Battle of Estero Bellaco

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Battle of Estero Bellaco
Part of the Paraguayan War
Detail from a painting by Cándido López
Date 2 May 1866 Location Ñeembucú Department, Paraguay Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Paraguay	Argentina  Empire of Brazil  Uruguay
Commanders and leaders
José E. Diaz José María Bruguez	Venancio Flores Manuel Luís Osório
Strength
5,000–7,000	At least 11 battalions of infantry two artillery batteries two cavalry regiments (About 8,000)
Casualties and losses
2,500 casualties[1] 4 cannons lost[1]	1,560 casualties[1] 4 cannons lost[1]

The Battle of Estero Bellaco was one of the bloodiest battles of the Paraguayan War. The battle was fought on 2 May 1866 with the Paraguayan Army suffering 2,000 casualties among the dead and wounded. Likewise, 300 of their men were taken prisoner by the troops belonging to the Triple Alliance: Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. The allies lost nearly 2,000 men, mostly wounded, and the Uruguayan troops of General Venancio Flores - commanded by León de Pallejas - were severely decimated, accounting for the vast majority of allied deaths.

This estuary is located in the Department of Ñeembucú, Paraguay, on the banks of the river of the same name. To the south is the Argentine Republic.