decided to attack from the Paraguayan rear by constructing a 10.7 &nbsp;km road on the [[Gran Chaco|Chaco]] side of the river starting at Santa Theresa.<ref name=Hooker/>{{rp|88-9188–91}}

On 11 Oct. 1868, 1,122 men under the command of Lt. Col. [[Antonio TuburcioTiburcio]] landed near Santa Theresa on the west side of the Paraguay River. An additional 2,925 infantry, 327 pontoniers, 198 artillermenartillerymen and 94 cavalry were landed and overall command for building the road was the responsibility of Lt. Col. Rufino Galvao of the Engineers. The road was constructed of palm tree trunks. On 27 Nov. Marshal Caxias moved his headquarters to the Chaco side of the river. By early Dec.December, the road had been completed to Santa Helena and 19,000 Allied troops were ready to cross over to San Antonio.<ref name=Hooker/>{{rp|90}}

After the successful battles of [[Battle_of_Ytoror%C3%B3Battle of Ytororó|Ytororó]] and [[Battle of Avay|Avay]], the Alliedallied army was ready to capture the Paraguayan defenses at Pikysyry. A column of 2,700 men under Gen.general Joao[[João Manuel Mena Barreto]] mounted a flanking movement while troops under Gen.general [[Juan Andrés Gelly y Obes]] made a simultaneous feint to tothe front. The December21 Dec. attack was a complete surprise to the Paraguayans.<ref name=Hooker/>{{rp|95}}

* httphttps://web.archive.org/web/2009102711150220091027012012/http://wwwbr.geocities.com/Pentagonguerrapara/Camp/2523dezembrada.htm {{enin iconlang|pt}}

* httphttps://web.archive.org/web/2009102704310420091027111502/http://www.geocities.com/ulysses_costaPentagon/Camp/Guerradoparaguai2523 {{ptin iconlang|en}}