The Allied troops meet the rearguard of…

The Allied troops meet the rearguard of the Paraguayan forces at Acosta Ñu on August 16.

The battle starts at 08:30 in the morning, with the six thousand Paraguayans commanded by General Bernardino Caballero facing twenty thousand Brazilian and Argentinian troops.

Acosta Ñu (which means "Acosta's Field") is a vast plain of roughly twelve square kilometers (four point six square miles, ideal for the Brazilian cavalry.

However the cavalry is at the rear guard of the forces, and the initial charge is led by the Allied infantry.

The battle lasts eight hours, with the outnumbered Paraguayans providing a fierce resistance.

After the first shots, the troops of General Caballero retreat to the other side of river Juquerí, where they have eight cannon and coverage.

They set fire to the grass to hide their movements with smoke.

The Allied infantry makes the first charge to cross the river but is repelled.

Count d'Eu now orders his artillery to open fire, which causes huge losses on the Paraguayan side.

By this time, the Brazilian cavalry has finally reached the battlefield, and is able to cross the river and make a devastating charge against the Paraguayan position.

General Caballero's troops defend using a classic infantry square formation with bayonets, but his troops still suffer huge losses.

The Allied infantry charges again with bayonets, taking the eight cannon and the Paraguayan position.

In the end, two thousand Paraguayans are dead and twelve hundred captured.

The Allied forces suffer forty-six dead and two hundred and fifty-nine wounded.

General Caballero flees along with part of his troops.

The battle of Acosta Ñu/Campo Grande is the last major battle in the war.