The Naval Flotilla of Alto Uruguay was a flotilla based in Itaqui and operating in Brazil from 1866 to 1906.

Alto Uruguay Flotilla
Flotilha Naval do Alto Uruguay
A photo of Alagoas near Humaitá, River Paraguay, 1868. (National Library of Brazil.)
Active1866 – 1906
Country Empire of Brazil
 First Brazilian Republic
Branch Imperial Brazilian Navy
Early Republican Navy
TypeFlotilla
Garrison/HQItaqui
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Estanisláo Przewodowski

In 1874, it became involved in the so-called Alvear Conflict, in which it fired on the neighboring Argentine city of Alvear.

Origins

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The flotilla was established in 1866 by the Brazilian Empire in Itaqui during the Paraguayan War, in order to prevent Paraguayan invasions of Rio Grande do Sul. It included the Pará-class monitors Alagoas and Rio Grande, as well as some smaller wooden ships. The command of the flotilla was briefly abolished in 1871, being combined with that of the Rio Grande do Sul Flotilla. In 1872, however, Estanisláo Przewodowski, a native of Bahia and of Polish origin, was appointed commander of the flotilla.[1]

In 1874, Pamphilo Manoel Freire de Carvalho, a medical lieutenant-captain who had come to the aid of a wounded Brazilian in the nearby Argentine town of Itaqui de Alvear, was assaulted by two healers of Italian origin in front of the local police, who did not react.[2] Przewodowski, in reaction, repeatedly asked the Argentine authorities to hand over the aggressors. Seeing no reaction, he ordered on June 22 that both flotilla monitors execute hourly bombardments against the city's outposts, until, at the fourth firing, a committee of Alvear residents went to Itaqui to negotiate a ceasefire, which Przewodowski granted.[3][4]

The flotilla was terminated in 1906.

Ships

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From 1866 to 1879, the Flotilha Naval do Alto Uruguay was composed of:[5]

Gunboats
Greenhalgh
Vidal de Negreiros
Tramandahy
Monitors
Alagoas[6]
Rio Grande[7]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Instituto Geográfico e Histórico da Bahia 1907, pp. 162–163.
  2. ^ Instituto Geográfico e Histórico da Bahia 1907, pp. 163–164.
  3. ^ Meira 2009, pp. 220–221.
  4. ^ Soares 1995, pp. 224–225.
  5. ^ "Almanak da Marinha" (PDF). Município Neutro. 1879. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  6. ^ Gratz 1999, p. 147.
  7. ^ Gratz 1999, p. 157.

Bibliography

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  • "Estanisláo Przewodowski". Revista do Instituto Geographico e Historico da Bahia. 13 (32). Instituto Geográfico e Histórico da Bahia. 1907.
  • Meira, Antônio Gonçalves (2009). "O Bombardeio de Alvear". Revista Marítima Brasileira. 129 (4/06).
  • Soares, Eduardo Alvares de Souza (1995). "Oficial da marinha dá nome a Teatro". Revista Marítima Brasileira. 115 (10/12). Rio de Janeiro: Serviço de Documentação da Marinha. ISSN 0034-9860.
  • Gratz, George A. (1999). "The Brazilian Imperial Navy Ironclads, 1865–1874". In Preston, Antony (ed.). Warship 1999–2000. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-724-4.