Siege of Lapa explained

Conflict:Siege of Lapa
Partof:the Federalist Revolution
Date:14 January 1894 – 11 February 1894
Place:Lapa, Paraná, Brazil
Result:Federalist victory
Combatant1:Federalists
Combatant2: Brazil
Commander1:Gumercindo Saraiva
Strength1:~3,000
Strength2:700-900
6 cannons
2 Nordenfelt guns

The siege of Lapa was a military confrontation involving the Brazilian Army, the National Guard, the Military Police of Paraná state and civilian volunteers, which took place during the Federalist Revolution in early 1894. The city of Lapa became the arena of a bloody confrontation between the loyalist republican troops, commonly called pica-paus (woodpeckers) against the maragatos, federalist rebels, who opposed the presidential form of government. The loyalists resisted the siege for 26 days, but succumbed due to the lack of ammunition and food.[1]

The siege gave president Floriano Peixoto enough time to gather and equip soldiers in São Paulo to fight back the federalist advance. The besieged forces numbered between 700 and 900 regulars and volunteer civilians, mostly were volunteers however, fighting against the revolutionary forces which consisted of about three thousand combatants. The remains of general Carneiro, as well as many others who fell during the resistance, are buried in the town's Pantheon of Heroes.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. https://www.pmpr.pr.gov.br/Pagina/Revolucao-Federalista Revolução Federalista - Polícia Militar do Paraná