Page 212 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

212 XXXIX Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

PICTURE 3
Theather of
Operations. Teatro
de Operações
da Cisplatine
(Esboço). In
História do
Exército
Brasileiro de
Estado-Maior
do Exército.
Brasília: Serviço
Geográfico do
IBGE, 1972,
p. 529.

executed, at first, a maneuver that applied the Napoleon’s classic “manouvre sur las
derrières” ([Lodi, 1796] Chandler, 1966, p. 167) that forced the Army of the South to
“abandon their strong positions” and pursue him, making São Gabriel Alvear its “center
13
of operations”, the Rio Santa Maria a “strategic barrier” and Rio Ibicuí the “curtain of
operations.” In the next moment, Alvear had a strategic success in the attracting the
Imperial Army into battle in a place chosen by him and, apparently, recognized . To do
14
this, Alvear changed his direction of march many times, and reaching the region between
the Vacacaí, Ibicuí and Santa Maria launched two actions in force against the Bento
Manuel’s light cavalry brigade which was closely following his movements, pushing
it beyond Ibicuí and forcing it to break contact with the Republican Army. Therefore,
between 15 and 17 February, Alvear maneuvered between the rivers Ibicuí and Santa
Maria, securing the operational-strategic superiority that allowed him to enter the battle
of February 20 under very advantageous conditions.
Due to the strategic attitude of Brazil toward the war, the territorial strategy adopted
by the Army of the South placed it beforehand at a distinct disadvantage against an
enemy holding the initiative in greater numbers and more mobility. Composed largely
of militiamen from the boundary zone, the Army of the South was gripped by outrage,

13 According to the description of the second war council convened by Alvear taken by Colonel Brandsen,
transcribed by Tasso Fragoso (FRAGOSO, 1951 p. 263).
14 “In the day 16 [Lavalleja] receives Alvear’s orders to meet him at a point ten leagues away, to which he
had retired” (Ibid., p. 265). Passo do Rosário is at the same distance from São Gabriel, where stood
Lavalleja when received the order of Alvear.