Pikysyry maneuver: Difference between revisions

| conflict = Pikysyry maneuver

| partof = the [[Paraguayan War]]

| image = [[File:Americo-chaco-MHN.jpg|300px]]

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

| date = 21 December 1868

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

| casus =

| territory =

| result = Allied victory

| combatant1 =

{{plainlist |

* {{flag|Paraguay|1842}}

}}

*[[File:Coat of arms of Paraguay.svg|15px]] [[Paraguayan Army]]

*[[Militia|Armed civilians]]

| combatant2 =

{{flag|Empire of Brazil}}

*[[File:CoA Empire of Brazil (1822-1870).svg|15px]] [[Imperial Brazilian Army|Imperial Army]]

*[[File:Naval Jack of Brazil.svg|15px]] [[Imperial Brazilian Navy|Imperial Navy]]

<br>{{flag|Argentina}}

*[[File:Ejercito Argentino Escudo.png|15px]] [[Argentine Army]]

*[[File:Naval Jack of Argentina.svg|15px]] [[Argentine Navy]]

<br>{{flag|Uruguay}}

*[[File:Military Cockade of Uruguay.svg|15px]] [[Uruguayan Army]]

| commander1 = {{flagicon|Paraguay|1842}} [[Francisco Solano López (politician)|Francisco Solano López]]<br>{{flagicon|United Kingdom}}[[George Thompson (Military Engineer)|George Thompson]]

| commander2 = {{flagicon|Empire of Brazil}} [[Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias|Marquis of Caxias]]<br>{{flagicon|Argentina}}General Juan Andrés

| strength1 = 2,000 men<ref name=Hooker>Hooker, T.D., 2008, The Paraguayan War, Nottingham: Foundry Books, {{ISBN|1901543153}}</ref>{{rp|95}}

| strength2 = 8,000 men<ref name=Hooker/>{{rp|95}}

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 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 km road on the Chaco side of the river starting at Santa Theresa.<ref name=Hooker/>{{rp|88-91}}

[[File:War in Parguay - Engagement at Chaco.jpg|thumb|left|[[Paraguayan War|War in Paraguay]]: Engagement at [[Chaco Department|Chaco]] ([[Harper's Weekly|''Harper's Weekly: A Journal of Civilization'']], Vol. XII, nº 617, 24/10/1868).]]

On 11 Oct. 1868, 1,122 men under the command of Lt. Col. [[Antonio Tuburcio]] landed near Santa Theresa on the west side of the Paraguay River. An additional 2,925 infantry, 327 pontoniers, 198 artillermen 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., 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 [[Battle_of_Ytoror%C3%B3]] and [[Battle of Avay]], the Allied army was ready to capture the Paraguayan defenses at Pikysyry. A column of 2,700 men under Gen. [[João Manuel Mena Barreto]] mounted a flanking movement while troops under Gen. [[Gelly y Obes]] made a simultaneous feint to the front. The 21 Dec. attack was a complete surprise to the Paraguayans.<ref name=Hooker/>{{rp|95}}

{{Campaignbox Paraguayan War}}

Some 500 Paraguayans escaped to Angostura and another 200 to Lomas Valentinas.<ref name=Hooker/>{{rp|95}}

* http://web.archive.org/web/20091027012012/http://br.geocities.com/guerrapara/dezembrada.htm {{pt icon}}

* http://web.archive.org/web/20091027111502/http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Camp/2523 {{en icon}}

* http://web.archive.org/web/20091027043104/http://geocities.com/ulysses_costa/Guerradoparaguai {{pt icon}}