
A War Betwixt Englishmen
Brazil Against Argentina on the River Plate
Brian Vale(Author)
I.B. Tauris (Publisher)
Published on 31. October 1999
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-86064-456-6 (ISBN)
Description
In 1825 the Empire of Brazil went to war with the Republic of Argentina; the pretext was control of the north bank of the Plate, and consequently of the river itself. The conflict lasted for three years, the Argentinians dominating on land, the Brazilians at sea. As a compromise, the state of Uruguay was created as a buffer between the two. Providing a study of the naval war and its international repercussions, this book describes the struggle between Brazil, a maritime power with a huge navy and an extensive sea-borne commerce, and Argentina, which had tiny naval forces but a huge international trade carried mostly in British and American ships. It is the story of cat and mouse amid the shallows and fogs of the River Plate, as the Brazilian navy slowly strangled Argentinian trade in the face of audacious attacks by a small squadron led by the legendary William Brown; and of daring single-ship actions in the blue rollers of the Atlantic as swarms of Argentinian privateers took on both neutral vessels and Brazilian men-of-war.
British and American trade were the major casualties of these tactics, and the book provides an account of the international diplomatic and naval actions which followed.
British and American trade were the major casualties of these tactics, and the book provides an account of the international diplomatic and naval actions which followed.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
9 maps, notes, bibliography, index
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 141 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-86064-456-6 (9781860644566)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
Part 1 Opening moves: rebellion in the River Plate; the drift to war; the navy of Brazil; the Argentinean challenger. Part 2 Cat and mouse in the River Plate: the Battle of Corales - action and acrimony; the assault on Colonia; night attack on the Imperatriz; the new broom -changes in command; Norton tightens the screw - the battles of Los Pozes and Lara-Quilmes. Part 3 The war on trade: the climax of the Brazilian blockade; "blackguards of the most cut throat description"; the Argentinean war on trade; Brown's raid on the South Atlantic. Part 4 Splendid displays of courage made by Britons: the struggle for the Uruguay; the Brazilian defeat at Juncal; disaster in Patagonia; the empire strikes back - the Battle of Monte santiago. Part 5 War and peace: international outcry and the cracking of the blockade; the paladins, peace and the fall of Rivadavia; Rio Janeiro - taking stock; Congresso and General Brandzen - the rise and fall of the privateer; Brazil renews the offensive. Part 6 Endgame: the road to peace; settling accounts; revolution and reparations; epilogue. Appendices: Brazilian armed vessels, December 1825; Argentinean ships, 11 June 1826; Argentinean ships, January 1827.