Battles of the Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata

August 1845 · Off Montevideo

Argentine squadron seized without a fight

Admiral William Brown, the Irish-born founder of the Argentine navy, was blockading Montevideo for Rosas when the British and French squadrons ordered him to stop. Outgunned, Brown gave way, and his ships were seized and handed over to the Montevideo government or taken into allied service. Brown himself was allowed to go home to Buenos Aires.

20 November 1845 · Vuelta de Obligado, Paraná River

Anglo-French victory; the Paraná forced

To stop the allies opening the Paraná, General Lucio Mansilla stretched three chains across the river on some two dozen boats and hulks, where it narrowed at a bend, covered by four batteries on the high bank and the schooner Republicano. The British and French ships attacked in two divisions and were held under heavy fire for hours, until Captain Hope of Firebrand took boats in and cut the chains. Steamers then broke through, the batteries ran out of ammunition, and allied landing parties took them. About 250 Argentines were killed; the allies lost 26 killed. The river was open, but the fight became a symbol of national resistance and 20 November is now Argentina's Day of National Sovereignty.

4 June 1846 · Angostura del Quebracho, Paraná River

Argentine success; convoy got through with losses

Mansilla had shadowed the allied convoy upriver with field guns. When it came back down from Corrientes, loaded with produce, he was waiting with batteries on the bluffs at Quebracho. The escort steamers fought the guns while the merchant ships ran past; several were set on fire and lost. It was the last big clash on the river, and it showed that the Paraná could not be kept open without far larger forces.