Minas Gerais Rebellion in Brazil 1842

On June 10, 1842, liberals initiated a revolt in Barbacena, in the Brazilian province of Minas Gerais. With the support of a battalion of the Guarda Nacional, José Feliciano Pinto Coelho was proclaimed the acting president of Minas Gerais. Mineiro liberals opposed the policies of the new conservative government and may have been influenced by events in the province of São Paulo. While Herculano Ferreira Penna, the acting president appointed in May 1842, was prepared for a revolt, the rebels managed to inflict some initial defeats on government troops. Significant battles were fought at Mendanha (June 23, 1842) and Presídio (June 25, 1842). Revolutionary forces controlled the most populous regions of the province as well as the lines of communication with Rio de Janeiro. São João Del Rei became the rebel capital. However, news of the pacification of São Paulo in mid-July weakened rebel resolve to continue to fight. At Queluz, on July 26, 1842, the liberal achieved a much needed victory that sustained the rebellion. Ouro Preto developed into the center of government resistance, possibly under the leadership of future president Bernardo Jacinto da Veiga, and the rebels now concentrated on capturing the city. However, with the arrival of the Baron of Caxias (Luís Alves de Lima e Silva) to take command of imperial forces on August 6, 1842, the rebels gave up the siege of Ouro Preto and evacuated Queluz. In the process of redeploying, rebel forces managed to capture Sabará with minimal fighting on August 13. At this time, some of the liberal revolutionaries were seeking a negotiated a surrender. The government refused to negotiate. Dissention in the liberal ranks resulted in the replacement of Feliciano with Teófilo Ottoni as leader. Rebel forces concentrated in the highly defensible vicinity of Santa Luzia. On August 20, 1842, some 3300 revolutionaries engaged imperial forces under the leadership of Caxias. The liberals were defeated in the hard fought battle of Santa Luzia and the revolution came to an abrupt end after two months and ten days. Casualties were heavy on both sides.

References

Brazil - A Country Study; A Revolução liberal de Minas Gerais de 1842; A Revolta em Minas Gerais; Brazil.

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