Nicanor Cáceres
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Curuzú Cuatiá, Corrientes, Rio de la Plata
Salto, Salto Department, Uruguay
Argentina
Argentine ArmyNicanor Cáceres | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 1813 Curuzú Cuatiá, Corrientes, Rio de la Plata |
| Died | 1870 (aged 56–57) Salto, Salto Department, Uruguay |
| Allegiance | Argentina |
| Branch | Argentine Army |
| Years of service | 1824 – 1870 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles / wars | |
Nicanor Cáceres (1813-1870) was an Argentine general and rancher. He was one of the key Argentine military generals during the Argentine Civil Wars as well as the Paraguayan invasion of Corrientes.
He was the son of a D. Marcelo Cáceres who was Spanish merchant, who shortly after would buy the ranch El Paraíso, a huge estate near Curuzú Cuatiá and D. Francisca Rodríguez who had a modest social position.[1]
Since 1824, he specialized in commanding men and managing estates and was a volunteer soldier of the border militias of southern Corrientes, and made a long career under the orders of General Manuel Vicente Ramírez. He fought in the Battles of Pago Largo, Caaguazú and Arroyo Grande.
He remained in rebellion in the mountains of the south of the province, until in 1843, he supported Joaquín Madariaga's invasion of Corrientes, and his participation allowed them to advance without problems throughout the south of the province.[1] With that they were able to overturn the provincial situation from the beginning. That earned him promotion to lieutenant colonel and command over the entire southern border of the province.
He formed in the ranks of General Paz's army. When Justo José de Urquiza invaded Corrientes, Cáceres was defeated in a small battle at Las Osamentas, shortly before the Battle of Laguna Limpia.[1] When Urquiza withdrew, Cáceres was ordered to pursue him, but he could do little.
Urquiza and Pujol
When the conflict between Paz and the governor broke out, which cost the former a new exile, he switched sides and joined the ranks of Urquiza's forces.[2] On Urquiza's side he fought in the Battle of Vences and was promoted to colonel.
He was again the head of the southern border. From his stay at his military camp, he had de facto unlimited authority over the entire southern zone, including, in addition to Curuzú Cuatiá, Mercedes, Paso de los Libres, Esquina, etc. His specialty was long and fast marches, with which he surprised his enemies; his appearance, with red hair and beard, added authority into the ranks.
He also fought in the campaign against the small Paraguayan invasion of 1849 .
He fought in the Battle of Caseros and soon returned to Corrientes. Shortly after arriving he led the uprising against Governor Benjamín Virasoro.
He was promoted to general—for revolutionary merits—by the new governor Juan Gregorio Pujol, a friend of Urquiza.
In 1853 he supported Pujol against a revolt led by allies of the Virasoros, but his excessive power led the governor to displace him. This led to Cáceres himself rebelling at the end of that year, failing in that revolution and in two invasions of his province. After his definitive failure in 1855, he went into exile in the province of Entre Ríos, after an arrest of several months. He later lived in Santa Fe.