Passage of Humaitá

Passage of Humaitá
	Part of the Siege of Humaitá
	; The Passage of Humaitá by Brazilian admiral and watercolourist Trajano Augusto de Carvalho (1876–1942). Shellbursts illuminate the night scene.
Date	19 February 1868
Location	Paraguay River, Humaitá27°04′S 58°31′W
Result	Brazilian victory
Belligerents
Paraguay;	Empire of Brazil;
Commanders and leaders
Paulino Alén	Delfim de Carvalho
Strength
Fortress of Humaitá (8 river batteries; unknown contact mines)	3 coastal battleships; 3 river monitors
Casualties and losses
Unknown; (+150 killed or wounded in land diversionary attack)	10 wounded; (+1,200 killed or wounded in land diversionary attack)

The Passage of Humaitá (Portuguese: Passagem de Humaitá) was an operation of riverine warfare during the Paraguayan War − the most lethal in South American history − in which a force of six Imperial Brazilian Navy armoured vessels was ordered to dash past under the guns of the Paraguayan fortress of Humaitá. Some competent neutral observers had considered that the feat was very nearly impossible.

The purpose of the exercise was to stop the Paraguayans resupplying the fortress by river, and to provide the Empire of Brazil and its Allies with a much-needed propaganda victory. The attempt took place on 19 February 1868 and was successful – the attackers had hit upon the fortress' Achilles heel. It restored the reputation of the Brazilian navy and the Brazilian Empire's financial credit, and caused the Paraguayans to evacuate their capital Asunción. Some authors have considered that it was the turning point or culminating event of the war. The fortress, by then fully surrounded by Allied forces on land or blockaded by water, was captured on 25 July 1868.

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