In 1825, the Empire of Brazil went to war with the Republic of
Argentina. The pretext was control of the north bank of the Plate, and
consequently of the river itself. The conflict lasted for three years,
the Argentineans dominating on land, the Brazilians at sea. As a
compromise, the state of Uruguay was created as a buffer between the
two. This book is about the naval war and its international
repercussions. It describes the struggle between Brazil, a maritime
power with a huge Navy and an extensive sea-borne commerce, and
Argentina, which had tiny naval forces but a huge international trade
carried mostly in British and American ships.