Battle of Las Piedras
Part of South American Wars of Independence
Surrender of Posadas at Las Piedras, by Juan Manuel Blanes.
Date May 18, 1811 Location Near Las Piedras, Uruguay (Uruguay) Result Revolutionary victory
Commanders and leaders
José Posadas	José Gervasio Artigas
Strength
1,230	1,000

The Battle of Las Piedras was fought on May 18 1811 as part of the Uruguayan struggle for independence.

In 1810, the May Revolution had forced the Spanish to abandon Buenos Aires, but they held on to the Banda Oriental (present-day Uruguay), and Spain moved the headquarters for the Viceroyalty of the River Plate to Montevideo. At the beginning of April 1811 the revolutionary José Artigas returned to his country with approximately 180 men provided by the Government of Buenos Aires. on April 11, he issued the Mercedes Proclamation, assuming control of the revolution.

The Governor of Montevideo and new viceroy of Río de la Plata, Francisco Javier de Elío, appointed frigate-captain José Posadas at the head of the forces loyal to Spain. Posadas installed his HQ at San Isidro Labrador de Las Piedras near Montevideo, to provoke a decisive battle against the revolutionaries.

Meanwhile, José Artigas was camped near Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe with an army of a thousand men. The army of Posadas counted 1230 men, of which some 200 would defect to Artigas in the midst of battle.

Bought armies fought in the name of King Ferdinand VII of Spain.

Importance of the Battle

Historians consider the victory in the Battle of Las Piedras as crucial for the survival of the revolution in Uruguay and Argentina, after the defeats of General Belgrano in Paraguay and Paraná.

After the battle, the Spanish only remained in control of Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo, which was finally liberated on June 23, 1814.

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Parte de la Batalla de Las Piedras de José Artigas a José Rondeau