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PAN AMERICAN WAR (1846-1852):

South America (Part 2):

Argentina and the Uruguayan Civil War:

Argentina was the only nation at the outset of the war to already be in a state of conflict with European powers. Due to Argentine desire for a restoration of their viceregal borders, the Argentines had involved themselves in the Uruguayan Civil War (1839-1851). Earlier French machinations had now resulted in two factions competing for power in Uruguay; the Blancos led by Manuel Oribe, and the Colorados led by Fructuoso Rivera.


The Anglo-French blockade had come about in 1845 for a myriad of reasons, but it was ostensibly about protecting their economic interests and desires in the region. When war with the United States became unavoidable in 1846, Britain suddenly found itself trapped in Argentina and unable to divert troops without losing some face.

Though the French and British had the military advantage, it was home territory for the Argentines, who proved themselves capable on their important rivers and their associated trade with the interior of the continent. Argentina simply had to hold their own and continue to support Oribe in Uruguay and the war would be a decisive victory on their part.


Initially, it looked as though an Argentine victory in the region was assured. After Oribe's victory in the Battle of Arroyo Grande in 1842, it was assumed that Uruguay's capital of Montevideo would fall. However, the city would endure a nine year siege that would capture the hearts and attention of the world at the time. Newly freed slaves and the community of foreign exiles came together in an epic defense of the city.


As part of their campaign to blockade Buenos Aires and Argentine rivers, the British and French protected Montevideo from the sea and allowed for crucial supplies to reach the beleaguered defenders. In 1846, the 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot, sent by Britain, arrived in Montevideo and defended it for seven months against besieging Argentine troops. Behind them came the arrival of the French, Spanish and Italian legionnaires, led by Giuseppe Garibaldi. These forces teamed up with the Colorados in defending Montevideo.


However spirited the defense, British obligations elsewhere in the Americas and French exhaustion forced them to sign a treaty with Juan Manuel de Rosas, the leader of the Argentine Confederation in 1850. The blockade was a Pyrrhic victory for Britain and France, but a political victory for Rosas and the Argentines. After the withdrawal of British and French troops, it appeared that Montevideo would fall to Juan Manuel de Rosas and Oribe.

However, an uprising against de Rosas led by fellow Federalist Justo José de Urquiza, governor of Argentina's Entre Ríos Province, with the assistance of a small Uruguayan force, changed the situation completely. Manuel Oribe was defeated in 1851, leaving the Colorados in full control of the country. Brazil followed up by intervening in Uruguay in May 1851, supporting the Colorados with financial and naval forces. Where the French and British had failed, Brazil hoped to succeed.


Brazil wasted no time in allying themselves with Urquiza and his breakaway provinces of the Confederation in 1851. They also allied with the anti-Rosas Colorados faction in Uruguay. Next, Brazil secured the south-western flank by signing defensive alliances with Paraguay and Bolivia. Faced with an offensive alliance against his regime, Rosas declared war on Brazil.

Allied forces first advanced into Uruguayan territory, defeating Oribe and the Blancos. Afterwards, the Allied army was divided, with the main arm advancing by land to engage Rosas's main defenses and the other launching a seaborne assault directed at Buenos Aires. In the north, Paraguay took advantage of the situation to occupy their disputed territory north of the Bermejo River.


The next stage of the war was for allied forces (with the exception of the naval detachment) to meet in Santa Fe and then make their way to Buenos Aires as a grand army. The Paraguayans and Brazilians secured the Paraguay and Parana rivers, while Brazilian and Uruguayan forces crossed the border and headed for Santa Fe.

No longer riding the morale high of 1847 and 1848, the Argentines suddenly find themselves alone in a war against four other forces. The war will come down to the Battle of Caseros. On paper, both sides were evenly matched in terms of troop composition and Rosas had been able to select the most advantageous positions for his forces.


However, his forces suffered from desertion and war-weariness. The battle may as well have been over before it even started. Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay's final push to end what was known as the Platine War and Uruguayan Civil War result in the defeat of the Argentine Confederation.

The conclusion of the Brazilian-led Platine War with a victory at the Battle of Caseros also marked the conclusion of the Pan American War on February 3rd, 1852. Through a mixture of good-fortune, happenstance, and diplomacy, the war had been turned into a victory for Britain and her allies.