Battle of Campichuelo

The Primera Junta, established in Buenos Aires after the May Revolution, launched a military campaign to ensure Paraguay's adherence, in the belief that a majority of Paraguayans supported it. The army was sent under Belgrano's command on 24 September.

Because Paraguayans had removed all boats on the Paraná River along its borders, Belgrano's forces had to build boats from leather, some canoes and large wooden rafts suitable to carry 60 men and four cannon, as the crossing was expected to be opposed. The river was 1000 meters wide at the crossing point, and the current would carry them a league and a half downstream, to Campichuelo hill. The passage started at 11:00 pm on 18 December, when a force of 12 men surprised the enemy, taking two prisoners and some weapons. The main crossing took place from 3:00 am until 6:00 am on 19 December under the command of Major General Machain, forcing the enemy to abandon their position.^[1]