José María Bruguez
Born1827
Asunción, Paraguay
DiedAugust 26, 1868(1868-08-26) (aged 40–41)
San Fernando, Central Department, Paraguay
Allegiance Paraguay
Branch Paraguayan Army
Years of service1845 – 1868
Rank General de ejército
Battles/wars
List

José María Bruguez was a Paraguayan general during the Paraguayan War. He was one of the most prominent Paraguayan generals of the war, being known for his artillery services during naval engagements of the war. He died during the 1868 San Fernando massacre after President Francisco Solano López accused Bruguez of conspiring against him.

Early Military Career

Bruguez was born on 1827 at Asunción. He enlisted in the Paraguayan Army in 1845 and was assigned within the artillery regiments. He was promoted to Lieutenant from 1852 to 1854 as he was in professional military classes taught by João Carlos de Villagran Cabrita and was reported to be his best student.[1] He was in charge of the railway systems within Paraguay and promoted to Major along with being assigned to the chief of the Central Station on 1862.[2]

Paraguayan War

Upon the outbreak of the Paraguayan War, Bruguez participated in the Capture of the steamer Marquês de Olinda, directly ramming his artillery batteries against the ship which caused it to capsize.[3] He then participated in the Battle of Riachuelo and would harass the Imperial Brazilian Navy with his artillery, managing to kill 12 men.[4] He was awarded the Commander of the National Order of Merit on June 17, 1865, for his services in the battle. He continued his service during the Corrientes campaign during the Battle of Paso de Mercedes where he attempted to block the Imperial Brazilian Navy from passing the Paraná River.[5] After losing the battle, he attempted to prevent the Allied forces from cutting off Paraguayan supplies at the Battle of Paso de Cuevas.[5]

Already a Colonel by 1866, he would participate in the battles of Estero Bellaco and Tuyutí,[6] being promoted to General on May 25. It was also reported that during the Battle of Purutué Bank, Bruguez killed his former teacher Villagran Cabrita with a grenade that was fired at him.[1] After fighting in the battles of Boquerón and the Second Battle of Tuyutí, Bruguez was executed on August 26, 1868, during the 1868 San Fernando Massacre by President Francisco Solano López along with several other officers who Solano López thought were planning to overthrow him.[1]

Legacy

The district of General José María Bruguez is named after him.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lieutenant Colonel Villagran Cabrita – Engineering - Patrons
  2. ↑ "José María Bruguez: Biblioteca Nacional del Paraguay". Biblioteca Nacional del Paraguay (in Spanish). Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  3. ↑ Maestri, Mário (2016). "A 150 anos: A Batalha de Riachuelo. Uma vitória sem imediato seguimento" (PDF). Revista O Olho da História: 20–21. ISSN 2236-0824.
  4. ↑ Leuchars, Chris (30 December 2002). To the Bitter End: Paraguay and the War of Triple Alliance. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313076855. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Hooker 2008, p. 36.
  6. ↑ Esposito, Gabriele (October 31, 2019). The Paraguayan War 1864–70: The Triple Alliance at Stake in La Plata. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 55–57. ISBN 9781472834416. Retrieved October 13, 2022.

Bibliography

  • Hooker, Terry D. (2008). The Paraguayan War, Nottingham: Foundry Books. Foundry Books. ISBN 978-1901543155.
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