War of the Triple Alliance / Paraguayan War collection

[ricky1972]

Hello all,

I´m starting this topic to show a little bit of my collection of medals and militaria concerning this period.

Will start with some brazilian medals, and I have some more to show. Hope you like it and I´ll be glad to hear your comments!!

Cheers,

Ricardo

PS_Don´t forget to visit my blog about 1932 CONSTITUCIONALIST REVOLUTION in Brazil:

www.tudoporsaopaulo.com.br

Naval Battle of Riachuelo in bronze. A very hard to find medal, complete with crown and a fair piece of ribbon.

Uruguay Campaign 1865 (a.k.a. Paysandu Medal) in bronze w/ ribbon.

[ricky1972]

War Merit Medal, with 6 de DEZEMBRO (Itororó Battle) Bar.

Another exemplar:

[ricky1972]

Campaign Medal with Bronze Bar.

another specimen:

[lambert]

I would like to contribute some illustrations

The battle of Avai in Paraguayan territory was fought in December 1868 between the forces of the Triple Alliance and Paraguay.

Battle the Riachuelo, 11 June 1865 on the Riachuelo, a tributary of the Paraguay River in the province of Corrientes, Argentina. Considered by military historians as one of the most important battles of the War of Paraguay.

Sorry, but found larger photos..

Edited November 3, 2011 by lambert

[azyeoman]

Most interesting and sadly an overlooked and understudied part of history.

[army historian]

Extremely nice collection. The military history of South American is very interesting, and seldom encountered. Thanks and keep adding the information and medals. Cheers Captain Albert

[Chris Boonzaier]

Very nice indeed!!

Maybe if I was born again at some time in the future I would not collect German but do something like 19th Century South American... it certainly makes for a wonderful collecting theme...

[paul wood]

Very nice indeed!!

Maybe if I was born again at some time in the future I would not collect German but do something like 19th Century South American... it certainly makes for a wonderful collecting theme...

Fantastic selection of Brazilian medals. Nice to see someone contributing to a little studied area of medal collecting. There has been little new work on South American Medals since Gillingham published his book in the ANS series of Numismatic Notes nearly 80 years ago. Keep the images rolling. For the Paraguayans the war an utter disaster with probably as many as 90% of the male population being killed (still loads of women for the small number left).

Thanks again for sharing this with us.

All the best,

Paul

[ricky1972]

Thanks for all your kind replies!

This is the kind of collection you can´t plan. The opportunity to get a new medal may appear only once...but when it happens it´s a celebration day

Let´s see some more medals...

Forte de Coimbra Medal, a 1775 fortification located on Mato Grosso - scenario of a huge battle during the war when paraguayans invaded that region.

Matto Grosso Medal - This is the "bloodiest" medal of the period.

" Brazil sent an expedition to fight the invaders in Mato Grosso. A column of 2,780 men led by Colonel Manuel Pedro Drago left Uberaba in Minas Gerais in April 1865, and arrived at Coxim in December after a difficult march of more than two thousand kilometers through four provinces. But Paraguay had abandoned Coxim by December. Drago arrived at Miranda in September 1866 – and Paraguay had left once again. In January 1867, Colonel Carlos de Morais Camisão assumed command of the column, now with only 1,680 men, and decided to invade Paraguayan territory, where he penetrated as far as Laguna. The expedition was forced to retreat by the Paraguayan cavalry.

Despite the efforts of Colonel Camisão's troops and the resistance in the region, which succeeded in liberating Corumbá in June 1867, Mato Grosso remained under the control of the Paraguayans. They finally withdrew in April 1868, moving their troops to the main theatre of operations, in the south of Paraguay.

