On December 17th 2002 Uruguay issued a 12 peso stamp to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the naval battle of Juncal.
The battle took place near a small island of Juncal in the River Uruguay, roughly 25 miles up from where the Uruguay flows into the River Plate.
The antagonists were the Argentine Squadron and the 3rd Division of the Brazilian naval force in the River Plate, it was the 3rd Division’s duty to patrol the River Uruguay. The two squadrons were more or less of equal force. More accurately they were flotillas, each being mainly composed of small, shallow-draft vessels.
Admiral William Brown commanded the Argentina Squadron and Captain Jacinto Roque Sena Pereira commanded the Brazilian Squadron.
At daybreak on 8 February 1827, the Argentine Squadron was anchored in line off the island of Juncal, the Brazilian Squadron was then making its way down river, the weather was calm.
The Brazilian Squadron was sighted shortly after daybreak, evidently it was faling down river with the current, seeing that there was no or little wind, it was not until about 11.30am that the Brazilian vessels passed by the island of Juncal and anchored in line, a little below the Argentine Squadron, and between the island of Juncal and the island of Dos Hermanos (Two Brothers).
Just before 3pm. A breeze sprang up and both squadrons weighed anchor and prepared for action. A spirited: cannonading ensued and continued until about 4.45pm. when a violent pampero (verging on gale force) blew up, this broke up the fight, both squadrons troubled by the tempest, retired and anchored within sight of each other and repaired their damages. Neither side gained any advantage from the encounter, but during the night a small merchant schooner, which had been serving as a Brazilian hospital ship parted from her moorings and was carried by the current to the Argentine anchorage, where she was promptly captured.
During the night the men of both squadrons slept by their guns, each side was concerned that the other may attack under the cover of darkness.
A few minutes after 8 o’clock on the following morning Admiral Brown got his squadron under way, and bore down upon the Brazilians.
Captain Sean Pereira vacillated about which course of action he should take, he had a signal hoisted, but afterwards, having change his mind, he had the signal substituted by another, and as a consequence of this there was some confusion on board the more distant of the gunboats, and this it appears delayed their involvement in the ensuing engagement.
After three unsuccessful attempts to united the gunboats with his principle vessels he sailed to confront the approaching Argentine squadron. In company with his flagship, the ORIENTAL, Sena Pereira only had the schooner BERTIOGA and the brigantine DONA JANUARIA, with two or three gunboats following some distance behind. The Brazilians had to sail into action against the wind, the Argentineans came forward with the wind behind them.
The ORIENTAL mounted 11 guns, the BERITOGA, Captain Broom, mounted 8 guns., and the DONA JANUARIA, Captain Antonio Pedro de Carvalha, mounted 14 guns. There were some English and North American seamen in both squadrons.
Admiral Brown flew his flag in the schooner SARANDI, she mounted 7 guns. To one side of the Argentine flagship was the schooner MALDONADO, 8 guns, under Captain Francis Drummond, and the other side was the GENERAL BALCARCE of 14 guns, Captain Francisco Segui, in the wake were three or four lesser Argentine vessels with the remainder somewhere behind these.
The GENERAL BALCARCE attacked the DONA JANUARIA, which was also fired at by the SARANDI in passing. After about ten minutes of steadfast fighting at close quarters the JANUARIA’s fore-topmast came down, and her fore-yard was hit and rendered useless, in effect the JANUARIA was now a sitting duck for the BALCARCE and the URUGUAY, gunboats came along to assist the JANUARIA: evidently with the intention of towing her away, or of turning her around.
The GENERAL BALCARE under command of Francisco Segui attacked the ORIENTAL which caused heavy losses on board the ORIENTAL, crew of the GENERAL BALCARE boarded her where after she surrendered.
After the ORIENTAL was lost the Brazilian fleet disengaged and attempted to flee.
Of the Brazilian fleet of 17 vessels twelve ships were captured, three burnt and only two ships escaped.
For more info on this battle : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Juncal
Uruguay 2002 $12 sg?, scott?
Source: Log Book.