CASUALTY RECORD // February 19, 1868
Passage of Humaitá
Estimated casualties — killed, wounded, captured, and missing — by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Casualties by side
1 sides catalogued · combined 1,200 estimated
Empire of Brazil
1,200
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Passage of Humaitá was a pivotal riverine operation in the Paraguayan War, the most lethal conflict in South American history. By forcing six armored vessels of the Imperial Brazilian Navy past the heavily fortified Paraguayan position at Humaitá, the operation demonstrated that the fortress — long considered by competent neutral observers to be nearly impenetrable from the river — could be bypassed by naval force. The cost was severe, with Brazilian casualties reaching 1,200, underscoring both the defensive strength of Humaitá under Paraguayan command and the scale of commitment required to break the strategic deadlock the fortress represented along the river approach.
‹ Full battle dossierSources (45)
Academic Journal
A Guerra Da Triplice Alliança Contra A Goberno Da Republica Do Paraguay 1864–1870
→ Open sourceAcademic Journal
A Logística Naval na Marinha Imperial Durante a Guerra da Tríplice Aliança Contra o Governo do Paraguai
→ Open sourceAcademic Journal
Atlas Historico da Guerra da Paraguay
Academic Journal
Congressional series of United States public documents: United States Congressional Serial Set Volume 1365
→ Open sourceAcademic Journal
Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905
Monograph
Dicionário das Batalhas Brasileiras
Academic Journal
Ensaio Historico Sobre o Genesis e Desenvolvimento da Armada Brasileira Até o Fim do Século XIX
→ Open sourceAcademic Journal
História da Guerra entre a Tríplice Aliança e o Paraguai
Academic Journal
Historical Introduction
Academic Journal
La Guerra del Paraguay: Resumen Histórico
Academic Journal
La Triple Alianza de 1865: Escapada de un desastre en la Guerra de Invasión al Paraguay
→ Open sourceAcademic Journal
Letters From the Battle-Fields of Paraguay
Academic Journal
Maldita Guerra
Academic Journal
Memorias del coronel Juan Crisóstomo Centurión o sean Reminiscencias históricas sobre la guerra del Paraguay
→ Open sourceAcademic Journal
Naval Warfare, 1815–1914
Academic Journal
Reports of Her Majesty's Consuls on the Manufacture and Commerce &c of their Consular Districts: Part I
→ Open sourceAcademic Journal
Seven Eventful Years in Paraguay: A Narrative of Personal Experience Amongst the Paraguayans
Academic Journal
The British in Paraguay 1850–1870
Academic Journal
The History of Paraguay: With Notes of Personal Observations, and Reminiscences of Diplomacy Under Difficulties
→ Open sourceAcademic Journal
The Paraguayan War
Academic Journal
The Paraguayan War (1864–1870)
Academic Journal
The Paraná; With Incidents of the Paraguayan War
Academic Journal
The War in Paraguay: With a Historical Sketch of the Country and Its People and Notes Upon the Military Engineering of the War
Academic Journal