Sarandi

When colonel Bento Manoel vanguard made contact with the enemy on October, 12 1825, almost two weeks after his departure,  Lavalleja and Rivera had already joined their forces. The Brazilian commander had now a difficult choice to do: retreat or meet the enemy in combat. The problem Bento Manoel was facing had to do with the enemy superiority in cavalry. While the the two forces were equivalent in number, the Imperial Army had only 400 cavalrymen. The Liberation Army had almost the double.

Bento Manoel officers suggested caution. Nevertheless he was still confident. According to some sources he declared to his officers that he had beaten the Uruguayans in several skirmishes and was not ready to give passage to Lavalleja's force without fighting. He deployed his forces given command of the right to colonel Bento Gonçalves with all cavalry and some 450 infantrymen. On the center colonel Joaquim Antonio Alencastre would command 800 infantrymen. On the left Bento Manoel himself would be in command of 300 infantrymen.

Meantime, Lavalleja also deployed the forces he had at disposal. On the right Pablo Zufriategui with a piece of artillery would lead 700 men. The center would be under Manuel Oribe with infantrymen. On the left, the bulk of cavalry under Rivera.

The march of the two forces: Lavalleja (in blue) and Bento Manoel (in red)

The fight started at 9 A.M, with Rivera's assault on the Imperial Army right wing. Bento Golçalves men could not bear the attack and began to withdraw. On the right wing of the Uruguayan force, Zufriategui men stopped the advance of Bento Manoel infantrymen and then launched a counterattack. On the center, Alencastre men fought off an attack of Oribe, pushing the Uruguayans back. When the two wings of the Imperial Army collapsed, however, Alencastre men could not keep the position. By 12 A.M. the battle was over. Lavalleja army was still in the battlefield, while Bento Manoel forces were retreating. He had suffered 830 casualties (200 dead). Lavalleja's losses were 35 killed and 90 wounded.

As a consequence of Bento Manoel defeat, the countryside was now under control of Lavalleja's Liberation Army. Montevideo and Colonia became strongholds of the Imperial Army.

When the news of the Lavaleja's victory reached Rio de Janeiro, Lecor's enemies started to ask for his retire from service. The emperor became aware of the situation and despite the revolts on other provinces more troops were sent to the Cisplatine.

Notwithstanding, Sarandi would be the only victory Lavaleja would conquer alone. A new force was about to emerge  in the conflict.

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