Ejército Grande

Portrait of the Battle of Caseros, fought by the Ejército Grande.

The so-called Ejército Grande (Big Army in English, also called the Ejército Grande Aliado Libertador, Big Allied Liberating Army) was the Argentine army that in 1852, under the command of the governor of Entre Ríos Province, Justo José de Urquiza, invaded the provinces of Santa Fe and Buenos Aires and defeated Juan Manuel de Rosas's army, which until that moment was in command of the foreign relations of the Argentine Confederation.

Made of 24,000 men, the majority from the provinces of Entre Ríos and Corrientes, also including 3,500 Brazilians, who were the only professional soldiers, and 1,500 Uruguayans. There were also some divisions commanded by porteño officers, future notable figures of the Argentine political scene, such as future presidents Bartolomé Mitre and Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. The army had 50 artillery pieces. While marching through Santa Fe, they were joined by 2,000 men from that province.

Urquiza had reclaimed from Rosas the control over the foreign relations of Entre Ríos Province at the Urquiza Announcement, of 1 May 1851. He had participated briefly in campaigns in Uruguay, forcing the end of the Uruguayan Civil War, and had formalized the alliance with Uruguay and Brazil.

In 1851 Rosas declared war on Brazil, which helped the signature of a treaty against him on 21 November 1851 by the governments of Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Uruguay and the Empire of Brazil.

To put the states of Entre Ríos and Corrientes in a situation to be able to help pay the extraordinary expenses they will have to make with the movements of their army, His majesty, the Emperor of Brazil would provide them, as a loan the monthly sum of one hundred thousand patacons for four months counting from the date in which these states ratify this agreement.

After removing the siege of Montevideo, the Ejército Grande started to form, with the forces there for the siege, and incorporating the soldiers from Buenos Aires province that were in the city. To this, many Brazilian forces were added. The new army crossed the Uruguay river camping in the town of Gualeguaychú. later they moved to the port of Punta Gorda (Diamante).

Between 24 December 1851 and 6 January 1852, the Ejército Grande crossed the Paraná River entering the territory of Santa Fe province. The infantry and artillery crossed in Brazilian Navy ships, while the cavalry crossed through swimming. Forty days later, on 3 February 1852, fought and obtained victory at Battle of Caseros near the city of Buenos Aires. Rosas, defeated, resigned from his governorship and was exiled to England.

Forming the Ejército Grande

The army formed in Diamante on 20 December 1851, was as follows:[1]

Commanding General: Governor and Captain General of the Province of Entre Ríos, Brigadier Justo José de Urquiza Major General: and Captain General of the Province of Corrientes, Colonel Major Benjamín Virasoro Total: 28,149 men, of which 2,000 were in the supply trains, cavalry support, and wounded/invalids.

Entre Ríos Army Corps

Total of 10,350 men:

Corrientes Army Corps

With a total of 5,260 men:

Buenos Aires Army Corps

With un total de 4,219 men:

Uruguay Army Corps

With a total of 1,970 men, commanded by colonel César Díaz:

Brazil Army Corps

With a total of 4,020 men, commanded by brigadier Manuel Marqués de Souza:

References

  1. Obras de D. F. Sarmiento. Authors: Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, Luis Montt, Augusto Belin Sarmiento. Published by Gutenberg Press, 1896, pages 189 - 190

See also

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