(Wikipedia)"

[ricky1972]

Passage of Humaitá Medal

"On August 1, 1867 the Argentine general Bartolomé Mitre commanded the Brazilian imperial fleet to secure a passage through Curupaiti and Humaitá. On August 15, two divisions of five battleships passed without incident at Curupaiti, but artillery fire forced them to stop at Humaitá. This news caused conflict in the Allied high command. The Brazilian commanders determined that attacking the fortress from the river would be futile, and withdrew their fleet pending a land-based attack which began on August 18. From Tuiu-Cuê the allies headed north and took the villages of São Solano, Vila do Pilar and Tayi, and finally laid siege to Humaitá itself, isolating it from Asunción. In February 1868 Commander Joaquim José Inácio de Barros again ordered the fleet to cross the river by Humaitá, which was done on the 19th. There were few casualties and minimal damage to any of the ships. This was done four more times until the fortress fell on July 25 of that year.

(Wikipedia)"

Edited November 4, 2011 by ricky1972

[ricky1972]

Surrender of Uruguaiana 1865 Medal

[Ulsterman]

Oh.

My.

God.

I LOVE this subject. I thought I had a comprehensive list of the various medals issued for battles- and now two new ones!

OUTSTANDING thread. This war had it all- power mad dictators, Paraguayan casualties that were 80% of the male population, the beginning of the end of the Brazilian empire and slavery (and slave battalions)-Argentine perfidy, Uruguayan bravery. I have collected over 20 books-some of them insanely obscure since this subject first came up @ 10 years ago. Others also seem to have tuned in judging by the ebay insanity last year where CDVs of the Argentine and Brazilian navy officers who stopped in Glasgow in 1869 went for more than an EK1!

Bravo! More! More.

[ricky1972]

Hello Ulsterman,

I´m glad that you enjoyed the post!!

Before I show more medals, here´s two items I´m sure you´ll like

A PII combat sword (Dom Pedro II) from war period...

...and a official volunteer shoulder insignia, made in CASA DA MOEDA, Rio de Janeiro.

Edited November 7, 2011 by ricky1972

[azyeoman]

This is absolutely fascinating. Why don't we learn about this in history classes... thanks for opening up a whole new world.

[Ulsterman]

very very cool. Do you have any of the ultra-rare Paraguayan battle medals perchance?

I only have a few Argentine ones from the days before people rediscovered this war-probably the worst in recorded history per capita.

Here's some arm shields i wish were mine=sigh=

[ricky1972]

Hello azyeoman and Ulsterman,

Thanks for kind replies. I´m negotiating some of the Paraguayan medals, and maybe will get a couple in near future

Now some allied medals applied to brazilian troops...

Argentina campaign medal, silver.

Corrientes battle

Edited November 11, 2011 by ricky1972

[ricky1972]

Uruguay campaign medal

Yatay Battle, Uruguay

[lambert]

Ricky ,

Beautiful medals

Lindas Peças!!

Lambert

[Ulsterman]

I love the Yatay medals-esp. since they commemorate such an epic battle. Any chance one can find an extra ribbon anywhere?

[lambert]

Some important battles. follow the link

Battle of Tuyuti, May 24, 1866 link

Battle of Estero Bellaco July 18, 1866 link

Battle of Itororó link December 6, 1868 (in portuguese)

Battle of Avaí , December 11, 1868 link (in portuguese)

Battle of Riachoelo June 11, 1865 link

Lambert

Edited November 16, 2011 by lambert

[ricky1972]

Hello Ulsterman,

I´ll search for a extra ribbon for you...I´ll let you know...

Thanks Lambert for the nice links!! ;)

[Ulsterman]

Thanks!

Have you seen Mayans' book on Paraguayan War medals?

[ricky1972]

Nope. Can you send some link to me?

Here´s the beautiful "Ordem da Rosa" offered to a VOLUNTÁRIO DA PATRIA during the war, and a higher grade exemplar...

[azyeoman]

I keep looking at these and it makes me want to collect South American medals, decorations and orders.

[Ulsterman]

No kidding- the Brazilian medals especially are beautiful. there were a series of "veterans" medals as well that are very collectible- a fertile, still largely un-researched area of history.